More than 150 friends, family, and coworkers of the beloved Ken Bascom gathered outside the entrance of Hope Hall on Monday morning, November 19, to reflect upon his life and the impact he made on Biola's campus during his many years of service to the University. Ken went to be with our Lord this past June but will not be forgotten at Biola, especially with a new monument dedicated to him, Biola's first and only oak tree.

Planted inside the traffic circle outside of Hope, the tree stands proudly at around 20 feet tall. In the tree's shadow lies a boulder with a plaque bearing the words of Isaiah 61:3: "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." Rod Royer and his crew at Royer Landscape Construction Inc. of La Habra donated their labor for the planting and installation of boulders around the base of the oak tree.

Monday's program began with a welcome by President Barry H. Corey. Reflections on the life of Ken Bascom were shared by La Mirada city councilman Steve Jones, Vice President of University Services Greg Balsano, Senior Director of Facilities Management Brian Phillips, and Vice President University Communications & Marketing Irene Neller. With words of gratitude to the Biola community, Ken's wife, Greer Bascom, shared, "I want to tell you how grateful I am for everybody being here. Ken's heart is here. This is his home. I didn't know that fully until he died."

Dr. Corey ended wtih a prayer of dedication, that the oak would be a reminder of the legacy Ken left and that the memory of his life would point others toward Christ. Guests enjoyed refreshments of hot cider and ginger snaps and were encouraged to take home an acorn to remember the legacy Ken has left.