Hitting the mark on the court and in class

Elizabeth Culpepper

This year's Hawai‘i Pacific University volleyball team is "the best team I've ever been on," said outside hitter Elizabeth Culpepper.

The senior from San Luis Obispo, Calif. is one of the reasons the Sharks are a force in the Pacific West Conference. In a recent win against Concordia University Irvine, Culpepper notched an impressive 14 kills.

"Our team is really good this year," she said. "I'm so proud that these are the girls who get to represent our school."

"We're in the gym late at night. We sweat and bleed and cry these nights at these games that are so worth it, to feel part of something bigger than you.”

It feels especially great to play in front of the home crowd.

"Volleyball is a very energy-driven sport. We need energy. We need people to come and cheer because home games are our advantage," she said. "I personally thrive off big crowds. When you're down and the crowd gets going and everyone is excited, it can make all the difference."

Culpepper said she's noticed new fans coming from the Waterfront Lofts to St. Andrew’s Priory gym, where home games are played. "With Aloha Tower Marketplace, it's actually so nice to have so many people living there and in Downtown."

Sports can be a great way to bring the community together, she added. For those who may be away from home for the first time, going to games can be a good social experience.

Culpepper, who participates in recruiting trips and talks to incoming freshman, said sometimes, new students may keep to themselves and "look at pictures of their family and dwell on being far away … because they are not living in the moment."

"They're not experiencing all of this beautiful island and what it offers us. You have to willing to try to have fun here. You have to get out there."

Elizabeth Culpepper goes for the kill.

That can mean hiking, going to a beach or maybe taking in a college game with new friends.

"It's hard to move away. It's hard to move across an ocean. It's hard to move out of your parent's house. But you have to let yourself be happy."

One thing that makes her happy is student teaching. As an Elementary Education major, she's had the opportunity to student teach in several local classrooms. Currently, she's with sixth-graders.

"I'm actually loving upper elementary. I want to do something to help people. Teaching has been a really good opportunity to do that."

She finds her experience with HPU's diverse student population has helped her with teaching. For example, when she encounters sixth-graders starting to form opinions about the world around them, she's reminded of her own experiences meeting people with different viewpoints. One of the reasons she chose HPU was its multicultural environment.

"Gaining these points of view has been very helpful in my growth as a global citizen," she said. "It's helped me to see outside of myself and take a step back from my own opinions and think about theirs. That helps me to grow as a person."

Culpepper also hopes to see growth in the local fan base. She invites everyone to home games at St. Andrew’s Priory (224 Queen Emma Square) to proudly cheer on the Sharks.

"It's just a little short walk away. If you want to watch some really great volleyball, you should come on down," she said. "You won't be disappointed."

See schedules at www.hpusharks.com.

Nursing White Coat ceremony

The third HPU White Coat ceremony was held on Monday, Sept. 28, to recognize the incoming nursing class of Fall 2015. The group has 68 members, which includes students in the HM (hospital corpsperson) to BSN and LPN/LVN (licensed practical or vocational nurse) to BSN pathways.

This ceremony has become a new tradition at HPU and the College of Health and Society. The goal is to welcome new students to the major and begin to instill in them the importance of the art and science of nursing. That caring is part of the vital essence of nursing.

Provost Matthew Liao-Troth, Ph.D., and Dean Lynette Landry, Ph.D., addressed the students on behalf of the University and the College respectively. The keynote speaker was Cyndi Kitkowski BSN, RNC, who is a clinical instructor and patient care consultant at The Queen’s Medical Center. She specializes in maternal child care.

Provost Matthew Liao-Troth, Ph.D., keynote speaker Cyndi Kitkowski, BSN, RNC, Associate Dean Patricia Lange-Otsuka, Ed.D.

The students recited a pledge to give compassionate care and officially donned their white coats for the first time. To commemorate this event, the students also received pins that they may wear on their white coats. The ceremony was held on the front lanai of Hawaii Loa campus with faculty, staff and guests in attendance, and it was followed by a small reception to honor the new nursing students.

Sept. 29, 2015: Announcements

National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, this nationwide campaign takes place every October to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities. Article by Debbie Cairme, HR Director. More...

Call for WANDERLUST submissions
Publish your writing and art in WANDERLUST, HPU’s undergraduate student literary magazine. WANDERLUST is seeking submissions for its upcoming issue. Send your very best: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and artwork to the online submission manager here. Deadline to submit: Thursday, Oct. 15.

Last chance to apply: Japan study tour deadline 9/30

Don’t miss the opportunity to apply by the deadline: Sept. 30, 2015. To promote intercultural understanding between the U.S. and Japan, the Japan Foundation is sponsoring a fully funded, nine-day trip to Japan, Nov. 24-Dec. 2, for a group of 23 HPU students. As of last week, 14 applications had been received. Details here.

Cambodia Winter Study Abroad

Visit the temples of Angkor Wat and other ancient sites. Live and work in a remote village. Stay at an orphanage and teach English and other subjects to orphan children. Explore this beautiful country and make a difference! Class is INTR 3933 (3 credits). View details here. Deadline to apply: Thursday, Oct. 15. 

Student parking & shuttle schedule
Hawaii Loa: Parking decals for vehicles and motorcycles or mopeds and a 10-day parking discount punch card available for purchase at the Bookstore.   
Aloha Tower: Motorcycle or moped parking decals for Irwin Park available for purchase at the Bookstore. There is a secured area under the Aloha Tower Campus Eva Pavilion for about 20 mopeds; there is a parking fee for this area in addition to the cost of the parking decal.
More information and parking registration form here. Shuttle schedule here.      

National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Celebrating 70 years!

Submitted by Debbie Cairme, Human Resources Director

Join us in celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, this nationwide campaign takes place every October to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities. 

HR is committed to recruiting a diverse workforce and proudly supports October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Campaign.  From left to right: Riana Funk (HR Coordinator), Starr Martinez (HR Information Systems Administrator), Mandi Schlimmer (HR FWS Student Worker), Mariko Westbrook (HR Coordinator), Diana Niles-Hansen (AVP, HR), Missy Correia (HR Benefits Administrator), Mary Cano (HR Manager, Staff Relations), Debbie Cairme (Employee Relations, Investigations, EEO/AA Compliance Director & Deputy Title IX Coordinator) and Karin Gustafsson (HR Temp Assistant).

 This year’s theme is “My Disability is One Part of Who I Am.”  As Jennifer Sheehy, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, explained:

This year's theme encapsulates the important message that people with disabilities are just that — people.  And like all people, we are the sum of many parts, including our work experiences. Disability is an important perspective we bring to the table, but, of course, it's not the only one.

 At Hawai‘i Pacific University, we value the skills and talents our employees with disabilities bring to our workplace.  Our culture of inclusion fortifies what our University has to offer our students, our community, and the world at large.  This strength has led to many accolades, such as being nationally recognized as the most diverse University in the nation.  Let us continue to be true to our University’s values — pono, kuleana, aloha — as we celebrate this year’s theme.

Students, faculty and staff can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month by visiting the Office of Disability Employment Policy website at www.dol.gov/odep. 

HPU is an equal opportunity employer.  We seek and employ the best qualified individuals from the labor force without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, ancestry, marital status, arrest or court record, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability or other protected classifications under the Federal and State laws.

The University makes reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.  All requests for accommodations can be submitted to the Associate Vice President of Human Resources, Diana Niles-Hansen.  Our employment and recruitment team, led by HR Manager-Staff Relations, Mary Cano, and supported by our HR Coordinators, Riana Funk and Mariko Westbrook, are committed to our culture of inclusion.

HPU ranks #1 in the nation for diversity in 2014, according to USA Today. HPU earned a 91.4 percent overall diversity score, which looks at ethnic, gender and geographic diversity. 

Cheer team performs at Kakaako event

The HPU Cheer team performed on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Honolulu Night Market in Kakaako, which celebrates culture and community in downtown Honolulu. 

You can find video of the performances and more about the cheer team on social media. Follow them @hpucheer on Instagram and Twitter, and snapchat hpucheer to see what else they are doing with the campus and in the community.