Archives

Karl Haffner, senior pastor at the Kettering Adventist Church in Ohio and author of a dozen devotional books, presented the 2013 Heubach Lecture on April 13. Commemorating the recently deceased Seventh-day Adventist pastor Morris Venden, Haffner titled his lecture, Keeping Venden’s Voice Alive: Sanctification by Faith Alone. Venden, the celebrated Adventist pastor and Voice of Prophecy member, was a very influential figure in Haffner’s life and ministry. “Venden pastored the PUC church for many years; he was a strong advocate of both justification and sanctification by faith alone,” commented Leo Ranzolin, department of religion chair and Heubach Lectureship Committee chair. In his lecture, Haffner outlined the three aspects to our salvation, drawing from a sermon given by Venden at PUC in 1976: “Salvation from our past sins—we call it justification. Salvation from our present sins—we call this sanctification. Salvation from a world of sin when Jesus comes—we call this glorification.” Haffner went on to examine each of these aspects, positing that we have no trouble accepting justification and glorification. “But somehow,” he said, “we have gotten the idea that in santification, the middle aspect of salvation, that it is faith plus effort, faith plus works.” “The Bible is not against...

Rajeev Sigamoney, director of the film and television program at Pacific Union College, was the winner of the eleventh annual SONscreen Film Festival's Pitchfest, April 5. He received $10,000 for his proposed "Decalogue 2.0" mini-series. The series will consist of ten short episodes shot at PUC, each based on one of the Ten Commandments.According to Milbert Mariano, chair of the visual arts department, the result at the festival underlines the strength of PUC's film and television program and Sigamoney's skills. "It's a great personal victory for one of our own faculty," Mariano said. "We're excited for him and proud that he's among our ranks. The film and television program and the department of visual arts can only be strengthened by having someone with Rajeev's talents and accomplishments leading out as director of the program."Sigamoney was also excited about the win. He describes the production as a "great project for the film and television program." His goal for the series is to modernize the themes of the Ten Commandments and to connect the audience with the universal motifs contained in the original stone tablets."As the production develops, the plan is to shoot the project at PUC sometime next year, highlighting our...

It’s a Wednesdaynight—8:30 p.m.—and the gymnasium is packed. The fact that it’s a weeknight doesn’tstop students and faculty alike from flooding into the Covered Wagon toparticipate. Team schedules constantly rotate, players hoping to advance after eachgame.This isintramural rec—the program that recently reached the number one spot on CollegeProwler’s list of the top ten intramural programs in the nation.PUC’s intramuralprogram gives players a place to compete in a number of different sports andleagues. Not only do current students participate in this popular program, butmany faculty, staff, and alumni are also active participants.“The focus on whatwe do at intramurals is to give people a place where they can physicallyparticipate with their friends in an environment where they will get someexercise, they’ll make some friends, [and] they’ll get some stress relief to maintainbalance in their academic life,” says Robert Paulson, professor of exercisescience, health, and nutrition, and the director of PUC’s intramural program.“The best partfor me is just the camaraderie with all the guys and the girls—all theteammates,” says senior accounting major Daniel Monnier. “It’s a lot of fun,just to be able to take our minds off studying and just do something different,relax for a bit, and play sports. That’s really what I...

Brittany Cheney’s law career began on the Pacific Union College basketball court. “To do well in law, you have to be competitive,” says the ‘07 alumna. “It’s the same thing with basketball." Brittany graduated at the top of her UC Davis School of Law Class of 2012, and was awarded the Law School Medal for academic achievement. After a successful internship with Downey Brand, the largest law firm in Sacramento, Calif., she was hired as an associate attorney in Downey’s family law practice. While at PUC, Brittany was a member of PUC’s Lady Pioneers. The team’s games and practices taught her athletic skills…and persistence. Even when the team didn’t win a game, says Brittany, “we didn’t quit.” As a summa cum laude graduate of PUC, Brittany was also dedicated to her studies as an international communication major with an emphasis in Spanish and a business minor. Brittany also managed a complex fundraising campaign in the college’s Alumni and Advancement Office, raising $25,000—above the drive’s original goal. After graduating, Brittany worked for two years in fundraising, advertising and other positions before deciding to attend University of California, Davis. The academic break gave her work experience that helped prevent burnout during law...

Asher Raboy, M.F.A., artist in residence, was named the Pacific Union College 2013-2014 Educator of the Year at a special colloquy program on March 14. The title is awarded entirely by student votes. This is Raboy’s first time receiving the award. Steve Waters, mathematics department chair, recalled the time he has spent with Raboy out on the golf course and the many conversations they have had about what it means to be a teacher. “One of the things that I actually strive to emulate, that Asher seems to do effortlessly and I think it’s part of what makes him a good teacher, is he really tries hard to see the best in everyone and then works really hard to get those people to see it in themselves,” Waters stated. Raboy has worked in the Napa Valley since 1990, when he took the position as conductor and artistic director of the Napa Valley Symphony Orchestra. He directed the orchestra for 19 years, turning it into “a fully professional orchestra that brought in top-level soloists and filled a significant cultural hole in the valley,” remarked Rachelle Berthelson Davis, chair of the PUC music department. Raboy joined the PUC family in 2006 as...