51吃瓜网

From June 13 to 15, Pacific Union College happily celebrated the Class of 2025. Of the 276 graduates, 235 were from the nursing department, 11 from the psychology and social work department, nine from the business administration department, eight from the biology department, and six from the visual arts department. This year, there were 103 academic distinctions, seven more than last school year.

“I have a great sense of pride for the current graduating class,” said PUC President Ralph Trecartin. “Many of them have been here for four years, during which time I have been able to observe them from start to finish. There are strong student leaders among the graduates. Our graduating seniors are unique individuals with exceptional talents and will achieve new heights. From what I have seen, some students in this class have the highest levels of character development and have dedicated hearts for God. Wherever they go in life, the world will be a better place around them.”

The first program of graduation weekend was the social work consecration at Scales Chapel on Friday afternoon. That same afternoon, the Adventist College Abroad (ACA) and the student missions stole conferral ceremony that took place on the Irwin Lawn. PUC ACA Campus Coordinator and Professor of Communication and World Languages Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti and Campus Chaplain Arturo L贸pez led the brief ceremony. Trecartin, cabinet, and faculty members, alongside family and friends, watched the eight graduates receive their ACA stoles and two students receive their student mission stoles.

Most of the ACA graduates and student missionaries shared a few stories of their time abroad, reminiscing about their travels, services, and experiences. Students studied in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and Argentina, while missionaries served in Pohnpei.

On Friday night, the consecration service gathered graduates and their families at the PUC Church. Senior class executive vice president Dakota Hrabowy welcomed everyone, with some of his classmates leading in praise afterward, followed by class president Josue Hilario paying tribute to their families. Later in the program, he introduced Pastor Kevin Moreno, who had flown in from Green Bay, Wisconsin, to deliver the consecration address. To the graduates, he spoke about the importance of community, the need to maintain faith in God in the face of trials, and the invitation to make His word the foundation of their lives.

For Sabbath’s sermon, Pastor Laffit Cortes from Escondido Adventist Church preached about defying the odds and leading the change. To begin, he shared two photos of a car where a passenger window had the writing, “We did it! Seniors 2025”, while the rear had “12 YEARS LATER…” As he asked for the owner of the car, he celebrated that student and asked the congregation to join in applause. With that, he shared the annual statistics on students who drop out of college within the first year along with the reasons for dropping out. He asked the congregation again to applaud the graduates and their families who made it through college, saying, “You defied the odds through COVID, Zoom, and social distancing.”

Throughout his sermon, he mentioned that he had heard the graduating class “drips with talent and gifts” and was committed not only to academics, family, friends, and sports but also to their relationship with God. Calling out specific students, cheers burst out in praise, showcasing how much support this class has for one another. “Class of 2025, you created a community of family,” said Cortes. “As you continue your new journey, I need you to continue to defy the odds and lead the change.”

During Sabbath afternoon, the nursing department held its recognition service in the sanctuary, where Michaela Davis, nursing professional development director at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center, spoke, following the presentation of awards and pins to those receiving their ASN, BSN, and MSN degrees. Afterward, celebrations continued at the Dining Commons for the President’s Reception.

On Sunday morning, more family and friends traveled to PUC to witness their loved ones receive their diplomas. At Maxwell Commons, Trecartin welcomed everyone before introducing the commencement speaker and PUC’s new vice president for student and spiritual life, Aimee Leukert. With graduation falling on Father’s Day, Leukert’s message titled “Of Course” was inspired by her dad, who took opportunities with the response “of course,” which she also lives by.

Throughout her message, Leukert told the graduates to own their capacity and have the mindset and confidence that allows them to say, “Of course, I can do that,” to opportunities that will create even more possibilities for them to say yes. For this to happen, she says there are two pillars for them to lean on: be grateful and bold.

Many students told Leukert that God clearly wanted them to be at PUC. “When you remember to reflect on that journey and be grateful for the people and the experiences and the God that you has brought you here, I think it better positions you to be confident- to say yes, of course, to challenges, adventures, and opportunities that come your way,” she says. “Thank you, Jesus, for that–you provided then, you’re providing now.”

When it came to being bold, Leukert encouraged the graduates to recognize their capabilities and acknowledge their worth as children of God. With the difficulties in finding a job and many changes in the job market, Leukert reminds students that although these storms may come their way, she wants them to look back and say, “I am a PUC graduate. I am the storm.”

Hilario followed Leukert's powerful message, talking about coming to PUC from his home state of Wisconsin, having never been in California before. Although he did not know anyone when he arrived, it did not take long before he felt part of the PUC family. From joining the cross country team to the praise team to dedicating time to the visual arts department, Hilario said he found his place at PUC.

He goes to speak from Genesis 32 when Jacob wrestles with an angel all night until daybreak. With the determination Jacob had for wrestling the angel, Hilario told his classmates never to stop wrestling with their dreams. “My wish is that every single graduating senior here goes out into the world working hard, achieving greatness even in the little things,” he said. “Never stop wrestling no matter how hard it gets because before you know it, four years have passed, and you’re sitting here about to graduate.”

From the pandemic to online classes to meeting in person, this class had gone through a lot together. “If the past four years haven’t woken us up yet, now is the time,” said Hilario. “The time to pay attention, engage, and become the kind of people this world desperately needs. To love no matter the language barrier, the skin color, where you’re from, who you worship, and where you live.” With applause from his classmates, he tells them “to go out into the world and do something they’re too scared to try, uncertain to chase and fight for the change they want to see in their lives and world.”

As each graduate heard their name and received their diploma with cheers, applause, and flying tortillas in front of them, it was known that wherever they went, they would indeed go off into remarkable paths.

For Trecartin, it was a proud, nostalgic, and hopeful moment to see these students graduate, as they had spent years aiming for this milestone, with the campus community behind them, encouraging and supporting them every step of the way.

"These students have become very dear to our hearts," he said. "We have become professional mentors and friends and invested our hearts in their success. Now, it is with great anticipation that we will watch to see their life stories unfold. There will be joys! There will be sorrows!  I love to see the students march across the stage to shake my hand. Huge smiles, great joy.  I am immensely proud of our students. Yes, I even choked up a bit, thinking about how I would miss them and the brightness that they shared while they were here. They will take a bit of my heart with them, but I expect they will leave a bit of their heart here at PUC as well."