The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) has been recognized as one of the world’s top university entrepreneurship programs, winning an award for outstanding student engagement and leadership.
The honor was announced at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers annual conference, held in November in Boston. The conference is the largest gathering of university entrepreneurship center leaders in the world.
“This national recognition validates our innovative approach to entrepreneurship education and comes at a pivotal moment as we are already in our second year in the Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center,” PACE Executive Director Sandra Fujiyama said. “Our new home has allowed us to expand our already successful programs and create even more opportunities for students to develop their entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills. The RISE Center represents our commitment to fostering the next generation of Hawaiʻi’s business leaders and innovators.”
PACE earned the award in the category for schools with more than 7,500 students. It recognizes excellence in engaging and developing student leaders through university entrepreneurship programs.
“This recognition underscores the exceptional work that PACE has been providing to the UH System for nearly 25 years,” Shidler College of Business Dean Vance Roley said. “PACE has been a catalyst in launching budding careers and businesses, fostering entrepreneurial thinking, and cross-disciplinary collaboration across UH. With the newly established Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center, we’re excited to see the many possibilities and ideations that will emerge.”
PACE offers more than 15 free programs that cater to students from every discipline at UH Mānoa and all other UH campuses across the system. Six of them are led by PACE Leaders, a program that gives students the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and lead events and opportunities for their fellow students. The 2025–26 priority application deadline for PACE Leaders is January 31, 2025.
In academic year 2023–24, PACE supported 100+ new ideas, supported 825+ students, offered 150+ activities, and distributed $250,000+ in awards and scholarships.
For more, visit PACE’s website.
PACE is housed in UH Mānoa’s Shidler College of Business.
