Pacific Union College was pleased to welcome two individuals whom they appointed as assistant deans for the men’s and women’s dorms last fall quarter. PUC Vice President of Student and Spiritual Life, Aimee Leukert, said they were “answers to prayers,” and were welcomed with open and loving arms by the school. Ever since they arrived, they have settled in nicely, not only living up to such high praise but going above and beyond for the students of their respective residence halls.PUC alumna Morgan Carpio filled the role of the women’s residence hall dean in Andre Hall. She graduated with a degree in biochemistry and became a dean at Rio Lindo Academy because she loved being a student dean at PUC. Six years later, Carpio is happy to serve in the very place where her passion began. The college was delighted to offer her the new dean position, given her experience as a dean, incredible work ethic, and care for students. Executive Director of Student & Spiritual Life Gena Philpott describes Carpio as “a woman of faith and steady strength who thrives on making sure her residence hall and students are taken care of and seamlessly fits with our team.”She has...

For years, various projects have been deeply considered by the administration at Pacific Union College. At the start of 2025, Vice President for Advancement Carlos Garcia, with the help of various departments, created the PUC Forward Campaign to raise funds for numerous renovations to highlight overall campus and student life, beautifying and improving the campus.Irwin Hall is one of two buildings on campus that house the most classes, serving departments such as business, communication, history, and more. Also, being one of PUC’s oldest buildings, its halls and stairs have needed remodeling. Garcia said that phase one of this renovation will focus on repainting the exterior and installing new windows, which have water damage. To complete this project, PUC needs to generate $410,000.Newton Hall is also a focus in this campaign, as it has been many years since any major remodels were done. To continue maintaining a comfortable dorm environment, Newton Hall needs to upgrade its restrooms and showers. PUC must raise $990,000 to create a better home-away-from-home for these students.Due to increased student interest, PUC has decided to expand its aviation program and enhance its department. They have also acquired a new aircraft, "Charlie," a technically advanced aircraft with a...

For 36 years, LeRoy Peterson taught, conducted, and performed at Pacific Union College as a professor of music before officially retiring in 2019. During those four decades, he was a very busy man, taking members of the orchestra to far-off places such as Norway, Russia, and Singapore, experiences that both he and the students will never forget. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Pacific Union College Orchestra, which he directed for 21 years, performing Grieg's Piano Concerto, one of many great performances Peterson has presented. The music department will never forget him for all the hard work he put into his deep passion for music and teaching throughout the years.Many have described Peterson as a warm, outgoing man, some even saying he was the kindest person they’ve ever met. Peterson has undoubtedly left a great mark on the music department of PUC and the students who had the privilege of being taught by him. “When I see students some years later who have graduated, and come back for alumni weekend, they tell me, ‘Hey, I really enjoyed your class,’ that makes me feel it's all worthwhile,” Peterson said. “Those are memories I will always keep with me.” Many...

The Emergency Management Program at Pacific Union College, tucked away in Fisher Hall, has been an important and well-known program. The number of times students have heard the school’s siren go off, as members of the EMP rush off to their cars for a drill, has been a constant, thrilling reminder of its existence. In previous years, the department has only offered an associate’s degree, but now things are shaking up for a new and brighter future. This coming school year, EMP will be offering a new online program with an A.S. to B.S. degree.Ever since EMP graduated its first baccalaureate class nearly a decade ago, they have been constantly fine-tuning its curriculum to make it both more relevant for today’s job market and to further the reach and effectiveness of its classes. Just this past academic year, three new courses were added to the program: Foundations of Homeland Security, Technology in Emergency Management, and Continuity Operations, all of which taught EMP majors valuable lessons and broadened their horizons on what emergency management could be, and different opportunities that might present themselves in their given field.This new online Bachelor’s degree is just the latest in this series of innovations and...

For decades, PUC’s Physics Department has cooperated with Walla Walla University’s School of Engineering by offering an engineering program at PUC with a clear pathway to transfer to WWU’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering program (BSE). That cooperation was recently formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding, providing a strong connection between the two institutions for the benefit of students.An Associate of Science degree will be available for PUC students, after which they will be able to transfer to WWU to continue their education and earn the BSE, splitting the four years of college between the two schools. The curriculum thus developed has been carefully tailored to meet the transfer requirements and prerequisites for admission to the BSE program. In addition, for eligibility purposes, some conditions need to be met.In addition to applying to WWU and completing the A.S. at PUC, students’ GPAs must meet the minimum of a 3.0. They must also meet all non-academic admissions criteria and consult with WWU academic advisors early in their program at PUC to ensure complete alignment of coursework. To help guide students through these conditions, WWU will be providing remote or in-person career counseling and academic advising to students, and as the need...

Every five years, the governing bodies of the Adventist Church come together to worship, choose new leaders, and vote on policies and procedures, all while seeking God’s guidance for the future. This year’s General Conference Session was no different. From July 3 to 12, the Conference convened in St. Louis, Missouri, and in attendance were many representatives of PUC, all of whom left their mark and were undeniably affected by what they experienced.The atmosphere was collegial, organized, and friendly at every turn, with many excited attendees who were happy to attend the meetings and visit the many booths that were set up. One such booth was our very own, manned by Enrollment Counselors Isabella Malan and Abraham Garrido, both of whom did their best to promote our beloved school to parents, grandparents, and students in attendance. “There was a lot of foot traffic to our booth, and some visited a few days in a row,” said Malan. Much of the foot traffic was a result of interest in the offered majors, and perhaps a campus visit in the future, though, of course, this was all aided by a constant supply of pens, stickers, and bags to give away.At the forefront...