SAC VISION & MISSION

VISION

A Christ-centered people
committed to the mission.

MISSION

To make disciples of Christ who would
be disciple makers in the world.

Brief History Of Sonoma

Sonoma Adventist College, founded in 1968, was established to centralize ministerial and
teacher training for the Coral Sea and Bismarck Solomons Union Missions. It was formed by
merging Kabiufa Adventist College and Jones Missionary College. The current site, a 250-acre
former plantation near Kokopo, was chosen for its accessibility and natural resources. Early
development was led by students, teachers, and volunteers, with the Ministerial Department
opening in 1968 and the Primary Teacher Education Department in 1970.

Today, the college offers programs in Agriculture, Building Construction, Business, Ministry &
Theology, and Education. These programs aim to develop students holistically—spiritually,
intellectually, and professionally.
Agriculture focuses on sustainable farming and food security; Building Construction trains
students in carpentry and project management; Business covers accounting, management,
and entrepreneurship; Ministry & Theology prepares students for church leadership; and
Education includes Early Childhood and Primary teaching.

Overview of Significant Developments

2019

Enrollment of 619 students. Second crop of balsa wood harvested by PNG balsa from Vunalin land.

Enrollment of 690 students. Extensions to the library were completed. Work on second phase of the multipurpose building completed, and college board approved phase 3 to be the last stage of the building. Graduated 271 students. Celebration of 50 years of operation.

Enrollment of 722 students. New bore for water was drilled, and it started supplying water to the campus. Work on the first phase of the multipurpose building was completed. Work was completed on the dean of men’s house. There was an
accreditation visit to the college by Adventist Accrediting Association team.

Enrollment of 803 students. The campus master plan and strategic plan were in development. Work on the mutipurpose building is commenced. Student graduates numbered 244.

Staff houses and classrooms for Sonoma Community Elementary School to be built depending on funds. The college board requested the administration to develop a college campus master plan and strategic plan. A proposal is made to build a boys dormitory, classrooms, staff houses, and extension to the existing dining hall.

The enrollment reaches 634 students. Sonoma Demonstration Primary School agrees for Sonoma male students to use an old girls dormitory to accommodate extra male students. The first married students duplex (SPD-sponsored). The administration of Sonoma Community Elementary School requests a site for an additional classroom. At the end of the year 234 students graduate. In its budget the national government allocated 2 million kina for Sonoma infrastructure development. PNGUM formally announced at the year-end session that a multipurpose building will be built at Sonoma
College, funded by the South Pacific Division. Sonoma was formally recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education Research Science and Technology as an institution of higher and technical education in Papua New Guinea.

Lawrence Tanabose, general secretary of the South Pacific Division, was the guest speaker at the graduation. A creative phonic program, with a first intake of 200 students, was conducted at Sonoma. A second cohort of 200 students attends at Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School.

The guest for graduation was Barry Oliver, president of the South Pacific Division and chancellor of PAU. First graduates (five students) of the Bachelor of Education (Primary).

The first enrollment of six students taking degree study in primary school education, an affiliated academic program with Pacific Adventist University. There was a successful
application to the Incentive Fund Association, a subdivision of Aus-AID Australia, to fund five projects: an 84-bed female dormitory; a health clinic; nurse accommodation; maintenance on the current girls dormitories; and a health studies classroom. The total grant was 2.3 million PNG kina.
Building technology and architectural drawing course and business studies course became two-year courses. An academic affiliation with Pacific Adventist University was
signed in October. PAU for the first time participated at graduation as a partner in the affiliation agreement signed between the two institutions. PAU’s representative was Tracie Mafile’o.
Signing of a memorandum of understanding with Pacific Adventist University (PAU), recognizing academic credit transfer from Sonoma to the university, beginning with the
teaching course and followed by the ministerial studies and business studies courses. Beginning of a three-year course for certificate qualifications in elementary school teaching at Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School in Eastern Highlands province. A second group convened on campus at Sonoma Adventist College.

Celebration of the 100th year of Adventism in PNG and fortie anniversary of Sonoma Adventist College.

Final study program of the inservice diploma in primary school teaching. A total of 126 teachers graduated with a diploma in teaching in January of 2008. Sonoma Alumni Association was registered by Isaiah Senau, treasurer of the association.

A diploma course in agricultural science was introduced. A diploma course in building technology and architecture drawing replaces the certificate course in building construction. The Vunalin property is purchased in the name of the Papua New Guinea Adventist Association, jointly funded by the Papua New Guinea Union Mission and the South Pacific Division.

Sonoma was officially recognised as a tertiary institution by the South Pacific Division. His Excellency the governor general of PNG worshipped on a Sabbath at Sonoma. The Sonoma logo and the college motto, “To know, To Love, To Serve,” was
introduced.

The three-year diploma course for teacher education was phased out and replaced with the trimester teacher education program. A building technology course began with an annual enrollment instead of a new intake every second year. The prime minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, was the graduation guest speaker. For the first time, the college graduated over a hundred students and since then has maintained this number.

Introduction of a trimester teacher education program to keep in line with the rest of teacher education colleges in PNG. A diploma course was introduced for past certificate graduates with satisfactory grade point averages. The first graduates from this program graduated in November 2003. Compulsory grade 12 entry requirement into business studies is introduced. The second reunion day was celebrated under the leadership of Jim Manele. The Sonoma Alumni Association was formed but had yet to be registered.

Enrollment of 722 students. New bore for water was drilled, and it started supplying water to the campus. Work on the first phase of the multipurpose building was completed. Work was completed on the dean of men’s house. There was an
accreditation visit to the college by Adventist Accrediting Association team.

First reunion homecoming took place, organized and staged successfully by Kuresa Tagai. Grade 12 as the compulsory entry requirement into teacher education was introduced and implemented.

Samson Kuku returned from doctoral studies in the Philippines to become principal of the college.

Beverly Kaleva became not only the first Papua New Guinean to be principal of Sonoma Adventist College but also the only woman principal to hold this post at the college.

Teacher education students with good passes became eligible for the National Scholarship (HECAS) provided by the PNG Education Department.

Ministerial and teacher education graduates given some credits to continue into degree study at Pacific Adventist College.

During the Rabaul volcanic eruption in 1994, the administration with the support of staff and students, accommodated several thousand victims of the eruption in the
classrooms and makeshift tents on the campus. Classes were conducted as normal except for four days during the peak of the eruption in September.

Student enrollment reached 291. The beginning of a three-year community teaching diploma training. This course was designed by Olga Ward of Sonoma Teacher Training Department and was adopted by the PNG government’s Education Department for all teacher education.

A building construction course was transferred from Kambubu to Sonoma under Robert Walker.

First year of a two-year secretarial course began.

A mechanics course was started, but soon phased out because of a lack of teaching staff support and resources. The course was under Dicks Tutuo, a mechanic from the Solomon Islands.

The Agriculture Department was transferred from Kabiufa and Mount Diamond High Schools to Sonoma under Ken Dever.

A Commerce Department was added to provide secretarial and clerical training.

Upgrading courses for teachers began. A one-year domestic science course was introduced. It was also conducted in 1976.

A course was developed for training administrators throughout PNG and the Solomon Islands. It was taught in the semester break. John Cernik was its coordinator. Forty-nine students graduated at the end of the year.

The primary teaching course was transferred from Kambubu to Sonoma. The college became a separate entity under its own board. The first graduation was conducted on the campus.