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For photographers at all levels, Pacific Union College's summer classes at the Albion Field Station provide a rare opportunity for plein-air photography, complete with family-friendly lodging and dining at the field station. The classes run July 11-23 and are taught by Marlow Burgess and Gilbert Muth, offering one- or two-week sessions with three different "tracks" for different areas or levels of skill. The course can be taken for college credit. Participants in the classes are lodged in the cabins at the field station, and meals are provided at the station cafeteria. To learn more about the sessions and amenities, visit www.puc.edu/albion. To make reservations, call 707-937-5440....

In a mini political series at Pacific Union College in May, the communication department invited the three candidates running for Napa County District 3 Supervisor to speak on campus during three different lunch hours. District 3 is the region in which the college is located, and candidates and campus people alike have an increased interest in how Angwin plays into local politics following land issues of recent years. Students became interested in meeting the candidates after one, Michael Haley, spoke to professor Michelle Rai's fundraising class about the challenges in political fundraising and organizing a campaign. Rai decided to invite Haley back for a noon hour devoted specifically to his candidacy and issues in Napa County as well as inviting the other two candidates to give their own noon-hour presentations and question-and-answer sessions. "I felt the political series would be valuable because I wanted the campus to have the chance to get to know these candidates on a more personal level than just newspaper articles or promotional mailers," says Rai, who notes that these candidates have a direct relationship to Angwin and the college. "Since the District 3 Supervisor represents Angwin, it seemed only natural that PUC would want to...

Early this week Pacific Union College announced the winners of its prestigious and recently established Maxwell Scholar Program. The five winners and five semi-finalists, coming from as far apart as Maryland and California, have been selected for their high academic achievement, a commitment to Christian service, and outstanding leadership skills. The $15,000 renewable scholarship means winners receive up to $60,000 in scholarship funds over the course of their four years at PUC. These students constitute the second group recognized by the Maxwell Scholar Program, which was established at PUC in 2009 to recognize the late Malcolm and Eileen Maxwell, former president and first lady of PUC. Applicants must meet GPA and test-score requirements and the ranking of their applications is based on resumes, an essay, and letters of recommendation. The Maxwell Scholars who have been awarded this scholarship for the 2010/2011 academic year are Matthew Dopp of Oceanside, Calif., an Escondido Adventist Academy student; Newbury Park Adventist Academy student Josue Tobar of Palmdale, Calif.; Dustin Davis, a Paradise Adventist Academy student from Paradise, Calif; Shenandoah Valley Academy student Meena Kim of Falls Church, Virginia; and Alesha Heinz from Martinez, Calif., who graduated from Capstone Academy. Each of these sport long...

This year, Pacific Union College celebrated Earth Day with a fair, a clean-up project, and a special speaker. L. Hunter Lovins, a globally recognized leader and consultant in sustainable practices, arrived with her signature cowboy hat to speak to members of the campus and community during the morning's all-school colloquy and a special evening lecture on “Sustainability in Napa County." At the colloquy program, before Lovins spoke, environmental studies majors Dustin Baumbach and Molly Reeves shared about their internships, one working at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito and one at the Safari West wild animal preserve. Lovins then began her address by introducing the argument for why life as we know it cannot sustain itself; but rather than citing just environmental "drivers of change" and "intolerable signs," she addressed the spectrum from nature to economics to social equity. Then, rather than asking individuals to reduce their carbon footprint or some such practice, she suggested that if we are to meet the challenges and goals of the future and adapt to sustain the planet, we must do so on an entirely new paradigm. This includes "world best practices" for addressing human needs, smart development that is truly sustainable, redesigning education....

For this year's student-led Revo project at Pacific Union College, the coordinators decided to host a benefit 5K run as well as the annual rummage sale, concert, and fashion show. Both events are to raise money for a local kids ministry and to treat a foot disease in Ethiopia caused by not wearing shoes. The race took place on Sunday, April 18, and the students were hoping for 100 racers and some decent weather. Instead, they had 125 racers and a gorgeous day. PUC cross country coach Bob Paulson laid out a fairly simple 5K course for the runners as well as an easy route of about two miles for people who preferred to walk. "We had so much rain, it was a bit of an obstacle course," Paulson reports. But he says people just had fun with the challenge. "Everybody seemed to have a blast." The student leaders were also very pleased to see some runners who were not from the campus. "I was surprised at how many runners were not students," reports Tyler McCulloch, one of the student organizers for the event. "We had people from Fairfield, Napa, and beyond." With a beautifully fair day squeezed between rainstorms...

Pacific Union College alumni gathered as they do each spring for Homecoming Weekend, April 16-18. From the handing out of Diogenes Lanterns (the school flower) to the Utt Lecture to parties for Honor Classes, events gave alumni a chance to enjoy the current campus and reminisce about their days at PUC. This year, Honored Alumni awards went to Audrey and Bruce Anderson, Monica Neumann, and Jake Scheideman. The Andersons, both 1960 graduates, come from a family whose members have attended, taught, or pastored at PUC since 1910. The two have been invaluable to the legacy of former PUC professor Walter Utt, hosting alumni and board meetings and collaborating with the college on Utt Endowment affairs. Monica Neumann, class of 1970, is an anesthesiologist, professor, and director at Loma Linda University Medical Center and is known for her work in nurturing the next generation of Adventist medical professionals. Local bike shop owner Jake Scheideman, class of 1990, has spent 10 years improving life for the people of a small town in Nicaragua. He founded the non-profit Developing Communities, Inc., and has involved the local community and many volunteers in contributing to the town. PUC also honored Jean Phillips as an Honored...

In September of 2009, Dr. Heather J. Knight became the new president of Pacific Union College. On April 15, 2010, the college hosted the official inaugural ceremony and installation of Knight as 21st president. In a program replete with regalia colors, inspiring music, and the PUC Church filled with faculty, staff, students, community members, educational and church leaders, and family and friends, Knight was welcomed with speeches of accolade and advice. PUC's history and future were celebrated by the entire college body and representatives from across the country. Brief speeches were presented by Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon, St. Helena Mayor Del Britton, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities President Jonathan Brown, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists General Vice President Ella Simmons, Association of Adventist Colleges and Universities President and Walla Walla University President John McVay, Andrews University President Niels-Erik Andreasen, University of the Pacific Jacoby Center Director and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Emeritus Robert Benedetti, and University of the Pacific Provost Phillip N. Gilbertson. Dr. Knight was also presented with gifts from four representative groups at PUC: a crystal bell from the administrators, a miniature grape vine from the faculty, a painting by former PUC art...

On Earth Day, April 22, L. Hunter Lovins, a globally recognized leader in sustainable practices, will speak on "Sustainability in Napa County: An Environmental and Economic Imperative" at Pacific Union College. In demand worldwide as a speaker and consultant, Lovins has consulted with scores of industries, governments and communities worldwide and was named Time Magazine's 2000 Hero of the Planet and Newsweek's 2009 Green Business Icon. Trained as a sociologist and lawyer, Hunter co-founded the California Conservation Project and is a founding professor of business at Presidio Graduate School. She is the recipient of the Lindbergh Award, Right Livelihood Award and Leadership in Business Award. Lovins is also the author of numerous books and is president and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions. Lovins' "Sustainability in Napa County" lecture and reception will take place on Thursday, April 22. at 7 p.m. in Scales Chapel, located in the church building complex on the Pacific Union College campus at One Angwin Avenue. The event is open to the community and free of charge. Other events for a student Green Week will include a special colloquy presentation, an Earth Day Fair, a green service day in Angwin and St. Helena, and a nature walk....

This February, the Dramatic Arts Society at Pacific Union College hosted "Inspired By," a new works festival featuring three original plays. Each play was performed once as a staged reading after 12 hours of rehearsal, and audience members provided input on strong and weak points. The casts and directors then went back to work to develop the plays further before performing a second reading. "Kingdom Borrowed: A Tragedy" was written by current drama senior T. K. Widmer, who plans to pursue an MFA in theater pedagogy, and directed by alumna Heather Denton. The play is about the biblical King Saul, looking at the familiar story through Saul's eyes rather than David's. Current English major Peter Katz's "The Hectic in My Blood" was directed by alumna and drama program director Mei Ann Teo and inspired by Hamlet. The play is about a three-person performance of Hamlet that goes wrong when one of the players begins to lose his grip on reality. "Julia Gibbs Never Went to Paris" by alumnus Timothy Wolcott gives center stage to two supporting characters from Thornton Wilder's "Our Town," Julia Gibbs and Simon Stimson. The play, directed by alumna Cambria Wheeler, addresses dreams and the choices we...

On February 11, Jimmy Ha, a beloved religion professor who has been battling cancer, spoke for Pacific Union College's annual senior recognition program. The officers of the class of 2010 invited Ha to speak at this program, and the school body welcomed him with a standing ovation. Ha, who is also a PUC alumnus, explored "what unites us as a community of faith and learning — besides Facebook." He suggested that key elements are that we all long for meaning, we believe in the idea of truth, we believe in the notion of good and evil, we are interdependent, and we share the Christian faith. But, he said, "ultimately what unites us is death." Acknowledging the apparent morbidity of that statement, he elaborated: "When a Roman general would return from war parading in triumph into Rome to the adulation of the admiring crowd, a slave would behind him whisper into his ear, 'Memento mori.' Remember you shall die." So, in this moment of recognizing students' accomplishments and looking to a bright future, Ha said, "I whisper humbly behind you, 'Memento mori.'… It is a call to humility that makes all these commonalities I mentioned even possible." He recounted how as...