The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business celebrated the power of giving and education at its annual Scholarship Luncheon, held at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, November 3. More than 300 donors and students gathered for an afternoon of connection and sharing stories about how scholarship support is transforming lives and shaping Hawaiʻi’s future business leaders.
During the 2024–25 academic year, Shidler College awarded more than $1.2 million in scholarships to more than 300 students. Scholarship support allows students to focus on their academics, gain global experiences and participate in meaningful extracurricular and community activities that might not otherwise be possible.
For a complete list of scholarship awards and recipients, visit the Shidler College website.
“Witnessing the transformative impact of scholarship support in a single room is incredibly moving,” Shidler College Dean Vance Roley, said. “Each story shared today is a powerful reminder of what can happen when generosity meets opportunity. Our donors are not only investing in education—they’re investing in Hawaiʻi’s future leaders, innovators and changemakers. We are deeply grateful for their continued commitment to the mission of the college.”
‘Grit, curiosity and purpose’
This year’s donor speaker was Roland Casamina (BBA ’76), chairman and CEO of House of Finance, Inc., and founding president of the Filipino Community Center. Casamina’s giving to the college includes a $50,000 endowed scholarship benefiting undergraduate business students and a $250,000 gift to modernize the Roland and Evelyn Casamina House of Finance Undergraduate Student Leadership Center—a hub for mentoring and student leadership development.
“Growing up in Kalihi, I didn’t see people like me in leadership roles,” said Casamina. “That inspired me to create opportunities for others through my endowed scholarship at Shidler College. You are the proof that with grit, curiosity and purpose, anything is possible—so work hard, stay true and build the world you want to see.”
The event featured two student speakers—undergraduate student Siddalee Amaral and graduate student Tracyn Nagata (also event coordinator for UH Mānoa’s Office of the Provost)—who shared heartfelt stories about how scholarship support has shaped their educational journeys. They spoke about how their scholarships reduced financial burdens and enabled them to experience study abroad opportunities. They also shared how they felt inspired to give back to their communities.
These stories of student success and donor generosity are reflected in the college’s recent achievements, including increased undergraduate enrollment—despite a national downward trend—and more than 90% of graduates securing employment or pursuing higher education within three months of graduation.
Enterprise once again served as title sponsor for the event and the Shidler College of Business Alumni Association served as gold sponsor, with Hawaii Business magazine continuing as exclusive media sponsor for the seventh consecutive year.
To support Shidler College scholarships, contact Jennifer Lieu, director of development, at jennifer.lieu@uhfoundation.org or (808) 956-3597.
