The March 2006 BYU-Hawaii Alumni eNewsletter contains the following:
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President Shumway: "...how
profoundly grateful I am..." (Photo by Mei Mei Ho) |
President Eric B. Shumway started his regular semi-annual state of BYU-Hawaii address to the University 'ohana [faculty and staff] by describing the meeting as a "return and report" and dispelling "any rumor that my release or retirement is imminent."
"I have been asked to continue and will serve at the pleasure of the Board," he stressed in the March 1, 2006, meeting in the McKay Auditorium, adding that his family's moving "back to my own home on Naniloa Loop has nothing to do with any change in my assignment. It is simply the necessity of a long-range personal planning option. Let me also mention that whatever new or construction activity going on at the residence is being paid for by myself and not the University."
Of his "considerable weekend travel" as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy with responsibilities in Hawaii and California, President Shumway said, "Fortunately, I am able to fulfill these assignments without encroachment on my University responsibilities. Emails, faxes, cell phones, etc., help me stay close by even when I am away."
He explained he attends two Board of Trustees meetings a month in Salt Lake City, one on the second Wednesday with the full Board and the First Presidency; and the other on the fourth Wednesday with the Executive Committee chaired by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve.
"It has been three years since President Hinckley directed that the BYU-Hawaii president report directly to the Board and not through the BYU Provo president, making my attendance at every meeting important to the campus," President Shumway said. "I believe my presence has made a big difference in how we are perceived and valued. This past year I was able to weave into the travel requirements a considerable fundraising initiative. I will report later on the success of that initiative."
"I want to say also at the beginning how profoundly grateful I am to be at this University, at this time, with all of you. I am ever more aware of how important you are and how important the University is to the building of the leadership of the Church. I am grateful especially to all of you that go the extra mile, who are not only devoted to specific jobs on campus, but who are supportive and exemplary 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
He then thanked all those who have worked so hard in preparing the University for re-accreditation, whose "involvement has lifted the University to a new level of performance."
He next thanked those laboring valiantly in the transition from Datatel to Peoplesoft [software management systems]. "Auditors and Church administrators have declared this is one of the smoothest transitions they have ever seen," he said.
He also thanked "our volunteers and educational service missionaries who make such a difference for good on the campus. Their expertise, their testimony, and their spirit make a profound impact."
"We must all be aware that we are in the second phase of re-accreditation process with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)," President Shumway continued, noting a visiting team from WASC would on campus this month "to evaluate our capacity as a university and our preparation for the main visit in 2008 in which we must demonstrate our educational effectiveness as represented in learning outcomes."
"We have defined our mission very carefully for the accrediting association based largely on the goals and objectives forged early on from the prophecies and statements of David O. McKay as well as succeeding prophets: The religious identity of the school as an integral part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its mission in the world; a commitment to God, academic excellence, building character and training leaders who in David O. McKay's words 'cannot be bought or sold.' There is a conscientious and consistent Asia and Pacific focus in all that we do, we must maintain an exemplary faculty who have strong personal testimonies of the gospel and the international mission of the school. We are all part of that prophecy and that prophetic mandate."
President Shumway explained the new accreditation process "is not a comprehensive self-study as in the past with a single visit by a large visiting team, but rather a partnership with the accrediting association to focus on four specific core competencies of the University and demonstrate how we, through outcomes assessment, will improve our general education program, each and every major program; teach and learn English fluently across campus in all areas of the University, and finally the returnability and placement of our graduates in meaningful employment that will allow them to nourish families and build the Church."
"Everyone should have a strong sense of the mission of the campus, the purpose of the campus, and now the purpose of accreditation," he said.
He then reviewed some of BYU-Hawaii's recent accomplishments, including:
"The most gratifying thing about fundraising is that these acts of generosity are the result of personal conversion of many people who have come to the campus and have seen for themselves, felt for themselves and sensed the Lord's spirit guiding them to be generous in ways that would bless our students," President Shumway said.
"Fundraising has been a spiritual journey for me in that it has allowed me to tell the BYU-Hawaii story to literally thousands of people who would not ever have come to the campus were they not introduced and invited. We follow what is described as the 'inclination model': Whatever these people feel the Spirit is inkling them for, it is not the hard-sell president."
He also explained that plans for the Iosepa's halau wa'a [canoe compound] at the PCC have recently changed from an original concept that called for extending the Hawaiian village beyond its current boundaries. "Fortunately, we believe that in a very near future we will be able to break ground for the new village and the final exhibition site for the Iosepa when it is not sailing. I might say here that this will be another example of the close cooperation of BYU-Hawaii and its academic programs with the Polynesian Cultural Center in a truly symbiotic fashion."
"We are grateful to Uncle Bill Wallace ('72, History) and his people for their leadership along the way, for the generosity of the donors and for the accommodation by the Polynesian Cultural Center leadership."
President Shumway re-emphasized the importance of the "culture of beliefs that represent what we want to do and be as a community of scholars, teachers, support staff, administration, and Saints. These statements of belief that we worked out last year are more than just sweet rhetoric. They are principles that need to get into our bones and our blood and become completely a part of who we are and how we behave."
As I look into the future, it is clear that never before has it been more important that we incorporate and embody these beliefs. If you have forgotten them or have forgotten their sequence, let me repeat here what they are. They are our points of reference. They are the foundation principles of how we treat each other and how we serve as employees." They are:
President Shumway also shared some of the points he recently made to the Board of Trustees, noting that "there are many, many good things going on in the University and much hard work expended which I was not able to cover."
For example, he listed a number of projects that may be developed in the future [with more details to come at the appropriate time], including additional on-campus housing for both single and married students, a data center and TV studio, and a new building to house the School of Business and physical sciences that will eventually take up the entire block where the School of Business, Health Center, President's and Vice President's homes and the Social Sciences buildings are now located.
Finally, President Shumway said "we are still basking in the afterglow of the Jubilee celebration just a few months ago. The outpouring of gratitude and congratulations is still ongoing. Everyone connected with the Jubilee was deeply affected by the experiences of those days of celebration."
"The crowning moment for me was when I witnessed the outpouring of the Spirit so powerfully I felt it was Heavenly Father's way of expressing His acceptance of this school and of our efforts to fulfill its mission, feeble and weak as we are as human beings. Again I want to say thank you to faculty, staff, administrative staff, to the Polynesian Cultural Center and all those who gave and sacrificed and planned and extended themselves to achieve this glorious event."
Pac West Conference grows, realigns sports
program to meet NCAA II requirements
To ensure the Pacific West Conference
retains its NCAA Division II eligibility, two new universities have committed
to replace the two that departed at the end of the 2004-05 season, and recently
realigned its intercollegiate sports programs.
NCAA II rules require a minimum of six members per conference. When two schools left at the end of the 2004-05 season, the Pac West received an NCAA II waiver for the 2005-06 season while the four Hawaii core teams — BYU-Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University (HPU), the University of Hawaii-Hilo (UHH) and Chaminade — searched for at least two new members.
Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and Notre Dame de Namur U. in Belmont, California (near San Francisco) have since committed to join the Pac West. The presidents of all six universities have requested the NCAA II Membership Committee to approve a waiver to accelerate the provisional membership process for Notre Dame de Namur, which had been competing in the NAIA, and to officially recognize the Pacific West Conference as a fully participating member for the 2006-07 academic year. Grand Canyon U. is already an NCAA II school.
Because the six participating universities varied in the sports each sponsored, a consensus was reached on which 10 each would sponsor. NCAA II rules require each participating university to compete in at least 10 intercollegiate sports in common, six of them women's programs and four men's programs, with two of each gender being team sports.
The new Pac West alignment for the 2006-07 school year, therefore, will include at minimum the following:
Comparing the new Pac West alignment with BYUH's 2005-06 programs shows that next year men's and women's soccer teams, as well as women's basketball will be in the BYU-Hawaii line-up of sports teams; but University officials stress no decision has been made yet regarding the future of the three current teams not included in the list above: men's water polo and tennis, and women's golf.
Furthermore, a Pac West press release indicated the conference "will continue to evaluate its sponsored programs and potential new members over the course of the next several years."
In other BYU-Hawaii sports news, senior basketball Seasider Austin Smylie — who averaged 22.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, and is the sixth all-time high scorer in University history with 1,456 points — was named to the Daktronics All-West Region Team on March 10. Smylie, who is from Salt Lake City, Utah, led the Seasiders to a 14-11 record (6-6 in the Pac West) and was named conference "player of the week" four times during the past season.
Change in BYUH 2nd Stake leadership
Elder Charles Didier of the First Quorum of the Seventy, assisted by Elder
Eric B. Shumway of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy, set apart Alumni
President-Elect Arapata
Meha ('83, Music) as the new president of the BYU-Hawaii
2nd Stake during their conference on March 12. He succeeds Norman
W. Evans, Department Chair of English Language Teaching and Learning,
who served just one month shy of six years in the calling.
President Meha, Associate Dean of Admissions with responsibilities for both international and domestic students, selected William Neal and Billy Casey as his first and second counselors, respectively. They succeed Isileli Kongaika and Brett Ellis.
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Pita Tanuvasa helps
clear heavy runoff from near the Admin Building. (Photo by Monique Saenz) |
President Meha — who is believed to be the first BYU-Hawaii alumnus to become president of one of the University's stakes — added he did not know what impact, if any, his new calling might have on his Alumni Association duties. For more information...
Heavy rains soak Laie and the rest of
Hawaii
Unusually heavy rains have been pouring on Laie and the rest of Hawaii
for over a month, resulting in widespread flooding, thunderstorms,
power outages, closed roads and even several deaths on Kauai...and making this the wettest month in Hawaii history.
Kahuku, for example, had over 22 inches of rain in the first three weeks of March, with more expected. Mt. Waialeale on Kauai — regularly one of the wettest spots on earth — has recorded over 120 inches of rain in the past month.
When the heavy rains first started, the impact on low-lying Laie was immediate: PCC closed and classes were cancelled at BYU-Hawaii for one day — and for several days at Kahuku High and other public schools, prompting several hundred students of all ages to frolic in the big runoff pond that formed in front of the campus. But only on the first day: Subsequent warnings about possible contamination and the health hazards of the brown water soon left the "lake" to the egrets and ducks.
More of the same has followed in the weeks since, interspersed with an occasional couple of clearing hours, or as much as a day or two. But even as recently as Sunday, March 19, a cloudburst quickly flooded the lowest parts of the campus and community within an hour. Church meetings were cancelled, and the McKay Gym (Old Gym) was temporarily opened as an emergency shelter. By the next morning, however, the sun was out for a while...with more heavy rains predicted by the end of the week. Auwe!
BYU-Hawaii bands tour Maui
The BYU-Hawaii Brass Band and the Jazz Ensemble — led by David Kammerer
and Dr. Darren Duerden, respectively — toured Maui from March 9-11,
performing at churches, other venues and ending up at the Lahaina Ocean Arts
Festival where they headlined the event.
The 34 members of the group also enjoyed a Maui Alumni Chapter pot luck dinner in Kahului, where the Saints also housed the group. Alumni President Les Steward, who was there, reported that chapter chair Melony Kahealani NeSmith ('85, Travel Management) "did a great job in organizing the pot luck."
Utah Chapter and PCC alumni to meet in
Salt Lake City
Alumni of both BYU-Hawaii and/or the Polynesian Cultural Center are
invited to participate in a special fireside meeting in Salt Lake City,
Utah, with President Eric B. Shumway on
Sunday evening following the final session of General Conference:
UTAH CHAPTER & PCC ALUMNI FIRESIDE
April
2 • 7:00
p.m. • 3737 South 5600 West
West Valley City, Utah
The program will feature other speakers, a video of Golden Jubilee highlights, the Utah Polynesian Choir under the direction of Irwin Purcell ('69), the BYU-Hawaii Men's Chorus and the PCC promo team will provide music. For further information, contact Utah chapter chairs David Settle and Sue Settle at 801-370-9617.
School of Computing board rep reports:
Our Alumni board director from the School of Computing, Dr. David
M. Furuto ('67,
Mathematics), recently reported that half of the Kalaheo High School [in
Kailua, Oahu] Mathematics Department is comprised of BYU-Hawaii graduates,
including
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Maui Chapter at their
potluck dinner and BYUH band concert |
Furuto also reported that Nancy Wood ('04, Mathematics Education) completed proselyting in the Korea Seoul Mission in January, and is living in California with roomie Cassie Rathgeber ('03, Mathematics Education), who is originally from New York. And, math alum and former teacher Michelle Rushton, daughter of Harold and Jill Rushton, married Scott Ouderkirk, son of Scott Ouderkirk and Korrie Ford, in the New Mexico Temple on February 25.
In addition to serving on the alumni board with his wife, Sharlene Maeda Furuto ('68), Furuto is also president of the Hawaii Association of Mathematics.
Beth and Bode Uale deliver devotional
address:
Alumni Bode Uale ('87) and Beth Parker Uale ('85,
Music) delivered the March 16 devotional address in which they encouraged
current students to take advantage of the educational experiences they
have. Beth, who took seven years to earn her bachelor's degree, further
advised the students to avoid roadblocks, such as wasting freshman
year; and Bode advised those who haven't done so to serve missions,
and those who have and are still single to get married. Read the
summary, or the complete
address.
CCHers Network (1955-64) reunion:
The organizing committee for the CCHers (1955-64) Network reunion on campus
from June 22-25, 2006, have issued a "scan-and-send" request to those
who are able to do their own DVDs of old pictures or other college
things, to bring them to the "Show 'n' Tell" on Friday the 23rd. Or,
mail copies of prints to: CCH Alumni Reunion, Attention Rowena Reid,
55-220 Kulanui Street, Laie, HI 9676. For further information, contact
them.
Reminder:
1950s and 60s
Patricia Lei Murray ('60) was featured in the February 28 Honolulu Advertiser for her Hawaiian quilting skills that will be put on a single-artist display in the La Conner Quilt Museum in La Conner, Washington. [See "Alumni in the News" on the Alumni web site for more details.]
1970s
James N. McCormick ('72, Sociology) emailed to ask: "Did I somehow drop off a list somewhere? I just found your fabulous Oct-Nov 2005 eNewsletter while Google™ searching for something else. It was a great report. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but my brother, Ralph, who never attended CCH/BYUH, was able to be there the whole week. I'm so jealous! My son, Mathoni, is now a student on campus, working for Hans Ta'ala in Campus Security; and another son who returned from a full-time mission in Samoa in 2004 and his wife would like to attend as soon as they can."
Rose Mapuhi Perreira ('77) has been busy promoting her Tahitian culture. [See "Alumni in the News" on the Alumni web site for more details.]
Following up on an item in last month's eNewsletter, William "Bill" Shiu-Foo Hsu ('78, Business Management/Travel), has been called to preside over the Taiwan Kaohsiung Mission, starting this summer. Before receiving the call, Hsu was recommended by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars for a lecturing/research award under the 2006-07 Fulbright Program with the Republic of Maldives. He has deferred the offer while he undertakes his mission assignment.
1980s
Angel Alejandro ('85, Information Systems) wrote to say thank you for the Jubilee issue of BYU-Hawaii Magazine.
Carol Elaine Boyer ('81, '86) emailed: "I am a kindergarten teacher in Beeville, Texas. The time I spent in Laie at BYU-Hawaii is a treasured time of my life. I would love to hear from some of my wonderful roommates and friends."
1990s
Valerie Cravens Anae ('93, Business Management) has succeeded her sister-in-law, Wendy Anae ('97, Second Education) as head coach of the Kahuku High varsity girls basketball team. [See "Alumni in the News" on the Alumni web site for more details.]
Douglas Killough ('95, Psychology) and his wife, Naomi Ozaki Killough ('95, Business Management) returned about a year ago from his posting to Hong Kong and are now living in New York City. "We are very much enjoying life back in the U.S. Naomi stays quite busy here keeping up with Meg's active social calendar. Meg is our 1.5-year-old daughter. I am still with Credit Suisse and will be starting a doctorate program at Columbia this fall on a part-time basis."
M. Spalding Jugganaikloo ('96, Information Systems), who has been working as the chief information officer for Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois, starts May 1 as the new CIO for BYU-Idaho.
Bill Kadarusman ('96, Accounting), who went on to graduate from BYU Law School, recently opened his own law office. He and his wife, Seiko Shimada, have been living in Lehi, Utah.
Mike Sanft ('98, English), another BYU law graduate, also recently opened his own law office, in Las Vegas where he and his wife, Karanell Urie Sanft ('97, Psychology), live and serve as chapter chairs.
Sean Ransom ('99, Psychology) and his wife, Helen Papilenkova, who are living in central New Jersey, emailed: "I am a resident in clinical health psychology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and I receive my Ph.D. this summer. My wife, who is also a BYUH alumna, was a university admissions advisor before she had our first baby, Kate, on Jan. 5th. Attending BYU-Hawaii was central to the Lord's plan for us and our lives are much richer for what BYUH brought us. Aloha."
Bruce Taimana ('99, Information Systems), a software developer engineer in testing (SDET) for Microsoft, and his wife live in Monroe, Washington (near Seattle). He writes: "We have been in Seattle since I graduated, but moved to Monroe around December 2000. I am currently second counselor in the bishopric. At Microsoft I'm currently working on Team Foundation Server, which should be shipping soon. Our next release may allow me to be a SDET Lead and take on greater responsibility and management. It is a fun position. I don't see many BYU-Hawaii alumni here, but I know they are around."
2000s
Kylie Dallas ('01, Political Science) emailed "to tell everyone what I've been up to since graduating. I served a mission on Temple Square and in the Idaho Boise Mission. I have just started law school at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, and I just got engaged to Adain Morrissey from Niue. We are planning to marry in December. I want everyone to know what a special place BYU-Hawaii is. I am so grateful for my time there. I fell in love with Hawaii and the wonderful people there. Thanks heaps."
Alissa Nielson ('03, Music), who now lives in Roseville, California, writes: "On a cold day in the mainland, my heart is warmed by memories of the sun shining sublimely on Waimea Bay. I am looking forward to touring Maui next year with the semi-professional choir I joined this year, the Sacramento Master Singers. I am teaching them Hawaiian songs."
Veronica Hamm ('04, Exercise and Sports Science), who lives in Honolulu, writes: "What I miss most about BYU-Hawaii was my 10 billion roommates! I had the best experiences at BYUH and I wish I could go back in time to do it all over again. One thing I'll never forget is the great instructors and my wonderful supervisor who understood the stresses of working and being a student. Looking back, work and school wasn't all that bad compared to now — full-time work during the day, grad school at night, and part-time work some nights and weekends."
Editor's Note: It was quite thrilling to hear President Shumway talk about the accomplishments of and plans for BYU-Hawaii. Indeed, it's awesome to watch the growth and development of the campus, programs and students. We've come so far in the past 51 years, and the future is even more exciting. We'll keep you posted on the monthly advances. "Selamat Pagi," by the way, means "good morning" in Indonesian, in case you were wondering. Selamat malam — "good evening," aloha and pass the umbrella, please.
— 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; Duane Roberts, Director of Communications & Public 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 over 70 nations are currently enrolled.
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