Ferdie Pinpin, a 2001 BYU–Hawaii chemistry graduate, is the president of the BYU–Hawaii Washington State Alumni Chapter, where he leads service, mentoring, and community-building efforts. Raised in the Philippines, he turned early setbacks into success and now works as a Senior Program Manager at Amazon. A devoted husband and father, he leads with unwavering faith, placing family and community at the heart of everything he does.
Against the Odds
Ferdie’s early years in the Philippines offered little indication of his later success. He was not a serious student—satisfied with barely passing grades—and almost did not graduate from high school because he skipped his mandatory citizens’ army training. Unsurprisingly, attending BYU–Hawaii was not on his radar at first, but everything changed because of a childhood friend who would later become his wife.
“My wife and I have known each other since childhood. In fact, my wife’s family actually introduced mine to the Church in 1978,” he says. “When she left to go to BYU–Hawaii in 1993, that really sparked my desire, and I felt that I had to follow her.”
However, Ferdie’s journey to BYU–Hawaii was not easy. Because of his past academic record, Ferdie was denied admission multiple times when his GPA did not meet the requirements. Nevertheless, the university encouraged him to raise his GPA, and he persisted. After one year of determination and prayer, he was finally admitted—but the challenges did not end there.
“I was denied a visa several times,” he recalls. “Eventually, after another year of trying to obtain one, my sister had to return home so I could be granted mine. It was a great sacrifice—one that changed my life.”
That hard-won opportunity shifted his mindset. “I used to be carefree, but my tough journey toward BYU–Hawaii admission and my sister’s sacrifice made me serious about my studies. I felt supported in every way.”
Where Support Becomes Strength
Ferdie’s feeling upon finally arriving at BYU–Hawaii was indescribable. “I almost kissed the ground when I arrived at the airport!” he joked.
He was struck by BYU–Hawaii’s support programs designed to help students succeed. “It is amazing to see all the help that you can get here. You have tutors for math, English, and science. And if that’s not enough, you can meet your professor one-on-one. That’s something I have never experienced before. Back home, the only time I had a one-on-one meeting with my teacher was when I got into trouble,” he joked.
All the support programs, paired with his determination, became a recipe for his academic turnaround. He worked diligently and made full use of the tutoring resources available on campus. There were two places where you could normally find him: the Math Lab or the Chemistry Lab. As a result, he earned a place on the Dean’s List at least four times during his years at BYU–Hawaii.
He credits the university’s close-knit culture for shaping him academically, socially, and spiritually. “I found BYU–Hawaii to be an excellent training ground for my professional life and church service. At BYU–Hawaii, you learn to balance your academics, your social life through clubs, and your church callings—all working together to build leaders.”
A Laboratory for Life and Love
For Ferdie, BYU–Hawaii became more than a university—it was a “laboratory” for life. “I was blessed to have really good professors at BYU–Hawaii who trained me to be a problem solver and a critical thinker. It also strengthened my testimony. With weekly devotionals, academic demands, social life, and church callings, you learn how to balance your life—preparing you for the world outside of college.”
He and his wife, Jossie Pinpin, reconnected on campus, where she was two years ahead of him. After a few semesters, they left to serve full-time missions—Jossie in the California Anaheim Mission (1996–1998) and Ferdie in the Micronesia Guam Mission (1995–1997). They married in July 1999 in the Seattle Washington Temple.
Since Jossie finished her studies earlier, she stayed in Washington to work for Microsoft while Ferdie returned to Laie to complete his degree—“a challenging but well-worthwhile sacrifice,” he says.
They have three children, all of whom continued their parents’ legacy at BYU–Hawaii. Their eldest daughter, Theresa, graduated with a degree in biology on December 12, 2025. Their son, Michael, who served in the Philippines Cebu Mission, is a senior majoring in business management with an emphasis in finance and is expected to graduate in April 2026. Their youngest, Keala, attended BYU–Hawaii for one year and is currently serving as a Tagalog-speaking missionary in the Canada Calgary Mission.
“I tell everyone—I’m a living testament of BYU–Hawaii,” Ferdie explains. “Everything good in me traces back to my experiences there.”
Science, Service, and Success
Ferdie graduated magna cum laude from BYU–Hawaii with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry in April 2001 and later earned a master’s degree in analytical chemistry from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2005. He spent the next decade working in the biotech and chemical industries, developing analytical methods and leading formulation research.
Today, he serves as a Senior Program Manager at Amazon, developing programs for hazardous goods and pesticides across the company’s global network. In this role, he leverages his chemistry background and spearheads the development of machine-learning models for scalable solutions.
Church service has remained central in his life. He currently serves as an early-morning seminary teacher in the Bellevue Washington Stake and as an ordinance worker at the Seattle Washington Temple. He has previously served as a stake high councilor, stake Sunday School president, stake and ward executive secretary, ward mission leader, ward financial clerk, elders quorum counselor, Sunday School teacher, and Primary teacher—roles that, he says, helped him “build lasting friendships and strengthen my commitment to serving others.”
Building Community Beyond Campus
Ferdie also serves as president of the BYU–Hawaii Washington State Alumni Chapter. “It is a privilege for me to serve as president for the Washington alumni,” he shares. “I am blessed to have board members who are so dedicated and supportive. We are like one big ‘ohana.”
He is especially proud of recent initiatives, including summer service projects at the Seattle Washington Temple and a mentorship program—led by his wife—that connects alumni professionals with juniors and seniors as they prepare for their careers.
He is also proud of the chapter’s annual Cultural Night and Foodfest, which evolved from a traditional luau to promote inclusivity across cultures represented in the chapter. At this year’s event, they showcased foods and presentations from more than 13 cultures.
“It’s wonderful to relive our BYU–Hawaii memories through this activity,” Ferdie says.
These events have also become significant fundraisers for student scholarships. This year alone, the chapter raised $2,000, and over the years has contributed more than $105,000 in endowment funds supporting students through the I-WORK and Hukilau scholarships—a milestone he credits to his predecessors: Mabel Eadie, Kelley Molinari, Bosco Chau, and Benjamin Lim.
Making the Most of BYU–Hawaii
Ferdie encourages students to take full advantage of the unique opportunities BYU–Hawaii offers. He points to the university’s diversity— “something you will never find at any other university”—as the foundation of a worldwide network that is especially valuable in the workforce.
He counsels students that “at this university, you can be successful if you want to be.” While acknowledging that schoolwork is challenging, he emphasizes that “it has to be hard—otherwise, we won’t learn.”
Highlighting the balance of academic, social, and spiritual growth, he invites students to stay close to the Church. When challenges arise, he encourages them to remember their divine identity as children of God and to rely on the Savior and Heavenly Father. “It is through their enabling grace that we can achieve our righteous goals,” he says. You were sent here not to fail, but to succeed. If you keep this in mind, you will be successful in whatever endeavor you choose.”