40 dental hygiene BS, 80 DDS degrees, 24 professional certificates presented May 30 by Christy K. Robinson In a whirl of final exams, competencies, banquets, awards ceremonies, baccalaureate and commencement exercises during the last weeks of May, 144 diplomas or certificates were awarded, along with honors for students and faculty. The diplomas and certificates were given at the School of Dentistry commencement.   Antoinette ìToni" Trujeque celebrates her new bachelor's degree in dental hygiene.   Departments held banquets for their graduates, where awards and recognition were given to students and faculty. Dental hygiene students enjoyed a banquet, and the 39th annual pinning ceremony in celebration of finishing their baccalaureate program. At the pinning, they presented flowers and awards to fellow students, faculty, and family in appreciation and affection. Class historians edited slides, prints, and video clips together to form videotape presentations for their respective programs. The Senior Student and Faculty Banquet was held at Arrowhead Christian Conference Center, in the lower elevation of the San Bernardino Mountains. This grand hotel, built in the last century, boasts hot springs fountains, a magnificent view of city lights beyond the lawn, and an elegant banquet hall. David Anderson, SD'70, PG'78, professor and chair of dental anesthesia, was emcee. The banquet was sponsored by Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the Alumni Association, and the School of Dentistry. OKU membership, the President's Award, and other honors were bestowed that evening. Laura Joseph, M.Mus., provided dinner music on her harp.   Senior dental class of 1999 enjoyed the Senior Student and Faculty banquet held May 26.   Baccalaureate, Sabbath, May 29 At 10:45 a.m., faculty and students robed in colorful splendor, ceremonially progressed through the University Church, amid much photography and videotaping. The inspiring and solemn music, performed by Dr. Kimo Smith, church organist, and the sanctuary orchestra, under direction by Dr. Donald Thurber, was Kyrie Eleison (ìLord, Have Mercy"), by Louis Vierne. Graduates of the Schools of Dentistry and Medicine filled many of the front pews, with medical and dental faculty filling the choir loft. The choir stood on the chancel steps for the hymn and the anthem. Dental participants included Kristi Wilkins, RDH, Jennifer Dovich, DH'99, Ron Schoepflin, SD'99, and Michael Foulston, SD'86.   Baccalaureate participants included President Lyn Behrens (left of floral arrangement), and Carla Gober, speaker (third from right).   Carla Gober, MS, MPH, associate director of the Center for Spiritual Life and Wholeness for Loma Linda University, gave the homily, reminding graduates not only of their contribution to the future, but of their pasts, and how they had already affected many lives, including those of their classmates, teachers, patients, families and friends. She suggested that the graduates examine the wake they left behind, similar to that following a boat moving through water, that started at a narrow point, but extended in an ever-widening path to the horizon. Students and their families mingled on the campus green outside the church for several hours afterward. Commencement, Sunday, May 30 Although commencement services began at 5:00 p.m., hundreds of people were swarming over the campus lawn before 4:00. Staff members from administration and clinic were assisting the graduates in adjusting robes, hoods, caps, and leis. Floral bouquets had been placed under graduates' chairs. The Alumni Association pavilion tables were loaded with delectable reception foods and drink, and gifts for graduates were organized in neat stacks.   Dental grads listen to the baccalaureate speaker inside University Church.   Again, the procession of marshalls, University officials, dentistry faculty, and graduates walked regally up the grassy center aisle, and took their places to the strains of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance No. 1, performed by the Loma Linda Academy Band, directed by Philip Binkley. The academic procession's marshalls included Dennis Clark, SD'83, Robert Clement, DDS, and Daniel Tan, SD'75A. They were followed by scientific, religious, and clinical educators, then by the graduates of IDP, professional certificate graduate students, dentistry and dental hygiene graduates. University president B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, and Charles J. Goodacre, SD'71, MSD, dean of the School of Dentistry, presented the School's Distinguished Service Award to William Seibly, SD'59, PhD (see story about faculty awards). Alvin L. Kwiram, PhD, Vice Provost for Research, University of Washington, gave the commencement address, Sense or Nonsense. He spoke about the believability of scientific theories such as Galileo's and the theory of plate tectonics, initially ridiculed but now accepted as fact. He encouraged graduates to thoroughly investigate science and not to fear making waves if they believed they were correct.   Alvin L. Kwiram, PhD, Vice Provost for Research, University of Washington, gave the commencement address.   Gina Downs, president of the dental hygiene graduates, after catching her mortarboard as it flew away on the wind, made the class response, reminding classmates to pursue hopes and dreams with all their ability. John Nelsen, president of the dental graduates, thanked the University and School faculty for the valuable life lessons learned, and his classmates for their friendship and support. B. Lyn Behrens, president of Loma Linda University, asked the graduates of dental hygiene, dentistry, International Dentist Program, and advanced education to stand, and then conferred upon them the appropriate degrees, after which diplomas were awarded to 144 candidates. Charles J. Goodacre, SD'71, MSD, professor and dean of the School of Dentistry, asked spouses, children, parents, and siblings of the graduates to stand and be recognized. A round of applause and cheers went up from the front rows filled with the newest alumni of the University. After the pledge to dentistry, a string and piano trio by Jodi Sceville, Cynthia Liebelt, and Henry Kim, SD'99, and the benediction by Bruce Pence, SD'65, associate professor of restorative dentistry and director of the International Dentist Program, the faculty and graduates recessed down the grass aisle, through an airborne aerosol string tunnel. The Alumni Association and many dental school staff volunteers served a beautiful reception for the hundreds of graduates and their families. O Happy Day! David Rogers, DDS, Doug Roh, DDS, and Trent Loiseau, DDS, celebrate! University | Medical_Center | LLU&MC_home | Search | Employment | News_&_events | Academics | Our_mission | Admissions | Registration | Research | Alumni | Student_resources All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University. 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