Ten La Sierra University alumni from the fields of education, ministry, finance, real estate, healthcare management, and municipal government were recognized on April 19 for their significant impacts within their professions and communities.
The 2024 Recognition Banquet and Alumni Awards Ceremony held during alumni weekend, April 18–21, drew a capacity audience to the Zapara School of Business. The event included performances by the La Sierra University Chamber Singers and alumni guest artists.
John Thomas, dean of the business school, and his wife, Kimberly Borg Thomas, were recognized as Alumni of the Year. The couple met during the 1980s while students in the university’s business program and were married in La Sierra’s historic Matheson Chapel.
John Thomas has held the business school deanship since 1999 and is the school’s Bashir Hasso Professor of Entrepreneurship and Political Economy. Among many other contributions, he guided the school to achieve an enrollment high of nearly 500 students and led fundraising efforts in the development and construction of the Zapara School of Business building, which opened in 2013.
Following a career in finance and sales, Kim Thomas served as a member of various Adventist educational institution boards, including Loma Linda Academy and the Southeastern California Conference; co-chaired the successful Loma Linda Academy Family Volunteer Night benefitting local charities; and is a member of the La Sierra University Department of Music advisory council.
“The last 35 years we had the opportunity to inspire a generation of Adventist business students to believe that they were among the best,” noted John Thomas in his remarks.
The following alumni received Rising Star and Honored Alumni awards:
• College of Arts & Sciences, Rising Star, award-winning international concert pianist Jonathan Mamora ‘17; Honored Alumnus, Dr. Alison Rice ’96, chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Notre Dame and the Dr. William M. Scholl Professor of French and Francophone Studies.
• H.M.S. Richards Divinity School, Rising Star, Cherise Gardner ’07, lead pastor, Chico church; Honored Alumnus, Leo Ranzolin, Sr. ’58, former youth ministries director and vice president for the General Conference.
• Tom & Vi Zapara School of Business, Rising Star, Richard C. Patchett ’12,’14’, and ’15, director of finance, real estate strategy, and operations, Providence St. Joseph Health; Honored Alumnus, Brett Walls ’96, assistant vice president for ambulatory services, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.
• School of Education, Rising Star, Heidi Jorgensen ’19, superintendent of education for the Nevada-Utah Conference; Honored Alumnus, Steve Hemenway ’02, ’04, ’12, Riverside City councilmember Ward 7, La Sierra University church director of finance.
Gardner in a video acceptance noted, “During my time at La Sierra, I learned to give, to share, to participate in this kingdom-building effort that's bigger than all of us. Thank you for seeing me and pushing me and preparing me to share Christ with the world.”
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By Darla Martin Tucker
Diez exalumnos honrados en banquete de bienvenida
Diez ex alumnos de La Sierra University en las áreas de educación, ministerio, administración, bienes raíces, gestión de la salud y gobierno municipal fueron reconocidos el 19 de abril por su impacto significativo dentro de sus profesiones y comunidades.
El Banquete de Reconocimiento 2024 y la Ceremonia de Entrega de Premios a los Exalumnos que se celebraron durante el fin de semana del 18 al 21 de abril, atrajeron a una audiencia plena a la Escuela Zapara de Administración. El evento incluyó actuaciones de los Cantantes de Cámara de La Sierra University y artistas exalumnos invitados.
John Thomas, decano de la escuela de administración, y su esposa, Kimberly Borg Thomas, fueron reconocidos como Exalumnos del Año. La pareja se conoció durante la década de 1980 mientras estudiaban en el programa de administración de la universidad y se casaron en la histórica Capilla Matheson de La Sierra.
John Thomas ha sido el decanato de la escuela de administración desde 1999 y es el profesor Bashir Hasso de Emprendimiento y Economía Política de la escuela. Entre muchas otras contribuciones, guió a la escuela para lograr una matrícula de casi 500 estudiantes y dirigió los esfuerzos de recaudación de fondos en el desarrollo y la construcción del edificio de la Escuela Zapara de Administración, que se inauguró en 2013.
Después de una carrera en finanzas y ventas, Kim Thomas sirvió como miembro de varias juntas directivas de instituciones educativas adventistas, incluyendo Loma Linda Academy y Southern California Conference; copresidió la exitosa Noche de Voluntariado Familiar de Loma Linda Academy en beneficio de organizaciones benéficas; y es miembro del consejo asesor del Departamento de Música de La Sierra University.
«En los últimos 35 años hemos tenido la oportunidad de inspirar a una generación de estudiantes adventistas de administración a creer que estaban entre los mejores», señaló John Thomas en su presentación.
Los siguientes ex alumnos recibieron los premios Rising Star y Honored Alumni:
• College of Arts & Sciences, Rising Star, pianista internacional galardonado Jonathan Mamora ‘17; Honored Alumnus, Dr. Alison Rice ’96, directora del Department of Romance Languages and Literatures de University of Notre Dame y del Dr. William M. Scholl Professor of French and Francophone Studies.
• H.M.S. Richards Divinity School, Rising Star, Cherise Gardner ’07, pastora, Chico church; Honored Alumnus, Leo Ranzolin, Sr. ’58, quien fuese director de jóvenes y vice presidente de la Conferencia General.
• Tom & Vi Zapara School of Business, Rising Star, Richard C. Patchett ’12, ’14 y ’15, director de finanzas, gestion de bienes raíces y operaciones, Providence St. Joseph Health; Honored Alumnus, Brett Walls ’96, vicepresidente asistente de servicios ambulatorios, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.
• School of Education, Rising Star, Heidi Jorgensen ’19, superintendente de educación de Nevada-Utah Conference; Honored Alumnus, Steve Hemenway ’02, ’04, ’12, consejero de Riverside City Ward 7, director de finanzas de la iglesia de La Sierra University.
Gardner, por video, señaló: «Durante mi estadía en La Sierra, aprendí a dar, a compartir, a participar en este esfuerzo de construcción del reino que es más grande que todos nosotros. Gracias por verme, impulsarme y prepararme para compartir a Cristo con el mundo».
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Por Darla Martin Tucker
