Monthly Archives: November 2015

Postcards from the Golden State

Greetings from CA

I could’ve worn flip flops today. They would go with my slacks about as well as pickles go with ice cream, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility for a November day in California. My friends in northern Wisconsin could try it, but they’d probably come back with fewer toes than they woke up with. And that is a wonderful thing about living where we do. The weather is just one of the reasons you might consider coming to California for college (and sticking around when you’re done).

San Francisco

If I were to hop in my car and leave my office at PUC right now, I could be at the beach in an hour and a half. Since my boss is able to see this, I’m not going to. However, I could be in San Francisco just as quickly. Or, I could rediscover how bad I am at winter sports after a three hour drive to Tahoe. The point is, you can find just about anything you’re after in California except for Waffle House… And most of us here would consider that a blessing.

Our location also benefits you when it comes time to look for internships and jobs. Being so close to the Bay Area and Silicon Valley gives you the opportunity to work with heavy hitters like Google, Buzzfeed, Airbnb, and Facebook (among others). It’s a fantastic place to build your networks and cultivate some real-world experience, as well as a great way to set up some roots on the west coast if you’re looking to stay.

Yosemite

Oh, did I mention the money stuff? It pays to stay in California thanks to Cal Grant, which can land you over $8,000 dollars if you attend a four-year college in the Golden State. It’s just something to keep in mind when all those out-of-state colleges start fawning over you and your 4.2 GPA in the spring.

So between the places, the people, the weather, the food, and the scholarships, what more are you looking for in a place to spend your college years? You’d be hard-pressed to find a more diverse and vibrant place to live than California. Take it from someone who travels for three months out of the year… There’s no better place to call home.

Come Visit Pacific Union College!

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With Thanksgiving and Christmas break quickly approaching, soon high school seniors across the country will be flocking to college campuses to start figuring out where they want to be attending next fall. If you’ve never been to Pacific Union College, here are a few reasons why you it’s worth adding us to your list of colleges to visit! You can come during one of our College Days events or on your own for a personalized experience.

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During your visit to PUC, you will:

  • Tour the campus with a student ambassador
  • Meet with a professor in your major of interest
  • Sit in on a college class*
  • Discuss scholarships and financial aid options with a financial counselor
  • Talk with your enrollment counselor about next steps
  • Worship with our campus community*
  • Attend social activities with other students*
  • Stay in a residence hall and eat in our Dining Commons
  • Experience the nearby town of St. Helena and Pier 39 in San Francisco*

*Available during all College Days events OR weekday visits by request (if possible)

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The next College Days event is scheduled for January 31- February 2, 2016, and there will be another April 10-12, 2016. If you aren’t able to make it to either of those events, or if you would like to visit on your own, scheduled campus visits are offered Monday through Thursday at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, and 2 PM.

To request a visit to PUC, or to register for College Days, go to puc.edu/visit. We look forward to hosting you!

We’re Not Waiting on the World to Change

REVO 2.2

By Trent Broeckel

On Friday, October 30th, Pacific Union College’s student-led philanthropic group REVO kicked off its fundraising campaign with a vespers and launch party. Short for revolution, REVO is based on the idea students will not wait for the world to change and together, will become a movement for positive change.

This year, REVO is partnering with a fair trade business called Freeset, located in Sonagacchi, one of Asia’s largest red light districts in Kolkata, India. Women at Freeset are offered a chance to change their lives and are taught skills like making clothing, bags, and other merchandise. All profits from Freeset go directly to these women, providing them with salary, health insurance, and retirement plans. REVO’s goal for this quarter is to raise $10,023 which is the exact amount necessary to employ 27 women at Freeset.

REVO 1.2

This past summer, seven PUC students were led by professors Alisa Jacobo and Cristian Cruz to work side by side with women at Freeset in Kolkata. REVO’s president and PUC senior communication major Evelyn Marquez was one of those who saw the global issue in Kolkata first hand. “They didn’t have a choice, but Freeset created the opportunity for them to have one,” Marquez explained, “A choice to experience freedom.”

The REVO team has organized and presented a $10 challenge to PUC students in hopes of reaching their goal for fall quarter. If every student at PUC participates in the challenge, REVO could raise far more than their goal. College students stereotypically do not have much money, though Marquez argues accepting the $10 challenge is not taxing. “We can sacrifice one trip to Giugni’s with our friends to give someone a lifetime of freedom. I met a girl named Daali in Kolkata. Her monthly food budget before starting work at Freeset was $10. A small donation can really go a long way.”

Christopher Lawrence, senior accounting major and REVO’s vice president, expresses, “Helping people is one thing but offering them the option of a completely better life is something I believe God wants us to do as Christians.”

Marquez, Jacobo, and senior intercultural communication major Pascale Pean shared their summer experiences in Kolkata at REVO’s vespers. Afterwards, the Student Association provided samosas and mango lassi. During the course of REVO’s opening weekend, with the support from both the Student Association and Enactus (non-profit business club), REVO has already raised around $1,000 in donations. This marks a fantastic start for the campaign, but more work needs to be done.

If you would like to learn more about REVO and the opportunity to change the future of women at risk of being trafficked, please visit www.facebook.com/revopuc.

If you feel compelled to help, you can donate at www.crowdrise.com/revopuc (tax deductable).