Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 4, 1 April 1987 — 18 Hawaiians Get Certificates, Jobs [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

18 Hawaiians Get Certificates, Jobs

Governor Waihee Lauds First HI-CTC Graduates

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA Governor John David Waihee III, obviously moved and proud, told the very first graduation class of 18 Hawaiian and part Hawaiian students ōf the Hawaii Computer Training Center (H1-CTC) Mar. 6 that he was "impressed by your achievement of commitment, dedication and participation." "You have demonstrated that dreams are possible. This is the beginning of a new era of success and pride for other people following you. I am very moved by what you did," the state's first Hawaiian chief executive since statehood declared. It was a simple but emotion-packed 50-minute eommencement whieh was held in one of the third floor classrooms at 33 S. King St., former site of Cannon's School of Business. Nearly 100 ohana members of the students, friends, government and private business people, representatives of some Hawaiian organizations and instructors were on hand for the ceremonies. ceremonies. HI-CTC, a 16-week program established by Alu Like ine., is the first such training center designed to empower members of disadvantaged and minority populations in Hawaii to develop the skills necessary for gainful employment in the emerging high-tech communications age. It was established with the support of IBM Corporation whieh currently also supports Hispanic and Black computer training centers throughout the United States. The second class with a maximum complement of 27 students began Mar. 9. Prospective employers interested in hiring from HI-CTC's highly trained pool of graduate students may eall 538-0035 for complete details.

Waihee extended congratulations to IBM, corporate sponsors and Alu Like. But the real praise, he observed, belonged to the 18 who graduated. Over one-half of them had jobs during the week that preceded the eommencement exercise and the other half was expected to be placed within a few days following graduation. "Those are results that spell success by any yardstick you could care to use. For you graduates, this brand of success also spells a challenge. You must meet your immediate employment goals, perform well on the job and in the evaluations the center will be doing on you at intervals over the next few months. But you also face the challenge of making the most of a training experienee," Waihee stated. He explained that the program was a tribute to the generosity of the IBM Corporation whieh furnished the equipment and the wisdom and commitment of Alu Like whieh provided many of the instructors and entered into a partnership with the private sector to achieve ioh^ainin^ for those who might not otherwise have had nearly so good a ehanee to succeed. "This, plainly, is the type of cooperative venture we need to see mueh more of, multiplying throughout our islands to bring job skills to those who want them, skills whieh, morever, are tailored to the needs of industry in the real world we live in," the governor went on. He praised the school's sponsors, noting that "this project was not planned in a vacuum." Waihee observed how the sponsors took a careful look at the Hawaii labor market before proceeding with the program, examining studies from the State Department of Labor to arrive at the determination there would be a

rising demand for clerical workers, that business would be rapidly converting to data processing equipment, given the computer revolution, and that there would be particularly sharp demand for workers who could handle and process information.

"We must bear in mind this project demonstrates dramatically something that is all too easily forgotten, and that something is the intrinsic worth of education," Waihee added. He noted that education need not be confined only to the classrooms because there are many opportunities for education in many settings. "Education," he said, "is what sets our people free, opens the world to their imaginations and stimulates them to reach out and try the new things that lead to opportunity." "The IBM-Alu Like program is a beginning, and a significant one. It is the biggesf activity between business and a community organization engaged in high tech, not just vocational training. It deserves our fullest support and encouragement, and it richly merits our applause and thanks for the product of its labors — these graduates who have already entered the labor force or soon will do so, secure in training and skills whieh will offer them genuine opportunity," the governor concluded. Waihee assisted in the presentation of graduation certificates to: Arlene L. Botelho, Kazzandra Mohala Chase, Merry Ululani Figueroa, Lei Harris, Meta Ann Hasnett, Derek James Kalani Kahele, Tara Kamoe, Doreen M. Kealohanui, Marlene K. Kintaro, Penni LaBatte, Edward Mar, Miehelle Maukele, Alieea Leialoha Paeheeo, Duane Reno Spencer, John E. Tawney, Maizie Lynn Wan, Ka'ipo Wong and Mae Kaluaipihana Yasuhara. Chase, Harris, Kamoe and Kintaro graduated with honors, scoring 90 percent or better in all of their classes. Two special awards were also presented to Wong as the most improved student (Winona Ellis Rubin Award) and Kintaro as most outstanding student

(Anton Krucky Award). Additionally, Kintaro was presented with the NYNEX Corp. scholarship for an advanced course of her choosing. Dick Niide, NYNEX manager in Hawaii, made the presentation. The special awards were personally given by Mrs. Rubin, former chief executive officer of Alu Like who is now head of the Department of Social Services and Housing, and by Krucky, Pacific area manager for IBM Corporation. Academic, professional and personal per- • formances formed the basis of the awards. As class president, Harris recalled what the class had to go through, including grooming and dress code and nine hours spent in the classrooms. She reflected how some students had to study and hold part time jobs, some with children and husbands or wives, home work and other things. "With the help of Alu Like, our instructors and our families, we found the self-confidence and the strength to succeed. I also find it appropriate this is the first graduating class in this Year of the Hawaiian," she noted. Tom Yokoyama, IBM site manager and personal computer instructor, shared master of ceremonies honors with Estelle Liu, the school's executive director. Yokoyama, in trying to wrap up the program, choked up during a prepared speech and Liu finished for him, her voice also quavering and tears in her eyes. Yokoyama later told Ka Wai Ola O OHA that "all of a sudden I couldn't read it anymore. I just don't know what happened. I guess its because I love these students." Also speaking briefly were David H. Helela, who succeeded Rubin as president and chief executive officer of Alu Like, Rubin, Krucky and Niide. In addition to IBM and NYNEX, other corporate sponsors donating time and monies were Alexander & Baldwin ine., James B. Campbell Estate, Hawaiian Eleetric Industries ine., Hawaiian Telephone Company and United Airlines. Cake and refreshments were served following the program. MMHWIMWlBWMWlWMMMnWIIMWairiWMl)imilinni1ll111ll»nMffinW««ll<lWMril)flfllimr''' I 1 1 1111 iiiinim—

First graduate Arlene L. Botelho gets graduation certificate from Governor John David Waihee III and a kiss.

Marlene Kintaro, winner of the Anton Krucky Award as the Most Outstanding student, gets a kiss from Dick Niide fol!owing presentation of the NYNEX scholarship for an advanced course of the student's choosing. Krucky looks on at left.

Kaipo Wong, right, accepts a plaque named in honor of Winona Ellis Rubin, left, as the Most Improved student.

The 18 students are pictured in the first rows near wall bearing banner. In first row nearest camera from left to right are the Rev. Abraham Akaka who gave the invocation, Gov. Waihee, Krucky and Rubin. *