A trailblazing CEO and an extraordinarily talented student to speak at UH Hilo’s 2015 Fall Commencement

Posted on December 3, 2015April 2, 2025 by Staff

Sherry Menor-McNamara, the first female president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i, will deliver the keynote; Zachary Tman, a student scholar and researcher, will represent the class as student speaker.

Zach Tman in a pasture area on the Big Island, pine trees and pasture. Sunglasses pushed up on bis forehead, striped shirt looped around his neck showing that it's hot. He looks very happy, out in nature. — Zachary Tman, a native of Yap double majoring in anthropology and biology with a minor in chemistry, will be the student speaker at UH Hilo’s fall commencement. In addition to his studies, the multi-talented scholar conducts research, mentors new international students, performs in the university’s biannual dance concert, and does community outreach to mitigate suicide among Hawai‘i youth. Courtesy photo.

Sherry Menor-McNamara, the youngest and first female president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i, will deliver the keynote address at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s fall commencement on Dec. 19. Zachary Tman, a double major in anthropology and biology with a minor in chemistry, will represent the class as student speaker.

Keynote

Sherry Menor-McNamara was born in Tokyo, Japan, raised in Hilo, and graduated from Waiakea High School. Her history-making appointment as head of the 164-year-old chamber came in September 2013 after serving as chief operating officer and senior vice president of government affairs. She joined the organization in 2006 as director of business advocacy and was promoted to vice president of business advocacy and government affairs the following year.

Previously, Menor-McNamara served as events manager for ESPN Sports’ Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl and was a member of the event’s executive committee. She also has held positions at Sony, Estee Lauder, Field Group, Elton John Production, and CBS 60 Minutes.

She earned her bachelor of arts in political science from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a juris doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law and a master in business administration from the Shidler College of Business at UH Mānoa.

Student speaker

Zach doing acrobats while suspended in the air. — In addition to his studies, research activity and community outreach, Zach Tman is a dancer, participating in UH Hilo’s biannual dance concert for many years. Above, he practices during dance class. Courtesy photo via the UH Hilo ALEX Blog.

Zachary Tman, a native of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia, will be student speaker at commencement.

He is a broadly talented student, double majoring in anthropology and biology (cell and molecular track) with a minor in chemistry. He has earned a cumulative 3.62 grade point average since coming to UH Hilo in the fall of 2010. He is doing scientific research work in the natural sciences department, including working with research faculty on designing a biotechnology lab course.

He is a repeat recipient of the Yap State Scholarship and the FSM National Scholarship, which he has received since his freshman year. He also is an Asian Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund Scholar since 2013. He served as a global ambassador and as an orientation leader and “international buddy” this year for new international students at UH Hilo. For several years, he worked as a peer mentor with the Peer Assistant Linkages and Support (PALS) program.

In addition, Tman is doing community outreach to combat the high rate of suicide among Hawai‘i youth. He is a student representative for the New York-based JED Foundation, working on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and young adult health on both the local and national level. He also serves as a member of the Big Island’s Youth Leadership Council for Suicide Prevention.

The ambitious student plans to travel to Heidelberg, Germany, this summer to work at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory before returning to do coral bleaching research with UH Hilo marine scientists.