Aliso Viejo Recognizes SUA as a “Trusted Partner” of the City

The City of Aliso Viejo has recognized Soka University of America as a “Trusted Partner” supporting the city, which was founded in July 2001, months before SUA’s first undergraduate students moved onto campus. 

Mayor Ross Chun and Mayor Pro Tem Richard Hurt presented SUA President Edward M. Feasel and Archibald E. Asawa, vice president for finance and administration, with a certificate of recognition in February.

Pres. Feasel acknowledged the award at a city council meeting.

“We cherish our shared history since 2001 when Soka opened our doors to students from our first graduating class, which is also the same year that the city of Aliso Viejo was incorporated,” Pres. Feasel said in remarks at the meeting. “Over the years, Soka has continued to serve as a great resource for our local community, most recently partnering with the city and county as a major Point of Distribution center established during the initial days of Covid vaccine distribution.”

“I am happy to report that all classes are now conducted in-person on our campus,” Pres. Feasel continued. “We are also beginning to open-up our campus in the various ways that we serve the community. Youth, who swim with the local swim club Novaquatics, that trains at our pool, returned to Soka last September, and we plan to welcome hundreds of youth once again to our annual summer camps this June and July. Community groups who use our facilities for their activities, have been able to do so since late last year in some of our peripheral buildings and we will expand this to other internal buildings over the next several months.

“As an institution that prides itself on the importance of community, locally, nationally, and globally, we are very proud of all these relationships and venues we have created for serving residents of the city of Aliso Viejo and we look forward to our continued partnership and collaboration together in the future.”