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Pacific Union College is celebrating a significant milestone after receiving a six-year accreditation reaffirmation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), a decision that recognizes the college's academic quality, institutional effectiveness, and years of intentional progress.As part of its decision, WSCUC also removed the Notice of Concern previously issued to the college, affirming PUC is operating with greater stability, stronger systems, and a sustainable foundation for the future.Upon receiving the news, Lindsay Hayasaka, PUC’s Accreditation Liaison Officer, felt a flood of gratitude.“Milestones like this don't happen because of one office or one committee—they happen because hundreds of people faithfully do their work every day with excellence and a shared commitment to our mission,” she said. “This outcome is something we can all be proud of."Throughout the process, Hayasaka clearly saw God’s leading in the people He continuously brought together.“At every critical point, the right individuals stepped forward with the expertise and willingness to serve at the moment required,” she said.The accreditation reaffirmation follows a comprehensive review of PUC, examining everything from academics and student success to governance, planning, finances, and institutional effectiveness. It marks the culmination of years of collaborative efforts involving faculty, staff, administrators, and the Board.Those...

On May 24, Pacific Union College honored 120 of its student-athletes at the Athletic Awards Banquet, with 38 receiving CAL-Pac awards and 29 receiving PUC Team awards. Held in the Fireside Room, this year’s banquet was extra special as CAL-PAC Commissioner Dr. Don Ott joined the event for the first time to present two Conference Awards: the Dr. Jim Davies Scholar Athlete of the Year Award and the Sportsmanship Award.For the first time in PUC history, cross-country senior biology student Andrea Maidan was the first female athlete to win the Dr. Jim Davies Scholar Athlete of the Year Award for standing out within the CAL-PAC for her exceptional contributions in academics, athletics, and the community. She was part of PUC’s Cross Country team that sent two female athletes to Nationals this school year, with Maidan placing first in the CAL-PAC Championships. She was also named All-Conference First Team and CAL-PAC Runner of the Year, all while keeping a 3.9 GPA, which also awarded her this year’s CAL-PAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year and team Most Valuable Player.“Receiving these awards is an incredibly rewarding achievement,” said Maidan. “To me, these awards demonstrate my work ethic and grit, which I take...

Throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, Pacific Union College Assistant Professor of Psychology Libna Arroyo invited guests to her psychology courses to give students real-world learning experiences through the college’s experiential learning opportunities.For the PSYC 235: Child Development class, Professor Arroyo invited two families, one of whom is PUC Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Matt Evans’ family, with children under five, to participate in age-appropriate activities with college students during the child development lab.PSYC 264: Social Psychology featured a Holocaust survivor, Anita, who was a hidden Jewish child during World War II. She has been sharing her story for five years and is currently 93 years old. Also, National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplain (NAVAC) Board Certified Chaplain and Air Force Chaplain Jonathan Arroyo spoke to the students about altruism.Arroyo invited two families from the community who have adopted children through foster care in California to her PSYC 335: Adolescent Psychology class to share their experiences with adolescents. These families shared their experiences in parenting children who have suffered trauma. The parents also shared their relationships with professionals who work with their children, such as social workers, school counselors, and teachers, and provided tips for interacting with families in their future careers.Arranging...

On July 1, Sam Heier transitioned to his new role as Vice President of Financial Administration and Chief Financial Officer. Having served as the Executive Director of Financial Administration since 2023, he has since established strong financial rapport across campus, bringing a wealth of experience, strategic thinking, and a vision to keep PUC moving forward.Heier’s story began long before he settled in Angwin with his wife, Jodel, whom he met during his time at PUC, and their two sons, Rylan and Luke. After moving to PUC from his hometown near Stuttgart, Germany, in 1996, he was a determined ESL student in a completely new environment, working at the Howell Mountain Market to support his education. Heier credits his work experience there and the manager he worked under with influencing the management philosophies he holds and practices today.“I think what makes PUC unique is not that we are here to teach students in the classroom alone, but we really help them grow as human beings and future leaders,” he said. “Students are mentored by amazing educators and pastors. That was my experience back then as an international student, and it still holds true today.”Heier described his time at PUC as a...

As part of an initiative to enhance the pre-law program at Pacific Union College, Intro to Law will be offered to students starting in the fall 2026 quarter. This 100-level course will be offered not only to PUC students but also to the College Early program for high school students. PUC is also thrilled to announce that Deputy District Attorney Shashawnya Worley of the Napa County District Attorney's Office will be teaching the class on campus. In addition to educating students about the profession, the course will focus on criminal law and its constitutional aspects, as well as on preparing for a mock trial to be held at the Napa County Courthouse. Students interested in Intro to Law can register for the class now.The minds behind forming this course were a committee of pre-law advisors from PUC’s business, communication, English, history, and honors departments, and they have also partnered with Ruthe Ashley of the California Legal Pathways Collaborative (CLPC). Although formed recently, they have already begun creating opportunities for students, such as establishing their honors society, offering internships, and inviting law school representatives to serve as guest speakers.“Intro to Law, as well as the other work being actively promoted by...

From June 12 to 14, Pacific Union College proudly celebrated 316 graduates from 13 states and six countries, awarding a total of 345 degrees across the nursing, business, psychology, social work, visual arts, biology, world languages, and communication departments– awarding 169 associate’s degrees, 167 bachelor’s degrees, and nine master’s degrees. Filling the seats at every service over the weekend were proud parents, faculty and staff, friends, and colleagues of the graduates who have left a lasting impact on the college campus.“If anyone is doubting the value of higher education, they need to attend PUC's graduation weekend,” said Vice President for Academic Administration Lindsay Hayasaka. “Seeing students who have worked so hard—and overcome so much—cross the stage renews my faith in the importance of this work. I couldn't be prouder of our faculty and staff, whose dedication has helped make this celebration possible, or of what this graduating class has accomplished. Our graduates remind me that education changes lives, and I can't wait to see what our newest alumni do next.”The weekend activities began on Friday with the Nursing Graduate Recognition service held in the PUC Church sanctuary. The speaker, Robert Michael Heaton, a nursing educator in clinical education and lead...

The Pacific Union College aviation program recently introduced the Adventist Aviation Museum in its new facility to alumni, students, faculty and staff, and community members.Across from Fisher Hall, where the program currently houses one of its simulators and classrooms, this new facility, aside from the Virgil O. Parrett Field Airport, serves as a modern-day exhibition honoring fellow Adventist missionaries and aviation pioneers while offering ample space for students in the fast-growing program.A preview of the museum was held during PUC’s Alumni Homecoming weekend in April 2026. Approximately 150 people attended the opening program, titled “Carrying on the Legacy: Conversations with Adventist Aviation Pioneers,” where Adventist mission pilots who had served in places such as Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, and the Solomon Islands shared their experiences. Attendees were exposed to a broader picture of past work, with a passion for keeping the mission moving forward.“Seventh-day Adventists have always been a people of hope,” said PUC Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker in the museum’s promotional video. “It is a hope baked into our very name– a constant, forward-looking gaze toward the blessed hope of our returning King.”For Tasker, one of the most prominent driving forces behind the establishment of this honorary...

The Pacific Union College nursing program is pleased to announce that, alongside its latest ranking of #7 for producing the highest-paid nurses nationwide, it has now been ranked #2 on Nurse.org for the accessibility, online and in-person offerings, length, and academic quality of its fast-growing RN-to-BSN program.Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), PUC’s 100% online RN to BSN program can be completed within nine to 18 months at $385 per credit, for a total cost of approximately $15,000. All theory courses are asynchronous and taught by Certified Nurse Educator faculty members who hold Online Teaching Certification and prioritize student progress. The college also offers nursing students an optional 90-hour in-person practicum to obtain a Public Health Certification.“One of the things I appreciate most about our RN-to-BSN program is the way our faculty invest in students as individuals,” said Tamara Tirado, dean of nursing and emergency management. “This recognition is a reflection of the care, commitment, and excellence that our faculty bring to their work every day, and I am grateful for the impact they have on the nursing profession.”Grounded in rigor, consistency, and flexibility, this program is designed for students at any stage of their career...

On May 28, Pacific Union College’s Visual Arts Department hosted its annual Diogenes Film Festival at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena. With PUC Professor of Film Melissa Henry Pratt and Film Instructor Nephtali Marin as the hosts, 15 films were showcased to a full house of faculty, staff, and the PUC community. The night was filled with laughter, heart, and, of course, popcorn. With three awards presented, three PUC students, one alumna, and a student from PUC Preparatory received awards for their work.“Diogenes is our graduation. It’s our Oscars,” said Marin. “It’s a big moment for us. A time to celebrate.” As their professor, Marin had the privilege of watching his students grow throughout the projects, from the rough to the final cuts. “They all worked so hard, and each had their own challenges, and each turned out completely different,” he said.Senior Kateryna Popravkina received the Audience Choice Award for her film Albedo. As an audience favorite, her film also left an impression at the 2025 Sonscreen Film Festival, an event hosted by the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which had funded Albedo last year through a pitch competition.Junior Samuel Birky and senior Jonathan Murdick won...

A few weeks prior to the annual Angwin to Angwish race held on May 3, Pacific Union College Enrollment Counselor Abraham Garrido partnered with 45 participants from the Redwood Trail Alliance and the St. Helena Thunderbird mountain biking group to clear leaves, trees, overgrown grass areas, and bushes throughout the trails adorning the college’s 1,100 acres of forest.Offering 35 miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking, running, and horseback riding, the PUC Forest is protected by a conservation easement in partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) and the Land Trust of Napa County. This opportunity helps PUC students, faculty, and staff, as well as community members, enjoy this stretch of recreational nature.As the race organizer, Garrido received feedback from frequent runners, bikers, and community members that the openness of the trail enhanced their overall experience, as they did not have to worry about poison oak or maneuvering under or over trees or branches.Garrido and his wife, Isabella, frequently enjoy the trails because they allow them to feel close to God while decompressing from the stresses of everyday life and staying healthy. He specifically enjoys embarking on long mountain adventures and running ultramarathons, taking advantage of...