36 minute read
Alumnae Spotlights
Alumnae Spotlight
Bright Lights • Big Dreams An Interview with Liz Miller ’81
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With the explosion of Apple TV, Netflix, Hulu, HBO and other media conglomerates, today TV is king - rivaling one-time big budget movie productions on a scale like never before. At Paramount Television Studios, Priory alumna Liz (Higa) Miller ’81 is taking in all in stride as Executive Vice President of Television Production.
by Tammy Yonemitsu Rooke ’81 In her role, Liz manages big projects for hit TV shows such as Hawaii Five O, Magnum PI, Good Wife, The Good Fight, Blue Bloods, Madam Secretary, The Alienist, Star Trek Voyager, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise and Discovery, 13 Reasons Why, Outer Banks, Bridgerton, Joe Pickett, Haunting of Hill House, to name a few. She says COVID has rocked all parts of the entertainment industry, but she and her colleagues are making it work producing shows like Jack Ryan by pivoting quickly, staying flexible in filming, and closely monitoring all aspects of production to ensure efficient delivery from script to streaming. How did Liz get from the halls of Kennedy to the halls of Hollywood? The path started out slowly but sped up quickly as Liz decided to get serious about her true calling. As a 1981 Priory graduate, Liz didn’t know what she wanted to do as a freshman at UH Mānoa but eventually chose Communications as her major. After a few different stints as a law secretary, she worked at advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather after graduation before leaving to work on the CBS production of Jake and the Fatman while they were in Hawaii. Gritty and tenacious as the work was, Liz loved it and when the show moved to Los Angeles, Liz was eager to move with the role - thus starting her career at Universal Studios in Hollywood. Liz drove her Honda Civic to the docks loaded it on a Matson container with 20 boxes and all the equipment from the show and found herself in Hollywood. After Jake and the Fatman ended, Liz tried several different roles including a corporate role at Viacom Productions, freelance work, and eventually two stints at Paramount Pictures working for the head of production. It was after her second time at Paramount that her career really took off. Over the course of 30+ years, Liz earned promotion after promotion to eventually become the Senior Vice President of Television Productions at CBS Television Studios. She then got noticed by Netflix, which was disrupting the film industry at the time with its online streaming offerings. Wanting to be a part of the media evolution, Liz became the Director of Production at Netflix. Shortly thereafter, Liz was wooed back by Paramount, offering her a top spot in her current position as EVP of Television Production, making her a woman leader in the Hollywood production industry in a league all her own. How did this Priory grad make it to become one of the biggest producers in Hollywood? The answer may surprise you - for Liz, it was a combination of no nonsense, disciplined dedication to her work, and following the paths of opportunities that rewarded her readiness and knowledge of all parts of the industry. She works with several female producers and directors to open doors for more women producers and writers to advance the profession. In this candid interview with her good friend and classmate Tammy Yonemitsu Rooke ’81, Liz shares her story with us has some great advice for anyone wanting to get their foot in the door in TV.
Of all your achievements throughout your career, which role has been your favorite and why?
Boy, this is really hard to answer because I love my job. I can only look to what I’m currently doing, and the favorite part of my job right now is mentoring the staff below me. I share my successes and failures which leads to better managing and decision making.
How did your experience at The Priory impact or shape who you are today, both professionally and personally?
I’ve made lasting relationships. Relationships is key to the success of life and job.
How would you describe your time at The Priory?
I entered The Priory at the 7th grade. I remember that I went to summer school at The Priory before entering the 7th grade. While I made friendships then, I did not feel connected nor comfortable. I made several phone calls that summer and one was to Tammy Yonemitsu Rooke. I saw Tammy and her friends during the summer, and I wanted to know her. I knew she was someone very special and I’m so happy that we’ve remained connected til today.
What is a memory of yours that you can always look back at and laugh?
Well, there are a ton of memories that I can’t share because it’s too good, but not appropriate for this interview!! My junior and senior year was by far the best time for me. I was not a really great student, but boy did we have fun. It was during the major renovation of the school in the late 70s or early 80s. We thought we were so cool by eating lunch in the construction area of the blocked off classrooms. Oy!
Who was your favorite teacher at The Priory?
Mr. Koki was the best teacher. He was the art teacher and has passed on. That was very sad, but I had fond memories of him. I still have two paintings hanging on my wall that he helped me do. I’m reminded of him ‘til now.
How did The Priory prepare you for your career?
The focus and attention to education and rules gave me a solid foundation from which I grew from. I lost my mother when I was 16, during my junior year – so I needed much guidance, which The Priory gave me.
Looking back at your time as a student at The Priory, what memories, experiences or lessons stand out the most?
It was a growing up time for me. The comradery and lasting relationships that I made at school shaped my years of growth and the years of exploring who I was. The strong friendships shaped my personality, wit, and confidence.
How does The Priory’s mission and vision relate to today’s world and current industry trends?
I love your mission and vision statement because you are building the foundations of these young souls so they can grow to be a product of care, respect, love and service.
How does the work that The Priory and the State of Hawai‘i do address the issues and the world we live in? How do they impact our island community?
I oversaw 10 years of filming on Hawai‘i Five-O and one year on Magnum PI. It was so nice coming back to the islands after leaving in 1988/89. Here are some statistics: Filming in Hawai‘i has generated $477 million in estimated expenditures and $825 million in economic impact and has created 4,000 jobs in 2019 according to www.bizjournals.com. Hawai‘i’s creative economy also contributed $3.6 billion to the state’s GDP according to data collected by the state’s Creative Industries Division.
What is a typical day in the life in your job?
Let me say first off, Covid has completely changed the way we do business in film and TV. I’ve been working from home for two years and lately we are now going back to work Tuesday and Thursdays. I’ve never worked harder than I have ever before. Everything is about Covid! I work on several shows where our actors become positive, and we consistently must shift and pivot like never before. My crews need to wear masks 15 hours a day and social distance. This makes working on set difficult. But people are resilient, and they get the job done by working together and being safe.
I’m in zooms all day – I get involved in making deals with cast and directors; I discuss production plans with producers to make shooting the most efficient; and basically, I’m responsible to bring shows in on budget. I have to be a good listener, a problem solver, be patient, and be a good partner and communicator.
What advice would you give to younger alumnae or current students who aspire to follow a similar career path?
Be humble, listen, be able to pivot on a dime with no emotion, be able to look at a problem without blame and offer solutions, and be respectful.
If there is a piece of advice you’d give to a young Priory graduate, what would it be and why?
Every time I’m asked to speak at universities my last parting words are – If you are on time, you are late; always ask if they need any help before sitting down and surfing the web on your computer; and don’t be caught on your phone. This is the same advice that I gave my two kids when I gave them their first jobs as production assitants on TV shows.
What is one interesting thing people may not know about you?
I was a lei greeter at Honolulu International Airport, greeting tourists arriving from Japan. It was so fun, yet so boring...but it was five minutes from my family’s home, so it was fine for the summer!
Alumnae News
Alumna Reunited With Her Class Ring After 48 Years
Donna Honda ’74 happily shows her St. Andrew’s Priory class ring that was lost during her junior year at The Priory.
Rush Randle holds up the old Priory ring he found on the beach in front of Camp Mokuleia.
While visiting friends at Camp Mokulē‘ia, Rush Randle, an avid windsurfer and metal detector hobbyist, decided to hit the beach in front of the camp. With a metal detector in hand, Rush jumped into the water to explore the hidden treasures that lie beneath the ocean. “I do metal detecting for a hobby,” he said. “I fi nd all kinds of stuff from gold fi llings for teeth, dentures, glasses, drones, Apple iPhones, watches, piles of fi shing lead, and bullets! You name it and it’s out there! I come across a lot of diff erent types of things and am very curious to know the history of the things I fi nd.” he uncovered what looked to be a ring; specifi cally, a class ring. Th e corrosion on the ring made it diffi cult to discern the partially visible markings. Rush also didn’t know what kind of metal it was. Excitedly, he showed his treasure to the friends he was visiting, and they were able to make out a year that was inscribed on the side: 1867.
“I was blown away and got chicken skin… but knew that there was no way it was that old,” he said. “But it did say 1867 or something on one side. After getting home I cleaned it up and saw the actual date of 1974. Th at meant it was 48 years old!” While Rush has found rings before – even class rings – he had never found anything this old.
With the ring cleaned up, the school’s name was now visible – “St. Andrew’s Priory” – and so were the initials that were engraved in the back – “DH.” After searching the school’s website, Rush reached out to the Alumnae Relations Offi ce, where they were able to fi gure out who it belonged to: Donna Honda ’74.
Donna attended St. Andrew’s Priory from seventh grade and had fond memories of her time at the school.
“I remember having loads of fun in our junior year with the making of the fl oat for homecoming (which, if I remember correctly, our class won) and of course,
decorating the cross with fl owers for Ascension Day and spending the night in the gym with the rest of the girls talking about the ghosts that resided on the top fl oor of Main Hall.”
After receiving her class ring in junior year, Donna never wanted to take it off . So when her class went on an excursion to Mokulē‘ia, she was wearing her ring. While in the water, it somehow slipped off of her fi nger and was lost to the ocean. Donna was devastated.
“I was pretty upset because I didn’t know how to tell my parents since deep down, I knew that it wasn’t a good idea to be wearing it to the beach,” she said. “My parents did not get upset or at least not in front of me since they fi gured that I was sorry and sad for losing it. Th ey purchased a replacement ring.”
When the Alumnae Relations department at St. Andrew’s Schools reached out to Donna to notify her that her ring was found, she was really surprised.
“I hadn’t thought about the lost ring for so many years and when I read the message, I couldn’t believe that it had been found. What are the chances?”
Since reuniting with her ring, she decided to keep it in the condition it was returned in.
“It sits in my ring case alongside the replacement ring. I appreciate the care and kindness Mr. Randle took in cleaning the ring and returning it to me.”
By Elizabeth McDonnell
Congrats to Priory graduate Chelsie DePonte ’17 who was named the America East Woman of the Year in 2021, her senior year at Stony Brooke University! Th e Man and Woman of the Year awards honor the conference’s top male and female senior student-athletes who have best distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership. DePonte earned the conference’s highest honors when named 2020-21 America East Woman of the Year. Th e winners were selected by the conference’s Senior Women Administrators. Enjoy some fun facts about Deponte below.
Chelsie DePonte ’17 - Stony Brook Women’s Soccer
• Fourth Seawolf to earn the honor • Graduated summa cum laude with a 3.96 GPA in business management • America East Presidential Scholar Athlete and Scholar
All-American • Two-time America East All-Academic honoree • Two-time All-America East performer, including a fi rst-team selection this year • Th ree-time America East champion • President of Stony Brook PAWS, the student-athlete mental health awareness group on campus • Volunteered at Stony Brook’s poll center assisting students to facilitate voting in the fall 2020
Congrats to Ayla Ruiz ’19 who was named Volleyball Rookie Player of the Week at Manhattanville College in fall 2021!
John Ewen, Director of Athletic Communications writes: “After helping the Valiants to a 2-1 opening week, Ayla Ruiz (Honolulu, HI/St. Andrew’s Schools) of the Manhattanville College volleyball team has been named the Skyline Conference’s Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sept. 5, 2021. The Manhattanville freshman opened up her collegiate career with 32 kills and 23 digs across three matches last week. After opening the season with a double-double (10 kills, 12 digs) against NYU on Sept. 1, Ruiz helped put the finishing touches on Friday’s doubleheader sweep with 13 putaways against La Roche.”
Jordan Jones Visits The Priory
By Anela Akana
Priory alum Jordan Jones ’18 made a virtual visit to the Upper School to speak to sophomores, juniors, and seniors about leadership and her transition from high school to college. Jones was a senior, now a graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Organizational Psychology and Leadership.
At its core, the mission of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point is to prepare each graduate to become a commissioned leader. In fact, the school is in the midst of executing “Commitment to Character and Excellence (2017-2022),” a strategic plan which outlines the conditions they’ve set to innovate and improve their leadership development program, envisioning it to be the “world’s preeminent leader development institution.”
With three years under her belt at the time of her visit, Jones spoke about what she had learned from this program not from a textbook, but rather from first-hand experiences. “Becoming a follower is the first step in becoming a good leader. You need to be able to listen,” she said as she explained how her freshmen year was just that – listening to and observing others.
“One of the most rewarding parts about being a leader is that you’re pouring into other people,” Jones said, pointing out that leadership is about relationships and helping others. She also spoke about the importance of creating a network – maintaining good relationships with all instructors, past and present, and seeking out mentors.
Looking to her senior year, Jones explained that she must choose a “branch” or a specialized field and a preferred post location; the Army has bases across the U.S. and internationally. Upon graduation, she started her military career as a Second Lieutenant.
In a Q&A with students, when asked whether it was a difficult transition from a small, all-girls school to a large university, Jones answered, “It wasn’t an issue because I didn’t make it an issue.” She welcomed the new experience as an opportunity to explore a new school environment and to gain introspection. “Going to a new place helps you to evaluate yourself and your values and will help shape what you do next.”
As Jones reflected on her high school experiences, her advice to current Priory students was to not put too much pressure on themselves.
Priory Alumnae Succeeding in College
What happens when a Priory alumna does a good deed? We pass it forward! Danene Lunn ’80, owner of Manuheali‘i, generously gifted faculty and staff with beautiful aloha print masks to keep our team safe during the global pandemic. We passed on Danene’s gracious hospitality by purchasing Manuheali‘i masks for Priory alumnae on our recent college trip to Washington.
The ‘ahu‘ula print has regal significance because it represents the feather capes worn by ali‘i. What better mask to present to our alums than a Queen Emma inspired print?
FIRST STOP: Meeting Pohai Del Rosario ’19 at Washington State University (WSU)! Pohai gave us a special tour of WSU and showed us the Animal Science Building. “I’m in the pre-vet program,” said Pohai. “I’m continuing what I started in Priory in the City.”
Priory in the City is our signature college and career readiness initiative that gives students an opportunity to explore career pathways with industry mentors and to align college aspirations with professional goals. During her Priory in the City internship, Pohai interned with veterinarians and staff at VCA Family Animal Hospital.
In addition to animals, Pohai has a deep appreciation for her Hawaiian culture. She is a member of the Hawai‘i Club and the Pacific Island Club and enjoys outings with friends under the Washington stars. Pohai volunteers at the concession stand at the stadium to fund club events and trips. “We go camping at Wawawai River,”
said Pohai, “and grill outdoors.” Pohai appreciates the Pacific Northwest wildlife.
NEXT STOP: Seattle University with Priory grads Kara Ho ’21 and Maya Reid ’20! Kara was on her way to a new student orientation and is studying Business Management. Maya is studying Kinesiology. “It is easy to make friends at Seattle U,” Maya said, “People are accepting and open-minded. Seattle U is inclusive, diverse, and close knit. I’m thankful professors establish connections with students.”
Why are relationships in college important? Professor Daniel Chambliss, co-author of the book “How College Works,” conducted research and found the relationships students form in college are crucial. To succeed in college, a student needs two or three friends, and one or two great teachers. Having a trusted mentor is another key factor for success in college. Why? Relationships lead to motivation, which in turn leads to success in college.
Fun fact: WSU is the only university in the US with Grizzly bears on campus. Why? For research. Bears help students gain insight into human and animal health. Fun fact: Seattle U has a Dale Chihuly brilliant red, glass-blown chandelier hanging from the School of Business and Economics. The title of the piece? “To ignite.”
UP NEXT: Gonzaga University with Priory alumnae Christa Langdon ’19 and Alexia Saad ’19! Alexia is majoring in Business Administration with two concentrations: HR Management and Marketing. She is also minoring in Psychology and Criminology. Christa is double majoring in Criminology and Sociology and minoring in Spanish.
“I love Gonzaga’s community, small class size, and 1:1 connection to peers and professors,” said Alexia. It’s similar to The Priory.” Christa loves performing with the Gonzaga Dance Team and Alexia is on the Dean’s Business Forum Board. “I help to connect the school of business with the community,” said Alexia. “I appreciate the networking. It’s basically Priory in the City!” At its core, Priory in the City encourages students to connect their passion with a purpose.
Christa is a yearbook designer. She said, “At The Priory, I enjoyed yearbook with Ms. Matsumoto. I also mentor a middle schooler at one of the Spokane middle schools.” Their Priory spirit of leadership and service continues at Gonzaga University.
Alexia is also involved in Parent and Family Crew and plans orientations for parents and families. Alexia’s Priory in the City mentor, Dr. Kathrine Fast, said, “It’s wonderful to hear that Alexia plans events for students and their families because her Priory in the City project at UH Manoa focused on how to help students transition to college.”
Fun fact: You know it’s Christmas when a Gonzaga DJ plays Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” for the campus. Crosby attended Gonzaga.
NEXT STOP: University of Washington with Priory graduates Amelia Ide ’20 and Leticia Au ’20! Met Amelia and Leticia at the UW bookstore on University Way, known locally as “The Ave,” which is a focus for student life. Amelia plans to study Business Administration and Urban Planning. Leticia plans to study Biology and is considering a double major in Psychology.
“My favorite things about UW,” said Leticia, “are the campus, the location, and the people.” “Although UW is a large school and seems overwhelming at first, the community feels pretty small – I frequently see people I know walking around campus. Before college, the idea of meeting new people and making connections was intimidating. Thankfully, I have been able to form meaningful relationships with people from my lectures, clubs, and dorm. I feel that I can always rely on my friends, professors, teaching assistants, and advisors for their support and guidance.” Amelia also appreciates her professors and friends. “I like that the professors truly care about wanting to see us succeed,” said Amelia, “and will go out of their way to assist us after lecture or in office hours.” “The friends I’ve made are some of my closest friends and I’m grateful for them. UW is an amazing school, located in the heart of Seattle, and is the right fit for me. Go Huskies!”
It was wonderful to hear that all the alumnae we visited felt the same way – the college they chose was a great fit!
SPECIAL BONUS: Seeing the UW parents, affectionately known to our girls as Uncle Brian, Aunty Diane, and Aunty Elsie. Aunty Diane said, “Thank you for helping Amelia with her Priory in the City internship at Pūlama Lāna‘i. We are also grateful she was able to work there this summer.” A special mahalo to Kamryn Matsumoto’s ’18 Dad, Uncle Kurt, President of Pūlama Lāna‘i, for providing real-world learning opportunities about sustainability and business.
Fun fact: Entrepreneurs Bill Gates and Paul Allen regularly used computers on the UW campus before launching Microsoft.
FINAL STOP: DigiPen Institute of Technology with Priory alumna Samantha Tome ’19 and her fourlegged furry friend, Jax! Sam is studying digital art and animation. “I researched colleges and chose DigiPen,” Sam said, “because it has one of the top programs in animation.” Sam carries a 4x6 sketchbook for daily drawing. Every day, she does a quick twominute sketch and uploads it for class. Sam said, “I’m learning how to tell stories from observing daily life.”
“My dream job,” said Sam, “is working on a project with a position I like – animator or creature designer.”
Sam created a self-portrait for her digital art class. She also animated a profile photo for the new school year.
At The Priory, Sam was an award-winning artist. “I am thankful,” said Sam, “for supportive teachers like Ms. Donathan and Mr. Prado.”
Fun fact: DigiPen was founded by Claude Comair. Comair is from Lebanon, studied in Osaka, and co-founded Nintendo.
At one of the universities, we saw banners that said, “Where purpose unfolds” and “Potential expands.” After seeing alumnae, our hearts are filled with gratitude because our Priory young women have purpose and their potential for good deeds – to lead, create, and serve are unlimited!
Top Innovators 2021
Abigail Sipes 2018 receives a prestigious scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), awarded to only about 50 students nationwide who conduct research in STEM.
Striving for the Highest: Priory Internship Leads to 2021 Class of Astronauts Scholars Award
By Elizabeth McDonnell
Abigail Sipes ’18, was selected as one of the 2021 Class of Astronauts Scholars by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF).Th e ASF is a nonprofi t organization providing more than 50 scholarships to the brightest and most talented college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics annually.
Th is prestigious scholarship is awarded to about 50 students nationwide who conduct research in STEM. To qualify, a college junior/senior must fi rst be nominated by their school and pass the school’s committee requirements and then their application is sent to the national committee. Students must submit a personal statement and a resume regarding the research they’ve conducted and how they will continue their research and the impact it had and will have.
“Th e Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was created in 1984 by the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts. Together they represented a wealth of collective infl uence which was particularly suited to encouraging university students pursuing scientifi c excellence. Th eir mission was to ensure the United States would be the global leader in technology for decades to come,” the ASF website says. Sipes is a senior at Purdue University studying Biochemistry and has been conducting research for more than seven years. Sipes participated in the State Science Fair during her time at St. Andrew’s Schools where she conducted research with a professor from UH. Shortly after, she was off ered a position as an intern for the next three summers.
“My extensive research experience is in part due to my upbringing at Priory. Th e most monumental experience that impacted my research career was Priory in the City where we had to get an internship that aligned with our future career goals. PIC helped me obtain an internship at the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center,” Sipes said.
Th e summer before her senior year of college, Sipes interned at Bayer Pharmaceuticals working in the R&D department. She graduated from Purdue this past May and plans to attend graduate school to obtain a Ph.D.
“After having experience with research in an academic setting and an industry setting, I have decided to apply the skills and knowledge that I’ve gained in a biotech company. I hope to one day guide a company’s mission to what is cuttingedge research and where the company’s focus should be. I’d like to be part of a team that makes a meaningful impact in the biomedical fi eld.”
Congratulations to our board member and Priory alumna Dew-Anne Langcaon ’81 and her business partner and fellow Priory alumna Bonnie Castonguay (formerly Sakamoto), RN ’70 whose company was named one of 2021’s Top Innovators by the national publication The CEO Views. Ho'okele Health Innovations, the company they founded 15 years ago, has now gone national with their innovative new home care model! These courageous and compassionate women are tremendous role-models for our students, putting into action our school motto, Kūlia i ka nu‘u (Strive for the highest). As leaders making a diff erence in Vivia: the community, they are keeping Queen Emma’s legacy of loving Transforming Homecare kindness alive and well.
Abigail Sipes, we commend you in your endeavors and your constant desire to Kūlia i ka Nu‘u – Strive for the Highest!
Happy to Be Here, Proud to Serve
By Camille Michel
“We extend a warm aloha to Colleen Treacy, who will assume the position of school nurse. She will begin work later this month, with time scheduled to become familiar with our processes and procedures.” March 4, 2020 email to St. Andrew’s Schools community
“The Department of Health today announced the first positive test results for a person under investigation on O‘ahu.” March 6, 2020 COVID-19 Daily Update, Hawai‘i Department of Health
Timing, as they say, is everything.
In the weeks after Colleen Treacy ’84 started working at St. Andrew’s Schools, it became clear that there were no existing policies or procedures to guide her through the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In the subsequent months that have now stretched more than two years, it also became clear that this kindergarten dropout who grew up to be an Air Force nurse with a master’s degree and deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan was exactly the person St. Andrew’s needed to safeguard the health of our students, faculty, and staff.
Colleen is an Army brat who was born in France. It just gets more interesting from there. The map of her upbringing is the quintessential military scattering of location markers: Boston, New Jersey, Taiwan, New Mexico (the family was posted to White Sands Missile Range while her father was serving in Vietnam), Pennsylvania, and Ft. Lee, the U.S. Army post in Virginia. Her kindergarten education was a casualty of one of those moves. Following that inauspicious start, she resumed with first grade, attending Catholic school in Harrisburg, PA and later in St. Petersburg, VA. Then the Treacy family was stationed in Hawai‘i, where Colleen attended 6th grade at Red Hill Elementary. In 7th grade, Colleen – along with her two younger sisters, Deirdre and Meghan – enrolled at The Priory. When Colleen graduated five years later, it was the longest she had ever been in one place, much less one school.
Military dependents are often characterized as resilient, adaptable, and independent. Add to that a strong sense of self, a no-nonsense approach to problemsolving, and a quick wit, and you have a pretty good description of Colleen, both then and now. Colleen remembers being reported to the principal in 4th grade for not following the school bus rules. Firmly believing that she was being falsely accused, Colleen did not go to the principal’s office as she had been directed by the school bus monitor. When the school bell rang a few minutes later, the students lined up by classrooms as usual.
“I was at the end of my line,” Colleen recalls. “Next thing I know, a red-faced nun came flying out of the school building and started to march in front of the lines of kids. I knew she was looking for me and couldn’t find me. So I walked up to the front of the line so she could see me.”
The principal took her back to the building – none too gently, according to Colleen – to “have a chat.”
By the end of it, says Colleen, “I had convinced her not to tell my parents and to tell my first grade sister not to tell my parents either. I had no repercussions. And all my classmates were in awe of me for a couple of days.”
That strong sense of self served Colleen well as she navigated her educational path following her graduation from The Priory. She was awarded an Air Force ROTC scholarship for math but after her second year at the University of Pennsylvania, she decided “math wasn’t for me.”
Then the nursing shortage of the late 1980s gave Colleen an idea. She thought, “I could probably do that” and went to the University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing (“ROLL TIDE – you must say that. It’s mandatory!” Colleen inserts as she recounts this story). While there, she re-entered ROTC and joined the Air Force after graduating with her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
“The Air Force is very pro-education. In order to make rank, you need a master’s degree,” says Colleen, “so I got a Master of Health Sciences in Disaster and Emergency Management from Touro University online. I also completed Squadron Officer School and Air Command and Staff College, as well as several other military courses such as Basic Infection Control and Epidemiology.”
In 1995, just two years after earning her college degree, Colleen’s first deployment was to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on a humanitarian mission. She was a second lieutenant and the troop commander for a group of medical personnel.
“Tens of thousands of Cubans were fleeing Cuba and trying to get the U.S. by any means possible. Many got aboard unseaworthy crafts and died; many killed by sharks. Survivors were captured at sea and brought to GITMO to be held in tent camps,” Colleen says. “I had the opportunity to talk to some of them. The risks they took to make their lives better in the U.S. was hard for me to fathom. In camp, many would mutilate themselves or purposely get pregnant in order to try to get a medical parole to the U.S. Finally while I was there, the U.S. passed a bill to allow all the refugees to enter the U.S.”
Another deployment was to Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan as a Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) nurse. Colleen’s three-person team included a critical care doctor and a respiratory therapist. Their job was to retrieve the most critically wounded or ill patients from bases throughout Afghanistan or even Kazakhstan and fly them in the back of a cargo aircraft or refueling aircraft to Germany.
“We would bring all our medical equipment on board with us, essentially
FACTS FACTS ABOUT COLLEEN
Favorite band: Beatles Favorite baseball team: Red Sox Favorite football team: Dolphins (“Let’s go, Tua!”) Favorite food: Ice cream Favorite place to visit: Boston Favorite movie: Sound of Music
Favorite leisure time activity:
Reading, running, traveling
Things people would be surprised to know about you:
• I got to fly a fighter jet for a few minutes. • I was held up at gun point when I worked at McDonalds years ago. • I had a job selling encyclopedias door to door.
Who inspires you:
People who are smart and fun to work with; who work hard and play hard.
An excellent piece of advice that someone gave you that you still
follow today: Don’t ask anyone to do something that you wouldn’t do yourself.
Favorites memories from your time at The Priory:
• Playing a member of the Roman cavalry in our Latin Club’s show for a language festival in Kapi‘olani Park • Getting to have class in the new
Kennedy Hall in 8th grade • Swim trip to the Maui • Junior Ring Ceremony and
Ascension Day • Senior Values Camp
creating a flying Intensive Care Unit in the cargo plane,” Colleen says.
In one instance, they had flown some patients to Germany and “quick-turned,” i.e. dropped the patients, spent a few hours sleeping, and got back on another plane to head back to Afghanistan. As they neared Bagram Air Base, the pilot informed Colleen that as soon as they landed, there were four burn patients to pick up at the hospital. There had been a big battle and the ICU was “bursting at the seams.” Another nurse was added to the team because of the care that burn patients require.
“I ended up taking the two worst patients,” says Colleen. “For over seven hours in the air, I barely sat down, hanging fluids and pain medication, transfusing blood, redressing wounds, maintaining adequate sedation, monitoring vital signs. We knew the worst patient was going to die. It was our job to keep him alive so his family could say goodbye. I found out later that his wife had been pregnant and delivered the baby a day after he died in Germany.” When she was deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq, Colleen worked in the tent hospital, floating between three different ICUs: two for Iraqis and one for coalition forces.
“We were constantly undergoing rocket attacks and often were in Alarm Red situations,” Colleen says, “During that time, we would have to don our flak vests and helmets and hide in the most secure location – which in a tent hospital taking care of critical patients really didn’t exist.
“One night we went into Alarm Red, but I had to escort a patient on a helicopter to another hospital in theater [the area where active combat operations are conducted during warfare]. Several maneuvers and flares later, we made it, but it was a bit of a scary situation.”
Today, Colleen’s duties as the school nurse look much different than her experiences in the military.
“I give out a lot of ice packs,” she says, laughing. Colleen also helps with morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, tracking student attendance, taking care of injuries and illnesses, and passing out medication.
And of course she is at the center of St. Andrew’s Schools’ COVID response. Colleen answers COVID-related questions from parents at both the Queen Emma Square campus and Queen Emma Preschool, researches current COVID trends and changes that might affect school operations, and works on various projects such as arranging vaccine clinics. She administers screening testing for the campus community, which began with weekly testing of student-athletes in the fall semester and expanded in the spring semester to offer testing to all students and employees. She is also the first call if a student or employee reports exposure to COVID or a positive COVID test. From there, Colleen gathers information about possible close contacts, makes decisions about which students or even grade levels need to quarantine, and coordinates with the Leadership Team to determine next steps and keep the community informed.
Asked how things are going on a typically busy day when she has been assessing minor playground injuries and doling out band aids and a student has thrown up on the sidewalk, you almost hear a military salute in her voice as Colleen quips, “Happy to be here! Proud to serve!”
How does school nursing compare to combat nursing?
“Being a combat nurse is easier! I never had to do uku checks in the war zone,” Colleen jokes.
But she follows with a thoughtful response that reflects the depth of her commitment to providing the care her patients truly need, in any environment.
“In theater, my patients were sedated, on ventilators. Really sick. We didn’t have the opportunity to chat with them much,” says Colleen. “My job was to keep them alive. I could look at a monitor or a lab result and know what was going on with the patient and work to fix it.”
In school nursing, Colleen says, “The students are sometimes more complicated. Sometimes I have to dig deep to figure out the real issue. I have to listen hard and ask questions a certain way so they can understand what I am asking and I can understand what they are telling me.”
The Strength to Strive for the Highest
Colleen is no stranger to digging deep on both a personal and professional level.
She was an athlete in school, swimming competitively for club teams since the sixth grade and as a varsity swimmer for The Priory in high school. She ran varsity cross country for two years in high school. As an adult, Colleen has completed a marathon, a sprint distance triathlon
(750M swim, 20K bike ride, 5K run), and the North Shore Swim Challenge, which is a 2.3 mile open ocean swim.
Colleen’s many professional accomplishments include her selection as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force ROTC as a nurse candidate; being rated first of 103 Majors (including doctors, pharmacists, and all medical careers, not just nurses) in a large hospital; her promotion to lieutenant colonel through the Below the Zone program, through which fewer than 5% of candidates were selected for early promotion; and her selection as Company Grade Officer of the Year for the 10th Medical Group.
She is proud of passing the NCLEX, the licensing exam to become a nurse, and says, “I was sweating bullets waiting for the results!” Clearly she is proud of her career in the military, especially as a CCATT nurse, being able to save wounded warriors. Colleen also looks outward for points of pride, such as all the awards won by people she mentored and seeing her students on the news during the war doing amazing things as flight nurses and on CCATT teams.
Almost as an afterthought, she adds a deeply personal accomplishment: completing PTSD treatment. “It took me years to admit that I needed it and get the strength to go. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I got through it and it really helped.”
It has been an extraordinary journey that has brought Colleen Treacy home to The Priory. This is beautifully reflected in the advice that she has for future graduates of St. Andrew’s Schools: “Your original path may diverge from what you had in mind, but your Priory foundation will always be there to give you strength.”
Kūlia i Ka Nu‘u, indeed.
