La Sierra graduates 364, president-elect advises follow God’s call

06/28/2024 Darla Martin Tucker

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – With its traditional early commencement on the morning of June 16, La Sierra University granted a total of 368 degrees to 364 individuals in a ceremony under canopies on Founders’ Green.

Dr. Christon Arthur, president-elect, delivers the 2024 commencement address.

Renowned former college basketball coach and athletics director Stan Morrison receives an honorary Doctorate of Humanitarian Service

La Sierra University Interim President Richard Osborn undergoes the hooding ceremony for an honorary Doctorate of Humanitarian Service.

La Sierra University Senior Class President Earick Cagang presents the senior class gift, its contribution to additional study rooms in the Fritz Guy Library.

The Conferring of Degrees event, which drew graduates’ family members and friends from around the state, nation and world, also spotlighted graduates and campus members who received awards for their service and achievements and headlined La Sierra’s incoming president Christon Arthur who gave the commencement address.

A processional of administrators, official guests, faculty and participating staff bedecked in academic regalia began the occasion by marching down the slope near the Fritz Guy Library into the Founders’ Green graduation area to a mixture of organ melodies that began with the national anthem for Grenada, a tribute to president-elect Arthur’s homeland. Kimo Smith, a longtime music professor and organist whose annual performances of marches and other music are a cherished fixture of commencement, retires this June from 34 years of teaching at La Sierra University.

Next came the graduates in their flowing dark blue robes, many with elaborately decorated caps, walking down to the ceremony’s seating area in a double line to Smith’s performance of Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” and other themes including “The Imperial March” from the Star Wars movie franchise.

The ceremony coincided with Father’s Day and during his welcoming remarks, La Sierra University Interim President Osborn called on fathers of graduates to stand and be recognized. He then called for mothers of the grads to do the same, in a belated Mother’s Day tribute. He also cited the campus’s oasis-like beauty and drew attention to its three sculptures that depict characters from Jesus’ parables in Luke 15. The largest of these portrays the parable of the prodigal son and anchors the campus’s center in an iconic sculpture plaza and fountain.

Osborn noted the recent completion of a project involving placement of QR codes near the three sculptures that lead to a video of Kendra Haloviak Valentine, professor of New Testament Studes describing the stories depicted by the sculptures.

Bradford C. Newton, La Sierra University Board of Trustees chair, introduced Arthur who was selected on May 9 by the trustees as its next president. Arthur delivered an address titled “Your Time to Shine.”

I am available

Arthur began by noting that many of the graduates started their collegiate journey during the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting closures of businesses, schools and other organizations. “You have made it crystal clear to all of us that you have the capacity to overcome. Nothing can stand in your way. You are resilient, success is yours, you are champions, Class of 2024,” he said.

"As you begin your careers, don’t become so wrapped up in your success that God does not move in your life." -- Dr. Christon Arthur, La Sierra University President-Elect

Arthur recounted his upbringing as the youngest of six siblings raised by a single mother on the Caribbean island of Grenada. He became the first in his family to go to college. “With God, all things are possible. Don't allow your upbringing to define your destiny,” he said to the graduates. “God has a future for you that's bigger than your circumstances. God's plan for you is bigger than your past. … Whatever dream you may have for your life, leave room in your plans so that God can act and make his plans for you become a reality.”

To illustrate his point, Arthur recounted examples found in the biblical stories of Abraham, Moses and Isaiah, individuals who made themselves available to God’s call to trust, to follow his directives, to voice his guidance, and to act on behalf of others. Arthur also wove into the narrative contemporary examples of renowned civil and human rights advocates who headed God’s call to uplift others -- Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

“It is important that whenever God calls you your response will always be, ‘I am available,” Arthur said. “Class of 2024, God is calling you to do something about the struggles, and the difficulties and the plights of those who are suffering. God is planning to make a difference in the lives of those who are marginalized. Just as God called Moses to go to Egypt, God has an Egypt for you.”

“God calls you to use your prophetic voice. …It’s possible that God will never call you by name, but God will create circumstances that you can walk into and fulfill his promise for your life,” Arthur concluded. “Listen for the questions that God is asking. Listen for the promptings that God is offering. As you begin your careers, don’t become so wrapped up in your success that God does not move in your life. Leave room in your schedule for God to act. And when God asks this profound question, ‘who will relieve the suffering of my people,’ there’s only one appropriate answer, ‘I’m available, Lord.’”

Awards and Congratulations

The June 16 Conferring of Degrees ceremony recognized two individuals with honorary Doctor of Humanitarian Service degrees – interim president Osborn, who since last fall has spearheaded the formation of a university five-year growth strategy and near-term two-year budget and funding plan, and Stan Morrison, a nationally acclaimed former college basketball coach and Riverside community advocate who serves as chair of the university’s foundation board and Golden Eagles Athletics Advisory Board while serving as a key driver of its high profile fundraising efforts.

The President’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Student was given to Patrina Jamieson, a Ph.D. in Leadership graduate from the School of Education and the President’s Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student was granted to Stephanie Galima, a Bachelor of Arts in psychology graduate.

Faculty and staff awards were given to Gary Chartier, associate dean of the Zapara School of Business, honored with the Distinguished Service Award and to former Director of Human Resources Dell Jean Van Fossen whod receive the Jay J. Nethery Award for dedicated service. Presidential medallions were presented by Osborn to John Brunt, vice chair of the La Sierra University Board of Trustees and chair of the presidential search committee, to Provost April Summitt, and Traci Spedden, executive assistant to the president.

Faculty awards were also presented to Marni Straine, social work department chair, Melissa Tafoya, communication department chair , and John Webster, professor of theology and history of Christianity, for their service during the 2022-23 school year.

Senior Class President Earick Jastine Cagang noted arduous beginnings he and many of his classmates faced as they ended high school and began college in the midst of a global pandemic. He said of his time at La Sierra, “It’s been a journey of personal growth and belonging,” and cited the many challenges and learning opportunities facing college students as well as the connections made in study groups.

Cagang then revealed the class’s contribution to the development of three additional study rooms in the Fritz Guy Library as the senior class gift to the university. “Our goal is that these study rooms will become a place where academic excellence is upheld and inclusivity is cherished,” he said.

The long-awaited Conferring of Degrees ceremony commenced, with each graduate’s name and degree announced as they walked across the stage to receive their diploma from interim president Osborn. Some celebrated the moment with flair – finance graduate Ryan Rosenthal stepped up with his skateboard in hand and rolled downstage to receive his diploma; neuroscience graduate Silvana Albornoz cradled her chief assistant in her arm -- her tiny Chihuahua dog dressed in a miniature cap and gown.

The university conferred degrees for bachelor, master, and doctoral programs upon a graduating class that ranged in age from 21 to 65, with 19 countries and 15 faith traditions represented. Degrees were issued from the School of Education, the H.M.S. Richards Divinity School, the Tom & Vi Zapara School of Business, and the College of Arts & Sciences, or CAS.

Graduates’ Perspective

Graduates spoke before and after commencement weekend about the meaning of their academic milestone. Jared Gonzalez, who earned the first degree from the university’s new interdisciplinary digital media programs graduated with a Digital Media & Marketing Bachelor of Arts.

“After a lot of prayer, meetings, talks with friends and mentors I decided to change majors to Digital Media and Marketing.” -- Jared Gonzalez, first Digital Media program graduate

“My college journey has truly been a journey, but one I wouldn’t change a thing about,” he said. Gonzalez began college in 2018 as a Health & Exercise Science major and continued with the program through to his senior year. However, along the way he purchased his first cameras, a Nikon D7500 and a Pentax K1000, and began to learn about manual settings and approaches to photography. The process continued as the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting closures swept in. “I wanted to capture memories and create moments,” he said.

By the time his senior year ended in 2022, Gonzalez had amassed a trove of knowledge, skills and experiences photographing and creating social media content for sports, student association events, spiritual life programs and other department activities. Still lacking a quarter’s worth of classes to complete his initial degree program, Gonzalez realized he wanted photography and related creative work to be more than a hobby.

“After a lot of prayer, meetings, talks with friends and mentors I decided to change majors to Digital Media and Marketing,” he said. “I had read all about this major through the university’s website and realized this was the exact fit for me. This full 180 came with much adjusting and challenges. Yet I knew La Sierra was where I still belonged.

“During these last two years I managed to gain knowledge from both the business world and art and design world,” he continued. “Many more opportunities came around where I was now able to learn and implement videography. I’m thankful for all my professors who poured into me specifically Professor Razzouk, Terrill Thomas and Tim Musso. I’m so grateful for my time here at La Sierra University through all the experiences and changes I faced. I never knew where I would end up, but I knew I would always end up where God needed me.”

Albornoz, a native of Peru, a neuroscience and biology graduate and recipient of the Alumni Award from the College of Arts & Sciences spearheaded student outreach programs to aid the unhoused and those in assisted living during her tenure at the university. In the days leading to graduation she talked about the arrival of her family and her future plans.

“This moment is deeply meaningful because my parents are traveling from Peru to see me graduate,” she said. “After enduring financial struggles, it's a proud and emotional milestone for us.” She said her favorite memories of her time at La Sierra include “Serving the community with my friends, helping homeless individuals and senior residents.”

Aaron Desjardins, who graduated magna cum laude with dual degrees in marketing and graphic design as well as with awards from the business school, CAS and the Art+Design program described his reaction to the day’s occasion.

“For me, graduation felt like the culmination of all my efforts in all my classes being recognized all at once. Seeing all my professors lined up as I walked to Founders’ Green reminded me how far I’ve come since I started at La Sierra, and I will be forever appreciative for everything the university’s faculty and staff have done to make me the person I am today,” he said.

“Graduation for me signifies a new beginning that is completely up to me, which is both very exciting and scary at the same time. Going forward, I really want to hone in on my professional skills as an artist and designer and explore my options at starting a business, while also finding experience in the professional graphic design space.

”...with all the distractions like COVID-19 and commuting from Redlands, I’m still able to do something great for my future.” -- Sophia Gil, graduate, Bachelor of Arts, English, creative writing

Emmanuel Nikansah studied business analytics at the Zapara School of Business and earned an MBA in management. He was also one of two students to receive an award from the business school as Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year. Nikansah was recently hired as the data analyst in the university’s Office of Advancement.

“For me graduation is a significant milestone that represents a culmination of hard work, perseverance, achievement and of course a sense of pride. For me it is also a key which unlocks growth and opportunities … it helped me broaden my mind in terms of my perspective in life. As the saying goes education is the best legacy and I have come to achieve it and thanks to La Sierra University in helping me attain this goal,” he said.

Sophia Gil graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing. “Graduation means to me that I’ve accomplished something amazing and I’ve been able to meet people,” she said, “and with all the distractions like COVID-19 and commuting from Redlands, I’m still able to do something great for my future.”