Chaminade University of Honolulu

Press Release

Chaminade University Receives $100,000 Grant

Chaminade University of Honolulu recently received a $100,000 grant from the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation for student scholarships. The grant will be split to fund Chaminade’s Legacy Scholarship and the STEM and Nursing Scholarship for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year.

The Legacy Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate a commitment to community service and are in financial need. The STEM and Nursing Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students studying any Bachelor of Science or Nursing degrees. Both scholarships are given to full-time undergraduate students who are residents of Hawaii and demonstrate leadership qualities and innovative skills.

The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation has provided funding for student scholarships to Chaminade University since 2014. The Foundation was established in 1993 by entrepreneurs Mamoru and Aiko Takitani, founders of Hawaiian Host, to assist the youth of Hawaii with their goals. Since its establishment, the Foundation has donated 2.3 million dollars in scholarships and provided educational opportunities to students in Hawaii.

For more on scholarships and financial aid, visit chaminade.edu/financial-aid.

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society. For more information, visit chaminade.edu.

Chaminade University Receives $10,000 Grant from ABC Stores

Chaminade University of Honolulu recently received a $10,000 grant from ABC Stores to fund its “I Am a Scientist” (IAS) Mobile STEM Outreach Program. The program provides hands-on science modules for elementary schools in Hawai’i to create equal access to quality science education and to introduce STEM skills to young students.

I am a scientist

Chaminade’s IAS program is operated by practicing research scientists who bring professional science equipment and supplies to local schools. Topics covered include health science, biology, forensic science, and environmental science. The program is meant to instill a lifelong interest in science starting at an early age. Since the COVID shut down, IAS has been offered via Instagram and new distance learning protocols are being put into place.

“We’re extremely grateful to ABC Stores for this generous grant that will allow us to continue offering our ‘I Am a Scientist’ program free to Hawaii DOE schools,” said Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington. “The program offers grade-level science experiments to only inspire the scientists of tomorrow but also teach them valuable lessons.”

A broader initiative of the Chaminade’s Division of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, the “I Am a Scientist” program also hosts community events throughout the year and invites schools to Chaminade’s campus so students gain an understanding of an undergraduate science student’s experience.

For more information on Chaminade’s “I Am a Scientist” program, visit iamascientiststem.org. 

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society. For more information, visit chaminade.edu.

PacWest Postpones Fall Sports Until 2021

Due to the concerns arising from all the challenges surrounding COVID-19, the PacWest Executive Board voted unanimously Thursday to postpone intercollegiate competition in PacWest fall sports until after January 1, 2021. PacWest fall sports include men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball. The action was taken due to rapidly changing information and guidelines from the NCAA, as well as the states, counties, and areas where the 11 PacWest institutions compete.

While this decision postpones fall 2020 sports competition, institutions will still be allowed to conduct organized team activities at their own discretion, including workouts, practices, strength and conditioning, and access to their athletic training staff, as local, county, and state guidelines permit. Options for moving fall sport schedules into the winter/spring are being developed and reviewed.

“Chaminade University and its partner institutions in the PacWest Conference did not make the decision to postpone the fall season lightly and understand it is very disappointing news to our student-athletes,” said Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington. “We know how important athletics are in the lives of our students and so we appreciate their continued resilience and flexibility as we navigate this crisis together.

“By delaying the upcoming PacWest season, we are making a difficult but appropriate choice that prioritizes the health and safety of our communities. Chaminade joins our conference partners in looking ahead to the resumption of competition soon.”

“This was not an easy decision for the PacWest Executive Board,” said Chaminade Director of Athletics Dr. Tom Buning. “However, the main concern was keeping our student-athletes safe with so much uncertainty that COVID-19 has created. While we are saddened that we can’t see our fall sport student-athletes suit up, we look forward to having them return to competition in the new year.

“With the decision to delay fall sports, our student-athletes have the chance to ensure a strong start to the academic year,” he continued. “I share our coaches’ optimism that this is a unique occasion to emphasize strength and conditioning, individual and team skills, and building team camaraderie. To ensure that we provide the best possible experience for our Silversword student-athletes, we can tailor our preseason preparation to ensure that our teams are exceptionally prepared to compete when their season starts.” A decision on the start of the 2020-21 winter sports season, as well as the non-championship segments of spring sports, is expected to be made by October 1.

Dr. Roy Panzarella Named Director of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program

Chaminade University is delighted to announce a familiar name—Dr. Roy Panzarella—has been appointed director of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program. He will begin July 1.

Dr. Roy Panzarella

Panzarella, who served as vice chair of the Board of Regents and volunteered as a Hogan Entrepreneurial Program mentor, brings his wealth of leadership experience to the role.

His business acumen and commitment to serving others have taken him around the world—and eventually brought him to Chaminade.

Panzarella is truly a perfect fit for the Hogan program, a signature initiative at the university that relies on strong collaborations with executives and challenges students to turn their ideas into business plans.

Panzarella sees Hogan students as ethical, transformational and innovative leaders-in-training.

Among Panzarella’s many previous leadership roles was as chief executive of Lockheed Martin-United Arab Emirates. As an Army colonel, Panzarella also served as the US defense attaché to Poland.

And in academia, Panzarella also wore many hats, including as dean of student affairs at the George Marshall Center for Security Studies in Germany.

Panzarella holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma.

He also has master’s degrees in Human Development and in International Relations, from Boston University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, respectively.

Panzarella received his bachelor’s degree from the US Military Academy at West Point.

He considers serving others his lifelong calling and has volunteered his time with a long list of organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, advisory board of NYU Abu Dhabi’s Department of Engineering and the Board of Trustees for the American School of Warsaw.

Please join the entire Chaminade ‘ohana in congratulating Dr. Roy Panzarella on his appointment.

Dr. Frederique Kandel Selected for Fellowship

Chaminade University Assistant Professor Frederique Kandel, PhD, has been selected for the 2020 Ronald M. Iwamoto Teaching Fellowship in Biology. Kandel is the first faculty member named to the program since its $50,000 endowment was established at the University in 2019.

Frederique Kandel

Kandel will hold the title of Iwamoto Fellow for two years. The endowment was established to honor Faculty Emeritus Ronald Iwamoto, biology faculty member at Chaminade University for 47 years. The Iwamoto Fellowship was aided by over 70 donors, many former students of Iwamoto. The funds from the Iwamoto Fellowship support professional development, including attendance at conferences, workshops, innovative curriculum development, or leadership in education training.

“Professor Emeritus Ron Iwamoto’s reputation as an inspiring and enthusiastic teacher remains much alive in our school,” said Kandel. “I am truly grateful and honored to receive this fellowship and look forward to starting the professional development program by attending the American Society of Microbiology conference for undergraduate educators. Mahalo nui loa to all involved.”

Applicants for the Iwamoto Fellowship must submit a strategic program of professional development with a defined set of goals for the two-year period. Many fellowships at universities across the United States are available for research activities, but it is rare to have a fellowship focused on the development of teaching and pedagogy.

Iwamoto Fellow candidates are nominated by the Dean of Natural Sciences at Chaminade University, and formally selected by a committee comprised of Chaminade University alumni, many of whom are healthcare professionals.

“Dr. Kandel is an extremely talented and dedicated biology professor who strives for excellence in her biology pedagogy and is very popular with our students,” said Gail Grabowsky PhD, Interim Dean of Natural Sciences at Chaminade University. “She strikes the perfect balance between empathy and compassion, and she teaches her students how to become accomplished and disciplined scientists. She was trained as a marine scientist but has such a broad breadth of scientific knowledge and experience that she is also currently the President-Elect of the Hawaii Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Because of this fellowship Dr. Kandel will be able to do more and new wonderful things for our Chaminade biology students.”

Kandel has committed over 20 years to teaching biology, math, and science at the university and high school levels in diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts. She teaches a range of topics at Chaminade University, from freshman biotechnology to human anatomy for nurses to a senior microbiology course and laboratory for biology students.

Her strategic program of professional development as an Iwamoto Fellow will be to attend the 2020 ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE) in Bellevue, Washington and the 2021 ASM Teaching Undergraduate Biology webinar series. Both events aim to enhance the quality of microbiology education. Upon completion of the webinar, attendees are also invited to participate in sessions at the 2021 ASMCUE and to submit a poster or demonstration. This opportunity will give Kandel the chance to share the innovative teaching techniques and experiences generated during the previous year.

The Iwamoto Fellowship is the first-ever fellowship of any kind at Chaminade University.

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society. For more information, visit chaminade.edu.

Chaminade University Receives $25,000 Grant from First Hawaiian Bank

HONOLULU (January 30, 2020) – Chaminade University of Honolulu recently received a $25,000 grant from First Hawaiian Bank that will allow the university to remain current and be better positioned to train tomorrow’s teachers. The grant will be used to ensure Chaminade’s School of Education graduates teachers who are using best practices in place-based, deep learning.

First Hawaiian Bank presenting check to Chaminade University
Pictured left to right: Dr. Elizabeth Park, Chaminade University; Dr. Lynn Babington, Chaminade University; Donna Mendes, First Hawaiian Bank; and Dr. Katrina Roseler, Chaminade University

Place-based education encourages student agency and is situated within the context of the learners’ environment, allowing them opportunities to explore questions that are immediately relevant. In Hawai‘i, such an instructional approach provides a space to honor and highlight native/indigenous knowledge and skills in addition to addressing required state and national standards. It has been shown that learners who engage in place-based education are not only more engaged, but also demonstrate a deeper understanding of content. Teachers who embrace this style of teaching are also more likely to stay in the classroom.

Chaminade will collaborate with the Kupu Hou Academy, a teacher professional development program housed at Mid-Pacific Institute, to help translate and implement the place-based, deeper learning model in the university setting.

According to Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington, “This collaboration with Mid-Pacific Institute will transform Chaminade’s School of Education and ensure that it is graduating teachers who are using best practices in place-based, deep learning, and who are empowered to be innovative and creative in the classroom. The real beneficiaries will be Hawai‘i’s children, who will have access to an engaging, quality education.”

Chaminade’s School of Education offers six undergraduate degree programs and two master’s degree programs, supplying the second largest pool of teachers for the state.  For more information, visit www.chaminade.edu.

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About Chaminade UniversityChaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society. For more information, visit www.chaminade.edu.