#3 SILVERSWORDS HEAD TO NCAA DIVISION II WEST REGIONALS IN SEATTLE
by Stacia Garlach, Editor

The NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee selected Chaminade for an at-large berth Sunday, following their victory against Hawaii Pacific University last Wednesday night. The Silverswords bested the Sea Warriors once again 99-89 in their last regular-season match at the Blaisedell Center. CUH clinched the Pac West championship on Feb. 25 at McCabe Gym when they beat HPU with nearly the same score of 99-88. The Swords finished this season 18-8 for the year, 9-3 in the Pac West Conference.

CUH will head to the Division II West regionals this week at Seattle Pacific University, host site of the tournament, ranked #3 – behind only #2 Western Washington and #1 Seattle Pacific. CUH faces #6 University of Alaska – Anchorage in first-round tournament play this Friday, but game time has yet to be announced. This will be Chaminade’s first NCAA tournament after collecting the most wins in the NCAA history of the program.

Chaminade’s Office of Student Activities and Leadership is hosting a send-off party for the Silverswords at 4 p.m. on Mon., March 6, in the Loo Student Center. Anyone interested in traveling to Seattle to support the team can contact Pam at Oahu Travel, Inc., at 945-9414, for air and hotel accommodations, which will be at the expense of each traveler.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE Friday: #7 Humboldt State (17-9) vs. #2 Western Washington (21-6); #3 Chaminade (18-8) vs. #6 Alaska Anchorage (19-11); Sonoma State (18-8) vs. #5 Cal State Bakersfield (20-7); #1 Seattle Pacific (22-5) vs. #8 Central Washington (15-12). Saturday – semifinals. Monday – championship game. Times to be announced. Click here for 2006 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship Brackets


STUDENTS INSPIRED BY HUMAN RIGHTS SPEAKER
by Leah Calixto, Junior in Business Administration

Dr. Anwar Ibrahim, formerly the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, was the guest speaker at the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council’s Luncheon on Feb. 23 at the Renaissance Ilikai Hotel. Hogan students Carole Kongprachith, junior in accounting, and Leah Calixto, junior in business administration, were among the guests at this event.

Dr. Ibrahim spoke of his harrowing experiences during the six years he spent in solitary confinement. At the height of the Asian financial crisis in 1998, Dr. Ibrahim was removed from his post as the Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, and imprisoned on trumped-up charges. He regained his freedom in 2004 after being acquitted by the Malaysian Federal Court.

Students learned that to make a difference in their lives, they must be more committed and involved in the political process. The event made them realize that we cannot take freedom and human rights for granted, and that as much as we all should be proud to beAmericans, we should also think of those abroad suffering in countries of unjust rulers.

Dr. Ibrahim is currently traveling and fulfilling various international speaking engagements, lecturing on issues related to Islam and democracy, terrorism, human rights, social justice and accountability.


TUIHALAFATAI SELECTED AS STUDENT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
by Andrea Woolum, Career Services

On behalf of Dean Grissel Benitez-Hodge and the entire Chaminade University campus, we would like to congratulate Faleaka Tuihalafatai, aka “Aka,” as this year’s Student Employee of the Year. Her dedication as an office assistant for the Academic Achievement Program for two years will be recognized at the CUH award banquet in April, where she will receive a $100 cash prize from the Dean of Students’ office. She will go on to compete at the state and regional levels, where she has the opportunity to win $1,000 from the National Student Employment Association (NSEA). We all wish her luck, and we thank her for her effort in making one of the busiest offices on campus so friendly and run so efficiently. 

Twelve students were nominated by their supervisors for this award. The judging criteria were reliability, initiative, longevity, uniqueness of contribution, quality of work, professionalism and adaptability. Our panel of five judges represented various departments of the University: Bro. Frank Damm, executive assistant to the president, Julie King Murphy, associate dean of students, Harry Miller, business faculty member, Eric Nemoto, associate dean of enrollment management, and Ray Camacho, student and resident assistant.  Thank you to all who participated in this year’s program.

The other 11 nominees for the award were Sharla Arakaki – Admissions, Jessica Bertubin – Student Activities, William Bow – Academic Achievement Program, Amy Chaudoin – Telecounseling, Donna Diaz – Student Activities, Rebecca Gomes – Telecounseling, Sharyse Hagino – The Brothers Brew, Joana Lee – Admissions, Jane Silva – Institutional Advancement, Sam Smith – Environmental Health and Safety, and Cassandra Varron – Institutional Advancement.


SERVICE LEARNING STUDENTS PRESENT AT CONFERENCE
by Candice Sakuda, Director of Service-Learning and SHINE Hawai‘i Partnership Manager

Still “hot” from Service Learning Day, three Chaminade Service Learning students presented their work at the Fourth Annual Statewide Service-Learning Conference. The March 4 conference was hosted by Kamehameha Schools’ Kapalama Campus, and was sponsored by the Hawaii State Department of Education, State Farm Insurance, the Hawaii and Pacific Islands’ Campus Compact and Youth Service Hawaii. Featured keynote speakers included Julie Chavez Rodrigues, granddaughter of the great Cesar Chavez, and Hawaii State Representative Brian Schatz. 

Chaminade students conducted a breakout session that demonstrated best practices and successful programs. Celia Pang, Donna Diaz and Kapualani Mashima highlighted student leadership development through both the Project SHINE tutorial and TCP’s mentoring initiatives. They were alsoinvited to showcase their work in a poster session.  All three are enrolled in BU 480 at Chaminade, and are exploring civic engagement and sustainability in managing non-profit organizations.  Of course, all three are also instrumental in the service learning projects they represent.


BULLETIN ON CAMPUS BULLETIN BOARDS
This is a reminder that flyers and posters for bulletin boards located in Henry, Freitas and Eiben Halls must be approved and date stamped by the Office of Student Affairs and Leadership in Freitas Hall 106. Flyers and posters may be hung on designated “general” posting boards in Henry, Freitas and Eiben Halls. Please do not use damaging tapes (mailing tape, duct tape, etc.), adhesives or pastes on walls, doors and glass surfaces. Do not staple or tape flyers to building walls, bathrooms, trees, telephone poles or on the picnic tables in the Henry Hall Courtyard. If you are interested in posting flyers and posters in the residence halls, contact the Office of Residence Life at 739-4648 for approval. If you have further questions, contact Marites Fiesta at ext. 688 or mfiesta@chaminade.edu.


COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING CONTACTS
Stacia Garlach, Publications Editor/Creative Director (Campus Report, Chaminade Quarterly, others): (808) 735-4789, sgarlach@chaminade.edu
Kapono Ryan, Public Information Officer (PR and media relations): (808) 735-4797, kryan@chaminade.edu
Wera Panow-Loui, Marketing Officer (Marketing and Advertising): (808) 440-4259, wloui@chaminade.edu

Please send your bulletin items, notables, stories and tips to news@chaminade.edu.

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