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Chaminade to Offer a New Emergency Student Endowment Fund

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Chaminade University Board of Governor member Julie T. Watumull and her husband JD Watumull have gifted over $100,000 to start an endowed emergency student fund at Chaminade University. The “Julie T. and JD Watumull Fund for Emergency Student Grants” will be the first of its kind at Chaminade, specifically created to help students who have experienced an unexpected temporary hardship while attending the university.

Students who receive the emergency grant will not need to repay the funds. There is an application process, and grants range from $100-$1,000, depending on the situation. The Watumull Fund will be administered by the Dean of Students, Allison Jerome, in close consultation with the Office of Financial Aid and other support service areas on campus.

“We have students who need assistance with unexpected and unforeseen emergency expenses, and this new fund gives us the ability to provide support in a different way,” said Jerome. “Our goal is to help students during a time of need so that they can address the emergency and continue to make progress towards their degrees. Being able to provide a small grant to a student is just one way to show how the Chaminade community cares for each student.”

Members of the Watumull family are longtime supporters of Chaminade with a 14-year philanthropic history at the university including the Fund for Chaminade and the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program’s business study missions to India, through the J. Watumull Foundation and Gulab and Indru Watumull.

Julie and JD’s vision to establish a new student emergency fund is bound to help generations of students at Chaminade for many years to come.

Chaminade Celebrates 2019 Graduates at Commencement

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The evening of May 13 was a time of celebration for Chaminade University of Honolulu’s class of 2019 as family, friends, faculty and staff gathered at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena for Chaminade’s 61st Commencement ceremony.

Following the Oli chant, a traditional Hawaiian welcome and blessing, delivered by Chaminade class of 2014 graduate Kaipo Leopoldino, university president Dr. Lynn Babington welcomed graduates and guests to celebrate the work of faculty, new beginnings and to reflect on changes in the university since its founding in 1955.

In her welcome, Dr. Babington highlighted one of the five Characteristics of a Marianist education that Chaminade, the only Catholic university in the state of Hawaii, emphasizes: educate for adaptation and change. These values and Chaminade’s commitment to service proved to be a consistent theme throughout the evening’s exercises leading up to the graduation of nearly 500 students from 25 undergraduate and six graduate degree programs.

Among the honored guests in attendance were Governor David Ige and his wife Dawn Amano-Ige, who gave the Commencement address.

“You made it,” Amano-Ige said as she began her speech. “You own it. This is your moment. Tonight is your night as we honor you and your achievements.”

Amano-Ige became the first lady of Hawaii in December 2014 when her husband was sworn in as Hawaii’s eighth governor. She has also been an alumna of Chaminade since 1986 when she graduated with her master’s degree in business administration. In her address, Amano-Ige bestowed a few pieces of wisdom on the soon-to-be graduates. She encouraged them to make the most of every opportunity they’re given, to be realistic when starting off in their careers and to take action in moments of uncertainty instead of holding back or withdrawing. The first lady, similarly to Dr. Babington, emphasized how valuable a Chaminade education is because of its values.

“You are so fortunate to be graduating from a place where diversity is celebrated in culture-based learning and where ethical leadership is the focus,” Amano-Ige said. “The rich combination of the two gives you the power to make a difference. When done collectively with your classmates, that power is multiplied to have a great impact on our community.”

Savannah Lyn Relox Delos Santos, the Undergraduate Speaker, delivered an equally impactful speech in which she conveyed the gratitude she feels toward the Chaminade community and her family.

Delos Santos, who earned her bachelor’s degree in business marketing, has spent her years at Chaminade serving as a peer mentor and tutor, student office assistant and president of the Residence Hall Association—all while excelling in her classes, working and volunteering.

She was also an active participant in Campus Ministry, student government and Chaminade’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program. Her commitment to service and the university’s Marianist values earned her the prestigious Founders’ Award earlier this year. Delos Santos’ dream is to be the second and youngest Native Hawaiian fashion designer to present their work at New York Fashion Week and plans to move to the Philippines after graduation to pursue her professional goals and learn more about her roots.

“Our differential advantages are the Marianist values and the Aloha Spirit,” Delos Santos said. “We are the only university with both and we all live it in our Chaminade community. So embrace it, use it, because we are so blessed.”

Both Amano-Ige and Delos Santos were the first college graduates in their families and shared how education and Chaminade were significant contributors to who they are today.

And finally, after many semesters of hard work and sacrifice, the Chaminade class of 2019 turned its tassels and became alumni, forever part of the Chaminade family.

“Your passion, along with your education and experiences here at Chaminade, will be part of the sometimes messy but beautiful process we call life,” Amano-Ige said. “So tonight be jubilant, be proud, go out and celebrate—safely of course—the joy of your achievement. Tomorrow, your focus shifts to putting your college education to good use for your community, for our Hawaii, for the world and for generations to come.”

Commencement 2019 (short version)
Commencement 2019 (long version)

Hogan Program Honors Graduates and Welcomes New Students

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Chaminade’s future business professionals were honored at the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program’s Induction and Graduation Ceremony on April 25 at the Mystical Rose Oratory.

The Hogan Entrepreneurial Program, funded by the Hogan Family Foundation, aims to teach Chaminade students how to be successful in business through weekly lectures with experienced Hawaii business leaders, study abroad trips, community service projects, academic coursework, mentorship and more. Each year, about 25 students from all majors, including undergraduate juniors and seniors and graduate students, are accepted into the one- or two-year certificate program.

Hogan’s motto is “doing business things that make social sense, doing social things that make business sense,” and emphasizes entrepreneurial practices that benefit the community.

At the ceremony, the graduating Hogan students were honored for completing the program and the incoming Hogan students were inducted in front of their Chaminade community, friends and family. Six awards were presented to 11 Hogan students, including the Outstanding Hogan Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Outstanding Graduate Student Award, the Outstanding Junior and Senior Awards, as well as the Aloha Spirit Awards and the In the Arena Award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Vaughn G.A. Vasconcellos, former president and CEO of Akimeka LLC and founder and principal of the Alakaʻina Foundation, which is a Native Hawaiian Organization nonprofit based in Hawaii. The foundation provides federal contracting opportunities to Native Hawaiian companies and a portion of the profits from these companies aid the foundation in its philanthropic mission. Vasconcellos has formerly served as advisor to the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and was a Chaminade University Board of Regents chairman.

The program also featured a special tribute to the Hogan Family with remarks from Savannah Lyn Delos Santos, a business marketing major from Saipan, and readings of original poems by Fabian Patterson and Laurin Von Krueger.

Patterson and Krueger’s poems both touched on how the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program provides equal opportunities to everyone involved. Patterson, a psychology major originally from Jamaica, thanked the Hogan family for providing him with academic and professional opportunities in his poem “How Could This Be?”

“I didn’t get here because America is the Promised Land, but because there is a God, because of helping hands, because of people like the Hogans,” Patterson said. “It’s people like them that make this country greater than all the other countries in foreign lands. It’s the Hogan’s belief that if you’re not having fun while working, then you’re certainly not pursuing your passion. It’s their belief in me, us, the younger, future generation that strengthens my belief and refuels my passion.”

Undergraduate Research Showcase at Na Liko

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Throughout the academic year, Chaminade students across every major make contributions to their fields of study through original research projects, creative work and scholarship.

Na Liko Awardees 2019

Chaminade’s annual undergraduate conference, Na Liko Naʻauao, recognizes these pursuits and provides students the opportunity to share their work with peers, faculty and the public.

This year’s 17th annual Na Liko conference, planned by the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research, took place on April 26 at Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center, where a total of 91 students showcased their academic projects.

Every project at Na Liko has been developed over the past academic school year under the mentorship of a faculty member. So participating in the conference affords undergraduate students the invaluable experience of beginning a research project with a question, developing it with the guidance of a professor and publically presenting their findings and receiving feedback.

Na Liko broadens students’ resumes, gives them practice at public speaking, creates a positive environment for scholarly discussion and offers an experience valuable to graduate schools.

Open to the Chaminade community, as well as friends and families of students, Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center became a gallery of artwork and poster presentations that observers could peruse and ask questions of presenters for the first few hours of the conference.

Following the presentations was a formal program, including a blessing by students Savannah Lyn Delos Santos and Andrew Trapsi, an Oli by Kawena Ryan Phillips, remarks by university president, Dr. Lynn Babington and presentation of awards by Dr. Janet Davidson, associate vice provost.

Two awards are presented at Na Liko each year that honor an outstanding student and faculty mentor.

Chloe Talana (President Sue Wesselkamper Prize winner) and Dr. Lynn Babington

This year’s President Sue Wesselkamper Prize recognized Chloe Talana who studied blood samples from HIV infected individuals to document how their immune cells function as part of a summer research program at Johns Hopkins University. She first presented her research at the Leadership Alliance symposium in Connecticut and was invited to present her research again at the recent conference in Indianapolis. She attended the national conference with six other Chaminade students, three of whom also presented their research.

Nicole Sagapoluetele, Justin Wyble (President Mackey Prize winner) and Dr. Lynn Babington

Honoring the close student-faculty relationships formed at Chaminade, the President Mackey Prize is an award presented to an outstanding faculty mentor, nominated by a student participating at the conference.

Nominated by Nicole Sagapoluetele, this year’s President Mackey Prize was awarded to Senior Lecturer, Justin Wyble. The President Mackey Prize is awarded to a faculty member who exemplifies outstanding mentoring of student research.

Na Liko Na’auao is presented by the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research. It is an undergraduate conference featuring students from all disciplines, who deliver academic presentations showcasing their projects in their related work to research in their field and creative work in the visual and performing arts. Students are sponsored by a faculty member and present the results of their original work in oral and/or poster presentations before their peers, faculty, and the public.

Future Silverswords Explore Chaminade at Admitted Student Day

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On sunny April 14, Chaminade’s campus was bustling with excitement as current students, faculty and volunteers from the university community welcomed prospective students and their families to Admitted Student Day.

Admitted Student Day 2019 resource fair

Blue and white balloon arches greeted every attendee at check-in and live music was performed as soon-to-be Silverswords were welcomed by faculty and staff. Organized specifically for students who have been accepted into Chaminade, Admitted Student Day provided prospective students an inside look into what life on campus and life in Hawaii would be like if they chose to attend Chaminade.

The agenda for Admitted Student Day included fun activities like campus tours, trolley tours of the surrounding Kaimuki neighborhood, a lively resource fair with hands-on activities and department open houses. Interested students also had an opportunity to meet with financial aid officers.

A row of tented booths lined Second Road for the resource fair, each with a different club, support service or exciting opportunity open to Chaminade students. Representatives from every organization, including Hawaiian Club, Campus Ministry and the Chaminade Student Nurses Association were there with snacks, photo booths, giveaways and games. Those interested in the Study Away program played a game involving paper airplanes, the Office of Health Professions Advising & Undergraduate Research booth challenged passersby to a game of Operation and the Filipino Club gave away traditional Filipino treats.

Beyond the clubs and extracurricular opportunities offered at Chaminade, admitted students got to learn more about their majors and the departments which they’ll belong to. Deans from each division began their open houses with a personal welcome, followed by informational sessions.

But possibly the liveliest station at Admitted Student Day was the Celebration Room where students who wanted to say “yes” to Chaminade could submit their deposit.