-
Sharks United Co-Presidents Emma Stanley (left) and Megan Ciluffo (right) with President Gotanda.
-
Student Government Association President Justin Alday getting ready to get pied.
-
HPU President Gotanda was a good sport and got pied to raise support for the HPU Student Food Pantry.
-
Sharks United at Waikiki Elementary for their day of service on October 19.
Sharks United is a new Registered Student Organization (RSO) at Hawai‘i Pacific University, founded this semester. The RSO is led by co-presidents Emma Stanley and Megan Ciluffo, and the club advisor is Derek Galanto, the Universityʻs Basic Needs Specialist. The mission of Sharks United is to provide essential resources to HPU students while fostering meaningful connections with the greater Oahu community through outreach and events.
Stanley explained that the idea for the RSO came about as she and Ciluffo started working with Galanto in their on-campus jobs as Community Advisors, who work and live on-site at HPU campus housing locations.
“We saw a need for an organization like this to connect HPU with the Oahu community and to become better community partners,” Stanley said.
Sharks United hosted its first event, Pie-a-Shark, on Tuesday, October 8, raising funds and collecting non-perishable items for the HPU student food pantry. For a donation of two non-perishable items or $5, members of the HPU ʻohana had the opportunity to “pie a shark.” In a demonstration of HPU Shark pride, HPU President John Gotanda and HPU Student Government Association leaders, including President Justin Alday, Vice President Princess Pascua, and Senator Hunter Hurtado stepped forward, volunteering to get pied. HPU Director of Security Christopher Martin and Housing and Residence Life Area Coordinator Dan Traylor and many more members of the HPU ʻohana were good sports and also got pied for the cause.
The Pie-a-Shark event was a success, raising $225 plus an additional 50 items for the HPU student food pantry. The event brought together the HPU ʻohana to support student success and increased awareness of the new RSO and its mission, vision, and planned activities.
“We wanted to accomplish two things,” said Ciluffo, about the Pie-a-Shark event. “First, we wanted to raise awareness of our upcoming event at Waikiki Elementary, where students will help at the community farm. Second, we hoped to encourage more students to join our club and learn about resources like the student food pantry.”
On Saturday, October 19, a full HPU shuttle van of HPU ʻohana ventured to Waikiki Elementary with Sharks United. HPU students had the opportunity to work at the school’s community farm, furthering their goal of community engagement.
Sharks United is committed to continuing its community outreach efforts through various service projects both on and off campus.
Follow Sharks United on Instagram @hpusharksunited
