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PUC Launches Adventist Aviation Mission Museum in New Facility
Posted by Marina Maher on June 26, 2026
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...
PUC’s RN to BSN Program Ranks #2 in Nurse.org for 2026
Posted by Marina Maher on June 19, 2026
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...
Diogenes Film Festival: Celebrating PUC’s Visual Arts Department
Posted by Ally Romanes on June 19, 2026
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...
PUC Collaborates With Community in Trail Cleaning
Posted by Marina Maher on June 18, 2026
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...
PUC Ranks #7 in Producing Highest Paid Nurses Nationwide
Posted by Marina Maher and Tamara Tirado on June 18, 2026
In May, Pacific Union College was ranked #7 for its bachelor’s program in nursing, with graduates earning a median annual income of $141,000. PUC's RN-to-BSN program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is designed to prepare registered nurses for leadership, graduate education, population health, evidence-based practice, and professional nursing roles in today's healthcare environment.This flexible 100% online RN-to-BSN program is designed for working registered nurses throughout California, enabling them to advance their education while serving their patients, families, and communities, and emphasizing compassionate care, critical thinking, clinical judgment, and service to diverse populations.“We are honored to see Pacific Union College recognized among the nation’s top bachelor’s nursing programs for graduate earnings,” said Tamara Tirado, PUC dean of nursing and emergency management. While salary is only one measure of success, this recognition reflects the strength of our fully online BSN program, the dedication of our faculty, and the exceptional commitment of our students.”Following the completion of the BSN degree, many graduates pursue leadership roles, specialty practice, graduate education, and advanced nursing roles, building upon their nursing knowledge through coursework in leadership, community and public health, research, informatics, and evidence-based practice.“Our goal is to prepare nurses...