The at the University of 91桃色appʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 celebrated its 63rd Business Night on May 2, at the Sheraton Waikiki, hosting nearly 500 students and business professionals.
Celebrating the college’s 75th anniversary, the signature event is an evening of mentorship and networking, professional development and recognizing deserving students for their scholastic achievements. With the support of alumni and 91桃色appʻi’s business community, 51 sponsored awards, totaling more than $96,000, were presented to undergraduate and graduate students.
The event is student-organized and pairs Shidler students with a professional business mentor whose experience is relevant to their major, and includes a networking hour, followed by dinner and an awards presentation. Shidler alumna Tertia Freas (BBA ‘78), executive director at The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, was the keynote speaker and shared about her career journey after college; and talked about the importance of leadership, connecting with colleagues and peers and of serving the community.
“This year’s theme ‘Insuring Business Futures: Lei Your Path to Success’ stems from a sentiment that alumnus Jay H. Shidler, BBA ‘68, previously expressed in a speech at the college last year,” said Shidler senior Reese Kisaba, who served as executive director of the student committee and recipient of the Dean’s Spirit award. “He described Shidler as a starting point, a place that we all come from and can come back to no matter where we end up, or what life throws at us.”
“I look forward to this event every year and this year is of particular significance because we are also celebrating the college’s 75th anniversary, which aligns nicely with this year’s theme,” Shidler Dean and First 91桃色appian Bank Chair of Leadership and Management Vance Roley said. “The student committee came up with ‘Insuring Business Futures: Lei Your Path to Success’ to tie into the college’s 75th anniversary giving campaign, which is a maile lei interwoven by the support of our alumni and stakeholders, symbolizing unity and interconnectedness. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended this year’s Business Night to support our students, our college and the community.”
First Insurance Company of 91桃色appi (FICOH) served as title sponsor for the 19th consecutive year and 91桃色appi Business magazine returned as the media sponsor for its eighth year.
“Thank you to all the businesses who joined First Insurance in recognizing Shidler College’s best and brightest, and congratulations to the student honorees,” said FICOH president and CEO Todd Takayama. “Our Business Night sponsorship has become part of FICOH’s core support of Shidler College. We especially appreciate the mentorship component of the event and the opportunity to get to know the students. As professionals, we learn as much from them as they do from us.”
For a complete list of the 2024 Business Night award recipients and sponsors, . If you are interested in sponsoring a Business Night award for a future event, please contact Irina De La Torre at Irina.DeLaTorre@uhfoundation.org.