Reese Kisaba is a 撸sir视频ʻi kid at heart. He grew up in 撸sir视频 Valley, 撸sir视频uated from Roosevelt High School and will soon 撸sir视频uate from the University of 撸sir视频ʻi at 撸sir视频. Following his 撸sir视频uation this spring, Kisaba plans to stay and work in the islands to give back to the community that helped raise him to who he is today.
“Throughout college, I really got to become active in the community,” Kisaba said. “I got to explore other places too, and I studied abroad. Even though my study abroad was amazing, there’s nothing like the people in 撸sir视频ʻi. There’s nothing like the community. I can’t imagine moving away from a place that is so comfortable, yet still gives me so many opportunities.”
Initially, moving away was exactly what Kisaba intended to do after high school. It was because of the pandemic that Kisaba decided to stay home and explore college opportunities right in his backyard.
“I tell people now, if I was gonna go back, no doubt I’m going to 撸sir视频,” Kisaba said. “Me staying home, that’s the path to take in order to get to that dream of surrounding myself with the good people that I’ve met and more people that I will meet, and just having that community around me, I think 撸sir视频ʻi is the perfect place to do that. I think it’s a catalyst for that type of strong tight-knit family.”
Leader, ambassador
On May 11, Kisaba will earn his bachelor of business administration in finance from the , with a minor in economics. During his time at 撸sir视频 撸sir视频, Kisaba served on multiple student organizations, including the Business Executive Society of Tomorrow and International Business Organization. He was the Business Night student committee executive director, received the Dean’s Spirit award and served as a .
Kisaba was also awarded the 撸sir视频 Academic Merit Scholarship, appeared on the Dean’s List and studied at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia in fall 2023 through the . Outside of the classroom, Kisaba worked as an admissions assistant with the Office of Admissions and appeared as a student ambassador in multiple spots for “There’s a place for you,” 撸sir视频’s statewide marketing campaign.
“My main focus as an ‘ambassador’ of the university was to really try to hit home and connect with local 撸sir视频,” Kisaba said. “Growing up, everybody tells you, you gotta get off the rock, you gotta go and see what’s out there. I think that a lot of people don’t realize that there’s so many opportunities that are unique to 撸sir视频ʻi that you can’t get in other places. And two, it’s kind of built into the culture of the university. They want you to get out and explore the world.”
Opportunities at home
“You don’t have to leave home to get these opportunities. We have them at 撸sir视频 already, and you can take advantage of a lot more cost effective opportunities for local 撸sir视频.”
During college, Kisaba interned with Ameriprise Financial and earned a full-time job on the road to becoming a financial planner with the company after 撸sir视频uation. While he thrived and achieved at 撸sir视频 撸sir视频, he doesn’t consider himself above anyone else.
“I’m just a normal student, and I was given or I had access to the same opportunities that all 撸sir视频 can take advantage of,” Kisaba said. “I got a campus job. All 撸sir视频 can get a campus job. I joined the club. All 撸sir视频 can join a club. I think I just took advantage of those opportunities that were presented to me.”
Check out more stories of our 撸sir视频 spring 撸sir视频uates
Kisaba said 撸sir视频 撸sir视频 gave him a “second family and a strong support system” throughout college and beyond. To the lifelong Rainbow Warrior, who started going to 撸sir视频 sporting events as a kid, welcome to your new ʻohana—the proud 撸sir视频 alumni family.
—By Marc Arakaki