PUC's Graduates: What Are They Doing Now?

David Pizarro is graduating summa cum laude this year with a B.S. degree in psychology. Pizarro was accepted to the Yale University Graduate School of Psychology's doctoral program and was given a University Fellowship which covers his tuition for the entire program and pays him a stipend as well. Pizarro hopes to teach and do research in psychology after he graduates. "I'd like to thank my teachers for preparing me for graduate school, and I'd like to thank God for opening doors in my life," he said.

Rob Wells fulfilled the prerequisites for dental school at PUC. He will attend Loma Linda University School of Dentistry this fall, after spending his fifth summer with Camp Wawona's aquatics program. Wells is looking forward to entering the field of dentistry because it is interesting and it will allow him to devote time to family.

In 1996, Sylvianne Pizarro graduated summa cum laude from Pacific Union College with a bachelor of business administration degree with an accounting emphasis. She is now studying law at Harvard University, and she hopes to work in the field of corporate law after graduation in 1999. "I would like to work in a law firm in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Orange County," she said. This summer, Sylvianne will be taking advantage of Harvard's International Placement Program to work for the Chicago-based firm of Baker and McKenzie in their Buenos Aires, Argentina, office.

Grace Yuh graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in psychology in 1996, and finished her first year of medical school at Loma Linda University. "It's challenging; it keeps me on my toes," she says. Grace is not sure which area of medicine she wants to enter, although she is leaning towards family practice or pediatrics. She hopes to practice in Northern California when she's through with her training.

In December of 1994, Brenda Chan graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in nursing. She then attended the UCLA School of Nursing, and will receive a master's degree in nursing as well as a family nurse practicioner's certificate on June 14, 1997. Brenda will take her family nurse practicioner's boards in October. She plans to work in California among minority and vulnerable populations. "I am interested in underserved areas," she said.

Tanita Davis graduated with a B.A. in English in 1993. Since then, she has taught in private schools and is currently working at a non-denominational Christian school for bright children with learning disabilities. Tanita has also written a book entitled The Camp Chronicles, which will be published by the Review and Herald this summer. The book is based on Tanita's first summer working at a youth camp, and she has already started on a sequel. "I am a writer, proof positive...," said Tanita. "[It's] the one thing I really and truly wanted to be my whole life."

D. J. Struntz is graduating summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in biology in June of 1997. He received a 12-week summer student fellowship from the prestigious Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. While at Woods Hole, D.J. will work for Dr. John Stegeman, a leading expert in marine mammal toxicology, investigating enzyme systems which metabolize pollutants in marine mammals. He plans to earn a Ph.D. in marine biology after taking a year out of school to work.

Grant Kailikea, who graduated in June of 1996 with a B.S. in industrial technology and management, is a robotics technician and engineer at Western Digital, one of the world's largest computer hard drive manufacturers. Grant was put in charge of the robots which manufacture the hard drive platters. When he arrived, the robots were out of order about 60% of the time. Grant now has them working 99% of the time, and there is talk that he will be promoted to engineer within a year. "I hope to focus on design and installation instead of maintenance," he said.

Jerry Dodrill is graduating in June of 1997 with a B.S. degree in fine art and an A.S. degree in photography. He is now gallery coordinator for world-famous outdoor photographer Galen Rowell. Jerry's duties include putting together exhibitions of Rowell's photographs (which are shown all over the world) and planning and assisting in Rowell's workshops.

Bryan Williams graduated from PUC in 1992 with a B.A. in Spanish, and graduated from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine this year. Bryan has chosen a family practice residency program at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he hopes to gain experience serving a largely minority population. He and his brothers Brent and Nathan, who are both students at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, plan to practice together when they finish their training. They want to focus on the needs of minority patients. "There is a growing number of people who need help, and we would like to provide some of that," said Bryan.