HONOLULUÑThe 2000-2001 Japan-focused Master of Business Administration (JEMBA) and China-focused Master of Business Administration (CHEMBA) class held their commencement in Tokyo on November 16, 2001. The commencement marked the completion of the 15-month AACSB-accredited MBA program offered by the partnership of JAIMS and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Business Administration.

The 18 JEMBA and 5 CHEMBA students were joined by their families and friends to celebrate this special occasion. Internship company representatives, alumni, Fujitsu executives, and JAIMS staff were also on hand to witness the commencement.

The commencement speaker was Glen Fukushima, president & CEO of Cadence Design Systems Japan. In his address, Fukushima shared his thoughts and listed some of his observations and experiences in global management to the graduates.

Of special significance was the presentation of the Akira and Mari Ohtomo Entrepreneurial Spirit Award to its first winner, Joseph Kushi. Mr. and Mrs. Ohtomo were available to personally present the award to Kushi, a JEMBA graduate from Hawaii.

Also recognized were the Asian Development Bank Scholar, Ravi Pituckthawatchai, and FINIPED Scholars: Chi Hsien Ho, Christopher Jury, Laszlo Sipos, and Ramsey Yomen.

The Fujitsu Scholarship recipients were Maria Paz Theresa Bonoan, Scott Bready, Ying Leong James Ho, Andreas Isnandar, Jae-Hyun Kim, Dae Yung Kwon, Collin Miyamoto, Ratchada Piyatassikul, Herbert Santos, and Carmela Deanna Villaroman.

JEMBA Speech Competition winner, Jae-Hyun Kim and CHEMBA Speech competition winner, Ann-Marie Campbell, gave the student addresses.

"(CHEMBA and JEMBA) will open doors for us that other MBA degree holders may not have access to," Campbell said in her speech, "(Our) studies have focused on the fastest growing economic region in the world... These are strengths that will set us apart from others."

This JEMBA class was the 11th class to graduate while the CHEMBA class was the 4th to graduate. Many students have already been offered employment by their internship companies and look forward to their futures as global business leaders.