Chaminade University of Honolulu

Students

Nursing Students Mark Pinning Ceremony

Graduating Nursing students at Chaminade gathered Friday for the time-honored Pinning Ceremony, which commemorates the completion of their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.

Some 74 Silverswords received their BSN stoles and nursing pins at the gathering, held at Chaminade’s Richard T. Mamiya Theatre. They also recited the International Pledge for Nurses, “sparing no effort to conserve life, to alleviate suffering, and to promote health.”

“It’s really important to bring these nurses into the workforce. At the moment, we have a strong need in our community and we prepare nurses for all walks of nursing,” said Lorin Ramocki, DNP, RN, interim dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions.


Natasha Gourlay ’25 is among the graduating students who participated in the Pinning Ceremony.

“It’s a super important part of completing Nursing school, probably even more than Commencement. Pinning is kind of the end of the road, but also the beginning of our new chapter as nurses,” said Gourlay, who plans to pursue a career in public health nursing.

The Pinning Ceremony symbolizes the end of students’ formal education and the beginning of their nursing careers and serving the community. The roots of the Nursing Pinning tradition date to the 1860s, when Florence Nightingale—the founder of modern nursing—was awarded the Red Cross of St. George. Pinning ceremonies later grew to mark the beginning of a nurse’s career.

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“The pinning ceremony is a heartfelt tradition that symbolizes students, hard work and dedication throughout their coursework and clinical training,” said Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., a nurse herself. “Healthcare is more than just a profession. It’s a calling and a passion.”

Babington continued, “We congratulate our nursing students and hope they will become transformational and compassionate leaders in the medical community.”

Graduating With a Bachelor’s—While in High School

Veronica “Bonnie” Nagahisa ’25 doesn’t believe in wasting time.

On May 3, the 18-year-old will graduate from Chaminade University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. And three weeks later, she’ll walk again at Kapa’a High to accept her high school diploma.

Hawai’i Department of Education officials say she is the first student on Kaua’i to be awarded a high school diploma and bachelor’s degree at the same time.

“For most students, earning a high school diploma is the goal. But for Bonnie, it was just the beginning,” said Kapaʻa High Principal Tommy Cox. “She’s a great example for our students, showing them that nothing is impossible with the opportunities available at Kapaʻa High.”

Nagahisa’s college journey began after eighth grade, when she started taking online courses at Kauaʻi Community College.

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Her mother, Kimi Nagahisa, an early college counselor at Kanu o ka ʻĀina Charter School, helped guide her through the process.

“We try our best to mold and raise our kids but in many ways, they teach us patience, grace, and kindness. I am just so proud of her,” Nagahisa said.

By the end of her sophomore year, Bonnie had completed the requirements for her high school diploma and associate’s degree.

Still “super young,” as she put it, she enrolled full-time in Chaminade’s FLEX program to pursue her bachelor’s degree fully online.

“I’ve always loved school, reading, writing—all things education,” she said.

Bonnie, the oldest of seven siblings, says she was able to tackle her advanced studies along with her family and social life by maintaining a good balance.

“That balance looks different for everyone — the key is to find what works for you, especially when chasing big goals. At the end of the day, whatever you’re striving for, it’s essential to make space for joy, peace, and connection. Those things help ease the stress that often comes with pursuing your goals.”

Despite her demanding schedule, Nagahisa stayed active at Kapaʻa High, taking electives and study halls to stay connected with friends and campus life.

She is a National Honor Society member and a regular at volunteer events like Relay for Life, Toys for Tots, and campus beautification. She also made time to support nearly every school sporting event. “Staying engaged and showing school spirit was important to me, even with a full plate,” she said.

After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Bonnie plans to continue her studies at Chaminade. She has been admitted into the Master’s of Arts in Teaching program.

Undergraduate Researchers Shine at Symposium

“Investigating human mast cell degranulation and membrane alterations due to nanoplastic exposure”

“Tiktok and the age of digital propaganda”

“Evaluating the effectiveness of culturally tailored diet programs for indigenous Hawaiians”

Those are just a handful of the more than two dozen projects Chaminade students presented on at this year’s Na Liko Na’auao, an annual symposium aimed at showcasing undergraduate research.

Amber Noguchi, Ph.D., assistant provost for Undergraduate Research and Pre-Professional Programs at Chaminade, said participating students each worked closely under the mentorship of a faculty member.

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“Na Liko Na’auao not only represents a milestone accomplishment for our students, but a stepping stone for those who plan to pursue careers in various sectors,” she said, adding the April 16 symposium was also an opportunity to celebrate the hard work of undergraduate researchers and their scholarship.

“This venue celebrates their hard work. They are able to practice their communication skills, explore their strengths and identify areas for improvement, and get feedback on their work from faculty, staff and peers.”

Hailey Kekumu ‘25, a biology major who is also minoring in biochemistry, presented her research on nanoplastic exposure.

“The focus of my research is on how exposure to nanoplastics, which are less than 1 micrometer in size, affects our immune system, an important mediator between us and our environment,” said Kekumu, who also presented at Hawaii’s INBRE Undergraduate Research Symposium.

“My project is more immunology based, which was my primary interest when I first started here at Chaminade. My mentor also mentioned that research on nanoplastics is still relatively new, so our research serves as a sort of foundation on future studies looking into nanoplastics,” she said.

Kekumu added that she hopes to continue her research and potentially pursue medicine.

Zach McClellan ’25, who is majoring in psychology with a minor in criminal justice, studied the impact of occupational stressors on firefighters. He said the feedback from fellow student researchers, faculty members and others at the symposium was incredibly valuable—and positive.

“At first, I was a little nervous, but I was able to remind myself that I’m having a conversation with others about what I’m passionate about which kept me grounded. There were a lot of graduate programs that I was able to speak to about their programs and learned a lot through that,” he said.

McClellan added that he hopes to continue his research with a doctoral degree in neuroscience or clinical psychology. “I am excited about pursuing this study because I come from a family of firefighters,” he said.

“I also enjoy doing research in general because I am able to chase my own ideas and back them up with strong statistical data. Firefighter mental health is a very under-researched issue, which I aim to add to.”

Spring Commencement to Feature 2 Ceremonies

Chaminade University will hold its 67th annual Spring Commencement on May 3 at the Waikiki Shell.

This year, two ceremonies are planned—one for undergraduates and a second for master’s and doctoral students so families have more time to celebrate with their graduating loved ones.

The ceremony for graduates will begin at 10 a.m. and feature speaker Keiki-Pua Dancil, Ph.D., senior vice president of government affairs and strategic planning at Pulama Lana‘i and chair of the Chaminade Board of Regents. At Pulama Lana‘i, Dancil directs the efforts of the Community Development team and is also responsible for fostering relationships with government agencies, businesses and the permitting and entitlements process.

John Leong, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Pono Pacific Land Management and co-founder and CEO of nonprofit Kupu, will be the featured speaker for undergraduate students. That ceremony is set to kick off at 3 p.m.

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Pono Pacific is Hawai’i’s only comprehensive, private natural resource management company, providing conservation, sustainable energy and agriculture services. Meanwhile, Kupu seeks to develop the next generation of environmental stewards in the islands.

Madison M. Makishima ’25 will serve as the student speaker for the undergraduate ceremony. She is graduating with a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. The student speaker at the graduate ceremony is Kelly Dolan-Sapp, Ed.D ’25, an experienced educational researcher and advocate.

Organizers said 320 Class of 2025 graduates are expected at the undergraduate ceremony while 250 are expected at the graduate ceremony. Because there are two ceremonies, each graduating student is allowed to bring up to 15 ticketed guests.

Lei giving will happen after the ceremony at Kapiolani Regional Park. The ceremonies will also be streamed live online.

Graduates and prospective attendees are asked to prepare for traffic in the area and to plan ahead for transportation and parking options. For the latest on the events, click here.

Chaminade Doctoral Student Publishes Book

Bridget Duncan, DMFT ’26 didn’t expect to be a published author before she even graduated with her doctoral degree. But the licensed marriage and family therapist, who manages a private practice, also doesn’t believe in letting a good idea gather dust.

That’s how a conversation with a doctoral program advisor at Chaminade turned into a book, published in January on Amazon. Duncan’s book’s title says it all: “Stop Dyeing Red Flags Pink: Your Roadmap to Healthy, Balanced Relationships.”

“I talk about relationships and attachment theory. What are the red flags? And why do we ignore them?” Duncan said, adding the book was written for everyone—from people struggling in relationships to professionals looking for ways to help clients.

Bridget Duncan, DMFT ’26 (in black) poses on campus with School of Education and Behavioral Sciences Dean Dale Fryxell, Ph.D., DMFT Program Director Blendine P. Hawkins, Ph.D., LMFT (right), and Emily Kahumoku-Fessler, Ph.D., LMFTS (left), associate director of the DMFT program.

Duncan said the snappy title of the book came first.

She recalls chatting with Dr. Emily Kahumoku-Fessler, LMFTS, associate director of Chaminade’s Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy program, and mentioning just how frustrated she was about clients “dyeing those red flags pink” in their relationships.

Duncan recalls Kahumoku-Fessler telling her that would make a great book title.

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“She planted that seed,” Duncan said, adding the professors in the DMFT program followed up by encouraging her to take the leap into writing. “The idea really resonated with me and I thought, ‘Why not?’” Duncan recalled, speaking from her home office.

After the book was published, Duncan got another exciting opportunity.

She was invited to deliver a presentation on red flags in inter-partner violence at the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma Hawai’i conference in April. Duncan said she’ll have copies of her book on-hand and looks forward to underscoring her message.

Duncan said she was able to complete her book, even with her rigorous doctoral studies, by setting a goal of writing at least 30 minutes a day. She found that once she got started, she often wrote more than that—and also made important connections to her doctoral studies.

Her dissertation, which she also hopes to publish as a book, is focused on the “potent” impacts of social media on symptoms of anxiety and depression among middle-aged adults. She said studies have previously focused on younger social media followers.

Duncan enrolled in Chaminade’s DMFT after researching programs across the country.

She said the degree at Chaminade had the supportive atmosphere she was looking for—and the flexibility she needed as a full-time therapist. “The entire faculty has been amazing and they’re the best in the field. We’re learning from the cream of the crop,” she said. “If you’re looking for a program that is going to support and challenge you, this is the one for you.”

And as for being an author, Duncan says it’s a milestone she never imagined she’d achieve.

“But everybody can do what I did,” she said. “You’ve just got to reach for it.”

Criminal Justice Students Clinch Scholarships

Two Silverswords were honored with TOP COP Hawaii Scholarships in recognition of their academic achievement. Each student received $1,000 to use toward their educational goals.

The honorees were Jayce Pascua ‘26 and Heather Weires, MSCJS ‘24.

TOP COP Hawaii is organized by the Law Enforcement and Security Coalition of Hawaii to recognize excellence in law enforcement and security.

Dr. Kelly Treece, Chaminade Criminology and Criminal Justice program director, congratulated the student honorees. “They’re being recognized not only by scholarship donors, but the criminal justice community,” she said.

Pascua, a Criminology and Criminal Justice major at Chaminade, said the scholarship was humbling.

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“I chose Criminal Justice simply because I always had a drive for selfless service in our community,” he said. “I always wanted to do better and give back to my community, so what other way than keeping the community protected and safe? I have a strong passion for justice for our community and I always thought I would be the one to make a difference.”

Pascua said after graduation, he hopes to attend warrant officer and flight schools in the Hawai’i Army National Guard before pursuing a special agent role with the FBI, CIA or other organization.

“I am driven to become a special agent because their role is a blend of investigative work, critical thinking, and field operations and that aligns perfectly with my passion for justice,” he said.

Pascua added that he is grateful for the hands-on learning at Chaminade. “The small and interactive classes at Chaminade are something that you cannot get at another University, but it is the professors that make the experiences at Chaminade stand out,” he said.