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On Thursday morning, March 31, the Pacific Union College campus family gathered in the PUC Church sanctuary for a memorial service celebrating the life of Fen Pan, a student who passed away following a tragic vehicle accident on Monday afternoon. College president Heather J. Knight thanked the many students, faculty and staff, and community members in attendance, and noted messages of condolences have been pouring in from other sister college campuses and other Adventist dignitaries around the world. The service was also broadcast online for those unable to attend, including Fen’s mother and 14-year-old brother in Beijing, China. Fen was remembered through shared memories, a homily by campus chaplain Jonathan Henderson, and music, which was particularly meaningful as she was a music major preparing for a career in dentistry. Junior business and pre-dentistry student Ivan Lee, who was Fen’s teaching assistant for her organic chemistry lab, performed “Méditation” from the opera Thaïs by composer Jules Massenet, accompanied by department of music professor Dr. Rachelle Davis. Lee shared he felt moved to perform the piece following news of the accident, and stated, “I remember her being the most positive, diligent, and hardworking person, who always had a smile on her face.”...

Today, the PUC campus community mourns the loss of Fen Pan, an international student from Beijing, China, who died as the result of a car accident Deer Park, Calif., shortly before 2 p.m. Monday, March 28. Fen was one of seven people in the vehicle. The accident remains under investigation. Injured in the accident were Yejin An, from Guam; Ruth Bahta, from Carmichael, Calif.; Soon Joo Hwang and Issac Hwang from Chino Hills, Calif.; Jihyun Kim, from Guam; and Jaeyeong Choi, from Colton, Calif. All have been released from area hospitals. Fen, 20, graduated from Loma Linda Academy in 2014. She was studying music and pre-dentistry at PUC. On behalf of the entire campus community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, we express our deepest condolences to Fen’s family in Beijing, her host family the Saesims in Redlands, Calif., and her friends and fellow students. “Our campus community is saddened by the loss of our dear, sweet Fen Pan. Her love for life was contagious amongst her family and friends. Her beautiful smile, her ability to connect and make close, lifelong friends, and her genuine commitment to loved ones will always be a cherished memory,” says Lisa Bissell Paulson, vice...

On Thursday, March 10, PUC’s Colloquy Speaker Series featured no famous orators, renowned authors, or awe-inspiring filmmakers, but rather its own hardworking class of 2016. Seniors marched down the aisle at the beginning of the program, tassels swinging, in a “practice run” for the long-anticipated graduation on June 12. After all the participating seniors were seated, professor of religion Young-Chun Kim played a brilliant special music, “Etude-Caprice Op. 18, No. 4” by Henri Wieniawski. Following the performance, vice president for academic administration Nancy Lecourt rose to present the senior class, recognizing the number of students graduating with each major, as well as the number of students who will graduate cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. PUC President Dr. Heather J. Knight then introduced the Colloquy speaker chosen by the class of 2016: professor of communication Dr. Tammy McGuire, who was recognized as PUC’s Professor of the Year in 2011. Dr. McGuire’s message to the senior class focused on the importance of the “in-betweens” of life, and how to not fall prey to the deadly disease of “senioritis.” She said it’s easy to get bogged down in the long, dull stretches of life between day-to-day realities and the...

Pacific Union College hosted its 35th annual Career Day on Thursday, March 3. This highly attended annual event offered students a unique opportunity to connect with close to 50 working professionals, many of whom were PUC alumni, in various fields of interest ranging from U.S. Marshals to educators to professionals from companies such as Adventist Health, LinkedIn, TiVo, the Sacramento Kings, and more. The event began with a special Colloquy presentation by Dr. Loree K. Sutton, a PUC alumnus, distinguished retired Brigadier General, and the recently appointed commissioner of veteran’s affairs in New York City. Sutton addressed a full church imploring students to be their best self and to take every opportunity that comes their way. “The world needs our gifts. Keep your eyes open, we are transforming the narrative,” she said. “I challenge you to think of how to prepare yourselves to continue serving.” She also expressed how thankful she was for her education at PUC. “In preparing to come back and talk with you today, I was overcome with gratitude; gratitude for all that this place and the people who have been here and who are here and who will be in the years to come; all that...

Pacific Union College Athletics is excited to announce the signing of four new student athletes to the Pioneer family! Joining our Lady Pioneers will be CeCe Ewing (basketball), Brooke Sumner (basketball), Audrey Uyemura (volleyball), and Morgan Spencer (volleyball). CeCe Ewing, a shooting guard from Loma Linda Academy, was named First Team All-League three consecutive years, MVP her junior and senior seasons, and offensive MVP her sophomore season. “I am excited to be a part of a brand new team. I am also grateful to be at the same school as my big brother,” Ewing says. Graduating with high honors, Ewing plans to major in psychology at PUC. Brooke Sumner, a shooting guard, hails from Escondido Academy and La Sierra University. While playing varsity basketball in academy, she received First Team All-League both her junior and senior season. She was also named MVP three consecutive years, and was also Athlete of the Year her junior season. Sumner played softball, volleyball, and golf in academy as well. “I can’t wait to be pushed to my limit and make the PUC spirit stronger than ever,” she says. Sumner plans to study physical education and dental hygiene at PUC. Audrey Uyemura, a libero from...