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On a Christian campus such as Pacific Union College, religious and social programs are specially designed and planned to enrich the lives of college students. However, despite the choices available, some students find themselves searching for a more personalized spiritual experience and meaningful relationships. Fortunately there are options and opportunities here at PUC that students can seize and use to change their lives, but it takes some personal effort.Lana Feiss, a senior liberal studies major, and I decided to plan a group weekend trip to Albion, Pacific Union College's marine field station, located on the Mendocino coast.We ended up with nineteen eager adventurers who desired to spend some time in nature, make new friends and get to know the Lord better. After the four hour drive to Albion, everyone devoured the pancake and waffle breakfast we prepared in our cabins.The Albion River was begging for us to canoe its salted estuary, full of seals, osprey, and kingfishers. Joel Dulhunty, a senior biochemistry major, was the first to trek out towards the river and lead the way to our canoes, paddles and life-jackets. He especially enjoyed observing all of God's creatures on the river. Dulhunty commented, "The seals were mangy looking...

Pacific Union College is conferring an honorary doctor of music degree on Herbert Blomstedt, music director laureate of the San Francisco Symphony, at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15, in the college's Paulin Hall. Blomstedt will also be inducted into the prestigious Pi Kappa Lambda music honors society during the event. A reception will follow in the Fireside Room."We would like to honor Herbert Blomstedt for his musical contributions and his Christian life," said Malcolm Maxwell, president of Pacific Union College. "He is regarded as one of the finest musicians in the world. We think of him as a very fine Seventh-day Adventist Christian as well, someone who is proud of his Christianity." Blomstedt was music director of the San Francisco Symphony from 1985 to 1995. He is now music director of the NDR Symphony Orchestra in Hamburg, Germany, and is an active recording artist and guest conductor with other leading orchestras around the world. Blomstedt has been invited each year to return as guest conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, which he will conduct on March 20 and 22.Blomstedt has received many awards and honors, including two Grammy Awards (1996, 1993), the Grand Prix du Disque (1992), the Litteris et...

Charlie Brown, land management director at Pacific Union College, is "dad" and "grandpa" to a large number of foster children. He and his wife Pat, who have three grown biological children, have been foster parents to a total of 67 children over the past 27 years.The Browns have lived in Angwin since 1973, and are members of the Pacific Union College church. They got into the foster-care field after hearing about the need for good foster homes. "We decided to give it a try as long as the state would give us children younger than our own," said Brown.The Browns' condition was met, and for 17 years they provided shelter and care to battered and abused children of a variety of ages. For the last ten years, the Browns have worked with medically fragile infants, most of whom were drug-addicted at birth. "We just tough it through with them and give them a lot of care and a lot of holding," said Brown.The babies take anywhere from three months to a year to withdraw from drugs; and while they do, the Browns have to care for them constantly. "I try to go to bed early and sleep until about 3...

The Black Student Forum (BSF) Gospel Choir, initially organized by BSF Club members to sing for Black History Weekend, is now a student-based ministry consisting of students from a wide range of ethnic cultures and backgrounds.The 52-member choir has performed for churches and schools in Northern and Southern California, including special appearances at the Black Convocation in Richmond. The choir works on a voluntary basis and is open to anyone interested in black culture and gospel music.Colleen Sovory, who directed the choir last year, said everyone had to grow as the choir became more culturally diverse. "It was a learning experience for the members, and the choir has evolved into a more cosmopolitan sound," she said. "But the love of music and the Lord brought them all together."Sovory, now an enrollment counselor at PUC, remembers the choir as "informal" when it started in 1991. She was a student and a member of the BSF club at the time. "We started the choir because many students were used to singing gospel music, but no one on campus was doing it."Several years later, Sovory was working in Sacramento when a student from Pacific Union College asked her to direct the choir for...

Jerry Dodrill, a senior fine art major at Pacific Union College, tied for second place in "The California Dream" student photography competition, sponsored by Mumm Cuvee Napa, the Academy of Art College, and by Canon. In addition to receiving a $1,000 prize and a Canon camera, Dodrill is displaying eight of his photographs in "The California Dream" art exhibition together with the contest judges, Ruth Bernhard, Robert Cameron, Galen Rowell, Robert Buelteman, and James Wood. Ngan-Ha Ho, who won first prize, and Shen-Fa Lin, who tied with Dodrill for second, are displaying works as well."I could hardly believe it when I heard that Jerry will be in an exhibition with Ruth Bernhard, Galen Rowell, and the other judges," said Tom Turner, assistant professor of art at Pacific Union College. "It's a real honor, almost like sharing an exhibit with Ansel Adams."Most of Dodrill's photographs, which are gelatin silver prints, are taken outdoors."I really deal with texture, like the texture of corrugated metal," said Dodrill. "Usually my stuff is close up. I take a lot of pictures of old things, like old buildings or an old furnace door. Rock climbing is one of my main interests. I did a climbing shot...