2014

Since 2007, students at Pacific Union College have been able to pursue a unique and exciting degree by taking PUC’s A.S. in emergency services. This fall, the emergency services program is expanding its offerings with a new bachelor’s in emergency services. The four-year degree will prepare leaders to serve their communities through long careers in this rewarding and challenging field. “Our mission is to prepare and educate individuals for years of service both locally and nationally with a well-rounded foundation in both vocational and professional education,” says Levi Gore, who teaches both nursing and emergency services at the college. The Bachelor of Science degree in emergency services is designed to give students both hands-on training and the management skills necessary for long and successful professions in emergency services settings. While students will receive important vocational certifications including Emergency Medical Technician and technical rescue certifications, they will also receive important training in areas such as resource management, public safety system design, disaster response, and public health. In addition to the four years of emergency services classes, the degree takes full advantage of PUC’s liberal arts environment by integrating courses from various academic departments. The curriculum includes human anatomy and physiology courses...

On June 3, Pacific Union College’s President, Heather J.Knight, Ph.D., announced the receipt of the largest single private gift in thecollege’s 132-year history, a $2.4 million testamentary gift from the late StephenBall, a twenty-year resident of the Napa Valley. The gift is for theunrestricted support of Pacific Union College’s mission.“We are grateful for this transformational and historicgift,” said Knight. “Stephen Ball understood the mission and the impact thatPacific Union College has had throughout its history, and we’re honored toreceive this gift at a time when our college is on a historic upwardtrajectory. This gift is truly ablessing for our campus community.”Born in 1944 in Berkeley, California, Stephen Ball attendedArmstrong College, a private liberal arts college in Berkeley specializing inbusiness management. He relocated to the Napa Valley in 1994, and lived in St.Helena until his death in April.“Stephen was a generous soul, and he appreciated thosearound him who made a difference in the community,” said longtime friend SusanBaxter. “Pacific Union College is such an asset to the Napa Valley community,and Stephen wanted to support the mission of the college.”Pacific Union College is currently engaged in the planningphase for a major philanthropic campaign, the Heritage Campaign, which willencompass a variety of signature...

On May 29, Pacific Union College hosted Joanne Park for one of the Colloquy Speakers Series’ final installments of the school year. Park graduated from PUC in 2000 and is currently the Senior Director for Digital and Daytime Publicity at NBC Entertainment. She shared her career journey at NBC and also offered advice to students about what they can expect as they leave college and enter the workforce. After graduating from PUC, Park worked in the page program at NBC at the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and gave tours of the NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif. Soon after, she was invited to join the corporate production events team, where she produced events for advertisers, NBC affiliates, and various primetime television shows. Park has spent the last 11 years in the entertainment publicity department, working on campaigns for hit shows including ER, Fear Factor, The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Golden Globes, The Biggest Loser, and The Blacklist. Park currently oversees digital and daytime publicity for her department and her responsibilities include all social media campaigns for all NBC primetime shows, publicizing all digital initiatives for nbc.com, as well as working on marketing and publicity strategy for the head of...

On May 21, the Pacific Union College’s Pre-Law Forum invitedthe two candidates running for Napa County District Three Supervisor at tospeak on campus. Pacific Union College’s Angwin campus is located withinDistrict Three, and students, faculty, and community members gathered twiceduring the day to learn more about the two candidates and their unique visionsfor Napa County.Pacific Union College’s Angwin campus is located withinDistrict Three, and students, faculty, and community members gathered twiceduring the day to learn more about the two candidates and their unique visionsfor Napa County.Lewis Chilton, a business-owner and vice-mayor ofYountville, Calif., spoke and answered questions at 10am, followed by currentDistrict Three Supervisor Diane Dillon at 1pm. The Board of Supervisors for Napa County administers a $350 million budget anddetermines land use, housing, water, agriculture, transportation, and othercountywide issues.For some students, the event was an introduction to the waylocal government works. “I neverrealized how much the county Board of Supervisors could directly affect thecollege,” commented sophomore English and communication major Emily Mathe. “Ithink it’s important to learn a lot about how we can get in touch with locallegislators, and maybe make some positive changes that would benefit PUC.”Michelle Rai, professor of communication, organized thevisits. “I appreciated both candidates, Lewis...

Pacific Union College’s new mobile friendly admissions website, launched in February, has been recognized for achievement in both design and marketing. Most recently, the website garnered a 2014 American In-house Design Award from Graphic Design U.S.A., an organization that sponsors multiple graphic design competitions. The In-house Design Award spotlights the outstanding work by in-house designers, recognizing them both for their talent and for the challenges they face and the unique value they bring to their institutions. The In-house Design Award competition receives more than 4,000 submissions each year from design teams that work within the institutions they serve instead of at design agencies, with a very select 15 percent recognized with a certificate of excellence. Pacific Union College received a certificate for the admissions website as well as a congratulatory letter to the college’s administration. In addition, the website is eligible for publication in the In-House Design Annual, with a circulation of over 100,000 professionals. Earlier this year, PUC’s admissions website won a silver award from the 29th Annual Education Advertising Awards, sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report. Of nearly 2,000 entries, PUC was amongst the 146 institutions granted a silver award and was one of only 31 winners in...

One of the final student-led club events of the busy school year was held on Sunday, May 19, as the Mabuhay Filipino Club and Student Organization of Latinos (SOL) joined creative forces to host a wanderlust-themed banquet. Wanderlust, or love of travel, elements ran through the event, which took place at Deer Park Villa, an outdoor venue in the city of Fairfax, Calif., that was voted Marin’s “Best Caterer” and “Best Wedding Venue” for 2013. Centerpieces and decorations that celebrated the globetrotting theme added to the Villa’s redwood trees and beautiful landscaping. The end of the school year is a busy time, but the Wanderlust Banquet was a great opportunity to enjoy time together while making incredible memories. “Although stressful to plan, this banquet gave students a chance to attend one of the last banquets with a date or a group of friends,” said Mabuhay Filipino Club officer Kevin Loyola. “Students can eat great food and really just enjoy each other’s company.” The evening’s entertainment included live performances from students, who showcased their talents and added to the relaxed mood. From creative songs to a flash mob, the entertainment had something to offer everyone. The highlight of the night was...

The highly anticipated and largest REVO event of the school year took place on Sunday, May 4, as the Pacific Union College community gathered for a concert, stuff sale, fashion show, and the yearly Spring Fest celebration. This year, REVO, a student-led philanthropic movement begun in 2008, benefitted an international cause with a remarkable local connection.Last year’s successful REVO efforts benefitted Love146, an organization working to abolish child sex-trafficking and exploitation. This year’s cause, selected by the student organizers, was Project Worku. All proceeds from the year’s events, which included a special banquet and open mic night as well as the popular REVOfest, will go to the Worku Jenber School in Ethiopia, a school started by PUC’s head librarian, Adu Worku. The funds will directly benefit young people who yearn for an education by providing students at the Worku Jenber School with resources such as books and computers.At the REVOfest, which this year was accompanied by the college’s annual Spring Fest fundraiser, various campus clubs set up booths outside on the Campus Mall to sell cultural foods, beverages, and more. Many of the clubs chose to donate their earnings to Project Worku. In addition, students donated gently used clothing and...

A group of students and faculty from Pacific Union College’s department of psychology traveled to Portland, Ore., to attend the annual convention of the Western Psychological Association (WPA) on April 24-27. Approximately 29 PUC students attended the convention, accompanied by professors Bruce and Charlene Bainum, Aubyn Fulton, and Priscilla Miranda. Of the PUC research papers presented at the convention, three received awards.Four of the six PUC poster presentations were presented for Psi Chi, the elite national psychology student honor society, three of which won the Psi Chi Regional Award. Historically, PUC students have won two Psi Chi awards in one year, but this was the first year they took home three. “It was a really fabulous learning experience for the many students who came, and I was so proud of the presenters and the award winners,” said Charlene Bainum, professor of psychology.At the convention, the PUC group presented on a variety of topics: the effect of emoticons on memory, how peers perceive social networking profiles, eating behavior and social interaction, video games and their effect on memory, Asian-American leadership, and the effects of preschool on children’s self-regulation. In addition, two PUC psychology alums presented papers at the convention for their...

Pacific Union College hosted critically acclaimed author Matt de la Peña during the May 1 installment of the Colloquy Speakers Series. de la Peña, the award-winning author of five young-adult novels and the picture book A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis, inspired the campus with the story his personal path to literacy. de la Peña was introduced by a professor who played a pivotal role in his development as a reader and writer: PUC’s own president, Heather J. Knight, Ph.D. Knight taught de la Peña during his time as a student at the University of the Pacific, and described her former student as a “successful, prolific, and accomplished young writer.” However, as de la Peña explained, his career as a writer was completely unexpected. Describing himself as a “reluctant reader” through most of his childhood, de la Peña never finished a book in high school. As the son of teenage parents from National City, Calif., “literature was something that belonged to the kids in the richer families,” said de la Peña. The author urged PUC students to not let circumstances or the assumptions of others determine their paths. “You’re going to deal with a ton of...

Since 1882, Pacific Union College has been preparing students for a lifetime of service to God and humanity. From April 25-27, the college welcomed alumni back to its Angwin, Calif., campus to celebrate that heritage, share special memories, and to recognize the impact of PUC graduates. During the Homecoming Weekend festivities, the college recognized a group of alumni that have made significant contributions as the 2014 Honored Alumni. The annual Honored Alumni awards are given to individuals who are truly representatives of the PUC Pioneer spirit, and this year’s recipients were no exception. During Sabbath morning worship service, PUC President Heather J. Knight, Ph.D., presented the first award to the 2014 awardees. First to be honored was Lawrence Longo, M.D., pioneering researcher and founder and emeritus director of the Center for Perinatal Biology at Loma Linda University. Longo graduated from PUC in 1949, and established the Frank A. and Florine A. Longo Lecture series at his alma mater in 1993. Though Longo was unable to attend the service, his daughter Celeste de Tessan came to accept the award on her father’s behalf. The next recipient was Joe L. Wheeler, Ph.D., a 1959 graduate of PUC’s history department and a beloved...