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Honors and Awards

2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year

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Growing up, the library was always a place where Laurel Oshiro felt safe. It was a place where she could just be herself and explore her own interests. So when her friend introduced her to a master’s in library science program, it felt like a natural fit. Oshiro was in her final semester of student teaching at the time, about to graduate with her bachelor’s, and fell in love with the idea of becoming a school librarian.

“I prayed and prayed for guidance before I graduated,” recalls Oshiro when asked about her decision to become a librarian. “One day, while I was praying, I went to the library and the librarian was super nice. I’ve always loved the library, and I decided to apply for a school librarian graduate program. As soon as I did, it felt like all these doors opened up. My interest in learning was reawakened.”

Laurel Oshiro, the 2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year awardee

Fast forward to 2020, and Oshiro has obviously made the right career choice. She was recently named the 2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year, an annual award that’s presented by Chaminade University, Catholic Schools Hawaii and John C. and Mary Lou Brogan. The recipient receives a golden pine“apple” trophy and $1,000.

Oshiro’s passion and love for her job are evident the moment you start talking with her. She is the school librarian for grades JK-6 at Sacred Hearts Academy and she is known for her creative programming and knack for bringing new ideas and programs to the school.

“One of my administrators joked that I’m a Jill of all trades,” says Oshiro, laughing. “But that’s why I love Sacred Hearts so much…my principals give me so much freedom and so many resources to try to influence and create new programs.”

In 2010, Oshiro started a digital media club on campus for grades 4-6. They produce movies that are shared with the entire school community and host an annual red carpet event that is open to the public. Several students have gone on to careers in broadcast journalism. In 2013, she established the iTeach808: Empowering Hawaii’s Teachers in Technology conference, a free educational technology conference that reaches over 150 teachers from 40 schools across Hawaii each year.

More recently, Oshiro has been spearheading efforts to create a STREAM Innovation Center on campus and is piloting a new program that has already shown to increase student reading achievement and motivation. An avid sports fan and certified yoga instructor, she’s also been known to coach the school soccer and track and field teams and offer free yoga classes for colleagues. In the summer, she teaches yoga classes at the Sacred Hearts high school for students. She serves as the Vice President of Membership for the Hawaii Association of School Librarians in her spare time.

Oshiro became a mother this summer and is currently taking some time off to spend with her new baby. But she misses her Sacred Hearts community dearly and she’s treating this time away as a sabbatical, a chance to discover new books and catch up on new trends in the field of library science.

For Oshiro, there’s something very special about being in the Catholic school system that she’s excited to return to after maternity leave. She’s a devout Christian and finds fulfillment in being able to share her faith with her students.

“I look forward to mass every month and being able to talk to the children about God,” says Oshiro. “I love praying with them and helping them. It’s one thing to raise kids to be really smart and have high scores, but it’s another thing to develop their hearts.”

She has a profound respect for the teachers that surround her and attributes much of her success to the incredible work that they do every day. “I look at my neighbors, the teachers on my left and the teachers on my right, and I’m like ‘boy, they are working so hard,’” she describes. “I think managing a classroom of 25 kids is much harder than what I do. I have the one place on campus where students don’t get graded. That’s why I decided to become a librarian.”

As for the teacher-of-the-year award, Oshiro is truly honored. “It was so nice of Chaminade, it felt like the Heisman of teacher’s awards—that trophy was enormous!”

But she views the award as something her whole school earned. She believes it’s the result of the support network that she has found at Sacred Hearts Academy and it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the support of her fellow colleagues and administrators.

“It’s such an honor, I’m very humbled by it,” she says. “I hope to steward it well.”

Chaminade Adjunct Receives Compassion Award

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On August 18, 2020 Chaminade Adjunct Rev. Dr. Gary C. Augustin was awarded a Ho’omenemene (Compassion) Award by the Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii. The Ho’omenemene Awards are presented every other year to individuals and organizations that exemplify the benefits of interfaith advocacy and promote hope and healing within Hawaii communities. Augustin was one of two individuals recognized for his compassion and service.

“The service, passion, and compassion of our Ho’omenemene honorees is truly inspiring,” said Rev. Dr. George Clifford, President of the Board of Directors of the Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii. “They have worked tirelessly to enhance the quality of life of others by nurturing peace, community resilience, and social justice.”

Augustin is an adjunct professor in the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University and also serves on the advisory board for the Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology Marriage and Family Therapy program. He is a therapist with Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii and specializes in pastoral counseling and critical incident stress management. He is also an ordained minister and works as a military family and life counselor.  In 2017, after Hurricane Maria, he deployed as a volunteer to Puerto Rico with the Hawaii Disaster Medical Assistance Team, and he deployed again to Saipan in 2018 after Typhoon Yutu.

“We are thrilled that Augustin was one of this year’s recipients,” says Dr. Dale Fryxell, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University. “He is a tremendous and selfless individual who regularly dedicates himself to serving others. This award is very much deserved.”

Academic All-PacWest Teams Announced, Chaminade Sets Record

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A record-100 Chaminade University student-athletes were named Thursday to the Academic All-Pacific West Conference Teams.

The number broke the previous standard of 93 set during the 2017-18 academic year. It marks the fifth time in the past seven years that the Chaminade Athletics set a record for student-athletes recognized as Academic All-PacWest.

A total of 102 Silverswords were actually named but two student-athletes earned academic all-conference in two different sports.

Women’s volleyball senior Nina Torio (Mililani, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i/Mililani) capped off her college career with a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in Business Administration. She was one of nine seniors in the PacWest to post perfect GPAs.

Men’s soccer had the most Academic All-PacWest eligible members with 18 followed by women’s soccer with 16, women’s volleyball with 15 and softball with 14. Women’s basketball had all 10 of its eligible student-athletes honored.

Among small-roster sports (10 student-athletes or less), women’s tennis had all seven members recognized as Academic All-PacWest. Men’s cross country and women’s cross country had six each.

A total of 1,742 student-athletes in the PacWest were named on the academic all-conference teams.

To be recognized as Academic All-PacWest, student-athletes must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00, have completed two semesters at their current institution and competed in at least one regular season game or competition. Chaminade competes in 10 of the conference’s 15 sponsored sports.

Men’s Basketball
  • Isaac Amaral-Artharee, Freshman, Business Administration major, Portland, OR
  • Andre Arissol, Senior, Communication major, Northampton, England
  • Tyler Cartaino, Senior, Accounting major, Newbury Park, CA
  • Telly Davenport, Junior, Business Administration major, Idaho Falls, ID
  • Kevin Kremer, Freshman, Business Administration major, Chico, CA
  • Kobe Young, Freshman, Biochemistry major, Honolulu, HI
Women’s Basketball
  • Cheyenne Ardona, Sophomore, Business Administration major, Mililani, HI
  • Jamia Bailey, Sophomore, Elementary Education major, Yokosuka, Japan
  • Ellyonna Bankofier, Sophomore,Nursing major, Happy Valley, OR
  • Kali Benavente, Senior, Business Administration major, Tamuning, Guam
  • Arianna Blowe, Sophomore,Psychology major, Monument, CO
  • Destiny Castro, Senior, Accounting major, Talofofo, Guam
  • Michaella Dean, Sophomore, Behavioral Science major, Irvine, CA
  • Breann Nueku, Senior, Psychology major, Honolulu, HI
  • Grace Underhill, Sophomore, Biology-Integrative and Organismal major, River Forest, IL
  • Kirstin Wong, Senior, 3.62 GPA Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Laguna Niguel, CA
Men’s Cross Country
  • Elijah Bernardo-Flores, Junior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Waipahu, HI
  • Rocco Deangelo, Junior, Biology-Integrative and Organismal major, Mebane, NC
  • Beau Larsen, Freshman, Communications major, Papillion, NE
  • Peyton Oshiro, Freshman, Undeclared, Honolulu, HI
  • Josiah Rodrigues, Senior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Honokaa, HI
  • Matthew Schmidt, Senior, Forensic Science major, Hanalei, HI
Women’s Cross Country
  • Alena Albertson, Freshman, Environmental Science major, Austin, TX
  • Riley Hallman, Junior, Nursing major, Renner, SD
  • Hannah Hovestol, Sophomore, Nursing major, Modesto, CA
  • Montserrat Lanfranco, Freshman, Environmental + Interior Design major, Honolulu, HI
  • Eri Leong, Freshman, Communications major, Las Vegas, NV
  • Olivia Mariucci, Junior, Nursing major, Templeton, CA
Men’s Golf
  • Colby Gunderson, Junior, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Kaneohe, HI
  • Demond Mello, Senior, Communications major, Kaneohe, HI
  • Jeren Nishimoto, Senior, Business Administration major, Honolulu, HI
  • Schuyler Peterson, Freshman, Communications major, Huntington Beach, CA
Men’s Soccer
  • Quinton Brown, Freshman, Business Administration major, El Paso, TX
  • Kelton Cheney, Junior Undecided, State College, PA
  • Curtis Coburn, Senior, Biology-Integrative and Organismal major, Huntington Beach, CA
  • Lyric De Leon, Junior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Kapolei, HI
  • Tyler Ebisuya, Junior, Business Administration major, Kaneohe, HI
  • Jamin Fonseca, Junior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Mililani, HI
  • David Gewargis, Freshman, Business Administration major, San Jose, CA
  • Reece Hambly, Senior, Business Administration major, Binghamton, England
  • Steven Harris, Junior, Psychology major, Monroe, WA
  • Brison Kim, Freshman, Undecided, Honolulu, HI
  • Taka Kosins, Junior, Elementary Education major, Tokyo, Japan
  • Isaiah Kuloloia, Senior, Business Administration major, Mililani, HI
  • Colin Roemer, Junior, Undecided, Cologne, Germany
  • Matthew Schmidt, Senior, Forensic Sciences major, Hanalei, HI
  • Michael Stafford, Senior, Psychology major, Honolulu, HI
  • Tasman Turner, Accounting major, Kailua, HI
  • Joshua Wong, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Aiea, HI
  • Brandon Yasue, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Honolulu, HI
Women’s Soccer
  • Rachel Arakawa, Senior, Biology-Integrative and Organismal, Kaneohe, HI
  • Breanna-Leigh Bactista, Junior, Business Administration major, Mililani, HI
  • Camryn Cabudol, Freshman, Undecided, Ewa Beach, HI
  • Sharon Cain, Sophomore, Forensic Sciences major, Honolulu, HI
  • Randi Fontes, Junior, Nursing major, Wahiawa, HI
  • Alyssa Francia, Freshman, Religious Studies-Christian Studies major, Surprise, AZ
  • Laina Jumawan, Freshman, Biology-Integrative and Organismal major, Kaneohe, HI
  • Kira Nishiki, Freshman, Elementary Education major, Mililani, HI
  • Dayna Nishimura, Sophomore, Biology- Integrative and Organismal, Mililani, HI
  • Jordan Taboniar, Senior, Elementary Education major, Anahola, HI
  • Naomi Takata, Freshman, Nursing major, Honolulu, HI
  • Kyla Takazono, Sophomore, Elementary Education major, Pearl City, HI
  • Cierra Toledo-Muragin, Senior, Nursing major, Hilo, HI
  • Nicole Vontsolos, Freshman, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, San Diego, CA
  • Lindsey Wilson, Freshman, Nursing major, Mililani, HI
  • Kirstin Wong, Senior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Laguna Niguel, CA
Softball
  • Karyna Baldomino, Sophomore, Elementary Education major, Diamond Bar, CA
  • Kobe Brown, Freshman, Psychology major, Mililani, HI
  • Kaitlyn Castillo, Senior, Forensic Sciences major, Makawao, HI
  • Ronni Gallegos, Junior, Communication major, Long Beach, CA
  • Kailah Gates-Koyaso, Freshman, Business Administration major, Waianae, HI
  • Taylor Genera, Freshman, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Norwalk, CA
  • Malia Ka’akimaka-Moisa, Junior, Forensic Sciences major, Ewa Beach, HI
  • Kieren Lopez, Freshman, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Bakersfield, CA
  • Hailey Matsumura, Sophomore, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Honolulu, HI
  • Cheyne Obara, Sophomore, Elementary Education major, Pearl City, HI
  • Alexas Presto-Ahsing, Sophomore, Business Administration major, Pearl City, HI
  • Yolanda Racaz, Freshman, Elementary Education major, San Pedro, CA
  • Jehna Ramiscal, Freshman, Forensic Sciences, Visalia, CA
  • Madelyn Stockslager, Junior, Psychology major, Torrance, CA
Women’s Tennis
  • Cai Yan Fang, Senior, Data Science, Analytics and Visualization major, Zhongshan, China
  • Tomomi Kohno, Senior, Psychology major, Tokyo, Japan
  • Kayleen Lau, Freshman, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Wailuku, HI
  • Catrina Liner, Junior, Biology-Cellular and Molecular, Corvallis, OR
  • Mariel Navarro, Senior, Nursing major, Manila, Philippines
  • Emily Ramirez Miranda, Freshman, Environmental Science major, Honolulu, HI
  • Elyssa Shirai, Senior, Environmental + Interior Design major, Waipahu, HI
Women’s Volleyball
  • Alecza Abary, Freshman, Undecided, Fontana, CA
  • Alana Handy, Senior, Historical & Political Studies major, Burlington, WA
  • Leka Kiner-Falefa, Junior, Business Administration, Honolulu, HI
  • Tate Lutu, Sophomore, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Honolulu, HI
  • Riley Lynch, Junior, Psychology major, Kaneohe, HI
  • Rae Montrose, Freshman, Psychology major, Cedar Hills, UT
  • Rachel Reedy, Junior, Nursing major, Temple City, CA
  • Annah Rivera, Freshman, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Granada Hills, CA
  • Emma Tecklenburg, Senior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Plano, TX
  • Isabella Tessitore, Senior, Business Administration major, San Diego, CA
  • Tatiana Toleafoa, Sophomore, Psychology major, Union City, CA
  • Nina Torio, Senior, Business Administration major, Mililani, HI
  • Danielle Wiley, Junior, Elementary Education major, Peoria, AZ
  • Jacqueline Wolfe, Junior, Business Administration major, Laguna Hills, CA
  • Claire Zanon, Junior, Business Administration major, Beaverton, OR

A Leader of Leaders

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Whether it’s treating a Chaminade alumnus to lunch, spending her own time tutoring students for the nursing certification exam or serving as a faculty advisor to a student club, Chaminade professor of nursing Edna Magpantay-Monroe is notorious for going the extra mile.

Edna Magpantay-Monroe

“Once Dr. Monroe knows who you are,” says fourth-year nursing student Spencer Lee, “she won’t forget you…[she] often sacrifices her own time and money to provide services for students that better their education.”

That’s why he nominated her for the 2020 Weingarten Leader of Leaders Award. Each year, the National Student Nurses Association presents the award to a dean, faculty member or state consultant who goes above and beyond to support nursing students. Having worked with Professor Monroe as the president for Hawaii State Student Nurses Association and a former the Chaminade Student Nurses’ Association, Lee knew she was the perfect example of a Leader of Leaders.

“She was a key figure in revamping the Hawai‘i Student Nurses’ Association years ago, and since then has served as a faculty consultant and has mentored many future leaders in healthcare,” says Lee. “She has fostered the professional and academic development of all of the students she has interacted with.”

Professor Monroe was beyond touched when she learned she had won the award. “I was ecstatic when I opened my email congratulating me on this award,” says Monroe. “The nomination means a lot because it came from students.”

The award was to be presented at the annual National Student Nurses’ Association convention this month, but the gathering was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Hawai‘i Student Nurses’ Association, for which Dr. Monroe serves as the faculty consultant, also won both the national Newsletter Contest and the State Excellence Award.

 won in our category of schools for both the Newsletter and State Excellence

“Seven years ago, when a group of students asked me to help rejuvenate the state’s Student Nurses Association, I said yes but I did not have a clue what laid ahead,” said Monroe. “I have ended up loving this role as a faculty consultant and advisor. I feel proud as I see the students grow in front of me.”

Dr. Monroe serves as the president of the Sigma Theta Tau International Gamma Psi-at-Large Chapter, co-adviser of the Chaminade Health Occupations Schools of America (HOSA) club, and co-adviser of The Filipino Club at Chaminade University. Additionally, she was recently a co-author of an abstract publication, “Student Perceptions of Just Culture in Nursing Education Programs: A Multi-Site Study,” that received the 2020 Generating Evidence for Nursing Education Practice Award presented by Sigma and the National League for Nursing.

Student Named to Most Promising Multicultural Class of 2020

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Chaminade Communication senior Sofia Vela jetted off to New York in February for a four-day conference of the American Advertising Federation’s Most Promising Multicultural Class of 2020.

Sofia Vela in NYC for Most Promising Multicultural program

Vela was among just 50 students from around the country selected for the class, a prestigious honor that recognized her portfolio of work and academic accomplishments. A panel of industry representatives from across a host of big-name companies selected the honorees.

The federation launched the Most Promising Multicultural Student program in 1997 to link the advertising industry with top multicultural students from around the country, setting up sit-downs with mentors and recruiters in a bid to create a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

Those selected this year traveled to New York from February 10 to 13 for a packed agenda—with workshops, “industry immersion” opportunities, and the Building Bridge for our Future luncheon.

The students were also treated to a Broadway show: “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.”

Vela said she couldn’t contain her excitement when she’d found out she was selected for the honor.

And the New York City conference didn’t disappoint. “I had no idea that this trip would be so life-changing,” Vela said. “Each MPM student was hard-working and driven. Together, we lifted each other up and created an energy that continues to motivate me, even after returning home.”

All the honorees in the class are minorities and 43 are women. The diversity left Vela inspired. “We were all there for a similar, unspoken reason: to redefine the norm,” she said. “The time to increase populations of multicultural men and women in the workplace is now.”

Vela said she’s now ready to take on just about anything after college. Whatever her next steps, she knows she’ll have some new peers to share them with. “I made some lifelong friends on the trip,” Vela said. “The students on this trip were all absolutely wonderful.”

Secondary Education Student Wins MLA Student Essay Contest

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Jennifer Nguyen '22 with author Viet Thanh Nguyen
Jennifer Nguyen ’22 with author Viet Thanh Nguyen. Jennifer cited his work multiple times in her essay.

Jennifer Nguyen ’22 calls herself a “history fanatic.”

She’s an online undergraduate student studying Secondary Education at Chaminade and hopes to one day teach history. So when her English professor, Dr. Brooke Carlson, assigned her class an argumentative essay designed to be something of a self-exploration she knew instantly what she would write about.

She took on nothing less than the Vietnam War, a topic that has haunted her since childhood.

“I find many reasons to be proud of my American heritage,” Nguyen said, in a recent interview. “On the other side, I find myself drawn to the stories, the struggle, and the memory of a war that has affected not only my family but all those who were lost, displaced, resettled, disturbed.”

Her essay explores the problematic way in which Americans collectively remember the war, offering a powerful alternative for recalling a bloody and protracted conflict that Nguyen said is meant to reflect her “love for the American value of expression and a love for cultural identity.”

Her powerful perspective didn’t just impress her professor.

It also garnered a national award: Out of hundreds of submissions from around the country, “The Vietnam War, the American War: Literature, Film, and Popular Memory” was selected as a winner in the MLA (Modern Language Association) Student Paper Contest. A committee of judges said Nguyen’s essay not only had a clear thesis and excellent sources, but the topic and her argument were “compelling.”

In winning the award, Nguyen’s essay will also be published on the MLA Style Center, a hub geared toward students from high school to graduate school that’s meant to demonstrate how to correctly use MLA style – and, of course, write a good essay.

Nguyen said the essay was a “passion project” that was made possible thanks to her partnership with Carlson. Nguyen said her professor suggested she submit the essay to the MLA and then helped her cut the word count and offered other suggestions for tweaks.

“Without him, I would not have even known or considered submitting my work to the MLA contest,” Nguyen said, adding that “This essay really was a joy to research and write. I hope to continue on this path and produce more work that sheds light on important issues.”