{"id":177912,"date":"2023-05-18T18:17:05","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T04:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=177912"},"modified":"2023-05-18T18:17:05","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T04:17:05","slug":"manoa-commencement-speakers-2023-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/05\/18\/manoa-commencement-speakers-2023-spring\/","title":{"rendered":"Compassion, dedication, hope: commencement speakers look to the future"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><figure id=\"attachment_177949\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-177949\" style=\"width: 676px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-spring-2023-grad-speakers.jpg\" alt=\"Three people in commencement regalia smiling\" width=\"676\" height=\"381\" class=\"size-full wp-image-177949\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-177949\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left: Sylvia Luke, Kailani Jackson and Gordon Asato<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa spring graduates, the future is now, and the three commencement speakers&#8212;Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and students Kailani Jackson and Gordon Asato&#8212;spoke of the challenges and opportunities that await them.<\/p>\n<p><abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa held its 112th annual commencement exercises in the morning and afternoon of May 13 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Approximately 2,300 students participated in the ceremonies.<\/p>\n<h2>Sylvia Luke<\/h2>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_55943\"  width=\"620\" height=\"349\"  data-origwidth=\"620\" data-origheight=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NFxzLInZyjA?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"Spring 2023 Commencement Speaker - Sylvia Luke\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-luke-s-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvia Luke\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-177952\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-luke-s-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-luke-s-93x130.jpg 93w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-luke-s.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Luke is <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s 16th lieutenant governor, the third woman to hold the office, and the highest-ranking Korean American in a U.S. statewide position. She previously served as a <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> state representative including more than a decade as finance chair.<\/p>\n<p>Born in Seoul, South Korea, she immigrated to Honolulu with her family at nine-years-old. She attended K&#8211;12 public schools and graduated from <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa and the University of San Francisco School of Law.<\/p>\n<p>As lieutenant governor, she is leading efforts to expand broadband and preschool access across <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. Luke is a mom, dog mom, wife and attorney. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/01\/25\/lieutenant-governor-sylvia-luke\/\">Read more about Luke<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Kailani Jackson<\/h2>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_71885\"  width=\"620\" height=\"349\"  data-origwidth=\"620\" data-origheight=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xdtZHVaqNio?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"Spring 2023 Commencement Student Speaker - Kailani Jackson\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-jackson-k-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"Kailani Jackson\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-177954\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-jackson-k-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-jackson-k-93x130.jpg 93w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-jackson-k.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Morning ceremony student speaker Kailani Jackson, who is 65 years old, is a Los Angeles, California native who moved to Maui in 2019, and enrolled in <abbr>UH<\/abbr> Maui College, graduating with an AA in liberal arts. She then transferred to <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, where she graduated with two bachelor of arts degrees\u2014one in ethnic studies and the other in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in peace and conflict resolution.<\/p>\n<p>Jackson plans to continue her academic journey by pursuing master\u2019s and doctorate degrees after graduation. She has consistently excelled academically, earning summa cum laude honors and a place on the Dean\u2019s Honors List every semester. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/05\/03\/kailani-jackson-student-speaker\/\">Read more about Jackson\u2019s journey<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Gordon Asato<\/h2>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_71469\"  width=\"620\" height=\"349\"  data-origwidth=\"620\" data-origheight=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OUPyPI87Xsg?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"Spring 2023 Commencement Student Speaker - Gordon Asato\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-asato-g-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"Gordon Asato\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-177953\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-asato-g-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-asato-g-93x130.jpg 93w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/manoa-commencement-asato-g.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Afternoon ceremony student speaker Gordon Asato was born and raised on <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>. He spent most of his childhood interested in robotics and mechanics which led him to the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa College of Engineering.<\/p>\n<p>He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. With his degree, he hopes to make the skies safer in the aviation and aerospace industry. Aside from school, he also enjoys cars and photography.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and students Kailani Jackson and Gordon Asato spoke of the challenges and opportunities that await <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa&#8217;s spring graduates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[234,660,9,56],"class_list":["post-177912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-commencement","tag-student-recognition","tag-uh-manoa","tag-video-2","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=177912"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":177958,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177912\/revisions\/177958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=177912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=177912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}