Tag Archives: PUC clubs

Feel at Home with the SOL Club

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Senior Alondra Zepeda is this year’s president of the SOL Club. She wasn’t expecting to be president since she was new to PUC and felt nervous taking on the role since SOL Club is very well-known on campus, but as a proud Chicana who enjoys serving the community, Alondra knew this club was going to help her and students in many ways. Alondra and the rest of the officer’s goals are to build a community they can rely on and make each student feel at home.

Tell us about SOL Club

SOL CLUB stands for Student Organization of Latinos! This club has been around for quite some time at PUC and has been one of the clubs on campus to have many members. The mission of this club is to truly build a community that can rely on one another and be the place you can come to relax and enjoy. Our goals are not only to continue to grow as a club but also to build and give an insight of the club to the next team leaders of this club.

What motivated you to run for your position?  

Given the position of president was definitely something that I was not expecting to have during my junior year of college. I was still sort of new to the school, as well as to the club. I had only come into campus after COVID, so everything was still barely getting back to its old way. Especially knowing that SOL Club is a very known club in school, it made me a whole lot more nervous. But one thing I am completely proud of is my roots. I am a proud Chicana who enjoys serving its community, and not only did I know I was going to serve my community in some way- I knew this club was going to help me develop leadership skills and also help develop a strong community amongst the students here on campus. That’s what motivated me to take this position.

What is your favorite thing about being a part of SOL Club? 

I would have to say that my favorite thing about being part of SOL Club beside the events, is being able to develop new friendships. In every event, there’s always at least one new person that you meet, and you just think “Wow, I’m really glad I met this person”!

What are your goals for the club this year? What activities do you have planned or hope to do?  

The goal for this school year is to do many events for the student body and connect to the community a lot more. Every other Monday, we will be having Refresca at 7 pm. Refresca is an easy get-together where we get to mingle and worship, and it’s a great way to start the week. We do have fall fest coming up in November, so definitely do not miss our table! We will be serving a delicious plate. An upcoming big event is our Albion Trip which occurs every winter quarter. Last year’s trip was so much fun! This trip is a fun weekend trip where we get to enjoy ourselves and really just take a breather from school. So, definitely stay on the lookout for the announcements! We will also be doing some small events throughout the year, but we will announce those as the year comes along.

How can students get involved with SOL Club? 

Everyone is welcome!! We love the help and ideas that the students have. Feedback is important to us because that will allow this club to grow and give the community what they want. For those who want to get more involved with our clubs by helping out of any sort just approach us. If it’s easier they can just email me at ajzepeda@puc.edu, the V.P Catherine at catgarcia@puc.edu, or the secretary Nayelli at namgarcia@puc.edu. We would definitely love to have the members get involved!

What do you want future students to know about the club that is interested in joining?  

To future students, SOL Club is open to everyone! Just because it has a Latinx name doesn’t mean you can’t be part of it. Our goal is to make the student feel at home and build a community on which you guys can rely on. Joining a club allows you to know the campus more, and being involved is going to give you a good college experience. So do not be afraid and join! You will not regret it.

PUC’s History Club: Mixing Learning & Fun

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Isai J. Martinez recently finished his junior year majoring in History with European Emphasis and minoring in Film and Television, and was this year’s History Club president. The History Club used to be department-based and usually included history and pre-law majors- but Isai and the rest of the club officers wanted to change that by opening up the club more to be an event-based club with fun events throughout the year.

As president, his role was to network with others and brainstorm with his team to bring amazing events and projects to the club. To learn more about the history club, Isai answered some questions for us. 

What made you decide to become the president of the club? 

This year, I accepted the post to be the president of the history club because, during my freshman year, the president of that year wanted to expand the club more. However, due to Covid-19, we were forced to cease any idea of it. I was very lucky to be chosen to take over the club and be able to present new ideas.

What were your goals for the History Club this year? 

We want to expand alongside the Pre-Law Society in order to bring more recognition to the club and establish new traditions that the History Club can be leading for a long time.

What are some exciting activities or events you have planned? 

My favorite event that we have planned is Foreign Film Night. We will be choosing films from around the world like a Japanese Studio Ghibli film, a Zombie-Historical Korean film, a Nollywood film, or a Mexican film from the ’60s. We will pick two movies and the students will be able to decide over a vote on Instagram what movie they will like to watch that movie night. 

Other events include a surprise trip during spring quarter and a special project that everyone (in-club or no club) can be involved in and we will announce that more information later. 

What is your favorite part about being in the History Club?

Honestly, my favorite part has been getting to know the rest of the history majors and working really well with the History professors. They don’t bite! They are the most approachable and charismatic group of people I have met. 

Convince me to join the History Club in five sentences. 

This year, the History Club is opening up more to become a bigger and more diverse group of people. We want people to learn and appreciate history and what better way than watching movies from around the world with your friends. We have so many things planned for those who want to be super involved and for those who want to casually participate. The History Club is open to all. We want you to know that History Club is there to have fun and that’s all!! 

Follow them on Instagram and we hope you join the History Club next year!

Student Clubs at PUC

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Members of the Biology Club at the Welcome Back party this past September.

By Sarah Tanner

From academic to civic to cultural clubs, PUC promises a space for all interested students. With over 15 organizations on campus, and a growing number each year, any student looking for a place to connect with those who share their passions is sure to find a group that is right for them. A conversation with a number of club presidents and members highlighted a handful of the clubs at PUC.

Vietnamese Student Association

Andrew Dang, president of the Vietnamese Student Association, explains his club creates a welcoming environment for Vietnamese students who want to strengthen ties to their cultural background.

“Our main goal is to preserve Vietnamese culture,” he said. “We want to celebrate our Vietnamese heritage, traditions, and values, with each other as well as with everyone interested in learning.”

Dang notes the club is open to students looking to learn more about the Vietnamese culture and welcomes all interested. He adds, “We aim to host events where students can come together as a family and take a break from the worries of school and enrich themselves in everything our culture has to offer.”

Get involved: Email Andrew at addang@puc.edu.

SPARK

SPARK stands for Science Presentations and Research for Kids. This club focuses on making science fun and accessible for students of all ages.

Member Emma Tyner notes, “We aim to excite students about the sciences, especially biology and chemistry. As a club, much of what we do centers on going out into the community, visiting schools, and bringing science to life for students from elementary to high school.”

One of the ways they achieve this is by bringing live animals in to supplement their biology presentations. They also carry out step-by-step chemistry experiments in order to give younger students a hands-on experience with science.

Get involved: Email Emma at eetyner@puc.edu.

Thaumatrope

The mission statement of Thaumatrope, PUC’s community service club, cites their goal is, “transforming the young adults of today into catalysts of change for tomorrow through global awareness, service toward others, and realization of God’s purpose and passion for their lives.”

According to member Victoria Gabardi, Thaumatrope also strives to “spin our communities into one through mentorship, local work, and global service.”

Thaumatrope strives to help willing students become involved on campus, in local areas, and, ultimately, in the global community through volunteering.

Gabardi explains, “We help advertise events like volunteer health clinics, and organize others such as pre-vespers, Service Sabbath, and service visits to local retirement homes and schools, among others.”

Always looking for a new opportunity to serve, Thaumatrope is also planning a coat drive this winter, and are working to organize useful aid for the people of Paradise whose homes were lost in the fire.

Get involved: Email Victoria at vjgabardi@puc.edu.

Biology Club

The Biology Club was created with science majors—particularly those interested in the biological sciences—and the outdoors in mind.

Club president Tony Robles explains, “PUC is such a beautiful location to study nature, as we have our own forest within walking distance. The Biology Club wants to not only get its majors together for events but also hopes to make everyone aware of the many great ways available to explore the outdoors.”

The club organizes an annual trip to Albion, day trips to the coast, hikes in the Back 40, and pre-vespers. New this year is a trip to the Academy of Science Museum in San Francisco.

Get involved: Email member Lily at litran@puc.edu.

Climbing Club

The Climbing Club is a relatively new addition to PUC’s campus organizations.

“The reason we created this club is to encourage a climbing community at PUC,” explains Reuben Dick, club president. “As my own climbing skills and experience has grown, my friends and I felt as though our campus lacked a climbing community, despite the fact that PUC has access to great climbing areas. As a result, we took it upon ourselves to create this club to foster both veteran and beginner climbers.”
 The club also worked to establish the climbing wall at the college.

“Because of our efforts and the hard work of many people here on campus in the past few quarters, we are happy to announce the wall opened on Sunday, Dec. 2,” Dick says.

Guided climbing trips to teach beginning climbers, activity nights at the new wall, pre-vespers, and movie nights are just a few of the activities this group has planned for the year. Dick notes no climbing experience or equipment is necessary, and all are welcome.

Get involved: Email Reuben at rjdick@puc.edu.

Mountain Biking Club

Like its sister, the Climbing Club, the Mountain Biking Club is a new club and another opportunity for activity at PUC.

“The goal of the Mountain Biking Club is to help people get outside and enjoy nature while participating in an exciting sport,” member Alex Nelson explains. “At PUC, we have over 40 miles of very high-quality bike trails both on PUC property, as well as in Las Posadas and the Palisades.”

The Mountain Biking Club creates opportunities for beginners with little-to-no mountain biking experience to be introduced to the sport under the guidance of more experienced cyclists. Likewise, no gear or prior knowledge is required before joining.

Nelson continues, “So far we have held two group rides, and it was a great time! We had roughly ten riders of varying skill levels, and we explored the trails of the back 40.”

More exciting Mountain Biking Club events will be announced throughout the year.

Get involved: Email Alex at acnelson@puc.edu.

SOL Club

One of PUC’s many cultural groups, SOL Club stands for Student Organization for Latinos. SOL’s influence is wide-ranging, as they contribute to worship services, student events, and many other areas of campus life.

President Amy Ramos explains, “Our mission is simple: to provide opportunities for students to celebrate and showcase our rich culture.” She continues, “Some SOL Club activities include pre-vespers, La Capilla, potlucks, an Albion retreat, and the SOL Club banquet, among many others. Additionally, we enjoy partnering with local churches and non-profit organizations to better reach out to the community.”

SOL Club strives to create a positive impact not only in its member’s lives, but also on the PUC community as a whole, and the organization welcomes all students who want to make a difference on campus.

Get involved: Email Amy at alramos@puc.edu.

PUC offers a wide and ever-expanding variety of clubs that provide unique opportunities for students to involve themselves in campus life. Membership fees depend on each group individually, and some clubs do not require any payment. However, for those clubs that include membership dues, free t-shirts are given to all members. Anyone interested in joining one of PUC’s clubs is welcome to speak with any of the members or presidents listed above, as all groups are happy to accept new members throughout the year.

The Pre-Law Society at PUC

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By Andrew Mahinay

If you ever want to be apart of something bigger than yourself, join a campus club.

Pacific Union College offers a broad range of clubs available to all students. On one side of the spectrum, you have social clubs, such as the Student Organization of Latinos (SOL) and the Korean Adventist Student Association (KASA), and on the other, academic clubs such as the Chemistry Club or Pre-law Society. Getting involved with either type of clubs is a great way to strengthen your network and share advice with other students. This article covers the purposes of joining the Pre-Law Society.

The two faculty sponsors of the Pre-Law Society are Dr. Howard Munson, associate professor of history, and Abram Fisher, assistant professor of business administration. Currently, the Pre-Law Society has an average of 15 to 20 members. The majority of members range from first year freshman to second year sophomores. There is a single senior, which consists of myself.

As the president of the Pre-Law Society, it is my job to facilitate a learning environment amongst all members of the society. The purpose of the Pre-Law Society is to inform faculty, staff, and students that there is a pre-law community that exists on campus and works to offer students guidance in the process leading up to law school and advice that can help them in their LSAT preparation. Having just taken the LSAT this year, I have learned valuable insights that will help students tackle and overcome the daunting LSAT. Examples of tips include indicating isolated question types in practice tests and pinpointing practice sections that include specific game types. (Editor’s note: You can also read Andrew’s blog post “Study Tips for Graduate School Admissions Tests” for more ideas.)

Another aspect the Pre-Law Society has to offer is a network of practicing attorneys who are willing to answer questions students have concerning law school. In addition to answering questions, they also provide students with tips. The Pre-Law Society recently featured PUC alumnus Brittany Cheney, who graduated at the top of her UC Davis School of Law class in 2012. She shared with students one of the most important characteristics to have in law school is competitiveness.

The Pre-Law Society also works as a support system. Pre-law is not a dominant field at PUC, and it is imperative students know they are not alone and there is a community of other pre-law majors on campus. It is the hope of the Pre-Law Society to ensure all members feel empowered to do their absolute best in their academic endeavors and to encourage students to strive for excellence.

If you are endeavoring to become an attorney, or contemplating whether pre-law is right for you, or just want to hang out with awesome people, feel free to join the Pre-Law Society!

So Many Clubs, So Little Time!

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By Catherine Villa

SOL Club at a recent beach vespers.

SOL Club at a recent beach vespers.

There are many different opportunities for students to meet other students with similar interests at PUC, and picking a club to join is just one of those ways. There are a lot of clubs here on campus, so the toughest part can come to trying to pick one!

The diversity here at PUC can be seen very clearly when going through the list of options you have. The best place to start is by looking at what department interests you. Clubs range from cultural to academic and includes civic as well.

  • Academic clubs give you the ability to network among other people in your major, or another field you’re interested in. There are options ranging from Biology to Pre-Law and History!
  • Civic clubs work to help people. Clubs like REVO and Thaumatrope help students become more active in making differences in the lives of those on our campus or within the community.  
  • Cultural clubs allow you to meet people with similar ancestry as you or help you become familiar with someone else’s. Clubs like Black Student Union, the Student Organization of Latinos (SOL), and the Hawaiian Club all use their clubs to promote a bigger sense of community here on campus.

There are also special interest clubs. The Debate Club or the Jiu Jitsu Club can always prove to be full of energy and something to do. If the stress of picking just one club is getting to you, the Angwin Flyers Club can take you away!

You can see a full list of this year’s clubs at puc.edu/clubs. If there’s something you’re interested in but there isn’t already a club formed around it, just stop by the Student Services office to get a petition to organize a new club to get started. Grab 10 friends, get a faculty sponsor, and you’re well on your way to having fun!