Simpson University's Winter Commencement Marks Milestone for Campus and Students

For Immediate Release
January 23, 2007

REDDING, Calif. - One hundred students received their undergraduate and graduate degrees during Simpson University's winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 20.  Among the graduates was Angelica Cervantes, Simpson's 4,000th alumnus from the Redding campus.

Cervantes, from Weed, received a bachelor's degree in psychology. "It's exciting to be the 4,000th graduate from this campus," she said. "Simpson University has provided me with a solid foundation and has allowed me to develop my identity; it has been an amazing experience."

Simpson University Provost Dr. Stanley Clark said, "It is important to step back from time to time, especially when we reach a milestone like this, in order to trace and assess the impact Simpson has on those we serve.  Since so many of our graduates stay in the north state, the positive influence of Simpson University on this region is worth celebrating."

Simpson University relocated to Redding from San Francisco 18 years ago. After the conclusion of the first year in 1989, 55 students received degrees. That number grew to 340 in 2006. Simpson holds three commencement ceremonies each year.

Graduate Sherri Moerer, a Burney resident, knew that receiving her B.A. in Liberal Arts is merely the beginning of what promises to be an eventful week. Hours after she received her diploma, Moerer and her four children moved to Riverside, where her husband resides after accepting a job in mid-August. 

"It was a huge sacrifice to stay here and finish my degree without my husband, but it worked for us, said Moerer. "My children got to finish their semesters in school, and I earned my degree. The ASPIRE program allowed me to keep my family as my priority."

ASPIRE is Simpson University's accelerated degree-completion program that allows busy adults to finish their degree in 16 months.

Moerer, who graduated with a 4.2 GPA, was excited to have her children watch her graduate.

"For the last 16 months we've been doing our homework together at night. Hopefully my kids are encouraged by seeing me graduate," said Moerer.

ASPIRE graduate Mack Davis of Redding said Simpson University provided him with the formalized education that he could not have received in his 30 years in the workforce. Davis, who majored in organizational leadership, also spoke of the dedication that his professors showed him.

ASPIRE Director Patty Taylor said, "Through Simpson University's ASPIRE program, students can return to the classroom to finish what they may have started five, 10 and sometimes even 20 years ago. "I'm proud to see our students earning their degrees from a place such as Simpson, where education is at its best and parents are modeling to their children what life-long learning is all about."

Simpson University's graduates included 40 traditional undergraduates, 64 ASPIRE graduates, and 7 who earned master's degrees.

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Contact: Wendy Rose
wrose@simpsonuniversity.edu
(530) 226-4126