Dr. Heaton, physical science professor at BYU-Hawaii, has compiled statistics regarding all biochemistry graduates from 2001 to 2006. His findings revealed that at least 59% are attending or have completed graduate school and that 22% are employed "in-field".
This adds up to the fact that 81% of BYU-Hawaii's biochemistry graduates are pursuing their career of choice. The remaining 19% may be as well, although Dr. Heaton concluded that 10% are either employed "out-of-field" or are stay-at-home-mothers, and the final 9% are unaccounted for.
Dr. Heaton also found that ten out of ten biochemistry students who applied were accepted into medical school and three out of four applicants were accepted into dental school. The stories of Mr. Bauro, Ariel Brumley, and Victor Harrison illustrate the success of BYU-Hawaii biochemistry graduates.
Mr. Bauro graduated with his bachelors in biochemistry, but waited to walk until the end of the following semester so he and his wife,Maraema, could attend the graduation ceremony together. Both graduated from BYU-Hawaii in 2005.
Bauro is in his second year of a six year medical program at the Fiji School of Medicine. Bauro serves as second counselor in the bishopric, and his wife as a Relief Society teacher in the Suva 1st Ward Suva Fiji 1st Stake.
They both desire to return to Kiribati for Bauro to practice medicine. His wife would like to teach at Moroni High School, their alma mater.
"The spirit is so strong every time we return home. We feel more joy when we are reunited with our families and see the growth of the church," said Bauro.
Victor "Sanoe" Harrison earned his bachelors degree in biochemistry and mathematics minor in 2005. "School hasn't really stopped," said Harrison, as he is now in his second year of medical school at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Oahu.
Harrison admits that "the real key to my current success," is his loving wife, Kaelene. Kaelene is a stay at home mother of their two children, two year old daughter, Kiara, and newborn son, Daniel.
"I am grateful for the beautiful family God has given me and for the pivotal role BYU-Hawaii had in my life. That lovely haven on the north shore provided for me a wonderful education, opportunities to enjoy surfing and hiking and meet many amazing people including my wife. I will be forever indebted!" said Harrison.
He and his wife hold church callings in their respective Elder's quorum and Relief Society in the Honolulu Makiki ward. They contemplate remaining in Hawaii or traveling back to Alaska, Kalelene's homeland, to further pursue Harrison's medical career.
In 2002 Ariel Brumley graduated from BYU-Hawaii with his bachelor's degree in bio-chemistry. Brumley is currently working at the Big Spring Veterans Hospital as a clinical pharmacist.
Although the graduate school he attended has the reputation of being the most rigorous pharmacy training program in the nation, Brumley stated that the excellent education he received at BYU-Hawaii made his first year of school "a relative breeze." He averaged a 93% in all of his classes, and admitted that they were better grades than he got at BYU-Hawaii.
Brumley and his wife of seven years, Chiung-Yueh, are proud parents of two sons, six-year-old, Atticus, and four-year-old, Xavier. Atticus and Xavier prepared and provided suggestions for Brumley in previous church callings as Nursery leader and Primary teacher. He currently serves as ward clerk in his ward.
"I know that the education I received at BYU-Hawaii and from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was paramount in helping me obtain balance between my family, educational, and career goals," said Brumley.
He admitted that life at BYU-Hawaii was difficult at times, but said a day has yet to pass when he hasn't relished in his memories. "The days that I worked in the cafeteria watching the "Price is Right" on breaks, the long nights that I spent at the
Joseph F. Smith library preparing for class the next day, and the amazing times and amazing friends that I made in campus clubs are some things I truly miss." said Brumley.
He graduated in May 2006 with a doctorate in pharmacy and is presently working as a clinical pharmacist at the Big Spring VA hospital in Texas.
He hopes to become a clinical coordinator at a VA hospital. He and his wife also have a mutual desire to return to BYU-Hawaii as part-time instructors. Chiung-Yueh is currently working on her masters in instructional technology.
"I credit all of my success to magnifying my church callings and the "education in LIFE I received at BYU-Hawaii," said Brumley.
