Edna Maye Loveless Drama Scholarship

During the eleven years that Edna Maye Loveless served first as faculty and then as chair of the department of English and Communication at La Sierra University, she worked tirelessly and successfully to establish drama as a regular academic program. Drama, as a regular scheduled activity at La Sierra, began in the spring of 1998 with a production of “As You Like It,” directed by graduate student Andrea Geli. From the first, Dr. Loveless was extremely supportive – she attended all the plays, mentored the young actors and directors, and quietly made up the difference when productions exceeded the minimal amount of funds that could be eked out of the department’s budget. The faculty and friends of Edna Maye established this endowment in December 2003 to recognize her contribution to this program, one of her many noteworthy achievements.

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Marie Barber Marchus Endowed Scholarship

A one-room schoolhouse in San Pasqual Valley is where Marie Barber Marchus spent most of her life teaching elementary, 9th and 10th grades. Her loving concern for each individual resulted in cooperation and progress from the students. In addition to the core curriculum she included Bible classes, a daily nature study and vocal music. But it is her study of the English language through literature, grammar and penmanship that is best remembered. Awards given over the years are intended to insure that in the future there are Adventist teachers with an interest in the preservation and development of the English language.

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Neff-Lewis Endowed Scholarship

Merlin L. Neff was head of the La Sierra College English department and chairman of the language and literature division from 1961-1965. He authored 21 books, plus numerous magazine articles and published writings. Dr. Neff was a 1927 graduate of Pacific Union College, with his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Washington, and an honorary doctor of law degree from Walla Walla College. Although an aptitude test told Richard Lewis that architecture would be a good vocation for him, he wanted to impress young minds, not create impressive buildings. Therefore, he followed the footsteps of an English teacher, who had influenced his life. Lewis also graduated from Pacific Union College in 1927, earned a master’s degree from the University of Southern California, and his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He served as head of the speech and English department at Walla Walla College, taught at Pacific Union College, was an editor of the Pacific Press Publishing Association, and taught and served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at La Sierra until his retirement. Awards from this endowment are given to students of English at La Sierra University.