Ryan Anderson | University Advancement | 8 May 2008

President Steven C. Wheelwright of BYU-Hawaii provided students with the three ingredients that make up the Lord's "Recipe for Success" during his May 6 in devotional the Cannon Activities Center.

President Wheelwright started his address by sharing a family story about the wonderful "Mom's Orange Rolls" Sister Wheelwright has perfected, and the experiences that two of their daughters have had with the same recipe: One daughter always has a great success, while the other creates what she calls "a sticky hockey puck," even though they follow the same recipe. He used this family anecdote "to create a framework with which to discuss an important gospel idea, [which he calls] the Lord's Recipe for Success."

Mike Foley | University Advancement | 8 May 2008

As BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright draws near the completion of his first year of service, a faculty member in the May 2008 question-and-answer forum asked what "report card" grade he would give himself for his accomplishments at the university to this point.

Chuckling, President Wheelwright first asked his wife, Margaret, to respond: "The one thing we feel like we've really made some wonderful strides on recently is in the community," she said of their efforts to get to know more community members. "We feel they understand us, and we understand them. We love them, and I think they're starting to like us."

Mike Foley | University Advancement | 7 May 2008

In their monthly question-and-answer forum on May 5, BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright [pictured at left] and other members of the President's Council discussed, among other issues, whether budget tightening would affect faculty professional development, the roles of faculty research and scholarship, and the status of reorganizing the administration .

Dr. Max Checketts, the new Vice President of Academic Affairs, who noted he has not had enough time to study the issues, pointed out that increasing travel costs present a challenge throughout the Church; but added, "I don't think the expectation of the university is that faculty should somehow bear the burden of their professional development."

Ryan Anderson | University Advancement | 6 May 2008

Millions of people around the world will gather to participate in the first-ever Pangea Day international film festival broadcast, an event centered on bringing people of all cultures and civilizations into a spirit of peace and brotherhood. BYU-Hawaii will host Oahu’s only public viewing of the event on Saturday, May 10 in the McKay Auditorium at 7:30 a.m.

According to the event’s website, www.PangeaDay.org, the broadcast will include 24 short films — submitted by individuals from over 100 countries, and motivational speakers such as Queen Noor of Jordan, Christiane Amanpour of CNN and Bob Geldof, a musician and activist, as well as an Iranian rock band called Hypernova, among others.

Megan Smith | University Advancement | 5 May 2008

Jerold and Jo Ann Ottley are outstanding examples of the BYU-Hawaii professors who willingly shared their time and talents, and extended their love to the students for the last three years.

Before coming to Laie, the Ottleys were world renowned for their success with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir: He served as the Choir's director for 25 years and she was the voice coach. At the beginning of their marriage, however, they had no idea their union would so strongly influence the world.

"Neither one of us had very huge ambitions. When I finished college and began teaching junior high school, I thought I had the world by the tail! Jo Ann didn't have any big plans, except to be a mother and to teach a few lessons but we've been literally dragged by the Lord from one thing to another," said Jerold [pictured at upper left].

Megan Smith | University Advancement | 2 May 2008

Approximately half the students at BYU-Hawaii come from over 70 countries around the world — including only one from the southeastern Caribbean island nation of Grenada, Salisha Allard [pictured at left].

The young woman was born into rough circumstances. Money was hard to come by, and when she was only nine years old her mother died of cancer. "Her last words were, Salisha, I love you. I am sorry but mommy has to go now, there is nothing I can do," Salisha remembered. 

Salisha recalled that she felt incredible sadness then, but that "the pain hurts me much more now, because now I really feel what it's like to not have a mother. I miss her so much," she said.

Chase Barlét | University Advancement | 1 May 2008

Dr. Neil Freeman, Professor Emeritus, researcher, and literary connoisseur visiting from The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, offered BYU-Hawaii students attending a recent Honors Colloquium an insightful, helpful, and witty exploration of one of English literature's most prominent contributors: William Shakespeare. In the process, he enlightened the BYUH students with a uniquely creative and new perspective on the life and work of the Great Bard.

Professor Freeman, who has worked with numerous acting troupes, student organizations, and as a Shakespearian actor himself, currently teaches within the Film and Theatre Department at UBC, one of Canada and North America's most prestigious universities. Approaching the subject from both literary and playwright perspectives, he drew on his expertise and keen intellect to interpret and perform Shakespeare's works "in the way Shakespeare intended them."

Ryan Anderson | University Advancement | 23 April 2008

The BYU-Hawaii Salsa Orchestra and Brass Quintet visited the island of Kauai from March 6 to 9 to showcase their talents in four performances and allow the students to interact with Latter-day Saints and others during the tour.

The 21 student musicians who went to the Garden Island, led by directors Dr. Darren Duerden and Dr. David Kammerer, had the chance to play performances at different locations all over the island, including Kapaa High School, where BYU-Hawaii alumna Catherine Paleka is the music teacher. Dr. Duerden said this was his third tour to Kauai, and that he has visited the high school each time, because he feels it important "to show them a product of artistic excellence" and "service [the] alumni."