Chaminade University

Search

Athletics

Women’s Soccer Making an Impact On and Off the Field

by

Women's soccer team visiting Kapiolani Hospital

Members of the Chaminade women’s soccer team made a special visit to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children recently to visit with patients and learn more about the facility’s important work.

Team Coach Michelle Richardson, assistant Coach Conor Whittaker and eight members of the team made the visit as a way of giving back to the community.

They visited with four patients, spending some quality time with them in hospital’s playroom.

The Chaminade students played video games with the patients, helped a young chef-to-be cook up treats in the play kitchen, and got a lesson in Barbie doll hair braiding from another patient.

The coaches said that the group also got a special presentation and facility tour to help them better understand the cutting-edge services available at Kapiolani Medical Center.

The hospital offers a broad range of specialty care, including intensive care for infants and children, 24-hour emergency pediatric care, maternal-fetal care, and women’s health services.  

Kick Off to the 2019-20 Season

by

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.

Bridges to the Future Celebration

by

Chaminade donors, faculty, staff and board members gathered on Tuesday, April 23 to celebrate the capping of the Bridges to the Future campaign.

Several students spoke at the event about the impacts the campaign has had on their time at Chaminade, including second-year ‘Aulani Oka who received a scholarship because of the campaign.

“I may have only been here for two years, but as a beneficiary of this campaign I can honestly say it’s changed my life,” she said. “I would not be standing here right now without your help. You have made a difference in my life, and the lives of many other students. I will do my best to prove myself worthy of this honor, and hopefully pay it forward to others in the future.”

The campaign was the university’s most ambitious fundraising campaign, raising $118 million. Funds raised supported student access and success, academic excellence, athletics programming, a vibrant campus environment and impacts in the community. Some notable impacts from the campaign include:

  • The creation of 46 new privately funded scholarships
  • A brand new School of Nursing, now tied for No. 1 due to it’s 100% pass rate of the national licensure exam
  • A new Silversword Athletics Training Center and Locker Rooms and renovated athletics facilities
  • Renovations to 100% of the major buildings on campus
  • 34,650 meals served to homeless individuals and families at the Next Step Shelter

Mahalo to all who helped make this campaign a success! In the words of fourth-year student Antonio Bonnetty, “Your contributions have an impact on students here because they allow students to achieve their dreams; they allow for change, and they allow students like me to breathe again.”

Athletics Gala Raises Funds for Student-Athletes

by

Chaminade University’s 11th Annual Intercollegiate Athletics Gala, held on March 14 at the Ala Moana Hotel, raised $167,000 to support the school’s 10 sports programs and 140 student-athletes that compete in the NCAA Division II and Pacific West Conference.

It was a night dedicated to honoring student-athletes, thanking sponsors and growing the Silversword Hall of Fame with two new inductees.

Recognized at the gala as the 2019 Hall of Fame inductees were alumna Martha B. Smith and former Chaminade Women’s Volleyball coach, Glennie Adams.

Martha B. Smith

Smith graduated from Chaminade with her Master’s in Business Administration in 1991 and is currently the CEO for Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. She sits on the Chaminade University Board of Regents, is an Athletic Booster Club member and helped to establish Hawaii Pacific Health as the “Official Healthcare Partner of Chaminade University Athletics” last year, which ensures that all student-athletes are well cared for.

Adams is known for her time at Chaminade as the winningest head coach of women’s volleyball, with 176 wins. In her 15 years at the university, she also held the titles of Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Women’s Administrator. She now serves as the director of athletics at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama and will go down in history for being the school’s first female director of athletics.

Glennie Adams

Among the 360 attendees were sponsors from Hawaii Pacific Health, First Hawaiian Bank, the Star Advertiser and many more. The funds raised go directly toward Chaminade’s athletics program to help student-athletes thrive. Celebrated at this year’s gala was the construction of the new Silversword Training Center and Locker rooms, which would not have been possible without the help of generous donors.

In addition to ushering Smith and Adams into the Hall of Fame, the gala program included a student performance by Chaminade’s Hawaiian Club, dinner, musical entertainment, a video presentation on Chaminade Athletics, remarks by university president Lynn Babington and a student-athlete speech made by Antonio Bonnetty.

Senior student Bonnetty, who has been on the men’s cross country team since his sophomore year and serves as student government president, singled out cross country head coach Shadrack Nabea as a source of support throughout his athletic career and as someone who believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself.

“I have learned skills from [Nabea] and others in Chaminade and athletics which I employ today,” Bonnetty said. “I have learned how to believe in myself, how to believe I was better than a C average and make A’s, how to not be crippled by my weakness and see them as strengths, and how not just to live, but thrive. I have come this far because of my family, athletics and Chaminade.”


Women’s Soccer Team Spends Valentine’s Day with Veterans

by

What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than by showing some gratitude and care for those who have served our country? Several of our women’s soccer team members did just that.

Students Cierra Toledo-Muragin, Rachel Arakawa and Randi Fontes spent their Valentine’s Day visiting with hospitalized veterans at the Tripler Army Medical Center.

“My grandpa is a veteran and I know how much he enjoys talking about his life when he was in the army,” says Toledo-Muragin, a third-year nursing student from Hilo. “I really enjoyed spending Valentine’s Day with veterans who do not have any family here.”

The students first met with Carlos Santana, a community liaison from Mazie Hirono’s Office, who taught them about the importance of veterans in our community. They then spent time visiting with medics from Desert Storm and Vietnam who shared practical information and a wealth of stories.

“They were so nice and supportive and emphasized the importance of getting an education,” says Toledo-Muragin. “They were proud of us for being student-athletes and motivated us to keep going and to accomplish our goals.”

They Put the Student in Student-Athlete

by

Chaminade University placed a record-93 Silverswords on the Academic All-Pacific West Conference Team, the conference announced Monday.

It’s the second straight year and the third time in the last four that Chaminade has broken its record of academic all-conference honorees. All 10 of the department’s athletic teams had at least 57 percent of their rosters attain Academic All-PacWest honors.

For large roster sports (11 or more student-athletes), women’s volleyball placed 13 of its 14 rostered players eligible for academic all-conference kudos on the team while women’s soccer had 18 of its 23 eligible players make the list.

For small roster sports (10 or less), women’s cross country attained perfection. All six of their runners who were eligible for academic all-conference honors made the list. Men’s cross country (six on the roster), and men’s golf (6) had all but one qualify.

A total of 1,804 student-athletes in the conference were named Academic All-PacWest, breaking the conference record set last year.

To be recognized as Academic All-PacWest, student-athletes must have a minimum career grade point average of 3.00, have completed two semesters at their current institution and competed in at least one regular season game or competition. Chaminade competes in 10 of the conference’s 15 sponsored sports.

Congratulations to all our student-athletes who was named to the Academic All-Pacific West Conference Team!