Chaminade University of Honolulu

Honors and Awards

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.

Newest Hall of Fame Inductees Honored

South Sudanese-Australian basketball player Kuany Kuany ’17, who competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and longtime Silversword athletics supporters Judith and William Garrett are the newest inductees in Chaminade’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

The three were honored at the University’s Silversword Gala on March 29.

Kuany, who played guard for Chaminade, is one of the most decorated players in school history. After leaving Chaminade, he played professionally in Australia and Europe and now serves as captain of the South Sudan National Team, which he took to the Olympic Games last year.

At the Paris Games, South Sudan nearly upset Team USA in a friendly game.

Under his leadership, the South Sudan National Team has also competed in the AfroBasket tournament and the FIBA World Cup, engendering a great sense of pride in the war-torn country.

At the Silversword Gala, Chaminade Director of Athletics Tom Buning said Kuany is not only inspirational, he is a team player who understands the value of hard work and collaboration. He noted that Kuany ranks among the school’s all-time leaders in scoring and rebounding.

“For those who observed him from campus, Kuany was known for his citizenship, academic prowess, and quiet ability to speak loudly through his actions,” Buning said, adding “Kuany has followed the Marianist tradition of building community in his professional life. He has used his Chaminade education and an MBA from Victory University to make a positive difference.”

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The Garretts, who share a lifelong passion for college basketball, have been enthusiastic supporters of Chaminade’s basketball team since 2011. Their commitment to the program extends beyond the court, including as annual attendees of the Maui Invitational.

They are also members of the Chaminade Fund Society, a group of the University’s strongest supporters of unrestricted giving.

William “Bill” Garrett, who has served on Chaminade’s Board of Governors since 2018, retired as city manager of the Southern California communities of Corona and El Cajon.

A U.S. Army veteran, Garrett received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, a master’s of science in urban planning from the University of Arizona and a master’s in public administration from California State University, Fullerton.

Judith “Judy” Garrett worked for more than 30 years as a grants administrator, city planner, business district manager, fundraiser, and government consultant.

She has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Washington and a master’s in city and regional planning from the University of Arizona.

In retirement, she has served on the boards of several nonprofit and live theatre organizations and, for almost five years, was the volunteer administrator of a western art museum in El Cajon.

Buning said the Garretts’ generous donations have made multiple capital projects possible.

“Together, they serve to make a difference for our student-athletes and benefit every program, every day,” he said. “With grateful hearts and a servant mindset, Bill and Judy are following the Marianist tradition of helping make … a positive difference in the lives of student-athletes.”

Criminal Justice Students Clinch Scholarships

Two Silverswords were honored with TOP COP Hawaii Scholarships in recognition of their academic achievement. Each student received $1,000 to use toward their educational goals.

The honorees were Jayce Pascua ‘26 and Heather Weires, MSCJS ‘24.

TOP COP Hawaii is organized by the Law Enforcement and Security Coalition of Hawaii to recognize excellence in law enforcement and security.

Dr. Kelly Treece, Chaminade Criminology and Criminal Justice program director, congratulated the student honorees. “They’re being recognized not only by scholarship donors, but the criminal justice community,” she said.

Pascua, a Criminology and Criminal Justice major at Chaminade, said the scholarship was humbling.

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“I chose Criminal Justice simply because I always had a drive for selfless service in our community,” he said. “I always wanted to do better and give back to my community, so what other way than keeping the community protected and safe? I have a strong passion for justice for our community and I always thought I would be the one to make a difference.”

Pascua said after graduation, he hopes to attend warrant officer and flight schools in the Hawai’i Army National Guard before pursuing a special agent role with the FBI, CIA or other organization.

“I am driven to become a special agent because their role is a blend of investigative work, critical thinking, and field operations and that aligns perfectly with my passion for justice,” he said.

Pascua added that he is grateful for the hands-on learning at Chaminade. “The small and interactive classes at Chaminade are something that you cannot get at another University, but it is the professors that make the experiences at Chaminade stand out,” he said.

Ceremony Recognizes Heritage Award Honorees

As part of the annual Founders’ Week festivities, three members of the Chaminade community were honored Wednesday with Heritage Awards for their strong commitment to Marianist values.

The recipients were recognized at a special Founders’ Day Mass at the Mystical Rose Oratory.

The Heritage Awards are conferred by the Chaminade Rector’s Office annually to celebrate Marianist values of service in education. Nominations are submitted from across the University.

Dr. Koreen Nakahodo, an assistant professor of English, received the Chaminade Award for embracing Marianist values in education and undertaking “the intellectual life as a form of service in the interest of justice and truth.”

Several colleagues nominated her for the honor, saying that her work with students, across campus and with the community is impressive and impactful.

“I have been privileged to work with Dr. Nakahodo for more than two decades,” one Chaminade professor wrote in his nomination letter.

“She is a true example of Fr. Chaminade’s dictum that our progress is like a brook, caressing obstacles, gaining depth and breadth in the fullness of time, the brook overflows the obstacles and moves forward. She is persistent, undaunted by obstacles.”

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Academic Affairs Program Manager Jackeline Sanqui received the Marianist Award for her unwavering support of Chaminade’s vision and mission. Marianist Award honorees are full-time support staff members who live Marianist values of family spirit, hospitality and openness.

In a nomination letter, one of Sanqui’s supervisors said she creates a welcoming, inclusive environment for everyone. “Jacky’s commitment to Chaminade’s mission extends beyond her immediate responsibilities. She is a vital support in programs that serve underserved populations,” the nominator wrote, adding she is a vital member of the Chaminade family.

Finally, Noelani Tugaoen ‘25 was honored with the Founders’ Award, which is given to a Chaminade student who has exhibited the Marianist values of generosity, respect and a spirit of faith. Recipients are also recognized for serving as positive role models for the Silversword family.


Tugaoen is a student ambassador, active in the Ka Ipu Kukui Me Ka ‘ie ‘ie (Hawaiian) Club, and Campus Ministry. A Chaminade staff member who nominated Tugaoen said the senior is a true servant leader who “wants people to feel loved and know they each have a place.”

The nominator continued, “In every sphere she has been in, Noe has always been a vibrant and joyous person, constantly looking for ways to meet students and their families, and bring a sense of belonging to everyone present. The atmosphere changes when Noe enters a space.”

Founders’ Week officially kicked off Jan. 17, with a special lei draping ceremony and prayer service at the Father Chaminade statue on the University’s Front Lawn.

The week celebrates the founders of the Marianist Family, Father Chaminade, Mother Adele, and Marie-Thérèse de Lamourous.