Chaminade University of Honolulu

Honors and Awards

Educator Award

Chaminade Alumna named West Hawai‘i Teacher of the Year

One of 16 finalists for the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year recognition, Jennifer Ilaban ’05 said she actually had no desire to become an educator when she was younger. But a volunteer experience while she was a college student changed her career trajectory.

“In my early college years, I began pursuing a degree in business and travel industry management,” said the Kahakai Elementary English Language Arts teacher. “I had internships with Sheraton, and I also worked during the winter and summer break at Four Seasons. While those were fun experiences, I did not have much fulfillment in making a difference.”

As a stipulation of one of her scholarships, Ilaban was committed to do volunteer work for the Pauahi Scholarship and volunteered at Ala Wai Elementary school in its afterschool program, where she tutored students. She also volunteered at a preschool where she found a sense of purpose that she could help people rather than serve tourists. After earning a BS in Hawaiian Language, Ilaban applied to Chaminade to pursue her Masters of Education in early childhood education and her teacher licensure.

Chaminade Director of Early Childhood and Montessori Programs, Dr. Elizabeth Park remembers Ilaban well. She was one of her very first student teachers, and Park knew even then that Ilaban would make a great teacher.

West Hawai‘i Teacher of the Year Award recipient, Jennifer Ilaban, has her photo taken with, from left, Hawaii State Board of Education Chairman Warren Haruki, Superintendent Keith Hayashi, Gov. Josh Green, First Lady Jaime Kanani Green, Kahakai Elementary Principal Kori Takaki and ​Complex Area Superintendent Janette Snelling.

“I still have the books she created with the children that I use as examples of good literacy practice,” said Park, who was invited by Ilaban to attend the 2024 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year ceremony at Washington Place. “So, I am not surprised that she received the West Hawai‘i Teacher of the Year Award.”

The annual Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year honor is presented annually to a classroom teacher selected from more than 13,000 Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) educators. The winner goes on to represent Hawaiʻi in the National Teacher of the Year program, which provides a new cohort of State Teachers of the Year with a yearlong, one-of-a-kind professional learning and development experience.

“We’re excited to be here today to honor 16 finalists from our public and charter schools statewide,” said Superintendent Keith Hayashi during the live-streamed ceremony. “It’s important that we pause and take the time to recognize and appreciate the outstanding work that all of our 13,000 teachers do every day. You are prime examples of how a teacher’s influence on a student can transcend beyond the classroom and beyond the K-12 timeline.”

Today’s Teacher of the Year ceremony included monetary awards to each Complex Area and Public Charter School Teacher of the Year by The Polynesian Cultural Center—the Teacher of the Year program’s corporate sponsor for over 30 years—and an additional $1,000 award to the State Teacher of the Year.

“We’re grateful that you’re the role models for our children,” Gov. Josh Green told the finalists. “I appreciate your heart because we all know the sacrifices teachers make. It’s a great challenge and you’re making Hawaii a more extraordinary place.”

Ilaban teaches pre-school through grade three students, and now also coaches teachers and students as a curricular coordinator for Kahakai Elementary. She is the only National Board Certified teacher on campus and consistently applies the board-certified framework in her approach to mentoring fellow teachers.

“I have had the pleasure of witnessing Jennifer’s exceptional teaching abilities and unwavering commitment to students, colleagues and the success of our school,” wrote Kahakai Elementary School Principal Kori Takaki in her nomination letter to the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee. “I can attest to her exceptional skills, dedication and passion for education.

“Jennifer is an excellent teacher who consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the success of students,” Takaki added. “She is not only knowledgeable and skilled in her subject matter, but she also possesses a unique ability to connect with students on a personal level. And I am confident that she will continue to make a significant impact at our school and in the field of education.”

Asked what it means for her to be named the West Hawai‘i Teacher of the Year, Ilaban was quick to respond: “This award represents the power of public education,” adding that she was born and raised in Kona, attended public school as a student, and spent most of her career teaching in public education.

“I am proud to send my own children to public school,” Ilaban said. “It is full circle for me to represent the district that I came from.” 

Grant Expectations

Grant help via the Office of Sponsored Programs

Newly restructured and expanded, Chaminade’s Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will advance the university’s commitment through excellence in research administration, according to Claire Wright, Ph.D., who recently assumed the role of Senior Director with the Office of Sponsored Programs. It will also ensure that all grants are in compliance with federal, state and local regulations.  

Office of Sponsored Projects timeline

The Office’s primary and most visible mission is to serve the University community in the successful pursuit of external funds to support research and campus programs. Wright will  collaborate with faculty through every step of the pre-award process to submit highly competitive proposals.  

“The office helps faculty members finance the research and projects that they want to do,” said Wright, who completed all of her undergraduate and graduate training in the U.K., and joined the Chaminade faculty in 2011. “This a change for me from teaching, but I want to help faculty members realize their dreams.”  

Although she’ll continue with her teaching duties with the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chrystie Naeole, Ph.D., now has the added responsibility of being the Director of  Office of Sponsored Projects.  

“As a federal grants specialist, I’ve undergone extensive federal training to be able to assist grantees with the development, interpretation of federal language, and submission of these grant applications,” Naeole said. “I will also help with the execution of grant subcontracts, sub-awards and the management of grant-maintained studentships.”  

Lynn Haff, Director of Proposal Development and Andrew Perez, Grants Financial Specialist; and Helen Turner, Ph.D., Senior Advisor on Sponsored Projects make up the remaining OSP team. A private funding specialist, Haff helps to identify and match grant seekers with potential funding sources of all kinds. She also helps to craft ideas for proposals, editing and drafting of proposal narratives, and the gathering of additional materials for submission, including bio sketches and letters of support. If the proposal submission is from a private source, Haff will also help with the submission process and the reporting requirements during the award period.  

Office of Sponsored Programs support

Perez is a staff member of the Business Office with an abundance of experience in grants financial management for both private and federal grants. He helps grantees generate grant budgets for application submission, and assists with the management of all financial reporting and compliance issues.  

“I was hired by Chaminade to fill this specific role more than nine years ago,” Perez says. “There are lot of moving parts to a grant, and our role is to make sure that nothing is overlooked and that all the details are complete.”

Recruited by Chaminade because of her past successes in winning grants with the National Institutes of Health (NICHD) and local foundations, and her progressive translational research, Wright takes on this new role as the university develops its 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.  

“Grants can help determine what the vision is for the school,” Wright said. “I’m here to help them write their grants, whatever that grant may be. And it’s not just for academic research; it could be for a study abroad program, student scholarships, community outreach or service learning. I’ll help them work through the process and their announcements, as well as with their reporting of outcomes.”  

Driven by an idea, a product, a concept or a cause, faculty members conducting research or off-campus activity are often dedicated to their project, but they might lack the experience or access to funding sources needed to effectively carry out that project. In most cases, faculty research projects require outside funding that often comes from federal and state agencies, foundation grants or fellowship programs.  

“And that’s where many universities’ Offices of Sponsored Programs play a critical role,” Wright said. “The office is the support system for faculty members who are trying to get a grant for their work in their respective disciplines.”    

Kenneth and Diane Matsuura Foundation

Scholarship fund helps future nurses

After consistently hearing about the need for nurses during the pandemic, Kenneth and Diane Matsuura decided to do something about it. Rather than park their money in investments, the couple was driven to establish a foundation that would support future healthcare workers, knowing the essential role nurses play in and outside of hospital settings.  

“During the pandemic, we saw the perseverance of nurses,” says Diane Matsuura, a retired music teacher. “I could never do what they do; they work tirelessly to help their patients heal. And we’re fortunate enough to be able to start this foundation to help future nurses attain their degrees.”  

The COVID-19 pandemic was not in sight when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, with a goal to raise awareness of the need for “nine million more nurses and midwives to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.”

In Hawaii, there are currently 1,000 vacant nursing positions across the state, according to the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. State data further shows the demand for more nurses will grow by more than 100 positions each year.  

Tiannah Ohta and Genie Reutirez heard that calling and decided to answer it by applying to Chaminade’s nursing program. As part of the cohort of students in the accelerated track to earn a bachelor of science in nursing, Ohta, Reutirez and their fellow nursing students will complete their degrees in five back-to-back terms (20 months, as opposed to the traditional four years) through a rigorous academic schedule.

“When I read the email that I received a scholarship from the Kenneth And Diane Matsuura Foundation, I started to bawl,” Reutirez told Diane Matsuura and son Keven Matsuura over lunch. “It was such a huge surprise and a major financial help.”  

Ohta was in disbelief when she learned about her scholarship, thinking at first, that the email was a prank. “I wasn’t expecting it all; I had to read the email a few times because I thought I was reading it incorrectly.” said the 24-year-old Waipahu native and two-time nominee for a U.S. Presidential Scholars Medallion. “This helps me a great deal financially because we can’t work and go to school at the same time. It’s just not possible.”  

With an increasing emphasis on preparing nurses at the baccalaureate and higher degree level, one innovative approach to nursing education is to offer an accelerated degree program for non-nursing graduates. These programs build on previous learning experiences and provide a way for individuals with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines to transition into nursing.  

Having already completed her undergraduate degree in public health, Reutirez decided to pursue her nursing degree, a goal of hers even when she was completing her first bachelor’s. “It’s just a little later than I expected,” said the Ewa Beach resident. “I guess though it’s better late than never.”      

Geared to individuals who have already proven their ability to succeed at college or university, accelerated baccalaureate programs accomplish programmatic objectives in a short time by building on previous learning experiences. Instruction is intense with courses offered full-time with no breaks between sessions. Students receive the same number of clinical hours as their counterparts in traditional entry-level nursing programs.  

“Even when I was completing my bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Las Vegas, I knew I wanted to be in the medical field,” Ohta says. “This program will help me get there.”  

And so will her Kenneth and Diane Matsuura scholarship.  

“It’s rewarding to meet these young women who have so much passion to become nurses,” Diane Matsuura says. “My husband is currently hospitalized so I see what these nurses have to go through day in and day out. They work long shifts and the job is physically demanding. So, I commend anyone who goes into nursing.”            

Leading Role

Dr. Lynn Babington Recognized among “Most Admired Leaders”

President Dr. Lynn Babington has been named a 2023 “Most Admired Leader” by Pacific Business News, recognized for her achievements and successes in leading Chaminade University forward and contributing to the community. Serving as president since 2018, Babington is admired for her inspiring and empowering leadership style, ability to build teams, and execute strategies to reach goals. During her tenure, she has elevated the position of Chaminade, the University’s partners, students, faculty and the community at large, all while fulfilling the University’s mission as a community-first institution. 

Dr. Lynn Babington was chosen among Hawaii's "Most Admired Leaders" by Pacific Business News.
Dr. Lynn Babington was chosen among Hawaii’s “Most Admired Leaders” by Pacific Business News.

According to an April 2023 article in Higher Ed Drive, only 33 percent of college presidents at all levels are women, which is only a three percent increase since 2016.  Babington brings a perspective and voice to higher education that is vital and needed. She leads the only Catholic university in the Pacific, and some examples of the positive difference her leadership has made include: 

  • When Argosy University closed in 2019, eliminating the then-only PsyD program in Hawaii, Babington and her leadership team brought its 100 faculty and students to Chaminade ensuring that students could seamlessly continue their studies.
  • Working with the deans of Chaminade’s schools, she collaborated to develop crucial new programs needed in our community, including a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, One Year MBA and a MS in Counseling Psychology for neighbor island students.
  • Working with community leaders, she contributed to the establishment of partnerships to greatly benefit Hawaiʻi, including with Kamehameha Schools to offer 150 Muʻo Scholarships over three years for the online BS in teaching degree to alleviate the teacher shortage in Hawaiʻi and with the United Nations CIFAL Center to host the only Pacific regional training hub to address global issues.
  • With her support, Chaminade launched the Economic Education Center for Excellence with the Hawaiian Council for Economic Education.
  • Forming committees, Babington helped to steward Chaminade University’s 2019-2024 Strategic Plan to better serve its diverse student body, enhance its financial support of students and faculty research, increase revenue while cutting costs, and expand its reach to more learners.
  • Following state’s protocols, she successfully led the University through the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing online learning and other mitigation interventions to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the campus community.
  • Babington helped to ensure the accreditation of several new programs, including the Doctorate of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Psychology programs. 
  • Understanding the importance of a quality student experience, the completion of Chaminade University’s new Silversword Training Center and Locker Room facility ensured the sustainability and progress of the University’s athletics program.

Babington serves on several boards, including St. Francis Hospital System, Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi. She also volunteers for several nonprofit organizations: Catholic Charities, Hawaiʻi Literacy Program, and Hoʻola Na Pua.  She will be recognized at an awards dinner on November 9 along with other recipients of the “Most Admired Leader” honor.

New College Rankings

Chaminade makes 2024 annual listing by US News & World Report

The US News & World Report released its 2024 annual ranking list of the nation’s “Best Colleges” on Monday, and Chaminade University once again fared strongly in several categories, ranking No. 10—bumping up a spot from 2023—for Best Value among regional universities in the west. The University was also recognized as No. 29 in Social Mobility for graduates and No. 30 as Best in the Western Region.

“Chaminade combines many of the advantages of a large university—such as innovative programs, dedicated faculty, research programs and real-world learning opportunities—with the personal attention and close-knit culture of a small, private institution,” said Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. “We offer a unique blend of liberal and professional studies that provides our students with the skills, knowledge and experience they need to build successful lives and achieve their dreams.”  

This year, US News made several changes to the metrics it uses to rank colleges, such as introducing new criteria tied to first-generation students, and placing more weight on retention of and graduation rates for students who received need-based Pell grants. The system also adds greater emphasis on “social mobility,” which generally refers to an individual making gains in education, income and other markers of socioeconomic status.  

“The significant changes in this year’s methodology are part of the ongoing evolution to make sure our rankings capture what is most important for students as they compare colleges and select the school that is right for them,” U.S. News CEO Eric Gertler said in a statement to USA TODAY.  

The rankings were calculated using as many as 19 key measures of academic quality to evaluate nearly 1,500 U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree-granting institutions. These statistics reflect educational excellence and graduate outcomes, as well as considerations that vary person-to-person, like campus culture, strength in specific majors and financial aid offered.  

Chaminade was also recognized favorably from two other sources. Recently, Forbes ranked both Chaminade’s Master’s of Education online program and the Bachelor’s of Education online program in the top 10 across the country. Both programs accommodate working adults and others who need a flexible college experience.  

CounselingPsychology.org—a website devoted to providing educational resources for aspiring counselors and psychologists—also ranked Chaminade’s online bachelor’s degree in Psychology as #1. This recognition is a testament to Chaminade’s faculty, staff and students who contribute to making this program one of the best in the country.  

“Our comprehensive excellence is notable,” Babington said. “Many of our peer institutions are weighted heavily toward certain disciplines, but we are fortunate to have a balanced portfolio of strengths. Indeed, we have nationally recognized programs that range from nursing to forensics.”  

U.S. News and World Report Rankings*:  
Regional Universities West #30
Best Value – Regional Universities West #10
Social Mobility – Regional Universities West #29  
*These rankings are based on in-depth analyses of a wide variety of data points, as explained in the Best Colleges methodology article.  

Faculty Award Winners

Faculty Institute Awardees Drs. Chong, Halston and Mukina honored for their work

Acknowledging the tragedy that befell Maui residents and visitors alike, Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington asked faculty and staff to take a moment of silence to honor the victims of the worst natural disaster in U.S. history in more than a century. “Let’s keep them in our thoughts and prayers today and in the coming days,” she said, before delivering her welcoming remarks.

As the new academic year begins, Babington first looked back at the University’s many “points of pride” during the past year, including another successful Commencement at the Waikiki Shell, as well as the inaugural graduation ceremony of eight Halawa Correctional Facility inmates. It was indeed, as she said a “chicken-skin moment” for all those in attendance.

Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington delivered a welcoming address to faculty and staff on the Sullivan Family Library Lawn.
Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington delivered a welcoming address to faculty and staff on the Sullivan Family Library Lawn.

Looking ahead, Chaminade University will welcome one of its largest incoming classes of new students with a projected 1,572 undergraduate students and 642 graduate students for a total of 2,214 student enrollment. The incoming class of freshmen and transfer students amounts to 481.

“This will be one of the largest incoming classes in recent history,” Babington said. “It’s gratifying to see so many local high school graduates and others selecting Chaminade as the institute to pursue their higher education. We also have the highest graduation rate of Hawaiʻi colleges, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, and that’s something of which we’re really proud.”

During lunch at the Sullivan Family Library Lawn, Jim Heller Sutton, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and Director, Center for Teaching & Learning, was proud to announce the three faculty winners of the Chaminade University of Honolulu (CUH) Excellence in Teaching Award, the Fr. John F. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award and the Dr. Joseph Allen Collegiality Award.

Education Assistant Professor, Travis Mukina, Ph.D., was honored with the CUH Excellence in Teaching Award, recognizing his approach to teaching mathematics that involves challenging and reshaping students’ pre-conceived beliefs about the subject.

“My goal is to ‘un-teach’ the negative beliefs that students hold towards math,” Mukina said. Rather than traumatize them, I want to ease their fears of numbers and calculations, guiding them to find their own solutions.”

Faculty members gather for a group shot on the steps of Eiben Hall.
Faculty members gather for a group shot on the steps of Eiben Hall.

“Clearly, Dr. Mukina is making a positive and lifelong impact on his students,” wrote Katrina Roesler in her nomination of Mukina. “And it is our great privilege to present him with this award.”

Designed to recognize a full-time faculty member for achieving excellence in scholarship, the Fr. John F. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award went to Dr. Abby Halston, Ed.D, NCC, LMFT. Dr. Halston’s research philosophy centers on the transformative power of scholarly inquiry and mentorship for academic and personal growth. Embracing collaboration and a student-centered approach, she fosters an environment that encourages critical thinking, ethics and creativity in research.

“She is dedicated to mentoring undergraduates, providing meaningful research experiences and empowering the next generation of scholars,” said Dr. Darren Iwamoto, who nominated Halston for the award. “The Fr. John F. Bolin Excellence in Scholarship Award recognizes a faculty member with a clear research philosophy who has advanced knowledge in their field, and it is our pleasure to recognize Dr. Halston with this award.”

Data Science Program Director and Assistant Professor, Rylan Chong, Ph.D., was honored with the Dr. Joseph Allen Collegiality Award, recognizing his extensive engagement with fellow faculty members, and his mentorship, collaboration and teamwork across a wide array of university activities, including research endeavors and curriculum development.

“His collegial work spans student programs, admissions, advising, faculty policies, career development, and community outreach, exemplifying his clear role in promoting Chaminade’s mission and values,” said Laura Tipton, a former Chaminade Data Science, Analytics, and Visualization Assistant Professor. “Dr. Chong’s wide-reaching involvement in the institution and his investment in developing relationships within the university ‘ohana has made a significant impact at Chaminade. I can think of no one more deserving of a collegiality award than Dr. Chong.”