2014

Spring vacation can be a much-needed rest for Pacific Union College students who have just completed final exams after a tough ten weeks of winter quarter. Yet, each year groups of students give up their opportunity to spend time with family and take a break. These students, motivated by the desire to give back and serve God, spend their time away from school having a mission-oriented adventure in places far and wide. From March 20-30, a group of 15 PUC students, joined by PUC service and missions coordinator Fabio Maia and professor of biology Floyd Hayes, flew to Manaus, Brazil to work in Rosa de Sáron, found in the interior of Manaus Amazonas. The group traveled to this exotic location to build a health clinic, provide water filters and water education, and teach English classes. Some of the students also participated in a tropical biology course led by Dr. Hayes, giving them the opportunity to experience the wildlife of the Amazon first-hand on morning trips along the river and through the jungle. PUC partnered with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) for the service element of the trip. ADRA supports several projects in Rosa de Sáron—including a school, furniture...

The entire campus—students, staff, and faculty—gathered together as a community of faith during Student Week of Prayer. During this special week, April 14-18, students shared personal testimonies that were both relatable and honest as they described how God has changed their lives in the past and directed their future. Eleven student speakers presented to a full church sanctuary each morning and evening, with the exception of Thursday evening, when two students, Brandon Olds and Jaryn Hart, spoke. Pacific Union College hosts a week of spiritual revival every quarter; however, the Week of Prayer during spring quarter is especially significant as it features student speakers sharing about their faith. Hearing peers—both under and lower-classmen—speak openly about their spiritual journeys made the presentations truly relatable and the lessons even more applicable. “It’s amazing how during Fall and Winter Revival we schedule the ‘big guns’ of Adventism: Jose Rojas, Michael Kelly, etc.,” stated PUC Chaplain Laffit Cortes. “However, they do not have the same effect as the students listening to their peers.” The presenters represented diverse areas of study, from film and television to psychology, and each shared their unique spiritual journey, illustrating that despite the different types of issues an individual struggles...

On April 27, Pacific Union College will present the Napa Valley Off-Road Triathlon, an event that will benefit the non-profit organization Clinica Verde. Clinica Verde promotes sustainable health care for the underserved populations of rural Nicaragua. The Triathlon features events for all ages, including a kid’s triathlon, a 5k run/walk, triathlon relay, beginner triathlon, and the individual triathlon. Uniquely, the triathlon includes a mountain bike course instead of a road bike course, much like the popular Xterra series of races. Pre-registration for the race closes on Friday, April 26, and the race-day registration opens at 5:30 AM. The triathlon, relays, and 5k run/walk will begin at 8 AM with the kid’s triathlon beginning at 10 AM. All participants will receive official finish times, finisher medals, and race t-shirts. Three-deep medals will also be given in age divisions. Sponsored by St. Helena Hospital Napa Valley and local businesses including the Calistoga Bike Shop, Sportago, and the Napa Running Company, the race is directed by Fabio Maia, PUC’s service and missions coordinator. For more information and to register, visit www.napavalleyoffroadtriathlon.com....

After dust storms, construction, and more than 40 hoursof driving, a group from Pacific Union College can say that they experienced aunique, service-focused spring break. Eschewing the typical college studenttrips home or to the beach, this group of students spent ten days, March 21-31, working with a small church in the Navajo heartland.Sixteen students and one staff member from Pacific UnionCollege spent their spring break in Chinle, Ariz., in the center of a Navajoreservation. The group was invited to by Pastor Dale Wolcott of the ChinleSeventh-day Adventist Church, and focused their efforts on installing a new roofon the church. The group’s efforts, declared a blessing by Pastor Wolcott, helpthe church keep its long-term commitment to the local community.Along with providing laborers, PUC was also able todonate $3,000 to the project. With the help of Al, a roofer from Michigan whosupervised the project, a large portion of the work on the church wascompleted. Despite high winds and a heavy dust storm in Chinle, the group wasable to remove the old, damaged roof and begin installing a new metal roof thatwill last for years to come and give many people a place to become acquaintedwith Jesus.In addition to working on the roof...

John Nunes, Ph.D., associate professor of business administration, was named the Pacific Union College 2014 Educator of the Year at a special Colloquy program dedicated to honoring the college’s excellent faculty and highlighting the important work happening each day as teachers and students interact in the classroom. Nunes was elected the Educator of the Year entirely by student vote, and this year marked the highest participation in student voting since the award began in 1984 at 50 percent student body participation. Nunes joined the PUC faculty in 2011 after over 25 years building and leading teams in sales, operations, and general management roles for privately-held and Fortune 500 companies. He specializes in leadership, management, strategy, and behavioral economics, and serves the students of PUC as not only a teacher, but as a mentor as well. After a short speech by the 2013 Educator of the Year, Asher Raboy, the identity of the 2014 honoree was revealed. Nunes made his way to the church platform to the cheers and applause of the student body and his faculty peers. Department of business chair Rodney Hardcastle was the first to step to the microphone. Hardcastle described Nunes as the Energizer Bunny because of...

Pacific UnionCollege’s women’s volleyball program is excited to announce off- season campsand clinics for girls from Napa County between the ages of nine and 18. Headcoach Brittany Brown and PUC collegiate players will host two Sunday clinicsand a week-long summer camp focusing on the fundamental skills of volleyballfrom beginner basics to more advanced levels.Brown, a Calistoga,Calif. native, was voted 2013 California Pacific Union Conference Coach of theYear. In her four years as head coach at PUC, Brown led the women’s volleyballto a stellar record ending in league championship contention in the 2013season.A 2005 NapaCounty Player of the Year, Brown played collegiate volleyball at Azusa PacificUniversity, competing in the NAIA national tournament in every season sheplayed. Brown has coached for NBC volleyball campus, at high schools, and athigh level club programs. During her club coaching years she spent timeteaching private lessons and collaborated with world-class coaches.Brown now bringsher incredible coaching experience to the Napa Valley by leading these clinicsand campus. “Camps and clinics are a great way to get involved with the localcommunity and promote the sport of volleyball,” she says. “Coaching theseclinics and camps keeps PUC volleyball engaged and sharp as we pursue theChampion of Character and our own growth...

Pacific Union College’s office of enrollment services has launched a new ministry called Connect to share the spiritual experience at the college with churches, schools, and other groups within the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Connect is coordinated by Larry Graack, an enrollment counselor at the college. Graack, a PUC graduate and former youth pastor at the Placerville Seventh-day Adventist Church, is excited about the opportunity PUC students will have to share their faith, grow in their talents, and worship together with the larger Adventist community. “Our mission statement is that as Christ’s disciples we serve with spiritual authenticity while promoting a valued relationship with PUC and above all, a dynamic connection to our Creator,” said Graack. “We hope to serve with innovative ministry, communication, and discipleship.” Graack is already travelling throughout the Pacific Union with the campus ministries personnel, talented student and faculty speakers, and gifted musicians that make up the ministry team. Connect ministry is working hard to establish relationships with all sorts of audiences, sharing the PUC spiritual experience with them and inviting youth and young adults to get involved with that experience as PUC students. Using the talents God has given them, the Connect ministry...

Beginning in mid-February, students in Pacific UnionCollege’s Individual Taxation class participated in the Volunteer Income TaxAssistance (VITA) program at the Up Valley Family Center in St Helena, Calif.The students prepared tax returns for free for people that earned less than$58,000 per year, applying what they had learned in the classroom as part of aservice-learning project that allowed them to grow their skills while providinga valuable service to members of the community.As of March 19, the twelve PUC students and 4 othercommunity volunteers had prepared and submitted 144 tax returns for Napa Valleyresidents who visited the St. Helena site of the Up Valley Family Centers,formerly St. Helena Family Center. In early February, the students received IRScertification, and soon after began seeing clients under the supervision ofNorma Ferriz, site and operations manager for Up Valley Family Centers.Ferriz estimates that nearly 90% of the people who takeadvantage of the program receive a refund. “This is all money that isreinvested in the community so that is great,” she said. In 2013, a group ofPUC and community volunteers prepared 165 tax returns, bringing back more than$313,900 in total refunds to families and individuals in the community. “In2014, thanks to the participation of volunteers from St....

Susan Dix Lyons is familiar with social innovation. The founder and Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit Clinica Verde is active every day in making the world a better place. Lyons and her organization improve the lives of families living in poverty through clinical care and nutrition and health education at a sustainably designed health clinic in Boaco, Nicaragua that serves 14,000 patients per year. During the winter quarter of 2014, Dix Lyons drew on her experience with Clinica Verde as well as her earlier work as a journalist and editor to teach a Pacific Union College course on Media and Social Innovation. “I wanted to give the students an opportunity to see how rich with possibility their lives are,” Lyons shared, “and how important it is that they become ‘doers’ in society. People who not only imagine how the world can be better, but who have the confidence and resolve to participate in the solutions.” Lyons herself is one such ‘doer,’ and has been recognized for the work she leads at Clinica Verde. At an event held in San Francisco on February 26, she was honored as an Unsung Hero of Compassion for aiding others without expectation of reward....

Pacific Union College’s Pioneers basketball season ended with honors for players on both the men’s and women’s teams. In addition to these post-season honors, the Lady Pioneers basketball team had their best season in over a decade. Two players from PUC’s men’s basketball team were recognized for their excellence on the court. Junior forward Jordan Greenwell was named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics California Pacific Conference First Team and junior guard Trevor Noguiera was named to the Conference Second Team. Greenwell started in all 31 games, averaging 14 points per game. He led the Pioneers in scoring with 434 points, as well as in rebounding and assists. Teammate Noguiera finished the season with 333 points while struggling with injuries during the season. “Both of these players are very deserving of the awards they received and were instrumental for us this season,” commented Kirt Brower, men’s basketball head coach and the college’s athletic director. “I am very proud of them for achieving this and I know both of them are already working hard to ensure we achieve more of our team goals next year.” Lady Pioneer London Robinson, guard, was named to the Cal Pac Conference Second Team and...