Saturday Briefing

By Barry Wallace

Congratulations to Elizabeth Cambra on her graduation from The Pacific Fellows (PCF) Program class of 2008!  This program is modeled after the White House Fellows Program and founded by Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Elizabeth was nominated by Jeannie Rolles and chosen based on a written application and personal interview conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of judges. Considerations for acceptance included educational background, current career responsibilities, special achievements, involvement in community activities, communication skills, and strength of character. Those chosen showed the judges strong intellectual and leadership abilities in the early and mid-stages of their careers, with the potential to make significant contributions to the community in the future.

Elizabeth Cambra on the flight deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CVG3)

This nine-month program addressed subjects such as education, government, healthcare, and quality of life. The class took monthly “field trips.” Highlights included a criminal justice day with a visit to the prison, interviews with judges, and an exciting visit to the morgue! The class also ventured to Maui and explored the wind farm, spoke to local farmers, toured the Maui High Performance Computer Center, and met with then Mayor Charmaine Tavares. Sustainability was a recurring topic through the entire year. Military Day included a visit to Schofield Barracks, with presentations by current and past military personnel, along with a tour of the Wounded Warrior Program. Military Day also included a tour of the US Pacific Command Center and Ford Island. Elizabeth also defied all laws of physical science and common sense by hooking an arresting wire on board the USS Kitty Hawk (CV63)!

Graduation is just the beginning, as Fellows graduates are encouraged to take a more active public service role, applying the concepts they learned over the course of the program and exploring creative and constructive solutions to far-reaching challenges facing the state and nation.

The Pacific Fellows Class of 2008 at the Kaheawa Wind Power Facility, Maui

Elizabeth was in good company with young leaders from finance, education, law, government, non-profit, public relations, and healthcare disciplines. She said, “It was an amazing opportunity to be exposed to experts from many industries who impact the great state in which we live, play, and work. The exposure and knowledge has already impacted how I approach my business and personal life. I recommend PCF to anyone who wants to grow without spending time in a standard classroom!”

Congratulations on this significant accomplishment, Elizabeth! We’re very proud of you!