JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF STUDENT LEADERS!
Open to all majors on all 10 UH System campuses
Thousands in scholarships available
PACE is looking for dedicated students ready to make an impact and gain hands-on leadership experience. Start by reviewing the list of student-led programs below and select the programs that are of most interest to you in the application form.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Hands-on Experience – Lead programs, manage events, and support initiatives across the University of Hawai‘i System.
Access to Resources – Work directly with tools, maker spaces, and cutting-edge resources in our new 10,000-square-foot innovation center.
Network Building – Connect with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and peers who share your passion.
Professional Development – Build valuable skills and expand your knowledge through special opportunities, including invitations to community events and conferences.
Qualify for Scholarships – Unlock exclusive scholarship funds. Planning to live at the Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center? You’ll qualify for our largest scholarship pool.
No experience in entrepreneurship or business is required. The 2025-2026 academic year priority application deadline is January 31, 2025. After the priority application deadline, submissions are reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Students are encouraged to apply at any time as applications are also reviewed for opportunities that may arise during the school year
LEADERSHIP ROLES
AGRI-BUSINESS PROGRAM
The Agri-Business program is a new PACE Leader-led program for the 2026-2027 year. The goal of the Agri-Business program is to elevate Hawaiʻi’s agricultural innovation ecosystem by supporting student-led agribusiness ideas. In collaboration with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), PACE Leaders in this program are responsible for designing and executing agriculture-focused programming. Their responsibilities include coordinating speaker events, workshops, and pitch competitions tailored to the industry. This program is open to CTAHR majors and minors.
AI INNOVATION
The AI Innovation Lab is a new PACE Leader–run program that offers students opportunities to explore, experiment with, and apply artificial intelligence across creative, academic, and entrepreneurial contexts. PACE Leaders in this program will have a unique opportunity to help build and shape the Lab by experimenting with emerging tools, responding to evolving student needs, and creating accessible entry points for peers to develop real-world AI skills that are increasingly essential across all career paths. Programming may include workshops and events, hackathons and design sprints, venture-focused deep dives, working groups, industry-led sessions with businesses, and micro-internships that apply AI tools to real-world projects. Leaders’ responsibilities include: designing and executing AI-focused programming; brainstorming and developing new initiatives as tools and trends evolve; lab monitoring; coordinating speakers, mentors, and business partners; marketing events; managing logistics; facilitating hands-on learning experiences; and collecting feedback for continuous improvement. A pilot of the AI Innovation Lab is launching in Spring 2026.
CALVIN SHINDO STUDENT VENTURE FUND
The Calvin Shindo Student Venture Fund is a student-run venture capital fund for early-stage UH-affiliated companies. The goal of the program is 1) to enrich student learning by providing a hands-on opportunity to learn the venture capital process and startup finance, and 2) to nurture high potential, early-stage ventures. The student leaders have responsibilities over the entire portfolio management process. In addition to attending regularly scheduled meetings, student leaders spend considerable time marketing, identifying, qualifying, and recommending investments, as well as following-up with existing portfolio companies. Since the Fund is a transaction-based program, committee members should be aware that there may be times of intense activity and that they will be expected to work within tight deadlines, including evenings and weekends. Learn more about the venture fund here.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP LIVE
Entrepreneurship Live is a speaker series that invites founders and company executives to discuss their entrepreneurial journey with University of Hawai‘i students. Each event features individuals who educate and inspire students by sharing their real-world challenges and triumphs, and range of emotional experiences in running a business. Each talk is followed by Q&A and a networking session. The PACE Leaders’ responsibilities in this program include brainstorming, coordinating speakers, marketing, arranging logistics for the event, executing the event, encouraging mingling during the networking session, and collecting feedback for continuous improvement. A minimum of six events are held per calendar year. Learn more here.
KALO GRANTS
Kalo Grants is a program that provides UH students with the opportunity to apply for seed funding of $500 or $1,000. Those who apply for $1,000 must pitch in front of a live audience. PACE Leaders in this highly-engaging program are responsible for managing the entire program which includes marketing, reviewing applications, coordinating live pitch events, coaching, distributing funds, and monitoring the recipients’ progress. A minimum of four application rounds are held in an academic year.
LEVEL UP WORKSHOPS
The Level Up workshops is a series of interactive events that provide students with the opportunity to gain skills, learn about a variety of topics, and expand their networks. Workshop topics may include design thinking, public speaking, product design, managing a team, startup legal issues, corporate formation, branding/marketing, web basics, sustainability, financial literacy, social impact investing, pitching, etc. The Leaders in this program are responsible for executing impactful and timely workshops that meet the evolving needs of their peers. The Leaders’ responsibilities include brainstorming, coordinating speakers, marketing, arranging logistics for the event, executing the workshop, and collecting feedback for continuous improvement. A minimum of nine events are held in a calendar year.
MAKER PROGRAM
The goal of the Maker Program is to help students learn how to safely use the various equipment and tools in the maker spaces and recording studio so that they may create content or their first prototype at PACE. Leaders serve as the primary stewards of these environments, bearing responsibility for the recording studio and maker spaces. Beyond executing eight annual make-and-take workshops, Leaders manage all daily operations: staffing open hour shifts, providing expert technical support and training to peers, performing proactive tool maintenance, overseeing the supplies budget, and maintaining a rigorous equipment inventory.
PACE CONNECT
PACE Connect is a student-led initiative designed to build community and meaningful connections among University of Hawaiʻi students and industry professionals. Through a series of mixers and networking events, the goal of the program is to create opportunities where students from all disciplines can meet like-minded peers, form interdisciplinary teams, build relationships, explore startup opportunities, and engage with diverse professionals to accelerate their career readiness. The Leaders in this program are responsible for brainstorming event themes, marketing, coordinating with industry professionals, managing event logistics and facilitating networking to encourage active relationship-building. Leaders also collect and analyze feedback to ensure events meet the evolving needs of their peers, with a minimum of 4 student mixers and 2 larger networking events with professionals held per calendar year.
DIRECTORS
A director or co-directors are assigned to each student-led program. Responsibilities include:
- Overseeing and managing a program from the summer before the academic year through the summer after the academic year,
- Creating a positive and inclusive culture, and
- Guiding their team of associates to make thoughtful decisions that meet the goals of the program and the evolving needs of UH students.
Directors develop leadership capacity within themselves and their peers as they onboard and lead a team of associates. Directors are responsible for ensuring that their team executes impactful programming, which includes everything from concept to clean-up. Directors learn strategic planning, management, accountability, and delegation skills necessary to carry out their responsibilities.
Directors meet with PACE staff regularly to ensure that the programs align with the Center’s goals.
- Makerspace Directors: This role has the additional unique responsibility of managing the makerspaces in RISE. This role is responsible for learning and teaching others how to use tools safely, and encouraging UH students to build their first prototype at RISE. Makerspace directors coordinate schedules to ensure room access; manage a supplies budget; inventory small tools; coordinate workshops; and provide safety training.
ASSOCIATES
Associates are vital to PACE. Associates report to the Director of the program, and contribute to key efforts including concept development, research, marketing and promotion, and event planning. Associates have the opportunity to learn specific skill sets attributed to being a collaborative and effective team member. Associates are selected by the director with input from PACE.
- Makerspace Associates: These associates have the unique opportunity to help run the makerspaces in the Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center, train students on how to use tools safely, and execute programming that will encourage UH students to build their first prototype at the Center.
- PACE Leaders must be enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program in any of the 10 campuses within the University of Hawai‘i System, including community colleges and neighbor island campuses.
- Leaders must be in good academic standing.
- Time commitment varies by program. Leaders may be expected to contribute up to 10 hours per week, depending on their assigned role.
- Leaders must be able to communicate in a timely manner and commit to attending team meetings and events as determined by the team and leadership.
- Leaders who reside on neighbor island campuses must be able to connect via Zoom for meetings.
- Leaders must be able to convey enthusiasm and pride for PACE, and participate in activities that market and promote PACE to the UH community and beyond. These activities may include informational tabling, classroom presentations, speeches, tours, digital content development, high school visits, and representing PACE as a student ambassador when called upon.
- Leaders must be able to assist in the coordination of various programs, events and activities.
- Leaders should possess personal attributes that include good, moral character, and strong public speaking and writing skills.
- Continuation in the program each semester requires a favorable performance evaluation and maintaining a positive image befitting a PACE Leader. Any conduct or behavior deemed inappropriate as a PACE Leader is grounds for immediate termination of leadership role and scholarship, and disqualification from future PACE leadership positions and scholarships. Students must apply to the PACE Leaders program annually.
- Leaders must follow PACE on social media.
Email: pace.shidler.hawaii.edu/connect
Instagram: instagram.com/pacehawaii
Facebook: facebook.com/pacehawaii
Twitter: twitter.com/pacehawaii
YouTube: youtube.com/@pacehawaii
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/pacehawaii
Preference may be given to:
- Hawai‘i residents
- Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center residents
- Students who declare need, based on household income
- Students who have entrepreneurial aspirations or enjoy creating solutions in teams
Term: Summer to Summer
Dates are subject to change.
Jan. 31, 2025: Priority application deadline 2025-2026 academic year
February 3-19: Application review period
February 21: Interview/no interview notification
February 24–March 12: Interview period
March 14: Selection notification with scholarship offer sent by PACE staff
March 28: Applicant confirms program commitment and submits required documentation
Summer 2025: Orientation and team planning sessions
Fall 2025: Funds are deposited into student’s UH Banner account
PACE Leader term ends Summer 2026.
PACE LEADER OF THE MONTH
PACE recognizes these students for their outstanding service, having gone above and beyond their expected responsibilities.
phone: (808) 956-5083
fax: (808) 956-5107
email: pace@hawaii.edu
phone: (808) 956-5083
fax: (808) 956-5107
email: pace@hawaii.edu
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