Service has long been an integral component of a La Sierra University education. In fact, the third component of the school's mission statement commits LSU students: " . . . To serve others, contributing to the good of the global community."

Students entering LSU as freshmen are currently required to take three courses with a service-learning component prior to graduation. During the 2007 school year, 790 La Sierra students provided more than 10,000 hours of service, primarily in organizations throughout California's Inland Empire.

"One-third of our faculty teach a service-learning course every year," says Adeny Schmidt, LSU's director of service-learning. "I know of no other college or university in the US that has that level of participation." At present, 48 courses include service-learning.

Corona's Inland Empire Adult Day Health Care Center is one of 32 organizations partnering with La Sierra in service-learning. Center program director Barbara Porter remembers her first encounters with LSU students.

"I wondered how studying ‘Religion and Rationality' would be useful here at our adult day care program," Porter recalls. "But our partnership with La Sierra University has resulted in special kinds of learning folks don't usually receive.

"La Sierra's students helped our elderly participants feel that they are still worth something," Porter continues. "At the same time, the students gained a respect for the dignity of growing older. It was a real win-win situation."

Last year nearly 60 students studying "Religion and Rationality" or "Human Gross Anatomy" found themselves interacting with the Corona facility's clients, building skills and developing confidence in interpersonal relationships.

"One of our gentlemen is going blind, and is often delusional," remembers Porter. "A young woman from La Sierra who spoke Farsi began interacting with him in his native language. He actually became much more verbal and outgoing, because his weekly interactions with her gave him so much self-confidence."

"Many students talked about the best part of the class being what they found out about themselves and what they could do to help others," says Cindy Parkhurst, an instructor for the "Religion and Rationality" class. "At the end of the class, I had several students tell me they were continuing their schedule at the center and that spending the time with the participants gave them a tremendous sense of satisfaction."

"La Sierra students have clearly internalized the qualities that exemplify the faith at the core of the university," Porter affirms. "It's who they are as people that makes the difference. To me, they exemplify ‘the best of the best.'"

During the current fall quarter, a third La Sierra University class has begun partnering with the adult day care program, "Jesus and the Gospels," taught by Kendra Holoviak, assistant professor of religion.

"Especially in Luke, Jesus seems particularly concerned about marginalized groups in his society," says Holoviak. "For this year's ‘Jesus and The Gospels' class, students will be involved in 14 hours of service, as well as doing some additional reading and reflecting. Our goal is for students to enhance their understanding of Luke's portrait of Jesus through their service-learning experience."