Updated at 9:51 a.m., Friday, May 11, 2007
HPU to graduate nearly 700 students, 100 nurses
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i Pacific University will distribute associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees to nearly 700 students at its 66th commencement ceremony set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Waikiki Shell.In addition, HPU's nursing program will confer bachelor's and master's degrees to more than 100 students — one of the largest graduating classes for the HPU program.
Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann will deliver the commencement speech. He also will receive the "Fellow of the Pacific Award," the HPU's highest accolade, in recognition of his contributions and service to the community and higher education.
Hannemann was elected the 12th mayor of the City and County of Honolulu in January 2005. He is Honolulu's first native-born mayor in almost 40 years. Hannemann is the founder and chairman of the Pacific Century Fellows, patterned after the prestigious White House Fellows, for which he was selected to serve under then-Vice President George Bush.
Hannemann served in the administrations of four U.S. presidents: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Before his election to mayor, he held posts as director of Hawai'i's Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, chief of the state's Office of International Relations, and chairman of the Honolulu City Council.
Three valedictory speakers, chosen for their outstanding academic performance, will make presentations during the ceremony:
HPU enrolls more than 8,000 students and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the Council on Social Work Education, and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
