Chaminade University of Honolulu

Campus and Community

Chaminade Boosts Grad School, Career Options for Underrepresented Students Through Leadership Alliance

Dr. Medeva Ghee speaking with studentsTo expand graduate school and career opportunities, as well as encourage diversity for students from underrepresented and underserved populations, Chaminade’s Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research hosted a March 28-29 campus visit by Dr. Medeva Ghee, executive director of the Leadership Alliance.

Established in 1992, this national consortium develops underrepresented students into outstanding leaders and role models in academia, business and the public sector. Chaminade is one of 36 institutions forming the alliance, along with other universities such as Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Yale.

Dr. Medeva Ghee with studentsDuring Dr. Ghee’s visit she met with students, faculty and staff at a poster reception and roundtable luncheon. Her keynote address, “Exploring the Unexplored,” encouraged students to pursue doctoral degrees.

Dr. Ghee is a faculty member with Brown University’s Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences. She also provided technical assistance and strategic advice for the Clinton Foundation initiative on preventing and treating HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Among the Leadership Alliance opportunities for undergraduates is the Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP). These fully paid internships provide training and mentoring in research principles so undergraduates can competitively apply for Ph.D. and MD-Ph.D. programs.

Internships are available in life and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities at over 20 institutions nationwide.

Dior-Ashton TeodosioAmong the Chaminade students who completed an SR-EIP internship is Dior-Ashton Teodosio. After graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she plans to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology so she can treat children with learning disabilities.

Teodosio’s internship, conducted through the American Psychological Association, took place at Washington University in St. Louis.

“I worked on two different studies this past summer,” Teodosio says. “One focused on false hearing and analyzing previous data from another false hearing study. And the second one focused on second language vocabulary and speech perception.”

Teodosio urges other Chaminade students to consider an SR-EIP internship.

“If I had to give any advice to future students applying for any type of summer program, I would say to do it and go in with an open mind,” she says. “This is an opportunity that most don’t have, so you should definitely try it out!”

The Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research provides services to students interested in pursuing medical careers. These services include: academic preparation and advising, professional seminars and guest speakers, and undergraduate research programs. Chaminade students also have the opportunity for early admission to graduate programs through articulation agreements arranged with numerous medical schools.

Chaminade University’s Athletics Gala Celebrated 2017 Inductees

Nearly 400 people attended Chaminade University’s 2017 Intercollegiate Athletics Gala, held on March 16 at the Ala Moana Beach Hotel.  They came to celebrate the induction of Chaminade president Bro. Bernard Ploeger, S.M., Ph.D. and Chaminade alumnus and 1991 Maui Invitational MVP George Gilmore, Jr. ’04 into the 2017 Silversword Hall of Fame.

Filled with well-wishers – family, friends, colleagues, university supporters, and student-athletes– the ninth annual gala event bustled with excitement. The crowd in the Hibiscus Ballroom quietened as the two honorees prepared for their entrances.  As they were separately ushered into the room, emcee Lei U ‘I Kaholokula shared with the crowd the clear impact the men had on the university and on the community at large.

2017 Athletics Gala, George Gilmore, Jr. '04George Gilmore, Jr. ’04, after earning junior college all-America honors in men’s basketball at Santé Fe Community College in Florida in 1990, followed his coach to Chaminade University. In his first game in the 1991 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational, he scored 23 points against Iowa State. He followed that with 28 points against Toledo then 33 against Loyola Marymount. He finished the 1991-92 season second in the nation in scoring with a 28.3 scoring average while earning Division II All-America honors. The following year proved to be his landmark season when he set the Maui Invitational scoring record by pouring in 93 points in the three-game tournament, earning him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player honors, one of only two Chaminade players to hold that distinction.  He graduated from Chaminade in 2004. Today, the Kailua resident, in alignment with Chaminade’s mission and values, works at the Kapolei Detention Home helping to mentor at-risk youths turn their lives around.

2017 Athletics Gala, Bro. Bernie Ploeger, SMBro. Bernard Ploeger, S.M., Ph.D., who concludes his service as Chaminade University president on June 30, 2017, will have served Chaminade for 23 years: eight years as its president, plus the prior 15 years in other leadership capacities.  He is considered the chief architect in developing and carrying out the University’s strategic plans since 2008.  One of the major key levers of success in those strategic plans has been to renew Chaminade’s participation in intercollegiate athletics as a point of pride for alumni and for campus and community supporters. Ploeger has been instrumental in encouraging Chaminade’s competitive success in regional and conference sports, has helped ensure an increase in outreach in Hawaii, and has pressed for financial support in securing program facilities.

The crowd applauded loudly in a standing ovation. The processions were followed by Kaipo Leopoldino ’14 offering the Hawaiian ‘oli  “He Mele No Kaminaka” (Song or Chant of Chaminade), which Leopoldino had composed when he was a Chaminade student. Chaminade regent Bro. William Campbell, S.M. delivered the invocation. Video tributes for the two men played as dinner was served. The student-athlete speaker Megan McClanahan ’18, who originates from Nebraska and plays women’s soccer at Chaminade, shared her gratitude for the sports’ program and Chaminade’s academic program, which led to her acceptance into George Washington University Medical School.

Soon it was time for the honorees to share a few words. Gilmore spoke about his hardships in his early upbringing and his gratitude at being at Chaminade.  Not only did he shine athletically at the university, but he also met his wife at Chaminade.  Bro. Ploeger said that he had mentioned Gilmore as a possible inductee in the past and felt honored to be inducted at the same time as Gilmore.

After each spoke, each received a traditional Native Hawaiian implement — a sword created from the bill of a swordfish and crafted by alumnus Gordon “Umi” Kai ’73. Chairman of the Board of Regents Vaughn Vasconcellos was moved to tears during his closing remarks as he spoke of Bro. Ploeger’s influence on Chaminade. Both Ploeger and Gilmore have left unique marks on the University and the community at large. Chaminade was grateful and proud.

With the strong leadership of event chair Dr. Edison H. Miyawaki, the athletics gala has raised $1.5 Million over the last nine years in support of Chaminade University’s 10-sports intercollegiate athletics program. 

Bro. Bernie Ploeger’s, S.M., video tribute
George Gilmore, Jr. ’04 video tribute

Sixth Graders Explore DNA Codes through Chaminade’s IAS Outreach Program

Pope Elementary students participate in DNA lab

Sixth graders from Blanche Pope Elementary School (Waimanalo) visited Chaminade University on March 9 to experience the “I Am a Scientist” (IAS) program offered by the division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM). Chaminade has engaged students from DOE schools, charter schools and home school organizations in the IAS program since 2009. More than 10,000 school children have benefited from the program, which makes science entertaining yet educational through hands-on projects for different grade levels. At last count, the program tallied over 300 classroom visits, 21 visits to Chaminade teaching laboratories, 19 community events and more than 4,300 volunteer hours. Though this was the 22nd time that Chaminade hosted a school group on campus, it was the first time for Pope Elementary.

Pope Elementary students participate in DNA lab

Donned in white lab coats and safety glasses, the 33 Waimanalo students conducted hands-on experiments focused on DNA and mutation utilizing cutting edge technology and equipment under the guidance of experienced scientists.  They engaged in three primary activities: 1) performed an experiment to visualize DNA by extracting their own DNA; 2) performed and experimented to learn about the DNA code; 3) and learned the consequences of mutation. They investigated heredity traits of their parents and compared them to their own traits. They also created a DNA poster of themselves titled “Inherited Traits vs Learned Traits.”

IAS director and NSM research associate Lori Shimoda led the activities assisted by Chaminade students and faculty. Over the years, she and her team have found the program rewarding.  For Shimoda, seeing the awe, even the joy on students’ faces as they made their discoveries confirmed that science must be experienced to become personally meaningful.

Chaminade Celebrates Service Learning

The Clarence T. C. Ching Conference Center in Eiben Hall was packed with students, faculty, staff and representatives from local community organizations at Chaminade University’s annual celebration of service learning.

Representatives greeted you from SHINE Hawaii as soon as you walked through the door. They shared how involved students had tutored immigrants in English and on passing citizenship tests. Environmental + Interior Design had a large number of projects on display including plans for the spaces at Holy Nativity School in East Oahu. There were nursing projects and business projects, environmental projects and teaching projects.

Alex Morris, a business major working on Professor Kido’s FAFSA project, said “I can afford school. Helping these students to find the means to afford a college education was like doing something that you would do for yourself but to someone who is not me.”

Joshua Fukumae, a senior majoring in Communication, served as an intern with Jarret Middle School helping to develop and maintain the school’s website. “I worked for a client to make sure that the website presented information in a concise way,” he said. Fukumae practiced skills that he would need in his career as well as served a client who needed help.

2017 Service Learning Day
Professor Wayne Tanna and Palolo Elementary students, who won the Stock Market Game

Guests from Palolo Elementary School also attended the celebration for special recognition. The SIFMA Foundation,  an educational non-profit organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of the financial markets for individuals of all backgrounds, awarded two teams at Palolo Elementary School first and second place in the Hawaii Elementary School division of The Stock Market Game for fall 2016.  Both teams were coached by business students from Chaminade University who were led by Accounting professor Wayne Tanna. The Stock Market Game™ is an online simulation of the global capital markets that engages students in grades 4-12 in the world of economics, investing and personal finance, and prepares them for financially independent lives. Medals and certificates were given out to the young winners, who received them with great pride.

The director of Service Learning, Candice Sakuda was pleased with Chaminade’s impact. According to Sakuda, learning through service has been ingrained in programs for decades with the impact of service learning coming through the convergence of civic engagement in the Catholic Marianist tradition.

The Rules of Dating: A Conversation about Dating and the Hook-Up Culture

It was late afternoon when Chaminade students gathered in the Vi and Paul Loo Student Center to listen to guest speaker Kerry Cronin speak on The Rules of Dating: A Conversation about Dating and Hook-Up Culture. The title was intriguing enough.  Cronin’s boisterous style – cheerful, friendly and nonjudgmental – made her easy to like. Her subject matter piqued their interest as she drew them into a conversation about dating and hooking up.

Bro. Ed Brink, Kerry Cornin, and Allison Jerome
Bro. Ed Brink, Kerry Cornin, and Allison Jerome

Cronin covered the basics of dating and the need for social courage. Statistically, students on college campuses may be having sex.  Some may need help with decisions about that, and some may not. However, the larger majority just needs help on basic social cues, which the culture does not give them.  When she described dating, Cronin intentionally downplayed the issue of sex and focused on the importance of relationships. In general, students seemed more concerned with how to actually ask someone out on a date.

According to Cronin, the purpose of dating is to determine if one wants to be in a relationship. This first level of dating is reconnaissance work. You have to be focused because you are trying to find out if you are really interested in and attracted to someone. Many students would prefer to find out about somebody in a group, but a group has its own dynamic.

Connecting with someone one-on-one is different in that your attention is on someone else, and you are allowing someone else’s attention to be on you.  This takes courage because you have intentionally placed yourself into a vulnerable position. She stressed that this kind of dating as being alcohol-free and lasting for at least an hour so that you can figure out the depth of your romantic and sexual interest.

These days, the hookup culture has become very appealing. The hookup scene is motivated largely by a desire for a connection, but it is a desire hampered by a lack of courage. The biggest difficulty is having the simple courage to ask somebody if he or she would want to sit down for an hour and talk.

Students appreciated her straightforwardness and honest approach to the discussion as she advised them on how to go about the business of dating.

“Being in a relationship for 10 years, I was not too familiar with the hooking up culture and what that meant. It was nice to be able to relate to other students who have been engaging in this type of activity,” said Sashalee Torres, a senior majoring in Forensic Sciences. “She was really funny and extremely relatable. I felt comfortable speaking with her after the talk. She was not speaking poorly of the hooking up culture but trying to get a better understanding of it.”

Toni Mitsumoto, also a senior majoring in Forensic Sciences decided to attend Cronin’s talk because she thought it would interesting to learn about the hookup culture, “Especially when you’re living in a generation where it’s so common to hookup, and you never really take a second to think about it and how it affects us,” she said.  “My favorite part of the talk was when she read some of her students’ reflections. Some were really sweet, and it was nice to hear their point of views on how dating is compared to just hooking up. It was very relatable and made the talk more engaging.”

Mitsumoto said that she would definitely take some time to reflect on how the hookup culture played a role in her own life. “And who knows, maybe I will participate in her assignment and ask someone on a date! That would be interesting!” she added.

Torres would even be interested in taking a class on the subject. “I think that maybe there should be a club or class that discusses relationships and how to date. This would be beneficial for students who are not familiar with that area of their lives.”

Cronin, who serves at Boston College as the associate director of the Lonergan Institute and the Faculty Fellow at the Center for Interdisciplinary Perspectives program, works extensively with undergraduates in retreat programs. She also teaches classes on dating, which include dating assignments and dating scripts, and is quite popular. A regular speaker on college campuses, she addresses topics of student culture and formation. Her talks on dating have a wide internet following. As part of its Health and Wellness program, the Office of the Dean of Students with the Office of the Rector sponsored Cronin’s special speaking engagement at Chaminade University.

At a Marianist Education Associates meeting earlier that day, Cronin explained to faculty and staff that there were two syllabuses in the formation of students as they go through college.  The first syllabus dealt with content, tests, and academics.  The second syllabus dealt with students endeavoring to find friends, resolving issues, practicing adulting, discovering joy, finding their gifts, and ridding themselves of baggage.  “Students want us to walk with them as they try to navigate through college life,” she said. “It’s part of educating the whole person.”

Panelists Offer Solutions for ‘Housing the Houseless’

Faith-motivated responses to Hawaii’s homelessness epidemic was the topic of “Housing the Houseless,” a well-attended panel discussion at Chaminade University. Moderated by Hawaii News Now TV reporter and weather anchor Ben Gutierrez, the March 12 event was part of the Mackey Marianist Lecture Series: Catholicism in Prophetic Dialogue.

Panelist Peter Savio, a real estate broker/developer and social worker, characterized homelessness as a symptom of a greater problem – that being the high cost of housing in the Aloha State. As a result, many renters are just one paycheck away from losing their homes.

Savio called for the construction of affordable housing units financed by low-interest government loans. He also favors expansion of home ownership through equity-building rent-to-own projects that create “hope and opportunity” for lower-income families and individuals.

Panelist Terry Walsh (Behavioral Science ’93.), the new president and CEO of Catholic Charities Hawaii, believes in a “housing first” approach to getting people off the streets. First, provide shelter and meals for these needy individuals, Walsh said. Then tackle more deep-seated challenges such as alcohol abuse, drug addiction and mental illness.

“It takes a community to address this problem,” Walsh emphasized. “All of us together.”

Rounding out the panel were Dave and Bernie Reeves, retired teachers from Chaminade College Preparatory School in West Hills, California, and chairs of the Homelessness and Affordable Housing Committee at St. Ann’s Parish in Kaneohe.

Bernie Reeves, who volunteers for the state’s annual point-in-time homeless count, said the crisis is worse than the numbers indicate. That’s because many street people decline to provide information about themselves to outreach workers.

According to the statewide count from a single night in 2016, there were 7,921 homeless in Hawaii, up 4 percent from the previous year. More than half those counted lacked shelter of any kind.

“You have to organize individuals to solve problems,” Dave Reeves urged. Homeless people can help themselves to an extent, he said, “but they cannot do it alone.”

The Mackey Marianist Lecture Series has been sponsored for 20 years by Chaminade, Saint Louis School and the Marianist Center of Hawaii. The twice-annual lectures are dedicated to the memory of Chaminade’s first president, Father Robert R. Mackey, SM.