Chaminade University of Honolulu

Campus Event

Undergraduates Showcase Summer Research

For many undergraduates, summer means spending lots of time at the beach or the mall.

But for a group of Silverswords, this summer offered the perfect opportunity to sink their teeth into a complex research project under the mentorship of a Chaminade professor. The undergraduates presented their work in July at the Summer Research Institute Symposium on campus.

Among the areas they explored: AI, healthcare, architecture and financial literacy, to name a few.

Shania Lindsey R. Gervacio ’27 presented her research on using artificial intelligence as a creative tool in interior design concept development. The Environmental + Interior Design student at Chaminade conducted her research under Associate Professor Junghwa Suh, D. Arch.

“I chose to take up this summer research opportunity because I wanted to utilize my free time expanding my knowledge in this career field of interior design while developing my skills in research and public speaking,” she said, adding her goal is to become an interior designer.

“I was very excited that I had the chance to present my findings and results to the University community. I honestly was unsure of who would be attending, so it was definitely a unique and memorable experience to have presented in front of diverse audiences.”

Gervacio hopes to refine her research paper for an upcoming national conference.

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Jax Wong ’26, who is majoring in psychology, presented research on potential psychosocial interventions for adults with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). His research was conducted under Associate Psychology Professor Abby Haltson, Ed.D.

Wong said he chose the topic because he has autism and ADHD, and wanted to investigate support available to people like him in the community.

“I consider myself very lucky and fortunate to have a strong support system, but many other folks do not and are left to fend for themselves,” he said.

“My research findings confirmed my predictions: there is a very concerning lack of research on my communities and the evidence for potential interventions is also lacking.”

Wong added it was “intimidating” to present his research to the University community, but the experience gave him more confidence in his work and his research skills. He now looks forward to pursuing a career in academia to improve the state of research in his areas of interest.

The annual Summer Research Institute is coordinated at Chaminade in partnership with Kapiʻolani Community College.

Amber Noguchi, Ph.D., who is assistant provost for Undergraduate Research and Pre-Professional Programs, said the grant-funded initiative offers important research experiences to undergraduates. In a new aspect this year, each student also selected a community partner to work with in addition to a mentor.

The community partners, including nonprofits, informed the research work, provided background information on fields, and directed students to available resources and information.

Leadership, Goal Setting Stressed in ‘College Camp’

High school students from across the state gathered at Chaminade in July for a week-long camp designed to give them a taste for the college experience and inspire them to pursue big goals.

Chaminade partnered with YMCA for the College & Career Camp program, which included students in grades 9 to 11 and stressed leadership and the importance of building workforce-ready skills. The program is geared toward underserved teens.

Janet T. Davidson, Ph.D., vice provost for Academic Affairs, said the camp “represents a mission-aligned partnership that inspires future college students, increases confidence, solidifies hope, and engenders incredible growth and self-efficacy in the span of a week.”

She added, “This is the type of work that benefits our larger community for generations to come.”

The camp included 50 students. They got the opportunity to stay in Chaminade’s Hale Pohaku residence hall, participated in a community service project, set personal goals and toured campus.

Jon Cho, YMCA senior program executive director, stressed the camp is geared toward students who may not have the resources to pursue college without assistance. He noted the camp also included critical tutorials on the admissions and financial aid process.

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Plus, students met with professionals in the fields they’re interested in and worked with Chaminade mentors.

“Students discover more about themselves, experience independent living in a college environment, and gain a better understanding of what they need to accomplish in high school to attend college or enter the workforce,” Cho said.

Davidson said the experience is ultimately about demystifying higher education and helping students feel like they belong on a college campus. “This equips students with both the knowledge and confidence to pursue continued education,” she added.

Competition Spotlights ‘Business for Good’

High school students from campuses statewide gathered at Chaminade University in April for a daylong series of hands-on activities aimed at underscoring the role businesses can play in making a positive difference in communities and embracing environmentally-sustainable practices.

Nine high schools participated in this year’s “Business Olympix” on April 25.

Eddie Merc, Ph.D., director of Chaminade’s MBA program, said the annual gathering was first launched in 2023.

Student participants work their way through activity stations that feature a long list of learning themes, including accounting, business analytics, marketing, economics and finance.

In the competition, students also collaborate in teams to tackle a challenge and present a business idea.

“This event promotes the importance of business in our local community as well as awareness of globalization,” Merc said. “It also prepares students to explore business topics for study in college.”

Micah Kalauli, a sophomore at Waiakea High, said the competition solidified his interest in pursuing economics or accounting as a potential career choice.

“I also learned a lot of good life skills, like communication, collaboration, thinking under deadlines and operations management.”

Kaiser High student Logan Leong added that the event helped him see just how critical business is to everyday life.

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“Every decision we make is a transaction between risk and rewards,” he said, adding the group presentation challenged participants to “see flaws in our own thinking.”

Diana Lau, a teacher at Waiakea High, appreciated how engaging the day’s activities were. “I saw my students laughing and I think that’s always a good sign,” she said. “It was also a great way to introduce the campus and the idea of college. Continuous exposure—that’s what we want to do with our students just to let them know there are many options.”

Merc said he’s happy to say the event has grown every year since its launch.

One key takeaway for students is the importance of doing “business for good.”

“That’s the slogan we live by,” Merc said, “and I think today, we witnessed students are really amplifying the importance of sustainability and helping the community with business applications.”

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.”

Community Gathers for ‘International Extravaganza’

It was an evening of cultural celebration and Silversword pride.

Scores of students, faculty, staff and members of the community gathered at Chaminade’s campus April 11 for “International Extravaganza,” which featured performances from Ka Ipu Kukui Me Ka ‘ie ‘ie: the Hawaiian Club, the Taotao Marianas Club, the Filipino Club, and Lumana‘i O Samoa.

The annual event on the Sullivan Family Library Lawn is always a big hit.

And this year was no exception.

Victoria Zembik ’26, who is president of the Chaminade Student Government Association, said student cultural clubs spent months preparing for the special evening.

“A lot of the performers are seniors and this was their big send-off,” she said. “One of the biggest highlights of this year’s event is that they always top their performances from previous semesters, which I absolutely love.”

International Extravaganza aims to showcase the cultural traditions and diversity of the Chaminade community through performances. Zembik said lots of time, passion and sweat go into preparing for and organizing the event.

“It gives students, regardless of their major or cultural background, a chance to meet, connect, and build community,” the Nursing major added.

“It’s a space where they bring a piece of themselves, their families, and their heritage to the stage.”

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Zembik added her focus for the event was making sure everything went smoothly behind the scenes so that the spotlight was on the performers.

“They’re the ones who really seal the deal and make this event as extravagant as it is,” she said. “This event wouldn’t be as successful without the dedication and commitment of the students. That’s why I work hard to make sure it’s worthy of their time—because they give so much of theirs to make it unforgettable.”

Photo Gallery: Taste of Culture

Chaminade students, faculty and staff gathered this week for the seventh annual Taste of Culture event.

The celebration spotlights Chaminade’s cultural diversity with foods from around the world.

The event April 9, organized by the Chaminade Student Government Association, was held on the Sullivan Family Library Lawn from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more Chaminade events, click here to go to our online calendar.