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From exploring the treasures of Florence to the coastal villages of Cinque Terre to the canals of Venice, and roaming the historical streets of Rome, eight honors students from Pacific Union College spent four weeks in Italy as part of their course, Renaissance: Truth and Beauty. This course explored art and science from the Italian Renaissance with the places and works that shaped Western culture.PUC’s Honors Program began taking international tours in the early 2000s, with England being the first country visited. Throughout the years, students have had the opportunity to learn in France, Spain, and Italy.Alongside PUC Honors Director and Dean for the School of Arts, Humanities, and Professions, Milbert Mariano, and Chemistry Chair Kent Davis, Music Chair Rachelle Davis also joined the honors study tour from June 29-July 24, starting in their home base in Florence at PUC’s sister school, Villa Aurora College.Beginning their immersive experience into the Italian Renaissance era in Florence, students had the opportunity to see breathtaking figures by Michelangelo at the Galleria dell'Accademia, rich paintings by Botticelli and da Vinci at Uffizi Galleries, and gain insight into Galileo's scientific mind at the Museo Galileo. They also visited the Bargello Museum, the Basilica of Santa...

For decades, PUC’s Physics Department has cooperated with Walla Walla University’s School of Engineering by offering an engineering program at PUC with a clear pathway to transfer to WWU’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering program (BSE). That cooperation was recently formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding, providing a strong connection between the two institutions for the benefit of students.An Associate of Science degree will be available for PUC students, after which they will be able to transfer to WWU to continue their education and earn the BSE, splitting the four years of college between the two schools. The curriculum thus developed has been carefully tailored to meet the transfer requirements and prerequisites for admission to the BSE program. In addition, for eligibility purposes, some conditions need to be met.In addition to applying to WWU and completing the A.S. at PUC, students’ GPAs must meet the minimum of a 3.0. They must also meet all non-academic admissions criteria and consult with WWU academic advisors early in their program at PUC to ensure complete alignment of coursework. To help guide students through these conditions, WWU will be providing remote or in-person career counseling and academic advising to students, and as the need...

Pacific Union College has long recognized the value of online education in expanding access and flexibility for students while maintaining academic excellence. Building on this foundation, the college recently pursued two grants from the Archie Tonge Education Foundation to strengthen its online offerings further. Because of these funds, PUC was able to create the Online Campus to support the BSN, MBA, MEd, MSN, and MA in Communication programs.Since 2021, two teams have successfully secured funding that enabled key enhancements: upgraded instructional technology, standardized syllabi across courses, and over 600 hours of faculty development focused on effective online teaching. These efforts also supported the creation of quality assurance processes designed to uphold and continually improve PUC’s academic standards in the digital learning environment.To foster sustainable growth for the college and reach students off-campus and working professionals, this program will meet their needs by delivering high-quality education that reflects PUC’s Christ-centered values. To ensure lifelong learning success, orientation resources will help students start strong and confidently navigate their learning experience. This online resource supports the design of all the college’s courses with accessibility, academic rigor, and Adventist values in mind, ensuring that students receive a personalized, engaging, and transformative education.Leading this project...

From July 7 to 12, Pacific Union College Biology Professors Backil Sung, Aimee Wyrick, and Floyd Hayes, along with 10 of their students, served in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Also on the mission trip were volunteers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong. All 110 of them provided medical and dental services, offered counseling, reinstalled electrical power lines, addressed financial needs, and hosted Vacation Bible School.Their team also distributed 3,000 pairs of reading glasses, visited orphanages, cooked meals, conducted health screenings, and provided transportation and food to patients from nearby communities who traveled up to 100 miles outside Kandy. Many of these patients worked in tea gardens and were paid only $2 a day, which they could not afford to spend on lunch or bus tickets.Sung helped plan this mission trip with the help of his non-profit, All to Heaven, which pledged $25k to renovate the operating room at Lakeside Adventist Hospital in Kandy and $20k to improve the boys' dormitory in Lakpahana Adventist College. He also partnered with their hospital, college, and several organizations, including Together with Seoul SDA Hospital, Jiwon Medical Company, Sahmyook Health University, Ceylon Mission of SDAs, Adventist International Institute...

Every five years, the governing bodies of the Adventist Church come together to worship, choose new leaders, and vote on policies and procedures, all while seeking God’s guidance for the future. This year’s General Conference Session was no different. From July 3 to 12, the Conference convened in St. Louis, Missouri, and in attendance were many representatives of PUC, all of whom left their mark and were undeniably affected by what they experienced.The atmosphere was collegial, organized, and friendly at every turn, with many excited attendees who were happy to attend the meetings and visit the many booths that were set up. One such booth was our very own, manned by Enrollment Counselors Isabella Malan and Abraham Garrido, both of whom did their best to promote our beloved school to parents, grandparents, and students in attendance. “There was a lot of foot traffic to our booth, and some visited a few days in a row,” said Malan. Much of the foot traffic was a result of interest in the offered majors, and perhaps a campus visit in the future, though, of course, this was all aided by a constant supply of pens, stickers, and bags to give away.At the forefront...

After Jim Wibberding, chair and professor of the theology department at Pacific Union College, discovered over 50 names of women who significantly shaped the faith and mission of Adventism, he created the "Women in Adventist History" course in 2022 to share the stories of underrepresented women in the church.Some of these women were Jennie Ireland, whose biography was nowhere to be found but slightly mentioned in someone else's biography as the woman who planted the first Black Adventist church on the West Coast, and Sarah Peck, who appeared as one of Ellen White's literary assistants but also had more to her story as a notable role in shaping Adventist education worldwide. Wibberding aimed to put a spotlight on those who were ignored and unknown, filling these historical gaps in the storytelling of the women who have made the Adventist church known today at PUC and beyond.During spring quarter of 2023, 19 students from Wibberding's class wrote a book titled Women of the West: Twenty Who Shaped Adventism, which was released this past March. The inspiration behind this book also stemmed from their research and essays, which uncovered more stories of the crucial contributions of women whose experiences had been overlooked...

Pacific Union College is pleased to announce that Dr. Tamara Tirado has been appointed as the new Dean of Nursing and Emergency Management.Dr. Tirado holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Loma Linda University, a master's in nursing and family nurse practitioner from Sonoma State University, and both bachelor's and associate degrees in nursing from Pacific Union College.Serving as the BSN Program Manager and Professor of Nursing, Dr. Tirado has dedicated 17 years to PUC, bringing knowledge and experience in curriculum development, accreditation, student success initiatives, faculty mentorship, and committee service across the college.Over the past 20 years, she has worked as a registered nurse, family nurse practitioner, clinic manager, and educator, bearing extensive experience to equip future nurses to serve with humility.“I’ve been fortunate to work with dedicated faculty, support passionate students, and help shape programs that truly make a difference. The most rewarding part has been seeing our students grow, both academically and personally, and knowing that we’re preparing them to care for others with excellence and compassion,” said Dr. Tirado.Coming into this new role, Dr. Tirado’s vision entails building on the department’s strong foundation while expanding reach, innovation, and impact, “fostering a learning environment that emphasizes clinical...

From June 13 to 15, Pacific Union College happily celebrated the Class of 2025. Of the 276 graduates, 235 were from the nursing department, 11 from the psychology and social work department, nine from the business administration department, eight from the biology department, and six from the visual arts department. This year, there were 103 academic distinctions, seven more than last school year.“I have a great sense of pride for the current graduating class,” said PUC President Ralph Trecartin. “Many of them have been here for four years, during which time I have been able to observe them from start to finish. There are strong student leaders among the graduates. Our graduating seniors are unique individuals with exceptional talents and will achieve new heights. From what I have seen, some students in this class have the highest levels of character development and have dedicated hearts for God. Wherever they go in life, the world will be a better place around them.”The first program of graduation weekend was the social work consecration at Scales Chapel on Friday afternoon. That same afternoon, the Adventist College Abroad (ACA) and the student missions stole conferral ceremony that took place on the Irwin Lawn. PUC...

In September 2022, Pacific Union College faculty, staff, and students began collaborating with the Upper Napa Valley Blue Zones Project, engaging in community gardening at Calistoga Junior-Senior High School. After implementing these healthier food practices on campus, PUC is honored to receive a Blue Zone certification of its own.The Blue Zones Project is a partnership between Blue Zones and Adventist Health, aiming to promote health and wellness by increasing access to education and healthy food choices.“After dedicating months to Blue Zones’ best practices across campus—ranging from health education to improved built environments—PUC earned official approval under Blue Zones Project’s criteria for schools and larger organizations,” said Adventist Health Philanthropy Manager Fabio Maia.Blue Zones Vice President of Operations and Community Transformations and PUC alumnus Mark Ishikawa emphasized PUC’s long-held commitment to the health and well-being of its students, faculty, staff, and campus community, embracing wellness as reflected in the Adventist heritage. Ishikawa graduated from PUC with a degree in religion in 2001 and has since pursued leadership roles in Adventist institutions, including Adventist Health, Loma Linda University, and PUC. His most recent role at Adventist Health involved supporting Community Well-Being Directors across 25 hospitals, leading systemwide strategies for well-being.“Some of my...

On Thursday, May 29, the Visual Arts Department at Pacific Union College hosted its 21st annual Diogenes Film Festival at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena. With 130 attendees, the festival showcased 20 films from the school year and featured some movies from the previous year.PUC’s Diogenes Film Festival greatly benefits students, providing them with an outlet to share their creativity with a broader audience. Although their films are not made specifically for the festival, seeing them on a big theatre screen gives them a sense of pride in all their work and motivates them to continue doing their best.“Another great aspect is the sense of community that it builds, not only within our department but with our entire school and the outer community,” said Nephtali Marin, PUC lecturer of visual arts, referring to the film festival. “Our films span outside of our spaces, whether it be filming in other departments, the outer community, or using friends as actors. Diogenes allows us to come together and see everyone’s contributions and hard work.”This year, Marin and Professor Melissa Henry Pratt co-hosted, sitting alongside Professor Tim de la Torre as the judges. With three award categories, freshman Jacob Capiña received the Filmmaker...