The BYU–Hawaii Student Chapter of the BYU Management Society received the Dean’s Gold Chapter of Excellence Award for the second year in a row, making BYU–Hawaii the only current student chapter that has received this award. Representatives for the BYU–Hawaii student chapter including Dr. Helena Hannonen, Ryan Chaffin, David Preece and David Dooley, accepted the award at the annual Global Leadership Conference held in Aspen Grove and Provo, Utah, October 4 and 5. The picture above includes two BYU–Hawaii alumni, Akmurat Edgee, Mongolia chapter president, and Shin Yasutarni, Tokyo chapter president, with Ryan Chaffin, BYU–Hawaii student chapter president, after they accepted their awards.
The Dean’s Gold Chapter of Excellence Award is the highest honor a chapter of BYU Management Society can receive. It is especially noteworthy that the BYU–Hawaii Student Chapter has received this award since there are over 100 chapters worldwide and only three student chapters.
Read more about the first time they received the award.
Awards from the BYU Management Society are given annually and must be applied for each year. Every September chapters submit an application on chapter activity for the past 12 months to qualify for awards. Requirements to qualify for the Dean’s Gold Chapter of Excellence include holding at least one monthly activity and having a monthly board meeting where chapter leadership meets with the advisor. “We often do more depending on the different events we co-sponsor,” said Ryan Chaffin, chapter president. “We must also have a certain level of active participation, as well as a president and a president elect and required leadership roles filled.” With the dedication of the student leadership, as well as help from their advisor, the BYU–Hawaii Student Chapter fulfilled, and exceeded, those requirements for the second year in a row.
BYU-Hawaii has had a student chapter for about five years. Dr. Hannonen holds a position on the Global Steering Committee of the Management Society, and was a member and president of the Silicon Valley Chapter, which is often looked to as the flagship chapter of the society, before coming to BYU–Hawaii. With responsibility over the Pacific regions, including Asia and Hawaii, Dr. Hannonen saw the opportunity to establish a student chapter at our international campus. “When we begin the development of moral and ethical leaders among students, they are better prepared to lead in their homes, places of employment, the Church, and community,” said Hannonen. “There is a perfect alignment between the BYU Management Society and the BYU–Hawaii mission and vision. Both attempt to fill the void that exists in the world for competent, ethical leaders. This organization is not a student club, it is a professional organization which prepares students to work side-by-side with business, Church and community leaders.”
With a growing student chapter on campus, members can take advantage of the lifelong benefits of being a part of the Management Society. There are 440 current students involved in the BYU–Hawaii Student Chapter. The average student participation in years past has been around 300. Although members mainly include upperclassmen, all are invited to participate and maximize their exposure to the organization. Not only does membership include opportunities for leadership, but it also provides a large network for future careers. “We have liaisons who reach out to home chapters and regions and who work as networks for our students to connect back to their home areas,” said Chaffin.
BYU Management Society was originally established in 1977 with the sponsorship of the BYU Marriott School of Management. The Management Society’s mission is to cultivate ethical and moral leaders around the world.