There are many reasons why I am proud of the Honors Program, which during one of the institution’s accreditation visits was called “the crown jewel” of La Sierra’s academic life. Perhaps the two things that make me the proudest involve the diversity of the current student population and the service ethic of faculty and alumni who contribute to education at La Sierra University.
A few facts about our current students:
- as of December 2018, there are 92 students in the program, our most ever.
- international students hail from Colombia, Italy, Korea, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe (Australia being the only continent not represented).
- American students come from numerous states, as well as from Guam.
- although many students are Biology majors (and on their way, eventually, to Loma Linda), we enjoy a diversity of majors including those in business, the arts, the humanities, and the social sciences. Last year, the program gained its first ever Social Work major.
- female students constitute 60% of the overall program population, and about 75% of its student leadership.
- the program contains two sets of twins, two sets of cousins, four sets of siblings, and two CEOs of their own companies.
- the first second-generation graduate will march this June. Chloe Maksoudian (Class of 2019)–the student editor of the Honorgram for the past several years–is the daughter of Terri Potter (Class of 1990).
A few facts about our faculty and alumni:
- current teachers in the program derive from all four of La Sierra’s schools.
- alumni serve as faculty or staff in all four of the schools. College of Arts & Sciences: Paul Mallery (1989), Kelly Bradley (1991), Nate Sutter (1994), Andrew Howe (1996), David Kendall (2002), Katie Parsons Koh (2004). School of Education: Aimee Leukert (2002). Richards Divinity School: Marlene Ferreras (2003). Zapara School of Business: John Razzouk (2007).
- two alumni turned faculty–Paul Mallery & Andrew Howe–have also served as directors of the program.
- two alumni–Alina Sanchez (1990) and Justin Sandefur (2002)–serve on the university’s Board of Trustees, and another–Vaughn Nelson (2004)–as a pastor at the university church.
There are plenty of reasons to be proud of the Honors Program, most importantly its students, past and present!
–Andrew Howe, Class of 1996