“We’re grateful for you.”
“We’re inspired by your generosity.”
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
“We celebrate you.”
“Mahalo nui loa and thank you so very much.”
Those were the sentiments celebrated at the annual Chaminade Mahalo Scholarship Luncheon held February 13 at Clarence T. C. Ching Conference Center on campus. More than 115 donors, students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate how financial support opens doors for students to reach their goals, go out in the world, and give back to the community.
Fr. Martin Solma opened the luncheon with a prayer followed by remarks from President Lynn Babington, who shared that 346 students at Chaminade benefit from donor-funded scholarships and that 98 percent of all students receive some form of financial aid. Fifty-one percent of students are the first generation in their family to attend college. Vice President of Advancement Jill Higashi noted that none of this would be possible without the support of donors.
Donor Keven Matsuura attended the lunch with his mother Diane Matsuura and spoke about how he did not know all that nurses do when caring for patients, until his father needed nursing 24-hour care until he passed away in 2024. Today the Kenneth and Diane Matsuura Foundation supports two scholarships for nursing students, which is his family’s way to give back to the community and to help alleviate the local nursing shortage.
“We saw what nurses do and, thus, wanted to support local nursing students who plan to stay in Hawaiʻ’i,” Matsuura said. “We are proud to support students at Chaminade University and their lifelong commitment to hard work and advancement in the nursing field.”
Students Jason Edric Ulep ʻ27 and Tessa Stanley ʻ27 also spoke and shared their personal stories about why attending Chaminade has been a life changing dream come true, and expressed their gratitude for the scholarships they receive. The small class sizes, individualized attention, secure and safe campus have made the Chaminade experience fulfilling and meaningful as they pursue their studies and plan their careers after graduating next May.
At the podium, Stanley opened her remarks by sharing two simple yet meaningful words: “Thank you.”
Watch this video that was shown at the Luncheon.