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Noah E. Paulin’s violin has never been silent for long. Nearly 60 years after his passing, Paulin’s beloved instrument—like his legacy—is a testament to music’s lasting power to connect generations in praise to Christ. The violin itself is beautiful and unique–a light golden brown with four strings. The top of the violin, known as the scroll, is carved into the likeness of German composer Felix Mendelssohn. While lovingly maintained, the violin bears the marks of life well-played.A Life of Music and MinistryThere’s no official record of when Paulin acquired the violin, but his own musical journey began long before he became known as the “Patriarch of Howell Mountain.”Paulin nurtured his passion for music at Findlay College from 1898-1901 before touring the country for two years with the Henry Minstrels. In 1905, he moved to Santa Barbara, taking graduate classes and establishing a well-known music studio, where he shared his love of music for nine years. His life took a spiritual turn in 1909 after attending evangelistic meetings by H.M.S. Richards, where he was inspired to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church. From then on, his violin became a tool of ministry, played at camp meetings, church gatherings, and more.In 1914, then...

Theology department Chair, Professor, and published author Jim Wibberding is adding to his literary collection a new book, Walking with the Pioneers: The Captivating Story of West Coast Adventism. The book explores traditional Adventist beliefs as they enmeshed and clashed with the landscape and culture of 1800s California. Wibberding shares the story of “the second founding of Adventism”—a term coined by his wife, PUC History Professor Laura Wibberding—in the “restless land of the Gold Rush;” a lesser-known story than Adventism’s first institutional center at Battle Creek, Michigan. “The book tells stories of how something Ellen White dubbed ‘California liberality’ and what one critic called ‘Western informality’ stirred changes that were huge gifts to Adventism,” Wibberding shared. “These include innovating worship music in 1877, the 1888 message of righteousness by faith, the first missionary ship, a cadre of women in ministry, the first Black person ordained to Adventist ministry, the first Hispanic Adventist pastor in the U.S., a medical empire, and plenty more.”Wibberding’s inspiration to document the perspective on this region’s Adventist legacy began because he lives and serves on the West Coast, but shifted into a deeper pursuit as he sifted through dusty archives. “West Coast Adventism is unique,” he...

Pacific Union College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program has again demonstrated its excellence, earning full accreditation and 100% compliance from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) through 2033—the maximum length of time between evaluations.ACEN—which evaluates and accredits nursing education programs based on quality and excellence standards—conducted a thorough, three-day review of PUC’s RN-BSN program the week of March 10. The scheduled visit was the culmination of a year-and-a-half of preparation by the department’s faculty and leadership, spearheaded by Sandra Ringer, director of the RN- BSN program, and Kimberly Dunker, dean of Nursing, Health Science, EMS & Global Health.Dunker emphasized the role of teamwork in achieving these outstanding results. “We could not have done this without the RN to BSN team. This was a true collaboration, with faculty contributing to every part of the process. It’s all about shared governance and having input together. You cannot achieve 100% compliance without having a team like we had—they just rocked it.”ACEN accreditation includes an in-depth review of five key standards, including administrative leadership and resources, faculty qualifications, student support services, curriculum quality, and the program’s effectiveness in preparing graduates for the workforce.In addition to meeting rigorous academic quality standards,...

What began as a promising career in the music industry—complete with a pop-soul album, an international tour, and the pursuit of fame—took a dramatic turn when Tad Worku felt a deeper calling. Now, with a thriving career that blends healthcare, leadership, and music, Tad’s pursuit lies in spreading hope and healing. Tad, a Pacific Union College alum, graduated with a business degree in 2008. “I really enjoyed PUC—all the great friendships forged there,” he shared. “I loved studying business and had a really good experience the first time around.” However, Tad’s true passion was for music. He spent the next several years pursuing a career in the industry, where he thrived, securing a tour spanning locations worldwide and nearly releasing an album. But Tad found himself searching for something more. That search led him back to PUC in 2012 in pursuit of a different career path. He graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. “It was a very intentional decision to come back to school,” he explained. “I returned my tour funding and completely stepped away from the music industry. I asked myself, ‘What’s something I can do where my hands are directly connected to purpose?’ That’s...

Pacific Union College’s Theology and Education departments are witnessing a marked increase in enrollment, reflecting a growing student interest in these fields and the college’s commitment to academic excellence and hands-on experience. This quarter, the Theology department welcomed seven new students, bringing their enrollment to 18 compared to last year’s 11. Similarly, the Education department has experienced a surge, with their total program enrollment reaching nearly 60. A Trend of GrowthBoth departments’ chairs expressed excitement and positivity for the rising enrollment numbers. Theology Professor and Department Chair Jim Wibberding explained if this trend continues, the Theology department could easily have 25 students in two years. For the Education department, the number of students in their Intro to Teaching class doubled this quarter alone versus their typical enrollment, with 17 new teacher candidates joining the class. Education Professor and Department Chair Dr. Jean Buller said the spike will continue with even more freshmen enrolled in the upcoming Winter quarter. Contributing FactorsBuller and Wibberding attribute similar factors to the growth of both the Theology and Education departments: a growing need in the fields, the high caliber of professors and academics at PUC, hands-on experience with major assignments, and the availability of scholarships...

Pacific Union College selected 17 incoming freshmen as this year’s recipients of the prestigious Maxwell Scholarship, the second-largest group of students awarded since the scholarship's inception in 2009.“We are proud to offer so many high-quality students the opportunity for a quality, Christ-focused education at PUC,” said Gene Edelbach, vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communication. “We look forward to seeing where their next four years on our campus take them.”Students who receive the Maxwell Scholarship exemplify outstanding academic achievement, a marked commitment to Christian service, and robust leadership experience.Additionally, applicants must meet GPA and ACT or SAT requirements. Maxwell Scholars receive $36,150 annually, renewable for three years with a 3.5 GPA and a potential 4th year under qualifying conditions.The 2024 Maxwell Scholars include students from California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Mexico, and the Philippines:Marilyn DoDavid Hernandez RodriguezAnrianne PonceCecile Angela AbellanaByul HanKeala TaburaElena BlumRiley RamirezDanielle MuchoDiego MarianoSalome TemboMadison GlockJacob CapinaMakenna TutthillGabriel Lopez IIEthan John SimIsabela VerduzcoThe Maxwell Scholar Program honors PUC’s late president and first lady, Dr. Malcolm and Eileen Maxwell, and their dedication to Seventh-day Adventist education. Maxwell was the first alum to serve as president of PUC, with the longest tenure at 18 years.Each year, PUC awards millions to support...

Through valuable advice and personal stories from those who’ve walked the path before them, the School of Science’s Alumni Seminar Series is helping Pacific Union College students navigate their academic journey and inspire their future career paths. The seminar series was the brainchild of Aimee Wyrick, dean of the School of Sciences and associate professor in the Department of Biology. She explained that the inspiration behind inviting PUC alumni to speak to current students included the desire to create connections and engage with seasoned perspectives. “We wanted to give our current students an idea of what PUC alumni are doing and the great diversity of paths people take once they leave our college,” Wyrick said. “The alumni who participate can identify with what current students experience and can provide encouragement and perspective. The alumni series has expanded our community beyond the campus.” Initially, the seminar series was a biology department initiative but widened to the basic sciences, including chemistry, math, and physics. Wyrick hopes to include presentations from psychology and social work in the future.Now, two years after its inception, the seminar series has taken place four times per quarter. Twenty-seven alumni have virtually or in-person shared their experiences, ranging...

Qualified Pacific Union College students may now be guaranteed admission to Andrews University’s (AU) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program through the recently signed Guaranteed Admission Agreement.Effective October 1, this agreement ensures at least two PUC pre-physical therapy students will be accepted into AU’s DPT program annually. To support the partnership with AU, PUC has developed a robust curriculum meeting the admission requirements to the DPT program, including specific biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, and psychology classes. “The agreement gives PUC students a competitive advantage in that they have clear expectations and receive personal guidance and help to meet those expectations,” says Aimee Wyrick, dean of the School of Sciences. Discussions surrounding the agreement began in 2023.“As we talked more and I learned about the various allied health programs, it became clear that partnering with their School of Allied Health would be a fabulous collaboration for both institutions,” she explains. “Pre-PT students at PUC with an interest in the Andrews DPT program will be advised by a PUC faculty and connected with the Andrews advising team.”Interested PUC students must meet specific criteria, including attending prerequisite classes, having a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.6, and participating in a pre-admission interview with AU....

Over the decades, Pacific Union College has endeavored to offer an education that empowers and prepares students to make an undeniable, Christ-like impact on the world around them, wherever they may go upon leaving Howell Mountain. Countless students-turned-alumni are shining examples of that spirit of service—one of those alums being Dr. Richard Chinnock.Chinnock, ’78, was recently honored in April with the 2024 Shirley N. Pettis Award by Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH). The award recognized his work as a devoted pediatrician with more than 30 years of service at the hospital, impacting thousands of lives in the Inland Empire and far beyond. This isn’t the first time Chinnock has been recognized for his incredible care. He also received the Outstanding Clinician Award from LLUCH in 2019 and is a Healing Hands Honoree. Chinnock, who grew up in the Loma Linda and Redlands area, says he followed his then-girlfriend, now wife of 47 years—Ruthie (Wagner) Chinnock, ’78—to PUC. As the only one out of five siblings to attend his parents’ alma mater, Chinnock says his parents were thrilled. He ultimately had a great experience, meeting some of his best friends on the third floor of Grainger Hall, working as a...

The Birding Bonanza and Alumni Retreat welcomed bird enthusiasts and Pacific Union College alumni to the Albion Field Station from August 22-25 for a weekend of worship and activities focused on coastal birds, biology, and the beauty of God's natural world. Attendees were given a flexible schedule of activities for the weekend, including a pelagic bird tour, multiple worships and meals together, a birding presentation, an excursion along the coast to spot bird species, a natural history hike, area outings, and much more.PUC President Ralph Trecartin said the weekend was filled with fun, camaraderie and adventure. “I loved adding some new species to my life list and catching up with old friends, both human and avian,” he said. “All this in a beautiful setting with people that love the Lord and the opportunity to worship Him together.”DeAnna Cordis, director of alumni relations and stewardship, explained the weekend was a combined effort between the School of Sciences, Alumni Department, Dr. Trecartin, Marketing and Communication, and Albion. She said the weekend was a success and credited Trecartin for the idea of having birding as the retreat's emphasis."It went well!" Cordis said. "Dr. Trecartin gave our opening night worship, Biology Professor Floyd Hayes...