New Student Orientation

First-Year Programs

Contact Us

Orientation Leaders

Orientation Leaders are role models, student leaders, and resources. They play a critical role in serving new students and their family members. They are the front line staff during orientation to facilitate students’ transition and initiate their integration to the University community. Orientation Leaders provide institutional memory and communicate HPU culture and traditions.

Meet Your Fall 2013 Orientation Leaders

	Melody Artero Aloha, Hafa Adai, Kumusta! Welcome to HPU, now is time to mold your future! My name is Melody Artero and I am a Junior in the Marine Biology program here at HPU. I was born on Guam, but was raised in the mainland, specifically Wisconsin (Go Packers!). I am Chamorro, Filipino, and Italian; family and culture is very important to me. I chose HPU due to the small class sizes, large diversity and the rigorous marine science program. Plus, don't forget it is Hawaii, center of the world's largest ocean; one of the greatest places to study marine biology. At HPU it is to your best advantage that you join a club and get involved. I have made so many great friends through the clubs I am in; Campus Activities Board (CAB), Sea Warrior Band, Orientation Leaders and even living in the halls my Freshman year. My most meaningful experience during my first semester at HPU had to be making connections. No matter if it was friends, professors, staff, ext. Life is about who you know and who you meet; the more connections you have, the greater the chance of achievement. I am so excited to meet all of you and make more great friends and connections!
	Leslie-Ann Baldugo Aloha Sea Warriors! My name is Leslie-Ann Baldugo, and I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. I will be approaching my senior year here at HPU, pursuing a Nursing degree. I chose to come to HPU to further my education because of its cultural diversity and small classroom sizes. Students are able to interact with one another and their professors one-on-one. The most compelling reason why I like HPU is its involvement in diversity, which gives students the opportunity to meet and learn from other students that come from different countries. I really enjoy both the Downtown and Hawaii Loa campuses because I encounter students from many different backgrounds. New Student Orientation is such a great way to make friends because they're the first students you encounter and hopefully, they'll stick with you throughout your entire college experience. I'd know that because I met my friends through orientation. I am excited to share my experiences and I hope to create friendships that would last a lifetime. Welcome to HPU!
	Peter Borcena Welcome to the HPU Ohana! My name is Peter, from the island, and I am an upcoming senior majoring in Biology: Human and Health Science. My first year at HPU was awesome; I met other local students but also students from all around the world. During that year, I joined the United Nations Club and got to go to the National Model United Nations Conference in New York. This past year I joined the Campus Activities Board (CAB), where I was able to attend the National Association Campus Activities (NACA) Conference at Portland, Oregon. Then later on in the year, I ran and was elected as the Chairperson of CAB. I highly encourage you to join a club or organization during your first year at HPU, because by being involved it eases the transition and enables you to meet different people who share the same interest. It was definitely a learning experience for me and being exposed to a new environment and interacting with different people made the experience even better. This is my third year being an orientation leader, and I look forward to meeting you all.
	Lindsay Bugarin Aloha! My name is Lindsay Bugarin and I am an upcoming junior, pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. I was born here in Hawaii and grew up in Kaneohe, near the windward campus of HPU. I absolutely love our small classes and positive environment, which allow for great interaction with professors as well as with classmates! There are so many opportunities to get involved and get ahead. Also, I have found that even though I am close to home, the diversity of students here at HPU has helped to expand my college experience. Since my first semester, I have felt nothing but the aloha spirit, especially from the faculty and staff who are always willing to help in any way possible. Choosing Hawaii Pacific University was one of the best decisions I have made, and I hope that you all will be able to say the same! Whether you are an incoming freshman, international, or transfer student, I am very excited to help kick off your new adventures. Welcome to the HPU family, Sea Warriors!
	Snyra Gee Campollo Aloha! My name is Snyra Gee Campollo, and I am a student at HPU majoring in Nursing. I am locally raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, in a small historic town called North Kohala. One interesting thing about where I live is North Kohala is known to be where King Kamehameha the great was born! I fell in love with HPU's small classroom sizes and HPU's nursing program. HPU has such great diversity with students, faculty and staff and the diversity in many of the clubs and organizations here at HPU. I have had the opportunity to get involved in the University as the Secretary for the Kababayan Filipino-American Student Association, Senator of the Hawai'i Loa Campus for SGA, and a member of the Campus Activities Board. HPU has really opened doors for me in my academics, even outside the community of HPU. Studying abroad in 2009 provided me a wider knowledge beyond the comfort of the Hawaiian culture. This year will be my 5th year and being that I have 5 years' experience with HPU, I hope I can be a mentor and friend to new students, providing help when needed throughout their college career. I am very excited for these upcoming students, and I hope they are excited too!
	Katie Hillstead Aloha! My name is Katie and I am from Concord, California--a suburb of San Francisco. I am currently studying Elementary Education with a minor in TESOL. I came to Hawaii Pacific University because the education department is small, and I knew I would get the one-on-one attention from professors and, of course, the beach! I am the former Vice President of OUTSpoken, the LGBT club at HPU, and am also involved in the Future Teachers Association. I lived in the halls as a freshman, and the one thing that sticks out about my first semester here was the overwhelming sense of ohana in the halls and at HPU after we lost one of our own. I excited for orientation because I love meeting exciting new people and want to share this beautiful island with them.
	Alexa Lancendorfer Hey! My name is Alexa Lancendorfer and I'm a junior at HPU. Originally from Detroit Michigan, I came to HPU to experience new cultures. Through trips to the Polynesian Cultural Center and exploring other cultural hubs on the island, I have increased my cultural experience. I'm majoring in international relations and political science and minoring in economics because I have such a passion to help people. I'm the assistant manager of all HPU choirs, which also means I never stop singing. I am also enrolled in the University Scholars program and am the president of the United Nations club. In the future I plan to work in the United Nations representing the United States.
	Sarah Lee Hi everyone! My name is Sarah Lee and I’m now considered a senior in Health Science with a minor in Psychology. I was born in Daegu, Korea but I was pretty much raised here for 16 years. This will be my third year as an OL, so I am very excited for new incoming students this Fall. Like you guys, I had to choose what school I wanted to go to, and my reason for coming to HPU was because I prefer smaller classes where you can get to know your professors better on a one-on-one bases. I truly am loving this school especially because I got to meet new people, join various activities and clubs and our school is small enough where meeting people isn’t as big of a challenge. I am excited to work with you all, and hopefully we can make your opening week fun and memorable!
	Ed Murray I am finishing up my last class here at HPU. I will be receiving My BSBA in Computer Information Systems. I served in the U.S. Air Force for ten years, where I worked as an Electrical Production Journeyman. I have graduated from culinary school and have worked in a few restaurants in Hawaii, Arizona, Nevada, and California. I started HPU in fall 2009 and made friends. In 2012, I transferred to HPU's Military Campus Program where I have made new friends and stayed in contact with the old ones. I have been an orientation leader since fall 2010 and if alumni are allowed to volunteer I will continue to help out. After graduation, I have a plan to start a business with other HPU alumni.
	Christian Racachot Hi there! My name is Christian Racachot, and I am local grown from Hawaii. I'm a senior at this fine school known as Hawaii Pacific University. I'm majoring in Accounting, and I'm lovin' it! I chose HPU for many reasons, but it really came down to what I wanted from a university. I love that the class sizes are on the smaller side, allowing students to have a one-on-one relationship with their professors, sorta like in high school. For many, Hawaii seems like a tropical paradise, and it is! I've been living here for 17 years now, and I can't picture myself living anywhere else. Whether it's the atmosphere or the people, you'll love Hawaii! I chose to be an orientation leader because I was fortunate enough to find friends to show me the ropes, and I want to be able to do the same with you. I look forward to meeting all of you. Till then, as we say in Hawaii, Aloha!
	Leilani Sanchez Aloha! My name is Leilani and I am a junior at HPU. I came to Hawaii from Stafford, Virginia but I come from a military family and I've lived all over the east coast of the United States. My major is Biology, Human Health Sciences, and I am pursuing a minor in Psychology. Each year I have participated with a different club: Capoeira, Toastmasters, and Hip-Hop Club. Aside from clubs, I've also attend success seminars offered by HPU and highly recommend them to our incoming students, even if it is just to brush up on skills they already have. Since my freshman year, HPU's resources have consistently advanced and we are reaching to higher levels of success each semester! As a third year Orientation Leader, I have a variety of experience under my belt and cannot wait to represent our school in the coming semester by giving new students the ins and out of success at HPU from a student's perspective!
	Jessica Sonson Hey guys! My name is Jessica Sonson, and I was born and raised here in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. I am currently pursuing a degree in Nursing and will be approaching my sophomore year at HPU. This will be my first experience of being an orientation leader, and I am very humbled by the fact that I will be able to help welcome all of you to HPU. I am definitely looking forward to meeting new students and building new friendships with everyone! I simply love bringing smiles to other people's faces in the best way that I can. My first year at HPU has been a huge blessing. I really appreciated all my professors who took the time to not only help me outside of class with school work, but also for making sure that they really cared about me in a personal manner. One of the best things here at HPU is that the class sizes are small and you're able to meet new friends from all across the world. In saying that, let's make some memories and welcome to Hawaii Pacific University!
	Amber Squires Welcome to HPU! I am Amber Squires. I am originally from Guthrie, OK but now reside in Pearl City, HI. I am a sophomore transfer student, straight from the Navy. I am majoring in Chemistry. I chose HPU because of its size and the faulty was always willing to help even before classes started and they had just what I was looking for. I am currently involved in Leaders for Sustainable Future (LSF) and active in the plays here at HPU. I have attended college before, but find HPU to be more satisfying than the larger colleges. I love the class sizes here and the teachers are willing to help. I am glad you have chosen to come to HPU. This school offers plenty of programs to get you started off in the right direction and you can learn about many of them at orientation. I hope to see all of you here and ready for a great college experience!
	Julie Torres AALLOOHHAA!! My name is Julie Torres. I was born in a small town called Delano, right in heart of agriculture, central California. I stand 5 feet and 4 inches tall and am a senior studying Psychology. I was involved in the Kababayan Club, a Secretary for the Psychology Club, I am part of the International Vocal Ensemble, and I have played percussion with the HPU band. This is my first year as an orientation leader, and I'm very excited to meet the new incoming students! I am so blessed to be able to attend this university because you meet people from different aspects of their culture and background and eventually they become part of your "Ohana"; which this university helps you discover. My first semester at HPU was such a great experience. I lived in the halls my first year and by far the best year since I've lived here. You basically meet awesome people that become your close friends and this experience helps you put your feet in the water, if you have never lived on this island before. My advice is that I highly encourage everyone to be involved with the clubs and events. Feel free to ask me any questions that you have.
Questions Megan Kaptik Director, First-Year Programs Center for Student Life & First-Year Programs 1188 Fort Street Mall, Suite 105 Phone: (808) 544-0277 Email: mkaptik@hpu.edu