PBN's Dicus to keynote UH Hilo's fall commencement

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Contact:
Alyson Kakugawa-Leong, (808) 974-7642
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Posted: Dec 6, 2006

HILO, Hawaii - Hawaiʻi business reporter Howard Dicus will deliver the keynote address during the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo‘s fall commencement, scheduled for Saturday, December 16, 2006 at the UH Hilo New Gym beginning at 9:00 a.m. Degrees or certificates will be awarded to students representing the College of Arts and Sciences (198), College of Business and Economics (28), College of Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resource Management (12), and Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikolani College of Hawaiian Language (6). Dicus has become one of the most recognized individuals in Hawaiʻi‘ business community through his extensive work in print, radio and television. As the Web and Broadcast Editor for Pacific Business News (PBN), Dicus writes most of the local business stories that appear on the PBN Website, which he also airs live each weekday morning on KHON TV and Hawaiʻi Public Radio (HPR). He separately writes, produces and hosts the weekly television program "PBN Friday" on PBS Hawaiʻi (KHET) featuring interviews with members of the local business community, workers and entrepreneurs on how Hawaiʻi works. Dicus also files technology and economic reports which air on WTOP Newsradio in Washington,D.C.

Before moving to Hawaiʻi, Dicus worked as a radio network newscaster whose reports were heard on AP Radio, UPI Radio, the Mutual Broadcasting System, and National Public Radio. His love for broadcasting and journalism has led him to pursue other interests within the field. While with United Press International, Dicus reviewed books and CDs and wrote a humor column. And he recently began hosting a Saturday morning classical music program on Hawaiʻi Public Radio called "Howard's Day Off." Melvin Jadulang, a communication major from Kapaʻau, will be the student speaker. Jadulang, who carries a 3.71 GPA, has compiled a lengthy list of academic achievements. He has made the Dean‘s List eight times since Fall 2001, earned a UH Hilo Leadership Scholarship in 2001, was named a UH System Presidential Scholar in 2003 and received honorable mention to USA Today‘s 2005 All-USA College Academic Team.

His campus activities include serving as a senator and secretary for the UH Hilo Student Association (UHHSA), which twice recognized him for outstanding contributions, president of the Filipino Club, an agricultural development program peer advisor, Web designer for the University‘s student newspaper and a student volunteer in the UH Hilo Admissions Office.

Equally active in community affairs, Jadulang served as a legislative youth issues co-chair, working with high school and college students to develop and lobby for legislation concerning secondary and post-secondary education, agriculture and world community development. He currently serves as treasurer for the Hawaiʻi Future Farmers of America Foundation Board and regularly speaks at civic forums in public schools. His address, entitled "A Leaders Choice," will focus on the choices students make and their impact on the future.

For more information about commencement, please contact Commencement Coordinator Justina Mattos at 936-1193 or email commence@hawaii.edu. For accommodations, contact Susan Shirachi at 933-0816 (V) or 974-7335 (TTY). Requests for special accommodations should be made at least 10 business days prior to the event.