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Aren Rennacker, a graduating member of the Pacific Union College men's varsity basketball program, was named the 2011 California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) Male Scholar Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, June 1. The Cal Pac Conference executive committee, made up of the athletic directors of the member institutions, selected Rennacker from an impressive list of nominees. Cal Pac Commissioner Don Ott said, "To say that I am impressed with all the nominees is a tremendous understatement. Moreover, the two individuals we are honoring have accomplished the incredible academically, athletically, and personally. They all represent the finest traits of Champions of Character, and we look forward to seeing how they continue to impact our society." The honor is given to a student athlete who has completed their four years of athletic eligibility, displayed excellence in the classroom, exhibited the five core values of the Champions of Character initiative, been a significant contributor to his or her team, and has been involved in the community and on campus. Rennacker will graduate from PUC summa cum laude, with a degree in public relations/journalism. The Sacramento native and four-year starter was named First Team All Cal Pac this past season, finishing ranked third...

The first ever recipient of the Jimmy J. Ha Endowment Scholarship was honored at the Awards Colloquy on Thursday, May 26. Danny Chung, a junior religion major, received the award for his demonstration of the love of Christ, commitment to the Adventist church, and passion for knowledge. To present the award, scholarship founder Sonia Ha gave an inspirational message in honor of her late husband, a beloved religion professor at PUC who passed away last year after battling cancer. “In the face of suffering we are here together, experiencing and encountering someone; today, particularly Danny Chung,” she said. “We do this deed being confidence of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Vice president for alumni and advancement Pam Sadler introduced the award, recalling the phone call she received in 2009 from the couple saying that they wanted to begin a scholarship at Pacific Union College. “That phone call will forever remain in my mind as a poignant reminder that no matter what is happening today, we must always have the foresight to be hopeful for the future,” Sadler said. Chung was one of a...

During a special presentation at Angwin’s 2011 Flea Market and Car Show on Sunday, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) congratulated Angwin on the expansion of broadband technology to the community, thanks to a partnership between Pacific Union College and Comcast. Last fall, the college worked with Comcast to update the campus telecommunications network with a fiber-optic infrastructure. The move increased PUC’s bandwidth by 1,000 percent and also allowed Comcast to expand its services into Angwin, where communication and entertainment services have been limited. “This is a partnership that is going to pay dividends for the entire community,” said Thompson, listing the number of educational online programs that can benefit school-age children, businesses, and families. “The amount of information that is at our fingertips is truly awesome, and so much is available because of the expansion of broadband.” The program also welcomed Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon, who commended Comcast and PUC and called it a “step forward” for PUC and the community. Heather Knight, president of PUC, also spoke at the event along with Tom Bartee, district director for 7th District Assemblyman Michael Allen; and Paul Gibson, East Bay area vice president for Comcast. Two years ago, PUC was urgently...

The professors of the Pacific Union College religion department consecrated their graduating seniors in an intimate ceremony at Scales Chapel on Friday, May 6. Family and friends joined the department in celebrating the accomplishments of these two theology majors and five religion majors as they prepare to enter into a life dedicated to ministry and service to the Lord. Each year, the religion department holds this service for its graduating seniors as a way of dedicating them to the gospel ministry. This year, they consecrated seven seniors, whose future plans range from entering global missionary work to ministry within the medical field. In the service, students had the opportunity to reminisce about their favorite moments at PUC, to display their talents in worship, and to thank their professors, families, and friends for the support they received throughout their undergraduate careers. The department compiled a slideshow of memories from mission trips, baptisms, and other works of ministry and classes as a gift for the students. Featured speaker Pastor Tim Mitchell, senior pastor at the PUC Seventh-day Adventist Church, encouraged the students with anecdotes from his experience as a minister of the Gospel. To close the service, senior pre-med/religion major Alicia Teferi...

Fifteen PUC visual art seniors displayed their thesis projects at Rasmussen Art Gallery Saturday evening as the venue swelled with an overflow crowd. The Thesis Exhibition is an annual show that serves as the highlight of the capstone year for fine art, photography, and graphic design students. The show featured a diverse collection of student work, including photography series, paintings, digital installations, and collections of business promotional materials. “It was a very strong exhibition that showcased the talent and hard work of our students,” said Milbert Mariano, chair of the visual arts department. “They have been planning, conceptualizing, and implementing their projects all year long. They should be very proud.” See a photo gallery from this year’s senior thesis show....