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Staff | University Advancement | 24 August 2005 Aloha new and returning students!

School has begun as of Wednesday, August 31, and new faces are getting their schedules all lined up with their respective classes. We are committed to making each new student's orientation to BYU-Hawaii an exciting, welcoming and memorable experience. The campus 'ohana is our driving force and ultimate goal to help create a united student body. For help in getting started on campus, please visit New Student Orientation for more information.

Laie, HI – Brigham Young University Hawaii is listed as the fourth "best comprehensive college-bachelor's" in the Western United States. This latest ranking, included in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2006issue of "America's Best Colleges," is the highest ever for the university.

In his devotional address during the Education for Daily Living and Time Out for Women conference at BYU-Hawaii on August 12-13, President Eric B. Shumway reminded everyone that "heaven's system is a family system, and families are ordained of God as an extension of heaven's system on earth."

Staff | University Advancement | 5 August 2005 Since 1996, Barbara Barrington-Jones has been bringing her annual women's retreat to Laie, Hawaii. "A New You" has been a staple on campus, attracting women from all over the world to this, the most internationally diverse campus in the nation.

"We've had women come from everywhere," explained Barrington-Jones, creator and director of the conference. Germany, Switzerland, Australia, England, Mongolia; this is a multi-cultural group coming to the multi-cultural campus.

Staff | University Advancement | 1 August 2005 We can all spot those gold "LIVESTRONG" wristbands from far away. But this week, students all over campus will be wearing a crimson wristband to support another cause.

The Student Alumni Association of BYU-Hawaii is kicking off their summer Voyage of Faith scholarship drive, with funds benefiting the David O. McKay Legacy Endowment.

Starting Monday, August 1, a wide variety of activities are scheduled to take place, ranging from "Slip'n Slide softball" to a "Meet the President" BBQ.

"The activities set for this week will be great," said Jeremiah Lim, a sophomore from Singapore, Vice President of the SAA. "But the purpose behind these activities is what we're really trying to promote."

Staff | University Advancement | 21 July 2005 Elder Robert Parchman, a CES missionary serving in University Advancement, told the July 21 BYU-Hawaii devotional audience how the Lord started answering his own prayers as a boy and assured them Heavenly Father is waiting to give everyone personal "instructions and markers along the way as you gratefully ask for them."

Mike Foley | University Advancement | 19 July 2005 Though summer term is usually not as busy as the rest of the academic year at BYU-Hawaii, it seems various parts of the campus have been under construction for the past several months.

BYU-Hawaii Physical Plant Director Judd Whetten agreed. "Our focus is to get these projects done during the summer when it has less of an impact on students and faculty."

For example, Whetten pointed out that a new parking lot behind the Stake Center was completed about a month ago, and a two-to-three-month project to replace some sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and to repave some of the roads "is really making a mess at the moment. We've widened some of the sidewalks, improved the drainage a bit, and replaced some of the older sections."

Andrew Miller | University Advancement | 12 July 2005 President Eric B. Shumway of BYU-Hawaii and President Von Orgill of the Polynesian Cultural Center recently accompanied a Hawaii State-sponsored delegation to the People's Republic of China, with the purpose of strengthening existing relationships and establishing new ties for the promotion of tourism, education and business development.

Christopher Krey | University Advancement | 7 July 2005 A group of sixteen BYU-Hawaii students were invited to perform Samul Nori, the Korean percussion song and dance, at the Waikiki Shell on Friday July 1st, for the Honolulu Centennial Celebration.

The BYU-Hawaii group, called Bu Seum Sae, played alongside Na Palapalai, The Makaha Sons, Aunty Genoa Keawe, and other local artists and cultural groups. Samul Nori is a traditional Korean percussion and dance originally performed at harvest time. Bu Seum Sae, has been recognized for their exciting mixture of traditional Korean beats with a young, contemporary style.

Staff | University Advancement | 7 July 2005 BYU-Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway and 35 members of his extended family shared the Joseph Smith story "in his own words" and recognized the Prophet's 200th birthday this year during the July 7 devotional.

"This was one of the most significant events in the history of the world," said President Shumway, whose wife, Carolyn, their children and spouses, and grandchildren filled the stage of the McKay Auditorium.

Owen J. Cook, 90, president of the Church College of Hawaii from 1964-71, died June 25 of respiratory failure in Grand Terrace, California, where he and his wife of 64 years, Ellen, lived for the past 34 years.

Staff | University Advancement | 1 July 2005 BYU-Hawaii officials announced today that because the United States government has tightened requirements related to foreign nationals working in the United States, the university has adopted more stringent policies for its international graduates who wish to remain in country and gain work experience.

Andrew Miller | University Advancement | 24 June 2005 BYU-Hawaii hosted a five-day conference on Hawaiian culture and education, sponsored by Ka Lei Papahi O Kakuhihewa, an Oahu-based Hawaiian Education organization made up of Kupuna or grandparents.

In Hawaii, Kupuna are part-time educators in the State Department of Education Hawaiian Studies Program. However, Ka Lei Papahi O Kakuhihewa is an independent organization formed by the Kupuna to advance cultural education.

Every four years the organization holds a conference on a different island to collaborate and train one another in Hawaiian culture and education methods. This year's theme was E Ho'omau Me Ke Aloha, which means "Continue, Persevere, Perpetuate and Renew the Legacy of Aloha."

Five BYU-Hawaii students recently traveled to Cambodia to experience life in a developing country and take part in humanitarian efforts to relieve poverty.

Andrew Miller | University Advancement | 18 June 2005 BYU-Hawaii, celebrating 50 years of educating and graduating tomorrow's leaders, graduated 248 more today in its Jubilee commencement exercises.

Of the 248 "jubilee graduates," 76 or 31% are international students from 31 different countries. Next to the U.S., Japan had the highest number of graduates at nine with Tonga following at eight. Other countries represented ranged from Cambodia to Papua New Guinea.

The diversity of the graduating class directly reflects the culturally diverse demographics of BYU-Hawaii's student body—the most international in the nation—and the university's mission of training students to become leaders back in their home countries.

Norman Evans | University Advancement | 14 June 2005 Dr. Mark James, associate professor of TESOL and alumnus of BYU-Hawaii, is "retiring" as editor of the TESL Reporter—a professional refereed journal sponsored by the Department of English Language Teaching & Learning.

As of this April’s issue, James is stepping down after "12 wonderful years." James went on to say that although he enjoyed his work as editor, he realized it was time for a change and for the fresh ideas that a new editor would bring.

"James led the TESL Reporter through a number of changes which helped to secure a solid future for the journal, and a continued commitment on the part of Brigham Young University Hawaii to underwrite the journal as a service to our profession," said Norman Evans, ELT department chair.

James is being replaced by Dr. Maureen Andrade, director of the EIL Program.

Andrew Miller | University Advancement | 13 June 2005 Elder Pita Vamanrav, Area Authority Seventy for the Pacific Islands Area and BYU-Hawaii alumnus, passed away from cancer last Friday, June 10, after a life full of loving service to the Church and the people of Tonga.

Elder Vamanrav, Indian by birth, was raised in Tonga and attended Liahona High School where he was baptized. He came to Church College of Hawaii in 1963 to study electronics but was called back to Tonga in 1966 to serve a mission.

As a missionary, Elder Vamanrav baptized his brother and his brother's wife, among many others. He returned to CCH in 1968, graduated in 1970 and married his wife, Seini Pasi, the following year.

After returning to Tonga, Elder Vamanrav and his wife owned and operated an importing company; however, as successful as he was professionally, his life is better characterized by his service.

Mike Foley | University Advancement | 13 June 2005 BYU-Hawaii faculty, staff and students successfully hosted approximately 300 widespread international members of the Global Chinese Society for Computers in Education on campus from June 6-9 during the group's ninth annual but first-ever conference outside of Asia.

"From all aspects, I think the conference was a success, both in the paper quality as well as the other functions," said GCSCE organizing chairman Dr. Tak-wai Chan of Taiwan Central University. "One surprising thing to us, this was supposed to be a western place, but somehow this conference inherited the spirit here [in Hawaii]. It's not only the mountains and the beaches, but you have a human paradise here."