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Tiare Sabellano-Tsutsui

For someone who once didn’t believe in the power of higher education, Tiare Sabellano-Tsutsui has just earned an impressive academic accolade. The graduating College of Social Sciences senior in the Honors Program, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, was selected as student speaker at UH Mānoa’s 2022 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13. Sabellano-Tsutsui remembers how, when she graduated from Pearl City High School in 2011, she went straight to work for seven years.

“After a lifetime of believing I wasn’t good enough for college, I entered Kapiʻolani Community College before transferring to UH Mānoa,” said the 28-year-old Wahiawā resident. “I instantly fell in love with higher education.”

More highlights from the commencement ceremonies and our amazing graduates

At UH, Sabellano-Tsutsui became the epitome of an involved student—serving as a tutor, peer mentor, academic coach and teacher assistant. She was an editor for both Kapiʻolani CC and UH Mānoa student journals; developed and hosted Zen mindfulness classes via Zoom for Kapiʻolani CC students during COVID-19’s impactful first semester; and worked as a research assistant for faculty in psychology, psychiatry and public health. In addition, she volunteered weekly for the UH Mānoa Prison Education Project—co-teaching positive psychology and developing mindful awareness exercises and lessons for inmates at Hawaiʻi correctional facilities.

Off campus, she is a black-belt sensei (teacher) in karate; likes to try different sushi restaurants; and keeps fit and agile by practicing traditional Chinese lion dance. She hopes to enjoy a fun summer before joining the master’s program in fall 2022 at the UH Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health. After that, she is determined to earn a PhD in social welfare, then start a non-profit organization or become a university faculty member.

As a commencement student speaker, what is her message to fellow graduates?

“With everything going on in our world, these times call for individuals like us to rise and become the best versions of ourselves for humanity,” said Sabellano-Tsutsui. “May the breath of Mānoa be always at our backs as we venture forth into this great unknown we call life.”

Sabellano-Tsutsui’s experiences in higher education is an example of UH Mānoa’s goal of Enhancing Student Success (PDF), one of four goals identified in the 2015–25 Strategic Plan (PDF), updated in December 2020.

The student speakers for UH Mānoa’s 2022 commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14 are Maansi Murty, candidate for bachelor of science in biology, and Genice Tran, candidate for bachelor of education in elementary education. For more on the student speakers, visit the UH Mānoa commencement website.

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