The Christmas season is one of our favorite times of year here at the college on the mountain. Coming together as a PUC family to celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth, enjoy beautiful music from our students, faculty, and staff, and pausing to reflect on God’s generosity to our campus.
We asked faculty and staff across campus to share with us what blessings they are thankful for this year, and what they’re looking forward to the most in 2019.
What are you most grateful for this past year?
“As I look at the amazing blessings in my life this year, I am deeply grateful for the time I get to spend with my father. My dad is age 86, and he is amazing. He is such a blessing with every story he tells, every memory he shares. He lives only 30 minutes from my home, and he spends each weekend and Sabbath with us, telling stories and memories, dispensing wisdom and sharing his sarcasm and delightful sense of humor. He is a U.S. Army veteran and was a non-combatant medical corpsman in the service. He was a building contractor and an Adventist academy boys’ dean and was always the family resident camping expert as he led us on expeditions in the wilds. He is an example to me of a life well-lived. Oh yes, and now, he flies drones as a hobby using heads-up display goggles and revels in the struggle to learn new technology. He inspires me with his quest to keep learning, no matter what.” — Craig Philpott, director of admissions
“I’ll be cliché and say my family and my friends who have become my family (most of them I met as a student here at PUC!).” — Dana Negro, communications specialist
“I’m most grateful that my sister is now recovered and cancer-free.” — Dr. Steve Waters, professor of mathematics
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow. Grow alongside friends who like me are recent graduates, grow alongside family members and new family dynamics, and to grow alongside coworkers who are passionate to serve God through working at PUC.” — Mayte Jimenez, admissions counselor
“I am grateful to belong to a community that values and respects books and the exploration of ideas. I love that we have a community that allows and expects its members to keep learning and growing.” — Dr. Maria Rankin-Brown, professor of English
“Health, family, and friends.” — J.R. Rogers, associate vice president for student life
“I took a ceramics class from the department of visual arts during fall quarter, and I’m so glad I did. I’m grateful for learning a new skill and finding an artistic outlet that is very therapeutic and creatively challenging.” — Katy Van Arsdale, special collections and reference librarian
“I don’t know what I’m MOST grateful for, but I am VERY grateful for the ability to walk out my back door into the beauty of the back 40 and rejuvenate my soul.” — Tammy McGuire, professor of communication
“All the accomplishments and goals that I completed in the past year. Things I have done and the memories that have been made.” — Chris Romero, admissions counselor
What are you most looking forward to in 2019?
“I am looking forward to some travel in 2019. My wife and I are not yet certain exactly where a summer trip might take us, but that is half the joy, the planning, the ideas, the budget, the timing. It will certainly be a driving trip, and it will involve mountains and National Parks and back roads and dirt roads and likely some 4×4 back-country roads, and it will be a chance to see new vistas, take new pictures and recharge our souls.” — Craig Philpott, director of admissions
“Short-term I’m excited to give my niece her birthday present in January (it’s really good)! Long-term I’m looking forward to taking my puppy on lots of beach trips.” — Dana Negro, communications specialist
“I’m most looking forward to my summer Honors course that I’m teaching in London!” — Dr. Peter Katz, assistant professor of English
“I’m looking forward to reaping the fruits of my labor. 2018 was full of unexpected changes, and I trust that God works all things for the good and with that comes His provision. I’m genuinely really excited!” — Mayte Jimenez, admissions counselor
“I hope we get more rain. I’m looking forward to seeing how fresh the back 40 looks after a solid rainy season.” — Dr. Maria Rankin-Brown, professor of English
“To see what God has planned for PUC.” — J.R. Rogers, associate vice president for student life
“Travel! In 2018 I visited eight National Parks I’d never seen before. I’d like to match that number this year.” — Katy Van Arsdale, special collections and reference librarian
“Summer adventures in Colorado on foot and bike!” — Tammy McGuire, professor of communication
From the entire Pioneers family, may you have a blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year!
