PUC Hosts Annual PacificQuest & PQ Rise Programs and Introduces PQSoar

Pacific Union College held its annual PacificQuest summer programs for students in grades 6-12 interested in STEM—and for the first time—aviation. This week-long camp is a great opportunity for students to receive college credit through practical learning experiences and share their interests with other academy kids through educational and outdoor activities.

Since 1995, PQRise and PQSeek have been ongoing and were only canceled once in the summer of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal has remained the same each year—that students learn about their interests in engineering, zoology, marine science, and art from expert professors who are dedicated teachers and Seventh-day Adventists.

“We hope that students connect with their peers, making memories and friends to last a lifetime,” shared Dean of the School of Sciences Aimee Wyrick. “We also want them to get to know PUC and our amazing faculty and staff. The PacificQuest programs can demystify college, and this helps students realize that college is for them and isn’t (or doesn’t have to be) scary. I overheard a student say it was the best summer experience of their life.”

This year’s PacificQuest was exceptional as it was the first introduction to PQSoar for students interested in aviation. From June 23-28, 15 high school students attended and learned about aircraft systems, aerodynamics, navigation, and careers in aviation. They were also taught about the human factors involved in the industry, scenario-based training, and practiced flying on a simulator and piloting planes.

Those involved with Wyrick in launching the first annual PQSoar were Aviation Director Nathan Tasker, Chief Flight Instructor Merilyn Chaffee, Dean for the School of Arts, Humanities, and Professions Milbert Mariano, Assistant Professor of Emergency Services Matt Russell, and Enrollment Counselor Andrianna Massena.

The goal of PQSoar is to share the love of aviation, introduce the idea of majoring in aviation, and showcase how the industry can make a difference in the world through humanitarian aid, air ambulance work, preaching the gospel in remote locations, and more. 

“Students loved the program and gave great feedback about how awesome it was to fly a plane themselves and what a different perspective they got from seeing the world from above,” shared Chaffee. “I was really pleased with how everything turned out. We had wonderful students who did well in the program, and it was great to be able to share a love of aviation with them.”

PUC is proud to be one of the few Seventh-day Adventist colleges with an aviation program and airport on campus. Creating this program for high school students was a dream come true for the college to teach the skills they need to be successful in the aviation world.

Also taking place the same week as PQSoar was PQSeek, where 50 students from grades 6-8 learned about creative writing from Assistant Professor of English Emily Logan, engineering and data science, and zoology from Professor of Biology Floyd Hayes.

"The students totally threw themselves into the creative process!" shared Logan. "At the end of class, we would go around the room, and each person would share a favorite sentence or two they'd written that day. It was really fun to see how imaginative everyone was and how supportive the students were of each other as a community of writers."

Hayes also taught marine biology at the Albion Field Station during PQRise alongside Professor of Biology Bryan Ness and Albion Field Station Director Sheldon Schultz. This program is specifically for high school freshmen through juniors who are academically high achieving, earning high grades and test scores, and excel in STEM subjects.

From June 30-July 5, 50 students learned about tide pooling, plankton, mud flats, and the beach. They also engaged in scientific research design with Wyrick and watercolor painting with former PUC Photography Professor and Professor Emeritus of Art Tom Turner.

Russell, Wyrick, and respective faculty designed PQRise and PQSeek to challenge young minds and enrich their academic experience. Through hands-on learning, students are completely engaged in classes relevant to their interests.

Students had a wonderful and positive experience, with many planning to return next year. “PacificQuest fosters and encourages a supportive and collaborative environment,” said Wyrick. “We want students to ask and answer questions and challenge themselves academically and personally. We want them to experience the joy of learning at PUC.”