Business Night connects business students with mentors

From left: Nina Horioka, associate director of development, Shidler College of Business; Stefen Joshua Rasay, Business Night student committee director; Michele Saito, president & CEO, DTRIC Insurance Group; Jeff Shonka, president & CEO, First Insurance Co. of Hawaii; Cheryl Oncea, Publisher, Hawaii Business Magazine; Vance Roley, dean, Shidler College of Business.

First Insurance Company of Hawaii returns as title sponsor

More than 250 business professionals representing 45 local companies mentored business students at the 57th annual Shidler College of Business premier student event, “Business Night.” It was held on May 2 at the Sheraton Waikiki.

This event connects students one-to-one with mentors for an evening of learning and sharing. Through Business Night, students gain confidence, insightful information, and valuable advice to guide them through their job search and into their professional careers.

This year, Business Night featured keynote speaker and Shidler alumna Michele Saito, president and CEO of DTRIC Insurance Group. Business Night also presented 40 academic merit awards to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students totaling $67,000. Each year, student awards are donated by alumni and companies in Hawai‘i to recognize top students in various business disciplines.

Once again First Insurance Company of Hawaii returned as title sponsor of Business Night for the 13th consecutive year and Hawaii Business Magazine served as the media sponsor for the second year.

“We are grateful for all the companies that continue to support our students through Business Night,” says Vance Roley, dean of the Shidler College of Business. “We are especially grateful to First Insurance for being a supportive corporate partner. In addition to sponsoring Business Night, First Insurance also funded a $1 million endowed professorship, a $100,000 endowed scholarships, $160,000 to support the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship, and $150,000 to renovate and name the Corporate Interview Room.”

For a list of Business Night award recipients, sponsors and participating companies, visit: https://shidler.hawaii.edu/business-night.

Business Night 2018