Campus Event

Gala Benefit Dinner

February 28, 2024

An evening to honor donors and announce two new Hall of Fame inductees

Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington gave the opening remarks before the Hall-of-Fame announcement of inductees.

Athletics Director Tom Buning and Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington flank Hall of Fame inductees, Chico Furtado ’80 and Teri Chong ’92.

Athletics Director Tom Buning and Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington pose next to Hall of Fame inductee, Chico Furtado ’80.

Teri Chong ’92 accepts her Hall of Fame award from Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington and Athletics Director Tom Buning.

Guests were treated to an evening of fine wines and delectable food.

Guests smiled and talked story.

Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington mingled with guests throughout the night.

Guests enjoyed each other’s company.

Musician Nick La’a serenaded the crowd.

Enjoying the evening conversations.

Gala attendees got to see the impact of their donations.

Chico Furtada, left, and Bill Villa engage in a conversation.

The evening’s menu featured a three-course dinner by MW Restaurant.

Guests enjoying themselves.

Cathy Ching listens to Dr. Lynn Babington’s opening remarks.

A group of longtime friends.

Chaminade’s Director of Development, Heidi Bow, shares a laugh with guests.

Attendees mingled outside Ching Hall during the cocktail reception.

Fr. Chris Wittman talks with Dr. Lynn Babington and her husband Dr. Randy Carpenter, and Tertia Freas.

Enjoying a cocktail before dinner outside of Ching Hall.

MW Restaurant’s executive chefs Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr-Ueoka developed a creative menu.

Tables were elegantly set with a floral arrangement as the centerpiece.

The three-course menu was a delight for the senses.

The mood was buoyant as guests arrived and mingled before the start of the Silverswords Gala, a benefit dinner for student and athletic scholarships. However, beyond the laughter and good cheer, the gathering served a deeper purpose—a purpose woven into the fabric of education and opportunity.

“Through your generosity, we can provide scholarship support for many students at Chaminade to help them achieve their academic goals and set them up for successful careers in their communities,” said Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., in her opening remarks. “We are very grateful to you all for believing in and supporting our mission.”

In a video presentation, Chaminade senior Audrey Pilar ’24 described how she cried for an hour after learning that she received a scholarship. “These scholarships are way more than just a financial burden lifted off someone’s shoulders,” the forensics major said. “It’s way more than just money to a person because to me, I think you’re giving someone hope and you’re giving someone a chance.”

A sophomore Communications major, Easton DelaCruz ’26 said nothing would be possible without the scholarships, without all the financial aid that he has been able to receive. “When you think of college, the next thing you think about is the financial burden that it puts on everybody,” he said. “And with these scholarships, it helps relieve the financial burden for myself and my parents.”

In this landscape of financial uncertainty, scholarships emerge as powerful catalysts for change. These financial awards, often based on academic merit, financial need, or a combination of both, play a pivotal role in dismantling barriers to higher education. By providing financial assistance, scholarships enable deserving students to access resources, facilities and opportunities that would otherwise remain beyond their grasp.

In addition to thanking donors for their support, the Gala served a secondary purpose: the opportunity to grow the Silversword Hall of Fame with two new inductees: Thomas “Chico” Furtado ’80, an outstanding basketball player who still ranks as the third best all-time assists leader with 486; and Teri (Bertulfo) Chong ’92, who holds Chaminade Volleyball’s all-time career kills at 1,487.

“Tonight, we get a chance to recognize two former Chaminade student-athletes who made their sport matter for their teams,” said Athletic Director Tom Buning, before inviting Chong and Furtado to the stage to join him.

“These esteemed inductees into our Athletic Hall of Fame are individuals whose remarkable achievements serve as a beacon of inspiration for generations to come,” added Kahala Kabalis Hoke ’05’ MS ’07, the Women’s Volleyball coach and the evening’s emcee.

Among the sponsors were KemperSports Management, Kitty and Buzz Wo, The Queen’s Health Systems, Saint Louis School, Aramark, Becker Communications, CKW Financial Group, Edward Enterprises, Marianist Center of Hawaii, Maryknoll School, Sacred Hearts Academy and Saint Francis Healthcare.

“Education transforms lives,” Babington said. “Our students set out to change the world—they are making a difference.”

Dean’s Speaker Series

February 26, 2024

Dr. Crissy Gayagas discusses sustainability for good

Citing the words of the late American comedian, actor, author, television host and artist, Jonathan Winters, Col. Christine “Crissy” Gayagas (Ret.), Ed.D., told attendees that, “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it!” In other words, don’t become apathetic. Take action.

As Regional Program Lead (RPL) for the Indo-Pacific, which is part of the Advising and Consulting (A&C) Division at the Institute for Security Governance (ISG), the self-described Army brat plays an important role in engaging partners in the vital Indo-Pacific Region.

“Eighty percent of goods are transited by water and 60 percent of that goes through the Indo-Pacific Region,” said Gayagas, Chaminade Board of Governors chair. “If conflict broke out in that region, it would create instability, and you probably wouldn’t receive that Amazon order you placed.”

As part of the School of Business & Communication Dean’s Speaker Series, Gayagas’s discussion focused on Sustainable Business for Good and the U.S.’s strategy for and paradigm shift in the Indo-Pacific region. In recent years, the Biden-Harris Administration has made historic strides to restore American leadership in the Indo-Pacific and adapt its role for the 21st century. A few years ago, the United States modernized its longstanding alliances, strengthened emerging partnerships, and forged innovative links among them to meet urgent challenges, from competition with China to climate change to the pandemic.

As part of the School of Business & Communication Dean's Speaker Series, Dr. Crissy Gayagas’s discussion focused on Sustainable Business for Good and the U.S.’s strategy for and paradigm shift in the Indo-Pacific region. — As part of the School of Business & Communication Dean’s Speaker Series, Dr. Crissy Gayagas’s discussion focused on Sustainable Business for Good and the U.S.’s strategy for and paradigm shift in the Indo-Pacific region.

Stretching from the Pacific coastline to the Indian Ocean, the area is home to more than half of the world’s people, nearly two-thirds of the world’s economy and seven of the world’s largest militaries. And in the years ahead, as the region drives as much as two-thirds of global economic growth, its influence will only grow—as will its importance to the United States.

“In a 2021 address during the East Asia Summit, President Biden said he envisions an Indo-Pacific that is open, connected, prosperous, resilient and secure,” Gayagas quoted to attendees. “We want to build our collective capacity with partner nations throughout the region. The more people who are empowered, the better we are for it.”

With a military career that spans across 24 years and three deployments, Gayagas became the only battalion commander who was a mother when she saw action in Iraq. She considers her service in the Army as the first phase of her life. The second phase was exploratory, and the third and current phase are convergent, allowing her two initial stages to come together to form a new whole.

“Within these three phases, I was always guided by five elements: passion, people, persistence, priority and pivot,” Gayagas explained. “Identify your passion and keep chipping away until you’re ready to take a deep dive. In the Army, we have a saying: Mission First, People Always. Seek out a support system. Persist and do what works for you. Assess your position and ask if it’s moving your North Star. Be ready to recognize diminishing returns and be open to pivot.”

After multiple Army command and staff positions around the United States (101st Airborne Division and 25th Infantry Division) and in Germany (8th Infantry Division), and operational and strategic experience in the Army’s Human Resources Command and with the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) in Texas and in Iraq, Gayagas retired in 2008 and started her own consulting firm MMGT Consulting, LLC.

“I wanted to create space for my daughter,” said Gayagas, citing the reason for her retirement from the Army. “In this third phase of my life, I am going to pivot and enjoy full-time retirement or a quarter retirement so I can create more lunch space with my parents (gesturing to her dad Ed and mom Norma Gayagas who were seated in the front row), and pursue more hobbies.”

Opening the floor to questions, John Barayuga ’25 asked Gayagas if her passions evolved over time or did it remain the same. “I really appreciated her answer about how her passion stayed relatively the same but with a few tweaks over time,” said Barayuga, an Accounting major with minors in Hawaiian Studies and Business Administration. “It reassured me of how our paths are a constant adventure of self-discovery.

“My biggest take-away was the five P’s [principles] that Dr. Gayagas shared,” Barayuga added. “I feel the lecture exceeded what I was expecting from it. And I am looking forward to future events!”

Office of Student Success

February 22, 2024

The emergence and significance of universities’ Offices of Student Success

Trachelle Iwamoto ’26 wasn’t quite sure what to expect when she arrived on campus from Kapa‘a, Kauai. Nor did Kryzandreah Español ’26 and Easton DelaCruz ’26. As freshmen, Iwamoto, Español and Dela Cruz felt anxious about the transition from high school to university, uncertain about the rigors of academia and their own self expectations.

Dani Masuda provides some academic advice.

However, it’s not uncommon for freshman to feel nervous when experiencing what many consider a rite of passage from the teen years to early adulthood. In response, universities have undergone significant transformations in recent years, marked by an increased focus on student success.

“In 2020, we re-evaluated our support services and designed a one-stop center—Office of Student Success—that includes academic advising, career development, tutoring and learning services, military student benefits, registrar and records, and study abroad,” says Jennifer Creech, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success. “We’re committed to providing comprehensive support and resources to ensure that students not only excel academically, but also thrive in their overall collegiate experience.”

The concept of student success has evolved from a narrow focus on academic achievement to a more holistic approach, which encompasses personal growth, career readiness and well-being. Historically, universities primarily concentrated on instructional and administrative functions, with less emphasis on proactive student support. The changing dynamics of higher education, including shifting demographics, technological advancements and an increased awareness of the diverse needs of students, prompted the establishment of dedicated offices to address these challenges.

“If I have a question or experience any difficulty, I’ll go to the Student Success Office,” says Español, who is studying to be a nurse and aspires to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. “I feel truly supported in every aspect of my academic journey here. Chaminade has created a supportive environment that extends beyond just academic assistance, making me feel connected and valued.”

Before the start of their freshman year, Español, Iwamoto and Dela Cruz all attended the Apo Haumana Retreat, a program introduced in 2021 as a faculty-led initiative to help first-year students transition to Chaminade through building connections with faculty and peers outside of the classroom.

“It gave me a foothold into the university,” Iwamoto says. “I met a lot of other students, mentors, staff and faculty who were all welcoming and personable. I felt like they wanted to know who I was as a person.”

Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington welcomes incoming freshmen during the New Student Orientation.

Now a peer advisor with the Apo Haumana program, DelaCruz works closely with the Office of Student Success to create helpful workshops for first-year students. He also assists program participants with different obstacles they may face throughout their first year.

“Having been a member of the program during my first year, I felt that it benefited me as I transitioned from high school to college,” says DelaCruz, who has ambitions to run for the Governor’s office when he returns to Saipan. “This is my way of giving back to Chaminade since I’ve personally received so much support in my academic journey.”

Many institutions offer programs specifically designed to support students during their first year, helping them smoothly shift into the university environment. At Chaminade, that support is tailored to each student. Unlike the past, according to Creech, interactions between advisers and students seemed transactional; students were being told what classes to take and what to do as opposed to the student owning his/her own educational journey.

“We’re here to help them navigate that journey,” Creech says. “Everything is tailored; it’s not one size fits all. We triage and assess the problem to make sure that our Chaminade students succeed. We complement what the faculty are already doing—mentoring, advising and counseling. The Office simply adds another layer of support.”

Research has shown a positive correlation between the presence of robust student success initiatives, and improved retention and graduation rates. By addressing challenges early, providing targeted interventions, and cultivating a supportive community, the Office of Student Success plays a crucial role in ensuring that students persist through their academic journeys and successfully attain their degrees.

“When we re-structured the office, we leveraged technology and we updated our student portal,” Creech explains. “Today, we use predictive analysis to identify students who may be at risk and we intervene before they drop out. Our fall 2023–spring 2024 retention rate is 88.3 percent, and our enrollment numbers for undergraduate FTE (full-time equivalency” is up by eight percent. All positive news.”

Heritage Awards

January 30, 2024

Honoring those who personify the Marianist Values

Overcome by emotion, tears cascaded down the cheeks of Victoria DelaCruz ’24 as Bro. Ed Brink named her as this year’s Founders’ Award winner, describing her traits of selflessness, commitment, hospitality, graciousness, faith and her family. A Chaminade Scholar majoring in Data Science, Analytics and Visualization (DSAV), DelaCruz ’24 exemplifies the Marianist education and values.

“Faith has been a part of her journey before coming to Chaminade,” said Brink, Vice-President of Mission and Rector. “This year, she joined the new Student Ministry Team and made a suggestion about having a praise and worship evening at the end of one of the meetings. Although it was one of the last ideas talked about at the meeting, it was one of the first events to move from an idea to an actual event. And that was because of Victoria’s commitment to it.”

Every year during Founders’ Week, the Rector’s office presents the Chaminade Award, the Marianist Award and Founders’ Award to a faculty member, supporting staff member and student, respectively, who embodies the Marianist values.

His voice crackling at times while reading the achievements of the winners of the Heritage Awards, Brink announced the other two honorees: Chaminade Award recipient Dr. Janet Davidson, Vice Provost and professor of criminology, who was described by one of her nominators as resilient, reliable and consistent; and Amy Takiguchi, Director of Financial Aid, Marianist Award, whose efforts to help students go beyond and above a simple answer.

“It was a chicken-skin moment when Dr. Babington informed me of the award,” said Takiguchi ’02, an alumna who started her career at Chaminade as a student worker with Human Resources and has since moved up the ranks. “I have a great team and that’s what makes working here such a rewarding experience.”

For Davidson, the Chaminade Award is not an individual feat, but one that belongs to her team. “I am honored and humbled, but I don’t like the attention,” she said. “But I could have never done it alone. The accolades and attention I receive are because of a great supportive team that works collaboratively to accomplish a lot.”

In his presentation during a special mass ceremony to celebrate Founders’ Week, Brink said these awards are meant to remind all of us of the mission of this University, and the importance of trying to live out that mission on a daily basis. “We gather today to be inspired and to hopefully recommit ourselves to being the best member of this community that we can be,” he added. “Fr. Chaminade wanted those who got caught up in the work that he inspired to be ‘a spectacle’—to give witness to others of how a life based in faith and service could make a difference in the world.”

‘Native Voices’

January 4, 2024

Traveling exhibit makes its first Hawaii stop at Sullivan Family Library

Among medical librarians, the “Native Voices: Native Peoples Concepts of Health and Illness” art exhibit is its own version of Taylor Swift’s “The Era Tours,” having traveled across the U.S. for more than a decade now. Officially opened at the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) on October 5, 2011, the multi-media interactive exhibition explores the interconnectedness of wellness, illness and cultural life for Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

With a keen and long-held desire to help improve public understanding of Native American health challenges and honor the culture, tradition and healing ways of Native Peoples, Donald A.B. Lindberg M.D. (National Library of Medicine’s director from 1984-2015) interviewed more than 80 Native American health and community leaders, resulting in over 250 video clips, the largest such collection of Native American videos known to exist.

While the exhibition’s usual iPad stands didn’t make the trip to Hawaii, you can still watch the videos online. The traveling exhibition that’s on display at Sullivan comprises six free-standing banners: the title banner introduces the exhibition; and each of the other five banners focuses on one of the main themes of Individual, Community, Nature, Tradition and Healing. The categories touch upon such topics as Native views and definitions of health and illness, Native views of land, food, community, the earth/nature, and Spirituality as they relate to Native health and illness, and contemporary and historical roles of traditional healing in Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native and Native American cultures.

Krystal Kakimoto stands in front of the free-standing panels that make up “Native Voices: Native Peoples Concepts of Health and Illness.”

“I think this exhibit will resonate with Chaminade students, and the community in general, because they might see parts of themselves reflected back to them in the panels of the exhibit,” says Krystal Kakimoto, ’22 (MBA), Sullivan Family Library’s liaison librarian and director of library technical services. “For too long, Native knowledge surrounding health has been dismissed. This exhibit gives viewers a chance to reflect and critically think about health and wellness while learning about the resilience and adaptation to change inherit to Native communities.”

Stories drawn from both the past and the present examine how the determinants of health for Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives and American Indians are tied to community, the land and spirit. Through personal interviews, Native Peoples describe how individual and community wellness were affected by the political and cultural events of the 19th and 20th centuries. Individual reflections show the impact of epidemics, federal legislation, the loss of land and the inhibition of culture on the health of Native individuals and communities today. Collectively, these stories convey how Native people use both traditional and Western methods to enhance wellness, ultimately presenting an inspiring account of renaissance, recovery and self-determination.

Indeed, indigenous art often serves as a powerful medium for expressing cultural values, beliefs and experiences related to health and illness. Many indigenous cultures also hold holistic views of health that encompass physical, mental, spiritual and community well-being. “Native Voices” lays bare these interconnected aspects, emphasizing the importance of balance and harmony.

“I think the special twist on the Native part is that it’s so embedded in the land,” says one of the exhibit’s early key collaborators Marjorie Mau, M.D., physician and Chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, in one of the 250 video clips. “It’s like if the land is abused or misused or not cared for, the people are reflected by that. Hopefully, future generations will understand at least when Native people are talking about who they are, and how they can take ownership of their wellness, that they’ll understand their wellness can spring from their homeland and from where they come from.”

“Native Voices: Native Peoples Concepts of Health and Illness” will be on display at the Sullivan Family Library until January 19.

“Chaminade University connects academic learning with the local community, environment and culture, creating a unique college experience for our students,” says Kakimoto, chairwoman of the Hawaii-Pacific Chapter of the Medical Library Association, an organization of consisting of professional librarians, individuals and institutions in health sciences libraries. “This philosophy takes learning beyond the traditional classroom and aims to make learning more relevant, engaging and applicable to the real world. I hope this exhibit continues our tradition of place-based learning to contextualize health in relation to the ʻāina.”

Early College Exposure

December 21, 2023

High school students earn college credit

For the past two years, Kapaa High School seniors, Tatum Harper and Taeani Largusa, have taken several synchronous online courses with Chaminade University professors, earning college credit while simultaneously fulfilling their high school requirements. The hours of studying and discipline paid off. Learning she just got into Columbia University, Harper was ecstatic.

“It’s my dream school,” said Harper, during Chaminade’s inaugural Early College Summit, which was attended by a mix of 70 students from Kapaa High School, Sacred Hearts Academy and Saint Louis. “Participating in this program has really prepared me for college.”

Largusa echoed the same sentiment, adding that she expects to hear from Syracuse University soon. “When I took the virtual campus tour I fell in love with it,” says the first generation, soon- to-be-college student. “This program has given me confidence in knowing that I can handle the demand of college courses.”

Early college programs can provide several benefits, including the opportunity for students to accelerate their education, which can lead to the completion of college degrees at an earlier age. There’s also the perk of cost savings, reducing tuition costs for future higher education.

Sacred Hearts Academy counselors Ashley Luke and Sharlene Chock both agreed that Chaminade’s early college program will help students become familiar with the expectations and rigor of college-level coursework, easing their transition to full-time college later on.

Students circled the room to fill out their bingo-like cards.

Saint Louis and Kapaa High School students mingled during the Early College Summit.

Sacred Hearts Academy students played a bingo-like game, with the first one to fill all 25 boxes with the right answers winning the grand prize.

Chaminade’s Early College Director, Kim Baxter, addressed the students at the T.C. Ching Conference Center in Eiben Hall before they set off to visit other campus locations.

Sacred Hearts Academy juniors completed their first semester of college courses.

“Some struggled initially with the transition because of the extra studies involved in taking college-level courses,” said Luke, who counsels 10^th and 11^th graders. “Even our top students were stretched because they didn’t understand process versus perfection, which they’re used to achieving in high school.”

With this first cohort of 17 Lancers, Chock believes the college exposure will help them navigate the waters of post-secondary education. “They have already been individually challenged,” said the 12^th grade counselor. “I think the experience shows them that college is attainable.”

Saint Louis School students Landon Dimaya, Cash Acorda and Kevin Simmons will begin their college courses next semester. The three Crusaders cited different reasons for participating in the program. Dimaya is a fraternal twin whose sister Lindsey is already a Sacred Hearts Academy participant. “I want to reduce the financial burden on my parents,” he said. “It would be really expensive to have to pay tuition for me and my sister at the same time.”

“I want to get ahead,” offered Acorda, who plans to apply to Stanford, with Simmons further noting that the experience would look good on his application.

Research demonstrates that early college programs show strong and lasting evidence of effectiveness for all students. It promotes both post-secondary access and success. The data is undeniable that students who participate in such programs will be ahead of their peers and graduate from a four-year university either debt-free or with very little federal student loan debt. The latest data further supports the claim that students who participate in these programs are better prepared to transfer to a four-year university than students who attend the university without prior college experience.

Moreover, encouraging students to attend college improves individuals’ earnings over a career, increases the amount of taxes the government collects, and reduces government spending on federal assistance programs.

“This program is such a great opportunity for these high school students to earn dual credits,” said Kim Baxter, Chaminade’s Early College Director. “And it gives them that real college experience.”