At the May 14, 2016, commencement, Warner Pacific honored the following people with awards of academic and personal excellence. Watch commencement addresses and awards presentations on the College’s YouTube Channel.
A.F. Gray Award: Alejandra Garcia
Albert F. Gray, the first president of Warner Pacific College, demonstrated the living example of a godly life, a disciplined mind, and a warm and loving heart. In 1940, he declared that the College seeks to impart to its students, knowledge of the great facts of religion and build into their personality those noble characteristics of love, faith, loyalty, devotion—in short, the graces of the spirit—that they may be well qualified to serve Christ and His church.” In order to uphold and honor these timeless principles, the College presents the A.F. Gray Award each year to a student who clearly exemplifies those high ideals.
Alejandra Garcia serves as a role model to the Warner Pacific community in both her words and actions. She has shown great discipline in her studies, always coming to class on-time, prepared, free from distractions, and ready to fully engage the learning process. This enables her to excel in her academic pursuits and empowers her to embrace challenging growth opportunities, including spending her summers as an intern in Legacy Health Operating Rooms since 2012. However, it would be short-sighted to label Alejandra as only a bright and gifted student, as she is so much more.
Embodying our Christ-centered mission, Alejandra displays a truly kind and genuine heart. Whether she is tutoring other students, providing guidance in her role as a peer mentor in the First-Year Learning Communities, or sharing her skills as a Spanish Interpreter both on campus and at local high schools through the Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) program, Alejandra is selfless.
Alejandra is the kind of person that you want in your classroom, in your workplace, in your community, and in your family. She is a bright light that emanates from Mt. Tabor and we know that she will continue to shine in all she does.
Wilma I. Perry Award: Nathan Herbst
Dr. Wilma I. Perry embodied many wonderful qualities that Warner Pacific College considers of high value for its graduates of the Adult Degree Program. In her lifetime, Dr. Perry served as pastor of the Friendly Street Church of God in Eugene, OR, following years of service as an itinerant preacher and evangelist. Furthermore, she earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Oregon as an adult student and joined the faculty at Warner Pacific College, where she also directed the College’s Center for Human Services. She was known for her speaking and teaching abilities, and as a gifted, published scholar. Dr. Perry’s life was one of service, academic excellence, integrity, and transformation.
Marshall K. Christensen Award: Boston Domino Jackson
The Marshall K. Christensen Award for Excellence in Scholarship, named in honor of the College’s fifth president. This award is presented a graduating senior who best embodies the values characterizing academic life at Warner Pacific College. Faculty members nominate students whom they recognize as having not only benefited from our academic program of study and co-curricular activities but also ones who have made significant contributions to their classmates and colleagues.
Milo L. Chapman Award: Ricardo Ruiz Madrigal
Warner Pacific College’s is a place “Where Faith and Scholarship Lead to Service.” As a Liberal Arts institution we are committed to the development of the whole person. Throughout their four (or more) years at Warner Pacific, students are given an opportunity to become learners and servants both inside and outside of the academic classroom, on our campus, and in the community. Many students go beyond the basic requirements of learning and enhance their holistic education by participating in a variety of experiences that allow them to integrate all they are learning about themselves, their world, and their faith. Following the model that Christ set before us of tangibly loving the community in which they live, students are able to put feet to their faith and realize the joy of serving.
The Milo L. Chapman Excellence in Service Award is named for a man who served Warner Pacific College as a model of servant hood to this community. His association with the College spanned 46 years. During these years, he filled the position of President three times, served as Dean, and in addition taught classes on a consistent basis. Milo was a man of wisdom who listened. He was a counselor, encourager and mentor. He was a man of great faith in God. His life was a life of service.
Traditional Undergraduate Outstanding Students Recognition:
These honors and awards were presented to students at the May 5, 2016, Honors & Awards Chapel.
Adult Degree Program Outstanding Students Recognition:
- ADP Outstanding Student for Excellence in Liberal Arts Leadership and Service: Keely A. Warren
- ADP Outstanding Student for Excellence in Christ-Centered Leadership and Service: Irma Wassermann
- ADP Outstanding Student for Excellence in Diversity Leadership and Service: Femi Jaha Johnson
- ADP Outstanding Student for Excellence in Urban Leadership and Service: Andre J. Lockett
Honorary Doctorate of Laws presented to: Representative Victor Gilliam ’75