Alumni share memories, celebrate centennial during campus Homecoming

Honored for impact

More than 170 people attended the Recognition Banquet held in the Troesh Conference Center of the Zapara School of Business. The awards ceremony, led by La Sierra University President Joy Fehr and Provost April Summitt honored the following alumni:

• Alumna of the Year – Dr. Alina Tolan, Class of 1986, philanthropist, former neonatal clinical pharmacist, current director of employee relations at B&K Precision Corp., La Sierra University trustee, co-founder of the Tolan Science Scholarship and the Tolan STEM Scholarship at La Sierra.

• President’s Award Recipient – Victor Tolan, honorary alumnus, philanthropist, civil and research engineer, co-owner of B&K Precision Corp., co-founder of the Tolan Science Scholarship and the Tolan STEM Scholarship at La Sierra.

Honored Alumni:

• School of Education – Robert Diaz, classes of 1992, 1993, and 1994, undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology, counseling, and school psychology; coordinator of Educationally Related Mental Health Services and Secondary Special Education, former RUSD school psychologist.
• H.M.S. Richards Divinity School – Chris Oberg, classes of 2000 and 2005, undergraduate and graduate degrees in religious studies and religion; former lead pastor of the La Sierra University Church and first female in that role; 22 years in pastoral ministry; present goals include non-profit initiatives aimed at addressing housing, equity, and homelessness.
• College of Arts & Sciences – Dorothy Nelson, Class of 1951, degrees in music and religion; former professor, nurse, missionary, author, pilot; recipient of a Presidential Commendation through the United States Surgeon General; founder of “Wings of Health” mercy missions to the Philippines; “It Is Written” China Project Coordinator.
• Tom & Vi Zapara School of Business – Paul H. Douglas, Class of 1986, degree in business; current treasurer/chief financial officer for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; previously the executive director for the General Conference Auditing Service for 14 years; professional experience spans over 35 years and six.

“Everything that you’ve heard, it’s not what I’ve done, it’s what God has given me." -- Dorothy Nelson, Class of 1951

Rising Stars:

• School of Education -- Michael Tomas, classes of 2006, 2008 and 2020, undergraduate and graduate degrees in exercise science and education administration and leadership; currently principal of Thunderbird Adventist Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona. Previously he served as principal of Sierra View Junior Academy in Exeter, Calif., where he implemented a cyberbullying and internet use policy.
• H.M.S. Richards Divinity School -- Daniel Peverini, Class of 2016, undergraduate degree in religious studies; current Health Ministry Fellow in the Class of 2024 at Loma Linda University’s School of Medicine; held multiple student leadership roles including editor-in-chief of “The Criterion” and on several university committees.
• College of Arts & Sciences – Leslie Mutuku, Class of 2011, degree in global studies, Honors program graduate; currently a product manager for Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle overseeing the bakery and lunch businesses in all their U.S. locations; board member of Project Education Inc. in Kenya.
• Tom & Vi Zapara School of Business – Ryan Ashlock, Class of 2008, degree in accounting; current president of Adventist Health Castle in Kailua, Hawaii, where he oversees the strategy, management, and operations of the 160-bed hospital, clinics, and four urgent care centers.

Some award recipients provided brief comments on the meaning of the recognition and of their years studying at La Sierra.Douglas noted his experience as a student in the La Sierra’s business school nearly 40 years ago and as a resident in the men’s dorm at Sierra Towers.

“Each day, I found my confidence by the little quotation that was on the top of [Sierra Towers] Meier Chapel that said, ‘Do not let anyone despise you because you’re young. Be an example to believers in your conduct, in your speech, in your love, in your faith and in your purity. I’m not so young anymore,” said Douglas, “but I hope that I will continue to be an example to the believers in my conduct, in my speech, my faith and my love and my purity. I have been a part of La Sierra’s past, and I am now a part of La Sierra’s present with my daughter who is a freshman in the business school. By God’s grace I will continue to be part of [its] future.”

"I am now a part of La Sierra’s present with my daughter who is a freshman in the business school." -- Paul H. Douglass, Class of 1986

Upon accepting her award, Nelson received a standing ovation from the audience. She commented on the recognition, her impressions of the campus and her thoughts on her past international missions work that included Russia. “I look at the beauty of this place, I can’t find anything at all,” she joked, “I feel like I’m just in paradise and I don't know where it all went.

“But I really want to thank La Sierra for what it’s done in my life,” Nelson said. “Everything that you’ve heard, it’s not what I’ve done, it’s what God has given me, given me the beautiful opportunity to be able to go to Russia delivering Bibles at a time when they needed it. And I think of what's going on [now] and my heart is breaking. But I’m so thankful, so thankful we were able to pass out Bibles to people who had never had a Bible.”

A special homecoming

Several La Sierra alumni who are members of the Harding family attended the banquet – sisters Pamela Harding Libby, Class of 1977; Mary Ann Harding Schaepper, Class of 1978 with her husband, Hans Schaepper; and Julia Harding King, Class of 1985, as well as King’s son who graduated in 2014; and Russell Hoxie, Class of 1982, the sisters’ cousin. The sisters’ father, psychiatrist George T. Harding graduated from La Sierra University in 1949 -- his own four siblings also attended La Sierra. George Harding was unable to participate in this year’s alumni weekend events but passed along his best wishes to attendees through his daughters.

Harding King, who is also a member of the university alumni board, commented on the significance of Homecoming 2022, particularly in light of the university’s centennial.

“I think my biggest [excitement] for me was to share it with my dad,” she said. “My sisters and my cousin and all of us who have really been here and enjoyed [La Sierra], and my son, who was the last one to graduate, so many generations, so many people that were influenced and benefitted from La Sierra. So I was excited to have that opportunity to do this special event. It keeps going back to my dad. It’s so important to him that we all experience what he experienced, and what he the valued so much, we value.”

Pendleton noted the university history presentation he attended on April 29 by La Sierra University Professor of History Andrew Howe. “It really put the university in the larger context of its own history, from very humble beginnings as an academy 100 years ago,” he said. “[Howe] then discussed how the university made bold decisions and over time transitioned from a campus that had a lot of agricultural land to one that then leased that agricultural land in order to create an income stream and put the university on a sound financial foundation. We really have to thank the leadership of former president Larry Geraty for that.”

“I could not believe the changes even in 10 years." -- Loryane Barton, Class of 1961

For some alums, their visit to their alma mater this spring was the first return to campus in many years and they noted its metamorphosis.

“I could not believe the changes even in 10 years [since she last visited]. It’s incredible. Just to drive over here and see the changes since we were in school. So totally different,” said Lorayne Barton who graduated with the Class of 1961 with a biology degree. She noted that many of the campus trees seemed to be the same trees that adorned the college when she was a student. Barton is a pediatrician and neonatologist with additional graduate degrees in public health and health administration. She also serves as health ministry director for the Pacific Union Conference.

Barton’s four adult sons attended La Sierra University in years past and she is hopeful that her six grandchildren may also one day study at her alma mater.

“Well, of course the physical campus looks pretty much the same, but when I look at teachers they’re all too young,” quipped Wallace Minder, who earned La Sierra undergraduate and graduate degrees in 1959 and 1984. He was also the dean of the School of Education from 1987 to 1996. He recalled hiring current school dean, Dr. Chang-ho Ji. “Great guy. School’s doing good,” Minder said.

Of memories and hopes

And for many, favorite memories surfaced of college days gone by when youthful spirits searched for fun wherever it could be found.

“It was the most amazing funny stuff we did,” said Barton. She recalled a prank she and her friends played on another student while living in the dorm. “A whole bunch of us girls banded together. We’d been collecting newspapers for weeks. And we’ve got about 10 of us together and we crumbled up all these newspapers in our room and put them in our closets and stuff and when she [student] was out one day, we filled her entire [dorm] room full newspaper. So when she opened the door, there was nothing but a whole room full of newspapers.”

Rodney Vance, film and television production professor and founder of La Sierra’s Film & Television Production department, graduated from the La Sierra campus of Loma Linda University in 1978 with a theology degree. He recalled observing the many changes the campus had undergone when he returned in 2012 as a faculty member to lead the new film and television program. He also remembered the fun he and his friends had during the 1970s as dorm students.

"My hope is for La Sierra to continue in the next 100 years to prepare young people ... for genuine service in making the world a better place." -- David Pendleton, Classes of 1989, 1990

“I lived on the fifth floor of Sierra Towers, the men’s dormitory, and myself and a couple of other guys who live down the hall. One of them, his father was a member of the Newport Marina [Newport Beach],” Vance said. “So we would go out on Friday afternoons after church history class, and go sailing out of Newport Harbor. The challenge was that we had a very hard time getting back to campus in time to attend Friday night vespers, which was required. So three theology majors were consistently in trouble for missing Friday night investors because we were sailing.”

Their reasons for attending alumni weekend were varied, but some of the school’s former students expressed the importance of maintaining connections with their alma mater and also their hopes for its future as the university rounds the corner on its first century.

“It felt really good [to attend during the centennial year],” said Barton. “I think it’s important, especially if you’re still Adventist, to stay involved with your school. I don’t do it often, but you know, I feel strongly about it. And I feel that we need to do it in order to inspire others.”

“Just keep doing what they're doing. And expand on it. You know, it’s just a great school,” commented Minder when asked for his perspective on the university’s future.

Noted Pendleton, “My hope is for La Sierra to continue in the next 100 years to prepare young people not only for their professional careers but for genuine service in making the world a better place, advancing social justice, fighting poverty, waging peace around the world, valuing our environment,” he said. “La Sierra is a place where people learn how much God truly loves them -- and in turn they love the world.”