Honors and Awards

2019 Heritage Awards

January 27, 2019 by University Communications & Marketing

Three members of the Chaminade ‘ohana were honored at a special mass on January 23, 2019 as part of the annual Heritage Awards. Each year, Chaminade University recognizes three individuals who exemplify the Marianist tradition on campus and live and share Marianist ideals. This year’s award winners were Sister Malia Wong, O.P, Riu Jiang Huang and Savannah Delos Santos.

The Chaminade Award is given each year to a faculty or staff member who exhibits a continuous commitment to Marianist values. This year’s recipient, Sr. Malia Wong, is a Chaminade alumna and has been a senior lecturer in religious studies at Chaminade University for over 18 years. In addition to teaching classes, Sr. Malia also creates an All Things Marianist video series, documents plants and trees on campus and their natural medicinal properties and makes regular visits to individuals in the hospital—to name just a few.

Riu Jiang Huang, this year’s recipient of the Marianist Award, has been an electrician at Chaminade for over 20 years. There is no obstacle too big for Riu. He constantly finds creative solutions to problems, approaches every individual with a smile and communicates the spirit of faith, service and commitment in all that he does. Riu is known for his ability to bring laughter and joy and expressing his kindness through actions.

The Founder’s Award is presented each year to a student who has exhibited a spirit of faith, demonstrated a commitment to Marianist values and served as a role model for the Chaminade community. Savannah Delos Santos was the well-deserved recipient this year. She is an active participant in Campus Ministry, was a member of the university’s strategic planning task force, is a participant in the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program, interned for a fashion designer and helped plan a national conference. Her enthusiastic willingness to embrace every opportunity that is presented to her indicates both her faith and her response to God’s call.

Congratulations and mahalo to our three award-winners! We are blessed and honored to have your unique gifts as part of our campus community.

Years of Service Recognition

December 17, 2018 by University Communications & Marketing

Faculty and staff members were recognized on Friday, December 7 for their incredible contributions and years of service at Chaminade University at the annual faculty and staff holiday luncheon.

Attendees enjoyed lunch, Christmas drinks and decor and celebrated the milestones of 37 faculty and staff members for their years of service.

The following Chaminade employees were recognized:

Tai Arakawa
Tricia Bonilla
Brooke Carlson
Eurina Cha
Denise Cooper
Kacie Cohen
Manuel Gagarin
Arikka Johnson
Nathan Lawrence
Michelle Richardson
Julieta Rosado
Junghwa Suh
Helen Dalmaso Whippy
Deneen Wong

Sherry Bagoyo
Krispin Hengio
Salomon Henry
Tammy Hohu
Bryan Moseley
Shauna Pimentel-Motooka
Lori Shimoda
William Villa

Lina Balon
Aulani Kaanoi
Gary Morris
Debbie Murayama
Allison Paynter
Amy Takiguchi

Frank Baile
Dominic Bugado
Dale Fryxell
Robert Maruyama

Wayne Tanna

Bulent Terem
Michio Yamasaki

Richard Bordner

Patricia Lee-Robinson

Student’s Summer Research at Johns Hopkins University Earns Award

December 5, 2018 by University Communications & Marketing

Chaminade junior Chloe Talana was one of eight students out of 103 to be named best poster presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students on November 17 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Talana studied blood samples from HIV infected individuals to document how their immune cells function as part of a summer research program at Johns Hopkins University. She first presented her research at the Leadership Alliance symposium in Connecticut and was invited to present her research again at the recent conference in Indianapolis. She attended the national conference with six other Chaminade students, three of whom also presented their research.

“I could never be more grateful to be part of that conference,” says Talana. “I wasn’t even sure if I was actually going, but then I was fortunate enough to receive a full travel award from the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research. I was surrounded by bright people with the same passions, the same drive that want to do something good in STEM. I felt at home, especially since this is really what I want to do.”

Talana attributes her award to her ability to seize opportunities and the support she’s received from Chaminade professor Dr. Michael Weichhaus. Talana joined Dr. Weichhaus’s lab as a student researcher after she approached him after class one day and asked if he knew of any research opportunities.

“Opportunities don’t just fall into your lap nowadays, you have to take the initiative,” says Talana. “I took the initiative to approach Dr. Weichhaus, and now he’s my mentor and my advisor. He really takes the time to help me understand things, and he really listens. His mentorship has helped me evaluate what I want to do, what I can do and what I should do more.”

Dr. Weichhaus has encouraged Talana to pursue research opportunities outside of his lab, including the Johns Hopkins program. His mentorship has made such an impact on Talana’s experience as a student that earlier this year she nominated him for the President Mackey Prize, which he was awarded at the Na Liko Na’auao undergraduate conference at Chaminade University in March.

“Since I have started working with him, Dr. Weichhaus has validated what I want to do with my future,” says Talana. “A lot of people say doctor’s save lives, and they absolutely do. But if we really think about it, it all comes down to research. Without research, we wouldn’t have advances in medicine. I want to go to medical school to get a combined M.D. and Ph.D. and become a medical scientist.”

Reinventing the Mall

November 27, 2018 by University Communications & Marketing

On November 15, four Chaminade undergraduate students were honored at The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Hawaii Chapter Gala for their inspiring and revolutionary designs.

Zhu (Ryan) Fan, Jenelyn Sison, Nicolle Soriano and Catherine Valentine received an honorable mention award for their project “Death of a Mall,” and Jenelyn Sison received an individual Award of Excellence for her project “ALEA Bridge—Human-Centered Affordable Housing.”

“Our professor tasked us with redesigning the current concept of a mall,” says Catherine Valentine. “We wanted to integrate new online shopping technology with the connection that people get when they’re shopping in a social setting, so we integrated augmented and virtual reality with other appealing features that give you a small town feel and make you want to come in and meet your neighbors.”

Three of the students—Fan, Sison and Soriano—graduated from Chaminade in May 2018 and are working for design firms. Valentine will graduate next month.

“I am a military vet and decided to leave my already established career to pursue this passion of mine,” says Valentine. “This award helps make it feel like I made the right choice. The four of us worked so hard and well together and we developed something that we can all be proud of.”

Chaminade Grad Named Teacher of the Year

November 14, 2018 by University Communications & Marketing

Congratulations to Mathieu Williams ‘14 for being named the 2019 Hawaii Teacher of the Year. Williams is a visual media and technology teacher at Kealakehe Intermediate School in Kona who challenges his students to look inward and discover the individual they want to become.

“Media is such a great platform, but it’s all about building a brand,” says Williams. “I help my students understand that they all have their own brand and I ask them, ‘what are you going to be known for? Do you want to be known for kindness? Respect? Being dependable?’”

Williams started his teaching journey as a member of Teach for America right out of university. He didn’t know he wanted to be a teacher right away, but he fell in love with all that his students had to offer. He learns from them every day and loves helping his students see the world in a different light. “The moment we stop learning it’s a scary thing because we get complacent,” says Williams. “It’s not about teaching kids facts or subject matter, it’s about teaching kids how to learn and how to empathize and understand people and places.”

“Knowing that the future sits in front of you each and every day and that you have the ability to shape that future is a large responsibility,” says Williams. “I feel completely humbled by it.”

Mathieu graduated from the Chaminade Master of Education program with a specialization in educational leadership in 2014. “We are incredibly proud of Mathieu for achieving such a high honor,” says Dale Fryxell, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade. “This is a fantastic accomplishment and a well-deserved award.”

Chaminade Named Outstanding Organization by Top Cop

November 14, 2018 by University Communications & Marketing

On October 25, the Chaminade University Criminal Justice Program received the Outstanding Organization Award at the Top Cop Hawaii 34th Annual Law Enforcement and Security Awards Banquet. Each year, The Law Enforcement and Security Coalition of Hawaii presents the award to a security or safety organization or professional association that demonstrates initiative and innovation in promoting law enforcement, security and safety in the State of Hawaii.

Chaminade has the largest and most respected undergraduate criminal justice program in the state of Hawaii, and the only master’s degree in criminal justice. Chaminade graduates can be found in law enforcement agencies throughout the state as police chiefs, correctional agency directors, government attorneys and federal, state and county law enforcement personnel.

Ronald Becker, director of the criminology and criminal justice program at Chaminade, accepted the award on behalf of the university. “When I received the award, I asked all of our Chaminade graduates to stand up,” says professor Becker. “A large number of people stood up. It really helped visualize the extent of our program and our reach. This award helps validate what I already knew, but now I can share it with others.”

The ASIS International Hawaii Chapter and Cindi Flating also presented two Chaminade students with the Bob Flating Scholarship at the event. The award is given each year to individuals who are pursuing a degree in law enforcement or security. Both Sydney Thyen and Yaron Fernando received the $1,000 scholarship to use toward their course tuition.

“We were thrilled to see our students being recognized for their commitment and hard work,” says Allison Jerome, dean of students. “The generous gifts from ASIS will help our students pursue their academic goals and share their gifts and talents with the community.”