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Annie Lin, undergraduate student representative; David McCleary, graduate student representative; Chris Sbarbaro, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Hawaiʻi; Guy Kamitaki, Maui Varieties; Brandon Kurisu, Upspring Media (aio); Vance Roley, Shidler College of Business and Unyong Nakata, Shidler College of Business.

The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa celebrated its successful scholarship program with more than 270 business students and scholarship donors at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in November. The college awarded more than $1 million in 340 scholarships for the 2017–2018 academic year.

The Shidler College of Business has the most robust scholarship program in the entire UH System. Since 2005, the number of scholarships awarded more than doubled from 161 to 340. On average, 15 percent of Shidler students receive merit-based scholarship support.

For the fourth consecutive year, Enterprise Rent-A-Car served as the title sponsor for the luncheon. Prior to the luncheon, Enterprise presented a workshop on career and professional development aimed at preparing students for future success.

“Enterprise Rent-A-Car is proud to play a role in the helping to support the development of the future leaders of Hawaiʻi through our continued partnership with the Shidler College of Business,” said Chris Sbarbaro, vice president of sales and marketing, and external affairs of Enterprise.

2017 scholarship luncheon

This year’s luncheon featured keynote speaker and scholarship donor Guy Kamitaki, co-owner and treasurer of Maui Varieties, Ltd. (HouseMart), the parent company of ACE Hardware Hawaiʻi and Ben Franklin Crafts. In 2013, the Kamitaki family established a $35,000 endowed scholarship in honor of their parents Tadami and Kimei Kamitaki, and in 2017 they donated $200,000 to renovate and name the Shidler’s Career Services Office to support student internships and job placement.

“It is an honor to recognize and celebrate the generosity of our donors,” said Vance Roley, dean of the Shidler College of Business. “This annual event provides the college with an opportunity to share heartwarming stories of giving and its extraordinary impact on students so that donors can experience the impact of their generosity.”

Undergraduate student speaker Annie Lin said, “Scholarships have served as a catalyst for me to take on new opportunities and explore a variety of career paths, experience diverse cultures and become involved in my community—all which would not have been accessible without financial support.” Lin received the May and Richard Leung Endowed Scholarship. She plans to attend the Stern School of Business at New York University for her master’s degree and eventually work in the airline and travel industry.

Graduate student speaker David McCleary enrolled in the Global MBA program to find his true passion. “Today, I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been given. I have been honored and blessed to serve as the Graduate Business Student Association president, get involved in the community, and meet amazing people that I can now call my mentors, colleagues, and friends,” said McCleary. With his focus on business operations and analytics, McCleary plans to use his skills to help businesses function more efficiently. McCleary received the Jack and Zelie Myers Endowed Scholarship and the Shidler College of Business Endowed Scholarship for Future Leaders.

To view a full list of the 2017-2018 scholarship recipients and event photos visit the 2017 scholarship luncheon website.

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