Our second annual Student Showcase convened in the UH Mānoa Campus Center Ballroom and served as a celebration of the collective efforts by students, teachers, and family. We shared the learning and outcomes of our 2023 Global Leadership Program cohort and honored the hard work of Clubs and individual students statewide. The multi-part event also offered a platform to appreciate the PAAC community members who made the success of PAAC’s 2022-23 programs possible.
The Global Leadership Program
The journey of our driven group of students began at PAAC’s leadership camps. Through talented experts like the Shanti Alliance’s Sophie Halliday, students explored which of their personal and cultural traits informed their individual styles of leadership. With Matsunaga Institute for Peace’s José Barzola, students reflected on their role in peacebuilding as global leaders and the importance of communication. With Dr. Jamaica Osorio, a Department of Political Science professor at UH, students were encouraged to adopt a kanaka maʻoli perspective of leadership. Through moʻolelo they were able to connect their kūleana to Hawaiʻi with their roles as global leaders. Finally, through the expertise of PAAC Alumni, Krystle Corpuz, students considered the influence of economic aid and soft diplomacy in the Pacific and Asian Pacific region.
Over the course of the next seven months, PAAC students participated in two field studies where they interacted with local leaders to understand how the ripple effect of global issues are felt in Hawaiʻi. A trio of virtual workshops gave students access to speakers from around the world to discuss topics like systems-thinking approaches to food issues, ways that global citizens play a role in promoting human rights, and the stabilizing impacts of foreign aid on post and pre-conflict abroad. The cohort also participated in three interschool summits to immerse themselves in international issues and the real-life experiences of multilateral diplomatic negotiations.
Each student was able to give a short talk that summarized their educational adventures with an attentive audience of PAAC board members and supportive family members.
PAAC student clubs with “Gold Distinguished Club” status were recognized for studying the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, attending leadership development workshops, and building “Global Action Projects” (GAPs) that tackled positive social change on global issues at the local level. (Read more here)
PAAC presented a total of $4300 in scholarships and awards. The Eddie Tangen Awards was split between Sophia Findley from Hawaii Technology Academy and Claire Masquida from Kealakehe High School. Four individual Paul S. Honda Scholarships, each worth $1,000, were presented to Brandon Keola L.C. Lehano from Punahou School, Sherry Jiang from Kealakehe High School, Annabelle Rogers from Kalaheo High School and Larrianne Joy Sanchez from King Kekaulike High. These students all earned recognition for their stellar contributions to public service, global education, and leadership. (Read more here)
PAAC Your Bags
After the award presentation and photo session, we shared our gratitude for the village of educators, parents, siblings, and friends who helped grow this cohort of students. This segued nicely into our outline of PAAC’s future goals - increasing student leaders from 20 to 60, fostering relationships with more schools, supporting teachers with a dedicated retreat, and orchestrating two leadership summits for our club officers. As the evening came to a close, we took a moment to reflect on everything these youths had accomplished and all the opportunities that lay ahead of them. We remain hopeful, not only for the positive change these young leaders will bring to our world but also for the growth of PAAC.