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Pacific Union College is delighted to share that the aviation department received a $12,000 grant from the VersaCare Foundation to purchase the full-motion platform and accessories for a high-fidelity, virtual reality flight training device prototype. The VersaCare Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Riverside, California, supporting innovative programs. PUC applied for the grant in December and obtained acceptance in April.“God has blessed our aviation program in so many ways over the last few months,” said Nathan Tasker, flight center director. “We were overjoyed to receive this grant. We are in the process of purchasing the components now, and we plan to offer a recently-accredited course called AVIA-402 Simulation Innovation in Fall Quarter 2025. Students in this class will be involved in designing and testing new simulation technologies using the components purchased with the VersaCare grant.”Using full-motion simulators is an unusual concept in the beginning stages of flight training. PUC’s aviation leadership team wants to change that. PUC students have already helped create and build one simulator, which is currently in use. In addition to saving the students money, this simulator allows students to rehearse emergency scenarios that are not as realistic in an airplane.“High-fidelity simulation gives us a serious...

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...