USM Honors our Beloved Volunteers and the 2007 Angels of the Year!

The University is blessed to have a wealth of loving, enthusiastic, and committed Volunteers who step forth in heartfelt service to more than 500 students attending the Master’s Degree Programs in Spiritual Psychology each year. These remarkable individuals help create the safe, supportive, and sacred educational environment at USM in ways both seen and unseen, and we are grateful for their steadfast support. In fact, many return year after year!

There are two primary opportunities for Grads who volunteer: serving either as home assignment Readers, under the supervision of the Faculty, or as Classroom Assistants. Volunteers consistently speak of experiencing their time in service as a monthly “home-coming,” a time to connect deeply with their hearts, to share the loving, and to remember, “I am a divine being having a human experience.”

Indeed, this year again, the University has waiting lists for both the Assisting and Reading Teams in the First and Second Years, as many recognize the value received from maintaining their connection to the energy field that runs through the University and the opportunity to nurture relationships with their fellow grads. They stand as examples of the qualities embodied by a USM Grad, sharing their loving as they help usher each of the students through their own unique experience of USM. Our Volunteers carry on the lineage of heartfelt service that has blossomed throughout the years, and we certainly couldn’t do it without them!

USM acknowledges two Volunteers who exemplify a consciousness of service each year at Graduation. We call them our Angels of the Year, because that is how we experience them—divine beings standing forth in their strength of heart with tremendous willingness to serve with graciousness, loving, and joy!

Prior to announcing the recipients of the Angel of the Year, Dr. Mary R. Hulnick invited all those in the audience who had ever volunteered at USM to stand and be acknowledged. The audience of more than 1,800 offered heartfelt applause to the scores of individuals present who have supported the University in this way throughout a quarter century. There were some in the audience who had graduated from USM’s first classes, 26 years ago, who continue to serve the University to this day. This is just one example of the dedication and devotion USM graduates have to their unique graduate institution of higher learning.

The individuals who receive the Angel of the Year award are volunteers who have been of service to the University for five years or more, and they are among the hundreds of USM graduates who return every month to serve as Volunteers in support of the classes. This graduate community of volunteers provides essential logistical, administrative, and academic support that makes USM’s Soul-Centered education possible.

USM’s Angels of the Year are often surprised to hear their names called to be acknowledged for doing something that has become so central to their way of life—giving of their loving support and service. This year was no exception!

Berti Klein (’88), Angel of the Year, 2007

Berti graduated with her Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology in 1988 and from the Consciousness, Health and Healing Program in 2002; however, she’s been around since 1982, supporting Ron and Mary as they taught classes from the start. I don’t think it’s possible to name all they ways she has served throughout the years—and she’s consistently participated as a long-time Reader and Assistant. She even finds ways to serve those who serve with her, through a smile and loving touch and her all-around infectious joy! Berti certainly knows the value of service and has a deep love and respect for the University and all those supporting it.

Berti shared upon receiving the award, “There’s really no place I’d rather be. This is my home.”

We couldn’t agree with you more, Berti—there’s no place we’d rather have you than at USM!

Lance Macdonald (’02), Angel of the Year, 2007

Lance has been serving at USM since he graduated in 2002. He’s a natural leader from the heart and answers the call to serve year after year. He’s quicker than the speed of Light, managing the many logistics with incredible grace, attunement, and loving. Lance stands in strong, solid support of our classes and Practicums and just loves to love! We are so grateful for his years of dedicated and extraordinary service. Lance was unable to attend this year’s graduation ceremony and to accept his award in person. So if you see him around, please feel free to extend your congratulations and blessings to him! We’ll be sure he gets a round of applause, as he’s stepping forward this year again as a Team Caption for the 2008 Second Year Assisting Team.

We love and honor you both, Berti and Lance!

As a graduate, one becomes part of an even bigger USM community, and the learning and loving continues on! If you feel called to support and carry on the lineage of Loving, we invite you to contact the University to serve. You can find out more by sending an e-mail to volunteer@UniversityofSantaMonica.edu or calling Julie Klingel or Daniel Eldredge at USM, (310) 829-7402. Blessings of loving and gratitude to all of our beautiful Volunteers. We love and appreciate you!