Chancellor Rose Tseng (at left) stands with Commencement keynote Constance Lau, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric. Spring Commencement was held on Saturday.

Reported by Ken Hupp on KPUA.net

The president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries called on UH Hilo graduates to treat their degrees like an investment by contributing to their body of knowledge and expertise. During spring commencement ceremonies at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium, Constance “Connie” Lau told the class of 2008 that the education they’ve received can be the gift that keeps giving if they understand that learning is a lifetime proposition.

“Your diploma represents the knowledge of how to create value. And it is a priceless gift that can keep on giving for the rest of your lives,” Lau said. “It is like that old saying when you give a man a fish he can feed his family. But if you teach a man or woman to fish, they can feed a village.”

Lau attributed her success in Hawai‘i’s corporate community to the education she received.

A total of 448 students representing the College of Arts and Sciences; College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management; College of Hawaiian Language; and College of Business and Economics were candidates for various degrees or certificates.