As president of the University of Hawaiʻi Letterwinners Club, UH Mānoa alumna Jackie Donovan is trying to connect past and current student athletes. The club hosts alumni at UH sporting events to maximize support for the athletics department and current student athletes. The former thrower on the track and field team (2012–2015) started her term in 2025.
The club’s Legacy Initiative is a multi-phased approach to creating gathering places for celebrating, honoring and sharing UH’s rich athletic history. There are currently displays in both Bankoh Arena and Les Murakami stadium showcasing trophies, jerseys and other memorabilia. The long term goal is to develop a facility within the UH athletic complex to share the history of all sports programs.
“It’s really critical to share the school’s athletic heritage because everybody has a story,” said Donovan. “Everybody has their story, and it’s just amazing to honor all those stories in very different ways, and we wouldn’t be here without the people who were here before us.”
Continued growth
Donovan works as a business planning and strategy analyst for Bank of Hawaiʻi. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2014 and a master’s degree in kinesiology and rehabilitation science in 2015.
Staying connected to UH and its alumni has given her opportunities both personally and professionally. She urges current student athletes to take advantage of every opportunity the school has to offer.
“A lot of your learning doesn’t come from being in the classroom. It comes from things outside of the classroom,” Donovan said. “Being connected to the Letterwinners has helped to grow my network. Staying connected to the university has helped me to continue to grow, and I appreciate that.”
Family legacy
The Donovan family takes pride in representing UH. There are eight UH Mānoa degrees between Jackie, her brother Josh, dad Jim, and mom Tracy. Josh and Jim lettered on the football team. Jim also served as athletics director, and Tracy previously worked in the UH Mānoa chancellor’s office and UH Office of Communications.
Jackie Donovan said, “I think we just really want to see the university thrive in all the ways possible athletics, academics or research. We just want to see that university succeed.”
