PRESS & MEDIA

Press coverage and media features documenting advocacy work, legislative impact, and public health policy contributions.

2026
Student Feature: Part-Time MSBA Program
Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business
Featured in Tepper School spotlight on Part-Time MSBA students. Discussed discovering the program at Grace Hopper, navigating the changing job market with AI, building a personal brand after layoff, exploring ethical uses of AI, and integrating spontaneous side projects into academic research and conference presentations. Highlighted the value of returning to school during a period of industry transformation and the importance of classmates who enabled deep dives into unconventional ideas during capstone work.
2018
National Youth Champion Award
PR Newswire / Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Named 2018 National Youth Champion by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for leading statewide advocacy campaigns that resulted in Hawaii legislation restricting flavored tobacco sales and prohibiting smoking in cars with children. Received award in Washington, D.C. as a senior at Punahou School, with plans to study biomedical engineering and public health at Dartmouth University. Personal motivation stemmed from losing grandmother to lung disease caused by secondhand smoke exposure, despite her never smoking.
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2023
Expert Source: Hawaii Vaping Legislation
Honolulu Civil Beat
Quoted as policy expert on Hawaii House-Senate conference committee agreement to tax and regulate vaping devices and vaping liquids the same as other tobacco products. Called the bill 'huge' and emphasized its importance in debunking tobacco industry claims that vaping products are less harmful than cigarettes. Highlighted the significance of changing public narrative on vaping dangers and treating these products with same regulatory scrutiny as tobacco. Article identified me as a Dartmouth graduate working as a software engineer in Boston.
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2017
Alaka'i Outstanding Advocate of the Year
Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii
Recognized with the Alaka'i Outstanding Advocate of the Year award for advocacy efforts with the Coalition's Youth Council. Helped pass law prohibiting smoking in cars with kids throughout Oahu. Pushed for statewide law, contacted lawmakers, and testified before Hawaii Legislature. Worked to strengthen Hawaii's statewide law prohibiting tobacco sales to anyone under 21. Demonstrated need to restrict youth online access to all tobacco products including e-cigarettes.
Legislative Impact