This story was originally posted on May 6 on UH News.
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business marked the in-person return of Business Night, its signature student event, on May 5, at the Sheraton Waikīkī after hosting it virtually for the past two years. The annual event, now in its 61st year, has connected Shidler students with Hawaiʻi’s leading business professionals over the past six decades, while honoring the college’s top students for their accomplishments.
This year’s function welcomed more than 200 professional mentors and nearly 250 students for a fun evening of networking and business building. Through the generous support of Hawaiʻi’s business community, 49 awards were presented to the college’s shining undergraduate and graduate students, totaling nearly $90,000.
This year’s keynote speaker featured Shidler alumna Wendy Peterson, BBA ’82, JD ’85, general counsel at Knobbe Martens, who shared her own experiences as a student as well as her vibrant career journey. First Insurance Company of Hawaii (FICOH) served as title sponsor for the 17th consecutive year and Hawaii Business Magazine returned as the media sponsor for its sixth year.
“After nearly three years of change, learning and building relationships across distances of 6 feet to 6,000 miles, this year’s theme of ‘Exploring First Horizons’ is something we can all easily relate to,” said Shidler College senior Natalie Kwon, who served as executive director of the student committee and received the Outstanding Senior in Marketing award. “As the first in-person Business Night since 2020, it was a great honor to share my vision of an evening that represents celebration and inspiration.”
“For many of our students, this is the first large-scale professional event they have been to since the pandemic began,” Shidler College Dean Vance Roley said. “Our students were eager to get out for an evening of career development and mentorship, and we are thankful for the community’s support of this event. We are especially grateful for First Insurance Company of Hawaii, serving as our title sponsor nearly two decades and to Hawaii Business Magazine for their continued support.”
“We are proud to once again serve as title sponsor of Business Night,” FICOH President and CEO Mark Yoda said. “Each year, we look forward to the opportunity to recognize and meet Shidler College’s best and brightest. The in-person interaction and mentorship piece make this an enjoyable and meaningful event for all involved.”
For a complete list of Business Night award recipients and sponsors, visit Shidler’s website. To learn more about sponsoring an award, contact Kristi Bates, executive director of development at Kristi.Bates@uhfoundation.org or call (808) 956-3597.
About Business Night
Since 1961, Business Night has paired students with business professionals for an evening of learning and sharing. Each year, Business Night has successfully led to internships, job opportunities, life-long mentorships and business partnerships. More than 40 awards, sponsored by companies, organizations and individuals, are presented to top Shidler College of Business undergraduate and graduate students. The event is organized in partnership with students.
