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In your opinion, what are the best things about Pacific Union College?The scenery. It is remote, but not too remote. We are away from the city, and I like to be away from the city sometimes. I can see God's beautiful handiwork in all the nature around. I also like the people up here. The teachers are good. Everything! I like the whole school.Who is your favorite teacher?I have more than one favorite teacher. I like Professor Greg King. He has a way of coming in and talking about family experiences. It is like a personal relationship--which is important to students. I really like John McVay, because he's such a learned and brilliant scholar. Myron Widmer has a lot of experience in real-life ministry. This has given him a lot of wisdom, and I admire him for that. I enjoy Angel Hernandez's thought-provoking lectures. I also admire Keith Francis' wide spectrum of knowledge, in everything from history to entertainment.Do you find most of the PUC teachers to be helpful?Definitely. If you are having a problem in class, the teachers will notify you. Most teachers are concerned for their students. My teachers take into consideration my academic life and try to...

They have been "kaptivating" audiences for more than five years with their unique blend of sacred and contemporary Christian music. Sophomores Kathy Caraig, Kristy Caraig, and Amrita Rai are now learning how to use their talents on a larger scale.Kathy, Kristy, and Amrita, who have been friends since the second grade, started singing together "just for fun" as freshmen at Glendale Adventist Academy. "It was more of a hobby, something we loved doing," Kathy said.All three are members of the Eagle Rock Seventh-day Adventist church, where they gave their first performance for the church's renovated sanctuary dedication service in 1992.Eagle Rock Pastor Jim Pedersen said he was pleased when Kathy, Kristy, and Amrita started singing together. "I was pleasantly surprised that we had such talent here," said Pedersen. "They are very spiritually committed and are very good friends, too."After graduating from GAA in 1995, Kathy, Kristy, and Amrita brought their talents to PUC where they were soon dubbed "PUC's Freshman Trio."Actually, their real name is "Kaptivate," and their focus has gradually evolved from hobby to mission. "God has opened the door for us to proclaim His word through music," Amrita said. "We've accepted and we plan to make a difference."This...

Intensity filled the crowd as the Pacific Union College men's basketball team grasped a 77-76 home court win against the CSU Cal Maritime Keelhaulers on Saturday night, Feb. 8.The Pioneers and the Keelhaulers were neck-to-neck the entire match, and were tied 29-29 with 3:02 left in the first half. Pioneer guard Mario Perez banked a three-pointer to bring the Pioneers up 36-31. By the end of the half, PUC was leading 38-34.The second half brought more excitement to the court as Pioneer forward Bryan Patterson executed a three-point play. Perez followed with two three-pointers in a row. Pioneer forward Brett Graves got in on the action with another three-pointer which brought PUC up 52-40 and caused a Keelhauler time-out.With 9:58 left in the second half, Pioneer forward Rob Adams brought the crowd to their feet with a tip-in dunk off of a missed free throw by Perez. The Keelhaulers answered with three consecutive three-pointers from forward Mike Walker which gave them a 61-59 lead.Pioneer forward Matt Hickman got fouled and made both of his free throws, bringing PUC a 77-73 lead with :10 left in the game. The Keelhaulers came back with a three-pointer by Walker with :03 left ....

The Pacific Union College men's Pioneer basketball team faced top ranked Bethany College at their last home game on Wednesday night, Feb. 19. The Pioneers played their best game of the season, defeating the Bethany Bruins in overtime 87-83.Bethany (8-2) came into the game expecting an easy victory against the Pioneers (2-8). However, the Pioneers won the tip-off and took control of the game from the start, with a three-pointer by guard Mario Perez.PUC guard Brady Bock hit another three-pointer to give the Pioneers a 10-4 lead with 16:11 left in the half. Bock's three-pointer started PUC on a 10-0 run that was capped by a dunk by forward Brett Graves.Bethany head coach and former Los Angeles Lakers player, John Block, called a time-out to regroup his team. When play resumed, Bethany started a half-court press against the Pioneers, and things no longer looked so bleak for Bethany. However, the Pioneers retain their lead throughout the entire first half, 37-31.In the second half, Bethany hit a three-pointer to make the score 40-43, then scored on a steal to pull within one.With 15:00 left in the game, Bethany took the lead for the first time in the game, 44-43.With 5:00 left...

The Pacific Union College Men's Pioneer basketball team lost 83-92 to the Dominican College Penguins on Sunday night, Jan. 12, at PUC's Pacific Auditorium.The Pioneers got off to a slow 0-5 start, and never took the lead during the game. Pioneer head coach Mike Hellie called a timeout with PUC trailing 10-16.The Pioneers tied the Penguins at 26-26, but PUC could not gain control and called another timeout at 29-35.Pioneer junior forward Rob Adams came back with a slam dunk just before half time, with Dominican leading 50-45.The Pioneers kept the game close in the second half, starting with a three point play by freshman forward Bryan Patterson. Adams came back again with another dunk, and junior guard Brett Graves' three-pointer tied the score again at 58-58.The Penguins came back with a nine-point streak, forcing PUC to take a timeout at 60-69.The Penguins held on to the lead at 85-80 with 1:35 minutes remaining in the game. Although Pioneers held the crowd's attention throughout the game, the seconds ticked away and the final score was in favor of Dominican College 92-83.The Pioneers were led by Brett Graves with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Junior center Bryan Banfield followed with 20...

The Pacific Union College Men's Pioneer basketball team won 82-66 against the San Jose Christian College Warriors last Tuesday night, Jan. 21, at PUC's Pacific Auditorium.It was the first time in seven years that Pacific Union College has defeated San Jose Christian College.The Pioneers won the tip-off and proceeded with a strong first half, causing the Warriors to take a timeout with PUC ahead 7-0. When play resumed, the Pioneers continued their lead with a 15-2 run. Thanks to solid defense and quick thinking, the Pioneers stole the ball 15 times, a season record.To seal their first-half mastery, Pioneer guard Brett Graves hit a three pointer at the buzzer to make the half-time score 44-25."We've learned how to stay in the game through the first half; now we just need to concentrate on the second half," said Graves, who had 13 first-half points.In the second half, the Pioneers lacked the defensive prowess they had in the first half, allowing Warrior forward Jeff Stapelton to take several open shots.With 5:24 left in the game, the Warriors pulled within nine points. That would be as close as they would come, as forward Mark Ermshar came off the bench, providing seven rebounds and...

The Pacific Union College men's basketball team lost 72-78 to Menlo College, an NCAA division III team, at Pacific Auditorium on Sunday, Jan. 26.The Pioneers started out in scripted fashion, with a turnover, and Menlo guard Vince Encelan scored eight points in two minutes in what started to look like a rout of PUC. But with 11:59 remaining in the half, the Pioneers went on a 6-0 run to come within two points, 16-18, and force a Menlo time-out.With 5:05 left in the half, Pioneer center Bryan Banfield was fouled while taking a shot. Banfield hit both free throws to bring the score within one, 28-29.However, as a result of two missed dunks and several turnovers at key moments, Menlo was able to run the score to 41-32 by the end of the first half.With 6:02 left in the game, Pioneer forward Bryan Patterson was fouled on the drive. Although Patterson missed his free throw, forward Matt Hickman grabbed the rebound and tipped it in to make the score 61-68.Bryan Banfield led the Pioneers with 22 points and six rebounds. Pioneer guard Brett Graves chipped in 18 points and 10 rebounds. Menlo College guard Vince Encelan led all scorers with...

Pacific Union College's Dramatic Arts Society is presenting The Miracle Worker, a play about the education of Helen Keller, at 8 p.m. on March 5, 6, and 8, and 4 p.m. on March 9, at PUC Preparatory School. Admission is $5 for the evening performances, and $4 for the afternoon matinee.Written by William Gibson, The Miracle Worker is a dramatic portrayal of the rescue of Helen Keller by her teacher Annie Sullivan. Keller, blind and deaf, was a spoiled, violent, and isolated six year-old. Annie Sullivan was able to weather her tantrums and help her learn to communicate. "The main story is how Annie Sullivan was able to reach into Helen's mind and begin to teach her," said Andrea Griggs, sponsor of the Dramatic Arts Society....

When first-year teachers begin teaching, they discover they are responsible not only for themselves but also for a whole classroom's academic, social, and spiritual development. Jean Buller, chair of the education department at Pacific Union College, describes this first year's experience as a "culture shock".Pacific Union College's education department is dedicated to supporting their new teachers even after they graduate. They plan events such as the February experience, at which all first-year teachers come back to Pacific Union College to meet and share their experiences with their professors and fellow first-year teachers.The education department professors also make it a point to call or write to their first-year teachers, encourage them, and give helpful hints on classroom survival.This year the education professors decided to add another element to the support system--prayer.The education department now begins their faculty meetings by praying for two new teachers, two student teachers, and several current education students that are completing their courses. Buller said, "We pray for these individuals during our faculty meeting as well as in our personal devotion time."This idea has also blossomed into a colorful prayer board displayed in the department's foyer. The board lists the names and schools of the teachers and...

Feeling the need for prayer support as they face the challenges of college life, a number of Pacific Union College students and faculty have formed an online prayer network."We needed an online prayer chain to bring people together so that they could pray for problems and individual situations on campus," said Hans Smith, a sophomore media technology major. Smith started the prayer network early autumn quarter along with some friends.The prayer network includes about 20 men and women, including three faculty and staff. While all members of the prayer network are able to e-mail prayer requests to each other, they generally pass their requests on to Smith, who forwards them to everybody on the list, deleting names on sensitive requests to ensure privacy.The network members have already seen some remarkable answers to their prayers. Early autumn quarter, Smith asked the network to pray for his financial situation, which he feared would force him to leave Pacific Union College. He soon found out about two loan options that enabled him to stay in school. Just before Thanksgiving vacation, the network prayed for a person who was suffering from recurring bouts of depression. "We prayed intensely for this person," said Smith. "Even...