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From March 19 to 29, 23 students and two nursing professors from Pacific Union College traveled to Mana, Fiji for a medical mission trip. Accompanied by physicians, dentists, and nurse practitioners from Loma Linda University, they treated 271 medical patients, 101 dental patients, and 53 optical patients.During their 10 days in Mana, the most needed service was dental care. Jeff Joiner, PUC associate professor of nursing and emergency services, shared that they could have seen twice as many total patients in dental appointments as their team did. In addition to dental care and exams, PUC students had the opportunity to conduct medical screenings, treat skin infections, and provide eye exams and corrective lens fittings. They also educated and treated over 100 patients with acute and chronic pain and provided home visits to local residents.While this was a medical mission trip, the team took half a day to enjoy the island by snorkeling. Surrounded by fish and sea turtles, this was a wonderful opportunity for students to take a break and experience Fiji before returning to their mission in the clinics. In addition to providing medical services, PUC students hosted Vacation Bible School every afternoon, which was an impactful time for...

For the third year, Angwin to Angwish sold out, with about 160 participants from the community, the state, and some flying in from Tennessee, Arizona, and Oregon to compete in the event on May 3 at Pacific Union College. Runners ranged in age from 5 to the 60s to compete in the 10k, 26k, and the kids' 1-mile race.Running among the forest trails of the college, PUC senior Andrea Maidan won first place at 2:40:16 in the women’s race, with Tegan Henry coming in second at 2:58:56, followed by Haley Wight coming in third with a time of 3:13:41. For the men’s 26K, PUC alumni Pablo Garrido won first place at 2:12:30, with Menso De Jong coming in second at 2:16:32, and David Pillard placing in third place at 2:20:07.Since 2023, PUC alumnus and Enrollment Counselor Abraham Garrido has been the director of Angwin to Angwish and has been looking for ways to enhance the event each year. This year, he and his team encouraged additional community support at the line to rev up and support the runners and included more course signage throughout the forest to provide clearer direction for runners on their route. This year’s event also had...

From April 13 to 17, Pacific Union College held its Spring Week of Worship service led by former Andrews University pastor, evangelist, and author Pastor Dwight Nelson.He passionately started off the week by sharing his appreciation for the beauty across campus. “This [place] is just absolutely heavenly. I love this college, your president, your professors, and I am going to get to love you. I can tell just by looking at you.”Kickstarting his sermon, he assured the audience that they are not alone if they feel deep hurt and don’t experience healing. “We are going to go to the cross five times together this week– Jesus says, 'Come to me, and I will give you rest.”Holding a blank death certificate, Pastor Nelson directed the audience’s attention to the reality of being issued this piece of paper if Jesus doesn’t come soon enough. He told a story of a 22-year-old student who passed away in a car accident, someone who had her whole life ahead of her. Life is not certain, but it does have a purpose, pertaining to why Jesus died for all of humanity. He then asked, “What killed Jesus? Three Roman nails? How about the centurion’s lance that...

Dr. Monica Allen has worn many hats as a working professional: a preschool teacher, public health practitioner, and professor at a state university. While her career path has wound around with several detours and pit stops, Monica has always been clear that wherever she was, whatever she was doing, she was called to a life of service. “That’s Adventist education,” she said emphatically. “Service was modeled for us not just at home, but also at school.”Neither of Monica’s parents were raised Seventh-day Adventist, but when Monica was young, they converted and subsequently fully committed to the church. “My mother told me that the church loved us right in,” Monica recalled. While still new to the faith, her parents were adamant that their children would receive an Adventist education, regardless of cost. She attended 1st-3rd grade at Glenview Adventist School in Phoenix, Arizona, and then Los Angeles Union and San Fernando Valley Academy for the rest of her elementary and high school years.When I talked with Monica about what I was writing on – the impact of Adventist education on our lives – she didn’t even really need to stop and think before speaking confidently. “I was taught that I was...

During the 2026 California Association of Colleges of Nursing Conference (CACN) in Palm Springs, CA, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Director of the RN to BSN Program, Sandra Ringer, and former PUC Dean of Nursing, Kimberly Dunker, won the Most Distinguished Poster award for exploring emotional intelligence among PUC senior nursing students.The purpose of the project was to evaluate how senior student nurses perceived their emotional intelligence, which is critical to the nursing program as it prepares them for their transition to nursing practice. Ringer began her work by investigating and understanding the problem with graduate surveys and community partners’ feedback, which showed critical gaps as students enter the workforce. This feedback served as a basis for understanding how nursing schools ensure that their graduates are well-equipped for nursing practice. Some of the most concerning areas of research within this project focused on stress management, communication concerns, and their ability to handle conflict. Using the BlueEQ emotional intelligence tool, the presentation discussed two years of student feedback in the classroom environment and its impact on students’ scores at the end of the program, along with awareness and training.The research spanned the 2023 to 2025 school years, beginning in fall 2023...