Oahu to the City, a Family of Dons
Each immediate member of the Leu family, hailing from Oahu, Hawaii, is a member of the USF community in their own way. Lester and Lyvonne Leu have given generously to USF over the years and hosted university events at their home. Their three sons, Landon, Lansen, and Larson, all attended USF for their undergraduate studies between 2005 and 2014.
USF has a consistent base of representation from Hawaii. Over 200 students from the state of Hawaii have enrolled at USF since the 2021-22 academic year, while 367 current students and nearly 1,400 alumni self-identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
When asked about what made their time at USF special, one topic immediately came to mind for eldest brother Landon Leu ’09, who set the family trend when he decided to enroll in the 2000s — the views from the Hilltop.
Landon said, “I dormed in Hayes, dormed in Lone Mountain, and have fond memories. Being in Hayes, catching baseball games and having a bird's eye view of the city, was especially nice.”
But the fond memories extend beyond aesthetics. Everyone in the family shared their appreciation for the small class sizes, close relationships with faculty, and proximity to opportunities in San Francisco that USF helps to provide.
Middle brother Lansen Leu ’11, who studied Entrepreneurship & Innovation, remembers a business law class that he took with current Professor Emeritus, Michael Becker. “I took a liking to his class and now I'm an attorney. So that definitely had an effect on where I am today,” he said.
Youngest brother Larson Leu ’14, who also graduated from Entrepreneurship & Innovation three years later, said that his time in San Francisco laid the foundation for his future in commercial real estate.
“I enjoyed my time in San Francisco, just rubbing shoulders with other entrepreneurs. Experiencing a big city and being completely lost and just kind of finding my way,” said Larson. “It's a unique college experience compared to friends who went to universities with the college town feel. It had a great impact on me in my career.”
When asked about the transition from Honolulu, a bustling city in its own right, the brothers talked about the diversity of the Bay Area and USF’s student body, which is ranked this year as the most diverse in the nation.
“There's a big Asian influence in both places. So, relating to cultures and how people do business, that helped me,” said Larson.
Landon said, “We all took the Family Business class and I think we were all able to meet folks from across the nation, across the state of California, and across the world — and those connections, I think, still have very positive impressions upon all of us.”
Larson’s network and networking skills have grown from Oahu to USF and back. “I think being from Hawaii, there's a great sense of pride. And then you find other Hawaii people. So your bonds become stronger there. And I think that carries on whether you're there or back home and in the professional world.”
Landon’s relationship with Professor Eugene Muscat, whose memorial fund he helped raise money for in 2011-12, taught him persistence in relationship building. “I was like, I gotta know this guy. I wanted to know what his modus operandi was, and I inserted myself. It taught me a life lesson — if you want something, things can be a lot more approachable than they seem.”
The three sons’ parents, Lester and Lyvonne, appreciate the “very progressive, mainstream concepts embedded with faith” that USF’s Jesuit education provides. They chose USF to help their sons be on their own, to become independent, and meet other people from other cultures. They also appreciated USF’s generous financial aid support.
“It’s a good urban campus with a lot of culture, amazing food. The experience outside of the campus is so valuable. It’s a place where you can grow and access the business community in SF, but it’s also relatively close to Hawaii,” said Lester and Lyvonne.
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Eileen Chia-Ching Fung, said, “We are grateful to see how our alumni and their families in Hawaii continue to celebrate the shared mission and values of our university. Thanks to the Leu family for their generous support of USF, and for hosting us in their home for a community gathering. It was a joyful experience, and wonderful to meet an Asian Pacific American family with children of different generations and professional passions, reflecting how a USF education has meaningfully impacted each of their lives. ”
Learn more about how you can get involved with alumni groups like the Asia Pacific Alumni Network (APAN), here.
