PUC’s Publication Workshop Continues to Support Academy Students

From photography to design to writing, 11 academies attended the 35th Annual Publication Workshop at Pacific Union College from September 7 to 9. A total of 107 participants had the opportunity to learn practical skills for publication work and explore team bonding and management. This event offers a valuable opportunity for students and their teachers to explore new methods to enhance their work, network with editorial creatives and staff, and draw inspiration.

Students attended from Tualatin Valley Academy and Roseburg Christian Academy in Oregon, as well as from various schools throughout California, including Redlands Adventist Academy, San Fernando Valley Academy, Central Valley Christian Academy, Lodi Academy, Mesa Grande Academy, Mountain View Academy, Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy, Sacramento Adventist Academy, and PUC Preparatory School. Being on campus gave them a glimpse into life at PUC, as they stepped into the world of the college’s visual arts and communication departments, learning from professors and receiving their support with projects.

Milbert Mariano, PUC dean of arts, humanities, and professions, and director of the Publication Workshop, hopes that students will apply what they have learned to their school yearbooks and newspapers. Helping plan this event were Visual Arts Chair Brian Kyle, who taught photography during the workshop, and Communication Chair Tara Hargrove and Communication Assistant Professor Hayley Perry, who taught the writing sessions. Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Visual Arts Professor Cliff Rusch taught the students design, while PR Videographer Josue Hilario and Publication Workshop intern Abigail Suttan led the video and social media session.

PUC Vice President of Student and Spiritual Life Aimee Leukert was this year's keynote speaker, discussing storytelling and its associated elements: perspective, characters, and context. She brought up characters like the wolf from The Three Little Pigs and Cinder Edna, the neighbor of Cinderella, to provide an alternate perspective for the students to consider their attitudes and understand the context from both the writing and the illustrations. From each story, Leukert wanted students to expand beyond the pages and dive into what the story means to them.

One of the projects students had to tackle was doing a profile on a workshop attendee through interviews, photography, and article layout design. This assignment would strengthen their journalistic skills by researching the background of a PUC faculty or staff, determining and preparing the right questions to ask, and respectfully gathering valuable information to create an in-depth interview. Additionally, it would teach them how to listen attentively, focus on the interviewee while taking notes, and how to read their body language to capture the essence of their genuine emotions.

From writing a riveting article to snapping a striking portrait of the subject and creating captivating pages to tie the whole work together on a 4-page spread, this project allows students to bring their ideas to life by showcasing their unique creativity and professionalism through storytelling and visuals. This project is one of the many ways PUC’s Publication Workshop challenges students with real-world assignments, while working together as a team.

“For 35 years, PUC’s Publication Workshop — affectionately known as PubWorkshop or just ‘Pubs’ — has been walking alongside our Adventist K–12 academies, helping them tell their stories with creativity and confidence,” said Mariano. “We’ve grown and adapted with the times, but one thing hasn’t changed: our passion for inspiring schools and empowering their teams to grow stronger together in the ever-changing world of publications.”

After workshops, meetings, and projects, students had the opportunity to give their creative minds a break by attending worship programs, game nights, and a pizza party. PUC Executive Assistant and Enrollment Counselor Andrianna Massena, along with Enrollment Counselor Glanelle Ejurango, organized the evening activities, providing students with options ranging from board games to sports, allowing them to meet and socialize with other high school students.

On the last day of Publication Workshop, PUC Church Lead Pastor Nate Furness delivered a devotion before students had one last opportunity to work on their projects before the awards ceremony, which recognized the work of the different schools and celebrated their accomplishments. “The joy it brings them, even those who simply got a runner-up or mention, was so proud of their teams and achievements; this was very satisfying,” said Mariano.

PUC President Ralph Trecartin spoke with several academy students who shared their enthusiasm about attending PUC in the fall of 2026. Many sponsors and students expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the entire Publication Workshop team for providing them with a great experience from the moment they arrived on campus to the event's conclusion.

For years, PUC’s Publication Workshop has provided a place and community for creative and talented high school and academy students to expand their horizons and showcase their exceptional abilities. With professionals working in design, photography, and journalism, students receive a mentor and learn from the best. The Publication Workshop is an outstanding opportunity for these students to receive the support they need to excel in their work and hone their skills. PUC looks forward to welcoming more students next summer.

PUC Publication Workshop Winners

• Excellence in Layout & Design - Mountain View Academy
• Excellence in Photography - Redlands Adventist Academy
• Excellence in Writing - Lodi Academy
• Best Yearbook - Mesa Grande Academy

• On-Site Layout & Design - Redlands Adventist Academy
• On-Site Photography - PUC Preparatory School
• On-Site Writing - Tualatin Valley Academy
• On-Site Video/Social Media - Mesa Grande Academy

Most Improved On-Site Publication - Sacramento Adventist Academy