Dr. Jan Paulsen, General Conference president, prescribes "A Bit of Adventure" for graduates.

The LSU Church carried on its early service and adult Sabbath School programs as usual, but many rows of pews were held in reserve for the graduates to fill in the 11:00 baccalaureate service. Associate professor of music Elvin Rodriguez played Festal Flourish, by Gordon Jacob, on the pipe organ, as program participants and graduates marched up the center aisle.

Along with the LSU Brass Quintet and a student choir, both directed by associate professor William Chunestudy, the congregation sang O Zion, Haste.

Dr. Jan Paulsen, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, challenged the graduates to "A Bit of Adventure." He said that life is often unfair, even for those who believe in God, but to do what you know is right, to check your basic attitude to people and love them, and to try to be creative and adventurous. "Don't get right into your career track," he cautioned. "Take a year and let God lead you into adventure and your personal discovery of the identity of Jesus. Not your parents' discovery. Yours. The Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to you. With that discovery, we find freedom from the shame of the past. Jesus sets us free."

After the worship service, Paulsen greeted the congregation at the church doors, and graduates gathered with their families for pictures on the church steps.

Special events were planned for the warm afternoon. The first was a tree planting in honor of the late Vern Andress, professor of psychology at La Sierra. The tree will give shade on the upper mall of the campus, roughly halfway between the Library and Hole Memorial Auditorium.

The other event was the dedication of the Paul J. Landa Memorial Fountain, also on the upper mall, facing east. After welcomes by Drs. Geraty and Paulsen, John Jones, Dean of the School of Religion, gave a life sketch of the late Dr. Paul Landa. The La Sierra Class of 1998 presented the fountain as their class gift, and representatives were there to greet Iris Landa, and to give her flowers. Mrs. Landa flipped the switch to the fountain, and it bubbled to life.

Honors graduate Erwin Eli Gonzales shows his LSU crystal medallion.

At 4:00 that Sabbath, the School of Education held its Teacher Dedication service in Matheson Chapel. (Ah, blessed air conditioning!) Graduates and professors took part in the program, and the homily was given by Ella S. Simmons, LSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Administration. Dr. Simmons is particularly appropriate as speaker, with her strong background in education and administration. Her talk was "Sustaining Our First Love," and stressed the need to recharge our own families and friends with loving, to be able to share with students and colleagues in the larger circle.

Graduating teachers were given School of Education medallions, and Norman Powell, Dean of the School, presented the Dean's Award to doctoral candidate Soon-Chiew Shee. Refreshments were served on the Founders Green after the program.

Hole Memorial Auditorium was the venue for the annual Commencement Concert, sacred music performed by music department students, mostly graduating seniors. Randall Bills, tenor, performed "My Jesus, I Love Thee," and wowed the audience, particularly Wayne Hooper, honored alumnus and recipient of an honorary doctoral degree in music. Another musical star was Joshua Tuburan, pianist, who arranges and records his music. He played "Jesus Loves Me," and "Jericho," and received a curtain call when finished.

For a gallery of photos, click here.

Story & Photos by Christy Robinson