March 10, 2008

View the photo album from this event.

Weldon and Joan Schumacher have been named as 2008 Alumni of the Year at La Sierra University. They selection was revealed during the Presidential Inaugural Gala/85th Homecoming Banquet, held on the Riverside campus March 6, 2008, before a capacity crowd in the University’s Alumni Pavilion.
The university also revealed the selection of four honored alumni and four “Rising Star” young alumni during the event.

Weldon and Joan Schumacher, Alumni of the Year
(NOTE: for a more indepth look at the Schumacher’s story, please go to: http://www.lasierra.edu/news/2005/dec/schumacher.html)

Weldon remembers well the day he decided to become a physician. As he stood outside the La Sierra University church as a young boy, a woman asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.
“A doctor,” Weldon said.
The woman replied, “You’ll never be a doctor.” Weldon set out to prove her wrong.

Fast forward a decade or so.

Weldon was at La Sierra College studying Pre-Med, but on this day he was sitting in La Sierra Hall before Dr. Airey’s history class. Joan walked in to the classroom. They were both impressed with each other. The friendship grew, and they were married in 1957. After graduation, it was off to Loma Linda, where Weldon reached his goal of becoming a physician. They then established a respected family practice in Lodi, California.            

Through the years the Schumachers  have also represented what’s best about La Sierra University, by their active involvement in their community. Weldon chaired the local hospital board, and both became active in their local English Oaks Adventist church and church school. The two also became interested in cherry farming. Eventually they had some 16,000 cherry trees, making the Schumachers the largest cherry grower in the Lodi area. In fact, because of the expertise she developed in the industry, Joan was eventually asked to serve on the California State Cherry Board.

Fast forward several more decades.          

A life-changing moment occurred in 2003, when Weldon suffered a sudden ruptured bowel, which led to diffused peritonitis. Even from the name, you know this is very bad. The surgeon on the case did not believe Weldon would survive. Ultimately Weldon underwent six major surgeries and 10 minor procedures during the next two years. He was in a coma for four months. Twice physicians suggested to Joan that she remove life support. But she refused. Thousands of people around the world were praying for Weldon’s situation.            

“The Lord healed me at least a dozen times,” Weldon says. Today Weldon continues his recuperation from that crisis.
Weldon and Joan Schumacher see Weldon’s second chance at life as an opportunity to share God’s blessings. They’ve become strong financial supporters of Christian education, from elementary school through the graduate level.
            Recently Weldon and Joan Schumacher committed $5 million to La Sierra University to support the construction of the new Thaine B. Price Science Complex. Their gift is the largest contribution received by La Sierra since its founding in 1922. In recognition of this significant gift, the university has named the three-building area surrounding Cossentine, Price and Palmer Halls the Weldon D. and Joan Schumacher Science Park.           
            “Schools are one of the most important mission fields we have,” Weldon says. “The undergraduate students at La Sierra deserve the best opportunities to study in their fields. They are the future of our church. Eventually they’ll become our church’s leaders and missionaries.”
            Because of ongoing health issues, the Schumacher’s were unable to attend the homecoming weekend. Their remarks with the audience were shared through a cell phone held up to the public address system.

Honored Alumni Awards
College of Arts and Sciences:
This is the second time Mark Reeves, the 2008 Honored Alumnus from the College of Arts and Sciences, has received as award from la Sierra University. He graduated from La Sierra in 1982 Suma Cum Laude with a BS in Biochemistry. That year he received the Dean’s Award as outstanding graduating senior from the College. He often says, “the education I received at LSU gave me an incredible advantage as I pursued higher education.”

That higher education included time as an award-winning Ph.D. student at UCLA,  followed by a medical degree at Loma Linda University.

Today Reeves is Director of the Loma Linda University Cancer Center. With this, he is responsible for all cancer activities, both clinical and scientific, at Loma Linda University. His passion for teaching is also reflected in his role as Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at Loma Linda University. In this capacity, he directs the education of all 53 residents that are training to become surgeons. He’s also Principal Investigator on more than 10 different clinical trials testing novel treatments in cancer patients.

School of Business:
Clay Phillips, Honored Alumnus from the School of Business, earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1979. He earned an MBA from Pepperdine several years later.

Currently he is City Manager of Escondido, California, a post he’s held since 2003. He is responsible for more than 1,000 employees and a budget of $250 million. He plays a key role in the city’s efforts to promote economic development in Escondido and to highlight Escondido's attractiveness as a place to live, work, and play.

After launching his career at Ford Aerospace Corporation, our honoree entered public service. He has served the people in Santa Ana and Irvine before locating in Escondido.

Last October our Phillips, his wife, and family joined others from the La Sierra University community in New York City, where together they watched the LSU Students In Free Enterprise team compete and win the SIFE World Championship. One of the LSU SIFE presentation team, Adam, is his oldest son

School of Education:
“She’s the type of teacher and mentor you dream of having for your students. She helps students believe in themselves, and gives them the necessary tools to succed in life and an academic environment.” Those are the words of Larry Geraty, La Sierra’s president emeritus, about Janet Mallery, School of Education Honored Alumnus.

A true product of La Sierra, Dr. Mallery earned four degrees from our campus—BS in education, MA in Elementary Education, Education Specialist in curriculum and leadership, and a Doctor of Education.

Her career included service as a librarian, elementary school teacher, and principal of La Sierra Elementary/Junior High School, Associate Superintendent of Education for the Southeaster California Conference and retired in 2005 as Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education at La Sierra University.

These days she volunteers as a co-producer of two series of programs for Loma Linda Broadcasting Network. She also volunteers in two elementary classrooms at La Sierra Academy where she prepares and presents science lessons weekly.  Perhaps her most treasured role is being known as the “Science Granny.”

School of Religion:
Jose Rojas, School of Religion Honored Alumnus, is a “dreamer and visionary” spoken of in Joel 2:28. In his role as Director of the Office of Volunteer Ministries for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, he spearheads a growing volunteer movement in North America, inspiring the efforts of more than 70,000 young people and adults who are reaching out to communities around the globe.

Rojas is a 1987 and 1989 graduate of the La Sierra University School of Religion. He also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Southwestern Adventist University.

An accomplished musician and recording artist, Rojas is also an author and passionate preacher of God’s word. He began his career in pastoral and youth ministry in Central California. He’s received many professional and community honors, including an opportunity to carry the Official Olympic Torch into Washington DC as part of its relay journey to the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

Rising Stars
College of Arts and Sciences:
Nathan Sutter, the rising star honoree from the College of Arts and Sciences, is currently Assistant Professor of Medical Genetics at Cornell, University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from La Sierra University in 1994, followed by additional work at the University of Washington.

His laboratory searches for and studies the gene variants that make dogs susceptible to cancer and other diseases. By finding these genes and identifying mutations in them his research’s aim is to ultimately improve the health of both dogs and humans. He is also working with a group of researchers that studies the genes that contribute to the different body sizes among dog breeds. Our winner recently participated in a major published NIH study that showed that variation at the insulin-like growth factor-1 gene is a major determinant of body size in dogs. The study attracted national media attention, and was the cover story on a 2007 issue of Science magazine. Media reporting on the story included the New York Times, National Public Radio, and newspapers across the United States.
His award was accepted on his behalf by his parents, Adeny Schmidt and Ken Sutter.

School of Business:
Mike Miller, the 2008 School of Business Rising Sta,r serves at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he directs an integrated record information system project. He is a cum laude graduate of La Sierra University, also in 1994. Since his graduation, he has been certified as a Public Accountant, a Management Accountant, and an Internal Auditor.

At the Medical Center, our winner oversees a wide range of efforts to develop software and computer hardware packages that will streamline and secure patient records for the fourth-largest hospital in the state of California. He also owns the Wilmon Corporation, making him responsible for the operations of a 70-bed healthcare facility with a full-time staff of 80.

School of Education:
Shannon Brown, the 2008 Rising Star from the School of Education, is vice principal, registrar, and counselor at Holbrook Sevent-day Adventist Indian School in Arizona. She earned a Master of Arts from La Sierra University in 2002, and an Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology in 2003.

Her career path has taken her through San Diego, California, and Aurora, Colorado, before she and her husband, Darren, arrived at Holbrook. In looking back on her career and education, our winner believes that the skills and friendships she formed at La Sierra University have “held her steady” as she’s dealt with life’s challenges. School of Education leaders singled her out for high commitment to excellence in her service to students. of Education Rising star—Shannon Brown.

School of Religion:
This is not the first award that La Sierra University has given to Linn Marie Tonstad, the  School of Religion’s  Rising Star honoree. When she was a graduating senior in 2001, she received the Dean’s award from the School of Religion for outstanding academic performance in her sclass.  She went on to complete a masters degree from Yale Divinity School in Theology (2003), and was then accepted into Yale’s Ph.D. program to work with Miroslav Volf, an influential Christian theologian. 

She has been active at Yale, teaching and publishing. This year she was awarded a prestigious scholarship to spend a year at Tubingen University in Germany, where she is currently working toward completing her dissertation. Because she is continuing her studies in Germany and could not be present at homecoming, her award was accepted by her parents.

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