NPIEN’s 22nd ANNUAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
ON OCTOBER 28, 2023
The 22nd Annual Conference at Long Beach College was very memorable and a complete success! We had 48 virtual and 181 in-person attendees, including 23 exhibitors. Participants had a chance to hear from speakers celebrate their heritage as a Pacific Islander. To enhance interpersonal skills and connect with the attendees, they shared valuable takeaways from their previous experiences.
General Session: Welcome by David Brown, Mylay, from LA Island Radio, Keynote Address by Vivian Malauulu, Vice President, Board of Trustees, and Remarks by Dr. Erainia Freeman, Long Beach City College. The Emcee for the event was Dr. Kalani Heinz, NPIEN President-Elect. Keynote Presentation and Tour by Long Beach City College MANA/PISA, Director Teila Robertson.
Workshops: Art/Weaving Class by JP Jason Pereira and Ukulele Class by Dr. Lauren Bowman. Breakfast by Mochinut Long Beach and lunch by Ohana Hawaiian BBQ. Student Performances by Dr. Lauren Bowman’s Ukulele Class, plus the Paramount High School Pacific Islander Club, Long Beach Jordan High School Pacific Islander Club and the Dominguez High School Pacific Islander Club.
Closing Keynote Speaker Panel: Pacific Islander School Principal Panel: Loriann Leota, Principal, Pendleton Elementary School, Buena Park School District, Alicia Megofna. Principal, Odyssey STEM Academy, Paramount Unified School District Rosie Sinapi, Principal, Los Altos Elementary School, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
NPIEN Service Awards and the Christina Diaz Scholars Awards: 8 Service Award Winners and 23 Students were recognized, 18 of the students recognized were in attendance virtually.
A Special Thanks to our Hosts Long Beach City College, MANA/PISA: Teila Robertson, Kare’l Lokeni. Demeturie Gogue, Joe Polanco, MANA/PISA Students
NPIEN Service Awards and the Christina Diaz Scholars Awards: 8 Service Award Winners and 23 Students were recognized, 18 of the students recognized were in attendance virtually.
The Conference concluded with the Presentation of Conference Prizes to attendees who visited the Career, College and Resource Fair.
Sponsors of Lunch, Breakfast, and the Conference Prizes: Dr. Siona Motufau. Michael Durham, Henry Chang CPA, Maria Torres, Michael To’omalatai, Shauna Zunkle, Eugene Mafi, Dr. Juliann Anesi, Caruso Ford/Lincoln/Mazda, HundredX, Navy Pier, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Curves, Bronca, Amy’s Trophies, Carol Wynder, Bruce Lee, Teresa Molina, Dr. Tino Andres, Sweet Eve’s Gourmet Cookies, the Office of Samoan Affairs, Amy’s Trophies
Awards Sponsors, Providers of Student Certificates: Mayor Sue Beckmeyer: City of Pacifica, California, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Congressmember Michelle Steel: California, Missouri Senator Mike Cierpiot, City of Cypress, California, Mayor Anne Mallari, County of Kauai, Hawaii, Mayor Derek Kawakami, Congressmember Jill Tokuda, Hawaii. Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán, California, Congresswoman Anna A. Eshoo, California, Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Career, College, and Resource Fair: Fetutasi’s Island Souvenirs, Sweet Eve’s Gourmet Cookies, Long Beach City College, Long Beach City College MANA, U.S. Navy, Whittier College, Grand Canyon University, California State University, Northridge, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, California State University, Long Beach, Harvey Mudd College, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Cerritos College, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Behavioral Health Services, Pacific Asian Counseling Services, Island Grad, Southern California Pacific Islander Community Response Team, Office of Samoan Affairs, F.O.U. Movement, Hawai'i Daughter’s Guild
