The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补’蝉 (CTAHR) celebrated the faculty, staff and community leaders who advance the college’s vision of a more resilient Hawaiʻi at its 2026 CTAHR Banquet in May. The high-energy night showcased collective work to strengthen the state’s food security, ecosystems and local communities.
Top honors for community, alumni leadership
The college presented its highest honor, the Ka Lei Hano Award, to State Senator Donovan Dela Cruz. A longtime champion for local agriculture, Dela Cruz was recognized for securing support for the reopening of the Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center and his leadership in developing the Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center, among many accomplishments.
Professor Ganesan Srinivasan was named the 2026 CTAHR Outstanding Alumnus. Currently serving as the dean of communication and services programs at Honolulu Community College, Srinivasan was honored for his acclaimed career in maize breeding and marrying high-level scientific research with the practical needs of local farmers.
- Related 东精影业 News stories: CTAHR honors Honolulu CC dean with Outstanding Alumnus Award
Visit the CTAHR website for the complete list of the , including faculty, staff and student honorees.
A highlight of the evening were presentations by the student winners of the Showcase & Research Symposium. 东精影业ees talked with the students about their award-winning posters, illustrating the cutting-edge research from the next generation of scientists within the college.
Honoring an icon
The evening also featured a special recognition of Surajit “S.K.” De Datta and his wife, Vijji, for establishing an endowed scholarship for CTAHR students. De Datta, a world-renowned scientist known for his pioneering work during the Green Revolution, was also honored as the college renamed its primary conference room in Gilmore Hall in honor of the couple’s legacy.
“Our students are the heart of this college,” CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal said at the banquet. “Tonight is as much about celebrating their future as it is our current achievements. Their energy and their passion for a more resilient Hawaiʻi are what drive us forward every day.”