Emily Sinkovic

Brother Clayton Christensen of the Harvard Business School urged students, faculty, and staff at a devotional on April 19, 2011, to “follow God’s ways, and not our own, as we wield our sickles with our might.” Brother Christensen recounted some of his personal experiences with missionary work and gave some tips for sharing the gospel more effectively.

On April 19, 2011, EcoEffect radio (KGU-AM 760) featured students from BYU–Hawaii on its daily sustainability show. The show, “Charlene on Green” is hosted by Charlene Brown, a graduate from BYU (Provo), and focuses on household and organizational efforts to move toward a more sustainable community. BYU–Hawaii students Chad Jansrikesorn, Lani Harris, Molly Alofipo, and Theresa Holmes discussed various campus initiatives they have been involved in through employment and academics.

During the winter semester, BYU–Hawaii Marketing Research students participated in a consulting project with Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku, and on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, the students presented their recommendations to Turtle Bay Resort executives, including the general manager and resort manager. The project dealt particularly with the Turtle Bay Escape Club and was given to students early in the semester with a Request for Proposal. Throughout the semester, students prepared a proposal, conducted and transcribed two focus groups, wrote and collected data on two surveys, and analyzed the data before presenting their findings and recommendations to the manager of the Escape Club. Dr. Lenard Huff, the Marketing Research professor, stated, "The general manager was so impressed that she wants to talk with us about setting up some permanent student internships for BYU–Hawaii students."

Approximately 380 students participated in the BYU–Hawaii commencement exercises on April 9, 2011. As the distinguished guest speaker, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared his vision of the future with graduates. The audience laughed at his observation, "There is good news and bad news," and listened intently to his hope for the future.

BYU–Hawaii President Steven Wheelwright unveiled the university’s new Framework for Student Learning with students in March 2011. Four sessions were held to accommodate students’ schedules and to create a more personal setting. Introducing the Framework, President Wheelwright passed out a case study, then broke the audience into groups of four to six people and asked the students to discuss the issue with a specific question in mind: “Why don’t students often learn what we plan for them to learn?”

The entire BYU–Hawaii ohana has felt the effects of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan and is united in their efforts to assist in any way possible to relieve the suffering of both the individuals in Japan and also the members of the university ohana who have been impacted by these disasters. “Our hearts go out to our Japanese students,” says Debbie Hippolite Wright, vice president for student development & services. “Our prayers and love are with them and we as a university ohana are doing everything possible to ensure that they are taken care of.”

Joining a youth community basketball team isn’t such a strange thing to do – unless walking into your teammate’s neighborhood means that you get pelted with rocks or urine-filled balloons. Your parents would probably be supportive of you joining the team – unless you had already lost them to AIDS. Basketball doesn’t usually connote the words peace or health – unless you play for PeacePlayers International. To individuals separated from their families, community members, or fellow countrymen by race, disease, religion, or politics, a dream of creating “peace internationally” is just that – a dream. That is why BYU–Hawaii was a perfect gathering place for PeacePlayers International managing directors and volunteers from South Africa, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, and the United States in February 2011.

“The only real training for leadership is leadership." This quote by English author Antony Jay can be found not only in words on the new Haumana Adventures website, but also in the development of the students who have initiated this new campus rental service. Many students have had the idea to start a rental service on campus, but one thing that makes BYU–Hawaii students Abram Wimmer, Felix Callejas, Adam Fox, and Jake Hansen unique is that their ideas have become more than just a brainstorm. Partnered with the Student Leadership & Honor staff and the Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship, the student team is utilizing and building their entrepreneurship and leadership skills with their fellow students in mind.

In an effort to better prepare incoming freshman for their college experience, the BYU–Hawaii Admissions office has initiated a new program called Holomua. “We decided to provide this program so we can better work with students on a personal level on our campus,” says Assistant Director of Admissions Asai Gilman. The program gives high school juniors the chance to experience university life while preparing for entrance exams and enjoying the beauty of the campus for a week during the summer.