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The department of visual arts at Pacific Union College invites the community to an art exhibit opening reception for photographer Douglas Sandquist on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. The event will take place in the Rasmussen Art Gallery on the college campus, and will feature an artist talk and refreshments. This reception is free and open to the public.Sandquist attended PUC as a bio-chem major in the early 90s, but was accepted into dental school after his junior year, so he never completed his degree at PUC. He went on to become a dentist back in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, where today he curates the unexpected combination of his dental career and photography.“Most dental photography is macro photography, but it’s also portrait photography,” Sandquist explains. “I originally wanted to learn how to take better clinical photos, so I delved into learning how to better use a camera, how to compose a shot, and how to work with different lighting. One thing led to another, and I started to enjoy photography outside the office just as much as in it.”In 2016, a photo Sandquist took in Iceland with his iPhone and shared via Instagram was requested by Apple...

PUC’s newly christened Community Speaker Series (familiarly called “Community”) held its opening convocation in the PUC Church on Thursday, Oct. 3. Previously called Colloquy, the goal of Community is indicated in its title: to build a network of close-knit relationships between students and faculty across the college’s campus. Essentially, it seeks to build “ONEPUC.”After a Community Brief video featuring athletic director Richie Sillie detailing the upcoming week’s events, President Bob Cushman took to the stage to welcome new staff, faculty, and students, as well as recognize members of this year’s graduating senior class. Each group was asked to stand for applause as he recognized their role on the PUC campus.As the audience settled into their seats, Student Association President Megan Belz read from Matthew 22:37-39 and concluded by praying over the church family. With the message of love at the forefront, a video of chaplain Kent Rufo played in which he reminded the campus that they are all members of one body that is committed to each other as the PUC family.President Cushman then returned to the stage with a short, but impactful message that spoke to the heart of PUC’s goals as it looks towards a new academic year....

This year’s Pathfinder Camporee at Oshkosh in Wisconsin hosted a film crew from PUC’s own department of visual arts. A group of four students, one alum, and faculty director Tim de la Torre were tasked with creating nine-minute videos to highlight five days of the annual pathfinder meeting, under the direction of Erik Stenbakken from Stenbakken Media. These “Day in Review” videos were displayed every evening, showcasing not only Camporee events and activities, but also the talents of the small film crew on hand.Sophomore film and television major, Adam Adreveno, helped the team navigate the many challenges that entail when filming among a group of 50,000 people.“My job was basically to do what needed to be done as quickly as possible. I would go out to film different stories ranging from ‘Camp Life’ to ‘Woohoo: Fun Stuff to Do’ and then edit them together if I had time,” he continued, “I learned how to manage long days and pressure in order to deliver a specific video that needed to be completed by a deadline. Working at the Camporee was like a crash course on how to make good videos quickly.”Alum Gabriela Talavera mirrored Adreveno’s sentiments about working under constrained timing....

Amanda Schaff, 2014 biology graduate, has been fascinated by science for as long as she can remember. She has also always known she wanted to be a veterinarian. So, when the time came to head to college, she chose PUC, and enrolled as a biology major.“I love cats and dogs, but I’ve always wanted something a little different than regular veterinary medicine,” she says. While a student at PUC, Schaff took a trip to South Africa, working with wildlife veterinarians treating African wildlife.“That was one of the coolest experiences of my life,” she says. “That trip was what cemented my future as a wildlife or zoo veterinarian.”Following graduation, Schaff was accepted into a fellowship at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel Island off the southwestern coast of Florida. It was a rare paid fellowship at one of the few wildlife hospitals in the U.S.“There are many wildlife rehabilitation clinics, but they don’t always have vets; usually they operate with certified wildlife rehab specialists,” Schaff explains. “At CROW, they have several veterinarians on staff.”During her six-month fellowship, Schaff assisted with surgeries, treatment of rehabilitating animals, neonatal care, feeding, medicating, and exams. It wasn’t as glamorous as it...

“Right after high school graduation, I was accepted into a young ambassador program with the Smithsonian museums. This opened the door for me to later attend a leadership event for young Puerto Ricans in New York City.”Samantha Rodriguez, sophomore engineering and math major, spent several days this summer at National Youth Leadership Encuentro, a student-driven leadership experience which offered young Puerto Ricans the opportunity to “explore the socioeconomic crises Puerto Ricans in the United States and Puerto Rico face, and gain the skills necessary to analyze, frame, and develop solutions that would impact Puerto Ricans throughout the nation.”Through discussions, activities, presentations of research, and meals together, the two dozen attendees got to know each other and dove more deeply into their shared heritage.Rodriguez was the only participant from the west coast.“There are so few Puerto Ricans and Dominicans on this side of the country that it wasn’t until my college years I saw a Dominican man outside of my family,” she explains. “This event was an opportunity to get a better idea of what my Puerto Rican self is like.”Going in, Rodriguez expected lectures and lots of sitting and listening. While the conference did involve presentations, she was happily surprised...