Five Bible Verses To Bring You Joy 

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We go through our days meeting life’s obligations one after the other, but do you ever stop to take a moment to enjoy the pleasures God has given you? If you are lacking joy today, here are five Bible verses to bring you joy. 

Psalm 20: 4-5 

“May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!”

Romans 15:13 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Romans 12:12 

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” 

James 1:2-3

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Psalm 16:11 

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

May you feel the joys in life that God gives you every day. 

Senior Spotlight: Theodora Sirghi

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We want to highlight one of our seniors, Theodora Sirghi. Theodora is from Queens, New York, and is completing her B.S. in Emergency Services, Paramedic. What made her decide to attend PUC was the academics provided. “I was astonished to hear that PUC not only has an emergency service department, but you can also get a degree out of it rather than if you were to take a week/month course online,” shares Theodora. “Seeing that automatically grabbed my attention since that is what I specifically wanted to pursue.”

What is your dream job? 

My dream job is to be a paramedic firefighter.

How does that compare to what you wanted to be when you were young? 

When I was younger, I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to do, however I was always fascinated by the medical field especially since my older sister was in medical school at that time which inspired me. I wanted to pursue in something where I can help people 24/7 whenever and wherever and be able to give back to my community. 

What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family? 

My favorite thing about being part of the Pioneers family is the diversity that is spread throughout the students here at PUC. You come across so many students who are not just from other parts of California but from other parts of the world and it’s just fascinating. 

Where is your favorite place in the world? 

My favorite place in the world would have to be my home, which is New York. One of the biggest pros of being born and raised in New York is that you’re in the heart of everything. The fast pace, the buzzing traffic, the hustle, and bustle of the people, the 24-hour life and the creative spirit make NYC one of the most vibrant places in the world. 

If you had to be trapped in a movie for a day, what movie would you choose? 

If I had to be trapped in a movie for a day it would have to be between either Terminator or Aliens. There’s not much of an explanation as to why I would choose these movies however, I simply love both movies due to growing up watching them on a daily. 

What is something you’re passionate about? 

Something I’m very passionate about is music. There are so many different styles and genres. Music is relaxing to me especially when I’m able to just grab my guitar and be able to play while soothing into the flow of the music.  It’s more than just a sound; it’s an art with rhythm, tune, emotion, and meaning. It has helped me face some difficult situations in the past. Some music even resembles the journey of my life. 

Recommend a place to go in the Bay Area on a weekend

A place I recommend to go in the Bay Area on a weekend is Baker Beach located in San Francisco. It’s absolutely one of the best beaches in my opinion. You’ll find amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and it’s even more of a bonus if you go around sunset time. 

Faces of PUC: Daniel Randall

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Meet one of our newest Pioneers, Daniel Randall. He’s a freshman from Berrien Springs, Michigan, studying environmental science. Daniel loves being outdoors, which is why he decided to attend PUC, because of the college’s location and being “a great starting point for many outdoor adventures.”

What is your dream job? 

I want to do some kind of environmental conservation work. 

How does that compare to what you wanted to be when you were young? 

I would say that my current carrier goals are pretty far astray from when I was a kid. I always wanted to be a rock-star. 

What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family? 

My favorite part about being a part of the Pioneers’ Family is the people! I love the small campus feel and the ability to meet and know so many people’s names instead of just their faces. I love making new friends so come and talk to me. 

Where is your favorite place in the world? 

My favorite place in the world is really anywhere where I am in the woods. 

If you had to be trapped in a movie for a day, what movie would you choose?

I would love to be trapped in the cinematic masterpiece that is Holes.

What is something you’re passionate about? 

I would say that two things that I am really passionate about are the proper teeth brushing order (water, toothpaste, water, then brush) and Patagonia Synchillas.

Recommend a place to go in the Bay Area on a weekend 

There are many places in the Bay Area that are really cool! But if I had to say one it would be Muir Woods National Monument. 

Meet PUC’s SA: Natalia Gomez, VP of Publication & Marketing 

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Natalia Gomez is this year’s SA VP of Publication & Marketing. She’s in charge of running SA’s social media accounts, creating all the visuals for their announcements and events, and in charge of designing their merch. Running their social accounts has given Natalia an “inside scoop” on how the student body feels about their events and allowed her to connect with more people. 

Natalia answered some questions for us to learn more about being a part of SA. 

What do you enjoy the most about being SA VP of Publication and Marketing? 

It might sound silly but I honestly love getting to read all the DMs, comments, and answers to polls or questions that get put on our Instagram accounts. It’s like an inside scoop as to how the student body feels or thinks about events, and it’s also allowed me to get to know more people!

What is the most important part of your role?

I would say that the most important part of my role is communication. It’s my job to communicate with other members of the team to get all the necessary information to create posts. Then I have to communicate those details across social media to the student body. I also check in with all the DMs for any questions or suggestions that SA gets through our @puc.sa & @withmewednesdays accounts on Instagram. 

What do you like the most about being a part of SA? 

I really love our team’s dynamic! I think it’s really special to get to be a part of a group that all have different majors and are a part of different departments or groups on campus. Without SA I’m not sure if we would have all met and gotten the chance to see each other on a weekly basis. Plus our group chat is really funny and it always makes me laugh. 

What goals do you have set for the rest of the school year with SA and the campus? 

One of my biggest goals right now is working on an SA march drop and possibly making it accessible online, so stay tuned!

Do you have a favorite SA event? If so, which one and why? 

Well during fall quarter my favorite SA event is the corn maze in Petaluma! I love getting to go and find my way out of the maze while scaring my friends or them scaring me. Although I also love the excuse to dress up and take photos with friends so banquet is always special to me. I think this year’s banquet will be bittersweet since it’ll be my last and graduation will be right around the corner. 

Can you share any events that will be happening this quarter?

There’s so many plans for the rest of the year! Of course we will have poor mans banquet, actual banquet and hopefully a spirit week! A future even I’m looking forward to is a rollerskating night. I’m determined to be able to roller-skate without holding onto a friend for dear life!

What are your favorite things about PUC? 

I really love all the nature that we are surrounded by here at PUC. One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is grab a blanket and have a picnic or read out in on of the grassy areas. The grove is one of my favorite places for some quiet time, and in the spring its a great place to escape the heat on campus! Hammocking is also a lot of fun once the weather gets a bit sunnier!

An Evening with Actor Eli Goree

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Last month, Canadian actor Eli Goree sat down with PUC students to discuss his experience working in Hollywood as an Adventist. With being typecast for roles, such as playing an athlete, he pushed against that. “I remember having a conversation with my team and not going for certain things, and a lot of it was because of my Adventist convictions,” said Eli. 

He refused to do horror movies or nudity and wouldn’t use God’s name in vain in films. “I think that’s one thing artists don’t do enough of is putting up boundaries. You can’t really do art if you don’t have clear set guidelines of what it is you’re trying to do,” he said. “And when you are the art- when you’re an actor, you have to say, ‘okay, this is what I do, and this is what I don’t do.”  

Eli wasn’t born into the Adventist church but attended church as an adult. “I really didn’t know a lot- I learned bit by bit,” shared Eli. “When I learned about the Sabbath, I put it in my contracts and said I’m going to keep the Sabbath.” At first, it was a problem with people telling him that if he kept the Sabbath, they would not hire him. When Eli got his first big opportunity in Hollywood (a role for the TV series The 100), he made sure not to work on Sabbath- but his contract stated otherwise, writing: will do best efforts. With confusion as to what that truly meant, Eli’s agent told him that he would be fine and taken care of, and it was written like that in the contract for legal purposes. Within the first week of shooting, the show made Eli shoot his biggest scene on a Friday night, which lasted till seven in the morning. “I was so tired I couldn’t go to church.”

While being on The 100, Eli couldn’t accept other major roles since the show had first right of refusal. His character was later killed off and the show didn’t pick up his option. “From that whole thing, it was an experience for me faith wise,” said Eli. “I was trying so hard to do everything for them and they weren’t trying to do anything for me. They were just focused on them.” He knew this would be the last time this happened and not work on Saturdays. 

From that moment on, things started to pick up momentum. Eli screentest for movies such as Star Wars, met well-known directors and booked the movie Race (2016). “It was always in my contacts from then on, ‘he doesn’t work on Sabbath’”. 

Eli is known for his award-winning portrayal of great American Olympian athlete Dave Albritton in Race (2016). He also starred in Regina King’s feature film directorial debut, One Night in Miami…, and his roles in TV Series The 100 (2014), Ballers (2018), Riverdale (2018), and Pearson (2019). Eli has a diploma in Film and Television acting from the Canadian Film Center for the Arts.

Coaches Corner: Patrick Taaffe 

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Meet PUC’s new men’s volleyball coach, Patrick Taaffe. This is Coach Taaffe’s (pronounced TAF) first time coaching at a collegiate level, with a background of coaching high school girls and guys volleyball along with club. When asked what made him decide to take this coaching position at PUC, Coach Taaffe replied, “Honestly, it was a God thing.” While at a basketball tournament for prep as an athletic director, he spoke with Coach Melissa and JR, and they both asked him to take the position.

Coach Taaffe graciously answered questions for us to get to know more about him. 

What makes PUC athletics different from other colleges and universities? 

For me, it’s the atmosphere of family. Even before I knew much about PUC, I had talked with many people both faculty and visitors, who all said how nice people were here. I have totally found this to be true- as everyone I meet is friendly and smiles. 

How would you describe your coaching style?

I am a passionate and motivating coach.

How do you support your student athletes on and off the court?

I do my best to meet the student-athletes where they are. I want to know about their lives and what is happening with their families or relationships and grades. These can all affect what is going on while they are on the court. While they are on the court, I try my best to adjust to their needs. If I know they’re having a really bad day, I try to be more supportive, vs. when they are having a good day, I might try to push them more.  

Outside of competing, are there activities you try to get your students involved with? 

Team building and communicating with each other. I fully believe that life is more than just sports. So I want them to make lasting friendships and be an example to these gentlemen of what God’s love looks like as best I can.

What values do you instill in your players?  

Love, honesty, integrity, and hard work. These values will serve them the rest of their lives in everything from the field of work they choose all the way to their family lives. 

How do you incorporate spiritual life within your team? 

Personally, I try to be a beacon of love and light for them. I am an open book, and bring Jesus to them and set the best example I can. As we begin to develop and create that family atmosphere, I want to start to have team vespers and join in worship together to make it personal for them. 

Why should prospective high school athletes choose PUC over another program? 

From what I have seen thus far, you get a great college education from faculty who care. You get the feeling of a large college education mixed with a small-town vibe, and it makes for a very dynamic environment. 

What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family? 

Learning the different backgrounds of each person, where they come from, and where they want to go.

When you’re not coaching, what do you enjoy doing? 

Well, I love being with my family. My wife and I have four daughters, so they keep us pretty busy. I like to play video games or listen/read books during my personal “quiet” time. I also love playing music, whether it be writing something with my wife or just playing the drums on Sabbath. 

Get to Know Nicolette Piaubert: Assistant Professor of Nursing & Student Success Coordinator

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Nursing assistant professor and student success coordinator Nicolette Piaubert, F.N.P., R.N. has worked at PUC for over a year. Last year she was one of the nursing professors who went on the Kenya mission trip, where she assisted in delivering babies at the clinic there. One of the babies was even named Nicolette, in honor of her. 

Professor Piaubert kindly answered some questions for us to get to know her. 

What brought you to PUC? How/Why did you decide to work here? 

I was recruited and my nursing professor became the chair of the school. 

What is the best thing about being a part of the Pioneers family? 

I love the peaceful environment, supportive staff, and great students.

Where is your favorite place to eat in the Valley and why?

Gott’s Roadside – delicious food. 

What is something you can do/want to do that might be surprising for people to learn? 

I love to do TikTok videos.

What is one song you’ve been listening to on repeat lately? 

Unstoppable by Koryn Hawthorn. 

Where is your dream vacation? 

Dubai

Finish this sentence: On Sunday mornings you can find me…. 

Cleaning, food prepping, catching up on anything I did not complete the previous week, or getting ready for the coming week. 

Faces of PUC: Ugonna Nathan

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Meet one of our seniors, Ugonna Nathan. She’s from Fresno and majors in Pre-Med, B.S. in Biochemistry, and A.S. in Health Sciences. Ugonna’s dream job is to be a doctor, and with her dream graduate school being Loma Linda University, she chose to attend PUC after her father told her about the connections PUC has with LLU. “I wanted to take full advantage of that opportunity, especially since PUC and Loma Linda’s missions align with my beliefs.”

What is your dream job? 

My dream job is to be a doctor.

How does that compare to what you wanted to be when you were young? 

When I was younger, I wanted to be a pediatrician. I liked helping my mom take care of my two little brothers. I only had an older sister when I was younger, so I was so excited to be a big sister. I think that’s where my passion to work with children came from and I was excited when I found out that’s exactly what a pediatrician does.

What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family? 

My favorite thing about the Pioneers family is how welcoming everyone is. Coming to PUC as a transfer student during the pandemic was scary. I was nervous that I missed out on my chance to make friends. But at PUC, there were so many opportunities that allowed me to make new connections with such supportive friends and mentors that I am so grateful for.

Where is your favorite place in the world? 

My favorite place in the world is Nigeria. I love spending time with my family there. I’ve been there three times and I can’t wait to go again! Nothing beats African food straight from the motherland.

If you had to be trapped in a movie for a day, what movie would you choose?

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

What is something you’re passionate about? 

Food. I love trying new foods.

Recommend a place to go in the Bay Area on a weekend 

I want to visit the San Francisco Aquarium.

Meet PUC’s New Lead Pastor, Nate Furness

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Meet PUC’s new Lead Pastor, Nate Furness. Born in Seattle, WA. (“GO Seahawks”) and raised in Orange County, CA., Pastor Nate began his pastoral ministry at Westminster Good Samaritan SDA Church, then became the lead pastor at the Costa Mesa SDA Church. After that, he became the lead pastor at the Napa Community SDA Church, where he was the lead pastor. Having a passion for Adventist education made him decide to accept this position at PUC, and the college could not be more excited to see Pastor Nate lead the students and church. 

What did you want to be when you were younger? 

I wanted to be a pastor or a fireman. I am a pastor’s kid, and as I was growing up, I watched my father. I knew I wanted to be like him. In college, I didn’t choose a religion degree. I knew what it meant to be a pastor, and I wasn’t ready to fulfill that obligation. I graduated with an Education Degree in Health, Wellness, and Physical Education. 

When did you first feel the call to be a pastor?

Early on, but I didn’t think I was ready. I had some growing to do. After I married Jennie in 2005, I knew it was time to become a pastor. 

What made you decide to accept this position? 

I have a passion for Adventist Education. I want to be part of preparing young adults to serve Jesus in their context. We want to prepare nurses, psychologists, filmmakers, teachers, pastors, and others to share the love of Jesus with everyone they encounter.

What are your spiritual focus or goals for the campus? 

To prepare young people to be missionaries in their professional context, to disciple and mentor young people, and to demonstrate that life is joyful and that we are better in community. 

What methods do you use to stay connected with young people and be a mentor to them throughout their spiritual lives? 

I like to connect with them in the classroom, during intramurals, and invite students into our home. I plan to be present in the student center and available to chat. For those wishing to go deeper, I would schedule meetings where we can listen and encourage.  

What makes pastoring a campus church special to you?

Community. I love that there is a variety of people on campus. I look forward to working with Admin and the various departments to lean into our spiritual development. 

How can we, your PUC family, serve and support you and your family as you minister for us? 

I like homemade cookies and ice cream…lol. Encouragement. We all need to be encouraged, even the pastors.

What is your favorite thing about being part of the PUC family? 

The people. I love that we live in a community where we run into people we know all the time. I love the campus. I love that PUC has hundreds, if not thousands, of acres to explore on bike and foot.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

Cycling, Snowboarding, wakeboarding, and being with my family.

Missing Class? Here’s What To Do 

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Although you should never miss class, we understand emergencies can happen, or you can get sick. If you are ever to miss class in college, here’s what you need to do: 

Check Attendance & Late Work Policy 

If you plan on missing classes due to being sick, check your professor’s attendance and late work policies in their syllabi to know what to expect before talking with them. 

Check Course Calendar 

Another thing you need to check in your syllabi is your course calendar. See what your professor plans on teaching the day you miss and bring that up with them to see if there will be any changes. 

Talk or Email Your Professor In Advance 

Please inform your professors ahead of time that you will be missing class. Not only is this the responsible thing to do, but it allows you and your professor to work out a plan for missing class. If you’re not able to meet with your professor, address these things in your email: 

  • Apologize for missing class
  • Explain why you were not in attendance
  • Ask what you can do to make up for your absence 
  • Thank them for their time

Don’t wait till the end of the day to email them- do it ASAP.

Ask Your Classmates & Professor For Help 

Ask your classmates what you missed in class and see if they can share some of their notes with you. Bring up any questions or concerns to your professors because you don’t want to get behind in lectures or assignments. 

One of the great things about attending PUC is being in smaller classes. This makes it easier to meet with your professors, have them get to know you, and build relationships with them-unlike larger universities. Our professors care about you and your well-being, so don’t be afraid to talk to them when something comes up and you’ll have to miss class. They will do all they can to help you- just do your part and reach out to them.