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Pacific Union College was happy to welcome back alumna Pastor Samantha Angeles to speak for the spring Week of Worship. From April 14-18, she spoke around the school year’s theme of “Passion,” discussing her experience in ministry at the age of eight and feeling that spark that would later lead her to PUC.When Angeles was in fourth grade, she went on a mission trip to the Philippines with her sister and parents, who were high school sponsors. One of her duties was translating Bible studies into English. One day, the students leading the Bible studies fell ill, leaving her in charge. The next day, with Angeles still leading, she asked in Tagalog if anyone in the congregation wanted to give their lives to God. Four people raised their hands. She was by their side during their baptisms at the end of the mission trip. In witnessing this commitment, she felt nothing was better. With a life of faith requiring total devotion and surrender, Angeles reminds students that when they don’t feel they are doing their best, trust that God is enough to carry them across the finish line if they remain steadfast in running their race of faith.“Even at eight...

On the first day of Homecoming, Pacific Union College Professor Dr. Tammy McGuire awarded two communication majors, Jazlynn Hardy and Anna Ramos, with scholarship awards from the Andy Bishop Foundation, created in honor of communication alumni Andy Bishop, ‘15, who tragically passed away in 2021. His parents, Doug and Lori, and other family members and friends have generously contributed to the foundation, which grows yearly.The foundation focuses on Bishop: a storyteller and connector who was kind, generous, positive, creative, and adventurous—someone who lived generously. Among other projects, the foundation provides scholarships, helps develop communication internships, and awards students funding to support them after graduating, so they have less debt and can more easily pursue their dreams.Outside of being a communication major, recipients must be creative content creators, such as Bishop was, and share many of his values and qualities. Hardy is a senior from Altamonte Springs, Florida, graduating with a BS in Marketing Communication in June. “She can design a clever advertising poster and has a keen sense of marketing strategies, really above her years,” said McGuire. “She has been an integral part of our women’s basketball team for four years, serving as one of this year’s captains; she plays...

On Sunday, May 4, 157 participants aged six to 75 participated in the third annual Angwin to Angwish run at Pacific Union College. Runners from all over the world came to PUC only to compete and be a part of the event. Two runners traveled from China and England after reading about the event on social media and felt inspired by the campus's unique and challenging trail and intimate race atmosphere. “It was humbling and surreal,” said Abraham Garrido, director of Angwin to Angwish. “To know that people from across the globe saw value in what we’re doing here in this small community—that’s incredibly meaningful.”Other runners also came from Oregon, Colorado, and Nevada, which Garrido said was exciting to see the reach of PUC’s little mountain race expanding every year.The event kicked off with the 26K, where runners ran loops on the lower hill, before taking on Angwish Hill with an elevation of 2,800 feet. The 10K followed, for a short, fast, and scenic route through Mossy Rock, ending with a kids' one-mile run at the campus track.“It was beautiful to see such a wide range of runners out on the trails,” said Garrido. “We were excited to see growth...

On Sunday, May 4, the athletics department at Pacific Union College hosted its annual awards banquet at the Fireside Room to celebrate and recognize all 114 student-athletes. 29 students received awards from PUC, and 18 were given awards from the California Pacific Conference for their exceptional performances this year.“It was nice to see the student-athletes be recognized for their hard work and dedication throughout the year,” said Kenneth Perez, PUC sports information director. “I hope they understand that their dedication makes our work even more meaningful. They’ve done an excellent job this season, overcoming various challenges, and I hope they can reflect on this year with pride on how much they’ve grown. Not just as athletes, but also as students and individuals.”This year's highlight was the men’s volleyball team making the playoffs for the first time since their inauguration five years ago. They also became the first team in PUC history to have back-to-back years with CAL-PAC individual awards. During the 2023-2024 season, Justin Vital, now an alum, won Defensive Player of the Year, followed by Nate Tejada, receiving the 2024-2025 Offensive Player of the Year. Another achievement was Emiliano Ascencio, who received the Newcomer of the Year award, earning...

Pacific Union College was excited to welcome back over 250 alumni to Howell Mountain during Homecoming weekend. From April 18-19, alumni reconnected with the campus community and friends through endless events, activities, and gatherings.The weekend began on Friday afternoon with Pioneer games of men's and women’s volleyball and basketball, which were newly included this year. As more people made their way to campus throughout the afternoon, a Pioneer dinner was held before vespers to continue welcoming alumni. PUC Chaplain Arturo Lopez welcomed everyone at vespers before alumna Kathryn (Hopgood) Sculatti and Elle Wheeler led the congregation in the school song, “Our College on the Mountain”.The speaker for the night was alumna Pastor Samantha Angeles Peralta, who was also the guest speaker for PUC’s Week of Worship in the days before Homecoming. She spoke about feeling homesick during her college years, but expressed how PUC shaped her and many others through the community they all built. With the celebration of Homecoming, she emphasized the true homecoming to Heaven.On Saturday, alumni Pastor Joey Oh spoke during Sabbath school and began with a quiz to test everyone’s PUC knowledge. He showed photos of famous Adventists, such as Ellen White, Joseph Bates, and J.N....