Chaminade University of Honolulu

Alumni

Alumni Office Hosts San Diego Reunion

More than 80 alumni and prospective families gathered on a beautiful San Diego waterfront for a special Sunday brunch on March 8 that brought the Chaminade spirit to the mainland in a meaningful way. Against the backdrop of the harbor, the event offered a warm and welcoming space for Silverswords to reconnect, share stories, and celebrate their enduring ties to the University.

Attendees traveled from across the region—and beyond—to be part of the occasion. Many alumni made the drive from throughout California, while one dedicated alumna even flew in from Arizona specifically to attend. Their efforts underscored the strength of the Chaminade community and the lasting impact of the relationships formed on campus. Whether reconnecting with classmates after years apart or meeting fellow alumni for the first time, there was a shared sense of pride and belonging throughout the gathering.

President Dr. Lynn Babington joined the group and spent time connecting personally with alumni and guests. She offered updates on the University, highlighting continued growth, new academic initiatives, and the ways Chaminade is evolving to meet the needs of today’s students while remaining grounded in its mission and values. Her remarks reinforced the University’s commitment to fostering a close-knit, purpose-driven community—one that extends far beyond the shores of O‘ahu.

The event also created opportunities for prospective families to engage with alumni and learn firsthand about the Chaminade experience. Conversations flowed easily between generations, with alumni sharing stories about their time on campus, the friendships they built, and how their education has shaped their personal and professional journeys. For prospective students and their families, it was a chance to see the lasting value of a Chaminade education come to life through these authentic connections.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, attendees enjoyed Chaminade-themed swag and participated in a drawing for prizes, bringing an element of fun and excitement to the morning. Chaminade magazines were also available, offering a deeper look at campus developments, student success stories, and the continued momentum of the University community.

Events like this serve as a powerful reminder that the Chaminade connection does not end at graduation—or at the edge of the island. Instead, it continues to grow and thrive wherever alumni gather. The San Diego brunch was more than just a reunion; it was a reflection of a vibrant and engaged alumni network that remains deeply connected to the University and to one another.

A Calling to Counsel

Taylee Miyamura

Taylee Miyamura, MSCP ‘23 has been awarded the 2025 Hawaiʻi Milken Teacher of Promise Award. A counselor at Mililani Middle School, she was selected for this honor based on her exceptional leadership, commitment to student wellbeing and innovative work developing restorative, student-centered support for Hawaiʻiʻs largest middle school. Taylee is a graduate of Mililani High School, the Oregon Institute of Technology, and Chaminade University. 

The Chaminade communications and marketing team reached out to Taylee recently. 

Q: When did you decide to become an educator?

A: I decided that I wanted to pursue school counseling during my final year of getting my undergraduate degree. While interning at a high school in a small town near my college, I realized how meaningful it was to support students and help them navigate challenges. That experience inspired me to pursue school counseling so I could make a positive impact in students’ lives and help them develop the skills and confidence needed to be successful.

Taylee Miyamura

Q: Why did you choose to earn a master’s degree from Chaminade?

A: I knew that I wanted to return home and become a school counselor in Hawaiʻi to give back to the community that helped raise me. I felt that Chaminade would be the place to help me fulfill that goal, as its mission and purpose strongly align with my commitment to service and making a positive impact.

Q: What was your experience as a master’s student like?

A: I began my master’s program at Chaminade right in the middle of COVID, but the professors still found creative and meaningful ways to continue supporting our learning despite the challenges. During that time, I built strong relationships with faculty and classmates who I know I can turn to for guidance and support till this day. Chaminade helped prepare me for my career and equipped me with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in my role as a school counselor. I would not be where I am today without Chaminade University.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your work?

A: The most rewarding and meaningful part of my job is building strong connections with my students and making them feel supported through their middle school years. It is also those small moments where you see them becoming more confident, hopeful, and resilient!

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring teachers?

A: My advice to aspiring educators is to always remember your “why” in everything that you do. There will be both high days and low days, but keeping your purpose at the forefront will help guide you and remind you of the impact that you are making for these kids. Focus on building connections, being patient and kind, and creating a warm and supportive environment where all students feel valued and encouraged.

Q: Any final thoughts on receiving this award and your education at Chaminade?

A: Receiving the Milken Teacher of Promise award for the LMW (Leilehua, Mililani, and Waialua) complex was truly an honor, and I am very grateful for the education and experiences I received at Chaminade. My time there has helped shape who I am both personally and professionally,

and it has given me the knowledge, skills, and values that guide my work today. I am extremely thankful for the mentors, professors, and my awesome cohort who supported me through my graduate school journey. I am very proud to be a Chaminade Alumna!  

Gratitude Celebrated at Scholarship Luncheon

“We’re grateful for you.” 

“We’re inspired by your generosity.” 

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” 

“We celebrate you.” 

“Mahalo nui loa and thank you so very much.” 

Those were the sentiments celebrated at the annual Chaminade Mahalo Scholarship Luncheon held February 13 at Clarence T. C. Ching Conference Center on campus. More than 115 donors, students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate how financial support opens doors for students to reach their goals, go out in the world, and give back to the community. 

Fr. Martin Solma opened the luncheon with a prayer followed by remarks from President Lynn Babington, who shared that 346 students at Chaminade benefit from donor-funded scholarships and that 98 percent of all students receive some form of financial aid. Fifty-one percent of students are the first generation in their family to attend college. Vice President of Advancement Jill Higashi noted that none of this would be possible without the support of donors. 

Donor Keven Matsuura attended the lunch with his mother Diane Matsuura and spoke about how he did not know all that nurses do when caring for patients, until his father needed nursing 24-hour care until he passed away in 2024. Today the Kenneth and Diane Matsuura Foundation supports two scholarships for nursing students, which is his family’s way to give back to the community and to help alleviate the local nursing shortage. 

“We saw what nurses do and, thus, wanted to support local nursing students who plan to stay in Hawaiʻ’i,” Matsuura said. “We are proud to support students at Chaminade University and their lifelong commitment to hard work and advancement in the nursing field.”

Students Jason Edric Ulep ʻ27 and Tessa Stanley ʻ27 also spoke and shared their personal stories about why attending Chaminade has been a life changing dream come true, and expressed their gratitude for the scholarships they receive. The small class sizes, individualized attention, secure and safe campus have made the Chaminade experience fulfilling and meaningful as they pursue their studies and plan their careers after graduating next May. 

At the podium, Stanley opened her remarks by sharing two simple yet meaningful words: “Thank you.”

Watch this video that was shown at the Luncheon.

Alumni Celebrate Silversword Reunion 2025

It was a weekend of celebrating old memories and making new ones.

More than 250 Chaminade alumni gathered on campus for Silversword Reunion 2025, three days of festivities that included serving as the guests of honor at this year’s Pacific Island Review cultural celebration featuring student performances and great food.

Reunion attendees also shared a campus tour, dinner and attended Mass.

Jodi-Ann Yoshida, MBA ’23, who is director of Alumni Relations, said the reunion from October 17 to 19 offered opportunities for alumni from across the state and across the nation to reconnect, reminisce and reignite their passion for Chaminade and its important public service-focused mission.

This year’s reunion also coincided with the University’s 70th anniversary celebration and included an alumnus—Bernard Lum Hoy ’59—from Chaminade’s first graduating class.

At the Silversword Reunion dinner, three attendees were recognized with Alumni Awards.

Rylan Chong, ’10, Ph.D., received the Marianist Alumni Award for exemplifying the Marianist spirit. Chong co-developed Hawaiʻi’s first Data Science undergraduate program at Chaminade in 2019, with a focus on community building and providing students access to in-demand skills and career opportunities.

Under his leadership, Silversword Data Science students have won national competitions, clinched prestigious local and national internships, and pursued exciting careers.

Angela Riccardi Maroun ’76, was named recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for outstanding contributions to her profession and the community.

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Over her career, Maroun helped thousands of patients regain their mobility and independence as a leader in the field of outpatient and home care physical therapy.

In accepting her award, Maroun called Chaminade a very special place that provided her with both a “wider world view and lasting friendships.” Maroun added, “How many people can say they still visit and text with their professors 50 years later?

“That is the Chaminade experience.”

Joshua Orimoto ’20, meanwhile, was recognized with the Young Alumni Award for excellence in his field and demonstrated service to the community, the university and the public.

Orimoto serves as an Air Force cyberspace operations officer and was recently selected to serve as a diplomatic security service special agent for the U.S. Department of State.

Yoshida congratulated all the honorees.

“These exemplary Silversword alumni have made meaningful contributions to their professions and communities, embodying the Chaminade mission by leading and serving with aloha,” she said.

Leading with Service

Before Christine Baleto ’91 left her native Guam for college, her dad sat her down for a conversation she’ll never forget. He told her many people leave the island to pursue higher education, but too few return to use what they’ve learned to give back to the community.

Christine Baleto ’91 (right) poses with Annette Taijeron Santos, DBA, interim dean of Chaminade’s School of Business and Communication.

“If our own people don’t come back to help improve our island and create opportunities, who will?” Baleto recalls her father asking her all those years ago. “He urged me to get my education, but more importantly, to come home and use it to serve our people and our island.

“That conversation left a lasting imprint on me. I left Guam with a clear purpose: to return.”

And that’s exactly what she did.

Today, Baleto is president and CEO of telecommunications firm Docomo Pacific, the largest provider of mobile, internet, television and phone services in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Despite her high-stress day job, Baleto still makes time to serve on nonprofit boards, volunteer her time to civic organizations and serve as a mentor to young people.

That focus on giving to others is something Baleto says was ingrained in her throughout her childhood, and a value she was able to foster during her time at Chaminade.

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While a student, she served as president of the National Honor Society and volunteered for a long list of clubs. “That commitment to service shaped how I lead today,” she said.

Baleto came to Chaminade as a transfer student.

After graduating from high school, she headed to Eastern Oregon State College on a full scholarship. While she says she enjoyed the opportunity, Baleto struggled with the climate and the distance from her island home, so she made the decision to transfer to Hawaiʻi.

Christine Baleto ’91

“I wanted connection and community,” Baleto said.

She found it at Chaminade.

“The intimate campus environment was exactly what I was looking for. I didn’t want to be just another face in a large lecture hall; I wanted a place where professors knew my name and where mentorship and one-on-one engagement were part of the learning experience.”

Baleto says she thrived in Chaminade’s tight-knit community and enjoyed the University’s values-based education. Chaminade’s mission of service, in particular, resonated with her.

“From a young age, I felt a strong calling to serve,” she said. “My earliest passions were rooted in social service, and even as my career evolved, that sense of purpose never faded.”

It’s why today, Baleto sees her role as a leader as an opportunity to make a broader positive impact. “Returning to Guam and contributing to our community wasn’t just a personal goal. It was a responsibility I embraced, and one that continues to guide my path today,” she said.

Her message to tomorrow’s leaders at Chaminade is twofold.

First, she says, there is no substitute for hard work.

And secondly: “True leadership is rooted in humility, kindness, and a continuous willingness to learn from others,” Baleto said. “If you aspire to be a leader or a changemaker, remember you cannot do it alone. Real, lasting change happens when you empower those around you.”

Baleto said her Chaminade years were formative, including in helping her develop her community-focused leadership style. And this spring, Baleto had something of a full circle moment when she got the opportunity to visit campus for the first time since she’d graduated.

“Stepping onto campus 30 years later brought back so many wonderful memories— of the professors who knew me by name, the close-knit community, and all the ways I was active as a student,” she said. “I was especially proud to see how much the University has grown.”

Baleto added she’s grateful to be part of Chaminade’s past, present and future. “Chaminade is not merely a place to earn a degree,” she said. “It is a community that fosters one’s values, stimulates intellectual growth, and equips individuals with the skills necessary for purposeful leadership.”

This story appears in the Fall 2025 edition of Chaminade Magazine. To read the full issue, click here.

Silversword Embraces Model of ‘True Service’

Anson Ekau ’25 says he has a long list of professors and mentors to thank for all that he accomplished at Chaminade. And as he kicks off a promising career in data science, he’s not only looking for new opportunities to grow—he’s looking for new ways to give back.

“I truly believe that once you’ve made progress, it’s your responsibility to turn back and help the next person in line,” said Ekau, who double majored in computer science and data science, analytics and visualization at Chaminade and is pursuing a future in aerospace.

That drive to serve others was something Ekau learned at an early age.

Ekau said his father spent his career helping low-income families on the west side of Oʻahu. “He made sure their needs were met and that the kids had opportunities to succeed,” Ekau said. “Through his example, I learned what empathy, courage, and true service look like.”

So it’s little wonder that Ekau found Chaminade to be a perfect fit.

At a university with a strong service-focused mission, Ekau quickly hit his stride with volunteering opportunities and student leadership programming. And in Chaminade’s Data Science program, he also discovered a way to combine his passion for everything cyber with his love for helping others.

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Ekau said he still fondly recalls meeting Rylan Chong ’10, Ph.D., director of data science at Chaminade, for the first time. A friend introduced the two at the Silversword Café early one morning and they shared a meal. “We talked about life and had a genuine conversation,” Ekau said.

Three months later, Ekau signed up for Chong’s computer science class and was “honestly shocked” when he was greeted by name on his first day. “He remembered me, and I didn’t think he would,” Ekau said, adding, “That small moment made a huge impact on me. It showed me how much Dr. Chong genuinely cares about his students, not just as learners but as people.”

In the data science program, Ekau was quickly connected to a host of hands-on learning opportunities, including internships with Mission Technologies, MC3 Technologies, US Space Force, Texas Advanced Computing Center, Supporting Pacific Indigenous Computing Excellence (SPICE) Data Science Summer Institute, and Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, which he partnered with to build a dashboard that monitors fishpond health and restoration.

Ekau said those internships helped him build new skills and apply them, work with technologically advanced equipment and projects, and learn from leaders in the field.

“During my time at Chaminade, I was very fortunate to participate in programs and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today,” he said. “I have participated in numerous internships and programs, and presented at conferences, even to military leaders.”

He said all those experiences “helped me grow both academically, professionally, and personally.”

Most recently, Ekau worked with Hawaiʻi cybersecurity firm MC3 Technologies, where he developed and launched a course covering the basics of machine learning and cybersecurity for students in Waianaʻe. “I’ve been mentoring students through this program, and it’s been especially meaningful because it’s so similar to the work my father did,” Ekau said. “In many ways, I feel like I’m following in his footsteps, using technology as a tool for empowerment, equity, and service.”

Ekau said his long-term dream is starting his own space-focused company.

As he continues on the pathway toward that big goal, he’s looking back at the many people who helped him along the way. “I’ve been truly blessed to have had the opportunities I’ve experienced during my time at Chaminade,” Ekau said. “But none of it would have been possible without the mentors and professors who believed in me—and, most importantly, took a chance on me.”

This story appears in the Fall 2025 edition of Chaminade Magazine. To read the full issue, click here.