Commendation
presented to
Eric B. Shumway
June 20, 2007
On behalf of the people of Hawai’i, we send greetings of aloha and offer our congratulations on your retirement as President of Brigham Young University Hawai’i, following 13 years of dedicated service.
You have devoted more than 41 years to BYU-Hawai’i, serving as a faculty member, department chair, vice president and president. It is a tremendous responsibility to provide leadership for a university such as BYU-Hawai’i, whose mission is to educate the minds, hearts and character of students while developing leadership skills in a multicultural environment. Your service has advanced the University’s vision to educate students who will positively influence the world and promote international peace.
Under your leadership as President, the University has grown and built on its strong foundation. Through your collaboration with BYU in Provo, Utah, you helped enhance your University’s fundraising ability, establishing an initial group of committed donors. You also oversaw the growth of campus facilities, including the launch of the Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian Language and Culture Studies. Perhaps most importantly, you helped revamp BYU-Hawai’i’s curriculum requirements, a feat many people thought was too difficult to accomplish, in order to help more students graduate within four years. As a direct result of your successful efforts, graduation rates improved dramatically. Moreover, your legacy will extend well into the years to come through your establishment of the BYU-Hawai’i Futures Committee, which will ensure the University will continue to strengthen its programs for future students.
We join the BYU-Hawai’i community in extending a warm Mahalo for your long and distinguished service, as well as our best wishes for you and Carolyn as you serve as President and Matron of the Nuku’alofa Tonga Temple.
Aloha,
Linda Lingle James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr.
Governor, State of Hawai’i Lieutenant Governor, State of Hawai’i