Chaminade University of Honolulu

Campus and Community

Bridges to the Future Celebration

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.”

Student Leaders are Recognized at Co-Curricular Awards

To acknowledge members of the Chaminade community that go above and beyond in their contributions to the university and the community, Chaminade hosted its 14th Annual Co-Curricular Awards dinner on April 17 in Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center. Twenty seven awards were presented to three student organizations, one staff member and 18 students.

The Division of Student Affairs, Campus Ministry and the Office of Advising and Career Development presented the awards at the celebration. Every recipient demonstrated outstanding leadership by playing an integral part in making Chaminade a better place to learn.

A few of the awards presented included the Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards, the Dean of Students’ Special Recognition award and the Brother Joseph Becker Awards of Excellence, which are presented to one freshman, sophomore, junior and senior each year who have displayed exceptional leadership in co-curricular activities throughout the academic year.

In addition to honoring outstanding individuals, awards were given to the Chaminade Student Nurses Association and the Rotaract Club, student organizations that have fostered a positive environment at the university.

The students, staff and student-run organizations recognized at the Annual Co-Curricular Awards, and others that share the same commitment to leadership and service, are what make receiving an education at Chaminade so special.

2019 CO-CURRICULAR AWARDS

AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE OFFICE OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP (OSAL)

Bro. Joseph Becker Awards of Excellence:

Awarded annually to a freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior who displayed exceptional leadership through involvement in co-curricular activities.
Freshman: Amber Sablan
Sophomore: Symone Perez
Junior: Shane Cobacha
Senior: Claire Riggan

Bro. Elmer Dunsky Outstanding Student Organization Award:

Awarded annually to a student organization who has gone beyond the bounds of their membership by helping to create a positive campus environment for all students and made an outstanding contribution to Chaminade University as an organization.
Chaminade Student Nursing Association
Rotaract Club

Fr. Stephen Tutas Program Award for Excellence:

Awarded annually to a student or student organization who has exceptional creativity, planning, and execution of a university program which significantly contributed to the quality of life at Chaminade.
Tales & Treats (Lumanai O Samoa/Micronesian Club)

Rev. David Schuyler Advisor of the Year Award:

Awarded annually to a member of faculty, staff or administration who advises a student club/organization and consistently helped to identify, encourage, and support students in their leadership development and campus involvement, repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to the community and its needs, and expanded the horizons, skills and value systems of Chaminade students by providing support and guidance within co-curricular life.
Dr. David Carter

AWARDS PRESENTED BY ATHLETICS

Male Athlete of the Year:

Awarded annually to a student-athlete who represents Chaminade University in a prideful and honorable manner during his season.
Grant Dressler (Men’s Basketball)

Female Athlete of the Year:

Awarded annually to a student-athlete who represents Chaminade University in a prideful and honorable manner during her season.
Emma Tecklenberg (Women’s Volleyball)

Silversword Award:

Recognizes an act or series of acts associated with an athletic activity that represents the spirit of the Marianist philosophy to include sportsmanship, integrity, honesty, truthfulness and respect for self and others.
Erik Schieve (Men’s Basketball)

AWARDS PRESENTED BY CAMPUS MINISTRY

Campus Ministry Award:

Awarded to a student who has participated in all areas of Campus Ministry (liturgy, community service and retreats). This person is an all-around amazing member of the Campus Ministry ‘ohana.
Adam Perez

Liturgy Award:

Awarded to an individual who has willingly volunteered his or her time and talent to contribute to the quality and spirituality of our weekend and special liturgies and prayer experiences.
Savannah Delos Santos
Andrew Ines

Retreat Leader of the Year:

Acknowledges the overwhelming commitment and dedication shown by a retreat leader in creating communities of support, faith, and love on campus.
Claire Riggan

Service Award:

Acknowledges outstanding servant leadership in the area of restorative justice and service for the people and the `āina (land) of Hawaii.
Antonio Bonnetty

AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE OFFICE OF ADVISING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Distinguished Tutor of the Year:

Acknowledges the outstanding commitment and dedication shown by a tutor to serve the Chaminade University of Honolulu community.
Spencer Lee

Outstanding Orientation Leader:

Awarded to an Orientation Leader who has displayed exemplary performance of their duties.
Adam Perez
Nicole Sagapolutele

Outstanding Peer Mentor:

Awarded to a Peer Mentor who has displayed exemplary performance of their duties.
Savannah Delos Santos
Marvin Trantham

AWARDS PRESENTED BY RESIDENTIAL LIFE

Residence Hall Association Award of Excellence:

Awarded to a Resident Hall Association Representative who is a role model for other representatives, has demonstrated strong leadership skills and who positively impacted the organization and residential community.
Je’sha-Ariana Outlaw-Pila

Resident Assistant Award of Excellence:

Awarded to a Resident Assistant who has a high-level of maturity, exhibits the ability to work as an individual community leader as well as an active participant on the Residential Life team.
Jamie Beesley-Wadzinsk

AWARDS PRESENTED BY DEAN OF STUDENTS

Dean of Students’ Special Recognition:

Recognizes a student who in his or her time at Chaminade has continuously contributed to the betterment of the overall community.
Andrew Trapsi

Frederick K.K. Kauhane, Sr. Aloha Spirit Award:

Antonio Bonnetty

Awarded annually to students who exhibit a humble, cheerful, and generous spirit; a dedication to fostering a sense of `ohana around campus and the ability to raise other’s spirits by consistently improving the environment around them.
Antonio Bonnetty
Savannah Delos Santos

Henry Halenani Gomes Alaka‘i Award:

Recognizes a Chaminade undergraduate student who has demonstrated excellence in leadership and service to the Native Hawaiian community.
Ryan Kawena Phillips

First Lady Dawn Amano Ige, MBA ’86 Visits Campus

Mrs. Dawn Amano Ige, MBA ’86 visited campus today to get an update from Chaminade President Lynn Babington and then sat in on an American Government and Politics class to hear from students about their concerns and interests.

Dawn Ige, MBA '86, Dr. Lynn Babington and Diane Peters-Nguyen

The discussion ranged from addressing sex trafficking in Hawaii to the empowerment of women. Students wanted to know how Hawaii’s First Lady can wield influence on decisions made by the Governor as well as long term solutions to the stigma affecting disadvantaged communities in Hawaii. She also responded to a student’s question of how a leader can be authentic by passionately talking about her upbringing in a working class family and how that has a large influence on who she is, her values and priorities.

She will be the keynote speaker at Chaminade’s upcoming commencement on Monday, May 13. 

Chaminade Alumni Return for Reunion Weekend

On April 5–7, Chaminade University alumni of all ages and classes gathered on campus for the 2019 Alumni Reunion Weekend.

2019 Alumni Reunion

The theme of the reunion was A Weekend to Reminisce and offered alumni an opportunity to visit the campus and recall fond Chaminade memories with classmates and professors.

The reunion kicked off on Friday evening with a Welcome Reception in the Loo Student Center where alumni reconnected over drinks and appetizers. They were then invited to enjoy a night at the Mamiya Theatre with an opening performance of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

2019 Alumni Reunion

Saturday, alumni were given the opportunity to tour the campus and view new expansions like the renovated Hale Hoaloha building and the new Silverswords Athletic Training Center and Locker Rooms.

Then came a night to remember under the stars at the Alumni Paina in Henry Hall Courtyard, complete with drinks, dinner and a live musical performance by local band Kapena. The event was open to alumni and their families.The weekend concluded on Sunday with mass in the Mystical Rose Oratory where alumni could renew their marriage vows. Finally, university president Lynn Babington hosted brunch where she shared her vision for Chaminade’s future and honored the class of 1969 for its 50th graduation anniversary.

Chaminade University Hosts its Annual Criminal Justice Expo

2019 Criminal Justice Expo

On March 21, Chaminade University held its annual Criminal Justice Expo in the Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center.

Chaminade’s Career Preparation Office, the Criminal Justice Department and the Criminal Justice Club hosted the expo, which was free and open to anyone interested in pursuing a degree or career in criminal justice. Each year, the university welcomes representatives from various agencies in the criminal justice field to share about their work and answer questions from expo attendees.

Representatives from 38 agencies attended the expo, including the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Hawaii State Judiciary, Honolulu Police Department and The Queen’s Medical Center.

2019 Criminal Justice Expo

While the expo was open to the public, it served as a valuable opportunity for Chaminade students in the Criminology and Criminal Justice program to meet potential employers and learn about jobs they might be interested in pursuing after earning their degree.

The Criminology and Criminal Justice program at Chaminade is known for being the largest and oldest in Hawaii. Students interested in careers in law enforcement, public safety, criminal justice or criminology can obtain an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree from the university. The Criminology and Criminal Justice curricula also provide a foundation for students planning to pursue an advanced degree in areas such as law or criminology research.

St. John’s Bible Encourages Chaminade to Reimagine Faith

The Saint John’s Bible is a theological and artistic masterpiece commissioned in 1998 by a group of Benedictine monks in Minnesota and led by renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson. Imitating the grand manuscripts produced in Medieval times, the St. John’s Bible was hand-written and hand-illuminated by a team of six scribes and six illuminators, using vellum (calfskin), quills and ink from minerals and plants.

The project was estimated to take three to four years and cost a few million dollars to complete. But only after 12 years and approximately $13-15 million was the bible finished.

Currently, there are 299 sets of 7 volumes of the St. John’s Bible in existence. Through the generosity of Joanna Sullivan, a loyal benefactor of Chaminade University, one of these copies has been on display in the Sullivan Family Library since June 2010.

Although the St. John’s Bible, based on the New Revised Standard Version, has been accessible to the Chaminade community for the last nine years, no one at Chaminade has had the training to explain it or teach on it. But during the week of March 11, Chaminade welcomed Bob O’Connor, Ph.D., from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, whose roles are project director of the St. John’s Bible Heritage Edition and university ombudsman.

Throughout his visit, O’Connor led three sessions in which he helped attendees understand how the sacred art found in the St. John’s Bible can transform lives. O’Connor began each session with a lecture-style presentation and concluded by allowing attendees to ask questions while they viewed the bible. The on-campus sessions were open to the entire Chaminade community.

O’Connor explained that the ultimate goal of the St. John’s Bible is to “ignite the spiritual imagination of the world,” which he believes occurs when people look at the volumes.

One of the unique aspects of the St. John’s Bible is that the illuminations include modern-day events, technologies and discoveries in a way that celebrates science and connects it to religion.

For example, weaved throughout the Psalms Frontispiece are oscillograms, recorded lines of sound, taken from ancient chants of cultures from around the world. O’Connor noted that Jackson chose to do this because the Psalms are intended to be sung, not read.

In addition to the Psalms, other illuminations that O’Connor touched upon in his presentation included Creation, Garden of Eden, Sower and the Seed, Eucharist, The Life of Paul, Anthology of Luke and Genealogy of Jesus.

A theme that remains constant throughout the entire bible is flecks of gold scattered across the illuminations and texts. According to O’Connor, gold—which doesn’t oxidize—signifies the presence of the divine, meaning the presence of God.

Brother Edward Brink, vice president for mission and rector, hopes that by inviting O’Connor to Chaminade to teach about the St. John’s Bible will help members of the Chaminade community become more imaginative about their faith.

“[The St. John’s Bible] has the possibility of capturing imagination and making a link for both our students, our faculty and staff to the basis of this university,” says Bro. Ed. “I think it could open doors and windows for people to think about and imagine our faith in a different way.”

This reimagining of faith already seems to be happening on campus. Bro. Ed says that roughly 40 people attended the first session of the week, many of which were students participating in Campus Ministry’s Awakening Retreat. According to Bro. Ed, two of those students were intrigued to learn more and were among the 20-25 people who attended the second session.

In addition to the three public sessions, O’Connor also visited two Chaminade classes during his trip—Christian Prayer and Gospel of John and Poetry and Drama. He also presented at six religion classes at St. Louis School and ended his week on Friday with a private presentation for Bishop Larry Silva and a presentation to the young adults from EPIC Ministry.

Bro. Ed hopes that now, people at Chaminade will be inspired to become trained on the St. John’s Bible or that the university can continue to bring people like O’Connor in so that informational sessions like these can happen on a regular basis.

“It can be a very creative way of helping people to understand their faith,” Bro. Ed said. “I’m a big believer that part of what God wants us to do is to imagine. He wants us to think beautifully, He wants us to use the creation that He’s given us to understand who He is more, and I think that the artwork is part of that.”