Chaminade University of Honolulu

Campus and Community

Alumna ‘Answering a Call’ as Nonprofit’s CEO

Tina Andrade ’05, MPT ’14 is the first woman and Native Hawaiian to lead Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi in the organization’s 77-year history.

But as she takes the helm of the nonprofit at a moment of great change for the islands, she isn’t focused on herself. She’s working to lift up her employees and her community.

“A major theme I have is helping our employees understand the ‘why’ of their work. We’re here to create a better path for people in life,” she said. “We’re here to make sure that when people leave our services, they’re better off than when they came to us.”

It’s an ambitious goal, but one Catholic Charities, as one of Hawaiʻi’s largest social service agencies, is living up to—thanks in no small part to Andrade’s leadership. While she officially became president and CEO at Catholic Charities in January, Andrade has been on the nonprofit’s executive team for years and previously served as chief operating officer.

Andrade says her drive to serve has been a lifelong one.

It’s why she chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Chaminade when she decided to return to school. At the time, Andrade was teaching religion part-time at a Catholic school while also tackling obligations at home and remaining active in the community.

“I went to Chaminade because of the values and the education they provide,” Andrade said.

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About the same time, Andrade was invited to assist Catholic Charities with efforts to embrace their mission. She was later named vice president of mission integration at the nonprofit, a role that allowed her to spotlight the nonprofit’s service-focused goals.

Andrade graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from Chaminade in 2005, and returned to campus several years later to pursue a master’s degree in Pastoral Theology. She graduated with her master’s in 2014, and recounts the educational experience helping her embrace her own religious foundation and her role as a community leader.

Today, Andrade said the pursuit of social justice is what keeps her passionate and engaged. “This work has transformed me,” she said. “We are answering a call together.”

She added that her time at Chaminade not only allowed her to build on her academic knowledge, but gave her the chance to meet new people and broaden her perspectives. She also forged strong relationships with her professors and stays in contact with several.

As she looks to the year ahead, Andrade says she is concerned about the economic headwinds the state and nation are facing. At the same time, she is optimistic about everything her agency is poised to bring to island communities—and embracing those “firsts” that her leadership brings.

“The journey of Native Hawaiians has been a challenging one,” she noted.

“From that standpoint, this role really is growth and opportunity for all of us.”

Students Say ‘Mahalo’ to Scholarship Donors

With heartfelt speeches, hugs and handshakes, dozens of Chaminade University scholarship recipients said “thank you” to donors at the annual Mahalo Scholarship Luncheon on February 28.

The luncheon, held annually, is a special opportunity for Silversword students to personally connect with donors and talk about their academic and personal goals—and how scholarship aid has helped to put those dreams within reach. At the gathering, student speakers also detailed how donor support has proven integral to helping them focus on school rather than finances.

“Growing up, I’ve always dreamed of attending college, but didn’t think that it would actually happen as none of my immediate family members have gone and it was never a high priority in my family. I didn’t believe I could do it,” Jasmine-Kortney Young-Gusman ’26 told attendees.

But, she told donors, “because of your scholarships, I’ve been able to dedicate my time to my studies without the worries of the financial burden that comes with nursing school and maintaining my GPA as well as caring for my son. Thank you for believing in me.”

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Young-Gusman has received the Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union scholarship, John A. Hughes Scholarship, Thomas Steven Dal Ponte Memorial Scholarship, and the CUEF Scholarship. She is studying to become an emergency room nurse. “It is because of these scholarships that students like me know that we are where we’re meant to be, all in God’s timing and plans,” she said.

John Barayuga ’25 also spoke at the luncheon, underscoring his passion to use his expertise in business to serve the community. He noted his own journey to Chaminade was circuitous and that his studies would not have been possible without scholarship support. Barayuga, a 2015 Pearl City High graduate, has received the Mary Mau Lecavelier Scholarship, Marge Sylvester Scholarship, and Enterprise Holdings Foundation Scholarship.

“Because of donors such as yourselves … I am able to continue my studies with an easier state of mind, knowing that not only is a substantial portion of my tuition covered but it is by those who believe in Chaminade’s mission,” Barayuga said, during his speech at the mahalo luncheon.

“Your collective support drives me to perform well, and with the invaluable support of the Chaminade faculty and staff, they are ensuring that I do so to the best of my ability,” he added, noting he also hopes to pursue an MBA at Chaminade. “I aspire to learn all I can in the business realm … (and) I am looking forward to making a substantial impact in the nonprofit sector.

Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. opened the luncheon, telling donors that Chaminade students and graduates are making a difference in the community thanks in no small part to support from scholarship aid.

“This year, between individual and foundation scholarships, we’ve supported 465 students with over $2 million in scholarships, which is fabulous and our average award is about $4,500 per student,” Babington told attendees.

She added, “We are really proud of our Chaminade students. And we’re very grateful to all of you for believing in and supporting our educational mission.”

Chaminade donor Susie Field, a retired teacher, also spoke at the luncheon and encouraged her fellow scholarship supporters to continue their support for a Chaminade education.

“We are here together, donors and students, because we know that together we can make good things happen,” Field said. “The scholarship donors believe in the students and the students know we believe in them. That’s what we do in the community and we are proud to do it again.”

If you’re interested in helping students achieve their goals, consider supporting the Chaminade Fund.

Got GRIT? These Student-Athletes Do

Chaminade student-athletes gathered recently to learn about the importance of GRIT.

That is, Gratitude, Respect, Integrity and Trust.

The Chaminade Athletics Department joined forces with Campus Ministry for the special program, aimed at spotlighting core values that will serve student-athletes “well into their futures,” said University Chaplain Fr. Martin Solma, S.M.

Some 170 participating student-athletes engaged in activities and heard from speakers about what it means to take what they have learned in sports to the campus community.

Sebastian Castro ‘25, a Criminology and Criminal Justice major who plays baseball at Chaminade, said his favorite part of the event was hearing from Silversword women’s soccer Head Coach Michelle Richardson about her own experiences as a student-athlete.

“I think for all of us student athletes, no matter the major, it gets overwhelming dealing with our studies and also the stress and anxiety of playing in our sports,” Castro said. “Being able to manage both of those and find a balance is a tough thing to do and shows GRIT.”

Emily Cooper ‘27 competes in women’s cross-country and is studying Environmental Interior Design. She said she walked away from the GRIT event with “new friendships and self-reflections that grew out of group discussions and prayers.”

Cooper added she found lots in common with her fellow student-athletes.

Getting to know strangers can be a great part of self-confidence because it helped me learn more about myself as a group listener and speaker,” she said. “My favorite part was listening to everyone’s goals and life journeys.Hearing the diverse backgrounds of everyone was inspiring and really made me realize the biggest steps in life come from accepting new opportunities.”

Dustyn Ragasa, Ph.D., who is director of the Master of Pastoral Theology program and an assistant professor of Religious Studies and Philosophy, spoke to students at the gatherings January 28 and February 5. His message to attendees: You’ve got GRIT, why not share it?

“Student-athletes are in an excellent position to be ‘women and men for others,’ a key characteristic of Catholic education,” Ragasa said. “I hope the students walk away with a greater sense of confidence in the best of themselves, a call to leaven our campus community with the gifts that they possess, but above all, some memories they make.”

He added events like the GRIT gatherings are important to helping students come together, reflect and have a little fun. “For busy student-athletes, it can be a challenge to set aside some time just to talk story or to share a meal,” he said. “GRIT reminds students about the faith dimension of their lives” and the importance of “building loving relationships.”

Marianist Lecture: On ‘Learning From Grief’

Fr. James Keenan, S.J., a nationally-recognized theological ethicist, spoke on the transformative power of learning from grief at the latest Marianist Lecture this month.

Keenan urged attendees to see grief not as something to “get over,” but as part of a complex and personal process of “moving forward.” “I think grief is a form of love,” he said, speaking February 9 in the Mystical Rose Oratory.

“Those who know grief … experience terrible pain and that experience is what liberates them to be responsive.”

He added, “Mourning is not something that can be finished.”

Keenan serves as the director of the Jesuit Institute and vice provost of Global Engagement at Boston College. He also founded Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church, an international network of ethicists, and has published several books on ethics.

The Marianist Lecture, sponsored by the Marianist Center of Hawai‘i, Chaminade University and Saint Louis School, is aimed at fostering inclusive dialogue on Catholic thought and responsibility. Marianist Lecture presenters are honored with the Mackey Award for Catholic Thought, named after the first president of Chaminade University.

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Dustyn Ragasa, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Religious Studies and director of Chaminade’s Master of Pastoral Theology program, said Keenan served on his dissertation committee. In helping to introduce him at the lecture, Ragasa said he can attest to Keenan’s “generosity, wisdom, compassion and empowering insight.”

“Over the last 40 years, Dr. James Keenan, Jesuit and ethicist, has been a leading voice of hope, an advocate for the marginalized, and a prophetic voice for the call to mercy,” Ragasa said. “Father Keenan has influenced generations of ethicists around the world.”

Keenan’s talk was titled “Learning from Grief: Epiphany in the Upper Room,” and he encouraged attendees to eschew the standard “get over it” model of grief and consider Jesus’ teachings on personal growth and love.

Under that new model, he said, “grief is shared. In light of grief, one needs not to find the way back but the way forward.”

To watch Keenan’s full lecture on Facebook, click here.

Fifth Graders ‘Go to College’

Nearly 400 fifth graders from 17 Hawai‘i Catholic schools converged on Chaminade University’s campus over two days this month for fun, hands-on classes.

The “I Go to College” program is aimed at inspiring young people to “dream big” and envision themselves attending college.

The students end the daylong program by accepting a “diploma” presented in a special graduation ceremony.

Chaminade partners with Hawai‘i Catholic Schools to present the opportunity for students, who travel from across the state to attend.

This year’s “I Go To College” events were held on Feb. 3 and 11.

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As part of the day of interactive activities, students attended specially-designed courses taught by University professors.

In a course taught by the Forensic Sciences program, students learned how to take fingerprints. In another class, students took a “poetry walk” around campus.

Attendees also gathered for lunch on campus and got to meet Chaminade students, staff and administrators.

Organizers point to research that shows the incredible value of early exposure to college.

“The younger you can get children to come on campus, the more they can see it’s an open, welcoming environment,” said Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D.

Added Kim Baxter, director of Chaminade’s Early College program: “The fact that they can be on campus and visualize what a class might look like is just a really nice thing for them to see early on what college is about.”

Chaminade’s Early College program allows Hawai‘i students to pursue dual high school and college credit and is designed to give students an early taste of college and smooth the transition between high school and university, especially for students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education.

Celebrating a Century-Old Bridge to Education

Chaminade University joined the Marianist Center of Hawaiʻi, Saint Louis School and Sacred Hearts Academy on Friday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Palolo Stream Bridge, which has served as a “strong, humble” entry point to campus and a symbol of the ongoing Marianist mission in the islands.

The gathering included a parade, performances and a lunch. Speakers also took to a stage on the Front Lawn to underscore the significance of the anniversary.

Bro. Dennis Schmitz, S.M., of the Marianist Center of Hawaiʻi, called the bridge a powerful connection between the world and Kalaepōhaku, the hill where Chaminade and Saint Louis School are located and “our sacred space.” Speaking to attendees, Schmitz said, “The bridge has a mission—to enable us to come to this campus to learn Catholic Marianist values.”

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President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. added it was an honor to celebrate the bridge and its special significance to the Hawaiʻi’s Marianist community, connecting Kalaepōhaku with Waialae Avenue.

As part of the event, attendees also walked to the bridge to learn more about Marianist history.

The bridge over Palolo Stream was built in 1925 by Hawaiian Contracting Company for $14,500.

“Thanks to this ‘little’ bridge, we were able to construct this campus—where so many people were able to come to be educated in the Marianist and Catholic tradition,” Schmitz said.

“For 100 years, it has been the link from the world to Saint Louis School and Chaminade University and it has been the link from Kalaepōhaku back to the world. Students and their families cross this bridge in the morning to grow in their spiritual and intellectual lives. At the end of the day, they cross the bridge back to the world where they try to live out the values that they’ve learned.”

Schmitz noted the gathering is also a kick-off of a series of other century celebrations at Kalaepōhaku. Ching, Bertram and Henry halls will turn 100 in 2027.

Schmitz said that as he has worked on the bridge celebration event, he’s come to deeply appreciate the structure’s greater significance.

“In this time of so much division in the world, the bridge symbolizes the importance of reaching across the divide so that good things can happen,” he said. “We’re called to be like the bridge and to learn from our enriching experiences on the campus so that we too might lay down our lives in humble service.”