Pharmacy Ph.D. candidate receives Community Spirit Award

A Ph.D. candidate at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) has received the University’s second Community Spirit Award.

The award, which includes a $500 cash prize, was presented by Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Matt Platz to Micah David Kealakaʻi Glasgow, who is one of two native Hawaiians in the Ph.D. program in DKICP’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Glasgow was nominated by DKICP assistant professor Dana-Lynn Koʻomoa-Lange for his research involving Nano particle delivery of DFMO-based combination treatment for Neuroblastoma (Pediatric Cancer) and his community service that includes leading and organizing activities for Nā Pua Noʻeau – Ke Ola Mau K-12 students at the DKICP.

“In addition to his workload as a Ph.D. student, he continues to provide community service work that helps to engage local and native Hawaiian students in science and research,” Koʻomoa-Lange said. “This shows his deep commitment and dedication to giving back to the community.”

The Community Spirit Award was established in September 2013 through a $10,000 gift from Edward Yamasaki, a member of World War II’s highly decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and a contribution from Carolyn Doi Nomura, daughter of fellow 442nd member and retired Circuit Judge Masato Doi. Yamasaki created the award to support students who demonstrate the unit’s “Go For Broke” spirit in their pursuit of academic excellence, including applied research and innovation.

Glasgow joins Mike Purvis, a senior computer science major, who received the inaugural Community Spirit Award in December 2014. Purvis served as team captain of UH Hilo’s Team Poliʻahu that won the 2013 U.S. Microsoft Imagine Cup Championship and participated in the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals in St. Petersburg, Russia.