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PUC Welcomes New VP of Alumni & Advancement

Posted by Staff Writer on January 28, 2025

Pacific Union College is pleased to announce the appointment of Carlos Garcia as the new Vice President of Alumni and Advancement. In this role, he will provide leadership, vision, and direction for alumni relations while creating and leading development activities for sustained institutional growth.“We are extremely pleased to welcome Carlos to our campus and into his new role,” said PUC President Ralph Trecartin. “Since his first interview, we've been very impressed with his skill set, leadership background, and compatibility with the values of PUC. I believe that in addition to providing great leadership in his division, he will make significant and positive contributions to the administrative team.”Garcia returns to his alma mater with more than two decades of strong leadership experience, having directed team decision-making, leadership organization and planning, motivation and in-person training, and conflict resolution. He previously served as the lead pastor in Santa Maria, Modesto, and Los Banos, California, and Provo, Utah. He led his congregations through pastoral care, provided department management and oversight, conducted lay and leadership training, and supported church growth in all phases. Before joining the ministry, Garcia was a pharmaceutical sales leader in Chicago, Illinois. In this role, he facilitated sales to regional medical...

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PUC Alumni Jarrod Denton Moves Architecture Firm to Napa

Posted by Ally Romanes on January 7, 2025

Jarrod Denton, a 1996 PUC graduate, is an architect, partner, and founder at Signum Architecture, LLP. He and his business partner Juancarlos Fernandez launched their firm in St. Helena in 2011 and relocated to Napa in 2023. When they founded the firm, they chose the name “Signum”—a Latin term for design—to reflect the center point of the firm and represent their unique studio environment. Signum looks at architecture from a holistic point of view. With a diverse group of talented workers, they collaborate with artists, offering a perspective beyond traditional architecture and are knowledgeable in low-carbon construction. From caves to boutique hospitality and restaurants, Denton gravitates towards diverse architectural styles, especially if the project is elusive, requires a challenging creative solution, and is reusable to bring it to life. “I love the process—coming up with a design concept, not falling in love with the first solution, nurturing the design along, distilling the solution down to the essence, and ultimately walking through a built space,” he shared. When all is complete, projects designed by Denton and his team feel more rewarding because they prioritize their client and the environment. For Denton, the joys of being an architect are using the transformative...

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PUC’s Education and Theology Departments See Exciting Student Growth for Fall Quarter

Posted by Sheann Brandon on December 19, 2024

Pacific Union College’s Theology and Education departments are witnessing a marked increase in enrollment, reflecting a growing student interest in these fields and the college’s commitment to academic excellence and hands-on experience. This quarter, the Theology department welcomed seven new students, bringing their enrollment to 18 compared to last year’s 11. Similarly, the Education department has experienced a surge, with their total program enrollment reaching nearly 60. A Trend of GrowthBoth departments’ chairs expressed excitement and positivity for the rising enrollment numbers. Theology Professor and Department Chair Jim Wibberding explained if this trend continues, the Theology department could easily have 25 students in two years. For the Education department, the number of students in their Intro to Teaching class doubled this quarter alone versus their typical enrollment, with 17 new teacher candidates joining the class. Education Professor and Department Chair Dr. Jean Buller said the spike will continue with even more freshmen enrolled in the upcoming Winter quarter. Contributing FactorsBuller and Wibberding attribute similar factors to the growth of both the Theology and Education departments: a growing need in the fields, the high caliber of professors and academics at PUC, hands-on experience with major assignments, and the availability of scholarships...

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PUC Students Unite by Growing Dorm Worship Attendance

Posted by Ally Romanes on December 9, 2024

Pacific Union College has seen a significant increase in student attendance at dorm worship. This attendance increase follows the combined efforts of students and staff to enhance these worship opportunities, showing how listening to students and tending to their spiritual needs strengthens their relationship with Christ and keeps them hungry for His word. On average, 100 to 120 students attend dorm worship weekly, a great improvement from last year when less than 60 students attended. Students are moving in numbers, encouraging their friends, and gathering together to share their faith. Last school year, Winning, Newton, and Andre Hall individually hosted worship open to all students. However, the scattered programs felt too similar to students, leaving them drained and unenthusiastic about any worship program. Throughout the week, fewer students attended. To fix this issue, student leaders and several staff members combined all dorm worship—with Newton, Andre, and Winning Hall—every Tuesday night at Scales Chapel, adopting a three-week rotation to lead each program. This rotation allows students to develop more creative ways to enhance worship without the stress of feeling burnt out. Another change they made is not having a speaker every week, and instead, having an activity to add program variety....

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PUC Announces Large Group of Maxwell Scholars for 2024, Second Year In a Row with High Numbers

Posted by Sheann Brandon on December 5, 2024

Pacific Union College selected 17 incoming freshmen as this year’s recipients of the prestigious Maxwell Scholarship, the second-largest group of students awarded since the scholarship's inception in 2009.“We are proud to offer so many high-quality students the opportunity for a quality, Christ-focused education at PUC,” said Gene Edelbach, vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communication. “We look forward to seeing where their next four years on our campus take them.”Students who receive the Maxwell Scholarship exemplify outstanding academic achievement, a marked commitment to Christian service, and robust leadership experience.Additionally, applicants must meet GPA and ACT or SAT requirements. Maxwell Scholars receive $36,150 annually, renewable for three years with a 3.5 GPA and a potential 4th year under qualifying conditions.The 2024 Maxwell Scholars include students from California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Mexico, and the Philippines:Marilyn DoDavid Hernandez RodriguezAnrianne PonceCecile Angela AbellanaByul HanKeala TaburaElena BlumRiley RamirezDanielle MuchoDiego MarianoSalome TemboMadison GlockJacob CapinaMakenna TutthillGabriel Lopez IIEthan John SimIsabela VerduzcoThe Maxwell Scholar Program honors PUC’s late president and first lady, Dr. Malcolm and Eileen Maxwell, and their dedication to Seventh-day Adventist education. Maxwell was the first alum to serve as president of PUC, with the longest tenure at 18 years.Each year, PUC awards millions to support...

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