Nearly 200 La Sierra grads parade cars in drive-through celebration

 

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- After 14 weeks of online classes, isolation, and cancellation of their traditional commencement weekend due to Covid-19, La Sierra University’s graduates were eager for a way to safely gather and celebrate.

<p> Dr. Kim Knowlton, chair of Health and Exercise Science, left, and other members of the HES department take a selfie with graduate Kiana Krumm during the Drive Through Celebration. </p>

Dr. Kim Knowlton, chair of Health and Exercise Science, left, and other members of the HES department take a selfie with graduate Kiana Krumm during the Drive Through Celebration.

<p> Film and Television Production grad Oti Otinelis and her family parade her decorated car through La Sierra's graduation celebration route on June 21. </p>

Film and Television Production grad Oti Otinelis and her family parade her decorated car through La Sierra's graduation celebration route on June 21.

<p> Cal Pac Conference's Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, La Sierra graduate Kiana Krumm, waves while driving with her family and friend through the celebration route. </p>

Cal Pac Conference's Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, La Sierra graduate Kiana Krumm, waves while driving with her family and friend through the celebration route.

<p> La Sierra University President Joy Fehr poses with  accounting grad Isaiah Leon as his limousine enters the campus for the Drive Through Celebration on June 21. </p>

La Sierra University President Joy Fehr poses with  accounting grad Isaiah Leon as his limousine enters the campus for the Drive Through Celebration on June 21.

<p> Pastor Vinh Nguyen, Cynthia Nguyen and their son and La Sierra grad Timothy Nguyen stop near the central fountain at the top of Yaeger Drive for their portrait during the Drive Through Celebration. (Photo: Natan Vigna) </p>

Pastor Vinh Nguyen, Cynthia Nguyen and their son and La Sierra grad Timothy Nguyen stop near the central fountain at the top of Yaeger Drive for their portrait during the Drive Through Celebration. (Photo: Natan Vigna)

<p> Associate Professor of Social Work Daphne Thomas joins in the fun to celebrate La Sierra's graduates on June 21. </p>

Associate Professor of Social Work Daphne Thomas joins in the fun to celebrate La Sierra's graduates on June 21.

<p> Chris Bartholomew, left, La Sierra's director of risk management, and Annie Park, director of accounts and loans arrive ready to cheer on the graduates during the Drive Through Celebration. </p>

Chris Bartholomew, left, La Sierra's director of risk management, and Annie Park, director of accounts and loans arrive ready to cheer on the graduates during the Drive Through Celebration.

<p> La Sierra Universty Alumni Association members welcome La Sierra graduates as they drive along Yaeger Drive. </p>

La Sierra Universty Alumni Association members welcome La Sierra graduates as they drive along Yaeger Drive.

<p> La Sierra University President Joy Fehr and interim Provost Cindy Parkhurst, right, greet a graduate as her vehicle pulls onto campus. </p>

La Sierra University President Joy Fehr and interim Provost Cindy Parkhurst, right, greet a graduate as her vehicle pulls onto campus.

<p> Last stop! Each graduate received a university yearbook as they exited the drive-through parade route. </p>

Last stop! Each graduate received a university yearbook as they exited the drive-through parade route.

<p> Associate Vice President for Student Life Marjorie Robinson waves a congratulatory sign as graduates drive by.  </p>

Associate Vice President for Student Life Marjorie Robinson waves a congratulatory sign as graduates drive by. 

<p> Cooper Straine, age 8, holds a sign to celebrate his dad, Kevin Straine's graduation. His mom, Marni Straine serves as an assistant professor of social work at La Sierra. </p>

Cooper Straine, age 8, holds a sign to celebrate his dad, Kevin Straine's graduation. His mom, Marni Straine serves as an assistant professor of social work at La Sierra.

<p> Religious studies graduate Jeremiah Malingkas waves to Dr. Friedbert Ninow, dean of the HMS Richards Divinity School. </p>

Religious studies graduate Jeremiah Malingkas waves to Dr. Friedbert Ninow, dean of the HMS Richards Divinity School.

<p> Graduate Jeremiah Malingkas shouts congratulations to the Class of 2020 as his vehichle parades along the celebration route. </p>

Graduate Jeremiah Malingkas shouts congratulations to the Class of 2020 as his vehichle parades along the celebration route.

<p> Graduate Reggie Louis, center top, and friend and La Sierra alumnus Cameron Jackson together with family members celebrate Reggie's graduation. </p>

Graduate Reggie Louis, center top, and friend and La Sierra alumnus Cameron Jackson together with family members celebrate Reggie's graduation.

<p> Business managaement graduate and former Golden Eagles basketall player Saladine Ganda enjoys the Drive Through Celebration. </p>

Business managaement graduate and former Golden Eagles basketall player Saladine Ganda enjoys the Drive Through Celebration.

<p> Several graduates' cars bearing the Jamaican flag as they caravan together through the celebration route. </p>

Several graduates' cars bearing the Jamaican flag as they caravan together through the celebration route.

<p> English graduate and College of Arts and Sciences Deans Award reciptient Ethan Hoffman behind the wheel of his vehicle as he pauses for a photo with a friend and with a Black Lives Matter sign which he brought along to display during the drive-through event. </p>

English graduate and College of Arts and Sciences Deans Award reciptient Ethan Hoffman behind the wheel of his vehicle as he pauses for a photo with a friend and with a Black Lives Matter sign which he brought along to display during the drive-through event.

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On Sunday, June 21 they had just such an opportunity with the Drive Through Celebration organized by the university to take place on the day the seniors would have graduated in a large commencement on Founders’ Green. In the meantime, a formal, in-person awarding-of-degrees ceremony was scheduled for Sept. 13, a week before the start of fall classes.

For more than two hours beginning at 8:30 a.m., nearly 200 grads with their families and friends paraded  in their vehicles through the main entrance, driving up Yaeger Drive, circling around the gymnasium parking lot and back down to Yaeger. They paused for a portrait photograph in front of the university’s central fountain and congratulations banners before traveling down Yaeger to exit the campus onto Riverwalk Parkway. Faculty, staff and students, all with face masks in place lined the roadside and grassy median, waving congratulatory signs and cheering them on. The parade began at the front entrance kiosk where university President Joy Fehr, assisted by interim Provost Cindy Parkhurst provided each grad with a bag holding a mortarboard and tassel which they could don for their photo further up the road. Other gifts at kiosks scattered along the route included a face mask with a La Sierra logo, a sticker of university mascot Eko, an alumni license plate holder and a 2019-2020 yearbook.

Many grads decorated their cars with bright lettering, balloons, signs and other graduation trimmings and everyone brought along family members or friends to join in the fun.

“I think with everything that's been going on this is the best way that I can imagine, celebrating with the people who helped me get here, from friends to family to people I’ve met at the school,” said Kyrsti Photias, a psychology major and exercise science minor from La Quinta, Calif. “It's so cool seeing other people celebrate with the people that matter to them too. It's cool, it’s so different from sitting in a stadium, or you know, underneath tarps … it’s different, but it’s no less special at all.”

Sunday's event also fell on Father's Day and for Photias’ father, Gregg Photias who was driving the family vehicle, this made for a doubly joyous occasion. “With COVID and with everything that's going on, this has actually been a blessing in disguise as far as being able to celebrate with her boyfriend, the parents, the family,” he said. “This is really, really a special day and a rewarding day, and I'm so glad you guys did this for them.”

Vinh Nguyen, pastor of the El Monte Vietnamese SDA Church and also the father of graduate Timothy Nguyen, drove his family through the parade route with Timothy waving from the front passenger seat. “I am so proud of my son to graduate from here. “I’m excited to see it,” said Pastor Nguyen as their car inched closer to the photography area.“It’s an awesome experience,” added Timothy, a biomedical sciences major aiming for a career in nursing. “I’m glad they did this. I’m glad for the school’s support.”

“I’m really blessed and glad this school is giving us the chance to have something.” -- Zaira Armendariz, Film and Television Production graduate, Fontana, Calif.

Many graduates described the drive through celebration as an “amazing” experience and a meaningful event as they move on to other chapters in their lives.

John De Valles, a Health and Exercise Science grad noted, “This is very special and makes me feel a different. I mean, we get to celebrate all together and see our professors one last time and it's very special to me.”

“I’m really blessed and glad this school is giving us the chance to have something,” said Zaira Armendariz, a film and television grad from Fontana. She added that the celebration event was like a “light at the end of a tunnel” during dark times.

“I love it. I didn’t expect it would turn out like this,” said Reggie Louis, a business management and health care graduate who arrived with a carload of family and friends.

“The drive-through graduation was so much fun,” said former Golden Eagles volleyball player and sociology graduate Kiana Krumm. “It was a blast seeing my professors and the athletic department cheering me on. I drove through with my parents and my best friend since I was five years old, Michelle Schlaman. She was the DJ and blew bubbles while we danced together in the back. The overall experience was so exciting and I am so happy to have been a part of it.”

Last month, the California Pacific Conference of which La Sierra’s Golden Eagles are members voted Krumm as the recipient of the Dr. Jim Davies Award as the 2019-20 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. Going forward she plans to play volleyball abroad while contemplating master’s programs.

For La Sierra faculty and staff, the morning’s event provided connection and community.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Assistant Professor of History Alicia Gutierrez-Romine. “It’s an opportunity to let the students show their personalities, to engage with them, to celebrate their accomplishments.”

“We’ve overcome all these obstacles and we’re living in this great moment and it brings out the spirit of celebration after we’ve survived something,” added Ken Crane, associate professor and chair of the History, Politics and Sociology department.

“This is us, this is hashtag LaSierraTogether,” said Vice President of Student Life Yami Bazan.

At the campus entrance, with the energy of reconnection and joyous celebration permeating the atmosphere, Fehr stood near the guard kiosk congratulating each graduate as they drove into the campus and handing each a bag with the mortarboard and tassel.

“Seeing them in person, even though I was wearing a mask and they were in vehicles, reminded me of why we do what we do at La Sierra,” she said, “provide the foundation upon which our graduates can positively change their and our worlds. The excitement on their faces and the pride in their families’ faces made all the challenges of these past three-and-a-half months responding to COVID-19 worth it. I am so proud of each graduate. Each one is truly extraordinary.”

“This is really, really a special day and a rewarding day, and I'm so glad you guys did this for them.” -- Gregg Photias, father of La Sierra University graduate Kyrsti Photias, La Quinta, Calif.

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