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Honolulu, HI-Oct. 3, 2006-Several hundred people gathered for Chaminade University’s 50th Anniversary closing event on Sept. 16. Alumni, Marianists, faculty, staff, students and friends of Chaminade gathered for Mass held in the Mystical Rose Oratory, followed by a reception bubbling with warmth and fellowship. It was an opportunity to thank University supporters and volunteers for their steady enthusiasm which took Chaminade through an exciting year of special events and transforming milestones. “We opened with a big bang in September 2005, and then closed with this intimate thank you,” said Melba Kop, one of three co-chairs of the University’s 50th anniversary steering committee and former Chaminade communication professor.
Michael Fassiotto, Chaminade assistant to the provost for graduate studies, and Jude Yablonsky, a former Chaminade communication professor, also served as co-chairs.
“This year of celebration was indicative of the goals of the University in covering spiritual, intellectual, social and service aspects well,” said Yablonsky. “I was always impressed with the response of people who came to campus – whether it was for the first time or returning – who found the atmosphere here to be friendly and welcoming.”
Fassiotto agreed. “It was the special relationships and partnerships that formed between people throughout the community at large and within Chaminade itself that I thought was of great value,” he said, reflecting on the year and its various events and projects.
Beginning with last year’s Opening Liturgical Mass and the Bro. Bertram Photo Exhibit, the yearlong celebration continued with academic forums, special guest speakers, a Kaimuki community party, an elegant gala at The Royal Hawaiian, and alumni gatherings, punctuated throughout with community service.
Perhaps it was the 50,000 Hours of Service project that was one of the most defining anniversary undertakings. The goal was to encourage 50 hours of service by faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends from Jan. 1, 2005 to Sept. 16, 2006, and to reach a collective goal of 50,000 hours of documented community service. The Chaminade community surpassed its goal and collectively recorded more than 90,000 hours of volunteer work. “The service hours emphasize the spirit of Chaminade, which is a spirit of giving,” Yablonsky said.
This year also heralded a new era of transformation for the University marked by the public announcement of “Transformations: the Campaign for Chaminade University of Honolulu” at its 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration at The Royal Hawaiian Monarch Room in April. The campaign has already raised nearly $40 million toward its goal of $50 million by 2008. During this golden year, the University has also seen the onset of its largest construction project in decades – The Sullivan Family Library and Information Resource Center. Chaminade University also opened the new Vi and Paul Loo Student Center, where students gather for study, recreation and camaraderie; dedicated Brogan Hall to the furthering of education and research; created more room for creative arts with its new Jean E. Rolles and Kiki Tidwell Sculpture Garden and Ceramics Studio; and made major renovations to its science labs and student residences.
Students also made great strides in their educational, extracurricular and personal activities. A significant number of students graduated from the University’s pre-med and biology programs. Its Hawaii enrollment grew by 36 percent, and the 2005-06 class rated among the highest in the nation for students already holding jobs upon graduation. In June, five communication students represented the Hawaii district at the National Student Advertising Competition in San Francisco after winning the statewide competition. The men’s basketball team brought home the NCAA PacWest Conference Championship title and was second round NCAA Division II tournament participants; three players were named to the All-Conference team, one of them was named PacWest Player of the Year; and the head coach was named Pac West Coach of the Year.
It was an incredible year, but the University anticipates that the best is yet to come.
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 Kaimuki at 3140 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816, with 10 satellite locations around Oahu military bases and Catholic parishes and schools. For more information, visit the Chaminade University Web site at www.chaminade.edu or call (808) 735-4711.
