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Alumna Pursues Passion at Chaminade and Beyond

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Jennifer Lai Hipp became a forensic sciences buff in high school, but she never saw it as a career path.

Forensic Sciences CSI class at Kaimana Beach

That is, until the college program she was in – studying American Sign Language – was put on hold.

Hipp, who graduated from Chaminade in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, is now pursuing a master’s degree in human biology at the University of Indianapolis and has her sights set on a future in forensic anthropology. She said she’s even considering getting a doctoral degree.

“I took it as a sign I should follow my true passion and knew that Chaminade had one of the best forensic science programs in the country,” she said. “I decided to apply and luckily I got in.”

Hipp said she’s thankful for the strong educational foundation she built at Chaminade, where she thrived with small class sizes and engaging learning opportunities.

“The lab courses at Chaminade are built to give us hands-on experience that we can take into the real world,” she said. “I learned crime scene investigation techniques, including crime scene mapping and photography, latent fingerprint processing, and bloodstain pattern analysis.”

Along the way, she was able to build strong relationships with her professors and her peers.

Dr. David Carter and Jennifer Lai Hipp '17
Dr. David Carter and Jennifer Lai Hipp ’17 had a chance to catch up while Dr. Carter was in Indianapolis.

One of those mentors was Dr. David Carter, director of the Forensic Sciences program at Chaminade.

Hipp said Carter was “integral” to her success at Chaminade — and beyond.

“He helped me with everything from registering for classes and planning out my academic year to giving me advice about careers and applying for graduate school,” she said.

“I was nervous about attending college, but Dr. Carter was always positive and supporting. He was also great to talk to when I needed a break from studying.”

Hipp said that Chaminade’s Dr. Robert Mann also helped her immensely in the program, including by serving as a “source of inspiration” and advice about jobs in the field.

She said Mann even helped her secure internship opportunities and encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a forensic anthropologist.

“The faculty of the Forensic Sciences program at Chaminade integrated their work experience in the field into the classroom, which I believe was an important part of my education. They were able to relate the material in the textbooks to the real world,” Hipp said.

“They also worked closely with all the forensic sciences students to create a resume, critique scientific journal articles, and practice giving professional presentations.”

All that preparation proved key to Hipp’s next steps: Seeking a graduate degree in pursuit of a career.

“Being a non-traditional student, I did not have the typical college experience,” Hipp said.

“But I found my professors very easy to relate to and had a wealth of knowledge about both college and the working world.”

Bringing the Aloha to California

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Huntington Beach gathering at Wahoo's

Dozens of Chaminade alumni gathered earlier this month in Huntington Beach, California for a good dose of aloha — and updates on some of the initiatives underway at their alma mater.

The Chaminade University ‘Ohana Gathering attracted a wide range of graduates, from those at Chaminade in the 1970s to one who graduated in May.

Huntington Beach gathering at Wahoo's

The October 3 meet-up wass hosted by Chaminade graduates Tom and Barbara Orbe (‘73 and ‘76), and annually offers alums a chance to catch up with each other — and University administrators.

President Dr. Lynn Babington attended the get-together and touched on a number of key events, including the University’s first-ever Giving Day on Oct. 10 and the upcoming Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

One fun highlight of the evening: The reunion of former roommates Jim McGuirk ‘80 and Ralph Suarez ‘80, who jokingly referred to themselves as “Oscar and Felix” from “The Odd Couple.”

If you missed the California gathering, don’t worry, you’ll have the chance to come back to campus, connect with former Silverswords and reminisce about the “good times.”

The Alumni Reunion Weekend is happening spring 2020. The event, from April 17 to 19, will honor the Class of 1970 and feature fun events and activities that you won’t want to miss!

For more information on the event, click here.

Kick Off to the 2019-20 Season

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Hui Ahinahina Booster Club Members

Chaminade’s Hui ‘Āhinahina Booster Club kicked off the 2019-20 athletic season right this month, with good food and entertainment – and an exhilarating win.

Advancement held its annual kick-off celebration Sept. 6 to coincide with the first game of the women’s volleyball team, which enjoyed a record-breaking season last year.

Scores of people came out to celebrate with the boosters, enjoying pupu, spirits, entertainment and prizes on the Henry Hall Courtyard.

The night capped off with a big win for Chaminade. The women’s volleyball team, no. 2 in the PacWest pre-season poll, bested West Virginia in straight sets.

Sponsors for the big celebration included Hawaii Pacific Health, the official healthcare partner of Chaminade University Athletics.

Women's volleyball vs West Virigina

Also supporting the event: AT&T, Big City Diner, Kona Brewing and Pepsi, along with Chaminade faculty and staff, alumni and members of the community.

And two lucky winners took home the grand prize for the evening: Tickets to the 2019 Maui Jim Maui Invitational, a nationally televised event hosted by Chaminade every year.

The boosters club serves as the main source of fundraising support for Chaminade’s 10 sports teams and more than 140 student-athletes.

The club’s goal is to provide opportunities on the field – and in the classroom – for those who wear Chaminade’s sports team uniforms.

In years past, the organization has helped cover essential needs for University athletics, including equipment, scholarships, travel costs and meals. Those who join the booster club can make gifts to a specific team or to the athletics department.

Guam Alumni Gathering

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The Guam Alumni event was held on Friday, May 24 at  Roy’s Lounge at the Guam Hilton Resort and Spa in Tumon Bay.

Dr. Babington greeted 50 of our alumni, current students, prospective students and their parents and gave an update of the University’s past year, Athletics Highlights, and her vision for Chaminade. It was a great evening connecting with the Chaminade ‘ohana while enjoying delicious food and drinks.

2019 Guam Alumni Gathering

Chaminade Alumna Named Hawaii School Counselor of the Year

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Raemie Pagaduan ’06 found her calling during an internship at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School while she was getting her master’s at Chaminade.

Raemie Pagaduan '07 and family

“What drew me to school counseling was being able to be an advocate for students, being that voice for some students who might not have one,” Pagaduan said.

The Master of Science in Counseling Psychology alumna began her career at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School 13 years ago as a 7-12th grade counselor and is now the school’s college and career counselor. 

Pagaduan’s passion for counseling, commitment to helping students thrive and her instrumental role in Nanakuli High and Intermediate School’s Early College program made her an ideal candidate for the 2019 Hawaii School Counselor of the Year, awarded by the Hawaii School Counselor Association.

Since Pagaduan started counseling at Nanakuli, the number of students participating in Early College has increased from one percent in 2010 to 18 percent in 2018. The rate of student enrollment at a four-year college has been the highest in more than a decade, at 24 percent.

The Early College program, which allows high school students to take college classes on their campus for high school and college credit, has been an important initiative to Pagaduan because many of her students will be the first in their families to attend college.

“I am a very strong proponent of putting minorities in places of power so that they can affect change,” Pagaduan said. “I think [getting an education] opens doors.”

The Chaminade aulmna found out she won the award at an assembly held before the school year ended in front of all her students and the principal who nominated her. She said the students’ reaction, their clapping and cheering, was the best part and that she is humbled to receive this recognition. In January, Pagaduan will travel to Washington, D.C. to be recognized by the American School Counselor Association.

“[Nanakuli is] such a great place and that’s where you really see change and that’s where you really understand what hope is when you’re working with these amazing, amazing students,” Pagaduan said. “I just want to highlight Nanakuli and the people of Nanakuli who’ve taught me so much and made me the counselor that I am.”

From Student to Servant: Chaminade Graduates Commit to a Year of Service in Ohio

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In May, Chaminade University celebrated the graduating class of 2019. Degree in hand, most graduates will go on to secure jobs and begin their careers. Others will continue to pursue higher education through graduate school. And a few will put their professional endeavors on hold and dedicate their post-graduate life to service.

Claire Riggan and Andrew Ines, 2019 Chaminade graduates, are part of the few.

Claire Riggan and Andrew Ines

At the end of July, Riggan and Ines will say goodbye to friends and family for a year of unknown challenges and transformative experiences in Dayton, Ohio, as volunteers in the Marianist Partners in Urban Leadership, Service and Education (PULSE) program.

PULSE is a post-graduate initiative geared toward graduates with a desire to grow as servant leaders, learn about social justice issues and positively impact an urban community. Volunteers commit to one or two years of service to a local Dayton nonprofit organization where they gain real-world experience in their field of study while being immersed in the community they’re aiding.

“To be able to serve the community, it’s best if you live in the community,” Ines said.

This is the first time the 22-year-old Kalihi native will be living away from home and he couldn’t be more excited. Ines and Riggan will be living in intentional community with 8-12 other PULSE volunteers, most of whom they don’t yet know from the two other Marianist universities, St. Mary’s University and University of Dayton.

Ines first heard about PULSE through Campus Ministry in 2017 when two of his friends from Chaminade were participating in the program. After hearing about the impact that they were making on the Dayton community and gaining first-hand insight into the program, Ines knew that when his senior year came along, he would apply.

“I’m most excited to learn about other people and social issues that are being dealt with in Dayton, just to broaden my perspective on the world,” Ines said.

The business administration major and computer information sciences minor will be putting his degrees to good use at his nonprofit assignment, Brigid’s Path, where he will be volunteering full-time as a communications and marketing intern. Brigid’s Path is a recovery center for newborns suffering from opioid addiction, which is a common issue in Dayton. Ines’ primary roles will be to connect with donors and spread the word about Brigid’s Path through its website and social media.

In addition to working at their assigned nonprofits, Ines and the other PULSE volunteers are expected to share meals and meet for prayer, live in solidarity with the marginalized Dayton community, participate in a Marianist formation program held every week and share their experience with a spiritual mentor.

Ines hopes to walk away from his year in Dayton with a refined ability to empathize with others without any biases. He expects that his time at Brigid’s Path will help to solidify his future career goals, and is currently considering using his degree for community outreach once his year of service comes to a close.“When I bring the spirit of aloha from Hawaii to Ohio, I hope that people will get the chance to have their voices heard and people will get the chance to receive opportunities that they probably never thought they could,” Ines said.