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PUC’s Online Campus: Delivering High-Quality Education in a Digital World
By Ally Romanes on August 28, 2025
Pacific Union College has long recognized the value of online education in expanding access and flexibility for students while maintaining academic excellence. Building on this foundation, the college recently pursued two grants from the Archie Tonge Education Foundation to strengthen its online offerings further. Because of these funds, PUC was able to create the Online Campus to support the BSN, MBA, MEd, MSN, and MA in Communication programs.Since 2021, two teams have successfully secured funding that enabled key enhancements: upgraded instructional technology, standardized syllabi across courses, and over 600 hours of faculty development focused on effective online teaching. These efforts also supported the creation of quality assurance processes designed to uphold and continually improve PUC’s academic standards in the digital learning environment.To foster sustainable growth for the college and reach students off-campus and working professionals, this program will meet their needs by delivering high-quality education that reflects PUC’s Christ-centered values. To ensure lifelong learning success, orientation resources will help students start strong and confidently navigate their learning experience. This online resource supports the design of all the college’s courses with accessibility, academic rigor, and Adventist values in mind, ensuring that students receive a personalized, engaging, and transformative education.Leading this project...
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PUC’s Biology Department Serves Thousands in Sri Lanka
By Ally Romanes on August 27, 2025
From July 7 to 12, Pacific Union College Biology Professors Backil Sung, Aimee Wyrick, and Floyd Hayes, along with 10 of their students, served in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Also on the mission trip were volunteers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong. All 110 of them provided medical and dental services, offered counseling, reinstalled electrical power lines, addressed financial needs, and hosted Vacation Bible School.Their team also distributed 3,000 pairs of reading glasses, visited orphanages, cooked meals, conducted health screenings, and provided transportation and food to patients from nearby communities who traveled up to 100 miles outside Kandy. Many of these patients worked in tea gardens and were paid only $2 a day, which they could not afford to spend on lunch or bus tickets.Sung helped plan this mission trip with the help of his non-profit, All to Heaven, which pledged $25k to renovate the operating room at Lakeside Adventist Hospital in Kandy and $20k to improve the boys' dormitory in Lakpahana Adventist College. He also partnered with their hospital, college, and several organizations, including Together with Seoul SDA Hospital, Jiwon Medical Company, Sahmyook Health University, Ceylon Mission of SDAs, Adventist International Institute...
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Recovering Crucial Stories: PUC Students Publish Book on Women Who Shaped Adventism
By Ally Romanes on August 5, 2025
After Jim Wibberding, chair and professor of the theology department at Pacific Union College, discovered over 50 names of women who significantly shaped the faith and mission of Adventism, he created the "Women in Adventist History" course in 2022 to share the stories of underrepresented women in the church.Some of these women were Jennie Ireland, whose biography was nowhere to be found but slightly mentioned in someone else's biography as the woman who planted the first Black Adventist church on the West Coast, and Sarah Peck, who appeared as one of Ellen White's literary assistants but also had more to her story as a notable role in shaping Adventist education worldwide. Wibberding aimed to put a spotlight on those who were ignored and unknown, filling these historical gaps in the storytelling of the women who have made the Adventist church known today at PUC and beyond.During spring quarter of 2023, 19 students from Wibberding's class wrote a book titled Women of the West: Twenty Who Shaped Adventism, which was released this past March. The inspiration behind this book also stemmed from their research and essays, which uncovered more stories of the crucial contributions of women whose experiences had been overlooked...
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PUC Commemorates the Class of 2025
By Ally Romanes on July 2, 2025
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...
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21st Annual Diogenes Film Festival Praises Students & Honors Tim de la Torre
By Ally Romanes on June 27, 2025
On Thursday, May 29, the Visual Arts Department at Pacific Union College hosted its 21st annual Diogenes Film Festival at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena. With 130 attendees, the festival showcased 20 films from the school year and featured some movies from the previous year.PUC’s Diogenes Film Festival greatly benefits students, providing them with an outlet to share their creativity with a broader audience. Although their films are not made specifically for the festival, seeing them on a big theatre screen gives them a sense of pride in all their work and motivates them to continue doing their best.“Another great aspect is the sense of community that it builds, not only within our department but with our entire school and the outer community,” said Nephtali Marin, PUC lecturer of visual arts, referring to the film festival. “Our films span outside of our spaces, whether it be filming in other departments, the outer community, or using friends as actors. Diogenes allows us to come together and see everyone’s contributions and hard work.”This year, Marin and Professor Melissa Henry Pratt co-hosted, sitting alongside Professor Tim de la Torre as the judges. With three award categories, freshman Jacob Capiña received the Filmmaker...
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PUC on Broadway Shines for the Third Year
By Ally Romanes on June 23, 2025
On Sunday, May 11, Pacific Union College students from all majors and departments performed PUC on Broadway for the third year in a row. Alongside students from PUC Prep, they performed songs from various musicals and movies for the community to enjoy in the newly remodeled Paulin Hall Auditorium.The students chose songs from musicals they liked and wanted to see performed live. This year's songs were from the musicals The Great Gatsby, Hercules, Pippin, The Wizard of Oz, Anastasia, The Lightning Thief, and the stage production of Beauty and the Beast. They also performed selected songs from the movies Frozen and Tick, Tick... Boom! Based on the audience response, the majority enjoyed PUC’s adaptation of “Therapy” from Tick, Tick... Boom!Milton Perez, a senior voice performance major, was one of the directors of PUC on Broadway this year. After being a part of the last two shows, the past directors asked him to run the production. With a desire to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work, Perez was inspired to direct and accepted the role.He and his co-director, Jalexis Herman, a freshman liberal studies major, began production at the start of this school year to research songs. They brought along freshman...
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PUC’s First Global Health Student Graduates and Leaves Impactful Mark
By Ally Romanes on June 18, 2025
The global health department at Pacific Union College is proud to share that senior Areli Castro will be their program's first graduate. From Napa, CA, Castro decided to attend PUC after seeing the value of its close-knit, supportive community. With a love for traveling and helping others, she enrolled in global health as the perfect opportunity to combine both passions in a meaningful way.In March, three professors and 13 students from PUC partnered with Maranatha to serve in Pucallpa, Peru. Castro was one of those students, as she always wanted to go on a mission trip but never had the opportunity. With the help of Global Health Director Nancy Jacobo in planning the trip, Castro and Jacobo discussed incorporating a medical component into the trip as part of Castro’s capstone project. With Jacobo’s approval, Castro was able to complete her project in another country–something she never expected.For her capstone course and senior project, Castro led the development and coordination of the medical aspects of the mission trip. She successfully organized and led her team, collaborating with AMOR Project, led by Dr. Guillermo Gow-Lee, to fundraise and implement medical outreach programs. Castro also coordinated and planned logistics, securing sponsorships from two...
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PUC’s Flight Center & Angwin DART Air Expo: Sharing the Joy of Aviation
By Ally Romanes on June 17, 2025
On Sunday, May 4, the Pacific Union College Flight Center and Angwin Disaster Airlift Response Team (DART) welcomed 600 visitors to their Air Expo at the Angwin Virgil O. Parrett Field. In collaboration, they showcased the world of aviation with the help of local vendors, pilots, and humanitarian aviation organizations.PUC aviation students played a significant role at the Air Expo, selling tickets and pancakes and assisting people to and from the event in golf carts. They also helped operate two flight simulators and organized plane rides as two event activities. The plane rides were so popular that they were already booked for the whole day during the first hour of the event. To increase availability next year, the Flight Center aims to have more airplanes available for rides.Along with DART, the Angwin Fire Department and Angel One Mission Aviation had booths to inform and connect with the community, with some campus clubs from PUC also participating in the Air Expo.In the middle of the event, the string ensemble from PUC Elementary School performed several airplane-themed musical items. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also sent a representative to present two prestigious awards to Mike Terhune of Mike’s Aero, a maintenance shop...
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PUC’s STEM Scholars Program: A Community Beyond Campus
By Ally Romanes on June 13, 2025
Last year, Pacific Union College launched a $5,000 STEM Scholarship to support students in the School of Sciences. This renewable scholarship is available and awarded to select incoming students who commit to science majors and maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. This year, seven outstanding students received the scholarship, demonstrating collaboration, teamwork, and a close-knit support system.“The current STEM scholars have impressed me not only with their academic excellence and diversity of interests but also with their intellectual curiosity,” said Christian Von Pohle, assistant professor of behavioral science. “They are always asking insightful questions in and outside of class. They also demonstrate a strong desire to deepen their understanding beyond the curriculum.”For academic support, each scholar pairs with an upperclassman mentor who guides them through their classes. Alongside faculty advisors, scholars receive advice about their research and insight into different internship opportunities that lead to their career goals.To facilitate the exploration of various career paths, the School of Sciences started on-campus workshops led by PUC alumni and guest speakers who work in STEM-related fields. These workshops have greatly benefited the students as they hear inspiring stories from real-world careers.“Our STEM scholars have provided positive feedback as to the value of...
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PUC Celebrates the Paulin Recital Hall Grand Reopening
By Ally Romanes on June 11, 2025
On Sunday, February 2, Pacific Union College held a grand reopening of the Paulin Recital Hall to celebrate the completion of the renovation. The event was open to the public and featured performances from students, instructors, faculty, and community members.PUC President Ralph Trecartin welcomed everyone and praised the recital hall's new appearance, including the new colored walls and carpeting, updated chairs, and advanced sound system. He also took the time to introduce PUC alum and new Vice President of Alumni and Advancement Carlos Garcia, who shared a few words about happily being back at PUC and making it the best college it can be.Going into the program, Manny Scrofani, a fundraising committee member, invited Angwin Ambulance Directors Brad Setterlund and Quentin White on stage to thank them for their organization's generous donations to the Paulin Recital Hall. He also told the audience to check their seats for engraved names to see who else donated chairs and announced that others could have their names included if interested. Scrofani appreciatively thanked donors for all the wonderful donations the committee and advancement office received.The celebration was enhanced by special performances by PUC’s string sextet Mosaic, Vox Pro Musica, the Eloquence Ensemble, and solo...
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