Learning Through Giving

Nathaniel David ’26 says while he enjoys his classes and professors, the insights that have resonated with him the most at Chaminade University were garnered in the community—through service learning and volunteer projects that helped him see how he can make a positive impact.

And a good number of those service learning experiences, he said, were through the Chaminade Scholar s Program, which stresses spiritual development, academic excellence and leader ship Student par ticipant s receive a scholar ship, renewable for up to four year s, and participate in mentor ship and service opportunities geared toward personal growth.

“ I found it really helpful to have a program that helps me grow in my faith and put s me to work as a servant of God and His people,” said David, an English major who is minoring in Education.

“My biggest takeaway from the Chaminade Scholars program is that while it is about helping us grow in our faith, grow as an ‘ohana, and grow into leaders, it’s really about serving our community as Chaminade students and followers of Christ,” David added Bro. Edward Brink, SM, vice president for Mission and rector, said the Chaminade Scholar s program is geared toward students who are “engaged in their faith, engaged in service and want to keep those things happening while they ’ re at Chaminade.”

“Our hope is that while they’re in the program, they’re going to start to see that this way of serving people can continue beyond their school years,” he added. In other words, volunteerism and service become good habit s that they’ll carry through their lives

That was exactly how the program impacted Dr. Vanessa Ignacio ’18, an orthopedic clinical specialist now practicing in Hilo, where she was born and raised. “For me, the Scholars program really helped me to excel at Chaminade,” she said. “I was able to focus on my academics while s till being involved in the community. It really helped me build relationships."

Ignacio said the Scholars service-learning project she remembers best was when students prepared and ser ved meals at a homeless shelter Rather than handing out the food cafeteria-style, she said, students delivered meals to tables.

“ You actually sit down at the table. You get to hear their s tories and they got to hear mine,” Ignacio said, adding the Scholars program also gave her opportunities to learn from mentor s alongside peer s who shared a pas sion for service.

There were seven new and 22 returning Chaminade Scholars in the 2024–25 academic year.

The program was started about 20 years ago, tracing its roots to the importance of faith formation at Chaminade Service learning is a corners tone of the program, and students are asked to commit to completing at least 15 hours of service each semester.

In addition to helping the homeless, students also serve as tutors and mentors for youth Brink said many students find they receive far more than they give through the program. “A first-year student comes in and they’re reserved, shy, but great heart not sure where they fit in,” he said. “They start doing this service, and all of a sudden it’s like they’re able to get out of their shell. They start taking on leadership roles. Experience in service builds confidence.”

David, the English major, called the Scholars ser vice-learning projects “ truly special ” Because he is aiming to become a teacher, he’s focused his volunteerism at Hawai‘i public schools, including through a mentoring program at Farrington High. “I push myself to do well in school and my classes so I can help other s do the same in the future, especially as an aspiring educator,” he said, adding that the program’s monthly luncheons that coincide with scheduled talks by invited speakers also help him broaden his perspective and learn about new ways to broaden his impact. Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva spoke to the Scholars at a luncheon in the Fall 2024 term aimed at congratulating new inductees to the program and celebrating returning students. David said he’s proud to be among those recognized as a Scholar and looks forward to contributing more.

He added that the Scholars program is also what helped him “ tap into the rest of the faith community ” at Chaminade. He is now serving as a part-time student minister, “using more of my time and talents to help build the faith even more here at Chaminade and to glorify God.”