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On Thursday, May 29, the Visual Arts Department at Pacific Union College hosted its 21st annual Diogenes Film Festival at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena. With 130 attendees, the festival showcased 20 films from the school year and featured some movies from the previous year.PUC’s Diogenes Film Festival greatly benefits students, providing them with an outlet to share their creativity with a broader audience. Although their films are not made specifically for the festival, seeing them on a big theatre screen gives them a sense of pride in all their work and motivates them to continue doing their best.“Another great aspect is the sense of community that it builds, not only within our department but with our entire school and the outer community,” said Nephtali Marin, PUC lecturer of visual arts, referring to the film festival. “Our films span outside of our spaces, whether it be filming in other departments, the outer community, or using friends as actors. Diogenes allows us to come together and see everyone’s contributions and hard work.”This year, Marin and Professor Melissa Henry Pratt co-hosted, sitting alongside Professor Tim de la Torre as the judges. With three award categories, freshman Jacob Capiña received the Filmmaker...

On Sunday, May 11, Pacific Union College students from all majors and departments performed PUC on Broadway for the third year in a row. Alongside students from PUC Prep, they performed songs from various musicals and movies for the community to enjoy in the newly remodeled Paulin Hall Auditorium.The students chose songs from musicals they liked and wanted to see performed live. This year's songs were from the musicals The Great Gatsby, Hercules, Pippin, The Wizard of Oz, Anastasia, The Lightning Thief, and the stage production of Beauty and the Beast. They also performed selected songs from the movies Frozen and Tick, Tick... Boom! Based on the audience response, the majority enjoyed PUC’s adaptation of “Therapy” from Tick, Tick... Boom!Milton Perez, a senior voice performance major, was one of the directors of PUC on Broadway this year. After being a part of the last two shows, the past directors asked him to run the production. With a desire to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work, Perez was inspired to direct and accepted the role.He and his co-director, Jalexis Herman, a freshman liberal studies major, began production at the start of this school year to research songs. They brought along freshman...

The global health department at Pacific Union College is proud to share that senior Areli Castro will be their program's first graduate. From Napa, CA, Castro decided to attend PUC after seeing the value of its close-knit, supportive community. With a love for traveling and helping others, she enrolled in global health as the perfect opportunity to combine both passions in a meaningful way.In March, three professors and 13 students from PUC partnered with Maranatha to serve in Pucallpa, Peru. Castro was one of those students, as she always wanted to go on a mission trip but never had the opportunity. With the help of Global Health Director Nancy Jacobo in planning the trip, Castro and Jacobo discussed incorporating a medical component into the trip as part of Castro’s capstone project. With Jacobo’s approval, Castro was able to complete her project in another country–something she never expected.For her capstone course and senior project, Castro led the development and coordination of the medical aspects of the mission trip. She successfully organized and led her team, collaborating with AMOR Project, led by Dr. Guillermo Gow-Lee, to fundraise and implement medical outreach programs. Castro also coordinated and planned logistics, securing sponsorships from two...

On Sunday, May 4, the Pacific Union College Flight Center and Angwin Disaster Airlift Response Team (DART) welcomed 600 visitors to their Air Expo at the Angwin Virgil O. Parrett Field. In collaboration, they showcased the world of aviation with the help of local vendors, pilots, and humanitarian aviation organizations.PUC aviation students played a significant role at the Air Expo, selling tickets and pancakes and assisting people to and from the event in golf carts. They also helped operate two flight simulators and organized plane rides as two event activities. The plane rides were so popular that they were already booked for the whole day during the first hour of the event. To increase availability next year, the Flight Center aims to have more airplanes available for rides.Along with DART, the Angwin Fire Department and Angel One Mission Aviation had booths to inform and connect with the community, with some campus clubs from PUC also participating in the Air Expo.In the middle of the event, the string ensemble from PUC Elementary School performed several airplane-themed musical items. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also sent a representative to present two prestigious awards to Mike Terhune of Mike’s Aero, a maintenance shop...

Pacific Union College awarded Assistant Professor of Nursing and Student Success Coordinator Nicolette Piaubert the 2024-2025 Educator of the Year Award during Community on Thursday, May 22.Surrounded by proud faculty members and inspired students, Piaubert wore a cape commemorating her years of service and her famous million-dollar smile.Piaubert joined PUC as a family nurse practitioner in 2021, bringing a wealth of experience in the nursing field. Piaubert has always been deeply passionate about nursing, using the opportunity to serve others as a reflection of her love for God.Dean of Nursing and Emergency Management Kimberly Dunker introduced Piaubert as a dedicated nurse, professor, Director of Pathfinders Club, and published author who is passionate about equipping future nurses with the knowledge and skills to thrive academically and professionally.As Dunker spoke about the impressive educational background Piaubert holds, she also highlighted Piaubert’s dedication to being a partner in her students’ and community’s success.“The PUC nursing faculty and staff are incredibly proud of Nicolette. She exemplifies the spirit of excellence that drives our program, inspiring both students and colleagues to strive for greatness in healthcare," Dunker said.Piaubert teaches the Introduction to Nursing classes at PUC, exposing students to the nursing profession before beginning the...