Spring 2009 - Issue 5

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Chaminade’s spring 2011 graduate events

Fa’aso’o Yvette Bocskor, Staff writer

The annual event for Chaminade’s All-Class Reunion for spring 2011, has been a
tradition for the past six years. A gathering and welcoming to the old alumni who have
returned to Chaminade campus.

“Our mission is service … serving our students,” said Be-Jay Kodama, 46, director of
the alumni. “We have two of Hawaii’s favorite local personalities, Frank De Lima '41
and Sweetie Pacarro '89 who are Emcees for our formal part of the program.”

The Pioneer graduates, Class of ‘61 a name that refers to the first graduates which they
gave themselves. Kodama said that one of the Pioneer graduates, Fr. Tutas, SM who is
one of Chaminade’s founders is here to celebrate with the Class of 1961 which is
celebrating it’s Golden Anniversary (50th Anniversary).

The Pioneer graduates will be celebrating Chaminade, their classmates and the education they received from Chaminade University.

On April 14, there will be the 50-Minute University event from 5:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. Part of the Chaminade mission is life-long learning, sharing education and different topics. At 6:30 p.m. is the Social Mixer, where the alumni’s can “mix, mingle and network” and it also gives them an opportunity to exchange business cards and meet other alums.

“It brings back memories when they were students seeing professors or being in the classroom … reminiscing and experiencing that Chaminade Spirit that they once had when they were a student,” Kodama said. “Chaminade spirit lives on, it’s something we carry wherever we go. It’s family spirit, so we welcome back our family to campus and we hope they will be with us and stay with us as we take this university forward.” 

There will be a guest speaker named Rosan Makala who is also an alumnae. She is the administrative coordinator, Communications Administrator at Queen’s Medical Center and she will be talking about achieving success through adversity. These different opportunities will continue life-long learning and support of each other.

April 15, is the musical production “Oliver,” where the alums are invited to attend and view the student’s performance. Where they can see and enjoy the music and entertainment provided by the students.

April 16 at 8:00 a.m. is the President Sue Wesselkamper’s 5k Fun Run, in which the proceeds from this event will be donated to the President Sue Wesselkamper Endowed Scholarship to help students who are in need. At 5 p.m. will be the lu‘au which is one of the more popular events.

“We have entertainment, Hawaiian food,” Kodama said. “It’s just a wonderful time for our alums to reminisce their experiences, memories, and their professors.”

Another reason for these annual events is to build community. The alumni want to make sure that other alumni understand that they are always a part of this community.

“Our Chaminade community, our Chaminade Ohana, our Chaminade family,” Kodama said. “Chaminade will always be home for us and that’s what reunion is all about and why we have this annual reunion.”

The last event will be taking place on April 17 at 10 a.m. at Mystical Rose Oratory for the Alumni Mass.

Kodama conducted the outreach program to the alumni. Also within the different events, the alumni will showcase Chaminade students, who are also apart of the life-long Chaminade family.

Kodama quoted Lilo/Stitch and said she wants everyone to know that “Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten.”