Lanea Carver is a freshman education, liberal studies major from Antioch, CA., but used to live in Angwin. Many of her family members attended PUC, so being a student herself at PUC was always in mind. Lanea’s mother inspired her the most to come to PUC, and we could not be happier to have her as a part of our Pioneers family.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is to become a science and humanities teacher of all grade levels in a private, public, and Christian school.
How does that compare to what you wanted to be when you were young?
When I was younger, I always wanted to be a chef. I even considered going to culinary school in St. Helena. I love cooking just as much as eating.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family?
The environment has to be one of my favorite things about this place. The nature is beautiful and the people are so kind and welcoming.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
My favorite place in the world is Wallace, Idaho. It’s small and full of history, just a fun place to be with your family. My grandma lives in Kellogg, which is only 15 minutes from Wallace so when I visit her it’s a place I always go to and they have a great melodrama.
If you had to be trapped in a movie for a day, what movie would you choose?
Shrek the third
What is something you’re passionate about?
Something that I am really passionate about is caring for others. Everyone deserves something who cares and being able to help others and make people laugh is something that I’ll always put first.
Recommend a place to go in the Bay Area on a weekend
Probably pier 39 in San Francisco, it can be pretty chilly but they have a whole store just for socks so it’s worth it.
During the beginning of this school year, auditions were in process for the Jericho Road Musical, which tells the story of two young individuals who fall in love, get married, have a child, and face problems throughout their relationship. Senior graphic design major Sarah Franklin saw this as a fun chance to work on props and set design. With already having experience with stage production and film set design and taking a class from musical director Lindsay Morton, Lindsay asked Sarah if she would be interested in creating the artwork and advertisements for the show too. All these roles created a great opportunity for Sarah to use the material in her portfolio as she finishes her senior year at PUC.
How long did it take to complete all the art for this show? What did you enjoy the most about this experience?
I completed all the advertising artwork over winter break, and it probably took me around 30 hours. For the set design, we’ve been working all quarter and are still working on painting and constructing everything. I really enjoy working with other people on a project and helping them make their vision come to life.
Do you have a favorite art piece from the show?
It’s difficult to answer this because I consider the whole set an art piece. If I had to pick an individual piece from the show, I’d say the tree from the wedding scene, which turned out beautifully. Bethanee (Tabura) did most of the carving and painting of the tree trunk, which was made of several layers of foam, and we worked together to add the vines and leaves to the branches. We also added string lights to create a whimsical look that fits the wedding scene nicely.
What do you like the most about PUC’s visual arts department?
I really appreciate the feeling of family in the VA dept. Throughout my years here, I have become so close to my professors and classmates. I truly value the diversity of the department and how we work together and benefit from our differences. I think it’s amazing when people who are different from each other can learn from one another and create truly amazing things together.
What have been the most important things you’ve learned from your classes, professors, or mentors?
One of the most important things I’ve learned as a visual arts major is to take inspiration from anything and everything. As an artist, I am constantly absorbing the environment I’m in—people, objects, architecture, colors, shapes, shadows, lines, graphics, words, lyrics, you name it. Being an artist means you are always taking in your surroundings and looking at the world from different points of view. It also means you are processing all this information in a way that is unique to you and relaying these new perspectives to others in a way that moves them or makes them think differently.
Is there a class you found most valuable to you?
There are a lot of classes that were valuable to me, so I’ll give you all of them and a short reason why:
Astronomy with James Robertson–gave me perspective on how small we are and how short life is.
History of Contemporary Art Since 1945 with Jon Carstens—my favorite art history class of all-time; introduced me to some of my favorite artists and works (Mark Rothko, Josef Albers, Andy Warhol, and Lynda Benglis to name a few). These artists’ works were an integral part of my senior thesis research and inspiration, so this class has been extremely valuable to me.
Packaging Design with Cliff Rusch–aside from this being one of the most fun classes for me as a graphic designer, I ended up becoming really close to my classmates and creating some great friendships which I value so much. Not only do I value our friendships, but also the constructive criticism, competition, and push to become a better designer.
Can you share any projects you hope to do this year?
Aside from Jericho Road, this year’s main project is my senior thesis. I am working on gathering data from individuals about their favorite colors and using this data to represent the evolution of color preferences throughout one’s life. The data will be visualized through a series of paintings and will be hung in the Rasmussen Art Gallery this spring.
Ethan Blanco will be graduating this June with a degree in Liberal Studies. From Bakersfield, CA, Ethan originally intended to enroll at his local community college. However, not a month before the school year was to start, he learned that many of his local church friends were enrolling at PUC. That was the only thing that motivated Ethan to attend PUC instead.
Do you remember what stood out to you the most when you first arrived on campus?
What stood out to me the most when I first arrived on PUC’s campus was the atmosphere. The green and opulent plant life, for one, was stunning to me. I come from Bakersfield, which is certainly not known for its natural green beauty, so I was excited about the change of scenery. The sense of a close-knit community was another theme of PUC that I noticed almost immediately upon arriving.
What has been your favorite class?
My favorite class was EDUC-447-01 – Classroom Management with Professor Penaflorida. As someone going into the education field, it was a class that I already knew would be important for my career. However, the way Professor P involved all the students in their own learning and promoted safe and creative discussion was an amazing experience.
What is something you want to accomplish before graduating?
I hope to complete the rough draft for a novel I have been writing for six years. Coupled with this novel, I want to add detail to the creative writing of the fantasy world the novel is based in. The hope is that there will eventually be many different stories written about it.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family?
My favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family is the connection that I have bridged with my professors. Many professors here at PUC have helped mold me into the person I am today, and I am both proud and thankful for that fact. I am confident that the relationships I have built over the four years I have been a part of the Pioneers family will not go away after I graduate.
Recommend a restaurant in the Napa Valley and what people should order.
Giugni’s Deli is a great sandwich shop off St. Helena Highway. The portions of the sandwich are quite generous. If you wanted, you could eat the sandwich in halves for two separate meals. Plus, there are a lot of ingredient options. If anything, I was overwhelmed with how many choices I had.
What are you going to miss the most about PUC?
What I will miss the most about PUC are the people. I have made many connections with friends that will certainly stay with me for years to come. Many of my friends are also committed to the creative writing projects that I am involved in. It is because of them that I have gained the confidence and ideas that have helped shape my novel.
Sophomore nursing student Madison Kindred is a Pioneers Student Ambassador this year. Being a student-athlete representative has been a wonderful experience for Madison, with meeting so many new people within the conference and working to improve the CAL PAC conference. As a member of the Student Athletic Council (SAC), she attends meetings once a month to discuss matters about the schools that want to improve, share what they are proud of, and are in charge of making policies in the conference that will help student-athletes.
How long have you been a student ambassador and how did you get this role?
I have been a SAC member for about a year. J.R. Rogers reached out to me last Spring quarter, asking if I would like to fill the role of representing PUC.
What is the most challenging part about being a student ambassador?
The most challenging part is balancing meetings with my studies. There have been times when school has taken priority over our meetings, but that just means that I read over meeting notes and reach out to the SAC president with any input I may have.
What do you enjoy the most about this role?
What I really enjoy about this role is meeting all the new people from all the schools in the conference. I know at least one person from every school I travel to with my team. There is a sense of family among the members. We all support one another.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family?
My favorite thing is the feeling of community. Each student-athlete knows of one another here, and it makes for a small but strong community.
What makes PUC Pioneers special?
PUC has gone through some major changes since I have been an athlete here, but our department still continues on and I think that is what makes us special.
Princess Espinoza is a pre-nursing freshman from Sacramento. After researching other nursing programs, she found the department of nursing at PUC and campus life the most promising, which settled her decision on where to attend college. Princess’s favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family is how close and strong everyone is together.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is to be the best labor and delivery nurse I can be. I dream to be a part of one of the happiest and most memorable moments for parents, and I know getting to experience that kind of love is going to be limitless. I also want to be an influencer throughout my learning process. I am starting now by recording my routine and study habits to show every aspect of my journey to becoming a nurse.
How does that compare to what you wanted to be when you were young?
I’ve always wanted to be an influencer, but it’s always been a passion on the side. When I was younger, I actually wanted to be an architect. Although I had the same idea to share insight into any obstacles I would experience with those who were interested in knowing.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family?
My favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family is knowing how close and strong everyone is together. I’ve met so many hardworking, dedicated students as well as other admin members who love supporting their family and friends as much as they can, making sure we are all successful in the end.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
I haven’t traveled to many places but so far, my favorite place would have to be Mexico. There’s so much to Mexico. The vibrant colors, the welcoming culture, and of course the good food.
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, I would simply choose Alice and Wonderland. Everything about this movie was so cool. They have animals that can talk, mind you, they also have a character of their own. There are potions and spells for almost anything. The people there are friendly—for the most part. Wonderland is a literal dream world. My name isn’t Alice either, so I know I wouldn’t be a trouble to anyone in Wonderland.
What is something you’re passionate about?
I am passionate about personal growth. Personal growth, to me, is all about identifying my long-term and short-term goals. Reading and repeating positive affirmations whenever made possible. Prioritizing healthy eating and exercise habits. Especially reading self-help books in hopes to learn a new skill. Practicing forgiveness within myself and seeking it in others. Accepting helpful advice from others. Tracking and celebrating my progress for anything and everything. Establishing budgets for healthy spending habits. Lastly, taking part in activities outside of my comfort zone.
This week’s senior spotlight is Jeremy Jim Madrio from Lincoln, CA, who majors in management information systems. When Jeremy was in high school and deciding on where to attend college, being an SDA, Jeremy wanted to be able to experience an Adventist institution where he could learn and grow closer to God, so he chose PUC.
What is your dream job?
I want to be able to have a job or own a company where I can make a positive impact on society through information technology/systems.
How does that compare to what you wanted to be when you were young?
When I was younger, I always thought I was going to become an engineer because mostly I wanted to follow what my dad did. But that quickly changed after the first two weeks of taking college physics and an engineering class. At some point, I also wanted to be a videogame designer or someone who makes unboxing videos on YouTube.
Do you have a favorite class you’ve taken at PUC? If so, what class and why?
All my classes here at PUC were really good, but one class that comes to mind that I have enjoyed is Themes in Literature, taught by Dr. Morton. Although english classes are usually not my favorite, I enjoyed this class because the topics were really interesting and it really challenged me to think. Overall, it taught me to become a better learner.
What are you going to miss the most about PUC?
I’m going to miss the connections that you make and the spiritual life that you can grow while at PUC. Also, the many things you can get involved in.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family?
My favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family are the connections we are able to make, and the opportunities that we can obtain.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
Any place with family and friends.
If you had to be trapped in a movie for a day, what movie would you choose?
The Incredibles, because that was my favorite movie as a kid and why wouldn’t it be fun to see all the character’s superpowers.
What is something you’re passionate about?
Anything music related. Especially singing with the group I’m a part of, outside of school, called Attuned to Praise.
Recommend a place to go in the Bay Area on a weekend
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.
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.
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!
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
