ABOUT SONOMA
A brief history of
Sonoma Adventist College
Sonoma Adventist College can trace its origins to the year 1967 when the growing need of the work for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon islands necessitated the amalgamation of Kabiufa Adventist College of Goroka, Eastern Highlands, and Jones Missionary College of Kambubu, East New Britain.
By 1968, the Ministerial Department of the college was established. This was made possible by the faithful workmanship of the remnant students and teachers of Jones Missionary College of Kambubu. This little band of workers was responsible for the initial task of planning, clearing, erecting buildings, and maintaining the general progress of work on the new site. Their work was complemented by ‘Fly and Build’ volunteers, from Australians and New Zealanders. The construction of these buildings enabled the commencement of Primary Teacher Education Department in 1970.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates a world-wide school system to ensure that youth receive a holistic education with emphasis on the physical, mental, social and spiritual education in harmony with denominational standards and ideals. It also seeks to produce good citizens and promote national development similar to run public schools.
The Church believes that there is a distinctive body of knowledge with its values and ideals that must be transmitted to each succeeding generation in order for the church continues to achieve its mission. It believes that true education involves more than mere academic, professional and vocational preparation. It incorporates every aspect of life during the whole period of existence possible to man.
The Church bases all its educational programs on the underlying philosophy that:
True education involves the harmonious development of the physical, mental, social and spiritual powers, preparing the student for the joy of service in this world, and for the joy of the wider service in the world to come.
Overview of Significant Developments
2019
Enrollment of 619 students. Second crop of balsa wood harvested by PNG balsa from Vunalin land.
2018
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.
2017
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.
2016
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.
2015
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.
2014
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.
2013
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.
2012
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).
2011
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
2010
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.
2009
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.
2008
Celebration of the 100th year of Adventism in PNG and fortie anniversary of Sonoma Adventist College.
2007
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.
2006
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.
2005
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.
2004
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.
2003
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.
2001
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.
2000
Samson Kuku returned from doctoral studies in the Philippines to become principal of the college.
1999
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.
1997
Teacher education students with good passes became eligible for the National Scholarship (HECAS) provided by the PNG Education Department.
1995
Ministerial and teacher education graduates given some credits to continue into degree study at Pacific Adventist College.
1994
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.
1991
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.
1981
A building construction course was transferred from Kambubu to Sonoma under Robert Walker.
1979
First year of a two-year secretarial course began.
1978
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
1976
The Agriculture Department was transferred from Kabiufa and Mount Diamond High Schools to Sonoma under Ken Dever.
1974
A Commerce Department was added to provide secretarial and clerical training.
1973
Upgrading courses for teachers began. A one-year domestic science course was introduced. It was also conducted in 1976.
1972
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.
1970 - 1971
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.