ICMP Closing Ceremonies Honor Fall 2000 Graduates

HONOLULU— Congratulations went out to 34 participants in the Intercultural Management Program (ICMP) Fall 2000 class when its closing ceremony was held last night before an audience of friends, faculty, and staff.

Following an inspiring speech by guest speaker, Charin Tomomitsu, Senior Vice President of Starr Seigle Communications, participants were presented with certificates and awards for their prowess during their four months of studies.

First place for the PresidentÕs Business Plan Award went to Yasuhito Kusa. Second and third place went to Yu-Ching Lo and Akihiro Oshima respectively.

The first place winners of the PresidentÕs Research Awards went to Michiko Hata, Yasuhiko Isobe, and Yoshiaki Shigemura. Second place went to Tetsuya Nakao, and third place went to Yuji Morita, and Maria Perpetua Pura.

Maria Perpetua Pura was also the recipient of the Francis A. Wong Award for Leadership.

The StudentsÕ Choice Award, which is based on criteria set by the class, was awarded to Michiko Hata.

ICMP participants were not the only ones honored during the ceremonies. Special thanks were expressed to the gracious families who hosted participants during their residence in Hawaii.

During her student address, Maria Perpetua Pura expressed the thoughts and feelings of her class with nostalgic memories and inspirational words.

ÒWe now belong to a bigger communityÉ the JAIMS community,Ó she said. ÒWe must carry the spirit and attitude of a true blooded JAIMS alumni: confident, visionary, energetic and most of all accepting of other people--especially other cultures.Ó

While some ICMP graduates will immediately begin their careers, others will continue with JAIMS in the Business Exchange Program (BEP) where they will intern with American business firms or organizations in the U.S. for two months.