Exciting Speakers Enriching Futures
Vital Perspectives. Local Connections.
Through engaging presentations, lifelong learning, and community support, we enrich lives while investing in students’ futures.
you're invited
Upcoming Events & Programs
Join for engaging presentations, lively discussions, and opportunities to connect with fellow members.
June 9, 2026
"Traffic and Transportation Commission and Route 66 Anniversary"
Speaker: Sonja Stump, chair of Traffic and Transportation Commission and owner of Sonja Stump Photography
Sonja Stump is a Claremont businessperson who has served the community in many ways. She is currently chair of the City of Claremont Traffic and Transportation Commission. She has served on many community organizations including Claremont Heritage, Claremont Chamber of Commerce, Claremont High School PFA, and Claremont Meals of Wheels.
A graduate of Azusa Pacific University, Sonja has been a photographer for 48 years, specializing in photos of Claremont. Her community honors include Grand Marshal in the Claremont 4th of July with husband Bob in 2025.
Sycamore Room, Doubletree Inn, 555 W Foothill Blvd, Claremont
11:30 am: social • 12:00 pm: lunch • 1:00 pm: speaker
Lunch $25 (subsidized by the Club)
June 23, 2026
"NASA's Europa Clipper Mission: Ambitious Science and Engineering Challenges"
Speaker: Leo Bister, Jet Propulsion Lab, retired engineer
Leo spent 43 years helping to turn ambitious ideas into spacecraft that explore the solar system. After earning his Electrical Engineering degree from Cal Poly Pomona in 1982, he joined JPL and never looked back—contributing to missions that have expanded humanity’s understanding of planets, oceans, and distant worlds. From Saturn’s rings on Cassini to Martian soil with Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance rovers, and most recently the journey to Europa, his work has helped carry science millions of miles from Earth.
Much of his career was hands-on at the sharp end of exploration—assembly, test, and launch operations—often traveling to Florida to see missions through their final steps into space. Along the way, he balanced a full life at home: 44 years of marriage to his wife, Rosie, three children, and four grandchildren. Now retired, he’s shifting his focus closer to home—running, biking, traveling, and giving back through local volunteering.
Sycamore Room, Doubletree Inn, 555 W Foothill Blvd, Claremont
11:30 am: social • 12:00 pm: lunch • 1:00 pm: speaker
Lunch $25 (subsidized by the Club)
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Mark your calendars and invite your friends!
June 9 – Sonja Stump – Traffic and Transportation Commission and Route 66 Anniversary
June 23 – Leo Bister – Jet Propulsion Lab
July 14 – California History Special Collections at Honnold Library
Sept. 8 – Ardi Rashidi – Artemis Orion Spacecraft
Sept. 22 – Pitzer College President Strom Thacker
Mel Boynton, Club President
2026-2027
The Club President and Members Welcome You
The University Club of Claremont is in our second hundred years. While our club has changed greatly over the past century, it’s original goals are the same: to promote friendship, intellectual curiosity, and education in the Claremont area.
You’re invited to join us at our lunch meetings to learn from a wide variety of speakers and to meet people who value education.
Mel Boynton
Membership at a Glance
Join University Club of Claremont
Be part of a community that values lifelong learning, engaging discussions, and supporting scholarships for the next generation.
Member Benefits
- Inspiring Guest Speakers & Presentations
- Thought-Provoking Discussions on Global & Local Issues
- Networking & Friendship
- Raising Scholarships for Students
Be Part of the Conversation
Membership opens the door to inspiring presentations, community engagement, and supporting local scholarships.
Together, we learn, grow, and thrive.