The Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award was established by Tadashi and Elizabeth Kunimoto to honor the founders of Chikara Products, Inc., specializing in Hawaiʻi foods such as Aloha Tofu, Maui Natto and Chikara Konnyaku. This award is given in alternate years: on even years to a faculty member, and on odd years to a student, who makes a significant contribution to career and technical education in the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges.
Jenny Kelly, veterinary technology program director and assistant professor at Windward Community College, is the recipient of the 2024 Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award.
Since 2015, Kelly has led Windward CC’s high-demand career and technical education (CTE) training program for veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians. Kelly’s passion for veterinary medicine translates into classroom instruction focused on realistic clinical procedures rather than a traditional scientific lab. She uses multiple forms of feedback from her students to evaluate and adjust her instruction. Kelly also works with local vendors to create professional development opportunities for students and faculty.
She monitors the veterinary industry and workforce trends in Hawaiʻi to continually adapt and improve the program to meet industry needs and prepare skilled graduates to fill employment vacancies. In 2018, Kelly expanded the program to serve students statewide with neighbor island cohorts. She launched the online hybrid program during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The number of courses offered and student semester hours have increased by 36% and 20%, respectively, and the number of distance education classes has increased eightfold. As a result, the number of program majors grew 29% between 2017 and 2022, and program completion has remained strong. In 2023, there were 60 graduates.
Kelly works collaboratively with faculty to improve the curriculum and quality of graduates. She encourages students to conduct research in veterinary technology by embedding internship opportunities in animal science courses. She has developed industry partnerships with more than 30 veterinary clinics, animal rescues and shelters, exotic (birds, lab animals and marine life) and large animal settings, including farms and ranches.
Since joining Windward CC, she has been awarded 16 grants totaling $1,188,818. In 2024, the Good Jobs Hawaiʻi grant supported students in their final program year, including tuition and fees, books, certification fee and license as well as travel expenses for 10 neighbor island hybrid students to attend in-person labs.
Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg said, “Dr. Jenny Kelly is innovative, caring and hardworking. Through her visionary leadership, Windward CC’s vet tech program has grown to serve our entire pae ʻāina (archipelago), supporting students to achieve excellence on national exams and in their communities.”
Kelly has contributed significantly to CTE as a veterinarian, educator and program director. Her caring nature was evident when she arranged a one-on-one animal experience for a Make-A-Wish recipient. Throughout the years, Kelly has proved to be a tremendous asset to UH and the state as she has elevated the quality of veterinary care in Hawaiʻi.
