Alumni and students enjoy homecomingby Christy K. Robinson It may be 40 years old, but no one is experiencing mid-life crisis! The fortieth annual Alumni-Student Convention, held February 10 - 14 at the School of Dentistry, had something for everyone, from Brian Black's (SD'00) three week-old daughter, to retired professors and administrators, and everyone in between.        Brian Black, SD'00 (right), brought his parents and wife Pearl to Family Day dinner and the Student Dedication ceremony. Little Julia, three weeks old, slept through it all. Planning for each convention takes more than a year, and includes many committee meetings across many departments. Those meetings ensure that plaques are engraved, flowers are delivered, tents are set up, speakers are invited and their needs provided for, students and staff are trained to give tours, painting and cleaning are fresh and sparkling, volunteer hosts are organized, catered food is served beautifully, advertising and printing is mailed, student research is supervised and prepared for presentation, and many other essential activities and backup plans are in place. The annual golf tournament started off the convention, and was held at Redlands Country Club (see table for scores). Trophies were presented to the best scorers .   John Peterson, SD'70, MS'78, Dan Mertz, SD'90, Jeremy Wiggins, SD'00, and Curtis Wiggins, SD'74, were among the golfers who got all their strokes in before the rain clouds opened up.   Student table clinics, in research mode for the last six months, were displayed under a giant pavilion on the lawn north of the University Church. Even with the traditional convention rainfall, alumni commented that it was drier in the tent than in the old and leaky Gentry Gymnasium (slated for demolition). Students presented their research results to judges and alumni; the latter received free continuing education credits for studying the student research. (See accompanying photos.) During the morning of February 10, Mary LoVerde, a nationally famous author, presented stress and time management techniques in an entertaining and informative seminar attended by many alumni, faculty, and staff. Her presentation was co-sponsored with the National Dental Auxiliary. During the afternoon, the Bernard Byrd Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic was dedicated (see article and photos); and the new Hutto-Patterson Pediatric Dental Clinic and Surgery Center for Dentistry held respective Open Houses. In the evening, the Alumni Homecoming Banquet was held in the Wong Kerlee International Conference Center of Coleman Pavilion.   Vernon (SD'60) and Dottie Eddlemon of Tempe, Arizona, sat with classmates at the homecoming banquet.   After several years of service to the Century Club and Alumni Association, Tom Rogers, SD'83, assistant professor of dental educational services, received the presidential gavel of the Alumni Association. Dr. Judith Strutz passes the Alumni Association presidential gavel to Dr. Tom Rogers. Dr. Jon Vanderwerff (Dr. Strutz's husband), associate professor of mathematics and computer science at La Sierra University, Art Linkletter, and Dr. Judith Strutz. The Alumnus of the Year award was given to Mark Carpenter, SD'80, and humorous stories were spoken of him, as well as his many contributions to the community (see story and photo). Art Linkletter was the speaker for the annual homecoming banquet. Mr. Linkletter, 87 years young, is still very active, says Judith Strutz, SD'85, MSEd, associate professor of restorative dentistry and outgoing Alumni Association president. "In addition to his being a regent of Pepperdine University, CEO of the Alzheimers Foundation, president of the UCLA Center for Aging, and recent author of Old Age is Not for Sissies, he is a Grammy and Emmy winner, with two long-running television shows to his credit. Mr. Linkletter was an ambassador to Australia. A book he authored is among the 14 bestsellers of all time. He's been married to the same woman for 67 years, and has three surviving children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. He was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and was adopted by a pastor's family who moved to California. He worked as a merchant sailor and traveled the rails of America. He got a bank job in New York in 1929, and was 'ringside' for the Black Monday stock market crash. He invented the hula hoop and the game of 'Life,' and has lectured extensively. He enjoys interviewing children aged 6 - 10, and adults over 70, because, as he says, those groups have fewer inhibitions and are honest about what they say.   Hundreds of alumni dentists participated in the continuing education symposiums held Friday, Sunday, and Monday during the convention.   "Listening to him share his life experiences was the most enjoyable thing for me," says Dr. Strutz. "He's just phenomenal!" On Friday morning, the Missionary Dentists and Prayer Breakfast was held in the church fellowship hall. Ron Forde, SD'83, former missionary dentist and now director of the service learning program at the School of Dentistry, gave the morning devotional talk (see story and photos). Most of the morning and early afternoon hours were dedicated to continuing education seminars. Dental hygienists and assistants met in the Randall Visitor Center, while hundreds of alumni and faculty dentists met in the Wong Kerlee Conference Center for a symposium. The large symposium replaced the mini-clinics held in past years. The Dental Hygiene and Assistants Luncheon was held at the San Bernardino Hilton, where Pauline Davis, DH'65, was named Alumna of the Year; and the Student of the Year Award was presented to Jacqueline Tatum, DH'00 (see story and photo). Promptly at 4:00, the tours of Prince Hall commenced. About 300 visitors signed up for the tours. Students, staff, and faculty were hosts to many groups of parents and alumni, who were shepherded through the clinics and laboratories, classrooms and other spaces around the building at five-minute intervals. The visitors said they were impressed with the courtesy and knowledge of their hosts. Jim Tuttle gives a talk to people touring Prince Hall during the convention. The tours, spaced five minutes apart, gave 300 people a chance to glimpse the routine of a dental student, from labs to clinic to classrooms. Dr. James Crawford (center) explained NASDAD's role in helping to sponsor extramural mission trips. This year, for the first time, the Dean invited the families of the students being recognized at the Student Dedication to a dinner. Tables and chairs were set up in the tent pavilion, along with gas heaters and astroturf runners. Again, hosts from the School greeted the families and helped seat them, as well as restocked food or whatever else was needed. A dinner buffet which included lasagna and heaps of tropical fruit helped set the tone for the rest of the evening. Dr. and Mrs. Goodacre made the most of the opportunity by meeting families of LLUSD students. Several generations were seated at some tables. At 7:00, a crowd of at least 500 moved into the University church sanctuary, and watched respectfully as School of Dentistry faculty and University representatives marched in academic regalia (see story and photos). On Saturday morning, dental alumni took part in the two worship services and the Sabbath School program at University Church. In the late afternoon, the National Dental Auxiliary hosted a mission benefit concert, Christian Edition, a men's chorus who perform contemporary and traditional Christian music. The offering taken will be used to help meet expenses in dental missionary practices around the world. After the concert, many class reunions met informally in homes, to enjoy catching up on friendships begun many years ago. Ah, but we weren't done yet! On Sunday, February 13, two more continuing education programs were held in Prince Hall and Coleman Pavilion. One seminar was Restoration of Endodontically Treated Teeth; the other was the first of two days of the 21st Annual Anesthesia Symposium. Golf tournament scores   Low gross 1st place Doug Sandquist -- 77 2nd place Larry Bicknell --78 3rd place Harry Schneider -- 80 Low net 1st place Mark Honce -- 67 2nd place Don Brody -- 69 3rd place John Cutts -- 72 Callaway 1st place Kenny Rogers -- 72 2nd place (tie) Allen Lewis --73 and Greg Kuo -- 73 Student net 1st place Jeremy Wiggins -- 91 Closest to pin Kurt Schindler 1'5" Long drive Doug Sandquist 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. All rights reserved. Revised Wednesday, February 28, 2001 2:15 PM Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu URL: http://www.llu.edu/