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Pacific Union College’s new mobile friendly admissions website, launched in February, has been recognized for achievement in both design and marketing. Most recently, the website garnered a 2014 American In-house Design Award from Graphic Design U.S.A., an organization that sponsors multiple graphic design competitions. The In-house Design Award spotlights the outstanding work by in-house designers, recognizing them both for their talent and for the challenges they face and the unique value they bring to their institutions. The In-house Design Award competition receives more than 4,000 submissions each year from design teams that work within the institutions they serve instead of at design agencies, with a very select 15 percent recognized with a certificate of excellence. Pacific Union College received a certificate for the admissions website as well as a congratulatory letter to the college’s administration. In addition, the website is eligible for publication in the In-House Design Annual, with a circulation of over 100,000 professionals. Earlier this year, PUC’s admissions website won a silver award from the 29th Annual Education Advertising Awards, sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report. Of nearly 2,000 entries, PUC was amongst the 146 institutions granted a silver award and was one of only 31 winners in...

One of the final student-led club events of the busy school year was held on Sunday, May 19, as the Mabuhay Filipino Club and Student Organization of Latinos (SOL) joined creative forces to host a wanderlust-themed banquet. Wanderlust, or love of travel, elements ran through the event, which took place at Deer Park Villa, an outdoor venue in the city of Fairfax, Calif., that was voted Marin’s “Best Caterer” and “Best Wedding Venue” for 2013. Centerpieces and decorations that celebrated the globetrotting theme added to the Villa’s redwood trees and beautiful landscaping. The end of the school year is a busy time, but the Wanderlust Banquet was a great opportunity to enjoy time together while making incredible memories. “Although stressful to plan, this banquet gave students a chance to attend one of the last banquets with a date or a group of friends,” said Mabuhay Filipino Club officer Kevin Loyola. “Students can eat great food and really just enjoy each other’s company.” The evening’s entertainment included live performances from students, who showcased their talents and added to the relaxed mood. From creative songs to a flash mob, the entertainment had something to offer everyone. The highlight of the night was...

The highly anticipated and largest REVO event of the school year took place on Sunday, May 4, as the Pacific Union College community gathered for a concert, stuff sale, fashion show, and the yearly Spring Fest celebration. This year, REVO, a student-led philanthropic movement begun in 2008, benefitted an international cause with a remarkable local connection.Last year’s successful REVO efforts benefitted Love146, an organization working to abolish child sex-trafficking and exploitation. This year’s cause, selected by the student organizers, was Project Worku. All proceeds from the year’s events, which included a special banquet and open mic night as well as the popular REVOfest, will go to the Worku Jenber School in Ethiopia, a school started by PUC’s head librarian, Adu Worku. The funds will directly benefit young people who yearn for an education by providing students at the Worku Jenber School with resources such as books and computers.At the REVOfest, which this year was accompanied by the college’s annual Spring Fest fundraiser, various campus clubs set up booths outside on the Campus Mall to sell cultural foods, beverages, and more. Many of the clubs chose to donate their earnings to Project Worku. In addition, students donated gently used clothing and...

A group of students and faculty from Pacific Union College’s department of psychology traveled to Portland, Ore., to attend the annual convention of the Western Psychological Association (WPA) on April 24-27. Approximately 29 PUC students attended the convention, accompanied by professors Bruce and Charlene Bainum, Aubyn Fulton, and Priscilla Miranda. Of the PUC research papers presented at the convention, three received awards.Four of the six PUC poster presentations were presented for Psi Chi, the elite national psychology student honor society, three of which won the Psi Chi Regional Award. Historically, PUC students have won two Psi Chi awards in one year, but this was the first year they took home three. “It was a really fabulous learning experience for the many students who came, and I was so proud of the presenters and the award winners,” said Charlene Bainum, professor of psychology.At the convention, the PUC group presented on a variety of topics: the effect of emoticons on memory, how peers perceive social networking profiles, eating behavior and social interaction, video games and their effect on memory, Asian-American leadership, and the effects of preschool on children’s self-regulation. In addition, two PUC psychology alums presented papers at the convention for their...

Pacific Union College hosted critically acclaimed author Matt de la Peña during the May 1 installment of the Colloquy Speakers Series. de la Peña, the award-winning author of five young-adult novels and the picture book A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis, inspired the campus with the story his personal path to literacy. de la Peña was introduced by a professor who played a pivotal role in his development as a reader and writer: PUC’s own president, Heather J. Knight, Ph.D. Knight taught de la Peña during his time as a student at the University of the Pacific, and described her former student as a “successful, prolific, and accomplished young writer.” However, as de la Peña explained, his career as a writer was completely unexpected. Describing himself as a “reluctant reader” through most of his childhood, de la Peña never finished a book in high school. As the son of teenage parents from National City, Calif., “literature was something that belonged to the kids in the richer families,” said de la Peña. The author urged PUC students to not let circumstances or the assumptions of others determine their paths. “You’re going to deal with a ton of...