The Early College Program participants pose for a photo at Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii. Bottom row, from left: Katelyn Salcedo, Starlen Wong, Madee Villanueva, Leilani Huang; second row: Priscilla Carlock, Mahina Leonard, Aureanna Vendiola, Sadie Takaki; third row: Javilyn Francis, Tessadee Kahunahana, Emma Mangalao, Sasha Calventes, Danielle Woo, Sister Vandana Narayan, SSCC; fourth row: Tehana Maurice, Aileen Araujo, Maelia Thomas, Sabrina Kopf, Lindsey Dimaya. (Courtesy Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP)
By Sr. Malia Dominica Wong, O.P., Chaminade University instructor
Special to the Herald
In the fall of 2023, 17 Sacred Hearts Academy juniors made an unprecedented commitment to their academic pursuits. In partnership with Chaminade University of Honolulu, they enrolled in Chaminade’s Early College Program which will allow them to graduate from SHA with their high school diploma as well as an associate of arts degree from the university. The students and others involved in the initiative describe their experience.
Early college initiative
Kimberlee Baxter: The year 2022 saw the conversations between Janet Davidson, vice provost for academic affairs at Chaminade University, and Scott Schroeder, head of school at Sacred Hearts Academy, hit the ground in support of offering the Early College Program at Sacred Hearts Academy. By May 2023, the first cohort had their first meeting. As Chaminade University’s early college director, I find it inspiring to see how the students have grown as they get a head start in college.
Sharleen Chock: As the grade 12 college counselor at Sacred Hearts Academy, I work closely with students on their journey to higher education. I share with them the expectations and all the excitement that college has to offer. It is nice working with the young ladies, their families and our administration on this wonderful opportunity. … There is a lot to learn and coordinate, but it is an awesome experience for all.
Why enroll in early college?
Tehana Maurice, Aileen Araujo, Katelyn Salcedo: The Chaminade Early College Program has been a great opportunity for all of us. There were many reasons for joining this program. We agreed that this program gives us a head start on our college and career journeys. Getting our associate degree now will not only save money (because it is included in our tuition), but precious time as well.
Life at SHA with Chaminade
Priscilla Carlock: Taking Early College Program courses makes me feel like a nerd (in a good way). I also need to present myself better as I am now representing two schools.
Sasha Calventes: After joining the program, I was shocked by the workload. I realized that I am responsible for remembering deadlines. Although early failures of exams were met with tears, I realized that I dictate my grade.
Aureanna Vendiola: This year has not only been stressful, but exciting with the workload, extracurricular activities and life in general. You learn how to find balance and time-manage between homework, sports, school clubs and personal life. These classes have benefited me in ways I never realized.
Madee Villanueva: Taking this opportunity helped me realize how far I have come and how much I have accomplished in just a year. From being a little girl who never liked reading and was an average student, I am very proud of myself and now show what I actually can do.
Sabrina Kopf: Chaminade’s religion classes are more expansive and holistic than Sacred Hearts Academy classes. They are still Christian in perspective, but presented in a more global way which makes it a lot more enjoyable.
Lindsey Dimaya: Sacred Hearts is more structured and strict in their instructional style, while Chaminade is more flexible.
Challenges and sacrifices
Dimaya: In order to join the program, I had to sacrifice high school classes that I loved such as video production and choir. Instead of getting credit for those classes, I need to make the time to join them when I can due to conflicts in class scheduling.
Javilyn Francis: In order to cover the cost of fees and textbooks (college texts are much more expensive), I needed to start working. Also, because of scheduling conflicts, I wasn’t able to take hula and math honors this year.
Emma Mangalao: Joining this program, I needed to make sacrifices to create better opportunities for myself, and thus am taking classes with specific influences which will benefit me in my career plan ahead.
Early college class experiences
Mahina Leonard, Tessadee Kahunahana, Starlen Wong, Maelia Thomas: Mai ka mauna o Waahila me ka ua nani o Lililehua a i ke kuahiwi o Koolau, o Mahina kou inoa, o Kahoku kou inoa, o Kawai kou inoa, o Maelia kou inoa. (Greetings! We are from Waahila Ridge and the rains of the beautiful Koolaus. Our names are Mahina, Kahoku, Kawai and Maelia.) Our favorite experience in this program was being able to express our Hawaiian culture in our world religions class through teaching our peers how to introduce themselves in Hawaiian along with being able to share our favorite Hawaiian foods.
Maurice, Araujo and Salcedo: Our history professor, Dr. Frank Bailey, is very passionate when he explains current historic events. Our communications professor, Dr. Eva Washburn-Repollo, helped us give a public speech and overcome being nervous. Dr. Koreen Nakahodo, our English teacher, guided us through re-writing articles so that illiterate women in Texas could understand them. Dr. Junghwa Suh, our art teacher, has opened our minds to thinking in an abstract way.
Sadie Takaki: I will remember how Dr. Genevieve Griffiths, professor in biology would always start the class with a “brain break” or Wordle, Connections and Strands (online word games). She is so eager to teach us biology.
Danielle Woo: I will remember Maryknoll Sister Yoo Soo Kim’s lovely dancing and beautiful smile when she joined our class as a guest speaker in world religions.
Francis: Nostra Aetate taught me to respect all other religions. In Sr. Malia’s class I also learned to recognize the difference between cults and alternative religions.
Leilani Huang: I will remember how Dr. Bailey in history would always give us a report on daily, recent news at the start of class. Most of the time, it was about things we never heard of.
Career goals
Some students’ career goals: Aileen Araujo — international business; Priscilla Carlock —astronaut; Javilyn Francis —business administration; Leilani Huang — diagnostic radiology; Tessadee Kahunahana — pediatric nurse; Mahina Leonard — therapist; Emma Mangalao — business; Tehana Maurice — biomedical engineering; Katelyn Salcedo — nursing; Sadie Takaki — pediatric dentistry; Maelia Thomas — forensic scientist; Starlen Wong — pharmacist; Danielle Woo — oncology
SHA early college cohort 2025
Huang, Woo and Takaki: Through the Early College Program, we have experienced more opportunities than the rest of our junior class. Although the struggles of balancing college classes along with our high school classes have been challenging, the benefits gained — of learning leadership, time management, accountability, communication, responsibility and independence — have been worth every step of the journey.
