2016 SDA-HPERA Convention

When Monday, April 4, 2016
Where Maplewood Academy
700 Main Street North
Hutchinson, MN 55350
(about an hour west of Minneapolis, MN)

This Event Has Transpired

To view documents, stories, and images from the event, please visit its Convention Media page.

Getting There back to top

As you plan your flight reservations, this airport shuttle information from Maplewood Academy is intended to help you plan (for a modest cost):

  • Sunday, April 3, 7:00pm Airport PICK UP by Maplewood Academy shuttle (at both terminals).
  • Tuesday, April 5, depart from Maplewood Academy for the airport at 8:30am (so book a flight with a departure time anytime AFTER 12noon).

To use the shuttle on Sunday contact the driver, Chris Morrison, at (219) 851-0549 so he knows to look for you.

Lodging back to top

There are a few options for lodging which are close to the location for Monday’s meeting.

Maplewood Academy Dormitory

700 Main Street North
Hutchinson, MN 55350
Guest Rooms in the Dorm, $25 per night
  • 4 fully furnished guest rooms with personal bathrooms
  • 4 fully furnished guest rooms with semi-private bathrooms
“Regular” Dorm Rooms, $10 per night
  • bedding and towels
  • sinks with running water
  • shared hall shower with curtain partition – not private

Contact Melissa Mekelburg to make arrangements.

Hotels (within 5 minutes of Monday’s SDA convention)

Days Inn Hutchinson

Rates: $85–$75 per night king/queen rooms

1000 Highway 7 W
Hutchinson, MN 55350-1514
AmericaInn Lodge & Suites Hutchinson

Rates: $90-$100 per night king/queen rooms

1115 Hwy. 7 East
Hutchinson, MN 55350

Schedule for Monday, April 4, 2016 back to top

Time Event Facilitator/
Presenter
8:00a Registration Chris Morrison, Event Manager Maplewood Academy
8:40a Welcome Bob Paulson, President Pacific Union College
8:45a Worship Michael Jones, Sr. Pastor Hutchinson SDA Church
9:00a Keynote: Bridges Larry Blackmer North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists
10:15a Break
10:30a Jim Hanson Memorial Lecture: “Champions On and Off the Court” Morgan Wootten Basketball Hall of Fame
12:00p Lunch Meeting & Award Presentation Dining Commons at MAA
1:30p Contemporary World View & SDA Education Humberto M. Rasi Educator, Author
2:30p The Transmission of Biblical Faith and Values at an Adventist Educational Center Humberto M. Rasi Educator, Author
3:30p Break
3:45p Roundtable Discussion
4:15p Business Meeting
  • Gymnastics Safety Manual – Bob Benge
  • Name-change survey results – Rob Thomas
  • PhysicalGenesis update – Rob Thomas
  • Elect Officers (President-elect and Secretary) – Bob Paulson
  • Attendees give updates on new elements at their schools
  • Other business
 Bob Paulson, President Pacific Union College
5:00p Dismissal

Speaker Bios back to top

Morgan Wootten

Larry Blackmer

Humberto M. Rasi

Humberto Mario Rasi, Ph.D., has supported the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for almost 60 years as teacher, author, editor, and educational administrator. First, as a full-time time denominational employee, and since his retirement in 2002 he has continued to lecture, publish articles and books, and coordinate special projects in Adventist higher education.

Born in Argentina, he completed a teaching degree in his homeland and in 1971 was awarded a doctoral degree in Latin American Literature and History by Stanford University. During 1975-76 he participated in a postdoctoral seminar at Johns Hopkins University sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1980 he was ordained as a Seventh-day Adventist minister.

He served as teacher, department chair, and dean of graduate studies at Andrews University and as vice president for editorial development at Pacific Press. Between 1990 and 2002 he was director of the Education Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, which coordinates and provides guidance to the global Adventist education system.

His scholarly activities have resulted in many publications in English and Spanish on literary, historical, and religious subjects. He was general editor of the Spanish edition of the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary. In 1989 he founded College and University Dialogue, a journal of faith, thought, and action. Among the books he has co-edited and contributed to are Meeting the Secular Mind (Andrews University Press, 1987), Understanding Creation: Answers to Questions on Faith and Science (Pacific Press, 2011), Always Prepared: Answers to Questions about Our Faith (Pacific Press, 2012), and Entrusted: Christians and Environmental Care (Adventus: 2013). Several of these books have also been published in Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

One of Dr. Rasi’s passions is the integration of faith and learning from a biblical worldview perspective. In 1987 he co-founded the Institute for Christian Teaching, which sponsored 40 interdisciplinary seminars for Adventist educators in many countries, whose 800 essays have been published in the Christ in the Classroom series, with 38 volumes. He also spearheaded the creation of the Adventist Professionals’ Network, a global electronic registry with more than 21,000 registered members which helps degreed Adventists to find opportunities for volunteer service and denominational employment around the world.

In 2010 he established the Adventus Editorial Consortium involving 13 Adventist universities in Latin America, which publishes textbooks and reference books in Spanish. It also markets Adventist authored books in several languages.

Dr. Rasi currently hosts a Spanish TV program of interviews with Adventist professionals in various fields, Diálogo al Punto, which is broadcast weekly through LLBN Latino, Red Nuevo Tiempo, and is available in YouTube.

His leadership and service were given recognition through various awards, including the John Nevins Andrews medallion and honorary doctorates from universities in Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and the United States.

Humberto Rasi is married to Julieta Cuchma, a teacher and editor born in Uruguay. They have two grown children: Leroy Rasi, an orthopedic surgeon in private practice, and Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti, chair of the Department of World Languages at Pacific Union College. They are delighted that their three granddaughters –Sofia, Nina, and Lucia– attend Adventist schools in California.

Past Presidents and Secretaries back to top

Year President Secretary
2023 Matt Lee Lizzie Mendoza
2022 Alex Adams Calvin Morton
2021 Vashon Williams Kaitlyn Nelson
2020 Rodd Strobel Matt Cantrell
2019 Jeremy Perkins Vashon Williams
2018 Doug Zimmerman Tamara Ritterskamp
2017 Randy Lonto Tedd Webster
2016 Bob Paulson Matt Lee
2015 Bob Benge Curtis Kuhlman
2014 Ric Schwarz Randy Lonto
2013 Alvin Fuentes Jeremy Perkins
2012 Brian Sather Jeremy Perkins
2011 Ron Schafer Doug Zimmerman
2010 Ric Spaulding Bob Benge
2009 Nestor Osorio Mike Boyd
2008 Rod Bussey Krystal Hauff
2007 Joe Perrone Laura Benn
2006 Greg Davies Gregg Morrow
2005 Greg Davies Gregg Morrow
2004 Delmar Lovejoy Steve Adams (Rob Thomas acting)
2003 Tim Windemuth Joe Perrone
2002 Nancy Petta Brian Sather (Barbara Harsany acting)
2001 Tim Willsey Ric Schwarz
2000 Don Morgan Heather Neal
1999 Ric Gatling Curtis Kuhlman (… acting)
1998 Barbara Harsany Gary Eggers (… acting)
1997 Rob Thomas Troy Beans
1996 Frank Martinez Ron Reading (Ric Spaulding acting)
1995 Bob Kalua Wally Fox
1994 Debbie Morgan Rob Thomas
1993 Phil Garver Jim Hanson
1992 Stan Detweiler Lydia Chong
1991 Roger McFarland Barbara Harsany
1990 John Pangman Sheri Hall (Bob Reynolds acting)
1989 Stacy Nelson Wally Fox
1988 Gary Hamburg Helen Weismeyer
1987 Vernon Scheffel Barbara Friesen
1986 Bill Napier Barbara Friesen (completed Cavanaugh’s term)
1985 Bill Napier Sandy Cavanaugh
1984 Walt Hamerslough Debbie Morgan
1983 Walt Hamerslough Debbie Morgan
1982 None (Steering Committee Chair presided) Bob Reynolds
1981 None (Association organized) Bob Reynolds