Mar 31, 2011

Volume 95: Issue 13

Ke Alaka iMarch 31, 2011

THE LEADER

Finalists Best finish ever

GraduationSeniors impart wisdom

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2Ke AlAKA‘i

Table of Contents 146 Check ou t adv i c e f r om f ou r

g radua t i n g sen i o r s

March 31, 2011 • Volume 95: Issue 13

Ed i t o r i a l , pho t o subm i s s i o ns & d i s t r i b u t i o n i nqu i r i e s : kea l aka i@byuh . edu . To subsc r i b e t o t h e RSS FEED o r t o v i ew add i t i o na l a r t i c l e s , go t o kea l aka i . b yuh . edu .

emAil: [email protected] iNFO: [email protected]: ( 808 ) 675 -3694FAx: ( 808 ) 675 -3491OFFiCe: Campus A l oha Cen t e r Room 134

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10 S tuden t en t r ep r eneu r s and r e sea r che r s l o ok t o t h e f u t u r e 16

S tuden t su r vey r e vea l s t op f i v e f a vo r i t e p r o f e s so r s

Recap o f t h e men ’ s baske tba l l t eam ’ s t r i p t o Massachuse t t s

Cover: Jet Change is named “Most Valuable Player” of the NCAA II tournament. Seasiders have the best season ever. Photo courtesy of AP.

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The April 2011 General Conference sessions

will take place Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3, 2011. A priesthood session will be broadcast in the BYU-Hawaii Stake Center Sun-day, April 3 at 7 p.m. General Con-ference can be viewed in the Stake Center on both days at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It can also be viewed live either on Olelo Community Television or on the LDS Church website at www.lds.org, beginning at 6 a.m.

3mArCh 31, 2011Go online to Kealaka i .byuh .edu

For fur ther informat ion .

NOTE WORTHYNEWS HEADLINES

Several concerts will be playing on campus before the semester’s end. The North Shore

Symphony and Wind Orchestra (NSSWO) will play Thursday, March

31 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., under the direc-

tion of Earnest Tan-aguchi, in the Aloha

Center Ballroom. BYU-Hawaii’s

Concert Choir will perform April 1 from

7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the McKay Auditorium. Shaka

Steel will play on April 5 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the McKay Auditorium, and BYU-

Hawaii piano majors will perform at a recital April 8 from 7:30 p.m. to

9 p.m. in the McKay Audi-torium. For more infor-

mation on upcoming concerts and events on campus, see the

school’s calendar at www.byuh.edu/

calendar.

Graduates will celebrate as they march at commencement April 9, 2011 from

9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Cannon Activities Center. The guest speaker will be Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quo-rum of the 12 Apostles. The night before the event, graduates and their invited guests will participate in a cel-ebration from 7 to 8:15 p.m., also in the Cannon Activities Center.

E

NOTEWORTHY NAME: CHRIS BRESEE WHY HE’S NOTEWORTHY: Bresee, a fine arts major from California, has been chosen to speak along with Russell M. Nelson at the April 2011 graduation ceremony. HIS TAKE: “I have a rough idea of what I’m going to say, but I’m really relying on inspiration to prepare for my speech. I think that my message is that we are an investment of the Lord. I think that in our lives, if we live righteous-ly and listen to the spirit, we meet people and go places that will train us. We should understand that [in] the next place we go… We need to be humble and listen and act when we know what that next step is.”

-MAR ISSA ELDER

Elder Russell M. Nelson was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve on April 7, 1984, and he will be the April 2011

graduation speaker at BYU-Hawaii. According to lds.org, Elder Nelson is an internationally renowned heaart surgeon and medical researcher. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Uni-versity of Utah and served his residency in surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and at the University of Minnesota, where he was awarded his doctorate degree in 1954. He also received honorary degrees of doctor of science from Brigham Young University in 1970, doctor of medical science from Utah State University in 1989, and doc-tor of humane letters from Snow College in 1994. His professional work included the positions of research professor of surgery and director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency at the University of Utah and chairman of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Author of numerous publications and chapters in medical textbooks, Elder Nelson lectured and visited throughout the United States and in many other nations prior to his call as a general authority. Elder Nelson has served as presi-dent of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, chairman of the Council on Car-diovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association, and president of the Utah State Medical Association. He served as president of the Bonn-eville Stake from 1964 to June 1971, when he was called as general president of the Sunday School. Prior to his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, he was serving as a regional representative assigned to the Kearns Utah Region. He had previously served as regional representative for Brigham Young University.

-N ICOLE CLARK

E l d e r Russe l M . Ne l son t o speak a t Ap r i l 20 1 1 g radua t i o n

Elder Russel M. Nelson. Photo courtesy of lds.org

As tsunami waves devastated Japan, BYU-Hawaii Japanese students and returned LDS Church missionaries from the Sendai area all felt the heartbreaking blow the tsunami caused for a place they all love. Reagan Bill-ings, sophomore in business from Washing-ton, who just returned from the Sendai Mis-sion, was speechless as he watched the events on March 11 unfold over the weekend. As the death toll continued to climb, Billings had a difficult time focusing on carrying on with schoolwork. He was relieved to hear the news that all the mis-

sionaries were safe. For some reason, “the mission home was moved from this area, to a member’s home,” he said.

Mana Kotare, senior in social work from Japan who also served a mission in the affected area of Japan, said she was nervous because her husband is still overseas in Nagano. After the first earthquake, she was able to get a hold of him, but after the other earthquakes that followed the 8.9 earthquake triggered the devastating tsunami, she lost connection with him again.

Most Japanese students said Skype was the best way to get a hold of their families because phone lines were not work-ing anywhere. Kotare is from a town near Nagoya, which she compares to Kaneohe. She was also worried because when she was a missionary, the mission home was in Sendai, so she knows the area well.

Kotare advises everyone to “pray for the Japanese. I just felt like this is not just an earthquake. This is the second coming. Even if we are prepared and if we have a 72-hour

-MARN I VA I L

Japan servesas reminder to prepare both spiritually and physically

kit, it’s not enough. We must spiritually prepare. Because if that wave came, we would die.”

According to “Mormon Times,” to date, the LDS church has arranged for more than 135,000 pounds of food and water, 8,000 liters of fuel and 15,000 blanks. The church continues to work with the local prefectural governments for coordinated distribution of supplies.

Volunteers help to clean up after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Photo by AP

6Ke AlAKA‘i

NoelaNi ToNumaipe‘aNoe lan i l eaves BYU-Hawa i i to teach in Samoa

Many seniors are particularly excited for graduation on April 9, and TESOL major Noelani Tonumaipe‘a from Samoa is no exception. “I’m really excited to be graduated and to be able to go out into the world and teach,” said Tonumaipe‘a. Tonumaipe‘a first came to BYU-Ha-waii in the spring of 2005. She attended for two years before leaving to serve her mission in San Bernardino, Calif. When she returned in 2009, she picked up where she left off. It has taken hard work and dedica-tion to get to this point. After she graduates in April, Tonumaipe‘a plans to return to Samoa where she has an internship for four months with her old high school, which she is greatly anticipating. From there she plans to go on to become a teacher and work in Samoa for four years and then see where life takes her. For many, making the switch to college life can be eye opening and tough. The hardest thing for Tonumaipe‘a to adjust to when she came to BYUH was being so far away from her family. “It’s been good for me though,” she said. “I’ve had to learn how to be indepen-dent and be on my own.” BYUH has much to offer, but for

Tonumaipe‘a one of the things she enjoyed most was the coexistence of so many cul-tures. “I love being able to share my cul-ture of Samoa with people and being able to learn about their cultures,” said Tonumaipe‘a. She is especially grateful for the different perspectives BYUH has introduced to her, and with it, a variety of cultures from around the world. Her advice for current and future students of BYUH is this: “Have a purpose in mind of why you are here. It’s important to keep a balance of having fun and having

goals. Don’t get so carried away having fun with your friends that you forget to focus on school and growing spiritually.” Tonumaipe‘a also recommended that students be themselves and think outside the box. “There’s more out there than being Mormon. It’s important to understand differ-ent perspectives and accept people for who they are,” she said.

Noelani Tonumaipe‘a is a senior TESOL major from Samoa who will graduate to pursue a career as a teacher. Photo by Amy Smith

-XAuNtAL BR IghtMAN

7mArCh 31, 2011

Joseph BaTTeJoseph leaves BYU-Hawa i i to become a doctor

Uganda, known as the “Pearl of Africa,” is the smallest country in Eastern Africa and is home to an aspiring doctor, Joseph Batte, senior in pre-professional biology. Batte describes Uganda out of all things as a “place of fun. I love it and kind of miss home.” Batte has not been back to his home, or seen his family for almost three years now. Despite the slight homesick-ness, Batte said he is enjoying his last year at BYU-Hawaii because everyday here “is a special day, because you never know who you are going to meet at BYU-Hawaii.” Batte’s first roommate, Clark Tanner, a senior in art from Nevada, said, “Joseph is really easy to get along with, super caring, extra sweet and entirely hilarious. He’s always cracking jokes and is a hard worker.” Batte likes playing soccer, distance running, and has a love for math and biol-ogy. When he was asked about his talents, he humbly replied that, “someday I will discover my talent; for now I will keep going.” One of Batte’s mentors, Dr. Daniel Gubler, who works in the Natural Science Department, said, “There are so many good things to say about Joseph. He always pays really good attention in lab class. When we are going to do an experiment, kids usually come up and ask me what I just explained. Joseph always knows what he is doing. He always does a fantastic job.”

Batte is known on campus for his positive attitude, sense of humor and work ethic. When he is not doing lab work or working, he jokes “I like to run off to the beach and work on my tan.” Batte first decided to come to BYUH when a family friend told him about how amazing it was. He said, “I was really excited to come to BYU-Hawaii because it was an island and there are people from all over the world.” Batte knows the principal of hard work and is looking forward to graduating so that he can serve the people of Uganda. “Nothing that is worth getting in this world is worth getting without fighting for it.” Batte urges students to “never give up. They should

always keep their hopes high. If you believe in your hopes, you can achieve anything.” When he has too much homework, he goes to the beach and keeps one thing in mind. “What I’m doing now has been done before. Others have done what I have and someday I too will be able to make it though.” Batte knows what it is like to feel discouraged as a student and said, “I tend to distrust myself sometimes, but I try to go with my instincts and always go by what I believe in.” To make this last year the best, Bette said he will try to, “keep my grades high, try to figure out where I should go for an internship, and enjoy the simple things.”

Joseph Batte is a senior in pre-professional biology from Uganda who will graduate to pursue a career as a doctor. Photo by Amy Smith

-MARN I VA I L

8Ke AlAKA‘i

NiCK NaRaYaNSen ior a l l -s tar to work for Go ldman SachsHaving successfully landed an operations job with Goldman Sachs, the BYUHSA president and cum laude accounting and corporate finance graduate from Kailua shares his recipe for success and plans for the future. Ingredient # 1: PARTICIPATIONBesides serving as the 2010-2011 BYUHSA president, Nick Narayan also participated in SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) and worked in the University Communications and University Relations Department. Ingredient #2: GOALSNarayan’s aspirations don’t stop with the Goldman Sachs gig. He plans to get a master’s or possibly a law degree sometime in the fu-ture. Narayan’s preferred schools would be: Stanford, Harvard, BYU, or USC, depending on his GMAT and LSAT scores. “Afterwards, I would like to go into some consulting, corporate law, or manage-ment,” said Narayan. Ingredient # 3: POSITIVITY + MATURITYNarayan reflected on his teens and how he’s grown since then. “In high school I was out joking around, being happy, and I loved play-ing sports. I had an afro and a goatee at one time. Since then I have matured through going on a mission, getting married and having kids. I still love being an outgoing person, joking around, being happy and playing sports with a few additions such as spending time with the family and keeping a clean shaved face.” Ingredient #4: SUPPORTAccording to Narayan, he has his “wife, two kids, mom, dad, grandpa, sister, classmates, and friends” at BYUH who have all got his back. Ingredient #5: BYU-HAWAII “BYUH has offered countless opportunities to learn and to serve the school, community, and Church,” said Narayan. “Besides the educa-tion and help we receive from the teachers, the experiences have helped me to increase skills in areas such as leading, communicating, and analyzing. From my internship last year, I learned that BYUH students can compete with anyone, depending on the time and effort put into classes and study.” Ingredient #6: MIxMix these ingredients with some enthusiasm and a bit of luck then you are sure to reach new heights. To his friends and classmates, Na-rayan said, “I am excited for Chase Carlston and Mandy Leuluai to take over BYUHSA. They will do well. We are all ‘learning to serve and serving to learn.’ I would love to stay in touch with everybody. Add me as a friend on Facebook or LinkedIn. Thank you for an amazing year.”

-KELSEY ELDER

-KELSEy ELDER

Nick Narayan, a senior in accounting and finance and president of BYUHSA, will be working at Goldman Sachs following graduation.

Photo by Sam Sukimawa

- tAyLOR R IPPy

Vincent Murahwa, a senior in art education from Zim-babwe was featured in the McKay Auditorium foyer this week with his art exhibit entitled, “Love and Culture”.

Murahwa’s artist statement conveys his pas-sion for what he does. He said, “I believe art is a cel-ebration of life, which brings a greater appreciation of the world we live in. An artist can therefore bring about new ideas, new ways of thinking and most importantly bring people into their world.”

The pieces were reflective of just that with vibrant landscapes and scenes reminiscent of Polyne-sia. Patterns and colors expressed themes of the ocean, nature, and people, causing viewers to fall in love with the spirit of the islands all over again.

Also featured was a painting entitled “His Love,” which portrayed the New Testament account of the Savior walking on water. In the piece, an aston-ished Peter watches Christ in standing atop beautifully depicted, unsettled waves.

“The true meaning of art is what we see in ourselves, the world, and others,” said Murahwa. “Love is what lifts mankind higher, whether it’s a love of someone or a strong desire to achieve something. If we are able to love others and ourselves we can reach our fullest potential. Culture is what we see throughout the world. It identifies us as unique individuals. I am con-stantly fascinated by the differences that create culture. I paint what I see hoping that everyone else can see the beauty around us that we miss from time to time.”

Murahwa, who will soon be graduating, hopes to use the skills he has acquired at BYU-Hawaii to become an art teacher one day.

Vincent Murahwa, a senior in art education from Zimbabwe, showcases his artwork. Photo by Amy Smith

Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

ProverbS 23:7

Phone: (808) 675-3780Fax: (808) 675-3789

e-mail: [email protected] Site: outreach.byuh.edu/2011edWeek

2011

Hawaii EducationWeek

ViNCeNT muRahwaFuture art teacher d isp lays works in McKay Aud i tor ium

9mArCh 31, 2011

10Ke AlAKA‘i

The March 24 “Meet the Pros” event, part of the campus-wide Empower Your Dreams conference, aimed to give students the mo-mentum to go for their goals. The event took place in the Can-non Activities Center where the entire gym floor was covered with circles of chairs. Each cluster had seven students and one mentor, or “pro,” who headed the group. The men-tors listened to each student individually talk about their career plans and life aspirations, and then gave feedback and advice to each student. Every 10 minutes, students shifted over to the next circle where they would sit down with a new mentor. Some students

leprosy victims in India. “She inspired me,” said Aaron Nelson, a junior in psychology from Alaska. “Talking with her made me re-alize how a few dollars can change someone’s life drastically, and I want to be a part of that cause.” Other speakers included Doug Nielsen, professional speaker and social worker; Lisa Bearnson, founder and CEO of “Creating Keepsakes” magazine; John Golden Elmer, entrepreneur and founder of Parkway Construction; the BYUH SIFE team; James Osorio Fantone of the Philippines, CEO of the ACE Philippines branch; and Arlen B. Crouch, entrepreneur and former CEO of Franklin Quest/Covey.

Left: Students gather in the CAC to get advice from men-tors. Below: Issac Opehema presents during the interna-

tional business competition. Bottom Right: Phillip Graef shares his idea with a mentor. Photos by Bart Jolley

even walked away with some of the mentors’ business cards and contact information for their future business ventures. The “Empower Blasts” followed lunch, which consisted of seven different mo-tivational speakers who each had 10 minutes to share their greatest ideas and advice with students. “One thing a lot of them empha-sized was passion,” said Nephi Neilsen, a freshman from Montana. “I really liked John Elmer’s advice... ‘Find something you’re pas-sionate about.’” Another favorite speaker was Becky Douglas, the founder of Rising Star Out-reach, a charity organization that works with

EmpowErEd by thE powErfulS tuden t s g l ean adv i c e f r om t he ‘ p r o s ’ a t Empowe r you r D r eams con f e r ence

-KELSEy ELDER

mArCh 31, 2011 11

The undergraduate research presentations at Thursday, March 24’s Empower Your Dreams conference were a sight to see as various topics were addressed.

“The Empower Your Dreams presentations were well planned and executed,” said Erin Schmoldt, a junior majoring in ex-ercise and sports science from Washington. “I am impressed by what BYU-Hawaii students have done to make the world a better place. I am so inspired by the amount of influence one person can have. This event really made me realize my potential and all that we can do. There is definitely power in empowering our dreams.”

One research presentation included plans to help share the Hawaiian language with children through a coloring book with pictures and words. Other research and presentations covered any-thing from the works of Shakespeare, to the education of children in India.

“It was really great to see what students at our school have been working on and how much they want to do to make the world a better place,” said Ana Rodriguez, a sophomore from Virginia majoring in business marketing.

Students who submitted will receive a $50 stipend for participating, in addition to the prestige, credibility, and sense of ac-complishment inherent in any research project. Dr. Randal Allred of the English Department, said that opportunities where undergradu-ate students can be involved in research are rare outside of BYU-Hawaii and therefore should be taken advantage of.

“I am glad that students are taking the opportunity to invest their time in matters that are worthwhile. It is good to know students are not just focused on doing their school work, but actu-ally care about the world they live in,” said Schmoldt.

empowering each other

Unde rg radua t e s sha r e r e sea r ch

-XAuNtAL BR IghtMAN

12 Ke AlAKA‘i

and learning about their cultures and tradi-tions. We have people from so many cultures and I like getting to know the different way they live their lives. Another reason I enjoy the job is because I learn a lot from the resi-dents and my coworkers. I love working with the other RAs and the hale coordinators. They’re all awesome.Q: How long do you plan on being an RA?A: It’s up in the air, but I will stay here at least until the end of summer term. I’m still deciding what the Lord wants me to do.Q: What future plans do you have for the hale?A: We are trying to work more with BYUH-SA and collaborate on activities in order to insure that things don’t conflict.

RA likes working with people,learning about their cultures

Above: Jaymee Shaw, an RA at Hale Two, got the most votes for students’ favorite

resident assistant on campus. Photo by Amy Smith

-MAR ISSA ELDER

BYU HAWAII 2011THEBESTOFK

As part of a Ke Alaka’i campus survey, students were asked to list their top three favorites in categories ranging from best shave ice to favorite courses offered. The full results of the survey will run in the Fall 2011 issue.

BEST

RESIDENT

ADVISOR

Being a resident advisor in the hales can be tough, but Jaymee Shaw knows how to make work fun and hale residents happy. She loves the beach, boogie-boarding and attempting to surf. She enjoys listening to music, hiking, and the outdoors as well. Something interest-ing about her is the satisfaction she gets by filling up notebooks. In a recent survey conducted by Ke Alaka‘i, Shaw was voted best RA by people on campus. Here’s what Jaymee had to say about her job as an RA.Q: When did you begin?A: I started working as an RA in Fall Semes-ter of 2010.Q: Why did you decide to become a RA?A: I really like getting to know people and serving others. I thought this job was the perfect opportunity to get to know people and serve them.Q: What is the toughest part of your job?A: Saying no to people. I really don’t like it when I have to get people in trouble. I wish they would just follow the rules so that I wouldn’t have to.Q: What is your favorite part of your job?A: I really like getting to know the residents

“I love working with the other RAs and the hale coordinators. They’re all

awesome.”

-Jaymee Shaw

13mArCh 31, 2011

The days when class valedictorians spoke at graduation are gone due to recent policy changes. Now speakers and prayer givers at BYU-Hawaii commencement ceremonies are selected from among the 20 or 30 people with the highest GPAs of their graduating class. Vice President of Academics, Max Checketts, is responsible for meeting with the deans of each college and asking them for rec-ommendations of students in the top tier of GPAs. Recommended students are then interviewed by Checketts, and if selected, they are invited to fill one of the special roles at com-mencement. Speakers are asked to write out their speeches and run through them with Checketts before the big day. Those asked to give prayers are reminded of what types of things should be said in public prayers. These students are chosen from a mixture of regions includ-ing the mainland, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, and more. They also come from a variety of majors, said Checketts. “We try to keep it balanced over time so that everyone is represented,” said Checketts.

Faculty selects the graduation student speaker

-XAuNtAL BR IghtMAN

Seasiders

14 Ke AlAKA‘i

Chang is named tournament MVPThe deficit between the NCAA Division II National Champions and runners-up was three points as BYU-Hawaii fell to Bellarmine in the finals, 68-71, on March 26. In this nationally televised matchup, the Seasiders battled back and forth through-out the game. The score was tied eight times in the title slugfest against Bellarmine Univer-sity of Louisville, Kentucky. Throughout the first half, Bellarmine and BYUH were neck and neck, going back and forth but never los-ing each other. In the second half, Bellarmine began to slowly pull away. Two and a half

Seasiders fall in finals, make waves in media

minutes into the second half, the Seasiders lost the lead and never got it back. The Bel-larmine Knights stretched the lead out to as much as eight points with 7:33 left to play. With 11 seconds left, Heath Ga-meren nailed a three that put the Seasiders within one point. From there, BYUH fouled Jeremy Kendall of Bellarmine to send him to the line and get the ball back. He made one shot, which left the score at 68-70 with nine seconds left. Jet Chang wasn’t able to get a great look and with three seconds left, his shot missed. From there the Seasiders fouled again to get the ball back. Nick Holmes of Bellarmine went to the line and made another, this time leaving the score at 68-71. A three-pointer would have tied the game, but with only one second left after the free throws, it wasn’t enough time to get a shot off before the buzzer blew. Chang was named “Most Outstand-

ing Player of the Tourna-ment.” This honor hadn’t been given to a player outside of the championship team in 13 years. Chang led BYUH with 35 points. This performance followed his 43-point explosion in the semi-finals against West Lib-erty, and made an indisputable case for his selection. In the tournament, Chang played his best of the year. He shot 66 percent from the field, a ridiculous 71 percent from beyond the arc, and 86 percent from the free-throw line. Junior Ale had 17 points, and Jake Das-trup had 9. “We were amazed that we made it to regionals, so making nationals was just unbelievable,” said Marques Whippy. “When we found out that we were playing Cal State Dominguez Hills in the first round, it was rough. That team beat us by 27 points in the pre-season, so we didn’t want to have to play them again. We all had doubts, but once we got over that hurdle we were ready to play. We felt like if we could beat them we could

Above: The Seasiders return home after making it to the National Champion-

ship game. Middle: Jet Chang was named the Most Outstanding Player of the

tournament. Right: People turned out at the CAC to welcome the team home.

15mArCh 31, 2011

-NAtE PACKER

beat anybody. We started to play as a team, and that was key.” Two days before the finals, BYUH beat out the nation’s top-ranked team, West Liberty, 110-101. West Liberty had a perfect 33-0 record coming into this game and was the favorite to take home the title. The Sea-siders shot an amazing 56 percent from the field and over 40 percent from distance. West Liberty hung surprisingly close however, despite this supercharged offensive showing. The score was tight in the first half until BYUH made a 15-2 run to go up 41-26. This margin led to a 58-47 halftime entry. After the half, West Liberty battled back to within one point midway through the second half. From there the Seasider offense turned on again with Whippy driving and the rest of the team draining perimeter shots to keep top dog, West Liberty, in the passenger seat.The game winded down with Seasiders at the free throw line. By making nine of the last 10

free throws BYUH sealed this win and added another upset to their list. This time, the win would land them in the National Championship game. Chang exploded for 43

points, 26 of which came in the first half alone. He hit seven of nine threes and 14/17 from the field. Dastrup contributed with 18 points, and Whippy ended with 14. “After we beat West Liberty, the top-ranked team in the country,” said Whippy, “their coach came up to us and told us nobody has ever even gotten close to being able to handle their pressure. He was impressed with us, and that helped our confidence.” The Seasiders’ Cinderella story unfortunately didn’t end at No. 1, but this performance has set the tone for future years of BYUH basketball. It has also given the remaining team a glimpse of the level of competition at the top. “It was an unbelievable experience. It was something that I really didn’t even think would be possible,” said Josh Scott, who enjoyed this experience in his debut year. “We really peaked at the end, and I think that based off of what we saw, we truly are one of the better teams in the nation.

Our team chemistry was amazing and that was what truly let us succeed like we did. “We didn’t have the most athleticism or talent, but we worked well together. I feel like our region is probably one of the tougher ones in the whole nation. We definitely have the chance to make it back to the Elite Eight. I think this will help recruiting for the years to come with all the publicity. I’m proud of the seniors. They really led our team, and they’re a big reason why we made it so far.” When asked about his last run as a Seasider, Whippy said, “We lacked the height and talent, but we knew that if we played as a team, nobody could beat us. It was our teamwork that let us go that far. Some nights the starters would be off, but the guys on the bench would step up and it was amazing how they performed.” “I would have liked to have won nationals, but I couldn’t have asked for a bet-ter ending. In the last four years I’ve definitely seen the Lord’s hand. I’ve wanted to give up in some games, and I’ve lacked energy sometimes, but I’ve been able to pull through somehow. We were amazed to make it to regionals, none-theless nationals. It was a great way to end my NCAA career you could say,” said Whippy.

Photos by Sam Sukimawa and AP

Ke AlAKA‘i16

BYU HAWAII 2011THEBESTOFK

As part of a Ke Alaka’i campus survey, students were asked to list their top three favorites in categories ranging from best shave ice to favorite courses offered. Here’s what students had to say about the top five nominees for favorite faculty on our campus. The full results of the survey will run in the Fall 2011 issue.

Favorite ProfessorsChad Ford, ICS Professor and Director of the McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding “I think that Dr. Ford has a great ability to connect with his students as fellow human beings. From the first class you have from him you already feel that he appreci-ates and respects you, and you him. I think that this is what motivates his students to always want to excel in his classes. I also think that his willingness to be personal and share intimate experiences with students adds to the respectful and trusting relationship that develops between him and his students.” -Rachelle Christy, senior in social work from Laie “The things that I have learned in his class in just these short three months have changed my entire life forever. I have strengthened personal relationships with my family; I now notice my brothers and sisters from around the world and have grown a greater love for them. Chad Ford is an inspiration. He makes me want to change the world. I have a deep desire to serve and help these individuals that live in this world around me, and Chad Ford is showing me

the way to do it. He is definitely inspired by our Heavenly Father to teach us to live the way that our savior Jesus Christ lived his life, to love and live in peace with one another... I seriously recommend every student to take his class. You will be forever grateful if you do and it will change your life” -Kaytlyn Murphy, junior in nursing from UtahJames Ritchie, Director of Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship, SIFE Advisor “There are two people I really ad-mire in my life. One is my mission president and one is Brother Ritchie. You can feel that he is more than a mentor, but a friend also. He’s a genuine person concerned about the well-being and success of his students—he can see the potential in you and make you see it as well. You realize what you’re worth. He doesn’t try to elevate himself above students.” -Jesus Alvarez, senior in business finance from Chihuahua, MexicoChad Compton, ICS Professor and Associate Vice President for Instruction “Brother Compton is always aware of the needs of his students. He always tries to make time to help us with learning tech-niques. It was from him that I learned how to do my readings much more efficiently and how to get more from them. I also love how he ties each of his classes together. One day we will be learning theory and the next day we will be studying something completely different but he helps us to see how the two go hand in hand. When you’re finished with one of his courses you have a clear idea how the first day of class related to the last... He leads his class as the professor but you never get the sense that he is putting himself above

his students.” -Jasmine Hansen, junior in international cultural studies from Colo-rado David Bybee, Sciences (Biology) Professor “I think Bybee is a great professor because he is hilarious and uses stories and examples from the real world to illustrate how biology can be used in ways I did not even think possible before taking his class.” -Marissa Elder, freshman from California. “He’s so entertaining. He tells stories that distract from learning—in a good way. You actually learn a lot about the sub-ject but you really don’t feel like you’re just sitting in a science class. He really knows his stuff.” -Keith Borgholthaus, senior in history from WashingtonPhillip McArthur, ICS Professor and Dean, College of Language, Culture, and Arts “Students love him because he’s really open-minded. He served his mission in the Marshall Islands so he knows and under-stands the background of Polynesian culture and therefore understands his students.” -Kiana Ishibashi, sophomore in international cultural studies from the Big Island “He manages discussions very well and presents unique points. It’s hard to not pay attention in that class—everything that he says is interesting and worthwhile. I think that anything can be interesting as long as you know how to teach it. Brother McArthur definitely knows how.” -Alex xocol, junior in international cultural studies with an empha-sis in anthropology from Guatemala

BEST

PROFESSORS

Pictured: Professors Chad Compton, David By-bee, Phillip McArthur, James Ritchie, and Chad Ford. Photos by Bart Jolley and Sam Sukimawa

- tAyLOR R IPPy