LIFE WEST GRANTS DEGREES TO 79 GRADUATES DURING ITS 44TH GRADUATION CEREMONY

Hayward, Calif., June 15, 2004

Seventy-nine students from across the nation and overseas were awarded doctor of chiropractic degrees at Life Chiropractic College West's 44th commencement on June 12, 2004, at the Chabot College Performing Arts Center in Hayward, California. The building was filled with hundreds of proud families, friends, staff, faculty, and alumni.

The graduation class certainly gave insight to the college's national and international student body population. Life West's newest doctors represented 16 states and 10 foreign countries, including Bolivia, Canada, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, and Vietnam.

The graduating classes (representing winter class 2004 and spring class 2004) requested that Life West's Professor and Laboratory Manager Stephen James, D.C. be the commencement speaker. A longtime favorite of the students, Dr. James has worked continuously at Life West since 1994. Prior to coming to Life West, Dr. James earned his doctor of chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic West, served four years in the United States Air Force, and ran a private chiropractic practice in his home state of Indiana for two years.

What made Dr. James' appearance as commencement speaker extra special was that this was the first time the Life West population had seen him since he fell victim of a horrific freeway traffic accident-which occurred exactly three months to the day earlier. He is currently on an extended medical leave from the college, but continues to make very impressive improvements to full recovery.

Dr. James told his story, sitting in his wheelchair, about his accident and his challenge and commitment to full recovery. He told the graduates that they also have a challenge in front of them as they go on to be chiropractors. "We all must keep our eyes on the prize of what we want to accomplish in our lives," Dr. James told the inspired graduates.

As he came to the conclusion to his speech, Dr. James said, "I just have one last thing to tell you," and then pulled himself out of his wheelchair, to stand up in his walker (the crowd cheered loudly). "Do not ever give up! And remember, your family and friends are the most important thing you will ever have in your life."

Life West President Dr. Gerard Clum told the elated crowd, after Dr. James' address, "We've just witness one of the most memorable commencements in the history of Life West."

Top academic honors in the winter 2004 class went to valedictorian Krista Crawford of Concord, CA. (Crawford is the daughter of Ron Crawford, D.C., who is a Life West alumnus and a Life West faculty member.) Spring 2004 graduate Jeffery Listiak of San Diego, CA, was honored as his class's valedictorian.

Along with her class valedictorian award, Krista Crawford was also awarded the winter quarter 2004 Clinical Excellence Citation for her exceptional patient care at the Life West Public Health Center. This quarterly award is the highest accolade given by the college's Health Center. Steven Philip Johannsen of Weaverville, CA received the Clinical Excellence Citation for the spring quarter 2004.

Life Chiropractic College West, established in 1976, is an accredited non-profit institution of higher learning offering the doctor of chiropractic degree through a four-academic-year program of academic study and clinical internship. The college currently enrolls close to 600 men and women from across the U.S. and abroad. More than 3,300 graduates of Life West are now practicing throughout the world. The college’s Public Health Center, operated by approximately 200 senior interns who are guided by licensed doctors of chiropractic, provides health care for more than 1,700 patient visits a week. Life West maintains a Web site at www.lifewest.edu.

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For updates or additions to our Latest News page, please contact Jonathan Lance at (510) 780-4500 ext. 2470 or email him at jlance@lifewest.edu