2017

On Wednesday, March 8, the eighth-seeded Pacific Union College Pioneers men’s basketball team took on the first-seeded Cornerstone University Golden Eagles in the opening round of the 26th annual NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo. After a dominating first half, PUC’s run came to an abrupt halt when Cornerstone took control over the final 20 minutes to pull out an 89-83 win. Despite their heartbreaking lost, the Pioneers raised eyebrows and turned heads at the national level with a stellar performance for their first appearance in the NAIA national tournament. The Pioneers, who had won their last eight games—the last three by a combined total of six points that included two buzzer-beaters—came out hitting on all cylinders, shooting almost 64 percent in the opening half, including 10 of 17 from the 3-point line. Their largest lead came with just under a minute to play in the first half on the third triple from junior Ben Jazuk to go up 55-29, but the Golden Eagles picked up the defensive pressure and chipped away at the 25-point halftime deficit and found a way to advance into the second round. With the...

On Thursday, March 9, the sounds of excitement filled the air of the PUC Church sanctuary as the senior class, dressed in their regalia, marched down the center aisle for a special Colloquy service dedicated in their honor. Following the processional and the welcome by Dr. Nancy Lecourt, academic dean and vice president for academic administration, beloved associate professor emeritus of business administration and senior class sponsor Lary Taylor gave a scripture reading of 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, reminding the congregation the race of life demands perseverance as we approach the finish line, and our prize is eternal life. Dr. John Nunes, another business professor and senior class sponsor, congratulated the senior class, noting there were just 101 days until graduation, before offering opening prayer. “Lord, I pray during these last final months You be with those who are transitioning into graduate school or permanent jobs, and be with those who are still looking for the right opportunity for them. … As they march their way out of here, I pray You help them to remember even when they feel alone, they are never alone, for You are always with them,” he said. Seniors Katie Kaatz and Justine Sauza took to...

Pacific Union College welcomed entrepreneur, businessperson, and PUC alumnus Scott Alvord to speak for the Colloquy Speaker Series on March 2. Students were moved by Alvord’s story of success, from a college student struggling to pay his tuition to currently serving on the Roseville City Council. Lary Taylor, associate professor emeritus of business administration, introduced Alvord, noting he has been voted favorite local business person and favorite civic leader in the Reader’s Choice awards for Style Magazine, a local publication for the area of Roseville, Granite Bay, and Rocklin. Alvord stepped on stage with an authoritative yet welcoming presence. During his presentation, he emphasized the importance of valuing an education, not only because it provides a variety of career opportunities, but also because of the investment you’re making. He encouraged students to strive for good grades. “God has put you here to enrich the world,” Alvord said to the students and urged, “Become a person of value, not a person of success.” As a freshman at PUC, Alvord struggled to pay tuition. To his surprise and amazement, a mysterious donation covered his first year expenses, giving him the opportunity to take full advantage of PUC’s education system. Money was still...

Despite all odds, the PUC Pioneers men's basketball team took home the California Pacific Conference Championship title, defeating the five-year defending champions Cal Maritime, 71-70, Tuesday evening, Feb. 28. The Pioneers began their championship debut struggling to find their rhythm. At halftime, they were trailing the Keelhaulers by 10 points. Once again, their defensive effort swung the momentum of the game their way, as they went on a 10-0 run to open the second half. The crowd would find no relief in their school's lead, as both teams tied six times throughout the second half. It came down to the last possession, just as it did on Feb. 18 when PUC Pioneer Jayson Marquez, a junior from Harlem, N.Y., hit a three-pointer with less than a second remaining to beat CSUM by one in the regular season finale. With less than a second left in regulation, PUC Pioneer Rae Hubbard, a junior from Fairfield, Calif., drained a shot to secure the 71-70 win and the California Pacific Conference Championship title. “It was the greatest basketball game I’ve ever seen live. I’m so proud of the team, they played their hearts out and really deserved this win. It was great to...

The Pioneers men's basketball team punched their ticket to the California Pacific Conference championship game with their semifinal win over Benedictine-Mesa, 78-75, Sunday evening, February 26. The Pioneers will play Cal Maritime on Tuesday, February 28, in the finals in Vallejo, Calif. The Pioneers and Benedictine opened the game with a consistent exchange of points; however, the Pioneers went on a 17-5 run to pull ahead 33-15 with just over four minutes left in the opening half. Going into the locker room at halftime, the Pioneers had a comfortable 18-point lead over the Redhawks. With no major momentum changes until two minutes into the second half, the Redhakws went on a 7-0 run, cutting their deficit to 67-59. The Redhawks continued to chip away at the Pioneers lead and with less than two minute on the clock, found themselves down by only four points. Chad Young, a senior from Carson, Calif., sunk two free throws to give the Pioneers a slim 78-72 lead. Despite a PUC turnover, the Redhawk final shot attempts missed, securing a historic win for the Pioneers. The Pioneers were led by Cal Pac's Player of the Week Kwuan Guerrero, a senior from Los Angeles, Calif., who...

Thirteen students from Pacific Union College assisted Lake County Continuum of Care (CoC) officials with a Point-In-Time (PIT) count of the county’s homeless population on Tuesday, January 24. These counts, required by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, provide an overview of the homelessness in the region and the information necessary for the county to be eligible for federal funding for programs and housing for the homeless. Students from the Statistical Methods and Human Behavior and the Social Environment classes participated in the event. Over 100 volunteers helped with the PIT count. PUC students worked in two areas, Middletown and Clearlake, with some students working with community members to visit known homeless encampments while others were stationed at a church or large tent to help guide the homeless through a 28-question survey. Food, water, flu shots, HIV/Hepatitis C testing, and dog food and other supplies were available to survey participants. PUC’s Clearlake Homeless Ministries provided hygiene items such as deodorant, laundry detergent, and feminine hygiene products to be distributed to help incentivize participation in the survey. “Surveying people experiencing homelessness benefits many organizations in Lake County financially in the long term, and we hope that analyzing the information...

Pacific Union College invited Dr. Calvin B. Rock, retired vice president at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, to share his knowledge and experience with students, faculty, staff, and the campus community in celebration of Black History Month, as the featured speaker for the Colloquy Speaker Series and the 2017 lecture of the Percy and John Christian Civil Rights Conference Center. A passionate evangelist, Rock has devoted more than 60 years of service to the world church, including serving as the president of Oakwood College (now University), and pastored throughout the United States and abroad in places such as Russia, England, Africa, and Romania. On Thursday, February 2, Rock addressed students, faculty, and staff for Black History Colloquy. His talk, titled “Heroes and Heroines in Black and White: Where Do We Go From Here?” by explaining he would be taking a different approach to honoring Black History Month. Rather than discuss the many accomplishments of various distinguished and well-recognized black African-Americans, he decided to share stories about men and women who had personally impacted his life and were also pioneers of social justice within the Adventist Church. Peppered with anecdotes and praise for their efforts, Rock shared stories of people...

There’s a little keypad-secured room in Pacific Union College’s Chan Shun Hall where you have to raise your voice to be heard over the sci-fi-ish hum of a vacuum-sealed ion beam chamber.The experiment is similar to the cutting-edge research being conducted at prestigious labs like Lawrence Livermore in the Bay Area and Oak Ridge in Tennessee. The fact that it’s happening at a small liberal arts college in the Napa Valley is a sign of professor Vola Andrianarijaona's determination to prove that PUC can play in the big leagues of experimental particle physics.Read the full article on the St. Helena Star website....

Pacific Union College welcomed pastor Tim Gillespie for Winter Revival, an annual weeklong service, January 17-20. During this time, students were given the opportunity to rekindle and reaffirm their faith in Christ. A former PUC Pioneer, Gillespie is now the head pastor at the Crosswalk Church in Redlands, Calif. He spoke to students about Christ’s enduring love and constant drive to be a part of their lives. At each meeting, Pastor Gillespie took to the stage with authority. "God is breaking through,” he would state, establishing the theme of the week. “God is constantly striving to be a relevant part of your lives,” Gillespie reminded students. “Each day, we are given the opportunity for God to break through into the lives we lead. He not only saved you but He sanctified you and taught you what love is.” Throughout the week, Gillespie continued to break down the theme of “God Breaking Through.” On the second night, he shared a funny analogy about his son Jacob, causing waves of laughter to be heard throughout Dauphinee Chapel. "As a father," said Gillespie, "I want what is best for my child just as God our Father wants what is best for us, His...

In the opening Colloquy of the new quarter, Dr. Eric Anderson, the newly elected president of Pacific Union College, gave his first address to campus, on Thursday, January 11. The service began with a prayer from Chaplain Jonathan Henderson, who appealed, “We pray that Your spirit is still present, that we are engaged by Your spirit and moved by Your spirit. Father, direct us as we move forward. Fill this place. May we see, feel, and know that You are here.” With the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, many segments of the service were dedicated to his memory. Dr. William Chunestudy, associate academic dean for distance and adult learning, lead the PUC octet and congregation in singing “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” the song sung at Dr. King’s first civil rights movement meeting. Dr. Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti, chair of the department of world languages and cultures, read Philippians 1:27-2:4, followed by a powerful rendition of “Ain’t Got Time to Die” by the octet, which elicited strong applause and cheers from the congregation. Dr. Nancy Lecourt, vice president for academic administration and academic dean, introduced Anderson, welcoming him as the twenty-second president in the college’s 135-year history. While she...