HPU President John Gotanda presents the inaugural John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway Alumni Entrepreneur Award to C.K. Park, founder and chief executive officer of Nationwide IT Services.
Hawai‘i Pacific University proudly announced C.K. Park, founder and chief executive officer of Nationwide IT Services, as the inaugural recipient of the HPU Alumni Entrepreneur Award, which is part of the John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway. The recognition took place April 15 during a special gathering at the Nationwide IT Services headquarters in Virginia.
The Alumni Entrepreneur Award recognizes individuals who create opportunity, inspire others, and exemplify entrepreneurial leadership. In presenting the award, HPU President John Gotanda emphasized that, as the inaugural recipient, Park is both being honored and is setting a standard for the award.
Gotanda noted that Park was selected in large part because of the culture he has built at Nationwide IT Services, one marked by trust, collaboration, and a strong sense of shared purpose. “An entrepreneur is not just someone who builds a business, but someone who builds people, builds community, and creates meaningful impact,” he said.
The HPU team congratulating C.K. Park on his award, from left to right: AVP Liisa Franzen, President John Gotanda, C.K. Park, VP Maureen Silva, Board of Trustee and alumna Shue-Jane Thompson, alumnus Bruce Thompson.
Nearly all team members working at the Nationwide IT Services headquarters attended the gathering, underscoring the collaborative corporate culture Park has built. In addition to President Gotanda, representing HPU at the event were Board of Trustee member and alumna Shue-Jane Thompson; alumnus Bruce Thompson; Maureen Silva, vice president of advancement; and Liisa Franzen, associate vice president of university partnerships.
Park earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in management from Hawai‘i Pacific University in 1999 and founded Nationwide IT Services in 2006. What began as a leap of faith grew into a thriving enterprise delivering mission-critical information technology solutions to government and commercial clients. Today, the company supports hundreds of employees and holds significant federal contracts, including a $149 million award from the U.S. Air Force.
Before launching his entrepreneurial journey, Park served for more than two decades in the United States Army, where he developed leadership values that continue to shape his work.
After receiving the award, Park spoke about the role Hawaiʻi Pacific University played in his education while balancing the responsibilities of military service. He also shared what entrepreneurship means to him.
Inaugural HPU Alumni Entrepreneur Awardee C.K. Park (with lei), HPU President John Gotanda (left of C.K. Park), and the leadership team of Nationwide IT Services.
“Entrepreneurship is not about me,” Park said. “It’s about the team and the family. HPU gave me the opportunity to finish my degree while I was serving in the military, and that made a real difference in what I was able to accomplish. One thing I’m really proud of is the great people we get to work with. In the Army, we used to say there’s no ‘I’ in the team, and we do this all together.”
As part of the ceremony, Park was presented with a symbolic canoe paddle, representing leadership rooted in Hawai‘i. In a traditional waʻa, progress depends on collective effort and trust, illustrating Park’s approach to leadership and shared success.
“Tonight, we celebrate more than an achievement. We celebrate a journey defined by courage, discipline, vision, and an unwavering commitment to building something that lasts,” the president said.
