Chaminade University of Honolulu

Alumni

Chaminade Alum’s “Students First” Mentality Leads Him to White House

Since Ryan Tauriainen graduated from Chaminade in 2010, he’s racked up a long list of accomplishments. At 26, he became one of the youngest principals in the country. In 2016, the Washington Post named him the “Principal of the Year.” And as a charter school leader in the nation’s capital, his strategies helped produce the highest-performing early childhood classrooms in the district.

White House Fellows pose for their official portraits in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Keegan Barber)

Oh, and the author of five children’s books is now a 2019-20 White House fellow.

But he says despite all the acknowledgment and titles, he still sees himself as a “teacher first.”

And that’s due in part to the approach he started to build at Chaminade that helped him see that improving school culture, building a positive and happy work environment – infused with aloha – and putting people above everything else always produces the best results.

“I definitely believe that I brought a servant’s heart and the aloha spirit back with me to DC from Hawaii,” Tauriainen said, in a recent interview. “Having roots in Hawaii was a benefit for my education career. Every day, my main inspiration lies in the children I have served and will serve.”

Tauriainen enrolled in the Master of Education program at Chaminade while serving as a Teach for America educator.

During the day, he taught language arts to seventh graders at Wheeler Middle in Wahiawa. And at Chaminade, he sought to expand his knowledge of secondary education, working alongside professors and his fellow graduate students for insight and support as he worked to sharpen his classroom skills.

His mentors and peers helped him grow as an educator.

And, he said, they provided vital emotional and academic support. “I appreciated how flexible Chaminade was for graduate students,” Tauriainen added. “I was a full-time teacher while being a full-time student. Being able to do both and manage both was a blessing.”

Tauriainen’s White House fellowship began in August 2019. He works at the U.S. Department of Education, where he reports to Frank Brogan, the assistant secretary of education for Elementary and Secondary Education. And he said among the projects he oversees is $26 million in grant money set aside for Native Hawaiian education programs – an area that he said he’s passionate about. The Oregon native also remains committed to improving opportunities for education – “the great equalizer” – across the United States. “I have seen the benefits of providing an excellent education and I have seen the detriments of failing our students,” he said. “Ensuring an excellent education for every child, no matter their zip code, is the surest way to our more perfect union.”

Alumna Pursues Passion at Chaminade and Beyond

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

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 was 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!

Kick Off to the 2019-20 Season

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

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

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 alumna 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.”

The Master’s of Science in Counseling Psychology (MSCP) program is part of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences. The program includes three concentrations: School Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, and Marriage and Family Counseling. MSCP prepares graduates for careers in community and school settings. Graduates assist children, youth and adults in adapting to various educational, family, organizational and societal demands. The program includes the foundational use of standards established by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).