September 14, 2007

Larissa House, a social work major at La Sierra University, received an Athena Scholarship during a special luncheon held at Riverside’s Mission Inn in May. The event was sponsored by Athena of the Inland Valleys, an affiliate of the National Athena Foundation, and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce.

The local Athena chapter annually awards scholarships to outstanding women attending the four colleges and universities in Riverside. House was La Sierra’s honoree, and she joined six other women from Riverside Community College, University of California Riverside, and California Baptist University.

“Larissa House  exemplifies the spirit of the Athena award,” said Lawrence T. Geraty, who completed his term as president in  June 2007. “In addition to keeping her GPA at 3.99, Larissa takes time to volunteer in our community and around the world.”  House has assisted in the intake and general supervision of residents at Operation Safehouse in Riverside, tutored a high school senior, and offered peer support and gives assistance to the deans and students in her position as Resident Assistant La Sierra University. 

In 2005 and 2006, House worked as a translator for Community Action Partnership of Riverside County, where she translated forms and public relations materials from English to Spanish for Project B.L.I.S.S.  During the summer of 2006, House volunteered at Hogar de Ninos, an orphanage in Santa Barbara, Honduras, where she was responsible for the care, supervision, meals, and all the other activities of nine girls, ages 5-13.  While at Hogar de Ninos, House also provided general supervision and support to all the children in the orphanage, as well as assisting in meal preparation and teaching English in the local elementary school.

In addition to all her classes and volunteer work, House finds time for a few extra-curricular activities, including attending the 2007 Lobby Days in Sacramento, being a Freshman Orientation Family Group Mentor at La Sierra University, and co-leading a children’s education program at Loma Linda Chinese Seventh-day Adventist Church.

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)