Approximately 550 students representing 46 different countries will participate in the upcoming BYU–Hawaii commencement exercises on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Out of the 46 countries represented, this is the first graduation to include a graduate from the British Virgin Islands and Lebanon. Addressing the graduates will be Elder Richard J. Maynes, Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Commencement will be held at 9:30 AM in the George Q. Cannon Activities Center and will be streamed live online.
The student speaker will be Karen Iwamoto, from Quezon City, Philippines, who is graduating with a degree in TESOL.
Elder Richard J. Maynes was called as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy on January 20, 2012. Elder Maynes earned a bachelor of science degree in business management from Brigham Young University. He later earned an MBA from Thunderbird: School of Global Management. He was the owner and CEO of a factory automation company before serving in many capacities for the LDS Church including executive director of the Family History Department, assistant executive director of the Priesthood Department and Missionary Department, as well as president of the Philippines and South America West Areas and Mexico Monterrey Mission.
Click here to see some of last semester's graduates.