Chaminade University of Honolulu

Honors and Awards

Student Surfboard as Art

Who says surfboards are meant only for surfing? They also double as works of art. That’s what Shania Lindsey Gervacio proved by winning the Maui Invitational Surfboard Design Contest this past November.

 A third year student majoring in Environmental + Interior Design, Gervacio initially based her design off of island tribal patterns and flora specific to Hawai’i. This concept later transitioned into the foundation icon of Chaminade Athletics that represents the Marianist approaches to education. 

“I also included hibiscuses as well as plumerias to refer to the pua commonly seen around the university campus,” she said. For the ‘silverswords’ in the center of the board, this was inspired by the fact that the previous surfboard designs mentioned ‘Chaminade’ or ‘Chaminade Silverswords,’ rather than only ‘Silverswords.’”

Gervacio’s professor, Dr. Junghwa Suh DArch, encouraged her to participate in the surfboard design competition during the 2025 spring semester. While designing, she also balanced working on a huge design project yet was able to brainstorm three different surfboard designs and fully execute one. 

The experience of designing a surfboard adds to the experience of her reaching the goal of becoming an interior designer after she graduates from Chaminade for hospitality spaces, such as restaurants, hotels, resorts and spas. 

She’s off to a great start. The Maui Invitational surfboards will eventually be displayed in the Silversword Cafe for all to enjoy and see. 

“I feel extremely excited that the surfboard will be displayed in the Silversword Cafe!” she said. “I feel that utilizing my design skills to create something tangible was an incredible accomplishment, and I hope for many Silverswords and Chaminade faculty to enjoy the design when they view it.”

Outstanding Catholic Schools Educators Honored

Esther Amano is more than a teacher.

During her more than 35 years at Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Pearl City, she has also served as a mentor, a guide and a “quiet force of grace and strength,” said Chaminade Dean of Education and Behavioral Sciences Dale Fryxell, Ph.D.

At a recent celebration, Amano was named Hawai’i Catholic Schools Educator of the Year and presented with the Golden Pineapple Award for her outstanding contributions to teaching, her years of service and an unwavering commitment to seeing her students excel.

“Her classroom has launched leaders, nurtured faith, and shaped lives far beyond the eighth grade,” Fryxell said, at the awards ceremony. “Former students return—years later—to thank her, hug her, and tell her what we already know: That her impact lasts a lifetime.”

Esther Amano was named the Hawai’i Catholic Schools Educator of the Year for 2025.

Nominations for Amano poured in, with colleagues, parents, administrators and former students all attesting to her gift for inspiring the next generation of leaders. “Miss Amano shines as a beacon of inspiration within our school community,” one former student wrote.

Fryxell noted Amano is the first to arrive at school each morning and the last to leave each day.

“Whether she’s leading class Masses, mentoring new teachers, or writing cards for every staff birthday, Esther Amano lives the mission of Catholic education in every quiet, faithful action,” he said. “She has empowered her students to raise their voices through poetry, supported school service projects with heart, and modeled a leadership that lifts her school community.”

Also at the ceremony, Sister Katherine-Francis Miller ’63 was recognized as the Hawaii Catholic Schools Administrator of the Year. As Fryxell noted, she has “shaped the hearts, minds and spirits of generations of young women” at Sacred Hearts Academy for nearly six decades.

Miller, campus minister and director of the Office of Mission at Sacred Hearts Academy, was applauded for her transformative leadership and her caring approach to growth.

“Whether she’s leading a mission trip to the Philippines, organizing students to serve food at a transitional shelter, or helping a young person navigate their spiritual journey, Sister Katherine-Francis leads with compassion, humility, and the deep joy of someone truly rooted in her vocation,” Fryxell said.

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And her work extends into the community in many forms, including by leading prison ministry efforts with fellow Sisters, organizing mission trips to the Philippines, and working with students in Sacred Hearts’ Outreach, Unity and Renewal Club as they serve food at a housing shelter.

The Golden Pineapple Awards are sponsored by Chaminade University, Hawaii Catholic Schools with the support of John C. and Mary Lou Brogan.

Nominations open annually and recipients receive a trophy and cash award.

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.”

Professor Honored for Outstanding Contributions

Eva Washburn-Repollo, Ph.D., a professor of Communication at Chaminade, has been selected for a prestigious award from her alma mater recognizing outstanding contributions to her field.

The Silliman University Board of Trustees will confer Washburn-Repollo and seven other alumni with the Outstanding Sillimanian Award in August.

Since 1962, just 188 alumni have received the honor.

Washburn-Repollo teaches Communication, Intercultural Communication and Media and Discourse Studies at Chaminade, and her research focuses on cultural interpretation and identity.

She is the recipient of two Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad grants, which funded immersive study trips to the Philippines with Chaminade students and educators.

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Washburn-Repollo received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Silliman University, along with a master’s of science in Reading from Southern Connecticut State University and a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Pedagogy from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

She said her work as a professor “is shaped deeply by indigenous knowledge systems, performance ethnography, and arts-based pedagogy—approaches that center the body, the land, first and heritage languages, and the relational in how we come to know the world.”

As she receives the honor from Silliman University, Washburn-Repollo is also preparing for retirement from Chaminade and undertaking a new project to launch a sustainable retreat in the Philippines with her husband.

“This space will be a gathering ground for artists, cultural workers, and healers, where traditional Visayan knowledge meets contemporary practices,” she said.

Employee Milestones Celebrated

Chaminade employees were recognized for years of service milestones at a University luncheon this week.

Also honored were five team members retiring at the end of the academic year, including a philosophy professor who has taught at Chaminade for nearly six decades.

Three years of service honorees are celebrating a quarter century or more at Chaminade.

Huo Chen, a maintenance worker, marked 25 years with the University. Rui Huang, also in maintenance, was recognized for 30 years with Chaminade, and Caryn Callahan, a professor of Finance, is celebrating 35 years.

Meanwhile, Philosophy Professor Chitha Unni is marking his 58th year with Chaminade as he prepares for retirement. Other retirees include Psychology Professor Tracy Trevorrow, Communication Professor and Discipline Coordinator Clifford Bieberly, Communication Professor Eva Washburn-Repollo, and Emelda LaForteza (in Facilities).

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The years of service honorees and retirees were celebrated at Chaminade’s annual End of Year Employee Luncheon on April 14. In all, 36 employees were recognized as they marked from five to 35 years of service with the University, including Provost Lance Askildson, Ph.D. (five years).

Tai Arakawa, Library Technical Services Supervisor
Lance Askildson, Provost & Senior VP for Academic Affairs
Jane Chang, Assistant to VP Mission and Rector
Katie Chun, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Meghan Hazen, Assistant Teacher-L. Robert Allen Montessori
Jim Heller Sutton, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development
Amber Noguchi, Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Research & Pre-Professional Programs
Wera Panow-Loui, Senior Lecturer of Business
Lianne Philhower, Director of Clinical Training & Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Dustyn Ragasa, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies & Director MPT Program
Claire Reddy, Lead Montessori Teacher
Ariz Sanchez, Director of Student Success
Sean Scanlan, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of Clinical Psychology
Jeff Stern, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Joy Tanji, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Lisa Trumbull, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Community Partnerships
Scott Wylie, Assistant Provost of Institutional Research and Effectiveness

Leiko Bedoya, Assistant to Vice President for Student Affairs
Mefleen Billy, Custodian
Maxine Nihei, Mail Specialist
Andrew Perez, Grant Specialist
Junghwa Suh, Associate Professor of Arts and Design
Michael Weaver, Lecturer of Historical and Political Science
Tina Yamamoto, Assistant to the President

Jolene Cogbill, Associate Professor of Biology
Seiko Kulliano, Custodian
Lori Shimoda, Research Associate
Justin Wyble, Assistant Professor of English

Tom Galli, Senior Lecturer of Communications
Allison Jerome, Vice President of Student Affairs
Choong Lim, Assistant Vice President and Controller
Cassandra Sakamoto, Program Manager for Chuuk Programs
Eva Washburn-Repollo, Professor of Communication

Huo Chen, Maintenance Worker

Rui Huang, Maintenance Worker

Caryn Callahan, Professor of Finance

Business Students Take First in Global Competition

A team of Chaminade University students took top honors at an international business competition, wowing the judges with their strong presentation skills and innovative marketing strategies aimed at bolstering grassroots social media engagement.

Some 40 U.S. and international university teams participated in this year’s Fully Virtual IACBE Live Case Competition. Students spent more than a month crafting a marketing and engagement strategy for a real company—WealthFluent—as it seeks to reach Gen Z professionals.

The winning Chaminade team included John Barayuga ’25, Blake Buonopane ’25, Madelynne Knowd ’26 and Brycen Shackelford ’26, and their first-place title meant they took home a $1,200 prize. Their winning strategy: Crafting athlete and university partnerships to build a strong brand.

“Participating in this competition helped me grow as both a learner and a leader by challenging me to apply real-world problem-solving skills in a collaborative environment,” said Buonopane, the team captain.

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“As a leader, I learned to communicate effectively, delegate tasks based on team strengths, and stay adaptable under pressure. The experience strengthened my confidence, decision-making skills, and ability to guide a team toward a common goal, preparing me for future academic and professional challenges.”

He added, “Walking away with the top prize feels incredibly rewarding and validating. It’s a reflection of all the hard work and teamwork we put into bringing our idea to life. More than just winning, it feels amazing to know that our solution made an impact and stood out among other strong competitors since this was the first year it was virtual.”

The students tackled the challenge as part of their Business Strategy 469 course.

The winning Chaminade team (left to right) included John Barayuga ’25, Madelynne Knowd ’26, Blake Buonopane ’25 and Brycen Shackelford ’26.

Wera Panow-Loui, MBA, a marketing lecturer at Chaminade and an advisor for the group, said students worked hard to apply what they’d learned in a real-world setting and continuously hone their proposal. “Placing first among 40-plus teams is a prestigious achievement, especially considering the client and judges are highly-experienced professionals,” she said.

“I am incredibly proud of our students. They demonstrated exceptional critical thinking, business acumen and the ability to apply classroom learning in innovative ways.”

Eduard “Eddie” Merc, Ph.D., assistant professor of Business Administration and director of the University’s MBA program, noted that five Chaminade teams participated in the competition—held online for the first time this year.

“As mentors, we used our expertise in business analytics, marketing, and business strategies to prepare students with a comprehensive plan to solve the company’s biggest challenges,” Merc said.

Chaminade has participated in the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) competition for several years. In 2024, the University placed third overall.