School of Education Welcomes Alumni

School of Education alumni and faculty gathered recently to share stories and trade laughs

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over Brogan Hall’s patio deck.

It was a perfect summer evening, one that seemed tailor-made for the occasion: A reunion of School of Education and Behavioral Sciences graduates.

The event had been weeks in the planning, said Assistant Professor of Special Education and Elementary Education Dr. Denise Dugan, who organized the reunion.

Dugan said she wanted to give alumni the chance to talk story and rekindle old friendships. As guests trickled in, each was greeted with warm embraces.

“The main reason I wanted to do this was to get our former students who are current teachers in Hawaii together to network,” Dugan said. “There is so little support for our teachers, so I wanted them to be able to connect and find support systems still here with Chaminade.”

Class reunions play a big role in maintaining a vibrant alumni community, nurturing connections, and supporting the ongoing mission and goals of Chaminade.

Campus leaders say aside from networking and a sense of nostalgia, reunions strengthen the sense of community and belonging among alumni, as well as afford the opportunity to reconnect with former professors and mentors, fostering a continued relationship and sometimes even collaboration in academic or professional fields.

By creating positive experiences and reinforcing the value of the alumni community, reunions can motivate attendees to stay involved with the university through volunteer work, mentoring and other forms of engagement. Attendees also often use reunions as a time for personal reflection, to assess how far they’ve come since their college days and to set new personal and professional goals.

As the evening progressed, the alumni took turns sharing their experiences. They laughed over amusing classroom anecdotes, and offered advice for overcoming common challenges. The conversation flowed easily, a testament to the strong bond these Silverswords had formed during their Chaminade years.