Student speakers Diego Haʻaheo Ortiz and Erica-Skyler Malie Salvador Holokai and guest speaker Walter A. Dods Jr. encouraged the graduates to keep pushing forward, love themselves and support their communities.
The initiative is designed to give students greater flexibility while helping them stay on track toward graduation.
Mercy Cheng said her experience at UH Mānoa transformed not only her education, but also her confidence.
Holokai plans to return home to Maui, where she hopes to open a private practice alongside her mother and give back to the local community.
Student entrepreneurs from across Hawaiʻi earned top honors at the 2026 UH Venture Competition finals at Mānoa.
Ortiz describes the university as a “second home” that supported his personal growth.
The program is expected to continue in future semesters with an emphasis on expanding student participation and strengthening connections.
The spring program ran every Saturday from January through April and offered both in-person classes at UH and online through Zoom.
The 14-week pilot program paired 20 engineering students with 20 mentors in individualized, one-on-one matches.
Rocket League requires strategy, communication, teamwork and quick decision-making under pressure.
