California Baptist University’s College of Health Sciences recently received an award for beautification Jan. 19 from the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful program.
CBU also placed second in the category of Exterior Reconstruction with Landscaping. Mayor William R. “Rusty” Bailey III of Riverside, and Cindy Roth, CEO of the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce, presented both of the awards after the annual State of the City address where Dr. Charles D. “Chuck” Sands, CBU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at CBU, accepted the award on behalf of the university.
Dr. David Pearson, dean of the College of Health Sciences and professor of kinesiology, said the construction process was often a sacrifice for everyone involved, and winning this beautification award validated the patience of the CBU community as it came together.
“Students, faculty and staff spend a lot of time on campus — this is a second home to us all — and I want everyone to feel a sense of pride in their surroundings,” Pearson said. “This is a reminder that CBU’s administration is committed to providing excellent service and a great learning environment for us all.”
The $17.5 million-plus infrastructure remodel now includes office space, classrooms and labs that host a range of programs, including 15 undergraduate programs, five graduate programs and an associate degree program.
There are more than 1,000 students enrolled at the College of Health Sciences for the 2016-2017 academic school year.
Alyssa Wilson, junior kinesiology major, said she has been going to the Health Science Campus since her first semester and that the award is well-deserved for all the hard work put into this project.
“I spend a lot of time on the new campus, so I am thankful for the renovations that were recognized with this award,” Wilson said. “I hope the CBU community appreciates and recognizes how blessed we are to have this campus.”
CBU has won two consecutive first-place awards for Exterior Reconstruction with Landscaping category in the past two years for The Point in 2016 and the Lancer Plaza North project in 2015.
Michael Lopez, senior kinesiology major, said the award deeply reflects how the school brings people together. The CBU community, through accomplishments, such as this one, shows how much CBU is continuing to improve the campus overall.
“This award allowed for everyone to witness this incredible transformation our facilities have undergone during my time at CBU,” Lopez said. “It will only add support to our strong foundation built on faith and hard work .”
