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UH Hilo Chancellor's Blog Posts

Chancellor’s Monthly Column, June 2025: We celebrate our graduates

Five people seated at a table, with stage in background featuring a guitar player.
Among the year-end celebrations held at each of UH Hilo’s six colleges, the College of Business and Economics invited local business representatives to their Business Night event on May 2, 2025. Seated at the event are, from left, Chancellor Bonnie Irwin and Vice Chancellor Kalei Rapoza with students Hayate Moro, Mila Srebro, and Britney Isaac. (Photo: CoBE/UH Hilo)

At the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, commencement season is quite busy, but also so gratifying as we see the results of all the hard work of our entire university ʻohana, but especially the students, come to fruition. In addition to our main campus-wide commencement ceremony, all six colleges, along with the nursing and education schools and several departments host smaller celebrations for their graduates. What makes these events even more special is the presence of families, community partners, and supporters.

The College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management held its annual Senior Awards Recognition Night at the college’s Agricultural Farm Laboratory in Panaʻewa. Seniors and their families attended to honor the students for earning baccalaureate degrees and/or subject certificates this spring. Several students received awards for their outstanding academic or service achievements.

The College of Arts and Sciences held its annual Student Award Convocation Celebration to recognize student achievement and success across all departments and programs. This year, 15 programs presented over 45 awards during the ceremony, and there was a lunch that followed open to all students from the college and any family members attending the event.

The School of Education, which is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, also held its Closing Celebration, a community inclusive event designed to celebrate our master of arts in teaching candidates who completed their licensure year and to welcome them into the teaching profession (if they continue in the program and complete year two, they graduate with a master’s degree). Invited to this year’s event, along with the students and their families, were cooperating teachers who had mentored the candidates in their student teaching semester.

The College of Business and Economics invited local business representatives to their year-end Business Night event and featured a panel of students discussing what they looked for in job opportunities. The students and local community leaders learned from each other as they networked during the event, and everyone celebrated the students for their awards and scholarships.

At the College of Natural and Health Sciences’ Student Awards Celebration, highest achieving students across all departments were honored. Ten students from different departments received Excellence Awards, and 37 other types of departmental awards and acknowledgements were awarded, ranging from academic excellence to exceptional research and competitive internships. Family members joined in the celebration.

The School of Nursing, housed within the College of Natural and Health Sciences, held two ceremonies in May: a White Coat Ceremony to celebrate 10 graduates for their doctor of nursing practice degrees, and a Pinning Ceremony to celebrate 37 graduates who earned their bachelor of science in nursing degrees. The Nursing Class of 2025 included a cohort from UH Hilo and a cohort from Waiʻanae, Oʻahu, where UH Hilo has a longstanding affiliation with Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health.

Our Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy celebrated 36 graduates now conferred with doctor of pharmacy degrees and eligible to become licensed as practicing pharmacists. Along with their PharmD degrees, the graduates concurrently earned a bachelor of arts in pharmacy studies. The college also celebrated students receiving specialized graduate certificates: four in healthcare leadership, one in rural health, three in health science research.

Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, our Hawaiian language college, held ʻAha Hoʻomoloa ceremonies for their graduates, where the graduates received their kīhei and were adorned with lei that they or loved ones made. Joining the graduates for the ceremonies held at Haleʻōlelo, where the college is housed, were members of their own ʻohana, UH Hilo leadership, college faculty and staff, and others who supported the student’s journeys as they earned  bachelors or minors in Hawaiian studies and also linguistics, and certificates in Hawaiian studies. A separate graduate ʻAha Hoʻomoloa ceremony was also held for those who earned their master of arts in Indigenous language and culture education, and certificates in Kahuawaiola Indigenous teacher education.

This time of year we celebrate with all our graduates, knowing that we are not just the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, but the university of Hilo and for Hilo and Hawaiʻi Island families and communities. We are a university proud of our graduates embarking with an abundance of knowledge that will enrich not only their own lives, but also those of their ‘ohana, island, state, and beyond.

With aloha,

Bonnie D. Irwin

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Chancellor Irwin hosts 2025 Awards and Recognition Celebration; annual awards honor top faculty, staff

In a celebratory event hosted by Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, honorees include award recipients for extraordinary contributions to campus, last year’s retirees, and those celebrating milestone years of service.

Intro slide: UH Hilo red seal, UH Hilo 2025 Awards & Recognition Celebration May 6, 2025.


University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, on May 6, 2025, hosted the annual Awards and Recognition Celebration. Honorees at the event were faculty and staff who won awards given out annually for extraordinary contributions to the campus, those who retired during the previous year, and those recognized for milestone years of service.

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Accepted Student Reception welcomes newly admitted students and their families

8 students hold certificates for their scholarships.
Accepted Student Reception included a lucky scholarship drawing. (Photo: Admissions Office/UH Hilo)
Chancellor Irwin delivers remarks at the Accepted Student Reception on April 12, 2025. (Photo: Admissions Office/UH Hilo)

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin attended the Accepted Student Reception on April 12. The event welcomes newly admitted students and their families to celebrate their achievements and prepare them for their next chapter of their academic journey.

“It’s always so fun to meet with the accepted students and their families and hear the students’ dreams and plans for the future,” says Chancellor Irwin. “I am always so impressed with their dedication to giving back to their communities through their education.”

The annual reception is hosted by the Admissions Office and “serves as a bridge between high school and university life, in hopes to set the stage for students to thrive at UH Hilo,” according to a statement by the office.

Guests were greeted by UH faculty, staff, and current students, who extended personalized congratulations to each accepted student. This set the stage for a day filled with excitement and connection. Activities included talk story sessions with students and their families about the transition to the university, addressing questions and providing valuable insights. Financial aid staff were also on hand.

A campus resource fair had tabling with info on housing options, student organizations, leadership opportunities and other aspects of campus life that make UH Hilo unique. Faculty and deans highlighted academic programs, giving students an inside look at their prospective majors and the learning experience awaiting them.

Families explored the campus through guided tours. Current students shared their personal experiences and offered advice for navigating university life. There also were scholarship giveaways.

See video at UH Hilo Admissions Instagram.

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Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce welcomes UH Hilo Chancellor Irwin as new board member

Group of four stand for photo. Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce logo is in background.
At the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce annual membership meeting on April 30, from left, County of Hawaiʻi Managing Director Bill Brilhante; UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin; featured speaker at the meeting First Hawaiian Bank Chief Investment Officer Steve Rodgers; and County of Hawaiʻi Mayor Kimo Alameda. (Photo: Courtesy HICC)

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin was elected to the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at HICC’s annual membership meeting, April 30. Chancellor Irwin will serve as vice president of the board; the vice president chairs the chamber’s Committee on Economic Development.

“I am excited to serve our community in this new way, and I look forward to strengthened relationships between UH Hilo and our local employers,” says Chancellor Irwin.

Carla Kuo pictured.
Carla Kuo (File photo)

Carla Kuo, executive officer of the chamber says she’s thrilled to welcome Chancellor Irwin as the 2025-2026 vice president and chair of the economic development committee. The committee works to enhance general business on Hawai‘i Island and supports a stable and healthy economy.

“Her deep commitment to education and innovation, along with her insight into our island’s evolving workforce needs, will be a tremendous asset as we work together to support sustainable economic growth in East Hawaiʻi,” says Kuo.

Group photo, seated at luncheon table, other people at event in the background.
At the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce annual membership meeting on April 30, from left, Grand Naniloa Resort General Manager Niklas Dahm; (standing) First Hawaii Bank General Manager Chuck Erskine; County of Hawaiʻi Director of Finance Diane Nakagawa; County of Hawaiʻi Treasury Division Head Chris Nakano; and UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. (Photo: Courtesy HICC)
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Chancellor’s Scholars gather for pizza night with Chancellor Irwin

Chancellor Irwin at forefront while taking a selfie with group of students behind her.
Chancellor Irwin takes a selfie with the group of current Chancellor’s Scholars who gathered for dinner on April 29.

Chancellor Bonnie Irwin hosted the current Chancellor’s Scholars for pizza night on Tuesday, April 29.

“Iʻm always delighted to hear what our Chancellor’s scholars are working on and what their plans are for the future,” says Chancellor Irwin. “We are fortunate to be able to support these bright and ambitious students in their college and career journeys.”

The scholarship recipients hail from public and private high schools in Hawaiʻi. The award covers four years of tuition for students who earned have a grade point average of at least 3.5 or higher while demonstrating leadership and/or community service while in high school.

All chancellor scholars are required to enroll as full-time students, and earn a minimum of 30 credits each academic year. They must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and participate in leadership activities and/or community services with other chancellor scholars.

Large group shot of students, the Chancellor and Randy Hirokawa.
Full group shot of current Chancellor Scholars, the Chancellor (front row at right), and Professor of Communication Randy Hirokawa (front center left), at the dinner event on April 29.
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