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Nonprofits Shine at Chaminade’s Hogan Competition

Chaminade University’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program hosted its 2026 Nonprofit Business Plan Competition, sponsored by American Savings Bank, on April 15 bringing together nonprofit leaders from across Hawaiʻi to strengthen their organizations and expand their impact.

The competition received 50 submissions, reflecting a wide range of community-focused initiatives addressing issues such as housing, health, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation. Program organizers extended their appreciation to all participating nonprofits for their time, effort, and commitment to serving the community.

Community leaders volunteered as judges and narrowed down the submissions to nine finalists and one honorary finalist. Their feedback and evaluation played a key role in selecting this year’s winners and providing valuable insight to participants.

The competition emphasizes an entrepreneurial approach to nonprofit work, encouraging organizations to think strategically about growth, sustainability, and measurable impact. Through this process, participants gain practical tools to strengthen operations while staying focused on their mission.

The finalists provided an oral presentation before a judging panel on Tuesday, April 7.

The 2026 winners are:

1st Place – $15,000
Royal Adventures – Surfrider Spirit Sessions

2nd Place – $11,000
Kupuna Paws Foundation

3rd Place – $6,000
Healing by Design – The Institute of Human Services

4th Place – $4,000
Lei Wili Recycling – Lei Wili Plastics Recycling

Additional finalists, each receiving $1,000, include: Gathering Place; ʻIke Pono Training Lab – Hawaiʻi Behavioral Health Connection; Kalakoa Creative Wellness; Sweet Island Market – Roots & Riddim; and Sweetgrass Wellness Collective. The honorary finalist with EcoRacers form Maui Waena School. 

The event is supported by community and institutional leadership. Chaminade University President Dr. Lynn Babington welcomed and thanked Ann Teranishi, President of American Savings Bank, for the bank’s continued sponsorship and commitment to nonprofit development in Hawaiʻi. Roy Panzarella, Director of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, led the competition, with coordination support from Ann Kishi. Their efforts help ensure the program continues to provide meaningful learning experiences and practical benefits for participating organizations.

The Nonprofit Business Plan Competition remains an important opportunity for Hawaiʻi-based nonprofits to refine their strategies, build capacity, and connect with community leaders. It also highlights the role of entrepreneurship in advancing nonprofit work and strengthening the broader community.

Wilde’s Comedy Comes to Loo Theatre

Chaminade University’s Loo Theatre welcomed audiences this past week for the opening of The Importance of Being Earnest, offering a thoughtful and engaging take on Oscar Wilde’s well-known comedy. The production brought the play’s humor and characters to life with audiences laughing and cheering.

Set in Victorian England, the story follows two young men who assume alternate identities to navigate social expectations, leading to a series of misunderstandings and witty exchanges. The Chaminade cast leaned into both the humor and structure of the script, focusing on timing, character development, and collaboration.

Andrew Erwin played John Worthing, J.P., also known as Jack, portraying the character’s sense of responsibility alongside moments of uncertainty. Kevin Mayorga took on the role of Algernon Moncrieff, bringing a relaxed and conversational approach that complemented the rhythm of Wilde’s dialogue. Together, the two leads established a steady foundation for the production. (In Sunday’s matinee Ava Cuellar Bettray played the role of Algernon with a brilliant performance.)

Supporting roles were shared across a range of student performers. Victor Rivas-Ramirez appeared as Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D., while Emily Cooper and Ava Cuellar Bettray portrayed Merriman and Lane, the household servants who observe much of the action. Each contributed to the overall pacing and tone of the performance.

Randrielle Yola’s portrayal of Lady Bracknell stood out for its clarity and control, capturing the character’s firm presence in key scenes. Jayde-Emaree Ramos played Gwendolen Fairfax with confidence, and Nathalie David’s Cecily Cardew brought a lighter, more playful perspective to the stage. Amalee Magallon rounded out the cast as Miss Prism, helping to carry several of the play’s more reflective moments.

The production also reflected the efforts of students working behind the scenes. Costumes and staging were kept relatively simple, allowing the dialogue and performances to remain the focus. The Loo Theatre’s close setting gave audiences a chance to experience the play up close, emphasizing the actors’ delivery and interactions.

For the students involved, the production offered an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom in a live performance environment. Rehearsals focused on developing consistency, understanding character motivations, and working as an ensemble—skills that are central to theatre but also transferable to other areas.

Chaminade’s staging of The Importance of Being Earnest is part of the university’s broader commitment to providing opportunities in the arts. Productions like this give students a chance to engage with classic works while developing their own approach to performance and storytelling.

Opening week drew a supportive campus audience, with friends, faculty, and community members coming out to see the show. The production provided a chance to experience a familiar play through the perspective of student performers, while also highlighting the continued activity of the university’s theatre program.

The production also extends a heartfelt mahalo to Diamond Head Theatre, The Actor’s Group, and Manoa Valley Theatre for generously opening their costume shops and prop stores. Their spirit of collaboration and support was invaluable to the production. In addition, proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Palolo Chinese Home, further connecting the production to the broader community.

Bravo to all who make this production possible. Tickets are still available for shows.

Faculty Appointed to State Psychology Board

Sean Scanlan, Ph.D., Director and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, has been appointed to the Hawai‘i State Board of Psychology, joining fellow faculty member Jeffrey Stern, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, who also serves on the board.

The Hawai‘i State Board of Psychology operates under the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) within its Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division. The board is responsible for overseeing the licensure of psychology professionals across the state, helping ensure that practitioners meet standards established to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

At a time when the need for accessible, high-quality mental health care continues to grow in Hawai‘i and across the nation, the board plays a critical role in maintaining a strong, qualified workforce of licensed professionals.

In this role, Dr. Scanlan will contribute to the review of licensing applications, renewals, and compliance matters, while also engaging in discussions on legislation, policies, and regulatory issues impacting the profession. Dr. Stern continues to bring valuable expertise to the board through his ongoing service.

“Dr. Scanlan’s appointment, alongside Dr. Stern’s continued service, reflects the strength of our Clinical Psychology faculty and their commitment to advancing ethical, high-quality care,” said Chaminade University President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. “We are proud to see Chaminade faculty helping shape policies that strengthen professional standards and serve our broader community.”

Dr. Scanlan’s appointment underscores Chaminade’s ongoing dedication to academic excellence, community impact, and leadership in the behavioral health field.

Celebrating National Nutrition Month with Proclamation and Health Partners

Chaminade University brought together healthcare professionals, students, and community partners this evening on the steps of Clarence T.C. Ching Hall to celebrate National Nutrition Month and a formal proclamation issued by Gov. Josh Green recognizing the importance of nutrition in building healthier communities across Hawaiʻi.

The proclamation marked a collaborative moment between Chaminade University and local health leaders, including registered dietitians from across our state, nurses, and academic partners such as University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Attendees participated in an official group photo highlighting the shared commitment to advancing nutrition education, prevention, and whole-person health.

In Hawaiʻi, health is something built  together. Nutrition is foundational to that effort, reflecting our shared values of connection, stewardship, and caring for our communities across generations. This proclamation not only recognizes the work being done across Hawaiʻi but also reinforces our responsibility to educate, collaborate, and serve our communities,” said Dr. Melissa Cline, Program Director of Nutrition and Dietetics and Assistant Professor at Chaminade University of Honolulu.

The event underscores Chaminade University’s continued leadership in developing future healthcare professionals through its Nutrition & Dietetics programs. With a focus on interdisciplinary education and community engagement, the university is expanding opportunities for students to enter high-impact fields that address chronic disease, health equity, and preventive care.

Chaminade also recently announced the addition of its B.S. in Nutrition degree program. The program will go beyond human nutrition and explore social impacts of food, sports nutrition, current diet trends, behavioral nutrition, food science, and sustainable food systems.

National Nutrition Month®, observed each March, is an annual campaign that promotes informed food choices and healthy eating habits. Chaminade’s recognition reflects its growing role in supporting Hawaiʻi’s health workforce and fostering partnerships that extend beyond the classroom.

The celebration concluded with informal networking among attendees, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in advancing public health initiatives across the islands.

Doctoral Students Gain Practicum, Serve Community Needs

With practicum, internship, and dissertation requirements, hands-on learning and intensive scholarly inquiry are critical parts of Chaminade’s Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology. 

And thanks to the University’s assessment center, graduate students can tackle some of that patient-focused work right on campus.

The Chaminade Assessment Center (CAC), launched in Fall 2023 gives PsyD students the chance to conduct psychological evaluations and fill a community need at the same time.

Dr. Sean Scanlan, director of the Clinical Psychology program at the University, said the CAC started off small but with a strong mission: To offer children and young adults psychological evaluations so they can get the right  treatment and educational accommodations.

“We had Chaminade PsyD students searching for practicum sites, and we saw community members needing these psychological assessments,” Scanlan said.

The center’s first clients were Chaminade students. From there, the clientele was expanded to include students referred from nearby private schools. Scanlan said the center was able to serve about 30 patients in their first year and almost 50 in their second.

Meanwhile, about three PsyD students at any one time work under a supervisor at the CAC. Scanlan said each client requires six to 15 hours of testing, which may include an interview and cognitive, personality, and learning assessments. From there, the psychologist and PsyD students synthesize the findings and issue a report with a diagnosis and recommendations.

“For our PsyD students, it’s a lot of work,” Scanlan said. “Because it’s not just the student preparing  to be with an actual client; they have to be prepared to sit and listen to real world problems, all the while trying to conceptualize a diagnosis.” 

But Scanlan said that this real-world, experiential learning experience is critical to their training, similar to that of trainees in the medical fields. He stressed, their clinical supervisor is always there to offer expertise and guidance. The supervisor also handles initial and critical client interactions so students can see practiced psychological evaluations and interactions at work.

Sammie Wilkinson, PsyD ’27 was one of Chaminade’s first PsyD students to serve at the center following its launch and has since put in additional time there as an administrative and assessment specialist. She summed up her practicum experience at the center in one word: “Rewarding.” 

“I learned about comprehensive psychological evaluations and assessment, which are major components of the role of a clinical psychologist and a focus of the PsyD program,” Wilkinson said.

“During my practicum, I was able to support both Chaminade students and clients in the community by conducting assessments, identifying and diagnosing various challenges that often impact academic performance and social functioning. Since completing my practicum, I have continued to support the CAC with scheduling and helping clients access services.”

Wilkinson explained that assessment and diagnosis help clients put a name to specific mental health challenges they’ve been experiencing and provide a starting point for healing and support. 

“It has been a privilege to work with clients from diverse backgrounds, which has deepened my appreciation for taking a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to assessment,” she said. “One of the biggest challenges is determining an accurate diagnosis, as many conditions can resemble one another. For example, trauma may present similarly to ADHD. Therefore, it is so important that we are thorough, take our time to rule out diagnoses and consider each client holistically.”  

She added that helping to broaden access to community-based services has been especially meaningful—and she’s excited about the center’s continued growth. “Psychological assessments are in high demand but often come with long waiting lists or high costs so it has been wonderful to be part of a center that provides these services in a timely and affordable way,” she said.

Scanlan noted that the center started to accept insurance in 2025.  In the program’s first two years, services were free and mostly referral-based. “I think we have the foundation now where we can begin to increase the number of PsyD students we can take and, as a result, the number of clients we can see,” Scanlan said. “We’re happy to be providing this service to the community.”

The center’s growth comes as Chaminade’s School of Education and Behavioral Sciences also launches another win-win program for aspiring mental health professionals and clients in need of services. In spring 2026, the University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program launched its new MFT Training Clinic, where graduate-level MFT therapists in training provide care under the supervision of licensed clinicians. Services are affordable and open to anyone on Oahu. 

“This clinic is a training ground for future marriage and family therapists,” said Blendine Hawkins, Ph.D., LMFT, director of the Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy program at Chaminade. “By focusing on couples and families and embracing culturally humble, evidence-based approaches, the clinic is a meaningful new resource for our local community. We’re excited to share this development with those who value strengthening relationships and supporting families.”

Alumni Office Hosts San Diego Reunion

More than 80 alumni and prospective families gathered on a beautiful San Diego waterfront for a special Sunday brunch on March 8 that brought the Chaminade spirit to the mainland in a meaningful way. Against the backdrop of the harbor, the event offered a warm and welcoming space for Silverswords to reconnect, share stories, and celebrate their enduring ties to the University.

Attendees traveled from across the region—and beyond—to be part of the occasion. Many alumni made the drive from throughout California, while one dedicated alumna even flew in from Arizona specifically to attend. Their efforts underscored the strength of the Chaminade community and the lasting impact of the relationships formed on campus. Whether reconnecting with classmates after years apart or meeting fellow alumni for the first time, there was a shared sense of pride and belonging throughout the gathering.

President Dr. Lynn Babington joined the group and spent time connecting personally with alumni and guests. She offered updates on the University, highlighting continued growth, new academic initiatives, and the ways Chaminade is evolving to meet the needs of today’s students while remaining grounded in its mission and values. Her remarks reinforced the University’s commitment to fostering a close-knit, purpose-driven community—one that extends far beyond the shores of O‘ahu.

The event also created opportunities for prospective families to engage with alumni and learn firsthand about the Chaminade experience. Conversations flowed easily between generations, with alumni sharing stories about their time on campus, the friendships they built, and how their education has shaped their personal and professional journeys. For prospective students and their families, it was a chance to see the lasting value of a Chaminade education come to life through these authentic connections.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, attendees enjoyed Chaminade-themed swag and participated in a drawing for prizes, bringing an element of fun and excitement to the morning. Chaminade magazines were also available, offering a deeper look at campus developments, student success stories, and the continued momentum of the University community.

Events like this serve as a powerful reminder that the Chaminade connection does not end at graduation—or at the edge of the island. Instead, it continues to grow and thrive wherever alumni gather. The San Diego brunch was more than just a reunion; it was a reflection of a vibrant and engaged alumni network that remains deeply connected to the University and to one another.