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From June 12 to 14, Pacific Union College proudly celebrated 316 graduates from 13 states and six countries, awarding a total of 345 degrees across the nursing, business, psychology, social work, visual arts, biology, world languages, and communication departments– awarding 169 associate’s degrees, 167 bachelor’s degrees, and nine master’s degrees. Filling the seats at every service over the weekend were proud parents, faculty and staff, friends, and colleagues of the graduates who have left a lasting impact on the college campus.“If anyone is doubting the value of higher education, they need to attend PUC's graduation weekend,” said Vice President for Academic Administration Lindsay Hayasaka. “Seeing students who have worked so hard—and overcome so much—cross the stage renews my faith in the importance of this work. I couldn't be prouder of our faculty and staff, whose dedication has helped make this celebration possible, or of what this graduating class has accomplished. Our graduates remind me that education changes lives, and I can't wait to see what our newest alumni do next.”The weekend activities began on Friday with the Nursing Graduate Recognition service held in the PUC Church sanctuary. The speaker, Robert Michael Heaton, a nursing educator in clinical education and lead...

The Pacific Union College aviation program recently introduced the Adventist Aviation Museum in its new facility to alumni, students, faculty and staff, and community members.Across from Fisher Hall, where the program currently houses one of its simulators and classrooms, this new facility, aside from the Virgil O. Parrett Field Airport, serves as a modern-day exhibition honoring fellow Adventist missionaries and aviation pioneers while offering ample space for students in the fast-growing program.A preview of the museum was held during PUC’s Alumni Homecoming weekend in April 2026. Approximately 150 people attended the opening program, titled “Carrying on the Legacy: Conversations with Adventist Aviation Pioneers,” where Adventist mission pilots who had served in places such as Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, and the Solomon Islands shared their experiences. Attendees were exposed to a broader picture of past work, with a passion for keeping the mission moving forward.“Seventh-day Adventists have always been a people of hope,” said PUC Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker in the museum’s promotional video. “It is a hope baked into our very name– a constant, forward-looking gaze toward the blessed hope of our returning King.”For Tasker, one of the most prominent driving forces behind the establishment of this honorary...

The Pacific Union College nursing program is pleased to announce that, alongside its latest ranking of #7 for producing the highest-paid nurses nationwide, it has now been ranked #2 on Nurse.org for the accessibility, online and in-person offerings, length, and academic quality of its fast-growing RN-to-BSN program.Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), PUC’s 100% online RN to BSN program can be completed within nine to 18 months at $385 per credit, for a total cost of approximately $15,000. All theory courses are asynchronous and taught by Certified Nurse Educator faculty members who hold Online Teaching Certification and prioritize student progress. The college also offers nursing students an optional 90-hour in-person practicum to obtain a Public Health Certification.“One of the things I appreciate most about our RN-to-BSN program is the way our faculty invest in students as individuals,” said Tamara Tirado, dean of nursing and emergency management. “This recognition is a reflection of the care, commitment, and excellence that our faculty bring to their work every day, and I am grateful for the impact they have on the nursing profession.”Grounded in rigor, consistency, and flexibility, this program is designed for students at any stage of their career...

On May 28, Pacific Union College’s Visual Arts Department hosted its annual Diogenes Film Festival at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena. With PUC Professor of Film Melissa Henry Pratt and Film Instructor Nephtali Marin as the hosts, 15 films were showcased to a full house of faculty, staff, and the PUC community. The night was filled with laughter, heart, and, of course, popcorn. With three awards presented, three PUC students, one alumna, and a student from PUC Preparatory received awards for their work.“Diogenes is our graduation. It’s our Oscars,” said Marin. “It’s a big moment for us. A time to celebrate.” As their professor, Marin had the privilege of watching his students grow throughout the projects, from the rough to the final cuts. “They all worked so hard, and each had their own challenges, and each turned out completely different,” he said.Senior Kateryna Popravkina received the Audience Choice Award for her film Albedo. As an audience favorite, her film also left an impression at the 2025 Sonscreen Film Festival, an event hosted by the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which had funded Albedo last year through a pitch competition.Junior Samuel Birky and senior Jonathan Murdick won...

A few weeks prior to the annual Angwin to Angwish race held on May 3, Pacific Union College Enrollment Counselor Abraham Garrido partnered with 45 participants from the Redwood Trail Alliance and the St. Helena Thunderbird mountain biking group to clear leaves, trees, overgrown grass areas, and bushes throughout the trails adorning the college’s 1,100 acres of forest.Offering 35 miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking, running, and horseback riding, the PUC Forest is protected by a conservation easement in partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) and the Land Trust of Napa County. This opportunity helps PUC students, faculty, and staff, as well as community members, enjoy this stretch of recreational nature.As the race organizer, Garrido received feedback from frequent runners, bikers, and community members that the openness of the trail enhanced their overall experience, as they did not have to worry about poison oak or maneuvering under or over trees or branches.Garrido and his wife, Isabella, frequently enjoy the trails because they allow them to feel close to God while decompressing from the stresses of everyday life and staying healthy. He specifically enjoys embarking on long mountain adventures and running ultramarathons, taking advantage of...