More than 200 professional mentors and over 250 students attended this year’s event for a fun evening of networking and business development. 49 awards totalling over $90,000 were presented to the college’s outstanding undergraduate and graduate students thanks to the generous assistance of Hawai’i’s business sector.
After hosting it digitally for the past two years, the University of Hawai’i at Mnoa Shidler College of Business celebrated the in-person return of Business Night, its signature student event, on May 5 at the Sheraton Waikk. Over the past six decades, the annual event has connected Shidler students with Hawaii’s finest business leaders while rewarding the college’s top students for their achievements.
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This year’s keynote speaker featured Shidler alumna Wendy Peterson, BBA ’82, JD ’85, general counsel at Knobbe Martens, who shared her own experiences as a student as well as her vibrant career journey. First Insurance Company of Hawaii (FICOH) served as title sponsor for the 17th consecutive year and Hawaii Business Magazine returned as the media sponsor for its sixth year.
“After nearly three years of change, learning and building relationships across distances of 6 feet to 6,000 miles, this year’s theme of ‘Exploring First Horizons’ is something we can all easily relate to,” said Shidler College senior Natalie Kwon, who served as executive director of the student committee and received the Outstanding Senior in Marketing award. “As the first in-person Business Night since 2020, it was a great honor to share my vision of an evening that represents celebration and inspiration.”
“For many of our students, this is the first large-scale professional event they have been to since the pandemic began,” Shidler College Dean Vance Roley said. “Our students were eager to get out for an evening of career development and mentorship, and we are thankful for the community’s support of this event. We are especially grateful for First Insurance Company of Hawaii, serving as our title sponsor nearly two decades and to Hawaii Business Magazine for their continued support.”
“We are proud to once again serve as title sponsor of Business Night,” FICOH President and CEO Mark Yoda said. “Each year, we look forward to the opportunity to recognize and meet Shidler College’s best and brightest. The in-person interaction and mentorship piece make this an enjoyable and meaningful event for all involved.”