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BYU-Hawaii has been ranked the top college in the State of Hawaii by bestcolleges.com.

On May 10th, 11 BYU-Hawaii Political Science Major students attended a practicum in Washington D.C. The trip ended with 15 meetings with over 20 professionals, 4 graduate schools with multiple programs, 1 job offer extended, internships gained, and many people willing to be contacted in D.C. for future outreach. The students included Mark Caubalejo from the Philippines, Curtis Delfin from Guam, Siale Hola from Tonga, Erica Knight from the USA, Devin Masse from the USA, Christine Morte from the Philippines, Florencia Sindoro from Indonesia, Zou Suke from the People Republic of China, Jacqueline Tapia from the USA, Kelvin Westerlund from Samoa, and Amber Woodland from Great Britain. Troy Smith, an instructor for the political science department that accompanied the students to the practicum, said that this trip “gets students out of the books and classroom and into the laboratory where a certain form of politics is practiced.” Bill Nixon, involved in Policy Impact Communication, said this, “Tammy and I always look forward to hosting the political science students from Brigham Young University-Hawaii for a barbecue at the house followed by a deep and never dull discussion about how business gets done in Washington, DC. They are remarkable students. We look forward to next time!” Troy also mentioned that it provides opportunities for internships, career possibilities, and graduate school programs. A number of people offered contact information for the students to use in the future. According to Matt McGhie, from the Senate Legislative Counsel, he really enjoyed meeting with the students. He said, “…I am confident that all of them will make meaningful contributions to society in whatever capacity they choose to serve.” The goal, in essence, was to spread the “message that BYU-Hawaii students can succeed if they work hard, persist, and behave professionally.” As seen from the students’ success, this goal was fulfilled. Troy said that this was the fourth practicum trip in 9 years and it will now be an annual trip.

On June 8, 2017 the Spring 2017 Commencement speech will be given by Elder Ulisses Soares, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.

Image by: Olivia Tsan

LAIE, Hawaii – Eni F. H. Faleomavaega, former U.S. Congressional Representative for American Samoa and BYU–Hawaii alumnus (Class of 1964), passed away on February 22 surrounded by loved ones in his home in Provo, Utah. He is survived by his wife, Hinanui, and five children, two of whom also attended BYU–Hawaii.

BYU–Hawaii learned on Tuesday, February 21, that the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is adding the university to its list of more than 227 postsecondary institutions under investigation. These investigations relate to the federal government’s requirements for responding to reports of sexual harassment.

Brigham Young University‒Hawaii has been named as one of the Best Value Small Colleges for a Business Administration Degree in a recent ranking by Best Value School. BYU‒Hawaii was ranked 2nd on the feature and was additionally recognized for the specialization in Operations and Supply Chain Management.

On Monday, February 20, the community came out to support the Men and Women’s Seasider basketball teams in the Cannon Activities Center as they played their last Seasider basketball games. The athletics department recognized that this special evening for players and the community by arranging special activities to send them out with a bang. Besides a white out theme, ice cream and giveaways, including the opportunity to win a car by shooting and making a half court shot, though the community member just barely missed on that chance! However, the teams played with true determination with musicians performing in half time and activities for the supporters throughout the games.

Kalin Uluave, Brigham Young University—Hawaii student majoring in business management, was selected by Entrepreneurs’ Organization Hawaii as the winner of the 2017 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards statewide qualifier.

The Winter 2017 musical of “Into the Woods” sponsored by the English & Theater Department premiers this week. This is the first production with new head of theater Kristl Densley, replacing the retired Dr. Craig Ferre. Before coming to BYU-Hawaii, Kristl Densley taught theatre and acting at Penn State and Indiana University. She has directed musicals, plays, and operas. Densley herself is a theatre practitioner and an actor.

BYU‒Hawaii officially announces the new academic calendar that will run September-June. BYU‒Hawaii will implement this new calendar starting the semester of Fall 2017. From the revision are significant changes of which to take note.

BYU-Hawaii and the Kaio Family are co-owners of the land in question. BYU-Hawaii has been working with and will continue to work together with the Kaio Ohana LLC to resolve this matter.

The Seasiders Women’s Basketball team has recently returned from a successful Northern California road trip where junior guard, Safia Sheikh, was named Pacific West Conference Player of the Week.

As the first devotional of the semester, President John Tanner welcomed all faculty, staff, and new and returning students for the 2016-2017 Winter semester. This school period began Monday, November 7, just one week after the Commencement Ceremony of the previous fall semester.

With almost 300 graduates, along with family, friends, and professors of BYUH, in attendance the Cannon Activities Center was full in attendance to listen to Elder Neil L. Andersen, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addressed graduates, their families, and the BYUH campus at the Fall Commencement at BYU-Hawaii 20016 in the Cannon Activities Center.

BYU-Hawaii proudly announces Laura Moana Tevaga as the new head of the University Communications & Relations Department. Laura succeeds Michael A. Johanson as Director of Communications and Marketing. Michael had been serving in this capacity since January 2009 until the beginning of this fall, upon transferring to Brigham Young University in Provo as Director of Alumni Outreach & Communications.

BYU-Hawaii began their Fall theater production season with the play “The Real Inspector Hound.” Written by British playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard, the play tells of two theatre critics who find themselves in the middle of the plot’s action. As a satire on the classic murder mystery, some of the events in the play-within-the-play start to parallel events in the lives of the critics. This featured production had a four night showing schedule from Wednesday, September 29, through Saturday, October 1.

MEXICO CITY—Fredo Solar, a BYU-Hawaii graduate of accounting, has started a chocolate factory in Mexico City. Solar is proud of making one of the best chocolate products in Mexico, but even more important for him is how Bucareli Chocolate helps those who can’t help themselves – something that is embodied in the company’s slogan: “changing lives has never been sweeter.”