HONOLULU – Former University of Hawai'i women's volleyball player Barbara "Bobbie" Perry is the recipient of the 2023 Kāne Fernandez Community Service Award, presented by the UH Letterwinners Club.
 
Perry will receive her award during halftime of the men's basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 24 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
One of the early stars of the Rainbow Wahine volleyball program, Perry was a two-year letterwinner for the UH club team (before it became a sanctioned NCAA sport a few years later). She later joined USA Volleyball and was a starter on the 1968 Olympic team. She was also a member of the 1966 World Championship team and 1967 and 1971 Pan American Games teams. The Kamehameha Schools graduate also competed on the track team at UH.
 
Perry retired from teaching at Punahou School where she coached and taught P.E. and was also the P.E. Department Chair. She remains active in the community currently serving as the Executive Director of the Hawai'i Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance and as a member of SHAPE America (the Society of Health and Physical Educators). Perry is well known in the community for her tireless contributions promoting health and wellness locally as well as nationally.
 
The UHLWC presents the award annually to a past letterwinner who has volunteered unselfishly to further advance the community. The award is named for the late Kāne Fernandez, chairman and chief executive office of Fernandez Entertainment, who passed away in 2001 and is one of the original members of the UHLWC.
 
The UH Letterwinners Club is comprised of former student-athletes of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.