Pacific Media Group Celebrates Outstanding Graduates

Pacific Media Group photo of the 2015 program.

Pacific Media Group, home of four island wide radio stations and news website BigIslandNow.com, will once again celebrate outstanding students in the community during its 33rd annual “Salute to the Graduates” program.

Public and private schools from across the Big Island have selected distinguished students in five categories for the honor: athletics, literary or performing arts, scholastics, leadership, and information technology.

Each student is highlighted over the airwaves as part of a month-long series of vignettes, which began on May 2. The vignette shines a spotlight on each student’s accomplishments, awards, and post-high school plans.

Vignettes can be heard on all stations, as well as played on BigIslandNow.com.

“For 33 years, Salute to the Graduates has been an event that demonstrates one aspect of what is so great about the Hawai’i Island community,” said Chuck Bergson, PMG Chief Executive Officer. “Recognizing and honoring our brightest young people and future community leaders is something we are thrilled to be a part of.”

A celebration held on May 14 at Nani Mau Gardens will celebrate the outstanding high school seniors in our community. Students and their families, along with distinguished guests, will enjoy lunch and entertainment. Kutmaster Spaz will address the students as this year’s featured guest.

“For many years, our staff at Pacific Media Group has rallied together to support talented graduates in the community,” said Jack Dugan, PMG Chief Operating Officer and Director of Digital Products. “We are honored to be able to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2016 honorees and we look forward to the positive impact they bring to our Island and the world.”

To view a full list of student honorees click here.

PMG would like to thank the generous sponsors who have made the event possible year in and year out: Automotive Supply Center, Big Island Candies, Big Island Federal Credit Union, BMW Hawai’i, CU Hawai’i Federal Credit Union, Geico Auto Insurance, Graces Braces, Hawai’i Community Federal Credit Union, HFS Federal Credit Union, HomeWorld, SlumberWorld. Kapohokine Adventures Zipline through Paradise, KTA Super Stores, Meadow Gold Dairies, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Pu’ueo Poi Factory, Sportsline, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, and Walter’s Electric & La’akea Solar.

Pacific Media Group Big Island is home to four Hawai`i Island radio stations: Native FM (95.9 FM KPVS Hilo / 93.9 FM KLUA Kailua-Kona), KBIG FM (97.9 KKBG FM Hilo / 106.1 FM KLEO Kahalu`u-Kona), KAPA Hawaiian FM (100.3 FM KAPA Hilo and Ka`u / 99.1 KAGB Waimea and Kona), and the Big Island’s ESPN Radio (850 AM KHLO Hilo / 790 AM KKON Kealakekua). PMG Hawai’i also owns Big Island Now, a free, on-line news website.

The company also owns a series of Maui radio stations and products, including KPOA 93.5 FM, DaJam 98.3 FM, ESPN Maui AM 900, Native 92.5 FM, 99.9 KISS FM Maui, Bloomberg Radio AM 550, MauiNow.com, as well as Aloha Stoked and the Maui Activity and Maui Dining apps.

Pacific Media Group is the parent company of BigIslandNow.com