Tears flowed as Mid-Pacific Institute students and faculty in Honolulu bid farewell to their beloved President Joe Rice in a surprise assembly in his honor on Friday, May 17. Rice, who became president when the class of 2013 was being born, could not contain his emotions as students paid tribute to him, sang and danced for him, and gave him many warm hugs and handshakes.

“I love you all and I will NEVER  forget you,” Rice told the assembly.

Among his achievements as head of the Manoa school, Rice:

• Launched a program that put iPads in the hands of every student and teacher this year.
• Created a new elementary school
• Opened new tech, math and science facilities.
• Added real estate to expand the campus
• Installed campus-wide air conditioning.

Most recently, he cheered the Mid-Pacific baseball team to its fifth state Division I baseball title.

Mariah Williams, Secretary for the Honolulu Association of Insurance Professionals (HAIP) and Hawaii Sales Manager for FirstComp, recently won the International Association of Insurance Professionals (IAIP) Region VIII CWC - Communication Speak-Off Competition at their annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.   CWC is a highly prestigious program which allows participants to enhance communication skills by preparing and delivering oral presentations. 

Williams won the regional level competition by presenting a three-minute prepared speech and completing a one-minute impromptu speech.  She will go on to compete on the national level with the winners representing the other eight regions of IAIP.  The International CWC Speak-Off will be held during the National Convention in June, in Orlando, Florida.