In February, PUC senior Josemon Poovathingal Joy started a series called The Bridge, in which he interviews student entrepreneurs to share their stories amongst the college alumni network and community. When he first began the series, Josemon already knew he wanted to involve many people, but he started with a small crew of students. As an accounting major, he had classmates from the business club who began helping launch the series to prove that The Bridge could grow into a bigger production. As he created this platform for these students to share their businesses and who they are, he now has many others involved, giving students from other departments, such as the film and communication department, to assist with camera work, scriptwriting, editing, podcasting, and writing articles.

While The Bridge is also meant to promote and inspire current students, Josemon included students from other departments to work with him, not just to support their crafts but also to share their talents with their target audience: PUC alumni and the community. “Because we have a smaller campus, we share a much closer bond than you’d find at most schools,” said Josemon. “We genuinely care about each other — the love between students and alumni is already there, we just haven’t had a strong way to stay connected. That’s the gap The Bridge is here to fill.” From a solo profile to working behind the scenes, it’s important for Josemon to show alumni how much talent is brewing in their alma mater and how valuable they can be in their chosen careers. Through everything they create and release, Josemon says it is a result of PUC. 

The inspiration behind The Bridge came from student stories, alumni dedication, and the community support Josemon received at PUC. “Listening to students share their journeys, I was struck by their resilience,” he shared. “They overcame challenges by launching entrepreneurial ventures and confronting problems directly, always finding creative solutions in tough times. Our alumni and the wider community, especially church members at PUC, consistently show genuine care, often inviting students out for lunch and truly listening to them.”

During last year’s Homecoming weekend, Josemon shared how he talked with PUC alum Jim Heldroon for over two hours, listening to his stories about his life and time at PUC. It was through that conversation that Josemon felt how alumni see PUC students as a part of their family. Another memorable conversation he had was with PUC alum and board member David Tsao, during which Josemon asked him questions about business and appreciated how David patiently and genuinely took the time to listen to Him. “While it may have been a small gesture for him, I walked away with valuable business insights and a clear sense that alumni genuinely want to help students, even through simple interactions,” said Josemon. 

Fast forward to this past January, PUC nursing student Jonah Reyes-Horvath approached Josemon for marketing assistance on an app he was developing. While they considered a simple Instagram post, they had a bigger idea of producing a promotional video, but had difficulty finding time to sit and create due to their busy schedules. That’s when they realized that every resource they needed was available on campus. As Josemon remembered a conversation he had with a film student who wanted more projects on their resume, it all clicked for Him to collaborate with students who would help bring this idea to life. “I needed to involve others with strengths and resources beyond my own,” he shared. “Thankfully, our campus is filled with students who have diverse talents, perspectives, and beliefs that enrich any project.”

As Josemon and visual arts student Sam Birky completed shooting their first episode profiling Jonah, all three knew they needed a name for this project. As they bounced names back and forth to each other in the Maxwell Reading Room, the Golden Gate Bridge randomly appeared in Josemon’s mind. That’s when he thought about how bridges connect people, just as this project was aimed to connect students with alumni and the community. It was at that moment that The Bridge was formed.

What is the vision for this project?

The vision for The Bridge is ambitious, and the project itself represents only the beginning of what we aim to achieve. Our students are entrepreneurs and innovators, and we need programs that truly support them. I envision an innovation program where students interested in starting a business can come to PUC for practical assistance, including business planning, marketing, and foundational business skills, as well as access to scholarships. This real-world experience will benefit them long after graduation.

Our location offers students unique opportunities that few other Adventist universities provide. With access to the entrepreneurial communities of Silicon Valley and Napa Valley, we are well-positioned to leverage these local advantages. I envision PUC Prep students seeking guidance from PUC to launch their businesses and develop their ideas. I also see alumni recognizing the quality of our students and hiring them with confidence, knowing the caliber of our graduates.

What is your mission with this series? What do you want people to feel when they watch The Bridge? 

With The Bridge, my mission is to encourage students to start their own entrepreneurial journey and connect them with alumni and community members who support them. Also, to use the resources PUC already has. When a student watches an episode, I want them to believe it’s possible for them too. Not in a distant Silicon Valley sense, but in a real way, like seeing someone from their chemistry class succeed and thinking, “Why not me?” I want them to recognize someone they know is building something real and leave feeling inspired to try it themselves. Entrepreneurship shouldn’t be limited to people with wealthy families or special connections. It’s already happening here; we just haven’t shown it yet.

For alumni and the community, I hope they feel proud, but more than that, I want them to feel involved. After watching an episode, I want them to think, “I want to be part of this. I want to grab coffee with that student. I want to mentor them. I want to invest in what they’re building.” The real magic happens when a simple conversation leads to mentorship or when a brief meeting with an alum changes how a student sees their future. The Bridge is here to create more of these moments. In the end, I want everyone watching, whether students, alumni, or community members, to see that PUC is bigger and more vibrant and talented than they thought, despite being a smaller campus than most Adventist universities.

How do you decide who to feature in this series? What subjects or stories do you want to share in each episode?

Right now, we’re focusing on students who already run their own businesses and have clients. I want to share each student’s unique story; who they are, how they began, and what it’s like to manage a business while studying at PUC. We are also planning to do more activities and collaboration to take it to the next level, but we’ll stick with what we have until we have a strong foundation.

How has Bridge fulfilled you? 

I’ve really enjoyed this journey. Building a team and seeing everyone believe in our vision, working together toward a goal we set, has been an incredible experience. I also appreciate this work because it keeps me grounded. I still have a lot to learn, and building The Bridge has pushed me to keep growing. I get to work with people who have skills I don’t have, and together we find the best way to share these stories. What matters most to me is knowing we’re sharing people’s stories—stories that deserve to be heard. These stories will inspire students, alumni, and the community for years to come.

Starting something new is tough, but working with Keala (Keana) Tabura and Caleb Kast has made it much easier. They understand the vision and the standards we’re aiming for. Having the right people around me motivates me to work even harder. I truly believe we’ll succeed because of their perspectives. They like solving problems, and since The Bridge is new, we all enjoy facing the challenges together. It only brings us closer.

Episodes are released on their YouTube channel, The Bridge, and on Instagram @bridgepuc. While episodes are released once a month, they hope to release more as they recruit more team members. Josemon is grateful to PUC for their support and for promoting The Bridge on social platforms. For students and alumni, he asks for their continued support, interaction, and feedback, and is open to receiving those by emailing thebridge@puc.edu