Chaminade University of Honolulu

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Graduating With a Bachelor’s—While in High School

Veronica “Bonnie” Nagahisa ’25 doesn’t believe in wasting time.

On May 3, the 18-year-old will graduate from Chaminade University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. And three weeks later, she’ll walk again at Kapa’a High to accept her high school diploma.

Hawai’i Department of Education officials say she is the first student on Kaua’i to be awarded a high school diploma and bachelor’s degree at the same time.

“For most students, earning a high school diploma is the goal. But for Bonnie, it was just the beginning,” said Kapaʻa High Principal Tommy Cox. “She’s a great example for our students, showing them that nothing is impossible with the opportunities available at Kapaʻa High.”

Nagahisa’s college journey began after eighth grade, when she started taking online courses at Kauaʻi Community College.

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Her mother, Kimi Nagahisa, an early college counselor at Kanu o ka ʻĀina Charter School, helped guide her through the process.

“We try our best to mold and raise our kids but in many ways, they teach us patience, grace, and kindness. I am just so proud of her,” Nagahisa said.

By the end of her sophomore year, Bonnie had completed the requirements for her high school diploma and associate’s degree.

Still “super young,” as she put it, she enrolled full-time in Chaminade’s FLEX program to pursue her bachelor’s degree fully online.

“I’ve always loved school, reading, writing—all things education,” she said.

Bonnie, the oldest of seven siblings, says she was able to tackle her advanced studies along with her family and social life by maintaining a good balance.

“That balance looks different for everyone — the key is to find what works for you, especially when chasing big goals. At the end of the day, whatever you’re striving for, it’s essential to make space for joy, peace, and connection. Those things help ease the stress that often comes with pursuing your goals.”

Despite her demanding schedule, Nagahisa stayed active at Kapaʻa High, taking electives and study halls to stay connected with friends and campus life.

She is a National Honor Society member and a regular at volunteer events like Relay for Life, Toys for Tots, and campus beautification. She also made time to support nearly every school sporting event. “Staying engaged and showing school spirit was important to me, even with a full plate,” she said.

After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Bonnie plans to continue her studies at Chaminade. She has been admitted into the Master’s of Arts in Teaching program.

Undergraduate Researchers Shine at Symposium

“Investigating human mast cell degranulation and membrane alterations due to nanoplastic exposure”

“Tiktok and the age of digital propaganda”

“Evaluating the effectiveness of culturally tailored diet programs for indigenous Hawaiians”

Those are just a handful of the more than two dozen projects Chaminade students presented on at this year’s Na Liko Na’auao, an annual symposium aimed at showcasing undergraduate research.

Amber Noguchi, Ph.D., assistant provost for Undergraduate Research and Pre-Professional Programs at Chaminade, said participating students each worked closely under the mentorship of a faculty member.

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“Na Liko Na’auao not only represents a milestone accomplishment for our students, but a stepping stone for those who plan to pursue careers in various sectors,” she said, adding the April 16 symposium was also an opportunity to celebrate the hard work of undergraduate researchers and their scholarship.

“This venue celebrates their hard work. They are able to practice their communication skills, explore their strengths and identify areas for improvement, and get feedback on their work from faculty, staff and peers.”

Hailey Kekumu ‘25, a biology major who is also minoring in biochemistry, presented her research on nanoplastic exposure.

“The focus of my research is on how exposure to nanoplastics, which are less than 1 micrometer in size, affects our immune system, an important mediator between us and our environment,” said Kekumu, who also presented at Hawaii’s INBRE Undergraduate Research Symposium.

“My project is more immunology based, which was my primary interest when I first started here at Chaminade. My mentor also mentioned that research on nanoplastics is still relatively new, so our research serves as a sort of foundation on future studies looking into nanoplastics,” she said.

Kekumu added that she hopes to continue her research and potentially pursue medicine.

Zach McClellan ’25, who is majoring in psychology with a minor in criminal justice, studied the impact of occupational stressors on firefighters. He said the feedback from fellow student researchers, faculty members and others at the symposium was incredibly valuable—and positive.

“At first, I was a little nervous, but I was able to remind myself that I’m having a conversation with others about what I’m passionate about which kept me grounded. There were a lot of graduate programs that I was able to speak to about their programs and learned a lot through that,” he said.

McClellan added that he hopes to continue his research with a doctoral degree in neuroscience or clinical psychology. “I am excited about pursuing this study because I come from a family of firefighters,” he said.

“I also enjoy doing research in general because I am able to chase my own ideas and back them up with strong statistical data. Firefighter mental health is a very under-researched issue, which I aim to add to.”

Students Investigative ‘Crime Scene’ in Waikiki

The “crime scene” in Waikiki drew more than a few curious glances from beachgoers and passersby.

But it wasn’t police investigating the site. Instead, Chaminade University Forensic Sciences students—in official CSI gear—were the ones collecting evidence and documenting the scene.

The mock crime scene was set up in early April as a hands-on learning opportunity, allowing students to practice critical forensic skills.

“They feel the reality of being in an actual crime scene,” said Carlos Gutierrez, D.F.S., assistant professor of Forensic Science. “They’re applying all the skills they learned during the semester in a more specific and realistic scenario.”



Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences program is known for its practical approach, blending rigorous academics with real-world applications. The setup in Waikiki demonstrated Chaminade’s commitment to hands-on learning, giving students a chance to navigate complex investigative procedures under faculty supervision, Gutierrez said.

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The major in Forensic Sciences includes instruction on the techniques used for recognizing, documenting and analyzing physical evidence, reviews of the legal system and ethical guidelines that govern forensic sciences, and hands-on applications of the scientific method in a lab.

All Forensics Sciences students are required to complete a rigorous, 135-hour internship. Students have completed internships with a variety of entities, including the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, police departments in Hawaii and Guam, and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s Central Identification Laboratory.

To learn more about Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences program, click here.

Graduate Project a Win for Teacher’s Students

Texas teacher Yasmin Rodriguez, MEd ’25 wants her students to love reading as much as she does.

So when she was challenged to try her hand at grant writing for her EDUC 794: Culminating Experience course at Chaminade, she knew instantly what her appeal to the community would be: Funds to buy new and engaging books for her classroom that showcased multiculturalism.

Rodriguez submitted the grant request to DonorsChoose.org, a site that allows anyone to contribute to school projects and classroom needs, and within a few short days had met her goal of $1,000. From there, the fun part began. She got her students involved in choosing the titles on Amazon.

And before long, boxes of books started arriving at her classroom door.

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Rodriguez said her students were overjoyed to open the boxes and shelve the books, which included nonfiction and fiction titles. There were even some fun comic books in the mix.

Katrina Roseler, Ph.D., associate professor of Education, teaches EDUC 794 and said Rodriguez stood out for her commitment to service, justice and community building.

“While all students complete a professional development project, like a grant proposal, very few actually follow up and submit their grants for funding and she’s the first that I know whose grant was funded before the term was over!” Roseler said.

Rodriguez teaches fifth grade at a public school in San Antonio, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree in 2016 from St. Mary’s University, Chaminade’s Marianist sister school in Texas, and subsequently jumped at the opportunity to pursue her Master’s of Education fully online at Chaminade.

Her concentration is instructional leadership, which Rodriguez says was a perfect fit. Through coursework and online class discussions, she said, she’s been able to better tailor her curriculum to the needs of her students. Rodriguez teaches a bilingual Spanish-English class so individualization is key.

“Several of our classes have focused on building differentiated modes for students to engage in their learning,” she said. “Sometimes it’s just little adjustments that make a big difference. And the Chaminade program was very good because it provided different ways to learn about our students. We were able to reflect on learning styles and teaching methodologies.”

Yasmin Rodriguez, MEd ’25 teaches fifth grade in San Antonio, Texas.

Rodriguez says she’s known she wanted to become a teacher since she was in the first grade.

“There’s nothing else I ever wanted to do,” she said.

Her advice to students interested in pursuing a career in education: Know the first few years in the classroom will be the toughest. “There’s so much you don’t learn in classes,” she said. “But every year, it gets a little easier. And I’ve learned to find the joy in the little things and the wins.”

Rodriguez also gets excited about watching her students grow and achieve their goals.

“I push them to do their best,” she said.

Her graduate studies at Chaminade have also helped her more quickly recognize the learning supports her students need. That was one of the reasons she wanted to refresh her classroom’s bookshelf. She said her students just weren’t getting excited about the outdated books she had.

Now independent reading time is something they look forward to.

“It was such a good way to refresh their brains and get lost in reading,” she said.

Chaminade Professor Elected to Accreditation Board

Scott Schroeder, Ph.D., a Management professor in residence at Chaminade University, has been elected to the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) Board of Commissioners in acknowledgement of his scholarly contributions and years of experience in academia.

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Schroeder rejoins the board after having served two terms from 2018 to 2024. He has also served as an IACBE site visit team member and site chair for seven years.

And in 2024, the IACBE recognized Schroeder with the Dr. John L. Green Service Award for his commitment to higher education.

The IACBE is a global programmatic accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Its mission is to advance academic quality in business programs through evidence-based accreditation that encourages institutions to build unique educational models to reflect their mission and vision.

Scott Schroeder

Schroeder was most recently president of Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu.

He has also served as dean of the School of Business and Communication at Chaminade University, dean of Academic Affairs at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute in Seattle, and chair of Graduate Management Programs at Antioch University.

As a professor in residence at Chaminade, Schroeder regularly teaches graduate classes on organizational behavior, organization development and strategic management.

His research focuses on personal power and social influence in the workplace. He also consults on executive transition, executive team development, and strategic planning.

Schroeder completed his Ph.D. at UCLA and postdoctoral work at Harvard University.

Chaminade Mourns Passing of Pope Francis

A message from Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D.:


Chaminade University of Honolulu joins with communities around the islands and the globe in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis on Easter Monday.

Pope Francis was a defender of the marginalized, an inspirational advocate for our Earth, and a beacon of hope to people from all walks of life. He will be greatly missed.

Pope Francis also challenged us to give of ourselves to ease the suffering of our neighbors and underscored the responsibility we all have to use our skills to make the world a better place for everyone. He believed fiercely in the transformative power of education to lift communities, and leaves us with a legacy of service and selflessness.

Prayers for Pope Francis will be offered at various events on campus this week, and we invite you to join us.

In his writings, addresses, and homilies, Pope Francis encouraged us to be people of hope, reconciliation and mercy. Those attributes are needed in our world at this time. We are grateful for his guidance, wisdom and compassion, and know he will continue to serve as an inspiration.