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Beginning in mid-February, students in Pacific UnionCollege’s Individual Taxation class participated in the Volunteer Income TaxAssistance (VITA) program at the Up Valley Family Center in St Helena, Calif.The students prepared tax returns for free for people that earned less than$58,000 per year, applying what they had learned in the classroom as part of aservice-learning project that allowed them to grow their skills while providinga valuable service to members of the community.As of March 19, the twelve PUC students and 4 othercommunity volunteers had prepared and submitted 144 tax returns for Napa Valleyresidents who visited the St. Helena site of the Up Valley Family Centers,formerly St. Helena Family Center. In early February, the students received IRScertification, and soon after began seeing clients under the supervision ofNorma Ferriz, site and operations manager for Up Valley Family Centers.Ferriz estimates that nearly 90% of the people who takeadvantage of the program receive a refund. “This is all money that isreinvested in the community so that is great,” she said. In 2013, a group ofPUC and community volunteers prepared 165 tax returns, bringing back more than$313,900 in total refunds to families and individuals in the community. “In2014, thanks to the participation of volunteers from St....

Susan Dix Lyons is familiar with social innovation. The founder and Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit Clinica Verde is active every day in making the world a better place. Lyons and her organization improve the lives of families living in poverty through clinical care and nutrition and health education at a sustainably designed health clinic in Boaco, Nicaragua that serves 14,000 patients per year. During the winter quarter of 2014, Dix Lyons drew on her experience with Clinica Verde as well as her earlier work as a journalist and editor to teach a Pacific Union College course on Media and Social Innovation. “I wanted to give the students an opportunity to see how rich with possibility their lives are,” Lyons shared, “and how important it is that they become ‘doers’ in society. People who not only imagine how the world can be better, but who have the confidence and resolve to participate in the solutions.” Lyons herself is one such ‘doer,’ and has been recognized for the work she leads at Clinica Verde. At an event held in San Francisco on February 26, she was honored as an Unsung Hero of Compassion for aiding others without expectation of reward....

Pacific Union College’s Pioneers basketball season ended with honors for players on both the men’s and women’s teams. In addition to these post-season honors, the Lady Pioneers basketball team had their best season in over a decade. Two players from PUC’s men’s basketball team were recognized for their excellence on the court. Junior forward Jordan Greenwell was named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics California Pacific Conference First Team and junior guard Trevor Noguiera was named to the Conference Second Team. Greenwell started in all 31 games, averaging 14 points per game. He led the Pioneers in scoring with 434 points, as well as in rebounding and assists. Teammate Noguiera finished the season with 333 points while struggling with injuries during the season. “Both of these players are very deserving of the awards they received and were instrumental for us this season,” commented Kirt Brower, men’s basketball head coach and the college’s athletic director. “I am very proud of them for achieving this and I know both of them are already working hard to ensure we achieve more of our team goals next year.” Lady Pioneer London Robinson, guard, was named to the Cal Pac Conference Second Team and...

Jon Pahl, Ph.D., spoke for Pacific Union College’s Longo Lecture, a lecture series endowed by Lawrence D. Longo, M.D., in honor of his parents Frank and Florine Longo. Pahl, an author and professor at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, titled his lecture “A Coming Religious Peace.” Speaking in Scales chapel to an audience of more than 100, Pahl used examples of Disneyland and shopping mall architecture in describing the components of “religion that kills”: ignorance, crass consumption, and enemy-creation. He went on to define religion, concluding that “when we treat others like we want to be treated, that generally means we don’t want to kill them … which leads us to religious peacemaking. “Religions exist as the cultural equivalent of ecological and biological systems of elimination … religions exist to eliminate violence,” Pahl argued. Pahl spent the remainder of his lecture speaking about the promise of religions to create peace. He gave three examples of religious individuals who helped bring about peace through non-violence: Mahatma Gandhi in India, Leymah Gbowee in Liberia, and the Turkish Imam Fethullah Gulen. These religious peacebuilders illustrate that “collectively, people of faith have the capacity—the spiritual and social power—to accomplish whatever we set our minds...

Pacific Union College hosted its 33rd annual career day on Thursday, February 20. The event brought nearly 50 professionals from diverse fields to campus, offering students the chance to learn first-hand about the careers that interest them. Also visiting campus for the day was Brittany Collins Cheney, who discussed her journey from PUC to a law career as part of the college’s Colloquy Speaker Series. Whether freshmen still deciding on a major or seniors starting the job hunt in earnest, students who stopped by the side rooms of the Dining Commons spoke with professionals actively employed in diverse careers. By meeting with representatives, the Career and Counseling Center hopes that students can have confidence in knowing where a major can take a person in their career path. “We want students to gain exposure and discuss potential job networks to help them with life after college,” said career counselor Laura Gore, who coordinates the fair as part of her work in the Career and Counseling Center. Representatives were available to answer questions from students, exchange business cards, and also provide internship, volunteer, or employment opportunities. “We hope that students use this as a networking tool to start developing contacts and learn...