The University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy celebrated Friday a groundbreaking for a permanent facility on campus. ADVERTISING The University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy celebrated Friday a groundbreaking for
The University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy celebrated Friday a groundbreaking for a permanent facility on campus.
Hosted at the construction site on South Ahoku Street next to the college’s temporary modular buildings, the event featured speakers including University of Hawaii President David Lassner and Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi, among others.
“This building is symbolic of the direction UH-Hilo is going, and establishes the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy as an integral part of the state of Hawaii,” said UH-Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney.
“While we are extremely grateful, we are also reminded of the responsibility this trust entails.”
Founding dean John M. Pezzuto honored several guests who were instrumental in beginning the only college of pharmacy in the Pacific region, and honored two student speakers, inaugural class of 2011 president Jessica Toyama, and current student Sean Lasky, president of the class of 2017.
“Groundbreaking ceremonies are always emotional, but this one is particularly profound not only for the faculty who have worked painstakingly to get to this point, but for the four groups of PharmD graduates and current students who have believed in us,” Pezzuto said.
“We are honored to welcome today many other people who put their own sweat equity in the College from the beginning, several of our winners of the coveted Advancement of Pharmacy Excellence awards: Chancellor Emerita Rose Tseng, former director of university relations Gerald De Mello, and Pat DeLeon, who served as chief of staff to Sen. Daniel K. Inouye when the college was conceived and built.
“Without them, there may not have ever been a College of Pharmacy.”
