Alumni

Written by: Pono Riddle,  B.S. Psychology ’18

Aloha mai kakou. My name is Andre “Pono” Riddle. I am a proud Chaminade University graduate––Class of 2018––with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Doing a year of service had always been in the back of my mind ever since I met Marianist PULSE Coordinator Maureen O’Rourke in October 2015, when she visited and recruited for PULSE’s inaugural year. During the summer before my senior year, I participated in the week-long, 2017 LA Service Immersion trip in which students from each of the three Marianist Universities—Chaminade, University of Dayton, and St. Mary’s University—engaged in a variety of experiences fostering leadership skills in the Marianist charism, while working with local non-profits and especially with those living and working in Skid Row, America’s Homelessness capital. These experiences encouraged me to discern further and eventually commit to a year of service through Marianist PULSE following graduation.

My nonprofit placement site is with Empowering Children with Hope and Opportunity (ECHO) at the University of Dayton (UD) in the Center for Catholic Education. ECHO’s services are in 14 Catholic Schools in the Dayton area. ECHO provides children and families in faith-based schools, particularly the underserved, with skills for life by providing social and emotional services. I mainly work with three of the ECHO counselors and Family Advocate.

Some of what I do includes the following:

• I assist the ECHO counselor in teaching 2^nd Step, a violence prevention program rooted in social and emotional learning for students in Pre-K through eighth grade
• I assist the ECHO Director and Family Advocate at Family Engagement events and help coordinate the annual Fall and Spring Retreats, as well as ECHO Peacemaker get-togethers. The Peacemakers are comprised of seventh and eighth graders in the schools ECHO serves; they are role models both in school and their respective communities. I had the privilege and opportunity to educate the Peacemakers about “Aloha Spirit” and how to embody it every day in everything they do, and with whom they interact
• I also co-facilitate a self-empowerment/self-esteem boys group called Kūlia Ikaika—­­­Stand Strong.

My Marianist PULSE journey continues to be a blessing. I am embracing a new environment and all four seasons, strengthening both my spiritual and professional development and living in intentional community. Support from PULSE alumni and others affiliated with either PULSE or UD has continued to enrich my experience. I am eternally grateful for this opportunity and strongly encourage those considering committing to a year of service to do so; it speaks of embracing that “Marianist bond,” which is hard to explain but is so enriching when experienced.

Written by Charlene Mae Rocimo, Biology ’18

Upon graduating with a Biology degree in Fall 2018, I wanted to continue my work with the vulnerable and further develop my knowledge and skills in medicine by doing a post-graduate service year. I am currently participating in the Marianist PULSE (Partners in Urban Leadership, Service, and Education) program in Dayton, Ohio. This wonderful program is rooted in the Marianist charism. I am growing through living in solidarity, in intentional community, through leadership development, and service to the marginalized.

As a PULSE volunteer, I serve at Brigid’s Path, a newborn recovery center that provides residential care for drug-exposed newborns, and non-judgmental case management care for families. My job as a volunteer coordinator is to screen Dayton residents who desire to be a source of medical and emotional comfort for drug-addicted mothers and drug-exposed newborns suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). As the youngest employee at Brigid’s Path, I have been fortunate to experience taking care of NAS babies under the supervision of neonatologists and nurses. It is my job to communicate with volunteers about Brigid’s Path needs, as well as with the other staff members about how volunteers should be utilized. This communication has allowed me to understand each staff member’s perspective in treating an NAS baby.

I always enjoy working at Brigid’s Path. While it is difficult to witness newborns suffering from high pitched cries, tremors, and hyperactive reflexes—symptoms of NAS— it is a humbling experience to witness mothers and their newborns receive effective and efficient care and/or treatment(s). Every mother that has gone through rehab has always come back to Brigid’s Path to thank the staff and volunteers for the unconditional love and support they have received from our facility. This makes me realize how helping someone, whether it’s big or small, can greatly influence an individual’s life. I am blessed to be part of Brigid’s Path because it is a facility that is finding one response to the opioid epidemic. Likewise, Brigid’s Path is providing awareness about the opioid crisis, by being part of the bipartisan CRIB Act and the documentary, “Not in Vein.” I am grateful to be a part of the Marianist PULSE program because it has given me many opportunities to learn about humility, compassion, and dedication. Overall, thank you to Chaminade University of Honolulu, Marianist PULSE, and Brigid’s Path for giving me many opportunities to grow in all aspects of my life.

Derek Kawakami, ’01 was elected Mayor of the Garden Isle in a landslide victory, while a number of other Chaminade alumni succeeded in their bids to continue or begin public service as elected officials in Hawaii government offices.

Kalei Akaka, ’04, granddaughter of the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka, was successful in her bid to become an Oahu Trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Brandon Elefante, MBA ’11 was re-elected as Councilmember of the City and County of Honolulu.

Earlier, Heidi Tsuneyoshi, MSCP ‘02 won an outright victory in her primary race, becoming the first woman of Hawaiian ancestry to serve on the City Council.