March 21, 2008

By Darla Martin Tucker

A total of $4,500 in scholarships recently awarded by an alumni organization will help three La Sierra University students press closer to their goals.

The Black Alumni of Loma Linda & La Sierra Universities, or BALL, convened the 25th Annual Student Scholarship Banquet on Feb. 23 at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown hotel. The following La Sierra students received awards of $1,500 each; Ekua Amokwanoa Baiden, a Master’s of Arts, counseling major, Kristina E. Eloi, management major, and Rose-Elizabeth Eloi Menos, an undeclared major.

In all, seven La Sierra students applied for this year’s awards. They submitted essays describing their future goals, academic achievements and reasons for selecting LSU.
“La Sierra University fits my needs in many ways. It has an intimate setting that I adore, Seventh-day Adventist values that I’ve grown up with and a curriculum that challenges my intellect,” Menos wrote. She plans to obtain a diploma in communications and public health toward aiding the well being of others, particularly children.

Baiden has lived in parts of Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. She earned a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree from Babcock University in Nigeria. She received practical training at the Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital in Ogun State and the Seventh-day Adventist Hospital and Nursing Training College.
She worked in African communities where she witnessed deaths from preventable diseases, residents’ struggles with fears and health hazards and children and women “traumatized, hurt and abandoned.”

Baiden believes an education at La Sierra will help her tackle the monumental problems faced by citizens of her homeland. “I have looked at the curriculum of La Sierra University and have felt this is one of the opportunities I have to gain knowledge and obtain the skills needed to confront and change the terrible situations we have back home in developing Africa, and to change those situations to the advantage of our people,” Baiden wrote.

“I believe that nothing is impossible for those who believe in God and have a desire to change the existing order to one that ensures the greatest good of the children of God,” she wrote.

Eloi hopes to earn either a Master’s of Public Health or Master’s of Business Administration degree. She works as a fund solicitor for La Sierra University’s Office of Advancement and has a history organizing many activities and services for children and youth at her former church, the First Seventh-day Adventist Church of Teaneck, New Jersey. She also served as an academic biology and English counselor for Upward Bound, an outreach program targeting top high school students from economically disadvantaged areas of New Jersey.

She participated in a La Sierra service-learning trip to New Orleans during last year’s spring break, “during which I helped gut out houses and witness to the people,” Eloi wrote. She is currently treasurer of the Black Student Association.
Two Loma Linda University students also received scholarships; biochemistry doctoral student Chané O’Bannon and family studies doctoral student Carlene Olivia Fider.
The BALL organization has awarded scholarships since February 1983. The money comes from alumni and outside sponsors and donations.

When reviewing applications and essays, BALL leaders consider financial need, community, church and university service and level of altruistic commitment following graduation. An applicant must also have a grade point average above 3.0.

Former San Francisco Mayor and former long-time California State Assembly Speaker Willie L. Brown Jr. gave the keynote address at the banquet.

Kenneth Narducci, La Sierra’s director of wind and percussion studies, directed the La Sierra University Big Band’s performance of songs by Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Gordon Goodwin and other classic jazz artists. La Sierra University President Randal Wisbey also spoke at the event.

During the banquet, BALL representatives presented Dr. Audrey Vance Howard with the La Sierra University Alumna of the Year 2008 award. They recognized Dr. Ronald E. Lightbourne as Loma Linda University Alumnus of the Year, 2008.
“I was very surprised,” Howard said. She is director of the Office of Academic Publications at Loma Linda University. “Many of the honorees are those that go on to careers in health science. …I was very pleased to find that the BALL umbrella includes honorees regardless of their discipline.”
Howard transferred to La Sierra from Compton Community College in 1968 after earning an associate’s degree in science. While initially pursuing chemistry, Howard switched gears in her senior year and aimed for a degree in English. She completed studies for that major in one year, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 from the La Sierra campus.

She earned a California professional clear credential in English for teaching K-12 the following year. She went on to earn a Master’s of Arts degree with an emphasis in English, a specialist in education degree and an education doctorate, all from Loma Linda University’s School of Education.

In her current position, Howard oversees non-news writing and editing assignments from around the university. Her office completes the university catalogue and handles commencement-writing tasks each year. “Our jobs may run the gamut of writing congratulatory messages, editing books and journal articles to helping with student dissertations,” she said.

During her career, she has freelanced as an author and editor for eight books, numerous journal articles and book chapters.

Howard credits her former La Sierra English professor and mentor, the late Helen Little, with her career path. When Howard began her master’s program in 1972, Little directed her to an internship at Loma Linda University’s Office of Academic Publications.

“I think it was absolutely providential. I’m certain the Lord had His hand on me because it was supposed to be a two-year internship until my master’s degree was completed. It turned into a 35-year career,” Howard said.
Howard’s awards and citations over the years include the San Bernardino County Department of Health Community Service Award and the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center Wholeness Service Award. She has established literacy and math summer day camps for inner city children, directed smoking-cessation programs and helped establish scholarship award programs for minority high school students.

Howard advises students to work hard and pursue opportunities “that speak to your heart.”
“You should not be afraid to dream non-traditional dreams,” she said. “Allow God to direct your paths. He’s promised He will put in you places you’ve never dreamed of.”

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