Chaminade University

Search

Students

Nursing Seniors’ Virtual Celebration

by

With this year’s graduation ceremony postponed to December due to COVID-19, Chaminade faculty and staff have found new ways to celebrate and recognize graduating seniors.

On Saturday, May 9, for instance, the School of Nursing and Health Professions held a zoom celebration to honor the 65 students who were graduating this term.

School of Nursing and Health Professions virtual senior celebration screenshot

“We wanted to do something really special for them,” says Dr. Edna Monroe-Magpantay, professor in the School of Nursing and Health Professions and the event host. “They are dedicating their entire careers to caring for others. They are the ones who are going to be on the frontlines of this pandemic, keeping our communities safe and healthy. They deserve to be recognized.”

The event was a much-needed release for the students after a long final week of virtual mock interviews, standardized testing and virtual NCLEX exam preparation. All of the graduates are certified nurse aides, and as soon as testing centers open in their respective states, they will be able to take the nursing licensure exam to earn their nursing certification.

The event began with a prayer and an opening message from Dr. Haley.

“We’re here to celebrate your accomplishments and we’re very proud of you,” began Dr. Haley. “You’re joining a worldwide professional family of nurses. We’re known for our compassion, our expertise and our trustworthy service to others. It’s a tough time to come into nursing and you couldn’t be needed more.”

Before reading the names of all of the graduates, the annual senior awards were announced to outstanding students. Upon those who received awards were Meghan Chilton, Micaela Mariano, Spencer Lee, Ofa-Helotu Koka, Vivianne Verceluz and Kaleiui Hosaka.

The inaugural DAISY Faculty Award, a recognition established by The DAISY Foundation to honor nursing faculty members for their commitment to and inspirational influence on their students, was presented to Dr. Jeremy Creekmore. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Student went to Spencer Lee.

At the end of the celebration, the graduates followed classmate Micaela Mariano in reciting the Nightingale Pledge. Created in honor of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, the Nightingale Pledge is a statement of ethics and principles taken by nurses in the United States.

“In full knowledge of the obligations I am undertaking,” repeated the graduates, “I promise to care for the sick with all the skill and understanding I possess, without regard to race, creed, color, politics, or social status, sparing no effort to conserve life, to alleviate suffering and to promote health.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2020–we wish you the best of luck on your NCLEX exams and we can’t wait to see what the future holds. We look forward to officially celebrating you in December!

From Soldier to Teacher

by

What do you do when a 20-year military career comes to an end?

For soon-to-be-retired soldier Kristopher Van Beveren ‘20, the answer is easy—you teach.

Kristopher Van Beveren '20 with his wife

For the first part of Van Beveren’s Army career, he served as a cavalry scout—the eyes and ears of the Army, gathering information on the enemy during battle. Over the course of his career he switched to corrections, working in the military prisons. But his real passion was always teaching.

When he first encountered Chaminade University at the on-base education center in 2005, he had just arrived at Schofield Barracks fresh off a deployment to Iraq. Van Beveren liked that Chaminade was a local school, and he could take classes on base in the evenings. With our presence on base, soldiers can take a combination of on-base and online classes to work toward a bachelor’s degree.

He enrolled as a secondary education major, but his time on-island was short-lived before deploying again to Iraq.

Fast forward to 2017. He returned to Hawai‘i, this time with a wife and young children to support. With his 20-year Army anniversary on the horizon and thoughts of retirement looming, he re-enrolled in Chaminade’s program.

He started again in the secondary education program, but soon he switched to a major in historical and political studies. He had his eye set on teaching high school—the time in his life when teachers were the most influential. Switching majors, he realized, would help him pass the single subject exam for social studies—or, depending on which state he and his family ended up in, would wipe out the extra requirement altogether.

Like most active-duty students, his time at Chaminade was a combination of online and on-base classes. In the beginning, he took classes on base in the evening. The timing provided the flexibility he needed to work full time, and it was easier for him to learn in person.

“I would recommend the evening classes to any of my fellow soldier counterparts,” says Van Beveren. “The professors are really accommodating because they have jobs as well. They don’t severely overload you, but they get enough in to make it challenging.”

Kristopher Van Beveren '20 with his children

Toward the end, evening classes became difficult while raising his family, so he switched to online classes.

“You definitely have to be more disciplined to get it all done online,” confesses Van Beveren. “But I’ve had a really good experience. If you’re self-motivated, online is a great avenue because you can do it all at your own pace. Sometimes the professors will post the whole course online upfront, so if you wanted, you could knock it out in three weeks instead of ten.”

It helped having supportive professors who were adept at teaching online. Dr. Mitch Yamasaki, a history professor, was one who particularly stood out. “I have to say that he is one of the best online professors I have had,” says Van Beveren, commenting on the amount of thought and detail that goes into Yamasaki’s lectures and study guides. “His courses are very thorough and very well put together. I have retained a lot of knowledge by the way the information is presented.”

It’s an emotional time for Van Beveren. He graduates next month, something he’s wanted for a long time.

“I put it off for years because of deployments and training and Army life,” he reminisces. “It was a challenge being a full-time student while having a full-time job, and a family with two young kids, but it was doable. And it feels great to be finishing.”

He’s also retiring from his 20-year Army career and getting ready to leave the island. And as if preparing to finish his degree and transitioning to civilian life wasn’t enough, there’s a global pandemic. One that sent his wife and children to their new home in Florida early, before the widespread lockdowns, and one that means he won’t be able to attend his newly rescheduled graduation ceremony in December. But he knows the move and the transition are the right thing to do.

“Twenty years is a long time,” says Van Beveren about his decision to retire. “But I’m still relatively young and my kids are still small right now. I’m excited to focus on them more.”

Not one to sit idle, Van Beveren already has his next step lined up. He starts a Master’s program at the University of North Florida the day his online classes end next month. He’s joining their Teacher Residency program, where he’ll work in the classroom at a high-needs school and earn his Master of Arts in Teaching at the same time.

He has his eye on the prize—not only will he have a new, rewarding career, but in a few years, he’ll have his summers off. His wife, also a teacher, will too. And for Van Beveren, the thing that matters most is getting to spend more time with his family and being there for his children.

Co-Curricular Awards 2020

by

Each year, the Co-Curricular Awards are presented to outstanding members of the Chaminade community who go above and beyond to make our campus a better place. While the awards are typically presented at a dinner ceremony, this year’s 15th Annual Co-Curricular Awards were presented via video announcement due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Three notable awards carry on the legacy of individuals who have provided exemplary service to the Chaminade ‘ohana—Bro. Joseph Becker, Rev. David Schuyler and Fr. Stephen Tutas. These awards recognize individuals and organizations who continue to go above and beyond to serve their campus community and carry on the spirit of their namesake. 

Bro. Joseph Becker was one of the founders of Chaminade University of Honolulu and was highly regarded as the chairman of the English department. He was known for his humor and bringing the fun to campus. The Bro. Joseph Becker Awards of Excellence are presented each year to Chaminade students who display exceptional leadership through involvement in co-curricular activities. These students embody the characteristics of leadership: initiative, motivation, character, integrity, service and scholarship. They are actively involved in the campus community and contribute their time and energy to the improvement of student and campus life. This year brought two freshmen recipients of the award: Jacqueline Martinez and Eri Leong. The sophomore recipient was Josephine Iose, Melissa De La Cruz was the junior recipient, and Cami Naomi Keli’inui received the award as a senior.

Rev. David Schuyler became the fifth president of Chaminade University, after serving the institution as dean and vice president. His career was spent in service to Marianist educational institutions as a teacher, mentor and advisor. The Rev. David Schuyler Advisor of the Year Award is awarded each year to a staff, faculty member or administrator who advises a student organization and consistently helps identify, encourage and support students in their campus involvement and leadership opportunities. This person expands the horizons, skills and value systems of Chaminade students through their support and guidance. The 2020 award was presented to professor Hans Chun for his work advising the Korean Club.

Fr. Tutas was a teacher and administrator at Chaminade in the 1950s, and served as the director of the Marianist community in Honolulu. He spent 16 years serving communities in Hawaii. The Fr. Stephen Tutas Program Award for Excellence recognizes a student program that has demonstrated exceptional creativity, planning and execution and has significantly contributed to the quality of life at Chaminade. This year’s award was presented to Tales & Treats, a service learning program where students from Luminai O Samoa, Micronesian Club and Marianas Club work with the Hawaii Literacy Program to teach low income housing students the skills of literacy.

Congratulations to all of the 2020 awardees—your commitment, dedication and service are what make Chaminade so unique and special.

2020 CO-CURRICULAR AWARDS

AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE OFFICE OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP (OSAL)

Bro. Joseph Becker Awards of Excellence
Awarded annually to a freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior who displayed exceptional leadership through involvement in co-curricular activities.

Freshman: Jacqueline Martinez, Communication ‘23 and Eri Leong, Communication ‘23
Sophomore: Josephine Iose, Psychology ‘22
Junior: Melissa “Ezzie” Dela Cruz, Biology ‘21
Senior: Cami Naomi Keli’inui, Biology ‘22

Bro. Elmer Dunsky Outstanding Student Organization Award
Awarded annually to a student organization that has gone beyond the bounds of their membership by helping to create a positive campus environment for all students and made an outstanding contribution to Chaminade University as an organization.

Residence Hall Association

Fr. Stephen Tutas Program Award for Excellence
Awarded annually to a student or student organization who has exceptional creativity, planning, and execution of a university program which significantly contributed to the quality of life at Chaminade.

Tales & Treats (Lumanai O Samoa/Micronesian Club)

Rev. David Schuyler Advisor of the Year Award
Awarded annually to a member of faculty, staff or administration who advises a student club/organization and consistently helped to identify, encourage, and support students in their leadership development and campus involvement, repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to the community and its needs and expanded the horizons, skills and value systems of Chaminade students by providing support and guidance within co-curricular life.

Dr. Hans Chun (School of Education and Behavioral Sciences)

AWARDS PRESENTED BY ATHLETICS

Male Athlete of the Year
Awarded annually to a student-athlete who represents Chaminade University in a prideful and honorable manner during his season.

Tyler Cartaino, MBA program (Men’s Basketball)

Female Athlete of the Year
Awarded annually to a student-athlete who represents Chaminade University in a prideful and honorable manner during her season.

Rachel Reedy, Nursing 2021 (Women’s Volleyball)

Silversword Award
Recognizes an act or series of acts associated with an athletic activity that represents the spirit of the Marianist philosophy to include sportsmanship, integrity, honesty, truthfulness and respect for self and others.

Rachel Arakawa, Biology ‘20 (Women’s Soccer)

AWARDS PRESENTED BY CAMPUS MINISTRY

Campus Ministry Award
Awarded to a student who has participated in all areas of Campus Ministry (liturgy, community service and retreats). This person is an all-around amazing member of the Campus Ministry ‘ohana.

Angel Felise-Vitale, Historical & Political Studies ‘20

Liturgy Award
Awarded to an individual who has willingly volunteered his or her time and talent to contribute to the quality and spirituality of our weekend and special liturgies and prayer experiences.

Mica Mariano, Nursing ‘20
Martina Segura, Environmental Studies ‘23

Retreat Leader of the Year
Acknowledges the overwhelming commitment and dedication shown by a retreat leader in creating communities of support, faith, and love on campus.

Andrew Trapsi, Biochemistry ‘20
Samantha Diaz, Elementary Education ‘20

Service Award
Acknowledges outstanding servant leadership in the area of restorative justice and service for the people and the `āina (land) of Hawaii.

Eddie Adachi, Environmental Studies ‘21
Andrew Ancheta II, Biology ‘21

AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE OFFICE OF ADVISING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Distinguished Tutor of the Year
Acknowledges the outstanding commitment and dedication shown by a tutor to serve the Chaminade University of Honolulu community.

Keahealailani Takushi, Biochemistry ‘21

Outstanding Orientation Leader
Awarded to an Orientation Leader who has displayed exemplary performance of their duties.

Charlynn Adversalo, Psychology ‘20

Outstanding Peer Mentor
Awarded to a Peer Mentor who has displayed exemplary performance of their duties.

Marvin Trantham, Business Administration ‘20

AWARDS PRESENTED BY RESIDENTIAL LIFE

Residence Hall Association Award of Excellence
Awarded to a Resident Hall Association Representative who is a role model for other representatives, has demonstrated strong leadership skills and who positively impacted the organization and residential community.

Tanisha Taualai, Criminology and Criminal Justice ‘22

Resident Assistant Award of Excellence
Awarded to a Resident Assistant who has a high-level of maturity, exhibits the ability to work as an individual community leader as well as an active participant on the Residential Life team.

Marianna ‘Aulani Oka, Environmental Studies ‘23
Shane Cobacha, Psychology ‘22
Cayanne Gabaylo, Biology ‘22
Dominic Coffey, Criminology and Criminal Justice ‘21
Mystique Gaspar-Kekume, Criminology and Criminal Justice ‘21
Jemima Telesia Nafatali, Accounting ‘21
Jason Nowak, Criminology and Criminal Justice ‘21
Tihani Rivera, Forensic Sciences ‘21
Andrew Trapsi, Biochemistry ‘20

AWARDS PRESENTED BY DEAN OF STUDENTS

Dean of Students’ Special Recognition
Recognizes a student who in his or her time at Chaminade has continuously contributed to the betterment of the overall community.

Sierra Murobayashi, Criminology and Criminal Justice ‘21

Frederick K.K. Kauhane, Sr. Aloha Spirit Award
Awarded annually to students who exhibit a humble, cheerful, and generous spirit; a dedication to fostering a sense of `ohana around campus and the ability to raise other’s spirits by consistently improving the environment around them.

Kiso Skelton, Historical and Political Studies ‘20

Henry Halenani Gomes Alaka‘i Award
Recognizes a Chaminade undergraduate student who has demonstrated excellence in leadership and service to the Native Hawaiian community.

Pohaikealoha Artates, Environmental Studies ‘20

Bethesda Bound

by

Like most soon-to-be college graduates, the world outside of Chaminade was a bit intimidating for Chloe Talana.

The aspiring doctor knew she wanted to gain more research experience through a post-baccalaureate program, but they can be hard to come by.

Chloe Talana

She tried several times, unsuccessfully, to find the right research position and was beginning to feel uneasy. “You put so much into those applications,” says Talana. “And then if you end up not getting in…to me that’s just not cool.”

Just as she was starting to come up with a backup plan, she got an email from the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Led by Dr. Tony Fauci, NIAID has been thrust into the limelight lately as they diligently work to address the spread of COVID-19. Talana’s heart lies in finding a cure to another global pandemic, though—HIV. And it was the HIV vaccine lab that reached out.

“I was just so happy because at least someone noticed me,” beams Talana. “They noticed that I might be of help and that, to me, is just so rewarding.”

One of Talana’s first research opportunities was through a summer program at Johns Hopkins University, where she studied blood samples from HIV infected individuals to document how their immune cells function.

Chloe Talana receiving the Sue Wesselkemper Award during Na Liko Na'auao

After her project, she was one of eight students selected out of a group of 103 to be named best poster presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. She also received the President Sue Wesselkamper Prize for being an outstanding student at Na Liko Na’auao, Chaminade’s annual undergraduate research conference.

“HIV is my favorite virus to study because it’s just so clever in tricking the body so it can use the important components it needs to stay alive,” says Talana. “HIV is just so fascinating to me.”

There’s currently no cure or vaccine for HIV. But the lab at NIAID is studying ways to stimulate a body’s natural ability to produce antibodies to combat HIV, known as broadly neutralizing antibodies. Given the rate at which HIV replicates and mutates, this type of vaccine is widely considered to have the most potential.

When the email came that Chloe had been offered the position at NIAID, her initial excitement was immediately followed by fear.

“At first, I actually didn’t want to accept it because my inner saboteur was telling me I wouldn’t be good enough,” confesses Talana. “But with the help of the Chaminade faculty, I was able to clear my mind. They kept reminding me that the reason I had been accepted was because I could do this.”

For the Farrington High School graduate, this will be her first time living off-island for more than two-months—though she knew an eventual move to the mainland was inevitable with her career goals.

Talana has her eyes set on dual M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. Her time at Johns Hopkins opened her eyes to the powerful work that can be done when research and medicine go hand-in-hand. She got to shadow the principal investigator of her lab, and saw how he would bring blood samples from his patients straight back into the lab.

“I found it so amazing and eye-opening. I want to do that—I don’t want to just be able to care for my patients and treat their symptoms, I want to help them alleviate their pain and suffering by actually finding a cure.”

In between preparing for her move and researching her new home in Bethesda, Maryland, Chloe reminisces about her time at Chaminade.

With COVID-19, her time on campus came to an abrupt halt and her graduation ceremony was postponed to December. Now, she’s not sure when she’ll be able to see her professors again—who to her are more like mentors and friends—and she won’t be able to say goodbye in person. “I’m grateful for everyone at Chaminade and for Chaminade itself,” shares Talana. “I’ve said this many times before, but without them, I would not have been able to get to where I am today and I’m very grateful for that.”

“We Care” Packages

by

Though unable to gather in person, Chaminade students still felt the love. Faculty and staff volunteers gathered to distribute celebratory care packages to all students (day undergraduates, online undergraduates, graduate students and PsyD students) at a drive-through event today.

Students who pulled up to the Chaminade campus were greeted by a group of Chaminade staff and faculty members cheering them on and giving words of encouragement. They were directed to pull up to the distribution table, where they were handed a care package full of hot meals, breakfast foods, fresh fruits, baked goods, snacks and more through their passenger side window.

“With COVID-19, we have to be creative and find new ways to show our students that we care about them, and we miss them, says Allison Jerome, Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students at Chaminade University.”

For some students, this was the last time they got to see Chaminade faculty and staff before graduating next week. “I’m so grateful that they took the time to put on this event for us,” says Theresa Dao, a soon-to-be-Chaminade-graduate and biology major. “It’s been really hard having to finish out my senior year without seeing my Chaminade ‘ohana, so it was nice having a chance to say goodbye, even though I could only wave from my car. I’m really going to miss them.”

Chaminade plans to reopen campus in the fall, and their official graduation ceremony has been postponed to December 14, 2020.

Mahalo Scholarship Luncheon 2020

by

Mahalo Scholarship Luncheon 2020 event

One of the most rewarding parts about donating is seeing your donation in action. As more than 70 donors witnessed on February 20, a donation to Chaminade has tangible benefits and changes the lives of our students.

Each year, the Mahalo Scholarship Luncheon brings together donors who have supported our scholarship fund with students who have received a scholarship. It’s an opportunity for the students to thank their scholarship donors personally, and let them know just how much their support has made a difference in their educational journey.

“Our students really understand and appreciate the choice every one of our donors made to invest in them,” says Dawn Johnson, scholarship manager at Chaminade and organizer of the luncheon. “Most of them have shared that they intend to one day ‘pay forward’ the gift of scholarship they received while at Chaminade.”

The event started with an oli from the students to the donors. Following, the students draped lei on the donors in gratitude, and then sought out the individuals who created the scholarship they received to join them for lunch.

Leslie Blount attends the event each year representing the Richard T. and Leslie N. Blount Scholarship for military students and dependents. The scholarship was established by her late husband, Richard, right before he fell ill. “This event is one of my major highlights,” says Leslie. “I just love interacting with the students. They never seize to impress me with all of their accomplishments and I’m just so grateful that they are living my husband’s dream. It gives me such joy to know that his wish to help students connected to the military is being fulfilled.”

Chaminade University has more than 100 scholarships that have been generously established by individual donors and foundations. Many of them are endowed, and several are renewable investments that are replenished each year. This year alone, our students received nearly $2.3 million in donor-funded scholarships.

Ke‘alohi Canady '20 speaks at the Mahalo Scholarship Luncheon 2020

Ke‘alohi Canady, a fourth-year business administration major and first-generation college student from Honolulu, spoke first-hand about how much her scholarship has impacted her time as a student.

“I am beyond grateful and so fortunate to have been awarded a scholarship,” said Ke‘alohi. “I’m really lucky that I don’t have to struggle or work crazy hours just to finance my education. It allows me to have a sustainable work-study life balance, meaning that I can devote my time to soaking up all the information in my studies. I was able to have this opportunity because of you all.”

Edward Adachi, a third-year environmental science major, spoke to the individual transformation he has undertaken while at Chaminade. He was raised on the island of Oahu by his maternal grandmother, and he has always sought to become a person that would make her proud.

Edward Adachi '20 speaks at the Mahalo Scholarship Luncheon 2020

“I came to college thinking I had life all figured out,” he began his address to the room. “I had made a list in high school of what college I wanted to go to, what degree I wanted to pursue, how I would obtain my career and what I would do in retirement—at the age of 18, I had 50 years planned out. My friend once told me, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Well, God must have been rolling on the floor when he heard mine.”

Edward entered Chaminade as a business administration major. Within the first year and a half, after rethinking that decision several times, he finally landed on environmental science. He’s now planning a graduate degree in public health, and looks forward to a career educating communities across the pacific on how to be healthy.

His time at Chaminade has introduced him to a world full of possibilities and opportunities. He has met friends from all over the world, from all walks of life, and he’s traveled to the mainland and throughout the Pacific. He also discovered his faith at Chaminade, and now identifies proudly as a Roman Catholic.

“To be at a school that is so dynamic motivates me to be just as dynamic,” said Edward. “To live, is to change. Thank you for changing my life, and the lives of all of our students.”

To learn more about how you can support a student at Chaminade, contact Dawn Johnson at dawn.johnson@chaminade.edu.

/* Accessibility for link text destination Start *//* Accessibility for link text destination End */