AICCU prez tells La Sierra University’s largest graduating class, don’t fear detours

“It doesn’t seem real,” said Kaitlyn Witherby, a management and marketing double major as she stood in line with her classmates.

“I’m excited, nervous, but mostly excited,” said chemistry and Spanish major Caleb Flores of Fresno.

A short time later, Kristen Soares, president of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities stood before La Sierra’s 2017 graduating class seated on Founders’ Green and advised them to create memory imprints of the day and of other special moments in their lives. She also told the graduates to value setbacks and mistakes as resilience-building moments along the path toward their goals.

Soares gave an address titled “Be Present” for La Sierra’s commencement which saw 475 students, the university’s largest graduating class to date, receive 494 degrees. 

The AICCU represents the chief executives of California’s 79 private, nonprofit colleges and universities and those institutions’ 330,000 students on issues of public policy. Soares’ efforts include advocating for the Cal Grant, a state financial aid program for higher education. Before joining the AICCU, Soares served as a senior associate vice president for government relations and civic engagement at the University of Southern California for 23 years.

La Sierra University President Randal Wisbey, during his introduction of Soares, presented her with the university’s Presidential Medallion for her role “in helping students reach their life’s goal and purpose,” he said.  

 “My dream was to work on Capitol Hill,” influencing policy decisions and making a difference, Soares said in beginning her talk. “And while I ultimately got there, I could not take a direct path.” Soares graduated from USC in 1987 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in public administration. Unable to pay student loan debt and living expenses on the average wage in Washington D.C. for entry-level professionals, Soares, at the behest of her mother, returned to California and accepted a job in governmental relations at her alma mater. During her tenure at USC, Soares was involved in increasing student aid funding and access, increasing funding for research for new cancer treatments and other studies, work that “indeed did make a difference,” she said.

“What are the lessons to take away. First, it is ok to accept help that is offered to you, even when it comes from your family members,” Soares said. “The other lesson is there are many different ways to make a difference. When I graduated from college, I had no idea what a higher education advocate was. But that has been my career.”

“My career followed a circuitous path as yours will, yet I still achieved my dream,” Soares continued. “Today I regularly travel to Capitol Hill to advocate with legislators to ensure that all students, regardless of their income, background, or any obstacles presented in their life, will be able to afford to attend the university of their dreams. You can achieve them [dreams] if you’re willing be a little flexible with the timetable.”

Soares told the graduates, “Counterintuitive though it may be, I actually wish you some obstacles and disappointments in the years ahead. Because if you recover from those, you’ll have the grit and resilience it really takes to thrive in your life.

You are graduating into a changing world and into a time of great uncertainty, a time of great political disagreement, and a time of growing intolerance,” She told the students. “The truth is that now, more than ever, the world needs you, your energy, intellect, and most of all your empathy and your compassion. What you’ve learned here at La Sierra will serve as an excellent grounding for that future.”

Following the commencement ceremony, several graduates and their family members reacted to Soares’ address and described their thoughts and feelings about the day’s event.

“It was an honor to have her give us those words at a time when they’re so important,” said Senior Class Vice President Joshua David Penners, a pre-dentistry and healthcare management major from Angwin. He plans to one day operate his own dental group practice.

Eleven of Penners’ family members attended to cheer him on.  “We’re just really, really happy with La Sierra, the staff, faculty, administration, and we’re super excited to see our son graduate,” said Penners’ father, Steve Penners, who works in information technology at sister school Pacific Union College in Angwin.

“I really liked her talk. It was driven and inspiring. I liked how she was open and to the point,” said Andriana Saucedo, a Loma Linda resident and transfer student from Crafton Hills College. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. Her tenure at La Sierra included one year studying at Newbold College in England through the Adventist Colleges Abroad program. “I’ve been grateful for the time here to explore so many ideas,” she said.

“I’m very excited,” said DJ Gutierrez, a Van Nuys resident as he gathered with his family for photos after receiving his degree. “I want to thank my family. They pushed me the whole entire way.” Gutierrez was recruited to play baseball for La Sierra’s Golden Eagles and joined the criminal justice program. He plans to enter the Los Angeles Police Academy to become a police officer.

“I’m extremely proud of him,” said Gutierrez’s sister, Melissa Gutierrez. “He’s the first one in our family to graduate from college.” she added that DJ sets a good example for her children, Eli Gutierrez, age 8, and Malania Gutierrez, age 6. “I felt very happy for him,” responded Eli, when asked what it was like to watch his uncle receive his diploma.

“I’m a proud mother of two La Sierra graduates,” said Cynthia Miller of Riverside whose daughter, Erin Miller graduated with a degree in liberal studies. Her other daughter graduated in 2015.

“It’s wonderful. I’ve been waiting for it,” said Erin who played on La Sierra’s volleyball team and aims to become a kindergarten teacher. “It’s been a good experience. I met a lot of new people, [including] my boyfriend,” Edgar Padilla, who graduated with her earning degrees in math and Spanish.

“I think today has summed up a major part of my life,” said Paul Williamson who graduated with a Master of Divinity degree, his second master’s degree from the HMS Richards Divinity School. He is a pastor at San Bernardino Community Church. “I feel like God has a plan for my life. I’m excited that I chose La Sierra University’s Divinity School because of the alternative it gives me to experience religion in a different way. I appreciate the depths the program goes to prepare students not just for [Adventist] ministry, …but to be articulate in a broad field,” he said. “There’s a lot of need for diversity in ministry, to liberate people, to set the captives free.”

“It’s exciting,” said Eliza Hakobyan who earned degrees in finance and management with minors in music and legal studies. She also served on La Sierra’s national championship-winning Enactus team, as a member of its presentation team. “Praise God for helping us graduate and being there for us,” she said.

Hakobyan’s mother, Mary, added, “I like that it’s a spiritual school. That’s why I’m happy she came here.” Hakobyan’s brother, Andrew, will enroll at La Sierra in the fall to study music. His younger brother, John, is in high school. The family immigrated from Armenia in 2002 and attend the Fresno Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. All play musical instruments, and the siblings participate in the church orchestra.

Donovan Childs, a university assistant chaplain, received a Master of Theological Studies degree from the HMS Richards Divinity School. He commented on his experience while waiting in line prior to the start of graduation with layers of money leighs and a new pair of flip flops hung around his shoulders. “I’m very appreciative and thankful,” he said. “I made a lot of friends with the staff, and the professors, they really stretched my mind so I could think broadly and connect with the world at large,” he said. 

To view photo albums of La Sierra University's 2017 commencement weekend, visit https://www.facebook.com/LaSierraU/.