USM Celebrates the 2009 Students of the Year

USM' s 28th year of classes culminated with another uplifting and magnificent ceremony at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus.

The University' s 169 students receiving their Master' s Degree in Spiritual Psychology and 13 students receiving their Master' s Degree in Counseling Psychology were joyfully celebrated by USM faculty, family, and friends.

Each student who graduates from USM has completed a rigorous two years of study immersing themselves in an extensive journey of self-exploration. As a part of our time honored tradition, each year the University honors Students of the Year who have demonstrated a high level of excellence and mastery in the practical application of the principles, practices, and skills of Spiritual Psychology.

USM's Students of the Year

One individual was selected from the Spiritual Psychology class and one from the Counseling Psychology class to receive the 2009 Student of the Year awards.

UNIVERSITY OF SANTA MONICA
2009 SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Betsy Sweet
 

A more enthusiastic Ambassador of Soul-Centered Education could not be found anywhere. Your joy, vibrancy, and strength-of-heart uplift and inspire everyone you meet. With courage, humor, and intelligence, you demonstrate the qualities, skills, and tools of Spiritual Psychology in all areas of your life. It is with great love that we acknowledge and celebrate you.

Betsy Sweet, a mother of three children and owner of an advocacy group flew in from Maine each month to attend USM. Her joy and enthusiasm were infectious not only in the classroom, but also in her work as she stood forward in exampleship of the USM principles and practices.

She shared her heartfelt gratitude with Ron and Mary, USM staff, families, and her support team and stated " Besides my three beautiful children, USM is the best gift I gave myself. I learned from Ron that it' s OK to be spiritual and be funny and from Mary, unconditional love and heart that I didn' t know existed until I came to USM. Each one of us is a Student of the Year and gave every bit of heart and love to this endeavor."

Betsy spoke a truth when she closed by saying, " You guys, this is just the beginning!" We look forward to seeing the continued unfolding of all the students in the 2009 Spiritual Psychology class. Heartfelt congratulations to all of you!

Counseling Psychology Program Student of the Year

2009 is the final graduating class of the University' s Master' s Degree Program in Counseling Psychology, which has been the route for many USM students to complete the educational requirements for licensing as a Marriage Family Therapist in the State of California. All of the coursework has been presented within the USM context of Spiritual Psychology.

The program has been a labor of love for many years and will be retired this year as the University focuses its energies in new directions. It will truly be missed.

Johanna Jenkins, former Counseling Psychology Program Director and key Faculty member, has been instrumental in the development and cultivation of the program and the 229 graduates of the program. Her dedication, loving, wisdom, and expertise have been a blessing to all those who have worked with her in creating a program that is known throughout the Los Angeles area for producing highly skilled, sought-after clinicians.

Johanna shared that she liked to call this class " the icing on the cake." She presented this year' s award to Toby Estler.

UNIVERSITY OF SANTA MONICA
2009 COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Toby Estler
 

Your willingness to vulnerably and honestly express yourself with depth and tenderness are hallmarks of your service. Your gift with words further serves to enhance these qualities. Seeing you opening ever more fully to the Spirit of Loving is in itself cause for celebration. We bless you!

Toby, a former USM staff member for six years and 2006 Spiritual Psychology graduate, went on to complete the Counseling Psychology program, exemplifying the loving consciousness of all of the Counseling Psychology graduates. His case presentations in class demonstrated a level of exquisite sensitivity to his clients with extraordinary attunement to the deeper pain in their lives.

He graciously shared: " I accept the acknowledgment of my faculty and at the same time there is no 'just me' in a program of this nature. All that I have learned and experienced, the love that I have felt, the compassion, the joy, the humor has all been in the process of sharing with the rest of my class. We watched each other strive and grow. When I first came to USM, I had been separated from my wife, and I knew one thing. I was never going to have children . . . Somewhere in here sits my wife of 15 years and my four-year-old daughter. Those are the greatest gifts that I could've received.

" I learned throughout the years of this program that the only really lasting revolution is love. And USM is the place to learn to love yourself and each other, and it is an unstoppable force."

Toby' s journey is one of a courageous movement into the deeper level of loving that transforms lives. We honor Toby and the contribution he is making to all those he counsels with his wisdom, loving, and kindness.

These members of the USM family are all beautiful examples of the hallmarks of a USM education - an unconditionally loving attitude as the ultimate competency. The University celebrates them and the entire Class of 2009 as they go forward into the world in service to all!