Academics

Grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, and orcas are unusual college classmates. Pacific Union College students enrolled in this summer’s Polar Biology class encountered these animals and more as the thriving Alaskan ecosystem became their classroom during an 11-day immersion into true field biology. After flying from San Francisco to Anchorage, PUC biology professors Floyd Hayes and Scott Herbert led their students to the city of Seward and on to Denali National Park. The course focused on the natural history of the region; students observed and studied plants and animals first-hand in their natural setting. Living in relatively close quarters with the native wildlife and experiencing the immediacy of the learning environment were incredible learning experiences. “Being able to see and experience the sights and sounds of Alaska firsthand is a much better learning experience than looking at photos and videos in the classroom,” explained Hayes. “You can’t forget watching salmon spawn while wading in a frigid river, a killer whale swimming right under your boat, clown-like horned puffins perched on narrow ledges of an island cliff.” Sophomore environmental studies major Dylan Turner said the trip significantly helped him broaden his understanding of ecology through direct interaction with the environment. “It’s...

Budding journalists, designers, videographers, and editors from throughout California and Hawaii travelled to Pacific Union College for the 24th annual Publication Workshop September 2-4, 2014. The workshop provided high school and junior high students with training and inspiration to make their academy yearbooks, newspapers, and other publications shine. Students from the 20 academies that attended returned to their schools with what Publication Workshop director Milbert Mariano describes as “targeted, practical training and useful tips for jumpstarting yearbooks, newspapers, and video yearbooks.” Students learned how to utilize design and photography software; strengthen writing, design, and photography skills; and edit video yearbooks. Industry professionals and PUC professors, including recent educator of the year John Nunes, presented the training sessions. Nunes, a professor of business administration, led workshops on project management and team building for publication editors. “Be consistent and simple,” were the lessons Rheanna Garcia took away from the Workshop. Garcia, the designer of San Fernando Valley Academy’s yearbook, appreciated the presenters’ real-world advice. “They were really helpful since they were all designers who knew what they were doing,” she said. This year’s workshop marked the tenth year Mariano has led the workshop. At the closing program, Mariano, chair of the department...

Daniel DeCaires has a passion for Pacific Union College and is ready to lead. DeCaires, a senior from Benicia, Calif., majoring in business administration, will be serving as the president of PUC’s Student Association (SA) during the 2014-2015 school year, which begins September 22. As president, DeCaires will lead the campus-wide Student Association with a team of eight fellow officers elected by the student body. The goal of the SA is to serve and assist students so they can enjoy their time at PUC as much as possible through social events, religious experiences, and by serving on committees as student representatives and leading the Student Senate. DeCaires has been excited about PUC since arriving on campus after attending public school and community college. He’s proud to be a Pioneer, and even shares his enthusiasm with future students as a Student Ambassador for the office of enrollment services. “As students, we should take more pride in where we live and the opportunities that are presented to us,” the student leader explains. One of DeCaires’ goals as SA president is to encourage students to engage productively with campus life. Rather than waiting for something to go wrong and complaining on social media,...

Early Sunday morning, August 24, a large earthquake measuring an estimated 6.0 struck southern Napa County at 3:20 a.m. While Angwin residents definitively felt the tremors, very little damage has been reported in the community, which is approximately 30 miles from the epicenter. No damages or injures were reported at Pacific Union College. The campus experienced a brief power outage, but all critical services were functioning following the earthquake. The college, College Market, Chevron station, and other Angwin Plaza businesses were open as usual on Monday, August 25. Campus officials have inspected all the exteriors of all buildings and structures on the campus property, including Angwin Plaza and the Chevron station. No visible damage has been identified. Individual interior building inspections will continue, and if any structural damage is found during these inspections the college will assess the damage and respond appropriately with necessary repairs. As of Monday, August 25, the college had received laboratory reports on the college water supply, and the water was declared safe to drink. All water tanks appear safe and have no signs of structural damage. The intense shaking stirred up sediment in the lines. This is completely normal given the magnitude of the quake....

For a week in early August, Pacific Union College Professor of Biology Aimee Wyrick-Brownworth took the students in her Biological Foundations summer class to PUC’s Albion Retreat and Learning Center on the Mendocino coast. The class, which focused heavily on understanding species diversity, implemented outdoor, hands-on lab sessions so students could see how plants and animals had adapted in unique and specific ways to their environment. “The students’ understanding was improved because they could actually see what these animals deal with and the adaptation became an obvious outcome,” said Wyrick. Biomathematics major Taleah Tyrell appreciated the opportunity to get an up-close view of the organisms she’d studied in. “It was great to go to a place and see these organisms we had spent hours memorizing in their natural habitat,” she stated. “It’s one thing to memorize; it’s a completely different thing to see the animals.” In addition to the outstanding academic setting, the students formed new connections with each other. “It was a great opportunity for us all to come to know each other much better,” said Wyrick. “The students really bonded during the week and it felt like a family. Having the group in camp also facilitated learning. There...

Pacific Union College has been honored as a College of Distinction for the 2014-2015 school year. PUC is one of a select group of colleges to earn this prestigious designation, based on its excellence in Four Distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant campus communities and successful outcomes. High school college counselors and educators nominate colleges and universities for recognition by Colleges of Distinction, which then evaluates each school based on qualitative and quantitative research. The colleges and universities are not ranked and instead are members of a consortium of other equally impressive schools. “It is an honor to be recognized as a college that excels in providing a student-focused education,” shares PUC Vice President for Marketing and Enrollment Services Jennifer Tyner. “In keeping with PUC’s mission, we are committed to offering our students an excellent Christ-centered education that prepares them for productive lives of useful human service and uncompromising personal integrity.” Colleges of Distinction looks beyond rankings and test scores to find colleges that are the ideal places to learn, grow and succeed. The selection process reviews such factors as the school’s first year experience, general education program, experiential components of the curriculum, the strategic plan and alumni success and...

Where better to view the work of the masters than in the hub of European artistic ingenuity itself? That’s exactly what 15 students in Pacific Union College’s Honors Program did this summer when spending four intensive weeks studying art in Florence, Italy. The summer seminar abroad was a combination of lectures, artistic assignments, and tours aiming to provide the students with a comprehensive and contextual idea of “Beauty” (the course’s title) from the medieval age to Modernism. With a huge amount of material to cover, the students worked hard to digest the most information possible in each three-hour class session. “The trip was a once in a lifetime experience to actively learn about art and the pursuit of beauty,” said senior Spanish and music student Rachel Veszpeller. “I learned first-hand how to see ordinary objects how an artist might see them. And to get to know art in Italy was incredible. Especially in Florence, you could almost feel the creativity in the air. It was a challenging trip that opened my eyes to a lot of concepts that I had never encountered before.” Villa Aurora, an Adventist school in Florence, hosted the PUC travelers for the duration of the trip....

An important element of Pacific Union College’s mission is preparing students for productive lives of useful human service, and during the 2013-2014 school year the college further committed to this calling by establishing a formal service-learning program and hiring a service-learning coordinator. “Ultimately, service-learning aims to create a reciprocal relationship between the college and the community in which both students’ learning goals are met, and the community also benefits in a positive way,” explains Alisa Jacobo, PUC’s new service-learning coordinator. Jacobo, a PUC graduate who holds a master’s in social work from the University of Michigan, accepted the new role in addition to her teaching responsibilities as an instructor in the department of psychology and social work. Service-learning is a teaching method that involves service projects selected by the faculty. Projects chosen for a course will addresses a community identified need while simultaneously fulfilling student-learning goals. Students work directly with the local community while receiving assistance from community leaders and a specially chosen professor. In completing the service-learning process, students increase their knowledge of human service while expanding their viewpoint about their own involvement in the community. Although PUC has always been dedicated to including service as part of its...

Academically outstanding students in grades seven to ninegot a weeklong taste of college life from July 20-25 at PacificQuest, PUC’sannual summer program. During the week, the 19 PacificQuest campers livedon-campus and experienced college-level coursework.“The mission behind PacificQuest is to provide academicallygifted junior-high students with an opportunity to collaboratively exploretopics that they may not have the opportunity to engage in otherwise within thetraditional school curriculum—all while getting a small taste of PUC campusculture!” shared PacificQuest Academic Director Tauva Hellie.Students participated in two courses, a core class and anelective option. This year’s core class was Music and Storytelling, taught byRachelle Davis, professor of music and chair of the department of music. Thecourse explored the fundamental elements that are used to express emotion andtell stories through music. At the awards program on July 25, groups ofstudents demonstrated what they had learning by sharing short videos thatutilized carefully chosen music.In addition to the Music and Storytelling course, studentschose between The Legacy of Graphic Design: Leave Your Mark and Physics: Beyonda Mere Observation, both challenging and inspiring options for the buddingintellectuals in attendance.In The Legacy of Graphic Design course, students learnedabout the exciting history of graphic design through hands-on learning and techniquesincluding calligraphy, bookmaking, and...

During the end of July and beginning of August, Pacific Union College representatives travel to Seventh-day Adventist Camp Meetings in northern and central California along with Adventists from around the state to fellowship, meet alumni and friends, and to share what is happening at the college. Additionally, the college hosts the Korean West Coast Camp Meeting on its Angwin, Calif., campus. During the Soquel Camp Meeting, the Central California Conference’s yearly gathering near Santa Cruz, Calif., a group of PUC students are leading the praise music in the Youth Tent each morning and evening, while representatives at the PUC booth are answering questions and sharing information about the college. During the final Sabbath of Camp Meeting, July 26, the Alumni Relations team will host a Sabbath luncheon in the Earliteen Tent following the worship service. Alumni Relations Director Mark Ishikawa will be speaking at the Youth Tent July 24-26. During Redwood Camp Meeting, July 24 to August 2, PUC will be travelling to the beautiful forest of Humboldt County to worship with members of the Northern California Conference. Pastor Larry Graack, an enrollment counselor for the college, will be worshipping in the Youth Tent during the week, and the PUC...