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Pacific Union College’s Aviation Program has a proud history. In the half-century since our airstrip was carved from the mountainside, generations of pilots have honed their flying skills here, mission planes have been launched to distant fields, and our graduates have departed to serve as aviation professionals throughout the United States and around the world. Last school year, the aviation program embarked on an exciting new journey. Changes within the aviation industry meant it was time for a new direction. The program that had served so well in the past was due for a major overhaul. In consultation with the administration of Pacific Union College, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and industry experts, the aviation program embarked on an innovative three-phase plan to place PUC as an industry leader in aviation training.“It is an exciting time to be involved with the PUC aviation program,” expressed Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker, who serves along with Chief Flight Instructor Merilyn Chaffee and flight instructors Luke Butler, Daniel Navarro, Gabriel Navarro, and Anthony Sharobeem. “We believe our innovation may very well revolutionize the aviation training industry. Look for full-motion simulators, gliders, and high-tech training innovation to come in 10 years as a standard...

Through valuable advice and personal stories from those who’ve walked the path before them, the School of Science’s Alumni Seminar Series is helping Pacific Union College students navigate their academic journey and inspire their future career paths. The seminar series was the brainchild of Aimee Wyrick, dean of the School of Sciences and associate professor in the Department of Biology. She explained that the inspiration behind inviting PUC alumni to speak to current students included the desire to create connections and engage with seasoned perspectives. “We wanted to give our current students an idea of what PUC alumni are doing and the great diversity of paths people take once they leave our college,” Wyrick said. “The alumni who participate can identify with what current students experience and can provide encouragement and perspective. The alumni series has expanded our community beyond the campus.” Initially, the seminar series was a biology department initiative but widened to the basic sciences, including chemistry, math, and physics. Wyrick hopes to include presentations from psychology and social work in the future.Now, two years after its inception, the seminar series has taken place four times per quarter. Twenty-seven alumni have virtually or in-person shared their experiences, ranging...

Qualified Pacific Union College students may now be guaranteed admission to Andrews University’s (AU) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program through the recently signed Guaranteed Admission Agreement.Effective October 1, this agreement ensures at least two PUC pre-physical therapy students will be accepted into AU’s DPT program annually. To support the partnership with AU, PUC has developed a robust curriculum meeting the admission requirements to the DPT program, including specific biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, and psychology classes. “The agreement gives PUC students a competitive advantage in that they have clear expectations and receive personal guidance and help to meet those expectations,” says Aimee Wyrick, dean of the School of Sciences. Discussions surrounding the agreement began in 2023.“As we talked more and I learned about the various allied health programs, it became clear that partnering with their School of Allied Health would be a fabulous collaboration for both institutions,” she explains. “Pre-PT students at PUC with an interest in the Andrews DPT program will be advised by a PUC faculty and connected with the Andrews advising team.”Interested PUC students must meet specific criteria, including attending prerequisite classes, having a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.6, and participating in a pre-admission interview with AU....

Over the decades, Pacific Union College has endeavored to offer an education that empowers and prepares students to make an undeniable, Christ-like impact on the world around them, wherever they may go upon leaving Howell Mountain. Countless students-turned-alumni are shining examples of that spirit of service—one of those alums being Dr. Richard Chinnock.Chinnock, ’78, was recently honored in April with the 2024 Shirley N. Pettis Award by Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH). The award recognized his work as a devoted pediatrician with more than 30 years of service at the hospital, impacting thousands of lives in the Inland Empire and far beyond. This isn’t the first time Chinnock has been recognized for his incredible care. He also received the Outstanding Clinician Award from LLUCH in 2019 and is a Healing Hands Honoree. Chinnock, who grew up in the Loma Linda and Redlands area, says he followed his then-girlfriend, now wife of 47 years—Ruthie (Wagner) Chinnock, ’78—to PUC. As the only one out of five siblings to attend his parents’ alma mater, Chinnock says his parents were thrilled. He ultimately had a great experience, meeting some of his best friends on the third floor of Grainger Hall, working as a...

From October 17 to 19, five students from the communication department at Pacific Union College attended the 2024 Society of Adventist Communicators Conference (SAC) near Chicago, Illinois. This trip was made possible by the support of generous donors.“Attending SAC as a professional myself was a great experience, and I saw some value in it, but nothing compares to bringing students and watching them network, connecting with students from other schools and industry professionals,” comments Tara Hargrove, professor of communication and sponsor of the trip. “I loved hearing them talk about how they ‘already learned about that in class;’ it was an eye-opening experience for them to see the real-world applications in the communication fields.” The conference included development opportunities for seasoned and new professionals and specific activities for college students studying communication. Thursday morning, students choose between three media tours: CBS and ABC affiliate television stations, InterVarsity Press, or Edelman Marketing. “Edelman was definitely a highlight of this trip for me,” says Jazlynn Hardy, a senior communication major who attended SAC. “During the Q&A, we had the chance to hear specialized professionals share their insights on working in a marketing firm, applying for internships, and what it took for them...