Movement No. 2022: Best of the Year and of All-Time
Music is a major part of our lives in the Honors community. It allows us to decompress and express ourselves in a different mode. We checked in with our students and faculty, who graciously shared their musical tastes for this issue of the Honorgram. In late November...
Welcoming coordinator esther olmedo!
This year, the Honors Program welcomed a new coordinator: Esther Olmedo! In 2007, Olmedo attended La Sierra University, where she began studying as a liberal studies major with plans to teach either kindergarten or first grade. Originally from San Diego, she was a...
Freshman Corner: A Moment of inquiry
Peering at the sky I ask myself a question What is my future? As of now, it has been approximately 173 hours since I last set foot on campus, a duration much longer than what I usually enjoy during the weekend at home. While I no longer wield my “never caughtCOVID...
Alumni Spotlight: Shannon Grewal, Dental Student at University of Michigan
I had the pleasure of interviewing Shannon Grewal, a 2021 La Sierra University Honors Program alumni. She is currently completing her second year of dental school at the University of Michigan. Grewal's personal experiences with dentistry in her youth inspire...
the famous malaysia/singapore trip: post-pandemic edition
During the summer of 2022, our Honors students (Classes of 2023 and 2024) were blessed with the opportunity to travel internationally since 2019. Immerse yourself into their journeys through the accounts of two of our juniors and seniors. snapshot: an evening in...
“Semper Fidelis—Always Faithful”: A Humble Thanksgiving
For many people, Thanksgiving is a beautiful time for all to come together with their friends and family to reflect on what they are thankful for throughout the year. In 2022, I experienced my most meaningful Thanksgiving to date. It all started with flying into...
No Summer bummers: what did honors do over the summer?
As we, Honors students know, life can get busy. With this business of life comes the vitality of breaks. Everyone needs a break from school to get away, try something new, or simply rest. So, what did our summer breaks look like? Here are a few things that members of...
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Richard Guy
Over Christmas break, I had the pleasure of learning a bit more about Dr. Richard Guy, and now I have the pleasure of sharing what I learned with you! Dr. Guy is currently transitioning from Caltech to UCLA to expand the earthquake-monitoring project he has managed...
Drum Roll, Please: Welcome Professor Sutter!
This spring quarter, the Honors community welcomed Professor Oliver Sutter as the new Interim Honors Director for the Honors Program at La Sierra University. I recently met with Professor Sutter to learn more about him and his plans for the Honors Program. Professor...
A Final Farewell to Honors as the Director of Six Years
I first joined the Honors Program as its director in July 2016. I am now concluding nearly six years of service, four of which were for my original term. The additional time came from when the university asked me to continue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the...
freshman corner: The Constancy of Change
“Eso no es nada en comparación con la inmensidad del océano.” My mom likes to say that all of my problems are “insignificant in comparison to the ocean’s great immensity.” To be honest, now that I’m typing it out, I feel like it sounds more dramatic in Spanish....
Bringing the Cells to Philly
Back in February of this year, my abstract for my research findings (Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) Mitigates the Effects of Camptothecin-induced Oxidative Stress on Bone-like Cancer Cells (UMR 106-01 BSP)) was accepted for a poster presentation at the international...
Where Are They Going?
After a long journey upended by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, our Honors senior cohort (Class of 2022) will finally move their tassels from left to right at this June’s commencement ceremony. Next year, our graduating seniors will be heading to the following...
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Motschiedler
I met with Honors faculty member Dr. Motschiedler, who is the Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as well as the Chair of the Pre-Health Recommendation Committee at La Sierra University. What is your educational background? I attended Andrews...
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Jeannie Shinozuka
Last quarter, I had a chance to meet with Dr. Jeannie Shinozuka via Zoom to document her time at La Sierra University and how education has shaped her. Dr. Shinozuka is currently a professor at Soka University. She is in the process of publishing her book. Without...
Best TV Show, Favorite TV Show
Best TV Show of All Time: The Simpsons This animated program is a satiric adventure of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield. Each episode is about the antics of a particularly dysfunctional family. Homer is the oafish unhealthy beer loving father,...
Freshman Corner: Finding and Walking Down the Pathway to Success
I tend to hear my parents' advice and put it on the back burner of my mind until I reach a point where I realize that they were right all along. That’s exactly what happened upon my shift from Fall Quarter into Winter Quarter. “It seems like a lot at first, but...
A Solemn Yet Glowing COVID Fanfare
“We are currently experiencing technical difficulties. The show will be delayed for a few minutes. We will be starting momentarily.” Well, that had not been the “Enjoy my show” line from King George III that my friends and I had been waiting to hear for months. We sat...
SEA-GENES: Discovering Bacteriophage Genes, Friends, and the Vital Toolkit to Life
SEA-GENES is an undergraduate research course that focuses on determining the effects of bacteriophage genes on host bacteria. It builds on the phage discovery of the SEA-PHAGES program through the discovery of gene function. SEA-GENES serves as an alternative to...
Honors Council Events
Much thanks to Liz Chau, Brian Nguyen, Marco Ruiz Guevara, and Rachel Kim for contributing photos and captions for this feature. FALL VESPERS (FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021) Event setup at Dr. Motschiedler's house for Honors Fall Vespers. (Courtesy of Marco Ruiz...
Enacting Change in Communities
Enactus is a worldwide organization that works to foster the next generation of leaders and innovators by providing students with the resources to create projects that will allow them to better their communities. With thousands of branches located around the world,...
The Reality of a Career in Medicine, ft. Honors Alumnus Dr. Ivan Rybkin
On Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 6 P.M., the Honors Program –– in collaboration with the Pre-Medical Society –– welcomed La Sierra University and Honors Program alumnus Dr. Ivan Rybkin. Dr. Rybkin is an attending OB/GYN at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and...
The Best Music of 2021: Honors Program Edition
In December 2021, Spotify and Apple Music released the highly anticipated Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay, which showcased users’ individual music listening statistics (top artists, top songs, minutes listened, top genre) for the year. For the Fall 2021 edition...
Mission: Breakout! –– Summer Travels Beyond Quarantine Life
Visited: I lived in Kailua, Hawaii, while completing a ten week internship. “I spent my summer in Hawaii working at Adventist Health Castle as a finance intern! During my ten weeks of work, I audited over ten clinics on the island, completed a hospital-wide fixed...
Freshman Corner: The Melancholy Beauty of Growth
From Yo Sistag Yaaaymiee How’s school? I’ve never been so busy in my life …. but I’m getting used to it From Casey Mother doesn’t believe you’re stressed Or more like she’s surprised I’m surprised too lol “Bro, I used to hate when adults were like ‘Welcome to the real...
Falling in Love with Cells
“The cells are like your patients.” These gentle words have reverberated in my ears and flowed through my head like the perpetual waterfalls of wisdom beyond the targeted eight weeks of this past summer. Dr. Joseph is absolutely right! As a student majoring in...
A New Beginning
“OMG, HAIIII, how have you been?!” “Were you in my class two quarters ago?” “It’s so nice to finally meet you in person!” Two years ago, I was isolated in my home, stressing about online classes and the state of the world. A year ago, I came to terms with the...
Fusion San Bernardino
What is Fusion? Who founded the program, and why? Fusion is a homeless ministry that operates in San Bernardino seven days a week, with the goal of not only tending to the homeless population’s materialistic needs but also their emotional, relational, and...
SECOND-GENERATION PHYSICIAN DR. SUNG J KIM SHARES HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
March 2020 marked the start of health workers serving on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. The past year has been an extremely rigorous period for many healthcare workers. At the same time, for many, it has been a rewarding experience in helping to save...
freshman corner: Obstacles, Growth, and Newfound Capabilities
With the two quarters that I have taken so far at La Sierra, the adjustment period was as expected going from high school to university in an online environment. Transitioning from high school to college in the first quarter, I definitely had some struggles knowing...