1997

The Pacific Union College men's Pioneer basketball team faced top ranked Bethany College at their last home game on Wednesday night, Feb. 19. The Pioneers played their best game of the season, defeating the Bethany Bruins in overtime 87-83.Bethany (8-2) came into the game expecting an easy victory against the Pioneers (2-8). However, the Pioneers won the tip-off and took control of the game from the start, with a three-pointer by guard Mario Perez.PUC guard Brady Bock hit another three-pointer to give the Pioneers a 10-4 lead with 16:11 left in the half. Bock's three-pointer started PUC on a 10-0 run that was capped by a dunk by forward Brett Graves.Bethany head coach and former Los Angeles Lakers player, John Block, called a time-out to regroup his team. When play resumed, Bethany started a half-court press against the Pioneers, and things no longer looked so bleak for Bethany. However, the Pioneers retain their lead throughout the entire first half, 37-31.In the second half, Bethany hit a three-pointer to make the score 40-43, then scored on a steal to pull within one.With 15:00 left in the game, Bethany took the lead for the first time in the game, 44-43.With 5:00 left...

The Pacific Union College Men's Pioneer basketball team lost 83-92 to the Dominican College Penguins on Sunday night, Jan. 12, at PUC's Pacific Auditorium.The Pioneers got off to a slow 0-5 start, and never took the lead during the game. Pioneer head coach Mike Hellie called a timeout with PUC trailing 10-16.The Pioneers tied the Penguins at 26-26, but PUC could not gain control and called another timeout at 29-35.Pioneer junior forward Rob Adams came back with a slam dunk just before half time, with Dominican leading 50-45.The Pioneers kept the game close in the second half, starting with a three point play by freshman forward Bryan Patterson. Adams came back again with another dunk, and junior guard Brett Graves' three-pointer tied the score again at 58-58.The Penguins came back with a nine-point streak, forcing PUC to take a timeout at 60-69.The Penguins held on to the lead at 85-80 with 1:35 minutes remaining in the game. Although Pioneers held the crowd's attention throughout the game, the seconds ticked away and the final score was in favor of Dominican College 92-83.The Pioneers were led by Brett Graves with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Junior center Bryan Banfield followed with 20...

The Pacific Union College Men's Pioneer basketball team won 82-66 against the San Jose Christian College Warriors last Tuesday night, Jan. 21, at PUC's Pacific Auditorium.It was the first time in seven years that Pacific Union College has defeated San Jose Christian College.The Pioneers won the tip-off and proceeded with a strong first half, causing the Warriors to take a timeout with PUC ahead 7-0. When play resumed, the Pioneers continued their lead with a 15-2 run. Thanks to solid defense and quick thinking, the Pioneers stole the ball 15 times, a season record.To seal their first-half mastery, Pioneer guard Brett Graves hit a three pointer at the buzzer to make the half-time score 44-25."We've learned how to stay in the game through the first half; now we just need to concentrate on the second half," said Graves, who had 13 first-half points.In the second half, the Pioneers lacked the defensive prowess they had in the first half, allowing Warrior forward Jeff Stapelton to take several open shots.With 5:24 left in the game, the Warriors pulled within nine points. That would be as close as they would come, as forward Mark Ermshar came off the bench, providing seven rebounds and...

The Pacific Union College men's basketball team lost 72-78 to Menlo College, an NCAA division III team, at Pacific Auditorium on Sunday, Jan. 26.The Pioneers started out in scripted fashion, with a turnover, and Menlo guard Vince Encelan scored eight points in two minutes in what started to look like a rout of PUC. But with 11:59 remaining in the half, the Pioneers went on a 6-0 run to come within two points, 16-18, and force a Menlo time-out.With 5:05 left in the half, Pioneer center Bryan Banfield was fouled while taking a shot. Banfield hit both free throws to bring the score within one, 28-29.However, as a result of two missed dunks and several turnovers at key moments, Menlo was able to run the score to 41-32 by the end of the first half.With 6:02 left in the game, Pioneer forward Bryan Patterson was fouled on the drive. Although Patterson missed his free throw, forward Matt Hickman grabbed the rebound and tipped it in to make the score 61-68.Bryan Banfield led the Pioneers with 22 points and six rebounds. Pioneer guard Brett Graves chipped in 18 points and 10 rebounds. Menlo College guard Vince Encelan led all scorers with...

Pacific Union College's Dramatic Arts Society is presenting The Miracle Worker, a play about the education of Helen Keller, at 8 p.m. on March 5, 6, and 8, and 4 p.m. on March 9, at PUC Preparatory School. Admission is $5 for the evening performances, and $4 for the afternoon matinee.Written by William Gibson, The Miracle Worker is a dramatic portrayal of the rescue of Helen Keller by her teacher Annie Sullivan. Keller, blind and deaf, was a spoiled, violent, and isolated six year-old. Annie Sullivan was able to weather her tantrums and help her learn to communicate. "The main story is how Annie Sullivan was able to reach into Helen's mind and begin to teach her," said Andrea Griggs, sponsor of the Dramatic Arts Society....

When first-year teachers begin teaching, they discover they are responsible not only for themselves but also for a whole classroom's academic, social, and spiritual development. Jean Buller, chair of the education department at Pacific Union College, describes this first year's experience as a "culture shock".Pacific Union College's education department is dedicated to supporting their new teachers even after they graduate. They plan events such as the February experience, at which all first-year teachers come back to Pacific Union College to meet and share their experiences with their professors and fellow first-year teachers.The education department professors also make it a point to call or write to their first-year teachers, encourage them, and give helpful hints on classroom survival.This year the education professors decided to add another element to the support system--prayer.The education department now begins their faculty meetings by praying for two new teachers, two student teachers, and several current education students that are completing their courses. Buller said, "We pray for these individuals during our faculty meeting as well as in our personal devotion time."This idea has also blossomed into a colorful prayer board displayed in the department's foyer. The board lists the names and schools of the teachers and...

Feeling the need for prayer support as they face the challenges of college life, a number of Pacific Union College students and faculty have formed an online prayer network."We needed an online prayer chain to bring people together so that they could pray for problems and individual situations on campus," said Hans Smith, a sophomore media technology major. Smith started the prayer network early autumn quarter along with some friends.The prayer network includes about 20 men and women, including three faculty and staff. While all members of the prayer network are able to e-mail prayer requests to each other, they generally pass their requests on to Smith, who forwards them to everybody on the list, deleting names on sensitive requests to ensure privacy.The network members have already seen some remarkable answers to their prayers. Early autumn quarter, Smith asked the network to pray for his financial situation, which he feared would force him to leave Pacific Union College. He soon found out about two loan options that enabled him to stay in school. Just before Thanksgiving vacation, the network prayed for a person who was suffering from recurring bouts of depression. "We prayed intensely for this person," said Smith. "Even...

If you are looking for a lively and interactive church service, visit the Youth Chapel on the second Sabbath of every month. What's inside may surprise you. At first glance, if you stick your head in at the right time, you may see what looks like a crowd of elementary-school children, acting surprisingly grown up, watching several unshod grown-ups act shockingly childish. This is Children's Church, led by Rita Hoshino, student services assistant director. She and some friends, including Mike and Michelle Mesnard, Cliff Rusch, Milbert Mariano, and Betsey Ross are working to help children in grades one to six learn about church through participation."Our goal is to bring the church service down to a child's level," said Rita. "The first thing we do is take off our shoes. There's nothing that makes a woman look grown-up like her shoes."Children's Church starts out with what Hoshino calls "mover music," spiritual, spirited songs that require action. "This is to get the wiggles out of them," said Rita. "We gradually go to quieter and more worshipful songs, so that everyone is quieted down for prayer."The kids are encouraged to share prayer requests at prayer time. This can make things rather interesting, because...

Pacific Union College is expanding the scholarships it offers in two important areas. PUC's academic scholarships will now be renewable and will be larger in size. The college is also offering scholarships to students working in summer ministry.Pacific Union College's academic scholarships, with the exception of National Merit scholarships, have previously been awarded for the freshman year only. They were based on the student's academy or high school GPA. The new academic scholarships are also given to freshmen based on their high school or academy GPA, but students can renew them each year by keeping up their grades at Pacific Union College. The scholarships have been enlarged as well: Previously, a freshman could receive a one-time scholarship of up to $1,950 for having a high school GPA of 3.75-4.0. Now, he or she can receive a renewable scholarship worth up to $4,000 over four years. Beginning in the fall of 1998, all students who are maintaining high GPAs at Pacific Union College will be eligible to qualify for the renewable academic scholarships for their remaining college years, even if their GPAs were originally too low to qualify."I think it sounds like a very good idea," said Lary Taylor, associate professor...

Pacific Union College is offering three interesting and educational tours during the summer and fall of 1997. Dr. Gordon Thomas, professor emeritus of history, is leading two tours: one to the British Isles and the other to the Panama Canal. And PUC graduate Rob Stretter, '95, is leading a visit to the annual Shakespeare festival in Ashland, Oregon.Britain & IrelandFrom July 8 to 23, Gordon Thomas will conduct a tour of Britain and Ireland. The itinerary includes Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, the panoramic Ring of Kerry, Dublin, the north coast of Wales, England's Lake District, Edinburgh, York, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Windsor, and London. The price for the Britain and Ireland tour is $3,098 per person, which includes round trip airfare, accommodations in first-class hotels, and most breakfasts and dinners. Three units of college credit are available for a $105 tuition fee.Shakespeare Festival at AshlandRob Stretter will lead a visit to the annual Shakespeare festival in Ashland, Oregon, August 11-15. Participants will attend four of Shakespeare's plays: As You Like It, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Timon of Athens, and King Lear; take a backstage tour; meet an actor; and discuss the plays. The $245 base price includes theater tickets and accommodations at a...