At the WCC Student Employee Appreciation event on May 2, Brandon DiPaola was named the 2018 WCC Student Employee of the Year.
As a performing arts assistant, DiPaola’s primary duties include assisting theatre faculty and students as a teaching aide, helping students achieve off-campus performance opportunities, acting as fight captain for student shows, and aiding in all aspects of the theatre program at WCC.
He was chosen as the winner based on the following five criteria: quality of work, reliability, initiative, professionalism and exceptional service.
DiPaola’s supervisor and theatre assistant professor, Nicolas Logue, wrote in his nomination essay, “Amongst his many bright and positive characteristics as an employee and a human being, his selflessness and generous spirit always stand towering above even his immaculate professionalism, quick and effective initiative and excellent quality of work.”
At the event, Chancellor Douglas Dykstra presented DiPaola with a prize of $250 in the Hale ʻĀkoakoa cafeteria. DiPaola was also presented with a perpetual plaque with his name engraved, which resides in the WCC Library Learning Commons.
The Kāne‘ohe resident is transferring to East 15 Acting School in London, England, next fall.
The event was co-sponsored by the Chancellor’s Office and ASUH-WCC and co-coordinated by Title III Ho’onui ‘Ike (peer coaching) coordinator Scott Sutherland, Title III student employee coordinator Ashley Tilton, and librarian/Student Employee of the Year Award manager Mariko Kershaw.
Five other student employees were nominated, in addition to DiPaola. They were instructor and Writing Center coordinator Michelle Corpuz, circulation assistant Kayla Watanabe, gallery assistant Sheila Kurosu, agriculture assistant Paul Silva, and student employee mentor Amber Ichinose. Nominees were recognized at the appreciation event with a certificate, copy of their nomination essay written by their supervisor and lei. There are approximately 225 student employees at WCC.
For more information about the Student Employee of the Year Award, visit https://windward.hawaii.edu/seoty/.
by Mariko Kershaw, Special to Ka ‘Ohana
