HONOLULU – Former University of Hawai'i men's volleyball standout Tom Pestolesi will receive the Pae Makaukau Alumni recognition award at the 4^th Annual A'o a Koa Scholarship Dinner which supports the Rainbow Warrior volleyball program. The dinner will be held Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
Past winners include Manny Relator (2013), Mauli'a LaBarre (2012), and Pono Ma'a (2011).
 
Pestolesi, a two-year letterman for the 'Bows from 1982-83, earned third-team AVCA All-America honors in 1983. He began his career at Long Beach State before transferring to play for then-head coach Dave Shoji at Hawai'i, where he was a two-time second-team all-California Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. He still ranks fourth all-time at UH with a 1.42 career blocking average.
 
After graduating from UH in 1983 with a degree in physical education, Pestolesi taught at Estancia High School, where he also coached the boys' and girls' volleyball teams. Among his former players included Adam Lockwood and Brandi Brooks, both of whom went on to star for Hawai'i. He moved on to teach at Newport Harbor High School in 1993, where he coached Olympian Misty May as well as former Rainbow Wahine setter Jennifer Carey and USC All-American April Ross.
 
Pestolesi helped to start the Irvine Valley College men's team in 1991 and led them to state titles in 1993, 2007, and '08. He continues to coach the IVC women's program while also overseeing the men's program as its Director of Volleyball. As head coach of the IVC women, Pestolesi led the Lasers to six state championship appearances with a runner-up in 2003 and third place finishes in 2009 and '13.
 
An avid beach volleyball player, Pestolesi helped start the sport of women's sand volleyball for the California Community Colleges and led IVC to the 2013 sand championships.
 
He is the currently the Hall of Fame Director for the California Community College Men's Coaches Association and is the department chair for the Irvine Valley College's Kinesiology department. Pestolesi is married to the former Diane Sebastian, who was a three-time All-American for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball program and they have three children; Tommy, Kari, and Danny.
 
The A'o a Koa Scholarship dinner is in its fourth year and is a fun-filled opportunity to meet head coach Charlie Wade and his staff and the current Rainbow Warrior volleyball team. The coaching staff includes Jeff Hall, who returns for his fourth year and third as associate coach and new assistant coach Milan Zarkovic. Several former Warriors will also be on hand to socialize and sign autographs.
 
Proceeds will be used to help fund the summer school scholarships, recruiting, video equipment and additional/camp staff for Rainbow Warrior Volleyball. The event also features a silent auction with sports memorabilia, travel, golf, hotel and event ticket packages, dinner certificates and other great items.
 
A portion of the cost is tax deductable under IRS Chapter 501 C (3).