The 2023 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Extension goes to Nancy Ooki of the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Since 2018, Nancy’s “My PI Hawai‘i” has trained Maui youths in fire safety and suppression, search-and-rescue, C.P.R., disaster psychology, and other topics in FEMA’s Teen Community Emergency Response Team. By the final disaster simulation, youths can demonstrate knowledge and skills in first aid, triage, communications, and damage assessment.
In the wake of the wildfires, the program was adapted to a 3-day, statewide training for 110 high school students, who came from all islands across the state.
Exemplifying Extension’s goal of responding to community needs, Nancy’s program has given young people the skills they need to be prepared and empowered to respond to natural and human-made disasters. This effort generated an astounding $413,000 in emergency preparedness value by youth educating their families and communities on how to be ready for a disaster.