Christina Walters, Kimberly Puen, Kar-yee Yung, Kathy Khoo, Meenal Rao, and Jay Soria

La Sierra's first class of the new millennium celebrated years of study, taking exams from pop quiz to doctoral defense, memorization, learning to walk with God, work experience, sacrifices made, victories won, hard lessons learned, thousands of dollars in tuition spent (and years ahead to pay back the loans), weeks and months spent writing papers, years spent on research or honors projects, months spent as student missionaries in primitive living conditions, (one could go on and on)...by marching, cheering, praying, baking in black robes in the sun, snapping photos of family and classmates, garlanding friends with leis, listening to speakers, and having degrees conferred upon them.

Many of the new alumni are heading for graduate school, foreign travel, starting their own businesses, or filling internships in their career of choice.
Graduates with advanced degrees face not only the loan repayment schedule, but increased salaries and earning potential.

The graduation weekend for 2001 began in June 2000, when the commencement committee met for a postmortem on what was good and what could be improved. Candace Jorgensen, Dr. Leslie Martin, and Monte Andress were senior class sponsors, and met with seniors to plan the class events of 2001. The President's and Provost's offices carried much responsibility, along with members of the Advancement team and Student Life.

June 15
With final exams and last minute events behind them, seniors could breathe easier now, with the advent of Sabbath. The official events began on Friday night, with an evening consecration service. Students marched in regalia to reserved seats in the La Sierra University Church, and were treated to a program of music and inspiration by their own classmates.

Said Rodney Saenz, cum laude graphic design major, in his speech at consecration, "Our college existence is often defined by what we accomplish, what we learn, the skills we cultivate and the other "practical" matters that enhance our potential to be productive as members of the world. I hesitate to leave it there.

"I believe that equally important are the intangibles; the things I've learned from the late night confessions with my roommates, the inevitable cries of dismay when a test is returned with a big, fat "F," the matter-of-fact explanations of why she and I don't belong together, the exhilarating burst of adrenaline upon reaching the top of the gym's rock-climbing wall for the first time, the blissful sleep of a Sunday afternoon

nap, the blank stares of friends who have absolutely NO idea why that piece is 'art,' and the surprisingly delicious smell of cafeteria food after a three-day allnighter. These 'minor' things, these simple, everyday occurrences were the blocks on which we built this day. Take them away, ignore their significance, and all you're left with is a graduation list. We are so much more than that.

"I am thankful for this day, and for it happening here, at this, my...OUR school. I am thankful that my sister and I can share the honor of being first in our family

to graduate from college in the U.S. And I will be forever thankful for those friends and those instances which taught me the importance of living in the moment, for the moment, and casting aside the trepidation over that nebulous tomorrow."
Liberal arts major Ralph Martinez and music major Mindy Leinberger performed a piano and violin duet, the theme from "Schindler's List."

Sam Leonor, campus pastor, spoke on the importance of being powerless.
"Are you willing to be like Jesus?" he asked. "Give rather than amass, live a life giving away of your bounty to people who just don't have as much as you.

"Like Jesus, be powerless rather than powerful. God chose to enter into human history in complete weakness. Henri Nowen says it this way, 'The radical, divine choice is the choice to reveal glory, beauty, truth, peace, joy, and most of all love in and through the complete divestment of power.' Like Eva, one of your own who spoke at our University Worship last week said, 'Jesus demonstrated his desire to be our friend by experiencing how powerless we really are.'

"Jesus was powerless in birth, as a little baby, in life, and in death. You want to see a portrait of the powerless God? Here it is: Blessed are the gentle: he was gentle. Blessed are the those who mourn: he mourned. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice: He didn't hesitate to criticize injustice, defend the hungry, the dying, the lepers. Blessed are the merciful: He was merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart: He was pure in heart. Blessed are the peacemakers: He was a peacemaker. Blessed are those who are persecuted: He was persecuted.

"This is the portrait of the powerless God. This is the portrait of the sick, the prisoners, the refugees, the lonely, the victims, the people with AIDS, the dying. This is a portrait of your neighbor, your brothers and your sisters. This is a portrait of what Jesus calls you to.

"The rich young ruler went away sad because he had so much. He didn't want to give it up. You… on the other hand. What about you? Are you willing to give it all up? Will you follow Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God?"

After the consecration prayer and recessional, the grads and their families were treated to cookies and punch by the Alumni Association.

For a gallery of photos, click here.

Story & Photos by Christy Robinson