DON AND SHIRLEY WIRTH YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
Milikaleakona “Tonga” Hopoi, ’12
Milikaleakona “Tonga” Hopoi, ’12
Milikaleakona Hopoi, known as “Tonga,” is committed to empowering women of color, and she sets an example as a leader who remains true to her cultural upbringings. Chief of Staff for the Senate Majority Caucus Leader in the
Hawai’i State Legislature, she has shared her positive outlook and organization skills in many roles. She became the first Tongan to work in the White House as a policy intern for First Lady Michelle Obama in 2014, was appointed
as special advisor to the Under Secretary of Science and Energy within the Department of Energy and served on the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans. The only Pacific Islander elected president of
the Associated Students of Oregon State University, Hopoi’s administration was essential in passing the bonds needed to fund construction of the Student Experience Center at OSU.
View Tonga Hopoi's memory book - signed by friends and family to recognize her achievements.
Donate to the Asian and Pacific Cultural Center in Tonga's honor.
Watch on YouTube.

Our Health& The Power of Play
Jun 19, 2025
In a digital era of social media saturation and deteriorating mental health, perhaps it is a return to the fields and courts of our youth that can reverse the rise of failing health outcomes.

Ask Alumni | Elevate Your Interview Skills and Confidence
Apr 24, 2025
Watch this Ask Alumni webcast featuring Oregon State University alumna Beth Dittman, Ed.M. ’08, a career and life coach.

Our Health& Milk
Apr 23, 2025
From the health effects and misconceptions surrounding bovine milk on children and adults to the role human milk plays in infant nutrition to the latest OSU research on milk’s effect on gut health and blood pressure, we answer your questions live.

Ask Alumni | Pasture to Plate: Careers in Sustainable Beef Production
Apr 17, 2025
Whether you’re a student, faculty member or industry professional, this panel offers a unique opportunity to learn from those actively shaping the beef industry.