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Pacific Union College’s Aviation Program has a proud history. In the half-century since our airstrip was carved from the mountainside, generations of pilots have honed their flying skills here, mission planes have been launched to distant fields, and our graduates have departed to serve as aviation professionals throughout the United States and around the world. Last school year, the aviation program embarked on an exciting new journey. Changes within the aviation industry meant it was time for a new direction. The program that had served so well in the past was due for a major overhaul. In consultation with the administration of Pacific Union College, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and industry experts, the aviation program embarked on an innovative three-phase plan to place PUC as an industry leader in aviation training.“It is an exciting time to be involved with the PUC aviation program,” expressed Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker, who serves along with Chief Flight Instructor Merilyn Chaffee and flight instructors Luke Butler, Daniel Navarro, Gabriel Navarro, and Anthony Sharobeem. “We believe our innovation may very well revolutionize the aviation training industry. Look for full-motion simulators, gliders, and high-tech training innovation to come in 10 years as a standard...

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...

From October 17 to 19, five students from the communication department at Pacific Union College attended the 2024 Society of Adventist Communicators Conference (SAC) near Chicago, Illinois. This trip was made possible by the support of generous donors.“Attending SAC as a professional myself was a great experience, and I saw some value in it, but nothing compares to bringing students and watching them network, connecting with students from other schools and industry professionals,” comments Tara Hargrove, professor of communication and sponsor of the trip. “I loved hearing them talk about how they ‘already learned about that in class;’ it was an eye-opening experience for them to see the real-world applications in the communication fields.” The conference included development opportunities for seasoned and new professionals and specific activities for college students studying communication. Thursday morning, students choose between three media tours: CBS and ABC affiliate television stations, InterVarsity Press, or Edelman Marketing. “Edelman was definitely a highlight of this trip for me,” says Jazlynn Hardy, a senior communication major who attended SAC. “During the Q&A, we had the chance to hear specialized professionals share their insights on working in a marketing firm, applying for internships, and what it took for them...

One day, Pacific Union College alum Jordan Wareham (2004) saw a raffle advertisement on Facebook for a 1968 Beechcraft Musketeer from the American Flight Museum in Topeka, Kansas. Thinking it was a scam, Wareham put his name in the raffle for fun and purchased six tickets, with proceeds going to the museum's aviation education.Time passed without word on the raffle until April, when Wareham was at Bowling Green State University in Ohio for his doctoral residency. He saw the museum would announce the raffle winner and watched the live drawing. When the announcer said his name—Wareham almost fell out of his chair.With 90 days to decide if he wanted the plane, Wareham and his wife determined this was not the time to operate a plane privately. They deeply felt this prize had been gifted to them for a greater purpose and knew they wanted to do something special.Wareham reached out to PUC Flight Director Nathan Tasker, who, at the time, was preparing to return to PUC. The aviation program needed a second primary training aircraft, and through a generous agreement, the Musketeer (N6066N) would be leased to PUC essentially for free. PUC Flight Instructor Luke Butler traveled to Kansas, inspected...

On September 23, Pacific Union College rang in the school year, welcoming back returning students. For new students, it was the start of an uncharted adventure they had long anticipated. PUC happily welcomed freshman students on campus for Fusion on Wednesday, September 18. Student Involvement Director Sharleen Bouit organized new student orientation with the help of Campus Chaplain Arturo Lopez, Director of Residential Life Gena Philpott, Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing & Communication Gene Edelbach, student life and enrollment staff, and faculty accomplishing all elements of the event. Bouit and her team arranged many activities for new students to enjoy and socialize, such as bowling, a resource hunt, a Fusion raffle, and making friendship bracelets. The friendship bracelets were a big hit as students had fun during the activity and joined groups, getting to know each other and bonding over a simple activity. They organized a food truck, hosted a movie night, and led vespers. “The freshman class seems super involved and willing to participate in events and activities, which makes for a super fun class,” shared Bouit.The fun continued as returning and transferring students moved in on Sunday, September 22, kicking off Week of Welcome. As school began the...

Pacific Union College continued to see an enrollment increase for the 2024-25 academic year, welcoming 1,000 students to its Angwin campus, education centers, and online programs—a rise from 930 last year.“This enrollment growth is a testament to our Christ-centered mission, our strong academic programs, and the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students,” PUC President Ralph Trecartin said. “Despite the challenges facing higher education, our steady growth reflects our commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of our students and the communities we serve.”Gene Edelbach, vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communication, attributes the consistent growth over the past five years to several key efforts across campus.PUC’s faculty, staff, and administration have focused on enhancing student retention by creating a welcoming, supportive environment that helps students feel at home.Over the past four years, new programs and innovative course delivery methods have also drawn approximately 300 students who might not have enrolled otherwise.One of the major growth areas this year has been the aviation program. In addition, PUC is highlighting the college’s strong allied health, pre-med, pre-dental, and engineering programs, as well as a new online Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program, to continue attracting new students. A more focused...

From October 3-5, Pacific Union College Preparatory School had 12 academies from across California on the campus of Pacific Union College for the annual volleyball tournament. Approximately 200 athletes and coaches attended from Glendale Adventist Academy, La Sierra Academy, Newbury Park Adventist Academy, Central Valley Christian Academy, Lodi Adventist Academy, Monterey Bay Academy, Mountain View Academy, Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy, Pine Hills Adventist Academy, Sacramento Adventist Academy, Kolbe Trinity Prep, and PUC Prep. PUC Campus Visit Coordinator Andrianna Massena organized the tournament, guaranteeing all guests were housed, fed in the café and gym, and could score some giveaway items. Others who helped were Tournament Director Hernan Granados, who arranged the gym and scoreboard workers and scouted potential athletes for next school year; PUC’s admissions and enrollment team; and PUC Prep Physical Education Teacher Matthew Lee, who ordered the game bracketing schedules and was the event MC. Massena also prepared social activities such as an ice cream sundae bar, hiking, and lawn games for the academies to enjoy and meet other students. PUC’s EMS Club also sold kettle corn during the championship game on Saturday night. Sacramento Adventist Academy won first place, with Glendale Adventist Academy coming in second. La Sierra...

Pacific Union College held its Week of Worship from October 7-11, with guest speaker Pastor Anil Kanda. He is the Youth and Young Adults Director for the Central California Conference and host of Hope at Night, a late night show that seeks to answer questions about God and life through interviews. Kanda was raised Hindu with a Seik background in Orange County by his parents, who immigrated from Punjab, India. As a young adult, he committed his life to the Lord after meeting a Seventh-day Adventist.Kanda titled his Week of Worship message "God's Passion." He talked about the passion God wants His people to have, the passion He gives, and His own passion—emphasizing no one is busier or more active than God while caring about each individual as if they are the only person He created. Kanda shared his belief that God communicates with His people by assuring them He sees them, understands their hearts, and knows them intimately. He encouraged the congregation to embrace this message during the Week of Worship.Before each message, PUC SA Religious Vice President Leila Beltran enthusiastically welcomed students, interacting with them on stage and getting them excited to worship. She was joined by a...