Brigham Young University Hawaii is pleased to announce Tin Yan Lee, of Hong Kong, and David Rainey, of Boise, Idaho, as co-valedictorians for the graduating class of June 2007. In the history of Brigham Young University-Hawaii, co-valedictorians have been awarded four times - 1979, 1980, 1982 and 1992.
Grace Tin Yan Lee, an English major, completed her undergraduate studies here in three years. Lee, who also has a minor in International Cultural Studies-Humanities, explained it was "challenging" for her to attend BYU-Hawaii because at first her father, Cecil Wing Chuen Lee, "didn't want me to come, mostly because he thought I could do as well in Hong Kong and he didn't want me to leave the family; but I wanted to study creative writing, and my mother, Liana Lee, supported my decision."
“Grace is a student with an exceptional mind,” said Ned Williams, English Department chair. “She is not only well-organized, but grasps complex concepts quickly. She writes and speaks with clarity and elegance.” (read more )
David Rainey, is graduating with majors in Biology (Pre-Med) and Music (cello), and minors in Biochemistry and Mathematics. Although Rainey was born in Hailey, Idaho, as a child he also lived in South Korea, Utah, and California, before returning to Boise, Idaho, where his parents, Steven and Young Ju Rainey, currently reside.
As part of his studies at BYU-Hawaii, Rainey has been involved in genetic research as part of a school study on the Pacific Golden Plover, and has been guided in his own original research, which he is preparing for publication. ( read more )
