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PUC Continues Its Mission To Serve With Love

Posted by Ally Romanes on May 8, 2024

For years, PUC has dedicated time during the school year and summer break to serve communities in other countries. Faculty and students have previously traveled to Kenya, Fiji, and Brazil while also taking medical mission trips to Indonesia, Cambodia, Tanzania, China, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic. Most recently, PUC's nursing and health science department sponsored an annual mission trip to Mana Island, Fiji. From March 21-April 2, 17 students joined Nursing Professor Sandy Ringer to earn public health hours and provide non-acute care to locals in Fiji. With five hundred people living on the remote island, many lack healthcare. This year, Ringer and her team also brought along dentists to provide oral care and support for physical health needs. In 2023, PUC took two mission trips—the first to Fiji from March 24-April 4 and the second to Kenya from June 19-28. Under the leadership of former PUC Missions Director Fabio Maia and co-directors Biology Professor Floyd Hayes and Ringer, they took a group of students and Nicolette Piaubert, a PUC nursing professor, to provide health care services in Fiji. In Kenya, PUC students and faculty provided education and care to Masai girls who were forced into child marriages...

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PUC Receives Million Dollar Grant to Expand Nursing Student Access

Posted by Sheann Brandon on May 6, 2024

For the second year in a row, Pacific Union College was awarded a grant from California’s Department of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI). This year totalling $1,050,000, the funding will support expanded training opportunities for nurses at both the Angwin campus and the expansion campuses, and ultimately combat the statewide nursing shortage while improving access to equitable health care."The PUC School of Nursing expresses its deep gratitude for the generous support received from HCAI and title VIII funding,” said Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences Kimberly Dunker. “Given the high cost and expenses involved in running nursing programs, we consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been granted this additional funding. It enables us to ensure the availability of necessary resources for expanding our program, including faculty, skills and lab materials, simulation resources, and faculty development. This grant will cover the direct costs associated with expanding our nursing program, thereby providing more opportunities for training."In March, HCAI awarded $27.4 million in grants to more than 30 registered nurse training programs, including PUC.PUC’s nursing department received the grant after a competitive evaluation process, with the grant program’s criteria prioritizing funding to residency programs that demonstrate success in graduation and NCLEX pass rates,...

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SERVE Team at PUC Aims to Promote Student Awareness and Education

Posted by SERVE on May 3, 2024

Thanks to a $300,000 grant from the US Department of Justice, PUC created a team called SERVE to promote education, awareness, and prevention around unsafe relationship dynamics. Applied for in 2020, only half of all grant applicants received the award that year—PUC being one of them. The Survivor Empowerment, Response to Violence, and Education team has accomplished a lot since its inception in 2022, including sponsoring student-focused activities centered on relevant awareness months and providing education on personal and relational safety and prevention."Applying for this grant and subsequently creating the SERVE team was optional for PUC," said SERVE Project Director Alexis Haylock. "Taking a more active approach to preventing unsafe relationship dynamics was a choice that leaders on campus made, and I'm certainly glad they did."Haylock and Project Supervisor Michael Jefferson lead SERVE with their team of 16 members: 13 individuals who work at PUC, a student member, and two representatives from community agencies—NEWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse Services, and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.Each member of SERVE is assigned to a smaller group within the team specific to their area of expertise or job description: victim services, student conduct, campus security, and prevention. They meet quarterly to discuss...

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PUC’s Spring Week of Worship Uplifts and Encourages Students

Posted by Ally Romanes on May 2, 2024

Pacific Union College held Week of Worship in the PUC Church from April 15-19. This school year’s theme, “All In,” continued to be the focus.Pastor Roger Hernandez spoke for this spring’s Week of Worship. He is one of seven pastors in his family, the Ministerial and Evangelism Director for the SDA Southern Union Conference, and has served in ministry for over 30 years. Before focusing on the message, Hernandez thanked the college for inviting him to speak and complimented the praise team. Sharing how honored he felt to be on campus, Hernandez mentioned he was already getting the full PUC experience by going to the gym, eating at the dining commons, and basking in the Angwin heat. Hernandez opened the week by discussing failures we go through in life—bringing up questions such as why we fail and how pridefulness can lead to downfall. Although life brings us failure, it’s about how we react to those obstacles. Hernandez brought up Philippians 3:12, which talks about being imperfect, not reaching our goals yet, but winning the prize of being called to Heaven. Throughout the week, Hernandez preached stories of Jacob, having a relationship with God, and how Jesus is the star and...

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Shining Bright: A PUC Student’s Journey to Excellence in Academics and Personal Development

Posted by Ally Romanes on April 26, 2024

There were a plethora of reasons why sophomore student Tiffany Do committed to Pacific Union College: the Christ-integrated education, serene campus filled with nature, closeness to home, and generous financial aid—to name a few. However, the most significant motivator in this decision stemmed from her campus visit before attendance. Do glimpsed an invaluable interactive learning experience through meeting with the friendly faculty and students within the science departments. Now, as a biochemistry major in the pre-medicine program, the biology department and faculty have greatly contributed to her academic life. "Studying at Pacific Union College has been a worthwhile investment toward my education and future," said Do. "The rigor of the classes contributes to my strong understanding of the sciences and the magnificent wonders of the human body. Additionally, the information-dense STEM lectures and long lab hours propels me to develop effective, efficient study methods necessary for medical school. Most importantly, the conversations with my professors centered on various scientific phenomenons—many of which unintentionally derive beyond what we are studying in the classroom—have been fascinating and greatly contributed to my academic enrichment."Dean of the School of Sciences and Associate Biology Professor Aimee Wyrick-Brownworth met Do in the first few weeks of...

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