Our advisor for the University of Hawaii at Hilo Student NAMA Chapter is Dr. Sabry Shehata. Dr. Shehata was born in the province of EL Monofia (named by the Pharoah's as "the good land") in Egypt in 1942. His father was a professor of philosophy at the University of Cairo, who also farmed 200 acres of cotton, wheat, corn, and melons in the Nile Delta. Dr. Shehata grew up in the country where he attended elementary, then went to high school in Heliapolis, a suburb of Cairo. He met his wife, Suehere, in Cairo and they married in Egypt in 1972. They have three children. Daughter, Cherie, who is now a family practitioner doctor in Honolulu. Son Nader, who teaches computer and filiming at Kamehameha Schools. Youngest son, Youssef, who is currently attending the University of Hawaii at Hilo currently.

Dr. Shehata earned his BS Degree in general agriculture from Cairo University in 1965. He then earned a Masters Degree in microbiology from Cairo 1969. That same year, he emigrated to the United States. He continued his education at the University of Missouri at Columbia and received a Master's Degree in agriculture economics in 1973. He then won a scholarship to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to complete a Doctorate Degree in agriculture economics in 1977.

In 1997, he was hired as an assistant professor of agricultural economics at the University of Hawaii at hilo. He moved to California with his family in 1981 to accept an Associate Professorship at Fresno State University . In addition to teaching, Dr. Shehata founded a marketing consulting firm in Fresno. He became an advisor to NAMA at Fresno State and hired many of his students to work in his marketing company. Dr. Shehata's role as a company manager and recruiter showed him the value of NAMA experience for his student employees, which in turn has made him dedicated NAMA supporter.

In 1986, Dr. Shehata returned to the University of Hawaii at hilo and took up residence. He later found the first and only student NAMA chapter in 1992. Since then, he has sent six teams from UH Hilo to the national competitions--two of which have reached the semi-finals and one the finals. Dr. Shehata received the Outstanding Advisor for a New Developing Chapter Award from NAMA National in 1993-94. Dr. Shehata's involvement in NAMA and the placing of the 1998 to 1999 teams in the semi-finals and finals respectively, earned the recognition of Dr. Kenneth Mortimer, President of the University of Hawaii, in his annual review of major accomplishments of all the campuses in the university system. Hawaii's 3rd place finish at the national competition in 1999 has brought recognition not only to the University of Hawaii, but to the entire State as well.

It is difficult to express all that Dr. Shehata has done for the UHH-NAMA Chapter in only a few words. Throughout the years he has certainly been dedicated advisor and friend to the UHH-NAMA chapter, but most of all like a father-figure to us all. He devotes countless hours of his own personal time to help students plan activities, write proposals to various organizations for funding, and preparing submissions for the national competition. Prior to traveling to the national competition, Dr. Shehata takes it upon himself to make all the travel arrangements for the group. He has donated money from his own pocket and his teaching budget to help the NAMA students cover a large portion of our travel expenses. This year, seeing that the chapter was having difficulty financing the trip to Kansas City, he made it a point to lobby for the support of other professors in the College of Agriculture. As a result of his effors, he received $1000 to help the students.

Dr. Shehata is a constant source of wisdon and guidance. He is someone you can count on and is always there for the students, whether it be for financial, school-related, or personal reasons. You can always depend on him for support and encouragement

His home, like his office, is open to the students. The Shehata's have invited us to their home several occassions for Thanksgiving dinner, and have welcomed us to conduct our NAMA meetings and a few fundraisers there. Mrs. Shehata has also taught us how to make baklava--which is both delicious and an excellent product for our fundraising. The Shehata family are definitely valued contributors to the UHH-NAMA Chapter.

Without Dr. Shehata's Self-less acts and determined assistance, the UH-Hilo NAMA chapter would never have achieved the success it has today. His dedication and concern for his students has motivated and inspired us all to strive to achieve our own goals and to come together as a team to make our school, community, and state proud. Dr. Shehata brings out the best in the people around him and is truly one-of-a-kind.