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The Pacific Union Community has watched in sorrow news of the tragic earthquake in Haiti. The campus rejoiced with our one student from Haiti, Pierre Julov, when he was finally able to speak with his parents and learned that they were alive and well. In the meantime, the community has endeavored to help in several ways, most notably when the Angwin Community Services pledged up to $10,000 in matched funds. Calls for participation were made at colloquy and church services and word spread across campus, resulting in the raising of $17,690 — totaling $27,690 with the matching funds. Another connection came in the form of a PUC alum. On January 14, Scott Nelson ('92) arrived in Haiti to set up an orthopedic surgical unit. Nelson works as a medical director for CURE International at a hospital in the Dominican Republic and has made numerous trips in the past to Haiti to perform corrective surgery for children. At Hopital du la Communitie Haitien, Nelson and his team found many orthopaedic cases filling the parking lot and patio, as people were too frightened to go inside the building. "One 3 year old child was about to get his arm amputated by an...

At Southwestern Adventist University's (SWAU) winter graduation this year, PUC director of library services Adu Worku spoke on "What a Difference Education Makes." He shared his own story of being a shepherd boy and not beginning school until the age of 15, going on to earn three master's degrees; he is now a great proponent of the value of Adventist education. "Seventh-day Adventist education is value-added education," he said during his address. "The education we provide is both timely and timeless. It is purpose driven with consequences for this life and for the life to come." Following the address and the bestowing of degrees, SWAU president Eric Anderson, a former professor at PUC, surprised Worku by presenting him with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Anderson said that Worku's "life story is an illustration of the transforming power of Christian education,” adding that "today he is one of the most learned men I know.” Worku is a musician, poet, activist, teacher, and writer and has earned master's degrees in history, education, and library science. Worku and his family also have connections to PUC in addition to his role at the library. Worku received his undergrad degree at Avondale, but...

In its annual Martin Luther King Jr. memorial colloquy, Pacific Union College celebrated the legacy of this civil rights leader in several ways on January 14, 2010. PUC president Dr. Heather Knight opened with a brief background on Dr. King and thoughts on his legacy, which influences our own campus as a "dynamic multicultural learning community," she said. "We owe a lot to Dr. King." She also shared a little-known fact about King's name: His father was named Michael Luther King and named his son Michael Luther King Jr. After a family trip to Germany, the family was so impressed by the life and legacy of Martin Luther that King's father changed both his and his son's names to Martin. The program featured several beautiful and energetic songs from a recently formed PUC gospel choir, who, said Dr. Knight in her intro, "are truly embodying our living out of the 'Beloved Community' here on campus." One of their songs, "Bless Me (Prayer of Jabez)," was dedicated to those suffering from the recent earthquake in Haiti. Dr. Norman Knight, PUC's outreach chaplain, delivered a sermon – "a message that I believe Martin Luther King would bring to college students today." He...

Art instructor Cheryl Daley, a local artist who teaches at Pacific Union College, took her 3D design class on an inspiring field trip this November. Daley has a bit of a family connection to the late Ray and Charles Eames, famed American designers. Charles Eames' daughter, Lucia Eames, and granddaughter, Llisa Demetrios, are sculptors based in Petaluma, California. Their studio and home contains their own work as well as many important examples of the work of Charles and Ray. Eames and Demetrios gave Daley and her students a personal tour. "They love sharing and talking about the work of Charles and Ray Eames and their revolutionary designs for furniture, exhibitions, short films, and architecture, and about their process of working out solutions to their ideas," explains Daley. "At their studio in Petaluma they showed us many historically important 3D examples of Charles and Ray’s work as well as explaining their own work and showing examples of the creative process and technical challenges of their own large-scale metal sculptures." Christine Ha, a sophomore fine arts major, was impressed by the trip from the beginning. "Nearing the hand-painted gate designed by Lucia Eames herself, the urge to touch everything became almost unbearable,"...

It wasn't long ago that men's soccer became an official varsity sport at Pacific Union College; but in an amazing turn-around season this year, the soccer Pioneers set a precedent for a strong soccer program that may have a lasting legacy for the college. The soccer team, who ended last season with three wins, nine losses, and one tie, set the record at PUC for most wins in a season this year with nine wins, two losses and one tie. Several changes to the team dynamics contributed to the Pioneers’ success. Until this year, head coach Jesús Medina had been the only member of the coaching staff, leaving him alone to carry the burden of playing multiple roles. This year, however, Medina was joined by his brother Carlos and by Hernan Granados, dean of Newton Hall, to share responsibility over the team. Carlos led the team in the technical and strategic aspects of the game, and “Hernan is basically the dad of the people here,” said Medina. “He’s everything for the guys.” Notes team member (forward) Edrei Mauries, “With the support of older and wiser leaders, we feel more confident in the game, and it showed a lot this year.”...