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Gathering from as far as Florida and as close as PUC itself, a group of 106 teachers, educators and “ learners” from all over the Christian education community convened at PUC for the annual Adventist Virtual Learning Network convention. Nationally acclaimed authors Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt spoke at the convention, presenting ways to build a stronger learning environment. One idea they proposed was to use the term “learner” in lieu of “student” or “ teacher” in order to build a more interactive and cooperative learning atmosphere. “They really helped us look to the future,” said Bob Paulson, PUC professor and 2004 AVLN coordinator. “We see opportunity for growth, no matter what avenue we work in.” AVLN was founded on the belief that teachers and schools do not grow on their own; instead, through collaborative efforts, they can become better educators and stronger institutions. This year, AVLN made specific recommendations to the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and to Adventist college presidents regarding the future of web-based classes and the need for universal acceptance of credits across Adventist colleges. The attendees hope that next year the conference will be completely online....

The graduation hubbub had barely receded when PUC’s Pro Musica (touring choir) and the PUC String Quartet embarked on a two-week music tour to Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Traveling with an Adventist Finnish tour guide and PUC Professors of Music LeRoy Peterson and Gennevieve Kibble, the group of musicians spent a night on a ferry boat, sang in the Rock Cathedral in Finland, and experienced some culinary culture. Anna Lopez, senior psychology/French major, had never eaten borscht until it was served to the group at a Russian church. “It was really good,” Lopez says with some surprise. “You can’t go by looks alone!” The group also performed at numerous Adventist schools and churches and at a camp meeting in Sweden. “By the end, our voices were pretty tired,” said Vanessa Jett, senior speech pathology major. “But the people appreciated and enjoyed all our concerts.” In fact, local musicians even presented the PUC group and its members with original musical compositions. From Bath to Canterbury, PUC Honors Program students experienced “Beauty” during a four-week seminar class at Newbold College in England. Students both read about and witnessed art presented to them by PUC Professors Nancy Lecourt and Milbert Mariano, of...

It’s a Tonka aficionado’s dream come true as tons of earthmoving trucks and vehicles clear space in between the Physical Plant and the farm for the new cogeneration plant. PUC received an $11 million dollar loan to build the plant that will hopefully save the college money. The plant will allow PUC to produce its own electricity and avoid paying the ever-increasing California electricity bills. ...

As renovations change the face of many areas on campus, another change occurs behind the scenes, one that makes an institution like Pacific Union College really great: new faces. The new “arrivees” bring with them a wide array of personalities, talents, and experiences. Here’s the scoop: Tim Mitchell has filled the long-awaited senior pastor position for the PUC Church. Pastor Mitchell is no stranger to Angwin, having graduated from PUC in 1976 with a B.A. in theology. He went on to Andrews University to get his master of divinity in 1979. Coming to PUC from the Sunnyvale Adventist Church, where he pastored for 15 years, his warmth and enthusiasm are truly appreciated by the students and college community. Tim was born in Fresno and pastored in Sonora, Turlock and Orosi. Tim’s family includes his wife, Carleen, and two sons, Brent and Tyler. Carleen works as a medical administrator. Brent is a sophomore at PUC, while younger brother Tyler attends high school at PUC Preparatory School. Truly part of an international family, reference librarian Gilbert Abella, has attended 16 schools on four continents and is fluent in three languages, thanks to his Portuguese family who served as missionaries in Europe, Africa,...

Dmitry Lossov calls himself a double agent. Oh, it’s true, he’s from Russia, and he currently lives in the United States. But, whom does he serve – Russia, America or both? Actually, neither. With an incessant smile and sense of humor, Dmitry serves God wherever he is. In America, this Russian student witnesses to his fellow students and professors. And as a PUC student missionary, he witnesses to the people in Thailand, in Ghana and in the Philippines. He’s hooked. Although PUC sent out 34 long-term student missionaries last year to 20 countries, plus many more short-term missionaries, Dmitry’s challenge in Ghana was one of the greatest: preaching in English (not his native language) through a translator, to a people who did not understand English. It almost sounds reminiscent of speaking in tongues – but with God all things are possible. As a result of these sermons, 65 people gave their lives to Jesus and were baptized into the Adventist church. The people in Breman, Ghana, obviously loved this cheerful fellow with the thick Russian accent, so much that a year after he left they renamed their local school the Dmitry Adventist Preparatory School. What an honor for a Russian...

Christopher Jones, recent PUC graduate, was featured in the September 2 issue of The Wall Street Journal as one of the 2003 Student Achievement Award Winners. Chris graduated suma cum laude with a B.B.A. emphasis in Accounting. Chris was part of both the English and Business honor societies and has been featured in Who’s Who for both 2000 and 2001. In 2001, he also won the Business department commendation award as well as the Pam Wheeler Accounting Scholarship. Chris came to PUC to check out the school during college days. He liked the Napa Valley and PUC and they enticed this Canadian from Toronto to stay. He was involved at PUC in the Business Club, Student Senate and the dormitory as well as tutoring accounting. Chris is currently working as an auditor for Adventist Health and trying to get a feel for the health care industry. He is studying to take his CPA in November....

For the tenth straight year, Pacific Union College continues to rank in the top tier in U.S. News and World Report’s annual edition of “America’s Best Colleges.” The national magazine’s 2004 rankings place PUC as the number two comprehensive college offering bachelor degrees in California. It also places PUC in the top 10 among the 14 Western states. Along with these overall standings, PUC ranks in the top tier for: ethnic diversity, best value, student/faculty ratio, low debt ratio and full-time faculty. “The indicators include input measures that reflect a school's student body, its faculty, and its financial resources and outcome measures that signal how well the institution does its job of educating students,” said Robert Morse, U.S. News editor. The criteria used to measure academic quality include: acceptance rate, alumni giving, faculty with Ph.D.'s, retention and graduation rate, SAT/ACT scores, and student/faculty ratio. Although the most recent America’s Best Colleges 2004 edition was published in August, it reflects data from the 2002-2003 school year....

It's finally the end of my first week teaching out at the villages, and I am back in Manila. At first, it was kind of nice: warm showers, flush toilets, e-mail and soft beds. But I've learned first hand that it's not those "necessities" that make life enjoyable; it's the warmth of friendships and love. I miss my kids. I never felt it so much before as after spending two days in Manila. Tim De La Torre, a PUC student missionary in the Philippines, wrote these words in a letter to friends and family in the United States. A junior, digital video technology major, Tim previously traveled to Mindoro, an island in the Philippines, in December 2002. He, with two other students and one teacher, documented the mission work being done by Laymen Ministries. As a result of that experience, Tim returned as a student missionary this year, living and working in villages, doing friendship evangelism, teaching English, and making videos to promote mission work. His letter continues: At first Manila was exciting--culture shock. Sure, I had been in the Philippines for a month and a half already, but I had never seen such a contrast between poverty and riches:...