More than 700 University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� students filled the Campus Center Ballroom on October 1, for an afternoon of networking and career exploration at the Fall Career Fair. Sponsored by the , the event featured 150 professionals from 75 organizations representing a wide range of industries and career paths.

Kathryn Olomua, human resources administrative assistant for Integrated Facility Services, emphasized the importance of exploration and flexibility when launching a career.

“I think it’s more so letting them understand that even though you have a specific major, you can still step into other fields and gain experience,” she said. When hiring new employees, Olomua added, her company looks for communication, responsibility, passion and flexibility.

Ready to connect, discover

Students came ready to connect. Survey results showed that nearly 80% of attendees spoke with at least three employers, and 95% discovered new career options they had not known about before.

UH ����ԴDz� student Dodie Madriaga said, “I think the career fair allows for a lot of opportunities for me to connect with employers not just in my specific field, but branching out into subfields as well. I also really appreciate everyone’s energy here. They’re always looking for enthusiastic and lively people.”

The fair showcased opportunities across many sectors. At the Bishop Museum booth, Director of HR Maricel Barroga and People Operations Manager Alexis Goodson highlighted openings in areas ranging from institutional advancement and security to malacology science—a position tied to the rediscovery of a snail species unseen in nearly a century.

Goodson said, “The best part about participating in an experience like this is that we surprise a lot of people with how many opportunities we have at the museum.”

Career fairs are among the many ways the career center helps students build essential skills and career readiness—cornerstones of UH ����ԴDz�’s commitment to preparing students for success beyond graduation. This face-to-face engagement among employers and students is an important feature of workforce development initiatives on campus, a core pillar of the UH System’s �鶹��ý.

Three University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� students were recognized for their outstanding work as top employees at the 38th Annual Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) Awards Ceremony on April 25 in the Campus Center Ballroom.

The announced that the top honor went to Binierose Cacho, a special programs coordinator with . Cacho is a senior majoring in and and was nominated by Kevin Kaneshiro. She was awarded a $1,000 cash scholarship.

• Related UH News story: 30 honorees to be recognized for excellence at ����ԴDz� Awards ceremony, April 25, 2023

“My position in Enrollment Management allows me to work on projects related to students’ concerns related to their enrollment, admissions and financial aid with the university. I enjoy that, as a student, I can see how my work benefits other students and that I can also provide insight on how we can better systems at UH to benefit us all,” shared Cacho.

Kaneshiro said in a letter, “Binie rises above the rest in her work ethic, eagerness to share knowledge and capability to take on an ever-expanding list of responsibilities, but her data analysis report pushes her to the extreme, deserving of Student Employee of the Year. Binie’s projects have been critically important not only to the function of our administrative services, but with the veteran affairs enrollment certification, applications for admission and publicly available chatbot, her work impacts the entire campus community.”

Additional UH ����ԴDz� winners:

• Nicole Celine Mathews, nominated by Heather Saito, director of student academic services in the . Mathews is an office assistant II and is a junior majoring in . Mathews was awarded a $750 cash scholarship.
• Hailey Catherman, nominated by Liloa Dunn, grounds manager with the . Catherman is a landscape maintenance assistant and is a senior majoring in . Cathermano was awarded a $500 cash scholarship.

Student Employee Team of the Year:

• College of Engineering, Dean’s Office, nominated by Kimberly Perez Hults, director of marketing and outreach relations. Team members include Philip Amona, Jared Antonio, Mia Casparian, Darryl Dela Cruz, Adam Hu, Khaldoon Ishmael, Joshua Lorica, Joy Maehara, Brandon Pang, Dedrick Sakuma, Elizabeth Talioaga and Christianne Young.

UH ����ԴDz� has celebrated the Student Employee of the Year Awards since 1986, recognizing outstanding student employees throughout campus. The awards are from proceeds generated by the annual Craft Fair & Silent Auction, traditionally held on campus on the Friday before Thanksgiving.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� at the Campus Center Ballroom gave an estimated 400 students the opportunity to meet with 175 representatives from 78 organizations on March 7.

The event allowed students to connect with companies that were offering internships, co-ops and career opportunities. Additionally, the event boosted students’ chances of interviewing with potential employers and enhanced their job search and communication skills.

“There are so many great booths and opportunities, even if you’re not looking for a job at the moment,” said Rylann Morales, a freshman majoring in art with a focus in education. “I’m glad I attended [the fair], because I saw how jobs could incorporate any major, like art, into any career. Every employer is enthusiastic about getting opportunities for students.”

UH ����ԴDz� career fairs are hosted every spring and fall semester, and tables are filled with employers from federal and state agencies, healthcare industries, non-profit organizations and more.

“Employers get the chance to meet the next generation of purpose-driven employees. The ����ԴDz� Career Center and employers have noticed how the next generation is looking for more meaningful, impactful careers,” said Wendy Sora, director of the . “This is the first full-ballroom-capacity career fair we’ve had since the pandemic, and I think the in-person experience changes how the students view employers. The employers are no longer just someone the students purchase products or receive services from—they’re people that can give the students an inside look of potential careers.”

Ongoing support for students

Employers and students have the ability to connect before, during and even after each career fair through the ����ԴDz� Career Center résumé e-book, a resource for employers to contact eager students for potential job opportunities. .

The ����ԴDz� Career Center also provides additional job resources for students, such as ; a to prepare them for the next fair; and .

“The support that the ����ԴDz� Career Center offers students is beneficial for our overall professional development and long-term career success,” said Ashley Taylor, a senior majoring in finance, human resource management and international business. “Many times, [students] can underestimate the power of a first impression, so utilizing the Career Center resources to better prepare for career fairs and meeting with employers is a great first step to ensure that our interactions with professionals make a positive impact. The tips I have learned from Career Center workshops and counselors have been so valuable to me in developing relationships and expanding my professional network.”

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An estimated 800 students turned out for the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa at Campus Center Ballroom on October 6.

They were able to connect with 160 representatives from 60 companies who are offering internships, co-ops and career opportunities.

“I think it’s really helpful for students,” said UH Mānoa freshman Grace Adler, who attended the fair. “There’s a lot of booths here and a lot of opportunities for students to look at different career opportunities and learn more about their community.”

UH Mānoa career fairs are held twice a year—in the spring and fall semesters. Over the past two years the career fair shifted to a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re super excited to be bringing back the career fair in-person,” said Wendy Sora, director of the . “Employer representatives have been more than ready for in person connections and likewise for students just based on their attendance today. We’ve already had so many great comments from employers like ‘wow this is great.’ Employers were impressed with the renovated ballroom which is good that they see the modern spaces where our students learn, work, and engage.”

Employers informed students on what they’ll need to know about career paths, employer expectations and professional opportunities.

UH Mānoa student Jordan Masoli, a senior majoring in finance, attended the event. “Great opportunities here, and good networking,” he said. “I’ve been talking to some people in finance and other companies that don’t necessarily broadcast finance, but they have opportunities that I could also pursue.”

Participating employers and student programs included: county, state and federal agencies, travel and hospitality entities, healthcare, finance, non-profit, IT industries, retailers and many more.

“We’re very interested in workforce development efforts, so generating jobs for students exiting the university and then the local community,” said Christopher Loftis, an employer from Huntington Ingalls Industries. “By partnering with other industry partners, the academic world and government, we can put together jobs for cleared individuals to be intel analysts, data scientists and IT technologists.”

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A student assistant who was key to helping the move online and observe pandemic protocols has been recognized with the campus’s (SEOTY) award.

A Japanese studies major, Kaylie Hayashida has worked with the University Scheduler’s office in the for more than two years. Due to COVID-19, the office revamped the fall 2020 course schedule twice over the summer, reassigned classrooms for social distancing in fall and in spring 2021, and converted all operations from paper to digital procedures.

Hayashida adeptly switched gears to digital tracking forms and helped teach departments how to use the new process. She precisely entered new information into the database to change 3,000 course formats and locations, twice. Without her assistance, the fall 2020 course schedule would not have been completed in time for the semester to begin.

Hayashida was also selected as the State of �鶹��ý SEOTY winner by the Western Association of Student Employment Administrators earlier in April.

Hayashida was presented with the UH ����ԴDz� SEOTY award on April 21 during an online event.

Other students recognized were:

• Phuong Giang, a student office assistant in the and a junior majoring in marketing.
• Dean Carillo, a student office assistant in the School of Life Sciences and a senior majoring in art.
• Student Employee Team of the Year—Angel Hiu Ki Au, Dustin Chang, Kaylen Daquioag, Hana Fulghum, Moises Lio Can and Beau Nakamori of the School of Architecture, .

The Student Employee of the Year Program was created in 1986 by the to recognize and highlight the achievements and contributions of student employees on the UH ����ԴDz� campus. The winners receive cash awards from proceeds from fundraising and the annual craft fair and silent auction, traditionally held on campus on the Friday before Thanksgiving.

The (MCC) is hosting a Virtual Career Fair on Wednesday, November 18, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., to help connect potential job seekers with employers, an especially important service during the economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19. UH ����ԴDz� students and alumni will have the opportunity to engage online with employers recruiting for full-time and internship positions.

“Career fairs have been a mainstay in providing students with the opportunity to network and meet a number of employers. Especially during these times, the MCC continues to find ways to keep students connected with employers to learn about evolving careers and workplaces,” said Wendy Sora, MCC director. “We know that the overwhelming majority of students who take time to participate in career fairs find out about career options that they did not know of previously. We look forward to this upcoming virtual career fair using a professional platform that allows for resume uploads and unique employer virtual booths for one to one chats.”

The fair will focus on one-on-one sessions and drop-in group sessions. to attend the event, and uploading your resume is encouraged. Attendees are urged to make a virtual appointment with a career counselor at careers@hawaii.edu or request a resume review prior. Questions can be emailed to manoacf@hawaii.edu.

Participating employers, ranging from private, government, and non-profit sectors, include:

• Central Pacific Bank
• Cumming Corporation
• Decision Research Corporation
• Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Inc.
• GEICO
• �鶹��ý Department of Education
• �鶹��ý Gas
• �鶹��ý State Legislature – House of Representatives
• Honolulu Police Department
• Kamehameha Schools
• PBS �鶹��ý
• Servco Pacific Inc.
• Sherwin-Williams
• Techtronic Industries
• The Plaza Assisted Living
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• United States Secret Service
• University of �鶹��ý Federal Credit Union
• USAble Life
• Xerox �鶹��ý

Visit the or follow via for more details about the Virtual Career Fair.

The held a Virtual Career Fair to help connect students with potential employers, an especially important service during the economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19. During the three-day event, 23 organizations had the opportunity to share—online—with students the changing needs of their workplaces and hiring needs ranging from part-time, micro internships and full-time opportunities.

“The ����ԴDz� Career Center has been pivoting and determining ways to help students, recent graduates, and the employer community as �鶹��ý continues to recover and thrives after COVID-19 pandemic,” said Wendy Sora, ����ԴDz� Career Center director.

According to the center, there were 320 visits to the virtual booths over the course of the three day fair. Participating employers included:

• Aina Archaeology
• Central Pacific Bank
• Fast Enterprises
• FBI
• First Hawaiian Bank
• FoodCorps �鶹��ý
• Hawaii Pacific Health
• Hawaii Public Housing Authority
• HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union
• Kamehameha Schools
• Kupu
• Lanakila Pacific
• National Security Agency—Hawaii
• Network 2000, LLC
• Partners in Development Foundation
• Research and Statistics Office, State Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations
• Servco Pacific Inc.
• The Plaza Assisted Living
• Tripler Army Medical Center
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District
• U.S. Department of State
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Xerox Hawaii

“I liked that I was able to learn about these career and internship opportunities from home,” said Suzie Park, a �鶹��ý����ԴDz� junior majoring in communications. “Especially during this time of transitioning from working at home to going back in person, it was nice learning about what was being offered and how we can apply for positions that are both virtual or in person.”

Jeri Arucan, labor market research supervisor for the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Research and Statistics Office, was impressed with her first virtual fair. “I did not expect that much interest in a research statistician position which deals with data,” she said. “I met a few great candidates for my job opening and am so excited to interview them. I even offered one recent graduate a temporary position to get her on board right away.”

About 1,000 students and 180 representatives from 80 companies attended the University of �鶹��ý at at Campus Center on October 9.

In its 10th year, the event has steadily grown in participation and attendance, according to Wendy Sora, director of the . Beyond a place for potential employers to network with students and offer internships, co-ops and career opportunities, counselors helped attendees at a résumé café with hands-on feedback.

Sora says students who attend the career fair early in their college years—as early as their first year—benefit most. “All the collection of things they have done at the university, their internships, their research projects, the class projects, that all adds to their résumé and really helps them project out to employers about what they can do,” she said.

UH ����ԴDz� career fairs are held twice a year—in the spring and fall semesters.

UH ����ԴDz� student Noa Kamana, a sophomore, attended this semester’s fair. “I think it is a good idea just so you can get a sense of where you might want to go after graduation and what classes you are going to need to take to where you want to be,” he said.

Participating employers and student programs included: county, state and federal agencies, travel and hospitality entities, healthcare industries, retailers and many more. .

Melissa Henry, a nursing major who participated in a (Co-op) opportunity with , has been named UH Mānoa Co-op Student of the Year.

Henry will receive a keepsake plaque and $500 scholarship and will be recognized at the Mānoa Career Center Student Employee of Year event on April 11, 2017. As UH Mānoa’s Co-op Student of the Year, Henry will represent UH Mānoa in the National Cooperative Education Internship Association Student Employee of the year competition to be held in April 2017 in Denver, Colorado.

Henry’s preceptor and nominator, Tesla Teitge-Mergenthaler, described her as an avid learner who goes above and beyond as a nursing student. Teige-Mergenthaler also shared that Henry will make an exceptional future nurse.

More about the award

This annual awards and appreciation event recognizes outstanding student contributions in private industry and government and the unique support of employers who provide avenues for students’ professional growth and career opportunities through a cooperative education experience. Cooperative education allows students to acquire essential, practical skills by being exposed to the world of work beyond the boundaries of the campus.

Each year, a committee comprised of a university faculty member, co-op employer and co-op student alumnus selects one outstanding student employee for his/her contributions and commitment to the Co-op program.

Work hard and go after your dream. Can it be as simple as that? A panel of entertainment industry vets emphatically said yes, as they offered encouragement and advice to a full house of students, faculty, staff, media and guests.

Hosted by the , A Conversation with �鶹��ý Five-0 was the second in a series of CBS on Tour careers in entertainment events highlighting the ins and outs of the entertainment industry through the lens of people involved in one of the most influential television shows in �鶹��ý history, .

The panel was made up of executive producers Peter M. Lenkov and Bryan Spicer, who is also a director, local casting director Rachel Sutton and one of the show’s leading men, actor Daniel Dae Kim. CBS executive and panel moderator Tiffany Smith-Anoaʻi led the group on a wide-ranging discussion touching on their respective personal journeys, practical tips for aspiring actors, writers and producers and inspirational insights into current movements and trends.

The near capacity audience of the large auditorium was given an opportunity to ask questions of the panel. Most questions were practical details of how to get ahead in the business.

The touchstone of the evening was the shows frontrunner position in the movement toward diversity and inclusion. “The time is right for more diverse storytelling,” asserted Kim. “We want to hear stories from all points of view.” He noted the work of many minority actors regularly on �鶹��ý Five-0 as something he is personally proud of.