NEWS BRIEFS
Alumni and students enjoy 40th annual homecoming
 |
| 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. |
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.
The annual golf tournament started off the convention, and was held at
Redlands Country Club. Trophies were presented to the best scorers.
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.
(See following pages for table clinic winners.)
During the morning of February 10, Mary LoVerde, a nationally-known 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; 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.
 |
| Dental hygiene Alumna of the Year is Pauline Davis, DH’65. |
After several years of service to the Century Club and Alumni Association, Tom Rogers, SD’83, MPH’96, assistant professor of dental educational services, received the presidential gavel of the Alumni Association.
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.
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.
“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 Prayer Breakfast was held in
the University 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.
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. This symposium replaced
the mini-clinics held in past years.
 |
| Dean Goodacre seems to say “Perfect!” as he fits the coat on Jerome Lee, SD’00. |
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.
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.
This year, for the first time, the Dean invited the families of the students being recognized at the Student Dedication, to a dinner. A dinner buffet included lasagna and heaps of tropical fruit. 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 approximately 1200 moved into the University church
sanctuary, and watched respectfully as School of Dentistry faculty and
University representatives marched in academic regalia. Students dedicated
their lives and careers to God’s service, and were presented with
personalized Bibles and white clinic coats embroidered with their names
and the School of Dentistry insignia.
 |
| Students dedicated their lives and careers to God in a Friday night ceremony in the University Church. |
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 was 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.
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.
 |
 |
| Art Linkletter and Dr. Judith Strutz smile for the photographer. | Vernon (SD’60) and Dottie Eddlemon of Tempe, Arizona, sat with classmates at the homecoming banquet. |
 |
| Arlene (DH’71) and Judson Klooster, DDS, dean emeritus, enjoyed the homecoming banquet. |
All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University.
All rights reserved. Revised February 14, 2001
Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu
URL: http://www.llu.edu