BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright said he now better “understands the challenges and issues” faced by the people of Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji after visiting the three island nations during the month of June. President Wheelwright made the trip with Elder James J. Hamula, a member of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and first counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency. This was part of a joint effort between BYU–Hawaii and the Area Presidency to prepare more students to receive higher education.
During the trip, President Wheelwright and Elder Hamula met with the mission presidents and missionaries of the Nuku’alofa Tonga Mission, the Samoa Mission, and the Fiji Mission. They also met with all 39 stake presidents from the three countries, held nine firesides, met with all the teachers of the six LDS Church-owned schools, met with all the students of five of the schools, distributed brochures and other materials, and attended training meetings for seminary and institute leaders. “We see this as the start of an effort to see more people moving in the path of achieving higher education,” said President Wheelwright
President Wheelwright expressed the hope that his visit with Elder Hamula to the islands will inspire and excite more young people to prepare themselves to enter BYU–Hawaii or other institutions of higher learning. (Left: Youth and parents from several stakes prepare to return home after a fireside held with President Wheelwright and Elder Hamula; where there were about 2000 people in attendance)
The University is exploring other methods to reach out to more LDS returned missionaries to increase interest in coming to Laie. This includes working closely with mission presidents within the Pacific Area. “Mission presidents have great influence over their missionaries,” President Wheelwright explained, who is a former mission president of the London England Mission. “This is why we are taking this new approach.”
Wheelwright also used his visit to share the characteristics that BYU–Hawaii looks for in its future students. First, they must have a testimony of the gospel and be living the gospel standards in order to be considered to attend BYU-Hawaii. Second, students need to have sufficient English knowledge and ability to succeed. And third, BYU–Hawaii looks for students who have demonstrated the capability of succeeding in the University’s academic programs.
Photos courtesy of President Wheelwright.