Campus Community

Every successful venture begins as a raw, organic idea. And, every year BYU–Hawaii's Great Ideas Exchange helps makes another idea a reality.

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom (pictured top), a member of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke at BYU–Hawaii’s devotional, held this past Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at the Cannon Activities Center. His talk, titled, "The Power of Covenant", delved into the importance of making sacred covenants.

The Brigham Young University–Hawaii men’s basketball team is going to the post-season tournament again. The Seasiders received a bid to the NCAA II West Regional Tournament that will be held at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. The Regional Tournament begins Friday, March 12, and runs through Monday, March 15.

Senior Carlton Taylor (pictured right) is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. With graduation in April, he is preparing for his new life in Pennsylvania where he will be attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

"I would like you to walk down a road of my dreams and your dreams.... I would like you to think about when you were young men and young women, and think about your dreams there. Then ask yourself, what is it that brought you to BYU–Hawaii" asked Brian Carrington, Associate Secretary to the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the March 2, Tuesday devotional.

Updated 2/27/10, 2:10 PM (HST)

Former professional athlete and Boston Mission President Dale Murphy and his wife Nancy spoke at a weekly devotional held on February 23, in BYU–Hawaii's Cannon Activities Center.

The BYU–Hawaii Alumni "Meet and Greet" took place in the McKay Auditorium of the BYU–Hawaii campus earlier this month. It was homecoming week; a time to welcome alumni home, noted Corbin Thomander, the BYU–Hawaii alumni manager. "It's a reception; something to say thank you. The purpose is to show school spirit and come back to the university," said Thomander. Originally from California, Thomander graduated from BYU–Hawaii in 2002 with a major in business; he now lives in Hauula with his wife and daughter.

Viktor Bezhani plays center-midfielder on BYU–Hawaii's soccer team and is less than a handful of students at the school from Albania, located in Southeast Europe between Greece and the Adriatic Sea, with a population of 3.6 million. "It's too far, it's on the other side of the globe," he said.

BYU-Hawaii's Student Association has welcomed new leaders to their team for 2010. The purpose of the BYUHSA representatives is to act as a voice for the students to the faculty and staff and to take action on the issues that are brought to attention. "I am basically a representative for the student to administration," said Manny Alboroto, vice president for BYUHSA. "The main responsibilities for me as VP of SAC (Student Advisory Council) is to be available for students to come and talk to me when they need help with issues they might be going through as a student in the university. I am the guy finding the way to help students out."

"You must get the gospel into your heart and soul so deeply that you are a different person when you return to your home; the kind of a person who can immediately begin to contribute; to strengthen your family, your community and the Kingdom of God that is growing in your native country; the kind of person who will never forsake covenants or even relax in their obedience," said Alan S. Layton, President of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Layton addressed students and faculty at a devotional held Tuesday, February 16, in the Cannon Activities Center.

A year ago, in 2009, Ned B. Williams was chosen to be the David O. McKay Lecturer for 2010. After the absence of the annual lecture in 2009, students, faculty, staff and community members looked forward to Williams' words concerning 'The Glory of God is Intelligence Ignited in the Beauteous Majesty of Language'. Williams has lived in our community and worked on our campus since 1977, and is currently the Chair of the English department.

The online courses or Distance Learning that is being developed at BYU–Hawaii has become a very important part of the college curriculum. These courses offer the advantage of a good diversity of subjects and scheduling, and a reduction in tuition cost. These courses can also help students get started, adapt to unplanned occurrences in their lives, and aid in the completion of getting an accredited college degree.

Quinn McKay, renowned author, lecturer, and nephew of the late President David O. McKay, shared a wealth of knowledge about lessons he has learned from the ten latter-day prophets he has known personally. McKay's speech, delivered at the BYU–Hawaii weekly devotional at the Cannon Activities Center, emphasized the importance of encouraging others with love.

An electrical engineer for NASA on the Apollo Lunar Landing Program, Ray Thompson (top), is known to BYU–Hawaii students simply as "Elder Thompson." Recently, BYU–Hawaii's Honors Program recently had the opportunity to hear from him personally at their weekly colloquia.

BYU–Hawaii's new Physician's Assistant, Aaron Jensen (top), is a graduate of the school. "I went to elementary, high school and college here, and now I work here," he said. Jensen earned a master's degree in Health Science from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. "[After college] I was in plastic surgery for a year and I enjoyed it," Jensen said.

Liz Shropshire, Founder & Director of the Shropshire Music Foundation, spoke at BYU–Hawaii's devotional this past Tuesday about creating peace amidst countries ravaged by war. Her address centered on her own experiences in Northern Ireland, Uganda, and Kosovo, aside from other places she has traveled to.

Jonathan Miles Smith, a recent returnee from Egypt, gave a presentation concerning his study abroad on Wednesday, January 20.