Priscilla Wang, who is earning her MEd in Learning Design & Technology (LTEC) from the College of Education, was recently crowned Miss International Hawaiʻi. She is currently a graduate assistant for the Advancing Research and Practice in Culturally-Relevant Computing (aCRC) project, which is a partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Hawaiʻi Department of Education.
“We’re so lucky to have Priscilla working with our aCRC project,” said LTEC Assistant Professor Dan Hoffman. “Her background in computer science and education is a combination that makes her really well rounded. She’s helped us with web development, workshop recruiting, and lesson planning. She’s super capable and a lot of fun to work with.”
As part of her role as Miss International Hawaiʻi, Wang has been promoting cultural exchange and friendship on an international platform. She has participated in community events and fundraisers, such as the the Kauaʻi Special Olympics where she helped to raise $50,000. She attended the 2023 Sony Open where she presented the Sony Open Award to the champion.
“These experiences have been incredibly humbling and inspiring, and I am grateful for the opportunities to make a positive impact on my community and beyond,” Wang said. “As a passionate advocate for diversity in the technology industry, I have also spoken at elementary schools to encourage students and promote computer science as a career path.”
Wang has been competing in pageants for the past four years, but she says it has always been her dream to enter Miss International. Although the pageant is based in Japan, Hawaiʻi competes independently, reflecting the special bond and rich history it shares with Japan.
“Priscilla is a great ambassador for scholarship pageants,” LTEC Associate Professor Peter Leong said. “She excels academically and participates actively in service and extracurricular activities. We are very proud of her accomplishments!”
Through the LTEC program, Wang has been able to merge her passion and experience in technology with her love for teaching.
“I have gained a better understanding of the learning design process, including performing needs analysis and incorporating the Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate (ADDIE) model,” Wang said. “This knowledge has helped me become a more effective product manager in the education technology field as I am able to apply these principles in the development of educational products that truly meet the needs of both teachers and students.”
