Chaminade University of Honolulu

Honors and Awards

Counselor of the Year

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Chaminade alumna recognized for her work and contributions

In a teary emotional speech she gave after returning from Washington, D.C. as the 2023  Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year, Brittnie Caraulia thanked her Helemano Elementary School colleagues, expressing her gratitude for their support and all the work that they do for the keiki.

“This is the highest honor,” said Caraulia, MSCP ’15, on being honored with the 2023 Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) during its annual National School Counselor of the Year ceremonies in the nation’s capital. “This brings me the greatest joy in life, and I’m proud of everything that we do together.”

The ASCA School Counselor of the Year award honors professionals who devote their careers to advocating for the nation’s students and addressing their academic and social-emotional development, and college and career readiness needs. Honorees were judged based on their ability to create systemic change within the school counseling profession.

Brittnie Caraulia was recognized as Hawaii’s School Counselor of the Year.

“The role of our school counselors are so integral to the success of our students,” said Hawai‘i Department of Education Superintendent, Keith Hayashi, in a news release. “Now more than ever, we rely on their expertise and guidance in creating positive and innovative ways to enhance the academic and social-emotional needs of our students. The Department is grateful to have counselors like Ms. Caraulia in our schools, every day, working tirelessly to advocate for and support student success. She is a shining example of Helemano’s efforts to grow a ‘leaderful’ organization.”

A school counselor for grades 3-5 at Helemano Elementary since 2019 and a Hawai‘i State Department of Education school counselor since 2015, one of Caraulia’s greatest accomplishments has been establishing a data-driven Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) program within her school. The program takes a systemic approach to monitoring student success, creating school-wide, social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives that focus on quality teacher-student relationships. As a result of implementing this program, students’ perception of overall school safety improved from 56 percent to over 90 percent. 

Caraulia also helped to establish a Helemano School Counseling Program, where she conducts quarterly training for staff on SEL interventions and classroom management, collaborates with teachers to incorporate SEL into their core curriculum, creates biweekly SEL lessons for all grade levels, and has designed a referral system to make data-informed decisions for all students. The school counseling program now serves as a foundation for student social-emotional, behavioral and academic success. Caraulia regularly trains staff on the program and has even shared the success of this program with other elementary schools across the state.

“Ms. Caraulia is an indispensable resource to our school—providing an excellent counseling program, a fierce devotion to students and teachers, and an innovative method of vastly advancing the social and emotional needs of our students,” Helemano Elementary Principal Ernest Muh said. “She advocates vigorously for all students at our school by collaborating with parents and teachers to determine the most beneficial course of action to assist each individual student.”

Caraulia’s passion in serving her school community is felt individually and collectively throughout the school by both teachers and students. In addition to helping the students, Caraulia has cultivated a nurturing environment for teachers, focusing on their mental health and wellness needs. She has an open-door policy for any staff needing to share personal or professional concerns and has spearheaded activities that promote and prioritize staff well-being. 

 “My proudest accomplishment during my time as a school counselor at Helemano Elementary has been establishing a data-driven MTSS and school counseling program,” Caraulia said. “What I find most rewarding about being a school counselor is the relationships I build with my students, staff and families.”

White Coat Ceremony

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Nursing students enter clinical phase of their education

Health care team work is most successful when team members respect each other, trust each other, and can depend on each other for the delivery of ethical and effective patient care.

Rhoberta Haley, Ph.D.

The journey to become a nurse often begins with a desire and commitment to help improve peoples’ lives. Along the way, several milestones mark a nursing student’s road to progression, including the White Coat Ceremony.

“Gaining entrance into nursing school and progressing to this point is an accomplishment, and we hope that this ceremony is associated with much pride and anticipation for all of you,” said Nursing and Health Professions Dean, Rhoberta Haley, Ph.D., in her opening remarks to the students. “The giving and accepting of a white coat in this ceremony symbolizes your commitment to the values and responsibilities of the nursing profession.”

Sophomores received their white coats during an annual ceremony.
Sophomores received their white coats during an annual ceremony.

What started in 1993 for strictly medical students, the White Coat Ceremony would later extend to nursing programs in 2014, recognizing the vital role that nurses play in the healthcare profession. Since then, more than 450 schools of nursing have participated, with Chaminade’s School of Nursing & Health Professions among them.

“This ceremony emphasizes the ethics of the profession, and the responsibilities that come with wearing the uniform of the healer,” Haley said. “You are making a commitment to grow your compassion, your ability to provide kind and wise care to patients, families and communities in any setting worldwide.”

A group of 112 mostly sophomores participated in the White Coat Ceremony, which recognizes students’ entry into the health profession as they undertake clinical education. After receiving their white coats, nurses-to-be took the International Council of Nurses pledge to uphold nursing ethics and deliver the best care.

“In addition to congratulating each one of you in receiving your white coat today, I would like to personally thank you all for your pledge to serve in this noblest of professions,” said Dr. Lynn Babington, Chaminade president, who is also a nurse and former healthcare administrator. “Healthcare and nursing were my calling, and I’m proud that so many have made it yours.”

In her closing remarks, Haley delineated three cornerstones of the nursing profession: responsibility, trustworthiness and respect.

“At Chaminade, we believe in these values, and we are committed to help you achieve your highest level of performance and providing assistance when needed,” she said. “It is a privilege for Nursing faculty and staff to promote professionalism and share what we know and love about nursing with all of you.”

Mental Health Assistance Fund

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Client Assistance Fund named after Chaminade Adjunct Faculty

Although Mental Health America ranks Hawaii as #2 in having a lower prevalence of mental illness and higher rates of access to care for adults, there still exists a mounting need for mental health services across the health-care sector. It’s a demand that the Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii has been trying to fulfill since 1989. 

The Rev. Dr. Gary Augustin joined the fight 25 years ago, and he has been an integral part of the nonprofit mental health counseling center ever since. It was only fitting then that the Center would recently rename the Client Assistance Fund, which provides mental health subsidies to individuals with limited financial means, to The Rev. Dr. Gary Augustin Client Assistance Fund.

Client Assistance Fund renamed after The Rev. Dr. Gary Augustin.
Client Assistance Fund renamed after The Rev. Dr. Gary Augustin.

Augustin joined the Center in 1997 as a Staff Counselor and Director of Education and Training, and over the years served as both Clinical Director and Executive Director. He is an adjunct faculty member at Chaminade University, a military family and life counselor, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and an ordained minister in Honolulu. He was also recognized with the Center’s prestigious Ho’omenemene Award in 2020. 

In a video tribute to acknowledge his award, Abby Halston, Chaminade Associate Professor of Psychology and Clinical Director, MSCP Marriage and Family, praised Augustin as being “a pioneer within our Hawaii marriage and family community with milestones including being the 30th in our state to first be licensed, and has been instructing, supervising and mentoring our Chaminade MSCP students for the past 20 years.”

“The Rev. Dr.  Augustin has tirelessly served his clients and the Center with humility, generosity and grace,” says The Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa, President of the Board of Directors of Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii. “Renaming the Client Assistance Fund honors his contributions to the Center and his lasting legacy of hope, healing and compassion.”

The Client Assistance Fund has served Hawai’i since its 1989 inception, subsidizing mental health counseling for individuals, youth, couples and families who are uninsured, underinsured, elderly and low-income. It is a safety net for those with limited financial means, and helps to increase access to professional, affordable mental health care for the people of Hawaii.

In 2022, Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i served 609 clients and provided 5,179 counseling sessions. The Client Assistance Fund subsidized counseling for 260 clients and 36 percent of all counseling sessions.

“Dr. Augustin helped set me on a path of self-discovery and chart the road of inner growth,” says client Richard Morris. “He certainly helped me find a beneficial level of inner peace and outer understanding.”

Donations to The Rev. Dr. Gary Augustin Client Assistance Fund can be made online at www.samaritancounselingcenterhawaii.org/giving.

Top 40 Under 40

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Katelynn Perrault makes “The Analytical Scientist Power List 2022”

Lab coats buttoned up and goggles on, Katelynn Perrault, Ph.D., instructs her students in the FS 430L class at Henry Lab 5. For the past five years, the Canadian native has taught aspiring forensic scientists the techniques and forensic methodologies for qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical evidence. Making “The Analytical Scientist Power List 2022 – Top 40 Under 40,” the Associate Professor of Forensic Sciences and Chemistry is passionate and proud of her achievements, which include a 2021 Fr. John F. Bolin Award for scholarly work, a 2021 Distinguished Faculty Award, as well as the 2021 President Mackey Award for outstanding mentorship.  

“I was always intrigued by science outreach events when I had access to them, and eventually did a career project in high school on Forensic Sciences,” recalls Perrault, “I was also curious about the thought of using the sciences to solve crime and contribute to serving justice.”

Perhaps popularized by CBS’s NCIS program, employment of forensic scientists is expected to grow 17 percent by 2026, which is quicker than the average of all U.S. occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2020, there were 16,640 forensic scientists, also known as crime scene investigators or forensic science technicians. The BLS projects that 2,500 new forensic scientist jobs will be added to the market each year through 2030.

Katelynn Perreault made “The Analytical Scientist Power List 2022.”

And growth has also occurred in the Chaminade program. So, too, has interest and breadth.

“When I started, we did not have a chemistry major,” says Perrault, who teaches across the department’s Forensic Sciences, Biochemistry and Chemistry majors. “It is exciting to see more students considering chemistry as a major. I feel that we have seen more positive perception shifts towards the utility of chemistry in other disciplines during my time, which is always exciting to see.”

Perrault is also the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory of Forensic and Bioanalytical Chemistry, which focuses on using multidimensional chromatography to uncover volatiles as mediator chemicals in processes associated with life, health and death. Through her research, she has cultivated an international network of collaborators in academia, police and government agencies.

Marking the second time she has appeared on the “The Analytical Scientist Power List 2022 – Top 40 Under 40,” Perrault says it’s affirmation that she continues to do novel research in the field of analytical chemistry that is contributing to society.

“I think as scientists, this is one of the things we are always striving for—to use science in service,” Perrault points out. “This recognition helps me to reflect on the fact that others see this applied chemistry as being meaningful and worthwhile, and that means a lot to me. This motivates me to continue to use chemistry as a means to solve important challenges in our world.”

Now entering her sixth year at Chaminade, Perrault has discovered a passion for training the next generation of scientists. “It brings me great fulfillment thinking about the work they will do beyond their time with us,” she says. “Receiving emails from our alumni about the exciting things they are doing always brings a smile to my face.”

Honor Roll

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Chaminade bestows Heritage Awards

To recognize their exceptional contributions in personifying the Marianist values, Dr. Darren Iwamoto, Maritel Suniga and Kobe Ngirailemesang ’23 have been honored with this year’s Heritage Awards. It’s a distinction that Brother Ed Brink says “shows the breadth and impact an individual may have on campus and in the community.”

Dr. Lynn Babington presents Dr. Darren Iwamoto with his Chaminade Award.

A testament to that mission is Dr. Darren Iwamoto, Associate Professor in Education and Behavioral Sciences, who received this year’s Chaminade Award, given to a faculty or staff member who has exhibited a continuous commitment to Marianist values in education.

“Yes, these awards are designed to honor individuals,” says Brink, Vice President of Mission and Rector, addressing the Founders’ Day Mass attendees. “But these awards are also meant to remind all of us the mission of the university and the importance of trying to live out that mission on a daily basis.”

“I truly try to live the Marianist Education Core Values and receiving this award is special because it tells me that I’m on the right path,” Iwamoto says. “This award motivates me to continue serving our students in Family Spirit and I’m blessed to be a part of an organization that truly lives its mission and values.”

Father Marty congratulates Kobe Ngirailemesang for his 2023 Founders’ Award.

Sharing the same sentiment is Kobe Ngirailemesang ’23, a graduating senior, who was presented with the Founders’ Award, which recognizes a student who has exhibited a commitment to Marianist values by outstanding generosity, respect for others and spirit of faith.

“Personally, this award is about being of service to others whenever it is possible,” Ngirailemesang says. “I never thought of helping others as an obligation. I really just enjoy the company of others, regardless of it being for work/class or not. I am truly honored to have received this award.”

Draped in a colorful ring of lei, Maritel Suniga received the Marianist Award.

Meanwhile, Payroll Specialist in the Business Office, Maritel Suniga was honored with the Marianist Award, conferred to a staff member who has exhibited a continuous and extraordinary commitment to the vision and mission of Chaminade University while drawing others into the collaborative community.

The three honorees were recognized at a special ceremony on Jan. 18, following the Founders’ Day Mass at Mystical Rose Oratory. The event was the culmination of a series of gatherings meant to celebrate not only the founders of the Marianist family—including the university’s namesake—but the characteristics of a Marianist education and the values and mission that are central to Chaminade’s identity.

“We gather today to be inspired,” says Brink, during the award ceremony portion of the Mass, “and to hopefully recommit ourselves to be the best member of this community that we can be.”

Heritage Hill

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Founders’ Week celebrates Chaminade’s roots

It seems to me that we must not become discouraged if we encounter some obstacle in the way of the necessary change. Never has change been done, and never will it be done, without difficulty.”

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, Letters, March 23, 1833

In 1955, Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was declared safe and effective. Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. The United States began its involvement in the Vietnam conflict. And St. Louis Junior College was established and would eventually change its name to Chaminade College.

“Founders’ Week gives us the opportunity to honor our founders, including the university’s namesake Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, Venerable Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon and Venerable Marie Thérèse Charlotte de Lamourous,” says Chaminade University President Dr. Lynn Babington. “Central to Father Chaminade’s legacy is his commitment to forming schools as a principal means for transforming society. Today, we perpetuate that tradition and remain committed to a holistic education of the whole person.”

Throughout the week of Jan. 16-21, events are planned to acknowledge Chaminade’s past founders and presidents, who have all significantly contributed to the Marianist heritage of respecting both faith and reason as means to the truth and justice.

“Founders’ Week allows us to affirm our Marianist spirit and carry forward the Marianist values,” says Bro. Ed Brink. “In 1883, eight Marianists arrived aboard the steamboat S.S. Mariposa, but only five would be assigned to organize the fledgling St. Louis College with the other three departing for St. Anthony’s on Maui.”

Honoring the Past

Father Marty Solma once again led staff and students in prayer.

On Tuesday afternoon at 12:30, Chaminade and Saint Louis School communities are invited to gather on the Front Lawn at the Oval for a Lei-Draping Ceremony at the Father Chaminade statue. The annual tradition precedes the week’s festivities, including the Marianist Founders Day Mass on Wednesday, where students, faculty and staff are invited to gather as one Chaminade ‘Ohana in prayer, and the Servant Leadership Day on Saturday.

Embodying Marianist Values

During the Founders’ Day Mass, Bro. Brink will announce this year’s Heritage Awards honorees. To recognize their exceptional contributions in personifying the Marianist values, Dr. Darren Iwamoto, Maritel Suniga and Kobe Ngirailemesang will be honored with this year’s Heritage Awards. It’s a distinction that Bro. Brink says “shows the breadth and impact an individual may have on campus and in the community.”

This year’s awardees are:

  • Dr. Darren Iwamoto, Associate Professor in Education and Behavioral Sciences will receive the Chaminade Award, given to a faculty or staff member who has exhibited a continuous commitment to Marianist values in education;
  • Maritel Suniga, Payroll Specialist in the Business Office, will receive the Marianist Award, given to a staff member who has exhibited a continuous and extraordinary commitment to the vision and mission of Chaminade University while drawing others into the collaborative community;
  • Kobe Ngirailemesang, a graduating senior, will receive the Founders’ Award, given to a student who has exhibited a commitment to Marianist values by outstanding generosity, respect for others, and spirit of faith.

Sowing Forward

On Saturday, Founders’ Week culminates in service.  Faculty, staff, and alumni will join students to outwardly express their Marianist Catholic values together. From sorting out clothes and household items at the Institute for Human Services (IHS) to refurbishing furniture at Habitat for Humanity, from cleaning up the campus to cleaning out an ancient fishpond in Heeia, Chaminade volunteers devote their energy into doing good work across the island.

This year, the Servant Leadership Day will take place at the Women’s & Family Shelter at IHS.

Join us throughout Founders’ Week to celebrate the Marianist future.

Founders’ Week Recap Video

The Father Chaminade Statue is draped with lei every Founder’s Week celebration.