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HONOLULU—December 8, 2008—Chaminade University will honor its eighth and longest-serving president, Mary (Sue) Civille Wesselkamper, D.S.W., and her legacy during its 2008 Winter Commencement Ceremony on Monday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m., in the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall.
President Sue, as she is affectionately referred to at Chaminade, will be awarded the university’s degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa. Wesselkamper was installed as president in the fall of 1995 and took a medical leave of absence this fall due to the reoccurrence of inoperable cancer. Considered the driving force of Chaminade’s success, she has raised more than $66 million in the last nine years.
“Sue is genuinely loved by faculty, staff and students by the Chaminade ‘ohana,” said Bro. Bernard Ploeger, Chaminade’s acting president. “Sue’s personal image—her integrity, faith, belief in educating in the family spirit and commitment to academic quality mirrors well the Catholic, Marianist tradition of our university. Her 13-year tenure as president has created a vibrant legacy and rock solid foundation that we can build a good future on.”
Joanna Sullivan will also receive a degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa this December from Chaminade. A close friend of Wesselkamper, Mrs. Sullivan has been a strong supporter of both Wesselkamper and Chaminade. In November, the Association of Fundraising Professionals—Aloha Chapter cited Mrs. Sullivan’s generous funding of the library, in its selection of Mrs. Sullivan and family for its 2008 Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year award.
Approximately 260 Chaminade students will receive their degrees this December, celebrating their achievements with family members and friends. The Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN, will be Chaminade University’s special commencement guest speaker. Student salutatory speakers include Victoria Correa, undergraduate speaker, and Andrea Maglasang, graduate speaker.
Chaminade will also have for media representatives more information available on other recent initiatives which have been created to honor Wesselkamper at a pre-commencement reception at 6 p.m. in the Hawaii Room of the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall with Wesselkamper and guests present. Initiatives include:
Media may contact Kapono Ryan, Chaminade director of communications, at kryan@chaminade.edu or (808)429-2972 for further details.
Celebrating more than 50 years of educating students for life, service and successful careers, Chaminade University offers programs of study grounded in the liberal arts with day, evening, online and accelerated courses. The main campus is located in Ka’imuki at 3140 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816, with 10 satellite locations around Oahu. For more information, visit the Chaminade Web site at www.chaminade.edu or call (808) 735-4711.
