COMMENCEMENT 1990

A weekly roundup of Southland graduation ceremonies.

Cal State Northridge

Cal State Northridge held its 32nd annual commencement on Friday. Degrees were conferred on 4,400 graduates, with 3,800 receiving bachelor’s and 600 receiving master’s degrees. University President John W. Cleary (Marquette, 1950) delivered the keynote address. From his prepared text:

“CSUN is fast becoming a ‘family university . ‘ Family members of a growing number of our graduates ... have imparted to their spouses, sons and daughters, their in-laws, nieces and nephews, a driving motivation to get a college education .... In so doing, they have also imparted a strong sense of love, encouragement and pride.” Cal State Dominguez Hills

Cal State Dominguez Hills conferred degrees on 2,400 graduates at its 24th commencement Friday. Assemblyman John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) (University of Santa Clara, 1954) delivered the keynote address. Biola University

Biola University held its 80th annual commencement Saturday. Degrees were conferred on 439 graduates, with 157 receiving a bachelor of arts, 136 receiving a bachelor of sciences, 113 receiving a master’s and 33 receiving a Ph.D. degree. Roberta Hestenes, (UC Santa Barbara) president of Eastern College, delivered the keynote address. Honorary degrees were awarded to Akira Izuta, chairman of the Japan Evangelical Assn., and to H. Norman Wright, founder and director of Family Counseling and Enrichment.

California Baptist College

California Baptist College held its 37th annual commencement Saturday. Degrees were conferred on 132 graduates, with 120 receiving bachelor’s and 12 receiving master’s degrees. Gordon Kingsley (Mississippi College, 1957), president of William Jewell College, delivered the keynote speech. Honorary degrees were awarded to Jeff Saunders, former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Penn Corp. Group Management; and Lonnie Chavez, director of the Missions Growth Division of the California Southern Baptist Convention.

University of Redlands

University of Redlands and its Johnston and Alfred North Whitehead centers held their commencement ceremonies on Saturday. Degrees were conferred on 712 graduates, with 597 receiving bachelor’s and 115 receiving master’s degrees. Leslie A. Janka (University of Redlands, 1962), vice president of the government relations firm Neil & Co. of Washington, D.C., delivered the keynote address for the University of Redlands. Maryetta Ferre (University of Redlands, 1970) delivered the keynote address for the Alfred North Whitehead Center. Kevin O’ Neill (Georgetown, 1969), professor of philosophy at the school, and Penny McElroy (Alma College, 1986), art professor at the school, delivered the keynote addresses at the Johnston Center.

University of San Diego

University of San Diego held its 37th annual commencement on Sunday. Degrees were conferred on 1,032 graduates, with 749 receiving bachelor’s, 254 receiving master’s, and 29 receiving doctoral degrees. Bob and Delores Hope delivered the key note speeches at the under graduate ceremony. From Bob Hope’s address:

“You’ve gotten the last grades you’ll ever get in geometry, history and English Lit . . . . From now on, you’ll be attending a far bigger and more important classroom, where your grades will determine how far you will go in devotion, compassion and self-respect. That will be the important curriculum from now on. Cicero said, ‘A room without books is like a body without a soul . ‘ I’ll never forget when he told me that . “ Benjamin Bloom, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago, delivered the keynote address at the graduate ceremony. Honorary degrees were awarded to the Hopes and to Bloom. Emilie Bonnie Rose, a nursing major, was the valedictorian at the undergraduate ceremony. Kimberlee Ann Jubala, an education major from Fullerton, was the graduate valedictorian.

University of La Verne and the University of La Verne Law School

University of La Verne and the University of La Verne Law School held their commencement ceremonies on Sunday. Degrees were conferred on 1,621 graduates, with 840 receiving a bachelor’s, 685 receiving a master’s degree, 61 receiving a juris doctor’s and 35 receiving Ph.D. degrees. Screenwriter Barry Morrow (St. Olaf, 1989), delivered the keynote address. An honorary degree was awarded to Morrow.

California Lutheran University

California Lutheran University held its commencement ceremonies on Sunday. Degrees were conferred on 552 graduates, with 360 receiving a bachelor’s and 192 receiving a master’s degree. University President Jerry H. Miller (Harvard, 1953) delivered the keynote address. An honorary degree was awarded to John B. Gilbert, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of TOLD Corp.

Whittier College and the Whittier College School of Law

Whittier College and the Whittier College School of Law held their commencements Sunday. Degrees were conferred on 200 bachelor’s and master’ graduates and 100 law school graduates. Morris S. Dees (University of Alabama, 1958) of the Southern Poverty Law Center delivered the keynote address. Honorary degrees were awarded to Dees and Benjamin B. Tregoe, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Kepner-Tregoe Inc.

Loma Linda University School of Medicine and School of Dentistry

Loma Linda University School of Medicine and School of Dentistry held their commencement exercises Sunday. Dr. Denis P. Burkitt (Dublin University, 1936), vice president of the International Christian Medical and Dental Assn., delivered the keynote address to 145 candidates for graduation at the medical school. Dr. C. Joan Coggin (Columbia Union College, 1948), associate dean for International Programs at Loma Linda University’s School of Medicine, delivered the keynote address to 109 graduation candidates at the dental school.

Looking Ahead

* Cal State Long Beach will hold its commencements at the Central Quad on campus starting Wednesday and ending Friday.

* West Coast University will hold its 41st annual commencement at 2:30 Saturday at the Wilshire Ebell Theater.