The Eugene Sorensen Scholarship

Eugene was a farm boy from Nebraska who was part of the “Greatest Generation.” He dropped out of school to enlist in the army during World War II. He was assigned to a medic unit and was stationed in a hospital in Bremerhaven, Germany, for two years. He was discharged and went home when his father became critically ill.

He was working as an orderly in the County Hospital in Oakland, California, when he met Patricia Gober, a Seventh-day Adventist student nurse. It was not long before they were married and he was baptized by J. L. Tucker of The Quiet Hour. Eugene and Tricia made a pact: if he helped her finish two more years of nursing, she would help him become a doctor, which had always been his dream. Ten years later they had both graduated from La Sierra College, and he had completed a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the Kansas City College of Osteopathy.

Eugene practiced medicine for 40 years. He and Tricia worked together in a rural community where their patients were their friends. Their four children helped in the office and often went with their dad to make hospital rounds and house calls. They wanted to provide an Adventist presence in their community and were active in their church.

Eugene died on their 58th wedding anniversary. Two of their children graduated from Southwestern, and their grandson, Jason Mickley, has a scholarship established in his name. Because of this, Tricia decided to establish this scholarship to help future medical providers.

Scholarship award requirements

This scholarship is awarded to students studying to become medical providers.

Student Recipients 

2016-2017 - Romero Rosales

2015-2016 - Ulonna Nwachukwu

2014-2015 - Roberto Reyna

2013-2014 - Jamesnel Louis-Jean

2012-2013 - Dennerd Ovando 

2011-2012 - Jeanielez Bermudez

2010-2011 - James McMullen