Riverside, Calif., March 9-12, 2000--Alumni from across California and the nation will converge on La Sierra University for Alumni Homecoming Weekend 2000, March 9 to 12.

The event-packed, four-day celebration is more than just reunion for old friends. It's also an annual living history lesson for the campus, said Candace Jorgensen, Alumni Relations director.

"It's great for our students to hear about the joys and challenges of yesteryear La Sierra," Jorgensen said. "Homecoming also gives our alumni so many reasons to be proud of their school."

Honored classes for Alumni Weekend 2000 include graduates from 1990, 1975, 1970, 1950 and 1940. Also honored will be the 51-plus group (1941 to 1949) and the 61-plus group (1922 to 1939). The following is a partial list of events. A complete list can be obtained by calling (909)785-2578 or (909)785-2500.

Thursday, March 9

Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament, 8 a.m. A variety of prizes will be given during the tournament including a Pacific cruise weekend donated by Jim and Kathleen Manning's West Coast Travel of Riverside. Tournament proceeds will benefit the Alumni Scholarship Fund for worthy students. Tickets are $75 and $45 for students. Call (909)785-2500 to register. Jurupa Hills Country Club, 6161 Moraga Ave., Riverside, (909)685-7214.

School Assembly, 11 a.m. Honored alumni Linda Hyder Ferry ('76) will speak on "Protecting Your Neurochemistry: The Big Ten." The Loma Linda-based physician is a leading nicotine dependence researcher and was instrumental in developing the smoking- cessation drug Zyban. Her talk will focus on addiction avoidance. Alumni Pavilion, across from the La Sierra main entrance.

School of Education Groundbreaking, 12:15 p.m. Groundbreaking for a 3,000-square foot addition to the School of Education building will draw Thomas Mostert and La Sierra President Lawrence Geraty. The addition will be named for Chan Yin Fong, a Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist. School of Education.

Alumni Millennium Banquet, 6:30 p.m. Master of ceremonies for the event will be Warren Johns ('50), a retired Washington, D.C.-based attorney and author of the newly released novel "Ride to Glory," a legal drama that contends with evolutionary controversies. La Sierra Dining Commons, Campus Center.

Theater Program, 8 p.m. La Sierra students will perform the classic Shakespearean comedy "Twelfth Night" on March 9, 11 and 12. Admission is $5 at the door or tickets can be purchased in advance in the English Office, South Hall. Call (909)785-2241 for details. Matheson Chapel.

Friday, March 10

Alumni Weekend Vespers, 7:30 p.m. The 45-member La Sierra Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Barbara Favorito, will give a vespers concert. Selections will include Aaron Copeland's "Variation on a Shaker Melody," John Williams' "Schindler's List Theme" and the Choral Prelude on "Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart" by Claude Smith, among other works. The vespers concert will also feature selections by the La Sierra Brass Quintet and the La Sierra Woodwind Quintet. Hole Memorial Auditorium.

Observatory Open House, 8:30 to 11 p.m. The La Sierra observatory features a 16-inch Cassegrainian reflector telescope and will be open for tours and stargazing, weather permitting. Call (909)785-2113 or (909)785-2273. La Sierra Observatory.

Saturday, March 11

Sabbath Services, 8:30 and 11 a.m. An early service Sabbath liturgy will be led by John Webster, professor of religion. Sabbath School, which begins at 9:25 a.m., will address "50 Years of La Sierra Law: Combining Faith and Legal Practice." The panel will included Richard James, Warren Johns, Robert Macomber and Derrill Yager, all attorneys and La Sierra graduates. The Sabbath School lesson will be given by Gerard Kiemeny ('75), Los Angeles region director for the Southern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The 11 a.m. church service will feature a sermon by Wil Alexander ('50) titled "The Glory Story: Then and Now." An alumni potluck will follow the service in the La Sierra Dining Commons. La Sierra University Church, 4937 Sierra Vista Ave., next to the La Sierra campus.

Soul Church Reunion, 3 p.m. The event will feature "Another Peace" reunion gospel choir and is being coordinated by Alan Woodson ('83), an Upland-based dentist and founder-director of "Another Peace" reunion gospel choir; and Bob Griffiths ('89), entertainment director for Riverside's Orange Blossom Festival. La Sierra University Church.

Women's Resource Center Program, 3 p.m. The hour-long "Toppling Walls: 20th-Century Adventist Women Who've Made a Difference" will center on more than a dozen noteworthy women and their historical contributions to the Adventist Church. Among those honored will be Carmen Lopez-Morales, Kate Lindsey, Ellen White, Barbara Westphal and Hyveth Williams. Matheson Chapel.

Organ Recital, 4 p.m. Donald Vaughn ('60), longtime La Sierra organ professor, will perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach. Hole Memorial Auditorium.

The 42nd Annual Concerto Program, 8 p.m. The concerto features the winners of this year's La Sierra Concerto Competition. Senior violin student Grace Oh, a member of the Long Beach Symphony, will perform Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. Matthew Adams, a junior music major will play George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." Both soloists will be accompanied by the La Sierra Sinfonia, which will round out the concert with Beethoven's "Fidelio" Overture. Sinfonia director is Andrew Robinson, assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Hole Memorial Auditorium.

Theater Program, 8 p.m. La Sierra students will perform the classic Shakespearean comedy "Twelfth Night." Matheson Chapel, $5 admission charge.

Sunday, March 12

Bird Outing, 7:30 a.m. Bird lovers and early risers will join event leader Andrew Howe ('96, '98) for a walking tour of campus and an up-close-and-personal look at the wide variety of campus birds. Binoculars are advised. Howe is a doctoral student at the University of California-Riverside. Meet at La Sierra main entrance.

Pancake Breakfast, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The La Sierra Alumni Association is hosting a pancake breakfast for the whole university community. Tickets for the all-you-can-eat event are $1 for students and $3 for all others. Campus Mall.

Theater Program, 2 p.m. La Sierra students will perform the classic Shakespearean comedy "Twelfth Night." Matheson Chapel, $5 admission charge.

Brandstater Art Exhibit, 2 to 5 p.m. Mixed media, drawings and oil paintings by South African artist Francois Krige, 1913-1994. This free exhibit, titled "Koi-San," showcases the lives of African bushmen. Brandstater Gallery.

Theater Program, 8 p.m. La Sierra students will perform the classic Shakespearean comedy "Twelfth Night." Matheson Chapel, $5 admission charge.

email alumni@lasierra.edu with any questions.

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