First Insurance Sponsors Shidler College of Business Student Awards and Mentorship Event

HONOLULU — More than 400 Hawaii business professionals and students from the UH Manoa Shidler College of Business attended last night’s 47th “Business Night,” at the Hilton Hawaiian Village sponsored by First Insurance of Hawaii. For the past three years, First Insurance of Hawaii, Ltd. has sponsored “Business Night,” investing well over $75,000.

“We are truly grateful for First Insurance Company’s continuous support of Business Night. As a result of their support, this continues to be a first-class event enjoyed by business professionals and students alike,” said V. Vance Roley, Dean of the Shidler College of Business. “We couldn’t ask for a better partnership.”

First Insurance of Hawaii, Ltd. has also supported the College’s Internship and Career Development Office through internship placement and hiring of Shidler College of Business students. In 2007, First Insurance established the $1 million First Insurance Company Distinguished Professorship to support the College’s effort to recruit and retain faculty of the highest caliber.

Since 1961, Business Night has matched students one-on-one with business professionals for an evening of learning and sharing. It is the College’s premier student event, organized by Shidler College of Business student, staff and faculty.

This year’s event featured Shidler alumnus Eddie Flores, Jr., president and CEO of L&L Drive–Inn and L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Restaurant Chain, as keynote speaker.

Approximately $47,600 in cash awards was presented to top students in various fields of business. All awards were donated by companies in Hawaii. View the list of student awards and company sponsors.

 Learn more about Business Night 2008 and view photos from the event at www.shidler.hawaii.edu/businessnight

About the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
Established in 1949 as the College of Business Administration, the College was named in 2006 after alumnus Jay H. Shidler, founder and managing partner of The Shidler Group. The Shidler College of Business is renowned for its expertise in international management education and is consistently ranked among the nation's top 25 graduate schools for international business by U.S. News & World Report.

Long recognized for its Asia-Pacific focus, the College is a professional school, offering a wide variety of degree, certificate and executive programs. The College places a strong emphasis on the development of management skills, entrepreneurship and the management of business information technology. The UH Shidler College of Business is the only graduate program in the State of Hawai’i accredited by AACSB International. For more information, visit www.shidler.hawaii.edu.

About the University of Hawai’i Foundation
The University of Hawai’i Foundation is an independent, university-related, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise private funds according to priorities determined by the academic leadership of the University of Hawai’i and approved by the Board of Regents. Founded in 1955, the Foundation provides a full range of fund raising and alumni relations services for all 10 UH campuses. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.uhf.hawaii.edu.