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Two Pioneers basketball players won California Pacific Conference honors last week when they were named players of the week. The conference recognized senior Josh Jewett from the men’s team, and senior Carla Bartlett from the women’s team, for outstanding play last week against West Coast Baptist College and the California Institute of Technology.Read more at the Napa Valley Register....

Peter Thornburgh, recently creative director at Yahoo!, was the speaker for Pacific Union College’s Colloquy Speaker Series on December 1. Following his presentation, students filled the Dining Commons for the 31st annual Career Day exhibition, where over 60 consultants, recruiters, and professionals shared their experiences in the work field. Thornburgh began his presentation by highlighting a U.S. Department of Education statistic showing that over 65 percent of today’s middle school students will land jobs that do not yet exist, emphasizing the effect technology will have on future careers. Thornburgh gave students three keys to success in the technology driven economy. First, Thornburgh urged, “Don't be average, be invested.” Recalling Psalm 139:14, where David praises God for making him with such care, he said, “God doesn’t make good, he makes great.” Second, he said, “Let God guide.” Finally, he encouraged students to take advantage of any support available, stating, “Don’t go it alone…work with your colleagues.” After sharing his keys to success, Thornburgh referred to late Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ 2005 commencement address at Stanford University. In the speech, Jobs urged students to look for something they love. Thornburgh repeated that advice but with a caveat: “Finding a job you love...

Award-winning documentary filmmaker Martin Doblmeier, creator of over 25 films including The Power of Forgiveness, Bonhoeffer, and The Adventists, visited Pacific Union College last week to address students, present one of his films, and give the college’s annual Longo Lecture. Doblmeier’s engagement at PUC opened Wednesday evening with a screening of The Adventists, his documentary exploring the denomination’s unique whole-person approach to healthcare. After the screening in Scales Chapel, the filmmaker spent several minutes answering questions about the film, which premiered on public television in 2010. On Thursday morning Doblmeier faced a panel of student interviewers for PUC’s Colloquy Speaker Series in the PUC Church. Following a moving clip of his film The Power of Forgiveness, students Samantha Angeles, Peter Han, and Justin Feltman took the stage with the filmmaker to ask him about his views on Adventism, justice, filmmaking, and the controversial German resistance figure Dietrich Bonhoeffer. “The common denominator in my films is exploring the question, ‘How is God working in the world today?’” Doblmeier said, responding to a question from Feltman on how he chooses his topics. Doblmeier also discussed the complexities of showing The Adventists, a film that to a degree promotes facets of Adventist faith...

College administrators, PUC alumni, faculty, and staff celebrated the dedication of the newly renovated Nelson Memorial Library at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, November 12. Several of the project’s major donors attended, and President Heather Knight, interim advancement vice president Carolyn Hamilton, and library director Adu Worku took the opportunity to thank them for their contributions. After a dedication prayer by outreach chaplain Norman Knight, the president, along with Worku and donors Jim and Bonnie Comazzi, Hans and Nancy Boksberger, and Herb Ford cut the ribbon, welcoming in the crowd of eager attendees. In front of the new and brightly-lit group study rooms provided by Adventist Health, Knight again addressed donors, thanking them for making the renovation possible. Academic dean Nancy Lecourt, the point person for the planning stage of the renovation, also spoke about the project, and Worku outlined the philosophy of the modern library that had developed over the 10-plus years since the plan was first conceived. Over the course of the renovation, construction crews completely stripped the main floor of the library, removing over 50,000 books to a remote storage facility on campus. The expanded space on the floor is now brightly decorated and well lit and features...

Last week the CalPac conference recognized two Pioneers volleyball players for their performance in the recently closed season. Senior Casey Miller was named to the 1st Team All-Conference group, and junior transfer student Calai Brown was named one of the conference’s two Newcomers of the Year. Head coach Brittany Brown had glowing praise for the two players. “[Casey] is one of those players that really gives 100 percent every day and helps set the tone for PUC volleyball for years to come,” she says. “[Calai] has come into this program with a strong understanding of collegiate volleyball and really excelled this season.” Miller finished the season leading the Pioneers in kills, with 205 (3.1 kills per set). She was second on the team with 23 service aces on the season, and she also finished second on the team with 191 digs and third with 18 total blocks on the year. Brown finished the season third on the team in kills, with 123 (1.68 per set) and second on the team with 27 total blocks on the year. “I’m glad that it was my senior year,” says Miller. “It’s a nice way to finish. I consider it an honor.” “It feels...