The second annual International Business Conference, which was held in Laie from November 6-10, generated at least two projects that will continue to benefit BYU-Hawaii students:
• Proceeds from the silent auction of a special painting will be used to generate scholarships for international students.
• A free dental clinic for international students will be established within the next six months.
The conference, co-sponsored by BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center, and conducted by the Center for Instructional Technology & Outreach (CITO), brought several hundred top Latter-day Saint business executives and family members to campus to meet a stellar line-up of presenters. They focused on doing business in China as well as spiritual development.
The event's chairman — Dal Zemp, a philanthropic entrepreneur and BYU-Hawaii alumnus who lives in Cardston, Alberta, Canada — called the conference wonderful: "My phone has been ringing with thank-yous from all over the country. The most common statement is that it was the 'most spiritual week of my life.'"
Zemp explained that the "Angels Among Us" scholarship fund started by Gibb and Wendy Schaffer, also of Cardston, "is just one example of the good that has resulted in all of your hours and hours of work."
The Schaffers, who are members of the BYU-Hawaii/ Polynesian Cultural Center Presidents' Leadership Council — an organization of major donors to the two institutions — became interested in helping international BYUH students after attending the first business conference in Laie.
Lei Cummings, an LDS Philanthropies Donor Liaison, pointed out the Schaffers started the fund at that time, partially in honor of their daughter, Danica, who died in 1994. The couple also worked with BYU-Hawaii School of Computing Dean Bret Ellis and SOC students to create the associated web site.
Noted Latter-day Saint artist Simon Dewey donated the painting, Angels Among Us, the name of which they borrowed for the fund. Dewey has also agreed to donate a portion of his online sales of the painting at Altus Fine Art to the fund.
The Schaffers [pictured on the right of the photo at the right, with the Zemps on the left and two members of the PCC Promo Team] unveiled the painting at a PLC home meeting in Canada earlier this year. It was also shown during Education Week at BYU in Provo in August, and put up for silent auction during the second annual International Business Conference.
At the conclusion of this year's conference, Zemp announced the painting had been sold to an anonymous donor for $78,000, which will be used to provide part of the first $100,000 worth of IWES scholarships the Schaffers committed to fund this year.
"This is going to impact the lives of many, many students from all over the world who come and study at this place," Zemp said at the conclusion of this year's conference. "If you think about some of their situations, you can help lift a family out of poverty for generations. This is a very powerful idea." He added that those interested can still donate online to the fund.
Zemp explained that the idea for the free dental clinic arose from a comment PCC President Von D. Orgill made. Orgill, who is also president of the BYU-Hawaii Third Stake "told us they spend a lot of money getting the international students ready to go on missions."
Zemp said his neighbor, Dr. Lorin Low, a dentist who attended the business conference and is considering joining the PLC, is working through some of the issues which must be resolved first. "On this end we've arranged for the equipment, dentists and assistants to come over and provide this help. It's a concept we know we can do, to provide free dental care for international students at BYU-Hawaii."
"I love it when a plan comes together. We think we can do this in about six months," Zemp said, crediting each of those who came for "accomplishing something fantastic. What started out as a silly idea is now really making a difference for students and the university."