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Among the incoming freshman coming to Pacific Union Collegein September are five exceptional students who have been chosen as this year’srecipients of the Maxwell Scholarship. Named for PUC’s iconic presidentialcouple, Dr. Malcolm and Eileen Maxwell, this prestigious award is given tostudents who show outstanding academic achievement, exceptional leadershipexperience, and a commitment to Christian service. The Maxwell Scholar Programawards recipients a $15,000 renewable scholarship for all four years theyattend PUC.Alexander Chang of Grass Valley, Calif., dedicated hishigh school career at Pine Hills Adventist Academy (PHAA) to scholastic,athletic, and extracurricular success. The Grass Valley, Calif., native wasstudent association president his senior year, starting new programs likePHYSICS (Pine Hills Youth Spiritually Invigorating Campus Soldiers) and a Kicks4 Kids shoe drive. During high school this natural leader also won awards inmultiple sports and captained the basketball and flag football teams. Alex hasbeen on six mission trips since 2006, assisting with construction projects,medical and dental services, Vacation Bible School, and Week of Prayerprograms. He also succeeded scholastically as a member of the National and asthe recipient of PHAA’s top academic awards in multiple subjects. Alex islooking forward to starting classes at PUC in September. “I'm really excited tostudy subjects that really interest me, meet new...

Pacific Union College and the PUC Church are pleased to welcome Pastor Jonathan Henderson to his new position as Pacific Union College campus chaplain and associate pastor of the PUC Church, effective September 1, 2014. Henderson is a graduate of PUC, where he completed a bachelor’s in theology in 1999. Henderson started his career at the PUC Church as outreach minister, followed by three years at the Campus Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loma Linda, Calif., where his ministry focused on collegiate and young adult groups. Since 2003, Henderson has served as lead pastor at Grand Advent Seventh-day Adventist Church in Oakland, Calif. “Henderson’s vision for connecting students with their Maker, encouraging stronger relationships with Christ, and training leaders to help in this endeavor make for a good PUC match,” said Lisa Bissel Paulson, vice president for student services, in her announcement to campus about the appointment. A dynamic and enthusiastic speaker, Henderson is a frequent visitor to PUC, often speaking for Friday Vespers, Week of Prayer, and for Sabbath worship services. Henderson looks forward to being on-campus full time as chaplain. “I’m excited to return to the place where I clearly received my call from God,” Henderson shares. “It...

Teresa Reeve, associate professor of New Testament at Andrews University, has been appointed as the new associate dean of the Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Mich. Reeve, who graduated from Pacific Union College in 1982 with a bachelor’s in education, is the first woman to serve as associate dean. “Reeve’s appointment is especially significant because she is the first female associate dean in seminary history,” said Jiří Moskala, seminary dean, in a statement released by Andrews University. “This is an historical nomination, and I am glad I can play a part in it. With this appointment comes unique diversity in our seminary.” After graduating from PUC, Reeve taught in Adventist and Montessori schools for ten years and earned an M.A. in educational and developmental psychology from Andrews. She received her M.Div. and Ph.D. at Andrews, where she teaches in the New Testament department. An author of numerous articles, Reeve has served on a number of Seventh-day Adventist Church and seminary committees, including the Biblical Research Institute Committee, the Theology of Ordination Study Committee and the Seminary Deans’ Council. In Andrews’ press release, Reeve shared her plans for her new position. “My central focus will be to...

Pacific Union College Professor of Education Jim Roy has published a biography of William Glasser, a pioneer in the field of psychiatry through his research and publications on choice theory. In his book William Glasser: Champion of Choice, Jim Roy records both the professional and personal life of an American psychiatrist who devoted his extensive research to reality therapy and choice theory. Glasser’s controversial and groundbreaking ideas included challenging the very definition of mental illness, and creating insightful new methods with which it could be treated. Glasser’s illustrious career stemmed from his desire to empower people through individual free will and personal choice, Roy observes in the book. “Glasser wanted people to realize that they could be the architects of their own mental health and that we don’t need to be victims of our circumstances,” states Roy. “He so much wanted people to learn how to be responsible for their own happiness and to thrive in every way.” Roy chronicles Glasser’s journey as a visionary psychiatrist and respected author, including the personal struggles he endured. Glasser contributed his unpopular opinion that “talk therapy” should be equal to, if not more crucial than, mainstream “drug therapy.” Through over 20 books and...

Beaming graduates and their families, exclamations of “Congratulations!” and the faint scent of airborne corn tortillas filled Commencement Grove at Pacific Union College, as the class of 2014 prepared to graduate on Sunday, June 15. The class is the largest in eight years to graduate from PUC, Napa Valley's only four-year college. “I accomplished it with the support of family, friends and especially God,” said Shayla Huerta, who graduated with an associate’s degree in nursing. She is the first person in her family to graduate from college or enter the medical field, and plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in nursing next year. “It’s very satisfying to set an example for my siblings and cousins to pursue a education our parents never had,” Huerta adds. All told, the 382 graduates received 394 associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees. The largest departmental groups were the department of nursing (129 graduates from the associate of science and bachelor of science in nursing programs), health sciences (41), business administration (37), and psychology and social work (34). The class also included 19 summa cum laude graduates, 20 magna cum laude graduates, and 64 cum laude graduates. Graduation weekend began with a consecration service Friday evening...

Since 2007, students at Pacific Union College have been able to pursue a unique and exciting degree by taking PUC’s A.S. in emergency services. This fall, the emergency services program is expanding its offerings with a new bachelor’s in emergency services. The four-year degree will prepare leaders to serve their communities through long careers in this rewarding and challenging field. “Our mission is to prepare and educate individuals for years of service both locally and nationally with a well-rounded foundation in both vocational and professional education,” says Levi Gore, who teaches both nursing and emergency services at the college. The Bachelor of Science degree in emergency services is designed to give students both hands-on training and the management skills necessary for long and successful professions in emergency services settings. While students will receive important vocational certifications including Emergency Medical Technician and technical rescue certifications, they will also receive important training in areas such as resource management, public safety system design, disaster response, and public health. In addition to the four years of emergency services classes, the degree takes full advantage of PUC’s liberal arts environment by integrating courses from various academic departments. The curriculum includes human anatomy and physiology courses...

On June 3, Pacific Union College’s President, Heather J.Knight, Ph.D., announced the receipt of the largest single private gift in thecollege’s 132-year history, a $2.4 million testamentary gift from the late StephenBall, a twenty-year resident of the Napa Valley. The gift is for theunrestricted support of Pacific Union College’s mission.“We are grateful for this transformational and historicgift,” said Knight. “Stephen Ball understood the mission and the impact thatPacific Union College has had throughout its history, and we’re honored toreceive this gift at a time when our college is on a historic upwardtrajectory. This gift is truly ablessing for our campus community.”Born in 1944 in Berkeley, California, Stephen Ball attendedArmstrong College, a private liberal arts college in Berkeley specializing inbusiness management. He relocated to the Napa Valley in 1994, and lived in St.Helena until his death in April.“Stephen was a generous soul, and he appreciated thosearound him who made a difference in the community,” said longtime friend SusanBaxter. “Pacific Union College is such an asset to the Napa Valley community,and Stephen wanted to support the mission of the college.”Pacific Union College is currently engaged in the planningphase for a major philanthropic campaign, the Heritage Campaign, which willencompass a variety of signature...

On May 29, Pacific Union College hosted Joanne Park for one of the Colloquy Speakers Series’ final installments of the school year. Park graduated from PUC in 2000 and is currently the Senior Director for Digital and Daytime Publicity at NBC Entertainment. She shared her career journey at NBC and also offered advice to students about what they can expect as they leave college and enter the workforce. After graduating from PUC, Park worked in the page program at NBC at the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and gave tours of the NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif. Soon after, she was invited to join the corporate production events team, where she produced events for advertisers, NBC affiliates, and various primetime television shows. Park has spent the last 11 years in the entertainment publicity department, working on campaigns for hit shows including ER, Fear Factor, The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Golden Globes, The Biggest Loser, and The Blacklist. Park currently oversees digital and daytime publicity for her department and her responsibilities include all social media campaigns for all NBC primetime shows, publicizing all digital initiatives for nbc.com, as well as working on marketing and publicity strategy for the head of...

On May 21, the Pacific Union College’s Pre-Law Forum invitedthe two candidates running for Napa County District Three Supervisor at tospeak on campus. Pacific Union College’s Angwin campus is located withinDistrict Three, and students, faculty, and community members gathered twiceduring the day to learn more about the two candidates and their unique visionsfor Napa County.Pacific Union College’s Angwin campus is located withinDistrict Three, and students, faculty, and community members gathered twiceduring the day to learn more about the two candidates and their unique visionsfor Napa County.Lewis Chilton, a business-owner and vice-mayor ofYountville, Calif., spoke and answered questions at 10am, followed by currentDistrict Three Supervisor Diane Dillon at 1pm. The Board of Supervisors for Napa County administers a $350 million budget anddetermines land use, housing, water, agriculture, transportation, and othercountywide issues.For some students, the event was an introduction to the waylocal government works. “I neverrealized how much the county Board of Supervisors could directly affect thecollege,” commented sophomore English and communication major Emily Mathe. “Ithink it’s important to learn a lot about how we can get in touch with locallegislators, and maybe make some positive changes that would benefit PUC.”Michelle Rai, professor of communication, organized thevisits. “I appreciated both candidates, Lewis...

Pacific Union College’s new mobile friendly admissions website, launched in February, has been recognized for achievement in both design and marketing. Most recently, the website garnered a 2014 American In-house Design Award from Graphic Design U.S.A., an organization that sponsors multiple graphic design competitions. The In-house Design Award spotlights the outstanding work by in-house designers, recognizing them both for their talent and for the challenges they face and the unique value they bring to their institutions. The In-house Design Award competition receives more than 4,000 submissions each year from design teams that work within the institutions they serve instead of at design agencies, with a very select 15 percent recognized with a certificate of excellence. Pacific Union College received a certificate for the admissions website as well as a congratulatory letter to the college’s administration. In addition, the website is eligible for publication in the In-House Design Annual, with a circulation of over 100,000 professionals. Earlier this year, PUC’s admissions website won a silver award from the 29th Annual Education Advertising Awards, sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report. Of nearly 2,000 entries, PUC was amongst the 146 institutions granted a silver award and was one of only 31 winners in...