Archives

This fall, Pacific Union College is launching a brand-new program that incorporates students’ desire to serve their communities with a demand for trained emergency personnel. The nationwide growing awareness of the need for more people to be trained in mitigating emergencies and large-scale disasters has been felt at PUC in a very tangible, local way. “Our local emergency services agencies, such as fire department and ambulance companies, are made up of a number of students,” explains James Robertson, a firefighter, EMT, and CPR instructor and physics professor who will head up the new program. The volunteer fire department, he adds, is over 50 percent students. “So there is an interest in the part of our current students to have emergency services as part of a program.” The new Emergency Services Program, which now offers an associate of science degree, is part of a larger picture at the college. “PUC has a reputation and a long history of providing medical training, whether it’s in the nursing department or with pre-medical students, and we do a good job of that,” Robertson says. “So it’s a natural extension of that training.” The program focuses on domestic emergency services, preparing students to work with...

The 325 graduates of the Pacific Union College Class of 2007 celebrated the conclusion of their undergraduate education during the weekend of June 15-17. The full schedule of programs and ceremonies included addresses from Roy Ice, PUC chaplain; Don Schneider, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America; Kristie Brandt, director of the Parent-Infant & Child Institute; and Julius Nam, assistant professor at the Loma Linda University School of Religion. Sunday morning’s commencement ceremonies found Commencement Grove lined with chairs and festive with leis, balloons, billowing black or white robes, and the traditional corn tortillas that graduates toss as an expression of their ebullience. Nam, a former member of PUC’s religion department, spoke to the graduates about dreams. “PUC has taught you to have dreams that are bigger than yourselves,” he said. He challenged them to choose a cause, a mission to serve their communities, citing several alumni who have made significant contributions through their vision and creativity. “The God who holds the universe asks you to partner with him in dreaming,” he said. “You PUC graduates have to be champions, have to be leaders.” Academic Dean Nancy Lecourt and President Richard Osborn then conferred 339 degrees, with the...

The Pacific Union College men's Pioneer volleyball team defeated Pacific Christian College 15-12, 9-15, 15-7, 15-7 on Saturday night, March 8, at PUC's Pacific Auditorium. It was the first win this season for the Pioneers, bringing their current record to 1-4. This season is proving to be a challenge for the Pioneers. With a rigorous game schedule and only five returning players on the 12-member team, the Pioneers are learning the meaning of endurance, stamina and cooperation. "The dynamics of the team are different every year, but we have an especially new and young team which calls for more adjustment on everyone's part," said senior outside hitter David Rai. Junior outside hitter Scott Eastman said this win was just a taste of the level of play to come. "We played well, especially considering the fact that it was our fifth match in six days," said Eastman. "But we will be playing at a much higher level as the season progresses and as we pull together as a team." Head coach Bob Paulson agrees. "It is early in the season and the team is still growing," he said. "Our goal is to get better with every game and peak at the...

Getting a chance to show off a little firepower last Tuesday night, the Pacific Union College men's volleyball team up-ended UC Cal-Maritime's Keelhaulers in 55 minutes, 15-0, 15-7, 15-12. The Pioneers showed both strength and control with a 7-0 lead in the first game, forcing the Keelhaulers to call a time-out. However, the Pioneers kept the pressure on and won the set as Cal-Maritime remained scoreless. The Pioneers took an 11-4 lead in the second game and got fired up with freshman outside hitter Jonathan Paden's back-to-back kills. They took the set 15-7 with ease. The Keelhaulers refused to give up in the third game. Their strategy was to get the ball over the net and make the Pioneers work for their points. This became a difficult task for the Pioneers as passing and hitting errors brought the Keelhaulers closer at 9-13. Cal-Maritime rallied to pull within one, 12-13. But that was as close as they got. Sophomore middle hitter Steve Dulcich banged a kill and aced a serve to win the third game and the match 15-12. The Pioneers were led by Dulcich with five kills and senior Brian Thio with three solo blocks. The Pioneers have a current...

The Pacific Union College Lady Pioneers basketball team fell 48-66 to Bethany College on Saturday night, Feb. 15, at PUC's Pacific Auditorium. The Pioneers started off with strong defense and trailed a close 25-28 at half-time. The teams' previous encounter ended in a blowout for the Pioneers. "It was impressive that we stayed in the game," said guard Julie Moyer. "We played really well in the first half, but we just couldn't sink our shots throughout the game." This was evident as Bethany had a .429 (18/42) field goal shooting percentage compared to the Pioneers' .266 (17/64) average. Guard Rachel Kendall said it was the most exciting game all season. "Our attitudes on the bench and on the court were centered around motivating each other," she said. "We played hard and had a lot of fun without worrying about the score or our personal statistics. We know we're getting better." The Pioneers were led by guards Heather Isaacs, with 20 points, and Carrie Wade, with 11 rebounds. The Pioneers will play their next game at Patten College on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 6:15 p.m....