Chaminade University of Honolulu

Student Life

For 20th Anniversary, Student Center Gets New Look

There are many favorite gathering places at Chaminade.

But there’s just something special about the Vi and Paul Loo Student Center, said Victoria Zembik ‘27, Chaminade Student Government Association president for the 2024-25 academic year.

So in celebration of the center’s 20th anniversary, the association decided to go big.

The student leaders oversaw and funded a major makeover of the space, replacing the old look with a sleek new one and making sure there were spaces for socializing, studying and fun.

On Sept. 10, an official grand opening was held at the redesigned space to mark the 20th anniversary milestone.

Students, faculty members and staff attended the bash, which also included a blessing.

Zembik said the redesign was based on student surveys and other input.

“We wanted to take on a project that really mattered to us. Our goal was to create a space on campus where our peers could truly enjoy themselves,” she said. “The Loo has always been a hotspot on campus, and it just needed a little revamping.”

She added, “We kept the desk with the whiteboard tabletop, but everything else was upgraded with newly refurbished furniture. Outlets were added in different areas, the layout was refreshed, and overall, it has become exactly what it needs to be—a thriving, welcoming space for students.”

The center is named after the late philanthropist, businessman and Chaminade Regent Paul Loo and his wife, Vi, also a strong supporter of education and the arts. The two supported the University in countless ways, including in helping make the student center a reality.

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Junghwa K. Suh, D.Arch, associate professor at Chaminade and co-chair of the Environmental + Interior Design program, said what makes the Loo Center redesign so special is that students and graduates were instrumental in making it happen—and executing a vision from start to finish.

Suh said she was also honored to add her own direction and guidance to the project.

“I recommended several aspects of interior design, including updated wall colors, improved lighting, varied seating options, spatial reconfiguration, and new furniture and accessories,” she said. “My primary goal was to bring vibrancy and meaning to this space for the students.”

One particularly meaningful touch: Ceramic leis crafted by students were integrated into the center’s sconces. The leis were created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the bridge to the Kalaepokahu campus and represent collaboration, creativity and community.

“This feature brings new life to the space and infuses it with the spirit of aloha,” Suh said.

She added, “What stands out most to me is the spirit of collaboration that made this project possible. Art and Design faculty and students, the Student Engagement directors, and our incredible facilities team all worked together with openness and enthusiasm.”

A Summer Spent ‘Walking the Halls of Congress’

Easton DelaCruz ’26 dreams of serving others in public office.

So you can imagine just how excited DelaCruz was when, over the summer, he found himself in U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Washington, D.C. office, speaking to the politician himself.

“Throughout the whole meeting, I was kind of fangirling,” DelaCruz quips.

DelaCruz was in the nation’s capital after being selected as an intern for the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. He worked under U.S. Rep. Kimberlyn King-Hinds, who represents DelaCruz’s home of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

As an aspiring politician, DelaCruz said the experience was transformative.

“I’m a 20-year-old from CNMI and I’m walking the halls of Congress,” he said.

“Being able to step foot in the capital and actually work to get stuff done for the people, it’s just a big honor. Attending all the committee hearings and briefings, they were so eye-opening.”

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During that meeting with the House speaker, Johnson turned to DelaCruz as part of a conversation about creating opportunities for young people and asked why he decided to leave the CNMI. His answer: “To get more experience, bring it home and share it with my community.”

DelaCruz, who is from Saipan, says his work at Chaminade is a big part of that experience building.

The Communication major hopes to bring new solutions to the CNMI. The U.S. territory is struggling economically amid a tourism decline and, DelaCruz says, jobs are difficult to find.

In studying at Chaminade, DelaCruz was following in the footsteps of his mother and sister.

His mom, Elaine, holds a Psychology degree from Chaminade along with a master’s of science in counseling psychology (2003) and a Doctor of Education (2024). His sister, Victoria DelaCruz ’24, studied Data Science at Chaminade and now works at nonprofit Aloha Harvest in Honolulu.

Easton DelaCruz ’26 got the opportunity to sit down with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson during a summer internship in the nation’s capital. The aspiring politician joked the experience had him “fangirling.”

DelaCruz says what he appreciates most about Chaminade is its family-oriented atmosphere.

“I’m a pretty social person, but it’s difficult sometimes,” he said. “Being here at Chaminade, you see the same faces every day and you start to talk story. It allows you to get out of your shell.”

At Chaminade, DelaCruz has also been able to take advantage of several once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. In May 2023, for example, he traveled to Los Angeles as part of a Marianist program to conduct community service at homeless shelters on Skid Row.

And then in October 2023, he was one of two Chaminade students selected to travel on a group pilgrimage to Israel. “I go to church every Sunday and they say all these different places in the Holy Land, and I was there,” he said. “We just went through all these sacred sites.”

This coming term, DelaCruz says he hopes to continue his growth as a leader.

One thing on his “to do” list: DelaCruz is trying to sharpen his Chamorro language skills.

He practices Saipan’s native tongue with other students at Chaminade from Guam or the CNMI, and tests his knowledge on his grandparents, who are fluent.

“They still laugh at my pronunciation,” DelaCruz said, “but then they correct me. That’s part of how I’m learning.”

Silverswords Kick Off New School Year

Chaminade kicked off its new academic year August 25, officially welcoming more than 600 new students for fall term—and welcoming back undergraduates from across day and online programs.

Jennifer Creech, Ed.D., Chaminade vice president for Enrollment Management and associate provost for Student Success, said the newest Silversword class shows Chaminade is maintaining strong enrollment numbers despite a highly competitive local and national market.

To prepare for the new school year, Chaminade welcomed new students and their families to campus on August 22 for informational sessions, a resource fair, campus tours and great food.

New Student Orientation began with a convocation symbolizing the launch of each student’s unique Chaminade journey. Following the gathering, faculty created a “cheer tunnel” for attendees. The day also included academic advising and financial aid information.

“New Student Orientation is where your Chaminade journey begins,” Creech said. “It is an introduction to campus, but it’s also your first chance to meet faculty, staff, and fellow students, explore resources and start living the values that shape the Chaminade community.”

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Creech added, “Being part of NSO helps you hit the ground running both in the classroom and beyond.”

The fun continued into the weekend with a shopping mall excursion and Diamond Head hike with Chaminade President Lynn Babington. Welcome Mass in Mystical Rose Oratory and Brunch with the Brothers at Hale Malia were both held and warmly received on the Sunday before the first day classes. There are also a series of “Welcome Week” activities planned for all students, including a popcorn party, picnic, and Waikiki beach trip.

For the full online event calendar, click here.

Nursing Doctoral Students Put Theory Into Practice

Stepping away from their online learning, Chaminade Doctor of Nursing Practice students gathered on campus last month for an immersive week of hands-on instruction and collaboration.

“The DNP immersion allows students to connect with their faculty in-person and network with peers and community members,” said Pamela Smith, Ed.D., APRN-Rx, FNP-BC, director of the DNP program and associate dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions.

“The immersion also allows students an opportunity to practice skills they would not be able to experience virtually.”

Parts of the immersion schedule included all DNP students, but there were also track-specific breakouts.

For example, Family Nurse and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track students attended sessions in suturing, case studies and advanced health assessments. Meanwhile, students in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track attended workshops on therapy technique.

DNP students gather annually for the immersion experience.

And Smith said that while skills building and application are front and center, there is also plenty of time set aside for connecting with fellow cohort members and for strengthening relationships with faculty mentors.

Those in-person connections were a highlight of the week for Amy Olsen, DNP ’26.

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“I know there is a lot of planning that goes into the immersion week,” said Olsen, who is in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. “All the professors make sure we feel seen as individuals and plan meaningful group events for us. I love being on Chaminade’s beautiful, peaceful campus, surrounded by fragrant flowering trees and stunning architecture.”

Olsen is pursuing a DNP after two decades in the profession.

She is seeking the advanced degree to build on her leadership and clinical skills.

“Being a nurse is how I give back to the community, and it has enriched my life in many ways,” she said. “So I decided to challenge myself by going back to school, and now I’m excited to be a DNP because it’s still fundamentally nursing and I’ll be able to have a more powerful impact on people’s lives.”

Michelle Burns, DNP ’26 (left), who is pursuing the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track, said the immersion program helped her build stronger connections with her fellow students.

Michelle Burns, DNP ’26, who is pursuing the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track, said that completing proctored skills assessment during the immersion program was a rewarding challenge.

“I am truly grateful to have such a supportive Nursing program administration team and it reflects Chaminade University’s mission to provide education in a collaborative learning environment,” Burns said, adding she also appreciated catching up with friends and professors.

Burns, a school nurse at Our Lady of Good Counsel School as part of a new pilot program with Chaminade, said the immersion experience is a “great way to bring all the DNP students together and put our learning into practice.”

“We all come from different backgrounds and levels of expertise, and it’s nice to have the opportunity to come together and learn from and support each other.”

Students Inducted Into Psychology Honor Society

Sixty-five Chaminade Psychology students were recognized for their academic excellence and commitment to the field with induction into Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, during a Spring term ceremony.

Membership in the prestigious society is for life.

Abby Halston, Ed.D, associate professor of psychology at Chaminade, said students inducted into the society “have worked tirelessly to earn this lifelong honor.” She added, “Watching them be recognized for their dedication, resilience, and academic excellence is incredibly rewarding.

She noted that Chaminade has had a Psi Chi chapter for 26 years. Participants benefit from the prestigious recognition along with access to scholarships, research grants and networking events.

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Annie Kramer ’25 served as the president of the Psi Chi chapter at Chaminade over the past academic year. The Psychology major, who also minored in Education, said the group offers an important gathering space for students with a passion for their education and psychology.

“Like minded students are able to connect and build community together,” she said, adding participating in Psi Chi afforded her the opportunity to “deeply connect with peers and faculty members in a new light” and build her leadership skills as she pursued her studies.


“We want new Psi Chi members to feel proud of their hard work and dedication to the field,” Kramer said. “In our ceremony, we aimed to express that being inducted into Psi Chi is a great honor and that each member and their guests can celebrate their devotion for psychology.”

In addition to regular networking events over the last academic year, the Psi Chi chapter partnered with the Chaminade Counseling Center to organize and promote wellness events. Those ranged from a psychology-themed scavenger hunt to a Valentine’s Day gathering.

Silverswords Study Criminal Justice Abroad

A group of Chaminade Criminology and Criminal Justice students spent a whirlwind spring break in Mexico, Belize and Honduras. But they weren’t soaking in rays at the beach—at least not most of the time. Instead, they were studying international criminal justice systems.

The 13 student participants traveled with Kelly Treece, Ph.D., director of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program at Chaminade. This was the third study trip Treece has led to international locales, and she said each one is eye-opening for students.

“These opportunities provide students with a global view of criminal justice,” Treece said.

“They are able to identify both the strengths and the weaknesses of the U.S. criminal justice system and the strengths and weaknesses of other criminal justice systems. Ultimately, this type of global travel provides them with a foundation for potential reform proposals.”

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Owen Caba ’26 couldn’t agree more.

He’s double majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice and said the study trip was nothing less than “life-changing.” Two highlights for him: Traveling to Placencia, Belize, a small beach town where everyone was welcoming, and shuttling their way to Roatan, a city in Honduras.

“Belize is the country I plan to go back to and want to learn more about,” said Caba, who also traveled with Treece to Australia and New Zealand on previous trips. “Studying abroad broadened my perspective by unlocking new cultures and showing me the daily lives of different people.”

Chaminade Criminology and Criminal Justice students pose for photos during their spring break trip to Central and South America.

Hannah Grace Dyer ’25, a Criminology and Criminal Justice major, said she felt privileged to explore different countries and their criminal justice systems. In Roatan, Honduras, students enjoyed the idyllic scenery while also taking note of indicators of higher crime and poverty.

“I would be interested to learn more about the notoriously corrupt government in Honduras and how that affects the criminal justice system along with why there is less crime in Roatan than Honduras mainland.,” she said, adding that hearing first-hand accounts was instructive.

“In America, almost every place you go you will experience the melting pot of cultures, people, and personalities that our country hosts. However, if you go to another country like Honduras or Mexico, you will see one culture and mainly one group of people. To me, this is always so fascinating because it gives me insight into different ways of understanding others.”

For Dyer, the trips also turned out to be a bonding experience with her fellow classmates.

“After both of these trips, I immediately felt closer to my classmates and the ’ohana at Chaminade,” she said. “One of my favorite parts of the trip was in Belize, spontaneously exploring the town of Placencia, trying local cuisine, learning about the local police department, and relaxing at the beach. This was a more ‘low-key’ day and a great break from my everyday schedule.”