The May 2005 Alumni eNewsletter contains the following:
The Executive Committee of the Church Educational System's Board of Trustees, led by Elder Richard G. Scott of The Quorum of the Twelve, expressed high confidence in BYU-Hawaii's leadership and directions during an April 25 meeting held on campus as part of the university's Golden Jubilee Celebration. Elder Scott also invoked a powerful blessing on faculty, staff and students during the special meeting.
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Elder Richard G. Scott |
Elder Scott explained in addition to himself, the Executive Committee of the CES Board of Trustees includes Elder Robert D. Hales of The Quorum of the Twelve; Elder Earl C. Tingey of The First Quorum of the Seventy; and Relief Society General President Bonnie D. Parkin. The committee members were accompanied by several other members of The First Quorum of the Seventy, including CES Commissioner Elder W. Rolfe Kerr; BYU Provo President Cecil O. Samuelson; and the recently called Elder Paul V. Johnson, Chief Administrator for all Seminaries, Institutes and other Church schools. BYU Idaho President Robert M. Wilkes, LDS Business College President Stephen Woodhouse, and Roger Christensen and James Tidwell from the CES Commissioner's staff also attended the committee meetings.
"We were here two years ago — a very defining time in the history of BYU-Hawaii. There had been some basic goals set out, seven of them as I recall from that time, and most of it was planning for the future. We've seen the results of that planning, the implementation of very important aspects of what has been outlined as the direction we want to go," Elder Scott said, noting the outstanding inspired leadership of BYU-Hawaii President Eric Shumway, his leadership team, "and each one of you who support that and add your contribution."
"There is a defined path. Of course, with time and experience, there's going to be some adjustments. There will be some other changes; but for a long time, at least in my mind, I wasn't really sure how this campus was going to fit into the overall objectives of Church education," Elder Scott continued.
"Now, each one of our campuses has a very clear path: BYU Provo, BYU Idaho and BYU-Hawaii, and I would just like to express gratitude for how well you're accomplishing that, and how the human and material resources are being used wisely and productively."
'The greatest resource we have...'
"The greatest resource we have in the Church, in my judgment for the future, are these young people, these young spirits that Father in Heaven is sending to earth."
Elder Scott said BYU-Hawaii is handling the "immense challenge" of educating individuals who come from areas where they have little opportunity to progress compared to what's available now on one extreme, to the range of students from major countries where education has been a prime focus for years. "And yet you've accommodated that wide range of differences in incoming students and given them each an opportunity to benefit from the privilege of being on this campus."
"In the overall what is occurring, in my judgment, and I hope if anyone would differ they would speak up [pause, laughter], is truly a very significant thing."
"I don't mean by that we're where we want to be in all things, and that there isn't room for continued growth and improvement; but it seems somehow very satisfying that there's a clear direction, that this campus knows the major things you're working on, and because of that, you'll enjoy the support of the officers of the board and board on those critical decisions that go to them," Elder Scott said.
"When we have our meetings, President Shumway represents you extremely well. He's held in high esteem, as are these other presidents who are with us today."
"We are in the fortunate position of having a prophet of God and his counselors as officers of the board, and not some who give kind of an overall general look at what's going on, but are deeply, personally involved in those things that occur at the highest levels of education of the Church," he said.
"That review is penetrating, [and] it's also beneficial, to get that kind of inspired guidance for what occurs in the Church Education System."
At an earlier stage in the meeting, Elder Scott invited CES Commissioner, Elder W. Rolfe Kerr — who recently replaced Elder Henry B. Eyring of The Quorum of the Twelve, who served in that position for 17 years — to share a few words:
"Periodically, the Executive Committee will visit each of the campuses of the institutions of higher education to try to get a more clear picture and first-hand view of these institutions and the special challenges that they're facing. That's been our primary object today," he responded.
"We want you to know that you have our absolute confidence. We're very proud of what's happening here. We see it in the marvelous contribution being made to the building of the Kingdom and the great influence that you are having, and will continue to have in the lives of students that will literally spread around the world."
"It's been enlightening to me, relatively new to this assignment, to
see the commitment you have to that special kind of contribution this institution
can make, and to see the fulfillment of President McKay's prophecies and
statements that have been made by others of our prophets since him," Elder
Kerr continued.
"This institution is certainly beginning to be the instrument for the fulfillment
of those marvelous prophecies. All of them being manifest through the individual
lives, hearts and souls of these wonderful students that you serve here."
"So, we commend you. We express our deepest love and appreciation for you and for your commitment to this worthy cause, and we ask our Heavenly Father's choicest blessings to be with you."
Elder Kerr also commented on concerns about faculty housing, as did Elder Scott who said the board would consider a well reasoned plan.
Asked if there's any concern international students might become too Americanized and may not return, Elder Scott invited President Shumway to respond:
"This is a big concern for all of us. When our people are here in this little enclave of spirituality — where they get good support, good bishop attention — and they leave here and go back to their islands, many times some of them may not rise to the level of expectation of the people back home [who are] looking for our young people to go back and assume leadership," he said.
"But by and large, the vast majority of our students are making a tremendous impact, almost instantly, when they return back to their homes, particularly those who are prepared to go back in this 'return-ability' culture that we are trying to establish."
"The one thing that I would just like to emphasize — not because there's a concern that it's not being done right — but just constantly keep in mind that this is an institution built on the gospel of Jesus Christ; and no matter what curriculum is taught, no matter what we do, we've got to let them begin to understand who they are as sons and daughters of God with a divine heritage," Elder Scott added.
"As they see modeled in your service, your example of your own life, the importance you give to the doctrinal aspects of what they might learn, that is what we can offer in our university that no other group can do in an equal way. And I think some can discover on this campus that come from places where either their home hasn't built that culture or their circumstances might not allow it, but here you can imbue that into them and see who they are."
"We've been just fascinated by the young people who represent the student body here that we've seen today. They just seem to shine and glow," he said.
Elder Scott invokes a special blessing
"We love you. We very, very much need you. We've got to find a solution to this challenge of housing. We've got to find a solution to one or two other significant things that are being worked on; but how grateful we are for your being here, for how well you support the excellent direction that we perceive is being given by the president and his immediate staff.
"I would, on behalf of the Brethren here who in addition to their professional callings are also here in our roles as servants of the Lord, invoke a blessing upon each of you."
"That's not just something that is done in every meeting," Elder Scott explained, "but I would invoke a blessing upon each of you in whatever assignment you have here at BYU-Hawaii:
"A blessing in your personal life, in your family life, a blessing of guidance of the Spirit, so that when you have challenging and difficult things to decide, you can get that quiet peace of feeling, after the required investment of effort and time, that the Lord is helping you guide the decisions that you're making."
"I would go beyond that and invoke a blessing upon each student who comes to this campus that somehow in the learning of what to do in life, and how to accomplish it most successfully, they can learn who they are and that they have access to the Lord to guide them in their lives, as they understand and live His commandments."
"And I do that with gratitude for each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
President Shumway completes South Pacific
Jubilee tour
President Shumway, his wife Carolyn Shumway ('94, Elementary Education),
BYU-Hawaii Alumni Relations Executive Director Rowena
Reid ('76, Social Work),
Associate Dean of Admissions and Alumni board Pacific regional director Arapata
Meha ('83, Music), and University
Advancement public relations assistant Andrew
Miller ('04, ICS: Communications) recently
returned from a 16-day Golden Jubilee tour in the South Pacific where they held
27 meetings with hundreds of alumni and thousands of Saints, and also met with
government and educational leaders to explore extending internships and in-country
opportunities for BYU-Hawaii students and alumni. Read
more about the tour...
"We had wonderful alumni gatherings everywhere we went," Reid reported, noting a new chapter has been organized in Brisbane, Australia, and the chapter in Auckland, New Zealand has been reorganized (see Chapter News below). "There were over 500 at our fireside in Sydney, Australia, where we met with Billy Tenney ('97, Travel Management) and his wife, Michelle [Carroll Tenney] ('95, Business Management). They have started a Polynesian dance school there. We also met with Cheryl McKillop Latu ('77, Social Work). She has five children and is a juvenile justice forensic counselor."
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President and Sister Shumway
meet with alumni in Sydney, Australia |
"In Fiji we met with Senitiki Vuetibau ('04, IDS), who was made a bishop on the day we were there. His is a story of faith: He went back home and was unemployed for six months, but he now teaches religion. He told me, 'I was tempted to stay in Hawaii,' but I told him the Lord wanted you to be a bishop here. Lamar Benavides ('87, Human Resource Development) in Hamilton, New Zealand, is also now a bishop."
"In each locality, President Shumway stressed we're all about the Lord's work," Reid said. "Our purpose is to educate the young people of the Church. Kiribati, for example, has the highest rate of returnability, and we could feel the strong sense of commitment and loyalty of the people to the Church. I was totally impressed. We also showed video clips of current students at the firesides in their home countries. When the Saints saw and heard their students, they were so amazed. They connected."
Still time to quilt
The steering committee is still looking for interested BYU-Hawaii
alumni or friends who would like to display "Golden
Jubilee quilts" "that exemplify some aspect of the Jubilee — either
its historic foundation, our landscape and campus, or the spiritual nature of
Our Place." Categories include Hawaiian quilting, patchwork, tivaevae,
tifaifai, etc. Contact Jane
Ho Ching Toluono ('88, Business Information Management) at 808-293-3665
if you're interested.
Golden Jubilee souvenirs selling briskly
As noted last issue, the Alumni
Office is selling Golden Jubilee souvenir
items, including:
...plus shipping and handling fees.
Showcase reunion, anyone?
Showcase Hawaii members from any year are trying to organize a reunion
during the Golden Jubilee Week, October 15-23. Interested? Please contact Richie
Norton in the Alumni Office.
Women's tennis team loses bid to four-peat
as NCAA II national champs
The BYU-Hawaii women's tennis
team fell to Armstrong Atlantic State in the NCAA II national championships
on May 14 in Altamont Springs, Florida, ending their bid to win a fourth
title and breaking their string of 130 consecutive doubles match victories.
Read
more...
...but BYUH's Dr. David Porter was
named 'coach of year'
BYU-Hawaii women's tennis team head coach Dr. David Porter was named the
Intercollegiate Tennis Association's NCAA II national coach of the year, following
the Lady Seasider's second-place finish in the national championship competition.
Coach Porter's latest honor marks the fifth time he has been named "national
coach of the year" in either the NAIA or the NCAA II. Read all about it...
For other BYU-Hawaii sports news...
Biology professor, students conduct kolea studies
in Saipan
Biology Department chairman Dr. Roger Goodwill, several BYU-Hawaii students
and a team of other researchers have recently launched radio telemetry and DNA
fieldwork studies in Saipan, Northern Marianas, on the Pacific Golden-Plover
migratory shorebird, which is called kolea in Hawaii. Read more...
Subscribe to the PCC newsletter
The Polynesian Cultural Center invites all BYU-Hawaii alumni and friends
to subscribe
to its online newsletter.
Alumni Association plans Big Island jubilee
tour
As part of the Golden Jubilee celebration, the Alumni Association is proceeding
with planning a three-day educational, cultural and spiritual tour to the Big
Island, leaving from Honolulu International Airport on September 23, with highlights
to include:
The tour will tentatively cost $400 per person (based on double occupancy) and include round-trip air fare from Honolulu-to-Hawaii (the Big Island), hotel accommodations and ground transportation there. Please contact Alumni board member Christian Wilson ('84, Business Management) to reserve a space. The tour will be limited to approximately 45 people.
Auckland, New Zealand
Rowena Reid reorganized the Auckland, New Zealand, chapter during President
Shumway's Golden Jubilee South Pacific tour, with Warren
Waka ('90, Human Resources
Development) and his wife, Robin, succeeding Myron
Broederlow ('98,
Business Management) as chapter chairs. Waka, who previously worked for the Church
in Tonga, is now self-employed.
Brisbane, Australia
Reid also installed Kerry
Tukukino ('90, Business Management and International Business
Management) and his wife, Esther Peleti Tukukino ('91, Travel Management)
as chairs of the newly formed Brisbane, Australia, chapter. "Kerry told me that
15 members of the chapter are planning to come for Jubilee Week in October,"
Reid said.
Fiji
"Over 200 alumni held a wonderful event in Suva before we arrived," Reid
reported, adding that former student body president Willie
Kwansing ('94, Business
Management) as the MC. "At the end they called all the alumni on stage to
sing Bula Laie. They said it was the best thing that ever happened to
them. Now some of them are coming in October and they want to do a food booth
at the Foodfest."
Utah
Reminder, the chapter's Southern Utah Golden Jubilee golf tournament is
set for June 11 at Sky Mountain in Hurricane (1030 N. 2600 W.), with a 7:30 a.m.
start. There is a $75 entry fee per person ($300 for a four-person team). For
further information, contact event co-chair Samoa
Tumanuvao.
The Northern Utah Golden Jubilee golf tournament will be held on July 2 at Mountain View Golf Course, 2400 W. 8660 South, West Jordan, Utah, with an 8:30 a.m. start. There is also a $75 entry fee per person for this tournament ($300 for a four-person team). For further information, contact event chair Vai Laumatia ('82, History/ Government), 801-371-0741.
Reminder, June graduation banquet
The Alumni Association will hold its annual graduation banquet on
Thursday, June 16, in the Cannon Activities Center. This year's honored alumni
speaker is
Gordon Morton ('91, Organizational Behavior). There is a $15 cost.
Contact the Alumni
Office to purchase tickets.
In memoriam:
Former BYU-Hawaii English faculty member JoAnn Britsch died
at her home in Orem, Utah, on May 14 of causes related to a fall she had while
traveling in Eastern Europe. Sister Britsch and her husband, R. Lanier Britsch — former
BYU-Hawaii Vice President of Academics — recently served as missionaries at the
university and the Polynesian Cultural Center.
1970s
Juanita Chang Benioni ('70, TESL) is now a professor in the School of Education at Utah Valley State College. She and her husband, Patoa Benioni ('68, Industrial Education) live in Orem.
In memoriam:
Alofa Tanuvasa ('74, History)
of Downey, California, passed away on May 19. Tanuvasa went on to earn a master's
degree in Political Science from BYU Provo, where his wife, Freda
Schwenke Tanuvasa ('74), also earned her bachelor's degree ('85, Finance).
1980s
Kim Makekau ('89, Human Resource Development) and his wife, Rahira, live in Tokoroa, New Zealand, where he is a high school teacher.
1990s
David Tati Hall ('94, ISCS) and his wife, Marylou MacDonald Hall ('89, Accounting) live in Auckland, New Zealand. Hall, an infrastructure project manager, said for him BYU-Hawaii was a "life-changing experience. Living and learning from other cultures was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Erin Calabio Summerill ('97), who went on to graduate from BYU in Provo, now lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah, and works as an aerobics director in nearby American Fork.
Lawrence Apo ('97, Business Management) is currently serving in Balad, Iraq. "It is really hot and there is a lot of activity happening here each day. We are on patrols 24 hours a day looking for insurgents and weapons or IEDs (improvised explosive devices). I had one close call when I was on patrol last week, but we are all okay. I miss home a lot and miss the food. Thank you for all your love and support and prayers."
Adeline Asiga-Lee Erasito ('99, International Business Management) now lives in Los Angeles and works as the regional marketing officer for the Fiji Visitors Bureau there.2000s
Jennifer Kajiyama Moses ('02, Political Science) is spending part of her summer break from BYU law school in Laie with her husband, Lance Moses ('03). She is working on a project for the University Advancement department.
Brent Cornillez ('02, Exercise & Sports Science) and his wife, Akamai Peniata Cornillez ('00, Special Education), now live in Kapaau on the Big Island of Hawaii, where he is an assistant golf pro at the Mauna Lani resort.
Elizabeth Malu Brown ('02, Information Systems) writes, "I am grateful for all my leadership training at BYU-Hawaii." She and her husband, Hans Brown ('80), live in Salt Lake City where she works on a computer help desk.
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(L-r): Kim, Tiu and Jung
at dental school |
Christopher Tiu ('02, Biology), a senior at Case School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, writes that fellow alumni Shi-Oon Kim ('01, Biochemistry) and Tae Kyung Jung ('01, Chemistry) just completed their DDS degrees.
"The education I received at BYU-Hawaii will forever stay embedded in my heart," writes Julie Harman Azares ('03, ICS: Communications). "I looked forward to walking to school among people from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Just listening to many different languages while I went from class to class was a cultural experience. I also remember most the unique events that we could enjoy on the weekends, and how incredible it was to 'become' a part of that culture, even if that wasn't where you originated. There was also a distinct, sincere spiritual environment at our Church meetings and devotionals because we each felt we could relate to one another as we studied both spiritually and secularly as a whole and on a personal level. I received more life-changing experiences than ever before just by experiencing those moments of not having many material 'pleasures' of life, but appreciating the great natural beauty that the Lord gave us. We miss it dearly every single day. What a blessing it is to be alumni from there." She and her husband, Ryan Azares ('03, ICS: Communications), live in Medford, Oregon, where she is an online entrepreneur selling sarongs.
Editor's Note: After getting off to a good start, our Golden Jubilee "blogs" — Favorite Faculty and Alumni Scrapbook — seem to be languishing a bit. Mahalo to those of you who have already submitted, in some cases multiple times. For the rest, I encourage you to share your memories of the faculty members who touched your minds and hearts, as well as stories and photos of your life at CCH/BYU-Hawaii. These will become a permanent part of the Golden Jubilee 50th Anniversary celebration record and give future generations of students priceless insights into how over the first half-century BYU-Hawaii changed us forever. Hope to hear from you soon.
— 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 Relations Executive 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.
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