LAIE, Hawaii — Calling it a "day of delightful tumult and joyful shouting — a day of marvelous celebration," Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve addressed graduates of BYU-Hawaii June 22 during the school's 2002 spring graduation.
"You graduates are the featured stars, center stage, and rightly so," Elder Holland, the keynote speaker, said. "This should be one of the greatest days of your life. But take time to remember again what so many have sacrificed and done for you in order that you could be here today."
More than 300 graduates of BYU-Hawaii's June 2002 graduating class received their bachelor's degrees at the Saturday commencement ceremony at the Cannon Activities Center on the Laie campus. It was the second largest graduating class in the school's history. The class consisted of 333 students from 27 countries and 28 states in the United States. Nine other students received special post-graduate diplomas for the Asian Executive Management program, an ongoing partnership with the Polynesian Cultural Center in which mid-level managers from China and Mongolia study at BYU-Hawaii and the cultural center for a year.
In his address, Elder Holland congratulated the graduates for all their hard work and reminded them to be grateful for what their families, friends and teachers have done to support their education.
"As you stand on the threshold of your bright and beautiful future," he advised, "may heaven strip from you this very hour, this very instant, any budding taste you may be acquiring for unseemly wealth or authoritarian power or worldly acclaim."
He encouraged the students to seek instead to become influences for good "wherever life's journey takes you."
Sione Tui'one Pulotu received the Presidential Citation from BYU-Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway. Brother Pulotu, known among many Polynesians as a master carver, has led a life of service assisting construction of the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors Center and many buildings on the BYU-Hawaii campus. His most recent work was as master carver of a 57-foot double-hulled canoe launched in November 2001. (Please see Nov. 10, 2001, Church News.)
"The Hawaiian sailing canoe Iosepa [that Pulotu carved], is imbued with grace, elegance, and a wonderful spirit which embraces spiritual significance and the humility of its carvers," said President Shumway. President Shumway closed the ceremony with words of advice. "This is a celebration I hope you will never forget. Remember the words as well as the feelings."
He also supported Elder Holland's counsel. "Never use position, power or money to compromise your integrity. Always try to be known as a person of integrity," he said.
