The University of Hawai‘i has selected Maxwell K. K. Tom as the 2010 recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance. This award honors a UH employee who exhibits dedication and sustained superior performance in a maintenance, landscaping, custodial, shop or trucking position.
Since Tom joined the Planning, Operations and Maintenance Department at Hawaiʻi Community College in February 2008, he has demonstrated positive leadership characteristics as the senior groundskeeper. Colleagues share that his high capacity for work coupled with his “can do” attitude is infectious and is something for all to emulate. Tom’s problem solving abilities are excellent and his perseverance and commitment to do things right the first time is second to none.
Tom is also commended as one of the most efficient and self-motivated workers in the department. The quality of his work is impeccable, and he always completes tasks in less time than it takes others. He has conservatively saved the college over $200,000 by taking on challenges such as cleaning out the ditch drains, implementing a rain gutter cleaning program and starting a campus compost pile. Tom has received praise from faculty, staff, students and visitors for his constant efforts to beautify and improve the campus grounds. His exemplary performance and dedication to his work has influenced others and brought great credit to himself, the department, Hawaiʻi Community College and the University of Hawaiʻi System.
Tom will be recognized for his achievements along with other UH award recipients at the annual Convocation ceremony in the fall at the UH Mānoa campus. The ceremony is open to the public at no charge, and no reservations are needed. For more information, visit https://www.hawaii.edu/about/awards
Submitted by Kymber-Lee S Char, Public Information Officer for External Affairs and University Relations