A Truly Unique ICMP Class Moves On

HONOLULU— An especially rousing and heart-felt ceremony took place on July 26 to congratulate the latest Intercultural Management Program (ICMP) class on their successful completion of the four month program at JAIMS.

This Spring 2001 ICMP class was the first in JAIMS history to be composed primarily of women. Ten men and 19 women walked down the aisle to receive their certificates before an audience of faculty, staff, and friends.

Awards were also bestowed upon students who displayed exemplary performance during competitions and throughout the term. Miwako Morishima was awarded first place for the Business Plan Competition. The team of Masaki Ono and Lei Zhao won first place for the Business Research Competition. Morishima, Ono, and Zhao each received a cash prize and will have their names engraved on perpetual plaques.

The Francis A. Wong Award for Leadership went to Joo Hee Kim. The Funika Scholarship was awarded to Hasnan Hakim and the StudentÕs Choice Award was presented to Satoshi Shibata.

Shibata later gave the student address to close the ceremony. Perhaps to further make this ICMP class unique, Shibata led the audience in a stirring karaoke-style sing-along to a modified version of ÒCanÕt Help Falling in LoveÓ specially tailored to JAIMS.

While the closing ceremony marked the beginning of some ICMP graduatesÕ 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.