Bee Leng Chua, a 1977 alumna who heads a nonprofit entrepreneurship organization in Hawaii, addressed graduates and their families at the spring commencement ceremonies. Chua, a resident of Honolulu, is the executive director of HiBEAM, the Hawaii Business Entrepreneur Acceleration Mentors. The organization helps early stage technology, biotechnology and life science companies with global potential that will fuel Hawaii’s economic growth. Previously she was the first executive director of the Entrepreneur Center at Hawai’i Pacific University and at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. While at UW-Stevens Point studying communication, she founded the International Weekend, which later became the annual Portage County Culture Festival. She also earned a master’s and doctorate degree at Ohio University-Athens.
“Oh, it’s been such a long journey. I’m so excited,” said Song Xiong, a dietetics and communication major who was featured on WAOW Channel 9.