Spring 2009 - Issue 12

The Silversword: Home > CUH Snaps

CUH Snaps: December 7, 2009

 

A Very Chaminade Christmas

Cherish Galea‘i, Chaminade Life Editor

This year Chaminade University of Honolulu entered the Christmas season with a rain-filled splash. Despite the weather, the Chaminade community came out strong with a bright glow. Chaminade kicked off its holiday cheer with three holiday festivities: a campus Christmas lighting, the Kaimuki Christmas Parade, and a Christmas on Campus dinner with Palolo families. Students and faculty members braved the harsh weather with a smile.

Photos - Click to Enlarge

 

Staff We Love

Karina Suzuki, Arts and Entertainment Co-Editor

With Christmas just around the corner and Thanksgiving’s spirit still lingering, it’s time for the university to count the many blessings that God has provided.

There are a few people on campus who are rarely recognized for their commitment and hard work to the university. Their work is often overlooked, though that does not stop them from doing their job with a smile.

Our news staff decided to ask them a few questions so we could get to know them a little better and learn why they are so efficient and satisfied working at our school.

Name: Wesley Yoom

Years working at Chaminade: Two and a half.

Duties: Serves meals and makes the best quesadillas in the Courtyard Café.

What is the best thing about your job, and why?
“I really enjoy working with all the students, because it feels like they are family. [The] students are very nice [and] my job is close to home.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“Satisfied customers, to me that is the most important part.”

Any improvements that you would like to see made?
“I think that we as staff should have better communication with the students and faculty and know their needs — pretty much what the folks want.”

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “This school is a small campus where everybody knows each other. [It] is truly like a family kind of atmosphere."

Name: Charlotte Hashimoto

Years working at Chaminade University: five.

Duties: Serve the meals and always be ready to offer the soup of the day at the Courtyard Café.

Best things about your job, and why?
“Meeting students because they are the future of this country.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“Making students happy. I try my best to take care of them and make them try different kinds of food.”

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “Everybody is like family here.”

Name: George Wilk

Years working at Chaminade University: Three years and eight months.

Duties: Work circulator supervisor (catalogs books and serials) at Sullivan Library

What is the best thing about the job and why?
“I feel very important because I am in charge of many different things and I can be helpful to students and faculty as well.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“Taking part in the opening ceremony of the brand new Sullivan Library.”

Any improvements that you would like to see made?
“More and better staff working at the library.”

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “Chaminade is dynamic, always changing and renovating things around.”

Name: June Williams (also know as Aunty June or Mama June)

Years working at Chaminade University: four .

Duties: Supervisor of the Brothers Brew Café (Aunty June makes a delicious Chai Latte!)

What is the best things about your job, and why?
“The kids and the faculty, because it feels like we are part of the same family.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“I love my job because I can relax and have fun. [Sometimes] it doesn’t feel like working!

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “Ohana — One big happy family.”

Name: Valerie Coleman

Years working at Chaminade University: 21.

Duties: Librarian

What is the best thing about the job, and why?
“The best thing about my job is that it is never the same. I like working with different people because I can be able to be of service to others.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“The good experiences … working here, which makes it a pleasure for me to come to work, and the openness and support of [the] people in here as well.”

Any improvements that you would like to see made?
“Trying to make the staff more friendly and open — provide availability, that is our main goal.”

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “Marianist Family Spirit.”

Name: Karen Hazlet

Years working at Chaminade University: Two years and three months.

Duties: Assistant to the Dean of Students

What is the best thing about your job, and why?
“To interact with students, because they are fun and energetic — they transmit their energy to me.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“To have gained an appreciation of the Catholic Mission.”

Any improvements that you would like to see made?
“It is great as it is — nothing at this moment.”

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “Hills for a good purpose!” [Laughs] “And, well, Chaminade is a faith-based job for sure!”

Name: Wanda Rosa

Years working at Chaminade University: 20.

Duties: Switchboard operator (the nice lady sitting by the business office).

What is the best thing about your job, and why?
“I enjoy the students here and of course being part of Chaminade, because I really like the atmosphere.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“To get to known people here, like the brothers and priests in campus — they are very nice people.”

Any improvements that you would like to see made?
“Well, we are centralized. Eventually I believe we are going to expand so I would like to see that.”

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “Everybody loves each other — Chaminade is a very caring and close community.”

Name: William A. Kernstock (also known as Bill)

Years working at Chaminade University: 18 months

Duties: Security Officer

What is the best thing about your job, and why?
“Being able to deal with the students, because they are well behaved.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“To get to know the students and the members of the faculty.”

Any improvements that you would like to see made?
“Eradicate the cats! Just kidding. [Laughs.] “I like the cats! But I would like to see more parking for students.”

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “Ohana — we at Chaminade work towards ohana!”

Name: Laurene Pacheco

Years working at Chaminade University: 10.

Duties: Supervisor of the Courtyard Café

 What is the best thing about your job, and why?
 “Working with the staff and the students, because they are friendly and very nice.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“Pleasing the students is something that makes me happy. Besides, I like the fact that [there are] people from all over the world [at CUH] — all different races.”

Any improvements that you would like to see made?
“We should have new items — a better food quality and healthy stuffs.”

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “Family — because this school is so small, we are and feel like family.”

Name: Elizapeta Sofeni Bell (also known as Peca)

Years working at Chaminade University: six.

Duties: Security Officer (She is very friendly and smiley)

What is the best thing about your job, and why?
“Work with the staff, because we get along.”

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“I like to know the people at Chaminade and feel that I am part of this community.”

Any improvements that you would like to see made?
“We should work more in trying to have the school spirit that is very important for this kind of job.”

Describe Chaminade in one sentence: “Chaminade is a school filled [with] activities.”

Now that you know more about some of our fabulous staff, the next time you see them give them a “thumbs up” for a job well done.