Chaminade University of Honolulu

Students

A World of Opportunity

Nerisa Taua doesn’t believe in waiting for opportunity to come knocking, it’s time wasted. Instead, she hunts it down.

Taua – who will graduate from Chaminade University in May with a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies – has knocked on a few of opportunity’s doors during the past four years.

On the academic front, she found her true passion through Chaminade’s Summer Research Program. While other students soaked up the sun, Taua spend her summer at Purdue University collaborating with experts in the university’s bat lab. Alongside Associate Professor of Wildlife Science Patrick Zollner – who became one of her mentors – she was able to get up close and personal with long-eared bats. Using acoustic monitors and echolocation, her research involved finding efficient and cost-effective ways to capture the animals.

With graduation on the horizon, Taua dreams of returning home to American Samoa to research the fruit bat, one of the country’s few native mammals. But before she does, there’s another stop on her journey before she returns.

She’ll be making a round trip back to Purdue University to further pursue her newly found passion at the graduate level, seeking a master’s degree in the Wildlife Science program, and continue working with Zollner and his team.

Paying for graduate school is never easy, but the cost for Taua isn’t a factor. Again seeking out opportunity, she found the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership grant and applied for its scholarship program. Taua was accepted, she is now a Sloan Scholar.

“I was beyond excited,” she says. “This was another step closer to opening a pathway for my people. As a Samoan, this is such a huge opportunity. The first thing that came to mind was ‘if I can do it, anyone from American Samoa can do better.’”

Although she’s been busy with her studies during her time at Chaminade, Taua has kept her culture alive in her heart and shared it with other through her experiences performing with her brothers and sisters of Lumana’i O Samoa.

There’s been personal growth as well and Taua says she’s grown immensely during her time at Chaminade. She now considers herself to be better at public speaking, more social, open-minded, approachable and professional.

A PERSONAL CHEERING SQUAD

It takes a village – and an enthusiastic cheering squad – to raise a child and Taua found hers since arriving in Honolulu four years ago. She’s has a team of dedicated and caring professors, advisors and staff encouraging her success and guiding her to individualized opportunities.

“I’ve received help from a lot of mentors who guided me toward a passion I didn’t know existed,” she says. “Their encouragement and belief in me is what motivated me to set and accomplish goals. Without mentorship, I would probably be lost and still searching for the next step to a brighter future.”

Taua leaves Chaminade with many great memories. She says she’s humbled and honored with the opportunities she’s been provided and that she’s proud to represent her home, family and those who’ve helped her along the way. Now she wants to give back to others as a mentor to help them grow and succeed in the ways she did. She especially wants to channel her energy toward the youth in America Samoa.

When Taua leaves Chaminade with her degree in hand, she’ll take with her a world of experience and lessons. She’s built a solid foundation at Chaminade and this is just the beginning.

The Environmental Studies minor offered by the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics focuses on policy and environmental law to prepare students for careers in environmental science, ecology and conservation biology.

The Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research (OHPAUR) assists students interested in healthcare careers, regardless of their major. Services include: advising, test preparation, summer programs, guest speaker presentations, professional seminars, community service activities and internship/shadowing opportunities. OHPAUR also maintains articulation agreements with four ATSU campuses, as well as Boston University School of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Pacific University, Samuel Merritt University, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, University of Dayton and Western University School of Health Sciences.

Service-learning in the Spotlight

Service-learning is woven into the student experience at Chaminade University.

The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse defines service-learning as a “teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.”

Each year, the Service-Learning Day celebration showcases the meaningful work of students and community organizations during the past year. The event serves as an opportunity for students and community partners to present their projects to the Chaminade community.

Students, faculty and staff came together at the Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center on March 9 for Service-Learning Day. As they made their way through the various booths and displays, they were able to ask questions and learn more about the exciting work that took place island-wide.

About 480 service-learning engagements take place throughout the community each semester. There are 45 community partners on average that work with Chaminade students each year, and more than 20 instructors typically offer courses with a service-learning component each semester.

Service-learning is one of the University’s commitments to students. It extends beyond the classroom to the community and encourages students to look beyond themselves to engage in public service. Chaminade strives to facilitate these experiences to strengthen the community – and build the whole student.

Chaminade has been the recipient of many service-learning awards throughout the years, including the recent Western Region Engaged Campus award in 2017. The award is given to institutions that focus on service through student learning, mission-centered engagement and meaningful partnerships.

TAKING STOCK IN KEIKI

At this year’s celebration, Palolo Elementary School students were honored as state winners in The Stock Market Game™ (SMG). Chaminade President Lynn Babington presented medals and a winner’s banner to the Palolo students.

Chaminade business students serve as mentors to the younger students in this service-learning project. Since 2010, the partnership has served as a way for the students to learn about the stock market and have fun with numbers.

The Palolo fourth and fifth graders participated in the after-school activity to learn concepts including beta numbers and capital gains while building relationships with the Chaminade students.

The SMG has engaged more than 17 million students since 1977. Students start with $100,000 virtual dollars in this online educational activity. The game simulates current global markets to teach students skills related to economics, investing and personal financing. It also prepares them to live financially independent lives and models concepts related to integrity and leadership.

“Seeing and listening to students share their experiences with service-learning reinforces that we are preparing our students to meet the needs of the community while enhancing their educational experience,” Director of Service Learning Candice Sakuda, said. “I am especially proud of the mentorship and leadership of our business students, who were instrumental in guiding students through the Palolo Stock Market Game and earning their victory.”

From Scraping By to Attending Med School, Hyo Park Makes it Happen

As a high school student in Pennsylvania, Hyo Park dreamed of going to college.

But come graduation day, he found himself stuck.

While his friends went off to seek four-year degrees, Park took several part-time jobs to make ends meet — at a deli and a bank, in retail and telemarketing.

When times were really tough, he’d donate plasma twice a week for $50.

“I dreamed of a college education,” Park said. “It was luxury I couldn’t afford.”

That didn’t stop him from keeping hold of that goal. And before long, despite his mother’s reservations, he joined the Navy so that he could eventually seek financial assistance to get a college degree.

Hyo Park

In uniform, Park excelled.

He became a ballistic missile defense computer technician, serving aboard the USS Lake Erie stationed in Pearl Harbor. He was deployed to China, Japan and Korea.

And he was recognized by the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet for his role in helping to develop the nation’s ballistic missile defense capabilities.

Things were going well, but Park never forgot his bigger dream.

In his spare time, he took online college courses at Chaminade. And it was through those classes that he realized the school that offered him the “right fit” had been in front of him all along.

Hyo Park and friends celebrating Dr. Terem Bulent's birthday
Hyo and friends celebrating Dr. Bulet Terem’s birthday

He chose to enroll in Chaminade full-time, and after taking a particularly inspiring organic chemistry course with Professor Bulent Terem — “It was the first class that challenged me to think critically and stimulated my curiosity,” Park says — declared biochemistry as his major.

Hyo & friends celebrate Professor Terem’s birthday

Park remembers those early days at Chaminade with no small amount of fondness—he was finally where he belonged.

But he also cringes a little when he recalls how socially awkward—his words—he was, having taken up a host of habits in the military that just didn’t translate well in the real world. (Turns out, people don’t stand at attention in front of their professors’ desks.)

Eventually, though, Park loosened up, got used to civilian life again, made friends. He gained some valuable mentors, too. Professors like Terem who, Park said, live to make learning engaging, and whose passions in their fields are absolutely infectious.

In hopes of giving back to Terem, Park even volunteered to serve as his lab assistant.

“Although I initially started with the intention of helping Dr. Terem,” he said, “I realized that I was able to develop my leadership and communication skills because of these experiences.”

And Park just kept building on those skills—and looking for more opportunities to grow.

Hyo Park and classmates during UCLA summer program
Hyo and classmates at UCLA summer program

Hyo with fellow students at UCLA summer program

He spent a summer helping underserved populations through a UCLA School of Medicine program. He got a grant from Chaminade to attend a conference, where he met with members of the admissions committees from medical schools around the country. And he spent a summer studying zebrafish embryo at the University of Maryland, and then received a Chaminade travel grant to present his award-winning research at a conference.

In short, Park has accomplished some incredible things at Chaminade — thanks in large part, he says, to the connections and mentorships and support he’s gotten at the university.

But perhaps the most noteworthy part of Park’s journey at Chaminade isn’t his many successes, it’s his growing commitment to helping those around him.

“While at Chaminade,” he said, “I learned the importance of dedicating myself to something greater than my personal ambitions — through service.”

And that’s why, after Park graduates in May, he’ll be headed off to the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, where he scored a seat after applying through Chaminade’s articulation agreement.

At George Washington, he said, Park wants to learn — and serve. He plans to volunteer at the university’s “healing clinic,” serving low-income populations who don’t have affordable access to health care.

Dean Schroeder, Minister Fineisaloi, Biology Student Ignacio Receive Founders’ Week Heritage Awards

As a highlight of Founders’ Week activities at Chaminade University, Vice President for Mission and Rector Bro. Edward Brink, S.M. presented the annual Heritage Awards to faculty and staff members and a student for their continuous commitment to Marianist values.

Receiving the Chaminade Award at the Founders’ Eucharist for exhibiting “traits of openness, hospitality, graciousness and faith in a loving God” was School of Business and Communication Dean Scott Schroeder.

“Colleagues describe Scott as gracious and welcoming,” Bro. Ed said. “His openness to new ideas and suggestions points to his collaborative style of leadership.” Students who worked with Dr. Schroeder describe him as “thoughtful, caring and approachable” and able to motivate and inspire them, Bro. Ed added.

A Marianist Educational Associate since 2014, Dr. Schroeder was a postdoctoral fellow in the Management and Leadership in Education Institute at Harvard University. He received his Ph.D. from UCLA, an M.B.A. from Arizona State University and a B.A. from Santa Clara University.

Dr. Schroeder donated the $250 cash award he received to the Accounting Student Scholarship Fund. This in memory of founding accounting faculty member and longtime Chaminade trustee James Wong, who attributed his success in life to the influence and hospitality of the Marianists dating back to his high school days.

Receiving the Marianist Award was Maimoa Fineisaloi, Minister for Peace and Justice with the Campus Ministry team. Bro. Ed praised her for “drawing others into the challenge of building a collaborative community, and commitment to the vision and mission of Chaminade University.”

“A nominator of Maimoa pointed to her work with the Feeding the Hungry program at Next Step Shelter as an example of her advocacy for justice,” Bro. Ed noted. “She is quiet and yet consistent in her efforts. She hopes to lead others to take action in support of those who are in need within our local community and beyond.”

Fineisaloi, who became a Marianist Educational Associate in 2014, earned a M.S. in Counseling Psychology and a B.A. in Psychology from Chaminade. She donated her cash award to the campus Micronesian Club and the Tales and Treats program, in which students read to children at community centers and provide them with nutritious snacks.

Presented with the Founders’ Award was student Vanessa Ignacio, who maintains a 3.4 Grade Point Average while majoring in Biology major and minoring in Chemistry. After graduating from Chaminade, Ignacio will attend A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. She eventually intends to practice family medicine on the Big Island.

“One of Vanessa’s nominators referred to her as the ‘epitome of a servant leader’ and indicated that Vanessa was able to see the presence of God in the people who are part of her journey here at Chaminade,” Bro. Ed said.

“Vanessa knows that it is a privilege to journey with others towards God,” and friends describe her as “devoted, faithful, loving, caring, down-to earth, strong, independent and reliable.”

A member of the Eia Kou Makuahine Student Marianist Lay community, Ignacio serves as the Filipino Club social chair. She also served as a Vice President for Student Government and as Rectoress on the university’s Awakening Retreat.

Ignacio designated her cash award to support Campus Ministry, which has “given me priceless memories, unending joy and a lifetime family,” she said.

Hogan Students Help Homeless With Resumes, Interviewing Skills at Job Preparation Workshop

For homeless men and women, getting hired can be a daunting task – even when Hawaii boasts the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. But thanks to volunteer efforts by 16 Chaminade University students, finding gainful employment got easier for homeless individuals who attended the 13th annual Job Preparation Workshop conducted by the Hogan Entrepreneurs Program. Hogan Homeless WorkshopLeading the event were Chaminade instructor and Hogan board member Denny McDonough, along with Ed Nakamura, an employment specialist with the Institute for Human Services nonprofit organization. Students helped attendees with interviewing techniques, shared information about job resources and created resumes that were sent to more than 500 potential employers. The homeless people were “eager to learn,” said volunteer Savannah Lyn Delos Santos, a junior preparing for a career in business marketing. “They were all hungry for growth and it was so evident in their actions, curiosity and enthusiasm,” Delos Santos said. “I gave my business card to a few participants and told them to keep me updated on the progress of their job hunt.” Among the challenges in conducting the workshop, Delos Santos said, was assisting attendees with limited English skills. A personal challenge, she said, was witnessing the pain and desperation of homeless people struggling to survive. “Many of them shared the stories of their lives and what led to their homelessness,” she said. “It made me happy to know that I was making a difference, but also sad that many people do not get the chance to see what life is like on the other side. “While most of society shuns them because they have nothing, they are just doing what they can to move forward and rise up. They made me realize how sometimes one chance is all someone needs to create a better life for both them and their families.” Other students volunteering for the workshop were: Monique Gomes, Bonita Dydasco, Mokihana Maldonado, Clarke Velasco, Caitlin Martinez, Sarah Cervantes, Fabian Patterson, Jackie McGreal, Antonio Bonnetty, Ally Alvarez-Stratton, Chris Ortiz, Grant Okazaki, Nate Cassion, Taletha Manigo and Tyler Taydus. The Hogan Entrepreneurs Program provides Chaminade students with the knowledge, skills, motivation and networking opportunities to succeed in business ventures. This one- or two-year certificate program is open to all students, regardless of their majors. The Hogan motto is: “Doing business things that make social sense. Doing social things that make business sense.”

Student Broderick Menke Conveys Marshall Islands Plight at Climate Change Conferences in Germany

Having grown up in the low-lying Marshall Islands, Chaminade University student Broderick Menke knows firsthand about the devastating effects of global warming and sea level rise. Tidal flooding regularly threatens homes and freshwater supplies in his island nation and may make many areas unfit for human habitation in coming decades.

An Environmental Studies major, Menke conveyed the plight ofhis South Pacific home at the 13th Conference of Youth. Held during November 2017 in Bonn, Germany, this gathering of young people from 114 countries had a theme of “Talanoa Mada – Youth Accelerating Climate Action.”

Menke also represented the Marshall Islands at the ensuing United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, which supported governments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and thereby accelerating the transformation to sustainable, resilient and climate-safe development.

“Out of all my international trips, Germany was a unique time,” Menke said, because the Republic of Fiji presided over the conferences.

“The significance of that is that the Pacific Islands were able to amplify their voices and issues,” he pointed out. “As a Pacific Islander, I was proud to give a face to the climate realities that we are currently facing, as my home is one of the most vulnerable countries.”

Menke was selected to lead the Pacific Voices in Unison – a team of six youth from Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Republic of the Marshall Islands – who shared their stories of resilience in the face of climate change.

He was also active with the “Have Your Sei” campaign in Bonn, during which “Pacific Climate Warriors” called for ending the use of fossil fuels and providing financial assistance to countries facing irreversible damage from rising sea levels and other environmental threats.

Being invited to participate in the two conferences was the product of “other people’s hard work,” Menke emphasized.

“I commend everyone out there doing immense local work to improve their own environment in their unique way,” he said, because everyone has a duty “to partake in nurturing our planet.”

As for his college experience, Menke said he was attracted to Chaminade based on the small class sizes and recommendations from family members who attended the university.

“When I got to Chaminade, it was more than I expected,” he said. “It was better! The whole idea of a smaller campus gives you the opportunity to get to know many people, and I love hearing stories and their experiences.”

Menke credits one of his professors, Environmental Studies Director Gail Grabowsky, with being especially important in clarifying his academic and career goals.

“I came in with a scattered mind, thinking I will graduate and get into anything environmental in the future,” Menke said. “But she is helping me narrow down my field. She knows me more than I know myself, and I am extremely thankful for her guidance and moral support.”

After graduating from Chaminade, Menke plans to further his education at a university on the East Coast or possibly in Aotearoa (New Zealand).

His message to other climate warriors?

“Let’s all take the power back into our hands,” he said, “and work towards a more sustainable and resilient future.”