2025

My shoe strikes something hard and flat in the ashen dirt. I kick aside the crushed leaves and dust, then bend down to brush them clean with my hands. It reads, “Henry Louis Guerne”. That’s not him. A family of deer watches us through the mid-morning chill as we disrupt their tranquil cemetery, unearthing fallen headstones and inspecting those that still stand. “W. S. Kellogg.” Much closer. Maybe he is buried in a family plot. “Francis Elizabeth Kellogg.” Further down the hill, I saw a “Chester Kellogg”. But, no “Merritt Gardner Kellogg”. I rounded the following plot.I have been asking after this grave for three years now. No one seems to know where it is. Some historians say it is lost to history. Some say it could be in Australia. A year ago, I found an obituary that listed his burial at Oak Mound Cemetery in Healdsburg, California. I thought that was a big find, but an optimistic family outing ended with “no card on file for a Merritt Kellogg.”Why does Merritt G. Kellogg matter to me? It is not his link to the Corn Flakes King, though W. K. Kellogg was his kid brother. It is not about his...

Throughout his 31 years at AdventHealth, becoming CEO of a major health system was not necessarily a role David Banks aspired to hold — but his leadership roles in hospital administration, divisional oversight, and as chief strategy officer prepared him well when the CEO opportunity emerged. For Banks, the timing aligned with where he was in life and career — and where the organization was heading.“I'm really grateful to work with a mission-driven Board of Directors and AdventHealth team, and to have the partnership of our sponsor organization, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, within our mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ through whole-person care," said Banks. "For me and many others at the organization, I see the ways Adventist education prepared us for today's work, which requires a strong foundation."Banks regularly meets with leaders, caregivers, the Board, and team members in the service of AdventHealth's mission. He invests time connecting with church sponsors, who are an essential part of AdventHealth, and talks with team members to ensure the company is advancing its mission, meeting industry needs, and advocating for those they serve who need access to care, ranging from rural to more populated communities.Originally from Sonora, CA, Banks immersed...

Holding these titles is very special and significant for PUC, especially for the women’s team, which placed in the conference despite having a hard time having a whole team last year. While the team’s season came to a close, three students moved on to the National Association of Intercollegiate (NAIA) at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, FL, on Friday, November 21, breaking personal records.Senior Andrea Maidan and freshman Manami Uyeyama advanced for the women’s team, leading the 6K race, with Maidan speeding to first, finishing in 25:02.78, over three and a half minutes ahead of the other 28 racers, and Uyeyama soaring in right after Maidan in second place with a winning time of 28:37.91. Both new to the team this year, they earned spots in the national qualifying round.Representing the men’s team was senior Andrew Baluyot, who came in sixth place in 31:32.07, and was the only non-Simpson University student to qualify for Nationals. Baluyot earned a spot on the CalPac All-Conference Team and was awarded the league's Champion of Character Award alongside Maiden, who was the CAL-PAX Cross Country Solo Champion. He was also celebrated by representing PUC on the CalPac All-Academic Team as a chemistry major with...

During a discussion of ways to better support Pacific Union College's mission and culture, a group of faculty, staff, and church pastors expressed interest in further developing the campus community. “We knew we wanted to be able to share campus stories with our colleagues specifically, and we started brainstorming ways we could potentially do that,” said Becky St. Clair, director of Paulin Center for the Arts and office manager for the department of music.When Tara Hargrove, chair of the departments of communication and world languages, mentioned the newly created podcast studio in Irwin Hall—built thanks to the support of a passionate donor—the group knew they’d found their outlet.The studio was fully functional and already supported a student-led podcast, so the group now had a storytelling format and a space to use it. Thus, the Unchart(Ed) podcast was born. A team of podcast hosts was created, comprising Hargrove and St. Clair, alongside Department of Theology Chair Jim Wibberding and Associate Pastor for Worship and Administration Lem Garcia.Coming from different areas of campus, the hosts bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideas, while sharing a common goal: cultivating a campus culture of growth and inspiring innovation, collaboration, and creativity. To support each other’s...

2020 represented a watershed moment for Pacific Union College, as it faced the full weight of a long-term decline. Years of compounding deficits, organizational downsizing, declining enrollment, and ongoing financial strain began to impact operations severely. The board, administrators, and employees questioned whether PUC could continue to exist. Despite several incremental adjustments, the decline continued. In 2020, it was decided that PUC could not continue with business as usual. In 2021, a new vision plan was implemented.The goal was simple and straightforward: recognize our problems and acknowledge the need for significant changes, all while remaining true to Adventism, our historical mission, and the quality of the PUC campus experience.The vision plan was, in large part, an operational strategy centered on stabilizing the institution, all while maintaining our public image, core mission, and historical legacy. Pacific Union College focused on four key areas: renewing our commitment to the Angwin campus, innovating our academic offerings, expanding our reach and market presence by establishing education centers, and developing online programs.The 2025-2030 vision continues to sustain these four pillars, but with five more focused, strategic objectives to further underline the operational steps taken to bring PUC into a prosperous footing:Experiential Learning: prioritizing hands-on learning...

Pacific Union College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program has again demonstrated its excellence, earning continuing accreditation and 100% compliance from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) through 2033—the maximum length of time between evaluations.ACEN—which evaluates and accredits nursing education programs based on quality and excellence standards—conducted a thorough, three-day review of PUC’s RN-BSN program earlier this year. The scheduled visit was the culmination of a year-and-a-half of preparation by the department’s faculty and leadership, spearheaded by Sandra Ringer, director of the RN-BSN program, and Kimberly Dunker, former dean of Nursing, Health Science, EMS & Global Health.Ringer emphasized the role of teamwork in achieving these outstanding results. “Without such an incredible RN-BSN team, we would not have achieved this milestone. It was a combined effort by a fantastic group of educators,” she said.ACEN accreditation includes an in-depth review of five key standards, including administrative leadership and resources, faculty qualifications, student support services, curriculum quality, and the program’s effectiveness in preparing graduates for the workforce.In addition to meeting rigorous academic quality standards, the ACEN accreditation highlights how PUC’s RN-BSN program prepares students for career growth. “When students are looking for graduate-level programs, our RN-BSN program prepares them to...

The story begins with two brothers, Franklin and Calvin: the first students of three consecutive generations and 10 family members who would graduate from PUC.Their father, Dr. Henry Yee, who wanted his sons to pursue a career in healthcare, had become aware of PUC’s strong educational program and deep spiritual environment and enrolled them at PUC.Franklin was then enrolled at PUC Academy, now PUC Preparatory, and graduated in 1951. Calvin, on the other hand, attended PUC at the time before he got drafted into the Korean War for two and a half years. Once Calvin returned in 1954 to continue pursuing his biology degree, he decided to reenroll at PUC, where Franklin joined him.Looking back on their time before graduating together in 1955, they found the campus to be a place where they formed genuine connections with “really good and gentle Christian people.” Their PUC experience helped nourish and deepen their faith in Christianity.After their time at PUC, they both went off to Loma Linda University, where Franklin earned a medical degree and Calvin a dentistry degree, graduating together in 1959.Unfortunately, Calvin passed away in 1972 from a sudden heart attack. He was only 43. Franklin, now 94 years old...

Growing up in the Colorado Rockies, Montana-based nature and outdoor photographer Grant Ordelheide was immersed in beautiful landscapes and in a family that took every opportunity to be outdoors. This exposure instilled a fire within Ordelheide that was beyond a passion for nature. Ever since then, he has been chasing every scene to capture not only in memory, but on camera to share with the world.One of the aspects that brought him to PUC was the accessibility and proximity to so many great places around the scenic Northern California region. “As an aspiring nature photographer, there were so many amazing landscapes that provided the perfect setting to hone my craft. Within a day’s drive from PUC, you could be in Yosemite, Tahoe, or the Redwoods. That was a huge factor in why I chose to attend PUC in the first place.”After he graduated from PUC in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in photography with an emphasis in business, Ordelheide has worked as a freelance outdoor and adventure photographer. He has taken photos for many of the magazines in the outdoor industry, including Backpacker, Climbing, Outside, National Park Journals, and more. Ordelheide also began teaching photo workshops with his...

On May 7, Pacific Union College alumnus Jaymes Cheney was appointed as the next Northern California Conference Treasurer.He was born in Portland, OR, to a passionate family that has dedicated their careers to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Cheney’s life path didn’t fall far from the tree.He grew up north of Vancouver, WA, in Ridgefield, with a mom who worked in Adventist education and a dad who worked in plant services at Adventist Health Portland. Watching his parents and extended family devote their lives to the church sparked a desire in Cheney’s heart to do the same, wherever God would lead him.Coming to Pacific Union College was a no-brainer for him, considering the deep family ties and roots that lie in Northern California. His mom and her family grew up in Napa, and his family would frequently travel down from Washington. When it was time for him to decide on a college to attend, the fond memories of his childhood and the family history of Pioneer graduates drew him near.Cheney graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration with emphases in accounting and marketing in 2006. When looking back at his college days, he credits his education at PUC, equipping him well...

Pacific Union College continues to welcome more students for another year, following a pattern of positive enrollment growth. For the 2025-2026 academic year, 1,080 students are enrolled at PUC, including 228 first-time college students, 166 transfer students, and 45 graduate students. With residents in the dorms also increasing for the second year in a row, this year’s enrollment is the highest since the 2017-2018 school year, marking the fifth of the last six years with an increase.With new programs created on and off campus, partnerships with health care institutions, and enhancements to existing departments over the last few years, around 350 students are enrolled in undergraduate-to-master’s programs to further their careers. PUC Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing, and Communication Gene Edelbach credits the changes and delivery of these new programs in making a significant difference in enrollment.One of the departments that was rebuilt was Aviation. What was once a program with 10 students grew to over 30 applicants, thanks to new directors, instructors, curriculum reconstruction, and financial aid. They also work to acquire new plans and resources as aviation continues to improve and grow. PUC’s new MSN and MBA programs have also drawn 45 students just starting recently, and the...