Chaminade University of Honolulu

Honors and Awards

Educational Coalition Honors Chaminade with ‘Engaged Campus Award’ for Service-Learning

Service Learning Award
Candice Sakuda & Bro. Tom Spring, S.M.

Campus Compact, a coalition of nearly 1,100 educational institutions, presented the 2017 “Western Region Engaged Campus Award” to Chaminade University in recognition of its commitment to the public good. The award ceremony highlighted Chaminade’s meaningful community partnerships and service-learning projects.

“As a Catholic and Marianist university, Chaminade integrates service-learning throughout its curriculum,” pointed out Vice President for Mission and Rector Bro. Edward Brink, S.M. “These off-campus and on-campus projects not only promote the greater good, they help students prepare for successful careers and a lifetime of service.”

The award was in keeping with Campus Compact’s 30th Anniversary Action Statement, which calls for colleges and universities to “challenge inequalities, pursue justice and contribute to the health of our communities – economically, socially, environmentally, educationally and politically.”

Examples of Chaminade service-learning activities include:

  • An after-school program for K-12 students living at the Institute for Human Services women’s and family shelter;
  • Project SHINE, which teaches English and civic skills to older immigrants seeking to become U.S. citizens;
  • The Stock Market Game, an online simulation of global capital markets that helps school children understand economics, investing and personal finance;
  • “Palolo Pipeline” projects assisting students at Kaimuki High School, Jarrett Middle School, Palolo Elementary School and Palolo ‘Ohana Learning Center;
  • A tutoring and mentoring program for elementary school children at the Papakolea Native Hawaiian homestead community; and
  • Inclusive Recreation (I-Rec), which provides social activities for young adults living with developmental disabilities.

Ewa Beach Vice Principal Derek Santos ‘16 wins Kawaguchi Award for Educational Leadership

Derek Santos '16 (Ewa Beach Elementary School) and Dale Fryxell (Dean, Division of Education)
Derek Santos ’16 and Dale Fryxell

For his exemplary work while enrolled in Chaminade University’s Master of Education program – and the impact he’s expected to make on Hawaii schools – Derek Santos ‘16 has become the second annual recipient of the Kathy Kawaguchi Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership.

Santos, a vice principal at Ewa Beach Elementary School, said he was surprised and humbled to receive the recognition from Chaminade Division of Education faculty.

“Kathy Kawaguchi embodied the instructional leader, something I strive for each day when working as an administrator,” Santos said. “Each day I work to not only teach my students and staff about integrity and being lifelong learners, but I also teach to the heart with empathy through the relationships I build.”

The award honors the memory of Kawaguchi, Chaminade’s former Director of Leadership and Educational Projects. The Hilo native, who passed away in 2016, also had a long career with the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Chaminade’s Master of Education program offers concentrations in Educational Leadership, which prepares candidates for administrative positions with an emphasis on K-12 schools; Instructional Leadership,which provides advanced knowledge of classroom practices for teachers and other educators not currently aspiring to become administrators; and Child Development, which offers advanced study of developmental theory, research and application.

Chaminade’s spring musical ‘Into the Woods’ wins 7 awards from Hawaii State Theatre Council

The Hawaii State Theatre Council honored Chaminade University’s spring production of “Into the Woods” with seven Po‘okela Awards – including “Overall Musical” and “Ensemble Performance in a Musical” – thus tying for the second-most accolades at the August 7 ceremony.

Winning a “Pokie” for “Director of a Musical” was Bro. Gary Morris, SM, with Chaminade’s Division of Humanities and Fine Arts. In addition, the associate professor of performing arts won the “Leading Male in a Musical” award for his role in “1776: The Musical,” staged at Windward Community College’s Paliku Theatre.

Chaminade’s production was also recognized for:

  • Sound Design & Engineering (Daniel Yoo);
  • Set Design (Michelle Bisbee);
  • Lighting Design (Christine Sutrov); and
  • Hair, Make-Up and Wig Design (Grace Capellas).

Serving as stage managers were Chaminade students Marchella Verstegh ‘18 and Ava Wong ‘20. The musical ran from March 31 to April 9 at the campus Mamiya Theater.

“Into the Woods,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, offers a modern twist on classic fairy tales with a “be careful what you wish for” theme. The Tony Award-winning musical premiered on Broadway in 1987. Walt Disney Pictures released a film adaptation in 2014.

‘Outstanding Graduate’ in Pastoral Theology Starting End-of-Life Spiritual Care Program

In recognition of his educational achievements, leadership skills and “sincere heart to serve,” Gerald Streff was named the “Outstanding Graduate” in Chaminade University’s Master of Pastoral Theology program.

Streff and five other students graduated from the program this spring.

Gerald StreffStreff, who retired in 2012 after a 39-year career with the U.S. Air Force, will use his academic training to launch an end-of-life spiritual care volunteer program at the Saint Jude Makakilo parish. His initiative addresses growing concerns about caring for seniors in Hawaii, which has one of the highest percentages of elderly residents in America.

“Gary’s academic acumen, his generous desire both to help develop an end-of-life ministry program for the people of his parish, and to serve to emerging concerns of the larger professional health care community of Hawaii have more than qualified him for the graduate award,” according to Father Paul Fitzpatrick, SM, director of the pastoral program.

Streff says Father Paul’s mentorship, friendship and method of teaching “opened me up to God in a way that no one else has ever done.”

“It was Father Paul’s constant challenges that made the Bible and other sacred writings come alive and relevant,” according to Streff. “His personal dedication to God, the Catholic Church and the fulfillment of his Marian mission were very inspirational.”

And although Streff says he “thoroughly enjoyed his military career and its challenges,” now he’s finding pastoral work “much more fulfilling and definitely worth it.”

Chaminade’s Master of Pastoral Theology program is part of the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts. Specialized certificate programs are offered in Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction and in Permanent Diaconate Education to prepare for ordination as a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church.

Business Students Take Top Honors, Once Again, in Ethics Case Study International Competition

For the third time in the past five years, Chaminade University took top honors at an international academic competition for business students. Hosting the Ethics Case Study Competition was the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) at its annual conference and assembly meeting in San Francisco.

Students on the winning team were Victoria Alakai, Ave Galea’i, Anthony Lamorena and Jennifer Tolentino. Serving as coaches and mentors from Chaminade’s School of Business and Communication were faculty members Wayne Tanna, Carolyn Kuriyama, Aaron Williamson and IACBE “Teacher of the Year” Richard Kido.

Peregrine Academic Services awarded the team a $1,000 scholarship.

When making their presentations to panels of judges, students explained legal, financial, economic, marketing, management and other relevant issues. Then they made recommendations for action grounded in ethical theory.

Since Chaminade is a Native Hawaiian-serving institution, the students developed a case study regarding the transition of land at Kalaupapa on Molokai, where thousands of Hansen’s Disease sufferers lived in seclusion since 1866.

The ethical dilemma involved preserving the legacy of those patients versus providing homestead lands to Native Hawaiians on a waiting list.

After making their initial presentations, all teams in the competition were given just four hours to analyze and offer recommendations regarding a case study of the 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California.

The basic question was: Should a technology company assist the government in accessing people’s private information for any purpose in the name of national security?

A total of five teams entered the IACBE competition, including a group of graduate students from Germany.

Medical School Honors Chaminade Graduate Jacquelynn Pratt with ‘Diversity Excellence Award’

Jacquelynn PrattChaminade University alumna Jacquelynn Pratt has received the “Diversity Excellence Award” from A.T. Still University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri, where she graduated this spring. The annual award recognizes her commitment to diversity and inclusion in graduate healthcare education.

Born and raised on Oahu, Pratt majored in Biology and English at Chaminade. She earned both bachelor’s degrees in May 2006, while receiving the “Outstanding English Graduate” award.

Pratt participated in numerous research programs at Chaminade in the fields of psychology, cancer biology, ecology and epidemiology. She was also highly involved with campus clubs and organizations, including the Delta Epsilon Sigma and Sigma Tau Delta honor societies.

After graduating from Chaminade, Pratt worked with the Ministry of Health on the Cook Islands to computerize patient data and thereby more accurately calculate the incidence and prevalence of cancer among the native Maori population.

She later returned to Chaminade and served as the Assistant to the Associate Provost in the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research.