Chaminade University of Honolulu

Alumni

A “Homecoming” Away From Home

On a chilly February evening in Washington, D.C., a group of about 50 people — donning lei and armed with pupu — gathered for a pau hana party with a purpose.

At first appearances, the turnout might have been described as eclectic: Some young up-and-comers, some mid-career professionals and some retirees.

But it wouldn’t take an observer very long to figure out their common source of pride: Drinks in hand, attendees sported Silversword athletics gear or waved pennants.

The Alumni Meet-up in DC is among a number of gatherings Chaminade organizes each year in Hawaii and on the mainland as a way of keeping grads connected — to one another and to the university.

The DC event on Feb. 2 attracted alumni from the immediate area and from as far away as New Mexico, Delaware and upstate New York. And it gave attendees a chance not only to catch up with each other — but with the latest plans for their Honolulu alma mater.

Dr. Lynn Babington attended the alumni meet-up to outline her vision as Chaminade’s president and to hear from alumni about their hopes for the university. And at the end of the night, several attendees made gifts or donations to Chaminade to support programming.

Those donors included Dr. Christine Carter, who received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Chaminade in 1973 before getting a doctoral degree in genetics from the University of Hawaii.

At the meet-up, Carter pledged to help support a teaching fellowship named after retired Chaminade Professor Ron Iwamoto, who she credits with sparking her passion in biology, genetics and physiology.

“When I was in BIO 101 and listening to Mr. Iwamoto tell us what we were going to cover and the field trips we were all expected to go on, I changed my major that day from pre-nursing to biology,” Carter said, in an email.

Carter added that her experience at Chaminade was defined by excellence in teaching — by professors who serve as mentors, educational guides and, sometimes, even cheerleaders, encouraging students forward.

“The quality of the education has more to do with the teachers that you find yourself listening to than with the size, status or ranking of the school itself,” she said.

Chaminade professors, she said, gave her and her classmates “the confidence to explore beyond what we learned, to visualize ourselves getting the highest degree possible in a field or topic that we alone knew best.”

The DC meet-up was organized by Be-Jay Kodama, director of alumni relations at Chaminade and a graduate of the university, too. She received her bachelor’s from the university in 1986, and completed her master’s in business administration from Chaminade in 2016.

Kodama said despite the frigid temps outside, the atmosphere at the event was warm — full of aloha and, of course, lots of Chaminade pride.

And there were plenty of Hawaii touches: The tables were adorned in tropical flowers, some of which were plucked by attendees to put behind their ears, and mac nuts were wrapped up in blue for guests to take home.

Kodama said that alumni gatherings — like the DC meet-up and this April’s reunion on campus — are about making sure alumni remain connected to a campus and a community that considers them part of the family.

The meet-ups are also a chance for graduates — regardless of when they attended — to meet current students and serve as examples of how far a Chaminade education can take you, Kodama said.

“Alumni want to be kept informed,” she said, in an email, “and these events are a wonderful platform for the university to share updates in a more personal way. Chaminade is a common experience they share.”

All alumni are invited back to campus for the 2018 Alumni Reunion, April 5-8. The unique selection of events will make the return to Chaminade unforgettable. It’s a time to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

School of Nursing Training, Inspiration from Mom, Launches Nursing Career for Jordan Tomas ’15

The education alumnus Jordan Tomas ’15 received at Chaminade University’s School of Nursing – and the inspiration he received from his mother – propelled him into graduate school and a health care career on the Mainland. After graduating cum laude from Chaminade and passing his National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a Registered Nurse, Tomas joined a medical/surgical unit at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. He’s also working toward a Master of Science in Nursing degree at UW. Jordan Tomas“Chaminade’s nursing program played a huge part in preparing for my career,” Tomas said. “What made the journey challenging and fun was that I was a student of only the second graduating class in nursing in the school’s history.” Despite the program’s young age, Tomas said students were provided with “some of the latest technology and latest information as the nursing school continued to evolve.” “I learned a lot from my professors and my clinical instructors throughout my four years,” he said, “gaining insight of the nursing profession, the challenges nurses are facing in the real-world and the variety of opportunities in the nursing field.” Also assisting Tomas academically and professionally was his mother, a nurse at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. “She influenced me with her work ethic and her compassion,” Tomas said. “Despite coming home from work exhausted, I could tell that nursing was something she was proud of pursuing. I wanted to help people and I pursued nursing thanks to her influence. “During my time in nursing school, my mom pursued her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through an accelerated program,” Tomas added, “and it inspired me to continue my journey through nursing school.” Tomas is especially grateful to three of his Chaminade instructors: Chief Nurse Administrator and Professor Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Associate Professor Tiffanie Hoffmeyer and Associate Professor Jeanette Peterson. “Dr. Monroe kept our class in line and supported me whenever I needed help in my assignments,” Tomas said. “She was especially supportive when I studied for the NCLEX-RN examination. “Next, Dr. Hoffmeyer taught me a lot in my Complex Disease course, helped me become more confident in my nursing skills and encouraged me to persevere when times were tough in nursing school, which helped made me the person I am today. “Finally, Professor Peterson introduced me to the unique technology of nursing simulation and expressed empathy and compassion when our class needed it. While attending Chaminade, Tomas participated in several special programs, including a nursing conference focused on viral hepatitis and meetings with state legislators to discuss how laws – including nursing-related laws – are passed. He also took part in the TADE Triennial Event, a mass casualty exercise facilitated by the School of Nursing at Honolulu International Airport. Tomas said Chaminade helped him understand “what nursing meant to me.” “There were moments throughout my time in nursing school that I wondered if I made the right career choice or if I could manage to complete nursing school,” Tomas recalled. “I was fortunate to have the friends I made within my class and be able to learn and grow with them despite the challenges. “My professors were nurturing and patient with us and were able to guide us into the path of success in nursing,” he said. “Without taking on this journey, I could not be the nurse that I am today.” Chaminade’s School of Nursing offers a four year, full-time program culminating in a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Students gain medical experience with human-patient simulators, community outreach projects, service-learning and supervised clinical settings. The  fall semester application deadline is February 1, 2018.

Alum Rhys Murphy’s AUSA Hoops Business Helps Aussie Basketball Dreams Come True in America

When international student-athletes seek to play basketball in the United States, navigating the myriad of rules and regulations can be “overwhelming.” This according to Chaminade University alumnus Rhys Murphy (Accounting ’14), a two-year starter for the Silversword men’s team. Rhys MurphySensing a business opportunity, Murphy returned to his hometown of Sydney, Australia, where he founded and serves as president of AUSA Hoops. This basketball camp organization helps Aussie boys and girls pursue their academic and athletic goals at high schools, colleges and universities across America. “In terms of successes, we are at just over 70 players who are in college now,” said Murphy, who placed student-athletes at prominent schools in the Pac-12, Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, Big Ten and Big East conferences. These players earned more than $5 million in scholarships. Murphy and his staff accomplished this feat by conducting training and development programs for young hoopsters and bringing them to America for a series of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournaments where college coaches recruit players. These trips don’t include sightseeing excursions to Disneyland. They’re focused on proving that Australians have what it takes to play top-tier basketball in the U.S. As for Murphy’s basketball career, the six-foot-seven-inch forward “stumbled into an opportunity to play AAU basketball in Chicago” and received over 50 scholarship offers. Murphy opted for Oregon State, where he competed in 18 games for the Beavers during 2011-12. After transferring to Chaminade for his junior and senior years, Murphy started the final 12 games of the 2013-14 season and was twice-named to the All-Pacific West Conference Academic Team. Murphy got the idea for AUSA Hoops as a junior during spring break when a summer internship with a Chicago hedge fund failed to materialize. “I pretty much just sat down and thought about what I could do myself,” Murphy recalled, “because I had no work experience and realized I would need to get a job the following year.” Rhys MurphyBy turning his basketball camp concept into a bigger project, Murphy “ticked the ‘work-experience’ box” on his resume. “The most challenging part is always right after the inspiration and excitement of the initial idea begins to fade and the reality of the amount of work that needs to be completed starts to become more and more clear,” Murphy said. “I started with the thought that I had a pretty good idea about the industry, and then very quickly realized I knew next to nothing about the intricacies of how it worked. So for the first couple years I was almost flying blind trying to figure it out as I went. “I don’t believe starting your own business is as hard as people perceive it to be,” Murphy added. “Yes, you need to be resilient, consistent with your work and have a desire to constantly learn and improve. But so much of it is just about having the confidence – or delusion – to get started and then keep rolling with the punches. It’s a wild rollercoaster!” One Chaminade instructor who particularly influenced Murphy is Richard Kido, an Associate Professor of Accounting. Kido praised Murphy’s work ethic in the classroom and on the basketball court. “Despite the demands of being a scholar-athlete, Rhys was outstanding in all his classes,” Kido said. “His positive attitude was infectious and carried over to his classmates.” Another instructor making an impression on Murphy was Business Professor Wayne Tanna, who emphasized the importance of community service. Murphy continues that commitment to giving back by uplifting Australia’s South Sudanese basketball community through AUSA Hoops. “I think Professor Tanna did a great job of opening my eyes to the tremendous need for help out there,” Murphy said. “And he opened my eyes to my own privileges by putting me in new environments where people were not as well off.” That’s why community service is a slam dunk for Murphy and his team at AUSA Hoops. Chaminade University’s School of Business and Communication offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting. Community service activities for students include tax clinics and the FAFSA project, which helps low-income and immigrant families fill out college financial aid forms.

Three Alumnae Serving as Chapter Presidents of Professional Interior Design Organizations

Graduates of Chaminade University’s Environmental + Interior Design program are well represented in Oahu’s professional ranks. Three alumnae, in fact – Nancy Schnur,  Dedra Hinano Nahinu and Colette Abe Lee – serve as Hawaii chapter presidents of national design organizations.

Schnur, who founded and manages Kailua-based Universal Interiors, LLC, heads the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Hawaii chapter.

Hinano Nahinu, general manager and lead designer with INspiration Interiors at the Honolulu Design Center, leads the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Aloha Chapter.

And Abe Lee, a senior interior designer associate with AHL in downtown Honolulu, is president of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Hawaii Pacific Chapter.

Schnur said her responsibilities at ASID include keeping members “informed, educated and active,” given that the organization’s national headquarters is nearly 5,000 miles away in Washington, D.C.

“Just as our field is constantly changing, ASID is constantly changing,” Schnur said. “New benefits, new opportunities and new people are always happening.”

Schnur specializes in universal design, which produces aesthetic environments usable to the greatest possible extent by all people, regardless of age or ability.

“When I was in school, universal design was just coming into fashion, so to speak,” Schur said. “We had one basic class on the subject. To me, it was something that could apply to residential but also to health care, which is what I had hoped to focus on.

“Now I’m trying to keep up with all the information out there on the subject,” said Schnur, who works on residential, hospitality, retail and aging-in-place projects.

While attending Chaminade, Schnur was a nontraditional student pursuing a second career.

“Chaminade was a different place then,” said Schnur, who graduated in 2003 with a bachelor of fine arts. The university was “a great place to attend college,” she said, but the interior design program “was small and underdeveloped.”

Today, by contrast, Environmental + Interior Design (E+ID) is the only degree-granting program of its kind of Hawaii. The Council for Interior Design Accreditation, which oversees and evaluates academic standards for baccalaureate institutions, accredited E+ID in 2013.

“I was raising a family, so I couldn’t attend full time,” Schnur pointed out. “The upside was, I was there for so long I was able to see a lot of positive changes by the time I graduated. But nothing like it is now.”

One highlight of her college days was an internship during which she designed new offices for Parents and Children Together, a nonprofit family service agency.

“It was so wonderful to see how my design services brightened people’s lives,” Schnur recalled. “I was so appreciated. The internship got me my first job. So that was a good takeaway for sure!”​

Schnur said she hopes to see E+ID “continue to develop and grow.”

“It is so great to see what it has become,” she said. “And I love being there and learning about what the students are learning. I hope they are successful in developing a master’s program. Because as designers, we are always learning.”

NKBA president Hinano Nahinu attended Chaminade on a volleyball scholarship and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in 1999. She continued her education by earning an MBA in 2001.

“One of my all-time favorite professors was our interior design director, Walter Taketa, who challenged me both as an athlete and Native Hawaiian student to be successful,” Hinano Nahinu said. “It was a lot of hard work and worth every penny for that education.”

While serving as ASID student chapter president, she learned how professional organizations “can really help you in your business.”

“Today, I am happy to serve on the NKBA board and have for the last ten years as a way of giving back,” Hinano Nahinu said. “The funny thing with volunteering is that you always get back what you put in, if not more.”

Abe Lee, the IIDA president, has worked on numerous major projects during her career, including renovations of The Queen’s Medical Center – West Oahu, Kapiolani Medical Center, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Colorado.

“When the general public thinks of interior design, some still perceive it as a very ‘fun’ field’ where it’s all coloring and pillows and, dare I say, even ‘decorating.’  There still needs to be public outreach and education on what interior design is,” Abe Lee said.

“When a person walks into a hospital, hotel, university or library, the way the space moves you to your next destination was thoughtfully planned out by the design team,” she pointed out. “The way the space makes you feel is orchestrated by a combination of color, texture, finishes and furniture, while also keeping life, safety and welfare in mind.

“It’s no coincidence this experience was created by an interior designer.”

Abe Lee, who received her bachelor’s degree from Chaminade in 2005, said three professors were especially helpful.

“Joan Riggs expected a lot from all of us, which pushed me harder to think more critically and explore solutions from different angles,” Abe Lee said. “Although her classes were always the hardest, I learned the most.

“Yukio Ozaki was a wonderful mentor to me,” Abe Lee continued. “He fostered my creativity and helped me hone my skills where needed and also taught me how to let go in other ways.  His classes were always my favorite because I could express myself through form.”

She also appreciated the guidance of Takeda, who “always pushed me to be better and was never afraid to give constructive criticism. “

“It gave me thick skin,” Abe Lee said. “Whenever I had to revise a project based on his comments, it came out ten times better.”

Now that Abe Lee is IIDA president, she uses her position to support E+ID by mentoring students “with great potential.”

“Since its accreditation and with the new faculty, E+ID raised the bar on the quality of work and level of talent that has come out of the school,” she said. “I’m so proud of where the program has gone and where it will continue to go with the leadership they have in place.”

Student-Athlete Emma Tecklenburg Brings Her Competitive Spirit to Volleyball Court and Classroom

For anyone who follows women’s volleyball at Chaminade University, the competitive spirit of student-athlete Emma Tecklenburg is impossible to miss. Named to the All-Pacific West Conference Third Team, the 5-foot-11-inch outsider hitter helped the Silverswords achieve a record third-consecutive winning season at 16-12. A sophomore from Plano, Texas, Tecklenburg finished third in the PacWest in kills per set and seventh in service aces. Moreover, her kill average was the second-highest by a ’Sword since 2010. Tecklenburg brings that same intensity to the classroom. She’s double majoring in Forensic Sciences and Criminology and Criminal Justice, thinking about adding a minor and already looking ahead to graduate school. During her rare downtime, she enjoys camping, swimming, beach volleyball and other sports. “It has definitely been a struggle at times balancing school, volleyball and my social life,” said Tecklenburg, who’s attending Chaminade on a four-year athletic scholarship. “But I have some really great teammates that do their best to hold me accountable. “The hardest balance is school and volleyball,” she pointed out, “especially during our road trips when we’re gone for more than a week at a time. But the team puts in a lot of effort at keeping caught up in school while traveling.” While attending high school nearly 4,000 miles away in the Lone Star State, Tecklenburg was a standout on her champion volleyball team and earned academic all-district honors. When it came time to make college plans, she was drawn to Chaminade and the abundant natural beauty and recreational opportunities on Oahu. “I was super attracted to Chaminade because I live in Northern Texas, so there’s not a lot of nature to experience down there,” Tecklenburg said. “The only time I ever went to the beach was on vacation, and I thought I would regret passing up such a cool life experience of living in Hawaii. “It wasn’t as big of an adjustment as I thought it would be,” she continued, “because we started playing volleyball right away and it was a good distraction from being homesick.” Competing for the Silverswords, Tecklenburg said, “is a wonderful opportunity.” “This team is truly a family and I am so appreciative to get to wake up and see them every day,” she said. “Everybody is so talented and driven! It’s really fun to get to see everyone grow and get better together.” As for her academic career, Tecklenburg enjoys working with Associate Professor David Carter, director of the Forensic Sciences program. “So far, Dr. Carter has been my absolute favorite professor,” Tecklenburg said. “He is a great instructor in general, and one of the most easy-going and fun people to talk with. “I would love to go to grad school and extend my education once I finish my four-year plan,” she added, “so we will see where I end up when that is all completed.” Chaminade University’s Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers a Bachelor of Science degree and a minor in Forensic Sciences. The Division of Behavioral Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

2017 Alumni Reunion Was Hot, Hot, Hot!

It was innovative.  It was fun. And it was family.  Chaminade University’s alumni ignited the campus with positivity for their annual reunion celebration from Thursday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2.

2017 Alumni Reunion Mocktails and MasterpiecesThursday evening’s Mocktails and Masterpieces event kindled the fire with bursts of creativity.  With artist Jenny B. facilitating, alumni painted canvas masterpieces that they could take home. The alumni mingled and caught up with old friends.  The familiar warmth of campus ‘ohana surged feelings of nostalgia and fanned their anticipation for Saturday.

On Saturday, a gentle mist of rain blew through campus, and the angelic acapella voices of Kaipo Leopoldino, BS ’14, Teuila Tauaese, BA ’13 and Baron Kaholokua, BA ’13 sang the Hawaiian Doxology Ho‘onani I Ka Makua Mau ( Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow). People in the crowd pulled out their cell phones to record the “chicken skin” moment. With that blessing, the Alumni Reunion Street Festival – Food Truck Rally opened into a free-flow night under the stars.

Residence Hall Association (RHA) students lined the Sullivan Family Library stairs to welcome home alumni. The RHA students wore white “I LOVE CHAMINADE” T-shirts accessorized with round Chaminade spirit buttons that read, “Once a student, Always an Alum.” Blue ribbons with the message “Alumni in Training” hung from the buttons.

“It was so beautiful to see that we had alumni, commuter students, resident students, and faculty come together for this event. When I stepped onto Second Road and saw all the food trucks and so many people, it was overwhelming,” said RHA student president Savannah Lyn Delos Santos from Saipan.

2017 Alumni Reunion Acts of Kindness boothOutside of the Sullivan Family Library, a photo booth captured the memories of friendships and newly made friends. There was a ceramic pot sale setup by Fine Arts professor Yukio Ozaki, and the Campus Store offered Chaminade logo items for sale. Alumni like Teresa Fujino, MBA ’16 guided activities such as “DIY – Salty Scrubs,” where participants made bath scrubs. Kacie Cohen, MSCP ’13 and Darren Iwamoto, MSCP ’98 with Dale Fryxell, grant director of the E Ho‘opili No Na Haumana Project and interim dean of Education, manned the 110-AOK (Acts of Kindness) beading table.

The crowd echoed excitement when Leopoldino kicked off his shoes to dance the hula.  From that point on, the event accelerated into high energy as Stacie Ku’ulei, BS ’02, MED ’10 emceed and entertained throughout the evening.

2017 Alumni Reunion Food Truck RallyThe Reunion Street Festival – Food Truck Rally had many memorable highlights, thanks to the collaboration of the Office of Alumni Relations and Residence Hall Association. Tasty smells from the food trucks permeated the air as people lined up in front of Hawaii’s favorite food trucks on Second Road.  Chardonnay Pao, BA ’13, MBA ’15 and Cherie Ann Park, MSCP ’13 served various ono plates from Kapakahi Grindz. The Nalo Made Lemonade booth was a hit.  Shawn Niwa Kadooka, BBA ’91 mentioned how happy she was to be a part of the event, and said it required two resupply runs. Also, depending on your appetite, you could also choose dishes from Prime Sandwiches or Chamorro Grindz or something refreshing from Tats Shaved Ice.

2017 Alumni Reunion“Featuring alum or alum related vendors is the best! It brings a sense of pride to the event knowing that Chaminade is investing and supporting alum businesses. I saw alum, current students, and employees coming to buy our product. The positive vibes were just on a whole other level of awesome,” Pao said. “Good music, ono food, and the use of Chaminade Dollars brought another sense of school spirit to the event.”

Jeannie Pinpin Lum, BA ’05, MBA ’07 crafted a social meet-up game, Mingle Bingo, which gave participants the opportunity to meet each other and for students to connect with alumni and build their Chaminade networks. Lolita Lum Hoy ‘61 gave it two thumbs up. “The Bingo game was fun.  It gave me an opportunity to meet many new people.  I was able to meet people from Pittsburgh, Texas, Guam, Georgia, Oakland, and Mililani,” she said.

2017 Alumni Reunion alums say aloha to Bro. BernieDuring a more structured part of the evening, Aunty Susan Frank Kama, BS ’61 in her melodic voice started a Lei Aloha ‘oli that cued alums to form a line as Chaminade president Bro. Bernard Ploeger, SM was escorted to the lawn.  The chant continued as alums showered Bro. Ploeger with lei, warm hugs, and bid him a fond farewell as he concludes his 23 years of service at Chaminade University.

Pinpin danced to “I’ll Remember You,” the classic song by Kui Lee. She offered the heartfelt emotional hula as a gift to Bro. Ploeger on behalf of the alumni.

The program also highlighted those classes ending in two and seven, pioneer classes from 1959 – 1966, and the class of 1967 celebrating its 50th Reunion. Those, who had traveled from out of state to attend, were also recognized.  There were lots of prizes to give away, thanks to generous alumni, as well as lots of nostalgia and the tears that go with it.

2017 Alumni ReunionThen Micah G hit the stage and got the students, alumni, faculty, staff, and Marianists to get out of their seats and dance.  The lawn in front of the library turned into a huge dance floor.

Night settled, and lights dimmed.  On Sunday morning, the warmth of the embers could still be felt at Mystical Rose Oratory for the Alumni Mass. The alumni received a special blessing. Later they hugged each other and said their ‘a hui hou’ (until we meet again).

“There’s a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into a reunion celebration, and it is gratifying to see so many come out and enjoy the festivities,” remarked  Be-Jay Kodama, ’86, MBA ’16, Chaminade’s director of Alumni Relations. “This year’s reunion committee took a rather bold move to carefully craft a reunion that would create moments of renewed connection to our Chaminade community, and create opportunities to enrich the lives of students who are alumni tomorrow through collaborative efforts of the Office of Alumni Relations and the Residence Hall Association. What an evening to witness the spirit of the Chaminade community through this experience.  I can’t wait to build upon this for next year.”

At the recent 12th Annual Co-Curricular Awards, the Office of Alumni Relations and Residence Hall Association were presented the Father Stephen Tutas Program Award for Excellence for “The Reunion Street Festival – Food Truck Rally,” in recognition of valuable contributions to Chaminade University as the best event of the year.

2017 Alumni Reunion entertainmentMahalo to all, especially the Alumni Reunion Committee Volunteers: Alice Kaahanui BA ’86, Bernard Lum Hoy, BA ’59, Lolita Lum Hoy, BS ’61, Christy Aiwohi, BBA ’87, David Dinh, MBA ’15,  Heather Nakao, BS ’12, BA ’15,  Jeannie Pinpin, BA ’05, BA ’07, Lois Nakamura, BA ’85, Linda Tavares, BS ’63 Michael “Pika” Ahakuelo, BA ’02, MBA ’11, Scott Kishimori, BBA ’87, Shayne Iwamoto, AA ’12, BS ’13, Susan Frank Kama, BS ’61, Sweetie Pacarro, BA ’89, Terrence Kong, BS ’89, MSCP ’03.