CUH Celebrates Student Scholarship at Na Liko
Na Liko featured the work of CUH students from every division, including artwork from Environmental + Interior Design major My Lu. Her piece “Hollow” is the pink lamp displayed on the right.
Jarresa Kiyoko Harris presented for her third and final time at Chaminade’s 16th Annual Na Liko Naʻauao Celebration of Student Scholarship on April 20 in T.C. Ching Conference Center. The senior, who will be graduating with her psychology degree in May, was one of 135 students who participated.
“I’ve done Na Liko since sophomore year so I’ve seen it grow every year,” Kiyoko Harris said. “It’s really nice to see new projects, new students, familiar students do it again, and seeing different divisions come together as one. I think it’s a nice networking place because you can collaborate on research in other fields and other divisions, like interdisciplinary studies, so that was really great to see.”
Na Liko provides undergraduate students the opportunity to present their research, artwork, and other projects they have been working on throughout the year to their peers, faculty, and the public. The yearly event is intended to both celebrate the academic achievement of students, as well as offer them presentation experience.
Jarresa Kiyoko Harris presented her poster on the zone of uncertainty in romantic relationships and was also the recipient of the President Sue Wesselkamper Prize.
Kiyoko Harris showcased her poster, which highlighted main ideas from her ongoing research project titled “Exploring the Zone of Uncertainty Between Friendship and Romantic Relationships in Undergraduate Students.”
The Kauai native was also the recipient of the President Sue Wesselkapmer Prize. She was nominated by her faculty mentor, communications professor Eva Washburn-Repollo, for being an exemplary student who excels in and outside of the classroom and dedicates her time to volunteering in the community.
“She has been very excited about this topic from day one,” Washburn-Repollo said. “Never lost energy for this question. There was no time when she said ‘I don’t want to do it anymore.’”
Representing the Division of Natural Sciences at Na Liko was Mouauia (Maui) Salameh, a senior biology student. Salameh presented his poster titled “Insilico Analysis of Kava using BATMAN-TCM.”
“I’ve done research before and I thought that the more practice I get in presenting my posters to not only science people, but also other people in academia, will help me to explain it better and have better jargon for people,” Salameh said.
The Environmental + Interior Design Program also had a large presence at Na Liko, and several of its students’ art pieces were on display. My Lu, a junior Environmental + Interior Design major, shared a two of her projects called “Hollow,” a lamp made from tape, and “Blank Canvas,” a sculpture of branches.
My Lu, an Environmental + Interior Design major, and her art piece “Blank Canvas.”
“We try to use sustainable material as much as possible, and even with these [sculptures], they’re very cheap material and can be recycled,” Lu said.
Lu’s artwork left such a positive impression on viewers that some even offered to purchase the lamps, which is something the artist never considered prior to Na Liko.
Each year Na Liko is organized by the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research and spearheaded by a student who works in the office. This year, biology student Megan McClanahan assumed this role and explained how she and her team have been planning since last semester.
“I was really excited,” said the senior, reflecting on her feelings leading up to Na Liko. “It was a little nerve-wracking. The pace of everything just happened so fast [Friday]. We had wonderful helpers. The nursing club came to help. We had so many projects this year, we really had a lot this year, which is so great.”