Chaminade University of Honolulu

University Communications & Marketing

Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

Like many of us, Blaze Mancillas’ 2020 didn’t go quite as he had planned.

The pandemic meant that the actor and comedian, a 2009 graduate of Chaminade, wasn’t able to audition as much as he had hoped, couldn’t do many comedy shows or other events and had to spend more time than he ever has in his (somewhat cramped) New York apartment.

But lockdowns and COVID precautions didn’t keep Mancillas from staying busy.

In fact, his work as a host on app-based music trivia game show “SongPop Live” earned him a 2020 Webby Award, which honors the “best of the internet” in everything from websites to apps. He also launched a podcast, called “Let’s Get Lit” that combines two of his loves—comedy and literature. 

Mancillas’ Webby Award

Reached on recent day, Mancillas was hopeful about 2021 would bring.

As the number of COVID infections in New York declined, auditions have slowly resumed—and he’s looking forward to new opportunities. He said that after a very difficult year for everyone, he’s grateful for what he has and is charged up to seek out new ways to hone his acting chops and share his comedy.

Mancillas scored a hosting role on “SongPop Live” before the pandemic started. When the city shut down, he was sent home with a lot of technical equipment and instructions on what to do next. He and the other three hosts finished out their work for the game show from the comfort of their living rooms.

It was a transition for Mancillas, who said before the pandemic he rarely spent much time at all in his apartment. Instead, he would always be out in the city—enjoying all that it has to offer. But he made the most of it and in October launched his new must-listen podcast, in which he reads from a classic book (the first season features “War of the Worlds”) and invites comedians on to offer commentary.

The podcast is already getting some buzz, including in Paste Magazine and on the Comedy Cake website. Mancillas describes it as a chance to actually read those books you were supposed to read in high school, with some great comedians to join you to keep things light and keep you laughing.

In a recent interview, Mancillas remembered his time at Chaminade fondly.

It was there that Mancillas discovered his love of acting. He scored leading roles in Chaminade productions of “The Elephant Man,” “Amadeus,” “Pippin” and “The Pirates of Penzance,” to name a few. From Chaminade, he headed to New York to study acting at Columbia University. He graduated with a Master’s in Fine Arts from Columbia in 2012, and has been building his career ever since.

In addition to doing stand-up comedy and hosting for “SongPop Live,” Mancillas has appeared on TV episodes, commercials and done motion capture acting for video games. He’s interested in doing more on-screen acting work but also wants to continue to build his chops as a game show host, he said.

Mancillas with Bro. Gary Morris

At Chaminade, Mancillas was a communication major with a minor in performing arts. He credits three mentors—Music Professor Tim Carney, Father Robert Bouffier and Brother Gary Morris—with recognizing his talent, helping him muster the courage it takes to get out in front of an audience, and then challenging him to apply for graduate school on the mainland.

“They left a profound impact on me,” he said. “They were really wonderful.”

Mancillas is also thankful to Chaminade for giving him the space to find his passions—and not just in acting. At the university, Mancillas was also on the cross country and golf team, and was an announcer for basketball games. “I was running all over the place,” he said, adding that Chaminade helped him grow as a person and an artist. “There are lots of opportunities to try different things.”

To learn more about Mancillas’ work, including his new podcast, head to his website.

Design for the Community

In a significant honor, the Interior Design Education Council has awarded Environmental + Interior Design Associate Professor Joan Riggs its Community Service Award in recognition of her many contributions to the field, to her students and to the broader community.

Joan Riggs

Riggs will be presented with the award at a virtual ceremony in February during IDEC’s annual conference.

In notifying Riggs that she had won, IDEC President Ellen Fisher praised the professor for incorporating interior design into a long list of community service projects. Over the years, Riggs has challenged students to incorporate their interior design skills in community-centered spaces, from youth correctional facilities to safehouses for human trafficking victims to training centers.

She has also helped students reimagine interior design in nursing homes and healthcare facilities.

“The essence of Joan’s character, as well as her approach as an educator, is to serve the greater public good through design,” wrote Professor Dr. Elizabeth Lockard, in nominating Riggs for the community service award. “Service-learning is at the core of her pedagogical philosophy.”

Lockard added that Riggs sees interior design as a profession with an obligation to serve the underserved, elevating everyone’s wellbeing and quality of life. She has a particular passion in “universal design,” which seeks to underscore the social value of designing for inclusivity.

Riggs, who joined the Environmental + Interior Design faculty in 2003 and has served as its program director for the last 12 years, said placing service learning and community service at the center of design education gives students an awareness of their impact—and a greater compassion for those they serve.

“In partnerships, they deepen their ability to adapt—their thinking, their perspective and their understanding—with respect to how diversity is a strength and problem solving is a gift to be shared,” she said. “As an educator, what greater reward than to see students emerge as skilled, compassionate and successful designers? I am truly blessed to be part of this process.”

Her award, she added, is icing “on a marvelous multi-layered cake.”

Bridging the Age Gap

Relationships are one of the critical ingredients in our happiness and wellbeing—bonding not only with partners and peers, but also with those spanning different ages.

Nursing students participating in their service learning project with Purpose Pals

Thirty-two Chaminade nursing students did just that by connecting with kūpuna through Purpose Pals, a pilot program designed to foster friendships across generations through the click of a mouse.

“The biggest takeaway from our talks was that I don’t know everything there is to life,” says freshman Kaylen Fernandez. “My kūpuna gave valuable advice in balancing work-life, and the importance of enjoying what you do. If you don’t love it, then it’s time for a change.”

Engaging across generations, benefits kūpuna and helps students learn and grow as healthcare professionals.

“This experience provides the nursing students with a more positive attitude toward aging,” says Purpose Pal organizer Dr. Christy Nishita. “In their future careers, many of their patients will be from our oldest age groups. We hope this experience gives them awareness and empathy toward kūpuna that translates to better care.”

Connectedness is important now more than ever, especially since COVID has created social isolation. With an increase of loneliness and stress, Purpose Pals has played a critical role in helping kūpuna stay socially active.

Purpose Pals was made available through a service-learning project in Dr. Edna Magpantay-Monroe’s NUR 200 Introduction to Nursing Concepts course. The project not only provided students with an experiential learning opportunity but also forged meaningful relationships with their kūpuna. Many have been inspired to stay in touch with their pals beyond the commitment of the project.

Students’ participation in the pilot program has provided a number of key insights for Purpose Pal’s development and capacity building. The goal is to continue to attract new volunteers each semester and continue Chaminade’s mission serving the community and being an active participant in it.

Islands of Opportunity: First-Ever Virtual DataCamp

In November 2020, the Islands of Opportunity-Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (IOA-LSAMP) and Chaminade University Honolulu partnered to launch an online data analytics proficiency course for university STEM students from Hawai‘i and the Pacific. The DataCamp was run by Chaminade faculty and staff under the supervision of a molecular immunologist and biologist. The program offered a unique opportunity for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students to learn about the data analytics field through hands-on learning modules.

The University of Hawai‘i Hilo was also a participant in the DataCamp. Check out this article to learn more about the professors and students involved. We see bright futures ahead for Hawai‘i’s next generation of data scientists and can’t wait to see them use their newfound skills in our community! IOA-LSAMP includes 10 institutions across the Pacific region: Chaminade University of Honolulu, American Samoa Community College, College of the Marshall Islands, College of Micronesia—FSM, Guam Community College, Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Northern Marianas College, Palau Community College, University of Guam and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Events at the Nation’s Capitol

President Lynn Babington’s Statement Regarding Violence at the U.S. Capitol

Chaminade community:

Today has been a difficult day for our nation.

The actions undertaken by protesters at the US Capitol should shock us all—and give us pause.

As a Marianist Catholic institution of higher learning, we condemn violence of any kind and call on everyone to seek peaceful and respectful avenues for dialogue. The scenes we have witnessed on the news in recent hours are not emblematic of our nation, its peoples or our shared principles.

As we seek to make sense of all that has occurred, let us recommit ourselves to peace, to social justice and to creating spaces for a diversity of opinions shared thoughtfully and respectfully. We know the value of debate; it deepens our understanding of one another and helps us find common ground.

As educators, we have a duty to prepare an involved and engaged citizenry. Indeed, inspiring tomorrow’s leaders and preparing them to serve in a vibrant and functioning democracy is the most important role we have. That role is now more critical than ever.

Please join me in praying that our elected leaders find the courage they will need during this trying time.

Regards,
Lynn Babington, Ph.D.
President, Chaminade University

What is a faithful soul to do in the chaos of events which seem to swallow it up? Sustain itself calmly by that faith which assures us that all things work together unto good for those who love God.
 ~ Blessed William Joseph Chaminade ~

Chaminade Receives Grant in Support of Distance Learning

Chaminade University of Honolulu recently received a $20,000 grant from the G. N. Wilcox Trust, Bank of Hawaii, Trustee to provide educational technology packages to high-need students. The packages will include a laptop computer, headphones with a microphone, and an external flash drive for secure data storage.

“This generous grant from G. N. Wilcox Trust will help us meet some of our students’ critical technology needs and allow for continued student success,” said Dr. Helen Turner, Chaminade’s Vice President for Strategy and Innovation. “Even as face-to-face classes have resumed, ensuring our students have the proper equipment will provide resiliency against future lockdowns, and provide for those students who have elected to stay online because they or their family members have compromised immune systems.”

Across the nation, the transition to distance education in response to COVID-19 has exposed a digital divide. The Technology Package program reflects Chaminade’s continuing mission to serve low income students with an exceptional college education.

G. N. Wilcox Trust provides support for programs that better the lives of individuals and families in Hawai‘i. It was created by George Norton Wilcox, who began his career growing sugar at Hanalei, Kauai in 1863 and later became owner of Grove Farm plantation. He also served as a representative for Kauai from 1887 until annexation of the Islands in 1898. As a philanthropist, Wilcox’s interests centered largely around religious and educational work and expanded to include arts & culture, community, environment, health and human services.

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society.