Rites of Passage for Incoming Students and Graduates

In his opening address, Hogan Program Director, Dr. Roy Panzarella quipped that this ceremony would be brief, brilliant and gone. “A shooting star often appears unexpectedly and just like life, it is full of unexpected twists and turns, reminding us to embrace spontaneity and to live in the present,” said Panzarella during his closing remarks. “Finally, in the words of Peter Drucker—often considered the father of modern management theory—‘The best way to predict the future is to create it.’”

Funded by the Hogan Family Foundation, the eponymous Entrepreneurial Program, aims to educate Chaminade students how to be successful in business through a series of lectures with experienced Hawaii leaders, study abroad missions, community service projects, academic coursework and mentorship. Each year, a new cohort of students from all majors, including undergraduate juniors and seniors and graduate students, are accepted into the one- or two-year certificate program.

“This program allows students to question who they are and where do they want to be,” said President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. “We encourage our students to engage with and in their communities. We want them to be able to step into any position, and become social entrepreneurs.”

Social responsibility has been a key theme since the Hogan program was founded, complementing its time-honored motto of “Do business things that make social sense and social things that make business sense.”

It’s a mantra that first-year Hogan MBA student, Voris Crooms, embraces and one that motivated him to enroll in the MBA program, as well as earn a Hogan Entrepreneur certificate. A U.S. Army veteran and registered nurse, Crooms is a “verbal maestro,” who waxed eloquently about Chaminade and his time thus far at the University.

“Nurses can be more than nurses, we can be leaders,” said Crooms, the Ceremony’s student speaker, while looking in the direction of Dr. Babington, who was a one-time healthcare leader and a strong advocate of the nursing field. “My message to staff, advisors and graduates is simple: We all have a voice; speak up and speak out.”

In attendance, Gary Hogan spoke up, remarking that this entrepreneurial program is “extremely important” to his family, including his late parents Ed and Lynn, and siblings Glenn and Christine Hogan who flew in from California just to attend the ceremony and were flying out the next day. “I am proud of this graduating class,” said Hogan to attendees. “These new inductees will now receive the same mentorship as our graduates, and they represent another group of Hogan entrepreneur students ready to become tomorrow’s leaders.”

During the ceremony, the graduating Hogan students were honored for completing the program and the incoming Hogan students were inducted in front of their Chaminade community, friends and family. Five awards were presented, including the Outstanding Hogan Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Outstanding First Year Student Award, the In the Arena Award, the Aloha Spirit Award and the inaugural Hogan Leadership Award, which was inspired by the Vaughn Vasconcellos and Suzie Martin Leadership Institute.

“I spent 32 years with the Army as a safety and occupational manager,” said Crooms, who was named the Hogan Leadership Award. “I enrolled in Chaminade’s MBA and Hogan programs because I want to enhance my healthcare leadership skills, and do justice by my community.”

This year’s “In the Arena” winner is sophomore Leah Carrington ’26, who established PAWsitive Adventures, a non-profit online service dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of shelter dogs and community members while also enriching the adoption experience.

Wearing an infectious smile, Yazmine Esquivel ’20, MBA ’24, won the Aloha Spirit Award, which goes to an individual who most represents important principles of the program by fostering goodwill within the group and by his or her independent leadership initiatives throughout the year.

The Outstanding First Year Award went to Elizabeth Devine ’24, who embodies the principles of the business program and has achieved excellent academic results. “It’s rare to find someone at such a young age who already possesses most of the basic attributes of an effective entrepreneurial leader,” said Panzarella of Devine. “She has confidence, humility,  humor, creativity and initiative. If I was at my old job with Lockheed Martin, I would hire her in a heartbeat.”

For the second consecutive year, Nanakuli native Waioli Misajon was recognized for her academic excellence and community spirit. Last year, she took home the Outstanding First Year Award and this year, she walks away with the Outstanding Second Year Award for her work with Mood USA, a nonprofit she founded that stands as a transformative solution to the pressing educational and mental health challenges faced by students in Nanakuli.

After the awards ceremony, graduates and inductees were announced. Graduates of the One-Year Certificate included Carrington, William “Tino” Colello, Devine, Esquivel, Christopher Flores, Carol An Nacario, Aliikamanaekahi “Alii” Napoleon, Allure Padilla, Epifania “Epi” Petelo, Kaitlin “Kat” Priem, Sano Tana and Alexander Korpela. Meanwhile, Christina Dinh, Jacob Fernandez, Misajon and Michael Rose were presented with their Two-Year Certificates.  

The new Hogan Entrepreneurs included John Barayuga, Mikhail Bobylev, Voris Crooms, Jacob Escuza, Lauren Hamrick, Connie Kramer, Mathew Lober, Lizanyela “Lizzy” Lopez, Justin Monroe, Jacob Murphy, Clara Slate-Liu, Devon Tsai, Easterlei “Easter” Tuitasi, Jon Watase and LaVelle White.

“I decided to go down this entrepreneurial avenue because I want to create something good for local residents,” said Barayuga ’25, a Hogan student worker, when asked why he entered the program. “I will learn the fundamentals here and I will be able to use what I learn to benefit the greater good of the community.”