Whitney Wong
I graduated from Monte Vista High School in Danville, California. I have been involved in basketball since the age of nine and consequently, started my high school varsity team. I was a part of the 'Love for Our Elders' club to help with elders and the 'Cranes for Hope' club where I folded hundreds of paper cranes for ill children in hospitals. I have a certificate in child development and cognitive function and often volunteered at 'Kids Against Hunger' packaging meals for kids in Haiti. I am planning to major in entrepreneurship to create a dog care business that allows boarding dogs, while also taking care of stray or abandoned ones. I decided to join HIPSS because it was a great opportunity. It offers a close-knit community of Shidler faculty and student assistants supporting us throughout our college journeys. I also loved the fact that students work in a small cohort, allowing them to make close friendships and connections with one another. I already love going to the beach with my new UH friends. I enjoy Hawaii’s kind people, relaxed atmosphere, great food, and beautiful scenery.
Rena Lewis
I graduated from Island Pacific Academy as a part of the class of 2022. I have been involved in varsity volleyball, as well as my high school Interact Club for all 4 years. I am considering to majoring in accounting in order to pursue being a CPA. I decided to join HIPPS because I wanted to focus my skillset on business with others who may have the same interests and learn more about the different pathways of others who are also pursuing business. Through the HIPPS program, I wish to develop deeper and meaningful connections that will hopefully allow me to learn from others and gain inspiration to create my own path during the next 4 years. In my spare time, I enjoy going to the beach, watching sunsets, and hanging out with friends.
Cora Liu
I graduated from President William McKinley High School and have been involved in the business pathway through the McKinley Business Academy. Other than the many community services I've engaged in via clubs and individual volunteering, I also took the role of Treasurer for the Pen Pal Club during my senior year. I enjoy spending time creating memories with my family and friends, and learning about how to communicate and understand myself and others. In my spare time, I like to do photography, photoshop, video editing, and other creative works to record my experiences and feelings. I am considering majoring in Accounting and I think that I will pursue being a CPA after graduation. In the long term, I plan to enter one of the Big 4 Accounting Firms to gain skills and experience and then find opportunities to work abroad, such as in China. I decided to join HIPSS because I see the opportunity to get an earlier start and I think that through the program, I will be able to improve my critical thinking and teamworking skills as well as help me develop professional competencies. In the HIPSS program, I hope to build close bonds with my classmates and record our memories in pictures and words.
Kayla Cabatbat
I graduated from Waiākea High School on the East side of the Big Island where I have been involved in clubs like French, Leo, and DECA. I also have been into sports like basketball before the pandemic. Currently, I am considering majoring in marketing or entrepreneurship. In the long term, I plan to start my own business or engage with others to start their own and help them exceed their expectation. I decided to join HIPSS because I wanted to have a head start in starting my business career. In this program, I want to be able to exchange experiences and knowledge with my peers. I think I will be able to develop my communication with others and share my ideas. I want to be able to hopefully create friends throughout this program and make connections to the outer world over the next few years. I enjoy doing fun activities that involve moving around like going to the gym, dancing, hiking, etc; reading books from any type of genre; going out with my friends; or just hanging out by myself. In my spare time, I like to watch movies and series on my laptop, look at fashion on the internet, and go to the beach.
Aalia Meer
I graduated from The International School of Choueifat- Lahore in Pakistan. I have held various leadership positions in my school's Student Life Organization and have interned in the HR and Marketing department at WWF Pakistan and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center. My hobbies include poetry writing, photography, photo/video editing, and tutoring. I intend to major in marketing and/or management information systems and international business. In the long run, I plan to work in a multinational company and teach part-time. One day, I hope to return to Pakistan equipped with the knowledge and experience to trigger a change in the established norms in the realm of business. I decided to join HIPSS because I believe the best learning takes place through the mutual exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experience. Because of the limited size of the cohort, there are countless opportunities to do so, as well as form lifelong friendships and connections in the process. Throughout the program, I hope to tighten my communication skills, develop data literacy, and realize the interrelation/connections between the various courses in the curriculum in addition to forming close bonds with my peers and the faculty. These skills and relationships will lay a solid foundation for me to build on over the next 3 years.
Alicia Marie Tokiwa
I graduated from Christ the King High School near Toronto, Canada. I have been involved in nearly all areas of my school community as I have run pep rallies and fundraisers, such as Relay for life; Mock Trials; captained our varsity field hockey team; and served as student trustee for my board. In the long term, I'd like to continue going to school and eventually earn my law degree and Ph.D., as I hope to become a professor one day. I decided to join HIPSS because it offered an immersive experience where I could have meaningful conversations, and work with my peers and teachers closely. I think I will develop strong critical thinking skills and new perspectives on the world around me during these next four years. In my spare time I love to weightlift and cook.
Lainey Fischer
My name is Lainey Fischer and I moved here from a small town near Portland, Oregon where I lived for four years and I previously lived in Colorado. In high school, I participated in our Mock Trial team where we competed against other schools with "mock" legal cases. I also played tennis all four years and I did community service, volunteering at my school a lot. Those experiences have taught me the importance of teamwork and dedication. If you put in hard work, you'll receive more success. I chose to join HIPSS because the structure of it will help me as I earn my business degree. In the future, I wish to attend law school to become a lawyer or become a business owner. I'm still deciding right now which is why I am in exploratory business. The beach is my happy place. I also love hiking, reading, and exploring new places.
MacKenna Kemble
I graduated from Chatfield Senior high school, and I have been involved in volleyball for 8 years. I played on the high school team and for a club. I am considering majoring in business with an emphasis in software engineering. I think that I will really like something involving computers because I love math and puzzles. I plan to do some internships with IT companies. I decided to join HIPSS because it seemed beneficial to me since it is more hands-on and has smaller classes so I have an easier time paying attention. I enjoy playing spike ball, going to the beach, playing volleyball, and hanging out with friends.
Dana Bustos
I graduated from Legacy VAPA High School, which is a performing arts school. I was a cheerleader throughout most of high school and was actually cheer captain for my senior year. I was also in theatre and got to sing my own song in the last musical. I chose to be a business major because I want to own my own business in the future. With the ideas that I have, I know they will be a success and I am really confident they will go far. The reason I joined HIPSS was that it said by the end of the program I will learn to be a better communicator and leader. It also said we will form lifelong friendships and it will be fun. I am hoping by the end of this program I will have better leadership skills because I feel as if I could be a great leader but my shyness and kindness get in the way of that. I spend most of my free time at the gym, although since I moved to Hawaii, I have not been going whereas back home I would lift weights for about two hours. I also enjoy making matching clothing for my cat and I on my sewing machine. We do little photoshoots in my room as well. Another hobby of mine is cooking and baking. I think I make pretty good food and it is healthy for the most part.
Kirsten Spicer
I graduated from Dallastown Area High School in Dallastown Pennsylvania. I was involved in the yearbook all through high school and have cheered on numerous competitive cheer teams since I was 3. Cheerleading has always been a passion of mine; when I'm at the gym I feel at home. Cheerleading has made me the person I am today as it has taught me respect, leadership, teamwork, and most importantly, how to speak up. It has always given me a sense of community. The sport has opened up a lot of doors for me, one being discovering UH. After digging further into UH and deciding this is where I wanted to go, I came across HIPSS. I joined HIPSS because it has a sense of community, similar to the one I get through cheerleading. As a freshman, one of my main concerns with coming to a new school like this is making friends, and HIPSS helps me do that. I am considering majoring in accounting or entrepreneurship. I hope to own my own business sometime in the future, selling cheerleading apparel.
Madison Wessel
I graduated from Tecumseh Vista Academy Secondary School in a small town in Canada as part of the class of 2022. Upon graduation, I achieved an honor roll grade, Ontario scholar status, a $16,000 international merit award, and the information and communication technology subject award. Throughout my secondary school career, I was involved in the French immersion program and the Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) program for business. As for my post-secondary education, I am majoring in Exploratory Business. Regarding my professional background, I have spent the last seven years working as an assistant bookkeeper, behavioral technician, and respite provider for Essential Autism, a company owned by my family. In the near future, I intend to take over my family's company and grow it across Canada and the US to help more people with autism. I made the decision to join HIPSS because I wanted to be able to increase my business knowledge and improve my entrepreneurial skills.
Kristanee Sturm-Johnson
I graduated from Vallejo High School in Northern California. I recently interned at an organization called Fighting Back Partnership in a program called Elevate Youth Solano. During my high school years, I actively participated in the Black Student Union, Softball, Track and Field, and was the Captain of my Cheerleading team. In my free time, I like to tattoo, paint, and run my small business. I intend to major in Entrepreneurship. In the long run, I plan to continue expressing myself through art, growing my business platform, and helping out my community. I am looking forward to seeing my growth within the next 4 years and am hoping to carry on my knowledge and skills to future generations.
Mayzee Ketner
I graduated from Hilo High School on the Big Island of Hawaii. I have been involved in Varsity Swim, Varsity Waterpolo, Key club, Amnesty club, and a club swim team for most of high school. I am currently majoring in Exploratory Business and plan to become a real estate agent, and eventually own my own Brokerage. I decided to join HIPSS because the program had all of the classes needed for my major at my fingertips and allows me extra support when needed. In the next few years, I believe I will be able to develop my interpersonal, time management, and business skills. In my spare time, I enjoy surfing, skating, going to the beach, meeting new people, and hanging out with friends.
Tenocht Arenas Buxton
I graduated from Cedarcrest High School in a town called Duvall in Washington state. I have been involved in DECA for all four years of high school and I also did wrestling. I am considering majoring in Business Management and dream of opening my own restaurant one day. I decided to join HIPSS because it seemed like a good program to meet people that have similar goals as I do, and I like to learn in a smaller classroom environment as well. Over the next four years, I would like to develop good time management, social skills, and teamwork skills. In my spare time, I like to go swimming at the beach, hang out with friends, and explore places.
Frederick Tamayo Jr
I graduated from Campbell High School, located in Ewa Beach. Throughout high school, I was involved not only with student council but the community as well as I volunteered quite a bit. I also tried out for the school bowling team one year with some of my friends. At the start of high school, I had an interest of joining the military which led to me being in JROTC for 4 years, where I've gained a lot of leadership experience during my attendance. Unfortunately, my desires changed and I decided to go to college instead and I am considering majoring in Finance.
Robert Jones
I Graduated from Peoples Academy Highschool, In Morrisville Vermont. I have been involved in sports for all of my highschool career, including soccer, cross country, track and field, and snowboarding. As well, I was part of a college preparatory program called Upward Bound which connected me with students across Vermont, gave me learning opportunities, college tours throughout New England, assistants with financial aid, and many other experiences including college classes. I'm considering majoring in international business and entrepreneurship. In the long term I plan to acquire a bachlors, start my career and continue my family’s business. I decided to join HIPSS to get me closer to achieving my goals and to follow my interest in the business world. I think that I will be able to develop myself, traits, relations, connections, as well as my competencies and skills during these next 4 years and further. I enjoy traveling, meeting new people, basketball, volleyball, swimming, and spending time with family and friends. In my spare time I like to relax and play some video games or get a quick workout in.
Patrick Alton
I am from Monterey Park, California, which is a smaller city located roughly 7 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. I graduated from St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge. I was actively involved in several clubs at my school, but outside of school, I was often volunteering at my local hospital. I am considering majoring in Finance and International Business through the DAP program at the Shidler College of Business. I am fascinated by the fact that the planet we all call home is such a diverse place in various aspects, and countless cultures make up our international society. I am personally motivated by the goal of exploring and establishing connections with others from all parts of the globe. In the long term, I plan to work for a company that allows me to travel internationally for work and have the ability to travel to foreign places and expose myself to the myriad of cultures that are part of our shared home. I decided to join HIPSS because I felt like it would be beneficial to my future career by being in a cohort of other students with similar interests. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring new places, hiking, swimming, drone photography/videography, and hanging out with friends.
Caleb Allen
I am from Denver, Colorado and I graduated from ThunderRidge High School. I played basketball for all four years of high school and I still enjoy playing for fun. I am considering majoring in Business. I think I would like to create a successful small business over time. I plan to make a business somewhere in the fashion world but I am still open to many ideas. I decided to join HIPSS because I felt like the structure of this program would help me be successful in many different ways and I could also make a lot of connections with my peers in the class. I think that I will be able to develop my social skills and study habits over the next few years. I enjoy playing basketball, exploring the outdoors, fashion and spending time with my family and friends.
Edward Shepherd Johnson
I graduated from Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. I've been involved in high school tennis, wrestling, and robotics, and I am an Eagle Scout. I am considering majoring in entrepreneurship or financial management because in the long term, I want to end up owning or partially owning a small business. I decided to join HIPSS because I want to make friends and connections, and the program will definitely aid in my public speaking skills and knowledge of business as a whole. In my free time, I enjoy working in photoshop, playing tennis competitively (or any sport), getting competitive in video games like Valorant, and figuring out ways to make money with my friends.