Imagine my surprise when I opened the invitation! You will be surprised too. … or maybe not too surprised.
Punahou Alumni Association Awards Ceremony
The award is one of four offered by the Punahou Alumni Association (PAA). The other three alumni awards, and the years in which they were first offered, are the “O” in Life (1954), the Samuel Chapman Armstrong Humanitarian Award (1993), and the Charles S. Judd, Jr. Humanitarian Award (2003). Certificates of Appreciation are also conferred.
Before this year Punahou74 had two Old School Award Winners: Alan “Stat-Al” Lau in 2006 and Paul Goto in 2011. Each was recognized for his support of Punahou athletics.
This year two more Punahou74 members will receive Old School Award recognition. With these additions, Punahou74 now claims four of the twelve PAA awards–tying us with 1972–that have been received by 1970’s Punahou School graduates. Way to go!
Marcia Barrett ’74 Wright
Marcia Barrett Wright took a break from her cafeteria duties to check on Punahou74 during its 2014 Ewa malasada shift. Here she is with Cindy Li Taga.
Marcia has been in the Punahou kitchen since 1989. In fact, her first task upon arriving to work was to provide the food service for the Alunni Luau, a true baptism by fire.
Marcia must have done her job well because, with 28 years of service, she’s Punahou’s 13th and longest serving Director of Food Service. That’s a lot of caramel cuts!
Given that food is something about which almost everyone has an opinion to offer, it’s a job that can involve a lot of diplomacy. And Marcia has a lot of opportunity for that. Beyond the luau, she’s responsible for the carnival, managing of dozens of cafeteria staff members, and feeding more than 3,700 students, faculty and staff breakfast, lunch, and snacks–including juice time–on a daily basis.
Click here to read an earlier blog post about her work in this position. Congratulations, Marcia!
Scott Metcalf ’74
Scott earned his Punahou Summer Barbeque t-shirt every year. Here he is shown at the 2012 event.
Is there any doubt that Scott would have ultimately been considered for an “O” in Life? Not in my head.
Scott exemplified the true spirit of Punahou. He gave his heart and soul to the school, not to mention his classmates. My recollections of his extraordinary Punahou service are given here. If there was ever someone upon whom you could rely, Scott was that person. You classmates know that.
In 2011 Scott was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the PAA, at the same ceremony at which Paul Goto was recognized. Too bad Scott didn’t receive the Old School Award at that time. Click here to read his certificate citation and to view pictures of the event.
Well done, PAA, and thank you.
Another Winner
Click on this photo to see a listing of 2017 PAA Award Winners.
Many long-term faculty members–and Joyce served from 1965-2003–receive this award upon retirement. They receive their recognition, take their pensions, and are soon off the campus.
While Joyce certainly took her pension and retired, she didn’t get the memo about leaving campus. She is regularly seen in the Archives, where I have come to know and appreciate her, sorting through Carnival donations as a White Elephant “tankette,” and caring for the campus cat colony. The time for her award has been too long in coming. I am glad she can receive it now.
Well done again, PAA.
Come Celebrate
There will be other award winners from the Punahou family at the 2017 PAA Awards Presentation. This will be held Tuesday, June 6 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the President’s Pavilion.
The event is open to all alumni. I hope that you will come and support Marsha, Scott, and your favorite award winner. Click here to register. Hope to see you there!
For more information about the PAA Awards Program click here.
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