Chaminade sets 1st Athletics Gala set for Feb. 6

 Athletic Gala Set for Feb. 6; Anthony Muñoz named keynote speaker

Honolulu, HI - Chaminade University of Honolulu announced that its first intercollegiate athletics gala will be held on Friday, Feb. 6, 2009.

As the first inductee into the Silversword Hall of Fame, legendary basketball coach Merv Lopes will be honored at the event. Lopes led Chaminade to its historic 1982 victory over the University of Virginia.

The gala will also feature NFL Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Bengal Anthony Muñoz as the keynote speaker. Athletes from Chaminade will also be on hand.

This new event, to be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village at 6:30 p.m., will support Chaminade's athletic department and student-athletes through funding for athletic programs, scholarships, equipment and travel opportunities.

"We are delighted that our student athletes will benefit from this event, as will the 10 individual Division II programs in which we compete," Acting President Bro. Bernard Ploeger stated. "Through the gala, the Maui Invitational and other events, Chaminade's visibility has increased and we believe that athletics is also a key recruitment tool for the university."

Earlier this year, Chaminade announced the hiring of its first full time athletics director in Bill Villa. At the Maui Invitational in November, the Silverswords came within two points of beating Division I Indiana.

This year's Invitational marked the 25^th anniversary of the premier tournament.