We are thrilled to introduce CHL’s first class of scholarship students. They started their program in August 2012. Spend a few moments getting the know them!
Degree sought: PhD in Nutrition
Hometown: Guam
What drew your interest to the CHL training program?
CHL’s objectives were in line with my passion for children and health and the training program was an opportunity to maintain my commitment to lifelong learning.
What are your long-term goals?
Return to Guam and work in academia at the University of Guam to teach higher-level nutrition courses and develop a nutrition degree program or coordinated program in dietetics. I also aspire to conduct research on Guam that will support funding opportunities for programs that support childhood obesity prevention and treatment.
After completing your studies, how do you hope to impact your home community?
I hope to apply the findings of my research and develop a program or curriculum to implement in schools and summer camps to prevent and treat overweight and obesity. I also aim to be an advocate for children in public policy development.
Describe one thing that you appreciate about your home community.
The Chamorro traditional values of infa’maolek (restore harmony): Respetu (Respect), Manginge (expression of respect), Mamahlao (shame/humility), Chenchule (present/gift), Che’lu (sibling), Påtgon (child).
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned thus far from the CHL program?
The CHL program has demonstrated the value of being worldly – to keep abreast of the actions and efforts of childhood obesity prevention in the state of Hawaii, within the country, and across the world, while maintaining a connection to our home jurisdictions.
What is a typical day for you like?
I make breakfast for myself and my son; call home; take my son to school; report to CHL; attend class; do homework; when I can, do physical activity; pick up my son; assist my son with his homework; make dinner; prepare him for bed; call home; do homework/read; sleep.
What are your hobbies / interests?
Running, going to the beach/swim, keeping my son entertained and active.
What’s your favorite food or dish to cook?
Chalikilis – chicken and rice porridge.
What is the healthiest dish you know how to cook?
Kadun mannok – chicken soup.
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?
Spain. As I learn more of Guam’s history, I am more aware of the significantly large imprint that Spain has made on our people, food, customs, and traditions. That said, I would love to see firsthand how similar our cultures really are.
Any words of wisdom for future CHL trainees?
Take pride in who you are, where you come from, and your family history. Embrace diversity with an open mind and warm heart – you will be surprised we’re really not at all that different from one another. Look for opportunities to share your culture with others in your daily activities. Lastly, center your research or project on a passion of yours – if you don’t know what that is, your educational journey will help you find it.
Degree sought: Master’s in Public Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage (MPH – UAA)
Hometown: Saipan, CNMI
What drew your interest to the CHL training program?
I am constantly energized by the people with whom I work, and throughout my professional career I’ve been fortunate to serve on committees with several organizations that make positive health impacts within our communities. For this reason, I wanted to develop my professional interests in health care quality improvement, chronic disease prevention, health systems strengthening and community-based interventions to better serve the needs of my community.
What are your long-term goals?
My long term goals include completing my MPH degree at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Upon graduating, I wish to work in an environment where I can continue to learn and contribute in a valuable way.
After completing your studies, how do you hope to impact your home community?
I see my degree opening doors to new opportunities that will allow me to contribute valuably to my community.
Describe one thing that you appreciate about your home community.
The weather, the friendly people and the close proximity of work, family and friends.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned thus far from the CHL program?
I’ve learned that although the 5 CHL jurisdictions are miles apart they all share the same common basic needs and wishes with regards to the health of their community.
What is a typical day for you like?
Get up early, make breakfast, get my girl ready for school, feed the dog, and if I remember, feed the fish. I then go to work, then leave at 2 p.m. to pick up my daughter and drop her off at home. I then head back to work, and work until 5 p.m. or sometimes later. I get home before 6 p.m., cook dinner and feed the kids. Then I do homework and get things ready for the following day.
What are your hobbies / interests?
I love spending whatever time I have left doing something fun with the kids.
What’s your favorite food or dish to cook?
Spaghetti…it’s the easiest and kids love it! Well, sometimes.
What is the healthiest dish you know how to cook?
Eggplant with garlic sauce.
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?
There are so many places I want to see, but if I had to choose one now, I would want to visit Switzerland. I’ve never visited any place like it, and would like the opportunity to experience and see something different.
Any words of wisdom for future CHL trainees?
Not my own words of wisdom but is something I’d like to share: “You will never ‘find’ time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” – Charles Buxton
Degree sought: Masters in Public Health
Hometown: Chalan Kiya, Saipan
What drew your interest to the CHL training program?
I was interested in the opportunity to obtain a degree while still being able to work for my community as well as the Pacific-focus that the CHL program offers.
After completing your studies, how do you hope to impact your home community?
I hope to be able to conduct more studies and interventions to improve the health of those within my community.
Describe one thing that you appreciate about your home community.
The good vibes!(which come from the people who call the CNMI home).
What is a typical day for you like?
Very busy! My day usually starts at 6:00 a.m. (or earlier) depending on when my one year-old and two year-old wake up. I work from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. I also coach youth soccer on certain days. Then I usually do school work from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on weekdays.
What are your hobbies / interests?
Soccer and food.
What’s your favorite food or dish to cook?
Hmm…not sure I have a favorite. I just cook spontaneously when I feel “inspired” to do so.
What is the healthiest dish you know how to cook?
That’s tough to answer because I know how to cook many healthy dishes. I’ll need to get back to you on that one.
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?
I would want to visit Italy because of all of the wonderful food that I could sample there!
Any words of wisdom for future CHL trainees?
Manage your time well: don’t procrastinate. When the going gets tough, remember that you are doing this (going to school) for your community.
Degree sought: PhD/Nutrition UH-Manoa
Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
What drew your interest to the CHL training program?
After working one-on-one with families in Waianae to improve their eating habits and health, I wanted to contribute to changes that would have a broader impact on childhood obesity prevention; changes that would make it easier for the families I had counseled to stick to their healthy eating habits and healthy ways.
What are your long-term goals?
To make meaningful contributions to the field of childhood obesity prevention research and evidence based practices all while leading a healthy and balanced life.
After completing your studies, how do you hope to impact your home community?
To help various community organizations and members implement these evidence-based practices through policy implementation and educate future community health professionals.
Describe one thing that you appreciate about your home community.
Aside from the beautiful weather and natural resources, I really appreciate the diversity of the population here.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned thus far from the CHL program?
One thing I have found valuable is to embrace the unique experiences and perspectives that each CHL trainee brings to the table when considering how best to approach childhood obesity prevention in their home community.
What is a typical day for you like?
If I don’t have sunrise paddling, our dog has my husband and I up with the roosters, and we take him for a walk, make breakfast, pack lunches, head to school by 8:30. At school I am lucky to have a space to call my own, where I can do school work and research in between my classes which are at a variety of times throughout the day. Typically I leave school between 4 and 5, depending on my last class, head home and try to get another walk in with the dog before or after dinner, maybe go to a yoga class. Then to bed at a decent hour to get my 8 hours of sleep!
What are your hobbies / interests?
I enjoy being active outdoors, hiking, surfing, paddling, walking my dog at Waimanalo beach, and spending time with my husband and family.
What’s your favorite food or dish to cook?
Any breakfast foods! I love trying out different pancake recipes, omelets, oatmeal… you name it!
What is the healthiest dish you know how to cook?
Spaghetti squash with turkey meatballs and steamed veggies-the spaghetti squash replaces the pasta. Even my picky-eating family members wouldn’t miss the pasta.
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?
Right now I am really interested in visiting the home islands of all of the other CHL trainees- Guam, Saipan, Palau, American Samoa, and Kosrae! I have heard so many great stories about these places from my classmates and would love for each of them to show me around their communities!
Any words of wisdom for future CHL trainees?
Being removed from our communities and in a classroom setting, we can sometimes forget the big picture. Just don’t forget to remember and keep in mind what the goal is: to make a positive impact on our communities.
Degree sought: Masters in Nutritional Science
Hometown: Yona, Guam
What drew your interest to the CHL training program?
A former supervisor/mentor found an article about the CHL training program and brought it to my attention one morning. He told me to read the article, think about it, and to let him know how I felt about applying. He pointed out that the equation for success is when preparation meets opportunity, and that I was in the perfect position to take advantage of this rare opportunity. After attending the information session about the program at the University of Guam, and after speaking with Lead-Site Investigator, Dr. Leon Guerrero (who was also excited that I had heard about the program), I was compelled to submit my application in hopes of earning the scholarship.
What are your long-term goals?
My long-term goals involve returning to Guam as a Registered, Licensed Dietitian, fulfilling the expectations as a CHL trainee by becoming proactive in the prevention of childhood obesity within the community, and also obtaining certification in sports nutrition to use in collaboration with my degree, training, and license on Guam.
After completing your studies, how do you hope to impact your home community?
I am not certain as to how specifically I wish to impact the community of Guam. However, I aim to uphold the goal of sustainability towards CHL’s efforts of positive environmental changes for the community.
Describe one thing that you appreciate about your home community.
One thing that I greatly appreciate about my home community is the element of family, both immediate and extended. Not only does my family support my ambitions, but also the interweaving relationships constantly inspire me to be great beyond self-motivation.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned thus far from the CHL program?
I’ve learned so much, I don’t know where to start in figuring out what’s most valuable. I’ll have to get back to you on that.
What is a typical day for you like?
A typical day for me starts with a brisk walk to the Agricultural Sciences building until I reach my desk, where I organize all the tasks for the day and go over emails. When the 3 of us CHL (graduate) trainees are complete at our desks, we reserve any given moment to discuss any current topics on our minds. Most of the day involves a mixture of desk-work, classes, food, walking, food, & water! Afterward, I head over to the gym for some jiu-jitsu or workout, or go home to spend time with family.
What are your hobbies / interests?
My hobbies include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, strength-training, running, swimming, basketball, volleyball, eating, and hanging out with family and friends.
What’s your favorite food or dish to cook?
Gollai hågon suni; kelaguen (of different varieties, but I never make kelaguen by myself).
What is the healthiest dish you know how to cook?
Low-salt gollai hågon suni (Lol!)
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?
I would go to Brazil for a jiu-jitsu sabbatical and also for some awesome sight-seeing!
Any words of wisdom for future CHL trainees?
Set your short and long term goals, so that you can focus on the immediate ones & keep the others in back of your mind. Try to keep things in perspective, not just to accomplish your goals, but also to enjoy the learning process.
Degree sought: Master of Public Health-Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health Track
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawai’i
What drew your interest to the CHL training program?
I was particularly interested in the CHL training program due to my personal experiences dealing with childhood obesity. I was an obese child from an early age and really worked hard to live a healthier life with many thanks to teachers, coaches, and mostly, the Kamehameha Schools. Through their extraneous physical education program, I was able to quickly learn the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle. My first mile I ever ran/walk took 16 minutes, and I was not proud of that; something was wrong because all of my other 4th grade classmates had finished in less than ten minutes. The Kamehameha Schools served as the foundation for me in adopting a healthier lifestyle, and I feel that the CHL training program provides me with the vehicle in which I can give back to the Native Hawaiian community by sharing my personal and academic knowledge related to childhood obesity.
What are your long-term goals?
As a health professional, decreasing the health disparities faced by Native Hawaiians would be my long-term goal. Because my interests are in place-based learning and a return to cultural practices to decrease rates of chronic disease, another long-term goal would be to encourage a shift in schools to use more culture-based learning through gardening and the seed-to-table concept. Upon graduation from the MPH program, I would like to continue on to become a leader for the Native Hawaiian community. Building trusting relationships and demonstrating my passion to advocate for Native Hawaiian health through this training program allows me to start tackling these goals early in my career.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned thus far from the CHL program?
The most valuable thing I’ve learned so far from the CHL program is the importance of building a rapport with the community early on. As researchers, we need to understand that the community members are people not guinea pigs that we can experiment on and forget after the results are published. I have learned that the most effective research projects include the community members every step of the way. Many studies have mistreated community members in this fashion and have left a bitter taste in their mouths. Through cultural competency training and hands on experiences provided by the CHL program, I will always keep these lessons in my mind when conducting community-based research.
Any words of wisdom for future CHL trainees?
For any future CHL trainees, make sure that you are taking part in this program for the right reasons. There are such great opportunities that the CHL training program has to offer us, but if childhood obesity in your community is not your primary area of interest, the program may not be suitable for you. We touch on a multitude of interrelated factors of childhood obesity, all of which are connected on multiple levels, which is extremely important to understanding the extent of the childhood obesity epidemic in the Pacific. If childhood obesity is something that you are very passionate about, I can guarantee you that you will learn so much. What is really great about this training program is that it is specific to native, underserved communities, you get to learn about the different Pacific cultures, and meet great scholars representing each jurisdiction. This is a great opportunity to jump start your academic career and build relationships with the community as we are required to conduct a CHL project in our home jurisdictions. We learn very beneficial tools to conducting our own research project as well as work with great mentors and advisors who have the experience and training to guide us to serve our communities in the best way possible.
Degree sought: Food Science and Human Nutrition – Dietetics
Hometown: Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia
What drew your interest to the CHL training program?
I was drawn to the fact that the CHL training program was available at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where both of my parents attended school. Also, and probably the most important thing was that the program deals with children: I am really interested in a career that allows me to work with and help children.
What are your long-term goals?
Interestingly, I originally wanted to become a diplomat (such as an ambassador), but after volunteering and participating in work-study programs that were related to the health field I really wanted to become a physician or pediatrician. Now, as I am learning more about nutrition in relation to childhood obesity, I really hope that I will be able to find a career that allows me to incorporate all of these interests.
After completing your studies, how do you hope to impact your home community?
I hope to at least be influential in the prevention of obesity in Kosrae.
Describe one thing that you appreciate about your home community.
I like the fact that it is so small: only 42-square miles, to be exact.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned thus far from the CHL program?
As young as I am, the best thing I can have on my side is the motivation to help make a difference.
What is a typical day for you like?
Busy, but fun! Since I am living away from home now, I do not have as much house work to do, but I still have to organize my time for school work and take a little break every now and then.
What are your hobbies / interests?
Mainly sports. I enjoy playing volleyball, basketball, and softball.
What’s your favorite food or dish to cook?
Grilled reef fish and steamed ripe banana.
What is the healthiest dish you know how to cook?
My favorite food/dish to cook is also the healthiest dish I know how to cook.
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?
Greece. I have always imagined what it would be like to visit such a place because I have always been so fascinated by their famous myths and just everything about Greece.
Any words of wisdom for future CHL trainees?
Always keep in mind that this is not an opportunity that comes along every day.
Degree sought: Masters in Natural Resources Management
Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska
What are your long-term goals?
Once I’ve completed my degree program, I would like to pursue a position working for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services on the Obesity Prevention and control Program.
Describe one thing that you appreciate about your home community.
My favorite thing about Alaska, and especially interior Alaska, is the character of the people who choose to live here. People around here just aren’t like people anywhere else I’ve been.
What are your hobbies / interests?
I used to travel pretty regularly. I like to cook and I read a lot of history. I also enjoy studying languages. These days, most of my hobbies and interests somehow involve my kids and having fun with them.
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?
I spent a few months traveling in Asia back in the 90s. I would love to see more of India.