By Staff Reports
(Kapolei) – Sunday, Dec. 9, is a special day for 166 University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu graduates who will receive their degrees and certificates during commencement ceremonies at the UH West O‘ahu Great Lawn. This commencement ceremony marks the first to be held at UH West O‘ahu’s new campus in Kapolei.
“We are proud and excited to have our very first commencement here in Kapolei and are looking forward to celebrating many milestones at our new home in the years to come,” said UH West O‘ahu Chancellor Gene I. Awakuni.
UH West O‘ahu graduates will receive their baccalaureate in Applied Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Humanities, Public Administration and Social Sciences. Graduates will also receive certificates in various programs including Applied Forensic Anthropology, Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Health Care Administration, and Substance Abuse and Addictions Studies.
Richard Dahl, president and CEO of the James Campbell Co. will deliver the keynote address. University of Hawai‘i System Vice President for Community Colleges John Morton will attend and University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents Member Tom Shigemoto will address the graduates. Alyssa Gampong, one of this year’s outstanding UH West O‘ahu graduates, will speak on behalf of the graduating class. A resident of Waialua, Gampong is graduating with a Humanities degree with a concentration in English. For three years she served as a member of the Associated Students of UH West O‘ahu, took part in launching the campus’ first student newspaper, and participates as a student blogger.
All are welcome to attend commencement. Guests may arrive at 9:30 a.m. Commencement tickets will be distributed to graduates and seating is limited to those with tickets. Standing room is available for all other guests. The commencement ceremony will also be projected live on a big screen in C208. Guests with disabilities are encouraged to view the ceremony from this location. Graduates will greet guests following the ceremony at 11 a.m. On campus parking is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit www.uhwo.hawaii.edu/commencement.