The BYU-Hawaii Alumni Newsletter for September 2004 includes:
A discussion on the recently completed alumni survey of the Class of 2000
Each year for the past three years Dr. William Neal, Assistant to the President for Planning and Institutional Research, and Dr. Paul Freebairn ('75, Social Work), Director of University Assessment and Testing, conduct a survey of BYU-Hawaii graduates who have been out of school for three years.
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Dr. Neal (left) and Dr. Freebairn |
They have already sent out surveys to the Class of 2001 and recently completed compiling the results from the Class of 2000, which show some interesting results. For example:
Of course, not all of the results were positive. For example, one graduate said he "despised the old registration system," and:
Neal, who served as dean of the School of Business from 1990-96 and also from 1998-2000, pointed out that "when we compare this survey with their senior graduating surveys, they're more in perspective now. They look at the whole BYU-Hawaii experience a little better."
Freebairn agreed. "Three years later, they're looking back and the small things like registration problems, or whatever those might have been, tend to be minimized. They tend to remember the positive things about the campus. Most of the students have a positive attitude about their BYU-Hawaii experience."
Neal added that many of the respondents mentioned specific faculty in their comments. "Alumni tend to look back and remember those people who made a difference," he said.
"I think it's taking the time one-on-one to spend the time with their students. It provides a turning point in their lives. They're willing to take the time and provide help when they needed it, at a very critical time. Oftentimes they said, even though they were very busy, they took the time.
For example, one alumnus commented: "My BYU experience was enhanced by the faculty's willingness to take time to visit with the students that had desire to learn and grow. As an educator for the CES, I had found that relationships outside of class influence a student's experience in class. My bishops had a vested interest in my life and did everything to make sure that everything, including my living environment, was conducive to the spirit. The chair for my department invested time and effort to assist me in my everyday studies and problems. It was the people that made the difference."
Another alum wrote: "BYU-Hawaii was the perfect combination of education and spiritual growth for me. I loved the cultural experience, the small and tight major departments, the individual attention from professors and the fun wards and church activities to name a few. Attending a church school kept me on the right path with a clear mind, always receptive to the spirit. The personal training program for the faculty and staff not only provided me a job, I gained a year experience in my field to take with me! The first company I dropped my résumé with called me, very impressed with what they saw. This company is highly sought after for work — many are turned down, but they called me without effort on my part, thanks to my education and work experience at BYU-Hawaii."
Freebairn said it was important that "someone cared enough to take the time to help."
"We're seeing that things that are our strengths are still rated highly by our alumni. This is heartening," he continued. "There's a lot of inner conviction that's still strong: The strong personal testimonies of Heavenly Father and Christ is way up there."
Freebairn also noted that alumni consider their general education coursework as "quite important. Everyone pretty much rated their major highly, but what was heartening to me, they also rated thinking, speaking and writing skills highly; and over 80% said the BYU-Hawaii experience prepared them 'quite well' to 'extremely well' in the general education kinds of learning, not just the majors."
Neal explained the University uses the results for planning and comparison purposes, "and it's important for alumni to know that President Shumway reads every one of the written comments and responds to them in various ways. For example, at our latest 'ohana ['family'] meeting, he shared some of them with the faculty and staff."
"Everybody here looks forward to getting the results and are always eager to hear what they say."
"It's so vital and wonderful for our alumni to be involved in giving feedback to the University to help us improve. It's generally been a positive experience," Freebairn added.
"Sometimes we're reluctant to participate in surveys. We're busy, of course, but maybe some people think their opinions don't matter. They are vital. We want to become a learning community. We want to constantly improve, and we need the feedback from our alumni.
"They've benefited from being here. This is another way we can give back to the university."
Neal and Freebairn indicated the results will eventually be posted online.
Tongan crown prince
visits BYU-Hawaii:
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a of the Kingdom of Tonga recently visited BYU-Hawaii at the invitation of President Eric B. Shumway to inspect the university's computerized distance-learning technology. Read more…
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| Dr. Peter Chan (left) explains how BYU-Hawaii is developing distance learning materials to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a of the Kingdom of Tonga during his recent visit to BYU-Hawaii. — folifoto |
HRI shares plans for new Laie
housing, hotel:
You might be interested to know that Hawaii Reserves, Inc. (HRI) is pushing
ahead with its plans to build new houses in Malaekahana (just north of Laie)
and replace the aging Laie Inn. … Read
all about it!
Two distinguished
musicians join the faculty:
A former associate director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a vocal professor
who has sung opera in Europe and studied private voice in Italy with world-renowned
tenor Luciano Pavarotti now serve on the music BYU-Hawaii music faculty. Read
more…
Hoping for NBA hoops: Former Seasider point guard Yuta Tabuse ('02), who signed a multi-year contract earlier this month with the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns franchise, hopes to become the first Japanese to play in the National Basketball Association.
Tabuse, who played for the Seasiders during the 2001-02 season, became the first Japanese player to sign with an NBA franchise and the first BYU-Hawaii basketball player to sign an NBA contract when he inked a "make-good" deal with the Denver Nuggets last year. However, he failed to make the Nuggets roster and his signing with Phoenix is contingent on his making the team this year. Read more…
Women's volleyball: The BYU-Hawaii women's volleyball team, which is ranked 24th in the nation, most recently lost to Chaminade on Sept. 18, bringing their season record to 6-4, but 0-2 in Pacific West Conference action. The Lady Seasiders also lost their Pac West opener on Sept. 14 against arch rival Hawaii Pacific, which conference coaches have picked in pre-season to win the league. At the start of the pre-season, the Seasiders had been ranked as high as 18th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll.
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Work
is progressing rapidly on the Temple Beach portion of
the Hale Laa Blvd. beautification project. |
In their two-day BYU-Hawaii Invitational Tournament earlier in the month, the BYUH women defeated South Dakota State but lost to third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. They started off pre-season play with victory matches against Western Oregon and Sonoma State.
Men's water polo: The 14th-ranked men's water polo team is off to a winning season with victories against Cal Baptist and Pacific; but they also lost their first match of the season to the number-one-ranked Stanford Cardinals on Sept. 10th in the Laie pool. Stanford placed second in the NCAA National Water Polo Championships last year, and won the title the previous two years.
The Seasider men started out the pre-season ranked 17th in the Collegiate Coaches Water Polo Poll. BYU-Hawaii sports information director Scott Lowe — who was also recently named assistant athletic director, with responsibilities for media relations and game management for the University's 10 sports — pointed out this is the third consecutive year the Seasiders have been recognized in the preseason poll, even though the program is just in its fourth year of existence. The Seasiders are also the second-highest ranked school among the non-Division I teams in the cross-divisional poll; and in the new Freeman Ratings, the Seasiders came in ninth in the nation — the highest rated NCAA II team.
Cross Country: BYU-Hawaii junior and defending NCAA II champion Chelsea Smith captured the individual title and led the women's cross country team to their second win of the season at the UH-Hilo Invitational held Sept. 11th on the Big Island. Smith left the field behind to win the 5k by a 1:42 margin in 17:46. The men's team tied for first place in the same invitational but won their season opener on Sept. 4th in the Chaminade Invitational on the BYUH course.
For more BYU-Hawaii sports news…
The David O. McKay Legacy Scholarship Fund
The upcoming Golden Jubilee year is the perfect time to make a donation to
the David O. McKay Legacy Scholarship. Alumni are encouraged to give
this year to the University's only matching fund. Read
the details…
The
Student Alumni Association comes alive
Under the direction of BYUHSA president Kieiki Kahalepuna and David Lucero,
Director of Student Activities and Leadership — with the help of
immediate past BYUHSA president Richie Norton and BYUHSA vice president
Spencer Whitlock — the Student Alumni Association is showing new
signs of life.
Spencer recently told a University Advancement retreat group that three words describe the reinforced emphasis: "Student, alumni and association. Most students don't realize they're going to become alumni." He added that BYUHSA also has a marketing technology and an activities director in place to help with the new efforts.
Norton, who has been hired to work in the Alumni Association office during his final semester at BYU-Hawaii, also told the University Advancement Team, which includes the Alumni Association, that all alumni chapters can also play an important role with current students. "There needs to be a way for students to connect with their home countries."
For example, he suggested they might meet with new students before they depart for Laie; and make efforts to stay in touch with them while they are in school.
Alumni Association office ready to move
"We're moving. I can't believe it," said executive director Rowena
Reid of the Alumni Association's imminent plans to shift from their
little corner on the second floor of the Snow Administration Building to the
space in the Aloha Center previously occupied by the Plantation Store. Please
stop by the next time you're on campus.
The alumni directory
Because a number of alumni have been asking, Rowena Reid recently explained
that the Alumni Association does not get any money from the sale of the
new directory being produced by Harris Publishing, "but we will
get a new updated database. This project has assisted us greatly in updating
our alumni database."
"Those who chose to purchase a hardcover or CD copy of the directory should be receiving it in a couple of months," she added.
The
new newsletter masthead
Fa'afetai tele to Anthony
Perez ('02, Art) who has redesigned our eNewsletter masthead.
After graduating, Perez completed graphic design
coursework at the University of Hawaii and recently joined the
BYU-Hawaii staff as the graphic designer.
Arizona:
Chairman Kepi
Foliaki has
announced the Arizona chapter will hold its Fall Luau Fundraiser on Saturday,
October 23 from 4-8 p.m. at the home of Curtis and Marilyn Lund Johnson (ph.
480-883-8017), 630 W. Sparrow Place in Chandler. The menu will be catered
in part by L&L Hawaiian BBQ, and Tausala Dance Group will provide the
entertainment. For more information…
Idaho:
BYU-Hawaii alumni are joining their Provo cousins for the BYU vs. Boise State
football game on Friday, Sept. 24, starting with a tailgate party at
5 p.m. at the Broadway LDS Chapel (corner of Broadway & Boise Ave.).
For more information, contact Kirt & Lorrie Naylor at 323-2566. Earlier
in the week, our alumni also participated in firesides featuring returned
missionaries on both teams as well as retired BYU head coach LaVell Edwards.
Utah:
The Utah chapter plans to support the Seasiders in their
exhibition basketball game with the BYU Cougars on November 5, 7 p.m. at
the Marriott Center in Provo. For more information, contact chapter chairs David and Sue
Settle, 801-370-9617.
Wellington, New Zealand:
Chapter chairs Lynn and Peka
Scanlan report they are still trying to organize fellow alumni in
New Zealand's capital, on top of his duties as a local bishop. She
writes: "Bishop and I are forever grateful for such an unforgettable
experience with both the BYUH and the PCC. We're eternally grateful for The
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints which made it possible for both
the BYUH and the Polynesian Cultural Center to be established, where we all
have received the knowledge and the experience and all those countless blessings
which have affected the lives of thousands of Heavenly Father's children."
1950-60s
Tiva Ieli Sievenin ('68, Elementary Education) and her husband, Dick, write that their daughter, Mari, is currently enrolled at BYU-Hawaii; and as part of cleaning up after Hurricane Ivan, they had to remove 12 blue crabs from their home in Florida.
1970s
In memoriam: Farrant Sunada ('74, Electronics) passed away on Aug. 26. Prior to his death, Sunada worked for many years at the military communications center in Kunia.
Former instructor Doug Curran ('76-'86) writes: "I'm currently teaching English/ESL part time to students from all over the world in Provo. I love it because it's almost like being at BYUH, but there are no Polynesians studying here yet, only South Americans, Asians, and some Europeans. Colleen [Curran ('77)] is a special education teacher in Lindon, Utah. While she was having our last four children in Laie, being a great homemaker, and teaching part-time Music/Speech Communication at BYUH, I was Coordinator of Student Activities from 1976-80 and loved working with students and sponsoring concerts/lyceums on campus for the community. I taught English, Speech and Religion from 1980-81, learning a lot more than my students did, I think, and I worked as Director of University Relations from 1981-85. The next year I helped recruit special students from Hawaii high schools to start their education at BYUH and got to meet some great people. We still dream about the beautiful campus and count ourselves most fortunate as a family for having been able to have that much time in 'Paradise.' Aloha."
1980s
Lisa Hirst Deason ('87, Business Management) and her husband, Mike Deason ('87, Information Systems and Business Management) now live in Cedar Hills, Utah.
1990s
Jennifer Leigh Youngblood ('90), who wrote for Ke Alaka'i while she was in school and was also Miss BYU-Hawaii in 1989, recently debuted her first novel, Livin' in High Cotton, that she co-wrote with her mother. Jennifer and her family now live in Tennessee.
Geok Ee Christina Ng('91, Home and Family Development) and her husband, Heng Kiong Mervin Chan ('90, Information Systems) live in Singapore.
Douglas A. Brown ('95, International Business Management) and his wife, Andrea Marie Hiskey ('95, Organizational Behavior) now live in Simi Valley, California. He writes: "The School of Business was great. Dr. Neal and Dr. Kimzey were great professors. The best thing about BYUH was the blend of cultures. My education prepared me for the business world. I went on to attend graduate school, but I took more away from the BYUH experience. I wish I could do it again."
"I loved my time at BYU-Hawaii," writes Kami Crabtree ('99, Tourism Management), who has been working in the trade show production business in Las Vegas since graduating. "I am grateful for the lessons I learned and the people that taught me their life stories. I am a better person because of my time in Hawaii. I will be marrying Erwin Mendoza ('00, Social Work) in the Salt Lake Temple in November. It was a BYUH cafeteria love story. I am very happy and excited to take the next step. Aloha."
Clint Okerlund ('99) and his wife, Megan Anderson Okerlund ('99) now live in Fresno, California. He works for Bank of America.
Gregory Foard ('99, CMMT) and his wife, Katrina Banks Foard ('99) live in Fairfax, Virginia, where he's an installation manager for a communications company. They write: "The experiences at BYUH were inspiring and life-changing. We met life-long friends, and had experiences that shaped our future. The influence of the professors helped us make decisions as to what field to use our degrees in."
2000s
Fe'i Kaufusi ('00, History) and his wife, Seini Kivalu Kaufusi ('01, Political Science) now live in Burlingame, California. He recently wrote that BYU-Hawaii was the highlight of his, his wife's and daughter's lives — "an experienced that would never be replaced by any means. Thanks a million for all the love and support from the BYUH ohana. Malo 'Aupito."
Semisi Uluave ('00, Social Work) and his wife, Caroline Muti Uluave ('98, Social Work), now live in Hayward, California. Semisi, who is a case worker for the Oakland Unified School District, writes: "I truly loved the blend of academic and spiritual 'feasting' that took place at BYU-Hawaii. Where else can you get such a mixture of cultural and social experiences; not to mention the individual attention offered by knowledgeable, yet down to earth, faculty and staff. I hope my kids have the same opportunity as I did someday.
Anne Pace ('03, Biology) writes: "BYU-Hawaii was a fantastic time for me and a great learning opportunity both academically and culturally. I had opportunities in my biology major that I never would have had in other, bigger universities. My labs and undergrad research got me my current job doing virus research for a bio-defense grant. My husband, Jeff ('03), is finishing his soil science major at Utah State, but we often remember our time in Hawaii and look forward to being able to return soon."
Editor's Note: It's always a pleasure to hear from those of you who write in, and hope you enjoy our efforts to help you feel more connected to the University. But more importantly, we hope these reports and images cause you to reflect on the great blessings you received while here and encourage you to be the alumni President McKay foresaw — genuine gold. Aloha nui.
— Mike Foley ('70, TESL), Editor
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The BYU-Hawaii Alumni Newsletter is published by the University Advancement office, under the direction of Napua Baker ['59-61 and '70-72], Vice President; Rob Wakefield ['75, Asia/Pacific LTM], Director of Communications and Media Relations; and Rowena Reid ['76, Social Work], Alumni Association Director. Brigham Young University Hawaii Campus is a four-year comprehensive undergraduate institution sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About 2,400 students from 70 nations are currently enrolled.
You have received this e-newsletter because you are an affiliate of BYU-Hawaii. If necessary, please update your alumni profile. If you have received this e-mail inadvertently, or wish to unsubscribe, please send a message with NEWSLETTER UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line and your e-mail address in the body to alumni@byuh.edu. If you are aware of other BYU-Hawaii alumni who have not received this newsletter, please forward a copy and encourage them to update their profiles. Mahalo.
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