Roundtable Magazine ǀ Spring 2023

CBU receives historic $28.5 million gift

Events Center named in couple’s honor

PAGE 18

CBU helps first-gen students on their educational journey

Outdoor Adventure connects students with peers and God’s creation

Student mentors share love of engineering with Lego challenge teams

18

Dale E. Fowler and his wife, Sarah Ann, give CBU a $28.5 million gift. CBU names its Events Center in their honor.

Contents

8

First-Generation Services are in place to support these students on their educational journey.

10

School Counselors, Psychologists CBU prepares graduates to help K–12 students succeed.

34

Speaker Hall Of Fame

Mike Staver, a CBU Board of Trustee and alum, shares his public speaking journey.

36

Alum News

The latest news from Lancer alumni.

Outdoor Adventure

The program lets students experience a variety of outdoor activities.

20

Lego Challenge

CBU students share their love of engineering — and Lego bricks — with schoolchildren.

16

Working in D.C.

Nathanael Hovda completed the ultimate internship — at the White House.

24

Homecoming

Thousands of alumni and friends attend Homecoming activities.

President’s Note

RONALD L. ELLIS, PH.D.

Fellow Lancers,

It has been an exciting spring semester at California Baptist University. Homecoming festivities drew more than 4,000 alumni and friends back “home” in February. The multiday event offered activities for alumni to reconnect and for all members of the Lancer Nation to make new memories.

A couple weeks later, CBU announced the generous and historic gift of $28.5 million from Dale E. Fowler and his wife, Sarah Ann. CBU named our 5,050-seat campus events center in their honor.

As we finish this academic year, we look back on the lessons learned, the memories made and the experiences gained.

The stories featured in this issue of the Roundtable show how God continues to make a difference through the people and the programs at CBU.

One example of this is the support and resources we offer our more than 2,100 students who are the first in their family to attend college. Being a first-generation student has unique challenges, and CBU has resources to help students through their educational journey to commencement.

Alumni also provide help to students before they arrive to CBU. K–12 students often need assistance and guidance. The Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education has two graduate programs in school counseling and school psychology that prepare graduates to serve and help those students succeed.

This issue of the Roundtable also features CBU engineering students who came alongside schoolage children in a distinct way. The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering sponsored six teams for the First Lego League and hosted the First Lego League Regional Tournament. CBU students served as mentors and shared their passion for engineering with the teams.

Speaking of new experiences, CBU student Nathanael Hovda had the opportunity of interning at the White House. He shares what he did there and the lessons he learned helping shape important policy.

Together we remember past blessings, celebrate current achievements and look forward to what lies ahead. As we end this academic year, my prayer is that everything we do at CBU will glorify God.

THE

MAGAZINE OF CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

SPRING 2023

VOLUME 65 • ISSUE 1

EDITOR

Angela Meluski

MANAGING EDITOR

Vivian Quezada

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Lauren Rios, Amanda Warner

ART DIRECTOR

Edgar Garcia

SENIOR DESIGNER

Kyle Ready

PHOTOGRAPHY

CBU Athletics, Edgar Garcia, Vivian Quezada, Nathan Byrne, William Landers, Emma Osborn

CONTRIBUTOR CBU Athletics

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STAY CONNECTED

Around Campus

School of Performing Arts showcases ‘A CBU Christmas’

The Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts presented its fifth annual Christmas special “Gloria – A CBU Christmas” on Dec. 3-4, 2022.

Guests experienced holiday music in a broad array of musical styles and celebrated the timeless message of the Christmas season.

The show featured world-renowned artists, accomplished artist faculty and more than 350 CBU music students. Guest artists included Grammy-winner Alan Parsons, opera tenor Bruce Sledge and many more.

Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the School of Performing Arts, said the performance gave CBU a platform to communicate clearly, creatively and on a mass scale the true meaning of Christmas.

“This performance showcases the breadth of the School of Performing Arts at CBU,” Bolin said. “We are a very broad and comprehensive program, and few people really get the full picture of who we are and what we do. This allows us in one

night to showcase the rich reservoir of talent that God has brought to CBU.”

The show comprised over 20 ensembles featuring vocalists and instrumentalists.

Dr. Gene Peterson, director of choral and vocal studies and the artistic director for “A CBU Christmas,” said the show was a great celebration. He enjoyed performing “The Promise” written by Michael W. Smith.

“It speaks of the great promise of the light of the world that has come to Earth,” Peterson said. “To me, it is one of the most beautiful and picturesque pieces in this performance.”

Jabs School of Business launches Family Business Center

The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business launched the Family Business Center on Dec. 1, 2022.

The center will provide seminars and networking opportunities to family-owned businesses in the Southern California region. Additionally, experts with family business experience — in banking, legal, estate planning and other areas — will be available as a resource.

“Every business is unique and special, and every family is unique and special. Now you put the two things together and you have an amazingly unique organization,” said Dr. Keanon Alderson, professor of business and director of the Family Business Center. “Commonly their issues are succession and long-term planning, communication, decision making and conflict. We have the resources, the tools and the knowledge to help these family firms succeed to the next generation.”

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget lists metropolitan statistical areas in the country. In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area, 45% of employers are family owned, making it No. 1 in that category, according to the U.S. Census Annual Survey of Entrepreneurship (2016).

Family businesses should consider joining the center if they are “complex,” Alderson said, such as being large, being older, having multiple generations and multiple family members involved, experiencing conflict, or, more importantly, facing an upcoming transition or succession.

Alderson brings first-hand experience to his role. He worked 17 years in the family business, Sonergy Nutritional Products, which was started by his parents. They sold the company in 1992.

He has written two textbooks and several articles on the subject and works as a consultant for family firms.

“I deal with family conflict, improving communication and family decision making. I make recommendations and set up governance tools to help manage the business more effectively,” Alderson said.

▲ Guest artists Emily Benford and Criston Moore perform during the concert.

CBU soccer and softball win on more than just the field

California Baptist University won second place for its soccer and softball fields at the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful’s annual Beautification Awards. The awards were announced during the mayor’s State of the City address held Jan. 26, 2023.

CBU won in the category of New Construction with Landscaping.

The new soccer field debuted in the 2022 soccer season. The $3.9 million CBU Soccer Stadium includes bleachers that can seat 520 people with space for overflow crowds and a covered, open-air press box. The field features hybrid Bermuda grass and 90-foot-tall stadium lighting for night games.

In the field’s first season, CBU hosted the 2022 Western Athletic Conference Tournament. And in the Lancers’ inaugural season of Division I postseason eligibility, the men’s soccer team won the championship. The men ended the season with a 11-7-3, 4-3-2 record. The women’s team also had a successful season, making it into the

Western Athletic Conference Tournament. They ended the season with an 8-5-5, 5-3-3 record.

Meanwhile, the John C. Funk Softball Stadium at CBU underwent a makeover during the summer of 2022. The 32,000-square-foot outfield of hybrid Bermuda grass was replaced with AstroTurf for approximately $500,000.

The change was made primarily for the safety of players and for them to be able to play consistently year round. Additional benefits included aesthetics, durability and less maintenance.

The softball team wrapped up its 2022 season with a record of 30-26 and 12-12 in league play, resulting in the Lancers earning third place in the divisional standings.

▲ Bryan Iliohan

MIND. BODY. SPIRIT.

“I will raise my eyes to the mountains; From where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1-2 (NASB)

Valeria Ramirez

Bachelor of Arts in Photography

What does it mean to be a first-gen student?

It’s exciting and emotional. Every other day, my parents told me they were proud of me before I went to school. They both hoped that I would reach higher than high school. I plan to guide family members in younger generations — being right by their side from their first FAFSA process, getting through the challenging parts of college, the fun parts of college, and to commencement day with a degree. This would mean a lot to them.

What advice do you have for first-gen students?

Be proud of themselves (and I mean it, you made it to college!), focus on their education, keep an eye on their health, and get involved with activities and events.

Helping first-generation students succeed

Many students at California Baptist University have had parents, siblings and other relatives who have gone before them and braved the unknown of higher education. They can provide guidance about transitioning to college life — from how to apply for college to setting up financial aid and everything in between.

But for those students who are the first in their families to attend college, this time can be challenging.

Dr. Wayne Fletcher, associate provost for Academic Affairs at CBU, said that first-generation students are presented with a unique set of challenges.

“The first-generation student journey is often challenging because of the lack of family understanding around higher education,” Fletcher said.

Connecting with a student success coach can help these students on their journey, Fletcher said.

“The reality is that your student success coach and your professors are there to support you,” Fletcher said.

While the student success coaches provide individual guidance to students, the Office of Student Success hosts a first-generation panel discussion during Welcome Weekend each fall. The panel includes students, staff and faculty who themselves were first-gen college students and focuses on answering questions and setting expectations for both students and parents regarding the college experience.

“You are not alone on this journey,” Fletcher said. “When you ask a question, in any setting, you help not only yourself but those around you that may be too timid to ask. Be bold. This is your education and your life!”

Housed under the Office of Academic Advising, the student success coaches are a team dedicated to empowering students from the classroom to commencement.

Bethany Ho, a student success coach, is a child of immigrants. Her parents came to the United States from Vietnam when communism took over.

Through their struggles, her mother received an associate’s degree and her father took 13 years to complete his bachelor’s degree.

“After finishing their schooling, both of my parents worked in public education and spent a significant time teaching and mentoring first-generation students,” Ho said. “They taught me the value of being there for someone who has a question. Even though I don’t know all the answers, I find it a privilege to be a student’s first point of contact so I can support them in getting help for their needs.”

Josue Ramirez, a biomedical sciences sophomore, said being a first-generation college student at CBU means that he has a lot to accomplish.

“Being the first means that I have to be the example for my other siblings,” Ramirez said. “The best part of this situation is that I am in an institution that will propel me forward by challenging me.”

Denise Powell, a first-generation healthcare administration junior, is a mother of four who leans on the support of her family and friends.

“My biggest success is not quitting,” Powell said. “Like everyone I am juggling a lot, but I will cross the finish line this time.”

Paola Varela, a graduate student in the higher education leadership and student development program, said her biggest challenge is balancing work, school and life.

“CBU has helped me in this area because all my professors have been understanding about my responsibilities,” Varela said. “My professors have provided support by breaking large assignments into smaller components to ensure success.”

She wants to set standards high for her siblings to follow. Her biggest challenge in college has been her imposter syndrome, Varela said.

“I must constantly remind myself that I am capable of everything I pursue,” Varela said. “My most considerable success has been seeing my growth and development from where I started to where I am now. … To my family, it represents hope for the next generation to attend college and progress for our family to live a better life.”

Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership and Student Development

What does it mean to be a first-gen student?

Being a first-gen student means breaking generational curses. It means setting an example for your loved ones to view education differently. I went to college to break the cycle of poverty, the process of being uneducated and the cycle of giving up. Everyone has trials and tribulations, but I got a degree because someone needed to make the change.

What advice do you have for first-gen students?

First-gen students should not take these opportunities for granted. I firmly believe somebody has to be the first, so why not let it be you?

Dr. Elaine Ahumada

Program Director of Doctor of Public Administration (Online)

What did it mean to be a first-gen student?

I always want first-generation students to know that they are supported, and I am always available and willing to be a resource.

How did it impact your college experience?

If it were not for the help of an admissions counselor who explained avenues for financing and scholarships, I may not have been able to complete my degree when I did. When wanting to go to grad school, faculty guided me in selecting the right degree. I am very grateful for those individuals who took the time to assist me in understanding how to navigate options and also guide me in ways that best served me.

What advice do you have for first-gen students?

Do not give up on your goal to achieve your dreams. There are people in high schools and universities who wish to assist you. There are no goals too big for God and one’s faith. Have faith in people and the process, and you will see results.

6,596

2,137 or 32.5%

Total number of traditional undergraduate students

First-generation students

Resources for First-Gen Students

Office of Academic Advising:

• Academic Advising

• Student success coaching

• One-stop answer for most questions

Office of Student Success:

• University Tutoring Center

• University Writing Center

• Disability Services

• Veterans Resource Center

• Student re-entry support

• Peer mentors

Paola Varela

Preparing graduates to serve students in schools

As an undergraduate, Justine Jackson was not sure which career to pursue. The psychology major knew she wanted to serve but did not know in what capacity.

“As I was searching for a path, God reminded me of a person who helped me get into college and who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” Jackson said. “This person was my high school counselor, and I knew I wanted to be someone to help do the same for other kids or to be a person they could count on and who would push them to their ultimate potential.”

Jackson (’19, ’22) is now a school counselor at Lake Hills Elementary School in Riverside.

“I understand I am not a superhero that can fix all things and situations, but the knowledge that I am a safe person who has their best interest in mind works wonders in a school environment,” Jackson said. “I truly feel that I am living my purpose because I can already see a small difference I am making at my site. Here, students know me and confide in me.”

The Master of Science in School Counseling and the Master of Science in School Psychology in the Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education prepare graduates to serve K-12

students. School counselors work with students offering classroom lessons, small groups for students who need extra support and individual short-term school counseling. School psychologists conduct assessments for children suspected of having disabilities, consult with teachers and parents to mitigate learning and behavior problems and conduct counseling sessions.

Seeking to improve student outcomes

In the school counseling program, all of the faculty serve as school counselors in schools, said Dr. Pedro Caro, director of the school counseling program.

“This is invaluable for students as every experience, assignment and lecture is presented from a real-world perspective,” Caro said.

As a result of the pandemic, the program’s curriculum has a focus on student and staff mental health, Caro said.

“We make sure to teach safe self-care, mindfulness and coping strategies that school counselors can, in turn, teach students,” Caro said. “We also focus course work on equipping school counselors to effectively utilize technology in their programs.”

The profession has evolved over the past 25 years, he said.

“Today’s school counselors are poised to lead in efforts to improve student outcomes such as attendance, discipline and achievement,” Caro said. “This is all grounded in providing deep-rooted hope for our students and their families. We do what is best for each other and show unconditional Christian love for all students so they would feel like they could succeed.”

Jackson is working at being a school counselor who her students know can help. She was nominated as School Site Support of the Year in 2022.

“I realize that without God this job may seem impossible at times, but CBU has always pointed me back to God and my purpose given to me by Him to continue to push and persevere,” Jackson said.

Serving children in crisis or facing challenges

The school psychology program works to educate students through cutting-edge curriculum, professor-student mentorship and field experiences, said Dr. Pedro Olvera, director of the school psychology program.

“The school psychology program at CBU integrates a biblical perspective, which is pivotal in developing a compassionate approach to our profession,” Olvera said. “Our profession involves serving children and families in crisis or encountering the challenges of raising children with disabilities. Through our compassion perspective, rooted in the Bible, we hope our students will make a difference in the lives of those they encounter.”

Students’ mental health is making headlines, especially during and after the pandemic.

“The pandemic’s impact on youth’s mental health has been significant. There have been elevated levels of anxiety, depression and attempted suicides within the K-12 populations,” Olvera said.

The National Association of School Psychologists recommends a ratio of 500 students to 1 school psychologist. California has 858 students to 1, according to U.S. Department of Education (2021-22).

“Our hands-on approach, hiring faculty practicing in the field, and partnering with district training sites all work together to prepare our students to practice successfully in this rewarding career,” Olvera said.

Jacqueline De Santiago (’22) is a school psychologist for Academy for Academic Excellence in Apple Valley, California. She works to help students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally.

“As a school psychologist, we wear many hats, and every day is a unique experience,” De Santiago said. “Being a school psychologist is a rewarding field and truly an everyday learning experience.”

She tries to be there for her students as much as possible, connecting with them at least once a week.

“I have an open-door policy where students are welcome to stop by if they are having a difficult time managing their anxiety. I give them strategies they can utilize at home and at school,” De Santiago said.

⊲ Sydney Peters, left, and Rayah Miller explore Joshua Tree National Park.

The program plans six to eight trips every semester to let students experience a variety of outdoor activities including camping, hiking, snowboarding, surfing and rock climbing. Each trip is designed for different experience levels, from those who have never pitched a tent to the adventure seekers who enjoy backpacking up a steep mountain.

Kayla Ruiz, Outdoor Adventure coordinator at CBU, said the goal of the program is to get students outside and connected with each other.

“When you get outside, guards go down,” Ruiz said. “You can connect with people in a very organic way with distractions gone.”

All trips are led by outdoor leads, a group of students who were selected by the Campus Recreation staff to guide their fellow classmates and navigate the trip.

Ruiz said the outdoor lead’s role is centered around service and uses one’s spiritual gifts on these adventures.

“We look for a desire to serve and a desire to learn,” Ruiz said. “This job provides the opportunity to serve and love people well.”

Claire Bailey, a psychology senior, has worked as an outdoor lead for over a year. Having the opportunity to help students enjoy the outdoors is an incredible joy, Bailey said.

“During my first week at CBU I joined an outdoor excursion to La Jolla, and it completely changed my experience as a student,” Bailey said. “I met incredible friends, experienced God’s creation in a place I had never been and witnessed some of the best leadership I had ever seen.“

Planning is a pivotal part of an outdoor lead’s role. Everything is prepared prior to departure, including the logistics of the trip, transportation, meals, devotionals and daily activities. This gives students the chance to just show up and enjoy the trip.

The beauty and majesty of God’s creation can be found all around us if we are willing to step outside and experience it.

The Outdoor Adventure program through the Campus Recreation department at California Baptist University creates unique opportunities for students to leave the hustle and bustle of everyday campus life and connect with their peers in the great outdoors, distraction free.

Zachary Rigby, a mechanical engineering senior, has led 15 trips. He gets numerous opportunities to experience God’s goodness in his interactions with others.

“I often get to discuss my faith and the things I’m learning in personal study time with others as I am hiking on a trail or sitting on my surfboard in the ocean,” Rigby said. “We also prepare devotionals for each day of our trips that we share with participants to give them something to reflect on as we experience God’s creation.”

Taking a trip with complete strangers might sound intimidating and a little bit daunting, Ruiz said. It pushes students outside their comfort zone and familiar surroundings to not

only enjoy the sights of a trip but discover more about themselves.

The mutual shared experience is where the bonding begins, Ruiz said.

“It gives the opportunity to see how people respond in hard situations,” Ruiz said. “It creates a realness of doing difficult things together and allows you to encourage those next to you.”

Camille Bailey, a communication sciences and disorders senior, has participated in five trips, and said the most rewarding part is starting the week off as complete strangers and ending the weekend as close friends.

“A lot of the time, the friendships made on these trips extend far beyond the initial weekend,” Bailey said. “These trips always cultivate such a rich community, and I am so thankful for the friendships that have resulted from these weekends.”

“A lot of the time the friendships made on these trips extend far beyond the initial weekend.”

— Camille Bailey

▲ Enjoying Zion National Park. Back Row: Dylan Page, Nathan Berry, Luke Eide, Jenavieve Santoyo, Samantha Figurate, Justyna Sanchez, Drew Sangren, Dawson Carter, Peter Sells, Camille Bailey, Kate McBride, Cydney Cunning, Erica De Jong, Zachary Rigby, Tracy Johnson and Caitlyn Werner. Front Row: Rhysa Lee, Grace Letherer, Madison Hill, Chloe Beedy, Kenna Watson, Aliah Martinez and Allie Askier.

southern utah

Santa barbara

Interning at the White House

When Nathanael Hovda was a senior in high school, he started interning at the mayor’s office in Riverside. During his time at California Baptist University, he also interned at ExxonMobil and a consulting firm.

Then he went bigger. He interned at the White House.

The chemical engineering major worked in the Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer from January to May 2022.

“It’s very surreal,” said Hovda, now a senior. “You walk in the big gate in front of the White House with your badge and go through a security checkpoint and you’re on the campus. You see the president as he walks from the Oval Office to his helicopter on the South Lawn.”

He met President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama and various administration members. He took a photo with the Stanley Cup when the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team came to the White House, and he went to the Easter Egg Roll held on the grounds.

Within the sustainability office are different teams: electricity, supply chain, vehicles, buildings and environmental justice, to name a few. Hovda was in the buildings team. He primarily worked on three projects:

implementation strategy for infrastructure decarbonization; talking with tribal nations about environmental issues to form policy; and co-developing a federal electrification policy to reduce Scope 1 emissions, which come from direct burning of fossil fuels.

“I think the lesson was leading by example. They were always willing to take time to work with other people, me and different stakeholders.” — Nathanael Hovda

His role involved a lot of research. For instance, the decarbonization project was a result of an executive order to reduce fossil fuel use in buildings to net zero by 2045. Hovda researched state and local government policies that were effectively doing that, and worked with federal agencies to understand where current emissions were coming from.

“We have this goal, how do we get there? What are the very specific metrics that we need to be putting in place?” he said.

CBU prepared Hovda in various ways for this opportunity: His chemical engineering experience, both in the classroom and in the lab, helped as he worked with others in STEM. Understanding research was beneficial in realizing how academia plays a part in the recommendations that governments make.

Business classes helped because “everything comes down to money.” Public speaking courses

taught him how to present in a way that is succinct and understandable.

After the five-month internship, Hovda took away several lessons from D.C. He learned how the government works. He also worked with people who reflected servant leadership and did their best to make policies effective.

“I think the lesson was leading by example,” Hovda said. “They were always willing to take time to work with other people, me and different stakeholders.”

On the more tangible side, he learned about prioritization. Hovda admits to being a perfectionist, but there was only so much time.

“We can only get so much done, so it’s up to you to figure out what you need to do. That was a quick wakeup call,” Hovda said. “It’s about figuring what needs to get done and creating a road map for that and figuring out how to do it.”

At CBU, Hovda has worked with the Lancer Media Group and with a CBU professor researching water contamination. He also is on the CBU Student Senate this year, its inaugural year, as chair and the engineering representative.

After graduation, Hovda will join the consulting firm McKinsey & Company in the Houston office. He may return to D.C. and work in some capacity on sustainability initiatives in government.

Working at the White House was special, even with the pressure and challenges, he said.

“I feel immensely privileged to share in a small part of that work. Indeed, amazing change can be made in D.C.,” Hovda said. “But I quickly learned the importance of the work being done across the country in state and local governments. That’s where the ‘policy rubber’ meets the road in our communities — and where we can be most involved.”

TOP TAKEAWAYS

• Lead. Be a servant and uplifting example for the future.

• Prioritize. Create a road map for what needs to get done.

• Engage. Get involved in local and state governments.

▲ Clockwise from bottom: Oscar Lopez, Nathanael Hovda, Karthik Nagappan — all White House interns — and Dr. Anthony Fauci

California Baptist University celebrates historic $28.5 million gift

CBU students, alumni and friends can Lance Up! in a newly named events center — thanks to a generous gift of $28.5 million from real estate developer Dale Fowler and his wife, Ann. CBU named its 5,050-seat events center in their honor.

“We are extremely thankful to Dale and Ann for their generosity and support,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of CBU. “This gift will be instrumental in our ability to continue delivering upon our mission to help students live God’s purpose in their lives. The Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center will be a reminder of how their generosity will impact CBU for generations to come.”

The Fowlers were introduced to CBU by their friends Billie Yeager and her late husband, Gene, who were early and significant supporters of CBU. Dale and Ann also have two grandchildren who graduated from CBU. Dale Fowler is an Orange County native and businessman, and the couple divide their time between residences in Massachusetts and Southern California.

“Supporting education is a priority for us,” Dale Fowler said. “It’s an honor to contribute to a university that makes a lasting impact on the lives of its students and in the areas they go on to work, serve and live. CBU is a remarkable Christian institution, and we are proud to support the important things happening on campus.”

The Fowlers have donated to CBU and other colleges in Southern California and Massachusetts. Their previous gifts to CBU supported endowed and general scholarships and the Endurance Fund, created to help the university through the pandemic. The couple’s latest gift — the largest one in CBU’s 73-year history — is not designated to a particular project, university officials said.

“Working with Dale and Ann over the years has been a blessing, and I am thrilled their legacy will be on full display at the Fowler Events Center,” said Paul J. Eldridge, J.D., vice president for University Advancement. “Friends like the Fowlers who invest in future generations unlock tremendous opportunities to enhance the student experience and impact student lives.

It is exciting to think of the many ways Dale and Ann’s gift will help future students reach their educational goals.”

The 5,050-seat events center opened in 2017. The 153,000-square-foot building provides space for Division I basketball games, weekly chapel services and commencement ceremonies, among other events.

“This gift will be instrumental in our ability to continue delivering upon our mission to help students live God’s purpose in their lives.”

—Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, President of CBU

BUILDING INTEREST IN ENGINEERING ONE LEGO AT A TIME

Jake Speyer, a software engineering senior at California Baptist University, competed twice in the First Lego League Challenge when he was in middle school.

When he heard CBU would sponsor teams, he was excited to help.

“That’s what got me into STEM as a kid,” Speyer said. “I was super down to come back and help and be like that coach that I had when I was a kid that got me all excited about it.”

For the first time, CBU sponsored six teams for the First Lego League and hosted the First Lego League Regional Tournament during the fall 2022 semester. First Lego League aims to advance science, technology, engineering and math.

Each team had designed a Lego robot and then built and programmed it for the competition, which involved various challenges such as pushing, pulling or transporting an object. Students aged 9–14 learned skills such as coding, building and teamwork. They also had to research types of energy, identify an energy-related problem and design a solution.

In the competition, teams competed in matches that lasted 2.5 minutes. During that time, each robot, controlled by a drive team of students, attempted to complete as many of the 15 challenges as possible on the Lego League table. They also presented their energy research.

The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering provided a meeting space, robot kits, competition sponsorship and student mentors for the teams. NAVSEA Corona and an individual donor assisted with equipment and finances as well.

“Having college students share their passion for engineering is contagious to other young boys and girls just learning the meaning of the word ‘engineering.’”

— Dr. Phil van Haaster, Dean of the College of Engineering

Speyer mentored the team named Powered by the Son. He gave the youths tips along the way, but they built the robot and did the coding.

“They did a really good job. I don’t think a lot of people realize how complex it is. An outsider may say, ‘They’re just playing with Legos,’ but they’re actually coding or building a robot,” Speyer said.

At the qualifying tournament, Powered by the Son received first place for robot design and enough points to move on to the regional competition.

Speyer said the biggest challenge was making sure everyone had a chance to both program and build. At first, a lot of them did not want to touch the robot or the programming interface because they were worried about making a mistake.

“However, once they realized everyone on the team made mistakes including myself, and that I was there to help guide them through the process, I noticed they became much more relaxed — laughing when programs went wrong and cheering for each other when missions succeeded,” Speyer said.

The College of Engineering became involved in the Lego challenge to make engineering more accessible, said Dr. Phil van Haaster, dean of the College of Engineering. CBU is also planning a First Lego League bootcamp this summer.

“The College of Engineering recognizes that we have a depth of knowledge not meant to be contained within the walls of our building,” van Haaster said. “We want to assist our community by donating our time, talent and facility so

young men and women can explore their God-given skills and develop a deeper passion for STEM fields.”

The college regularly engages in mentoring in STEM activities throughout the community, van Haaster said.

“Having college students share their passion for engineering is contagious to other young boys and girls just learning the meaning of the word ‘engineering,’” van Haaster said.

Isabel Ramientos, an electrical and computer engineering sophomore, mentored the Brick Boyz and the Lego Minus teams. She said it was a fun opportunity to teach children about what it means to be an engineer.

Ramientos, who played with Lego bricks as a child, learned that simple solutions are OK.

“Kids learn more by discovering their own solutions by themselves,” Ramientos said. “Even if the solution was simple, the important part was that those solutions worked and could be built upon in the following years when they have more experience with programming and sensors.”

Seeing the youths successfully complete a challenge on the table after hours of hard work and frustration was rewarding, both to the youths and mentors.

“I hope the kids learned how to work as a team because that’s a skill you need for any workplace,” Ramientos said. “I hope they learned that every person in a team is important, and it takes everyone making an effort to do their job in order to achieve success.”

Jason Heinrich, a mechanical engineering sophomore, mentored the Crawdads team. He also had participated in First Lego League in middle school. After high school, he taught Lego enrichment programs.

“I learned that being a good mentor doesn’t mean you need to have it all figured out,” Heinrich said. “Lego dramatically redesigned the robot control system since I last used it, so there was a lot of hands-on trial and error that got us going. My favorite part was having the kids explain to me how to program after they got it working.”

His biggest reward was sharing the lessons that he has learned.

“Explaining the Pythagorean theorem using Lego pieces was some of the best fun I’ve had in a while,” Heinrich said. “I hope that for any student with an interest in engineering, our season lit a spark for that passion. The challenges and ideas we tackled will carry them into many engineering adventures.”

Speyer, whose nicknames from the team included Mr. Jake and Yoda, said when he participated in the league as a child, his mentors and coaches were hands-off — letting them make mistakes, learn from them and have fun.

“Seeing how passionate my team became about programming as the weeks went by made me feel that I had metaphorically passed the torch to another generation of kids who may pursue STEM as a career after competing in FLL just like I did,” Speyer said.

528

NUMBER OF BRICKS IN OPTIONAL EXPANSION SET

NUMBER OF BRICKS IN THE ROBOT SET

2,193

604 NUMBER OF BRICKS IN THE CHALLENGE SET FOR THE LEGO LEAGUE TABLE

Thousands of alumni, families and students attended California Baptist University’s Homecoming on Feb. 10-11, 2023.

The packed weekend for Lancer Nation welcomed alumni back to campus and brought together former and current Lancers and their families to celebrate.

“Homecoming is all about connecting Lancers from different generations,” said Josh Moss, senior director of alumni, parent and donor engagement.

The weekend kicked off with a lively carnival on the Front Lawn featuring rides and games, a funhouse, food trucks and live music. The Alumni Awards Dinner honored 2023 alumni award winners and five new inductees into the CBU Athletics Hall of Fame. The following day included a 50-year reunion for the class of 1973, a reunion for the Golden Lancers (classes of 1950-1972) and a hymn sing. Attendees also enjoyed a pre-game party prior to the men’s basketball

game. CBU played West Coast Baptist College, a replacement for New Mexico State University, which bowed out at the last minute.

“Our goal is to bring alumni onto campus and give them a chance to see how much we’ve grown and developed as a campus community and also to just plug in, to connect with the current deans and to mix with each other and to be reunited,” Moss said.

Jessica Palacios, senior liberal studies major, went to the carnival on the Front Lawn to enjoy the rides and fun atmosphere. She views Homecoming’s role as an external event that reaches beyond the student community as a strength for the school.

“It gets the community involved and inspires people who don’t go here to think of CBU as an option to come to school,” Palacios said.

Pat Hjalmarson (’73) came to celebrate her 50-year reunion. Her favorite memory was basketball, since her husband, Bjorn “Bud” Hjalmarson, played. She started in the fall of 1968, the year the Van Dyne Field House was built.

“When I was here back in the ’70s, there were probably 800 students or less, so everything has just grown,” she said.

Lillian Jezik (’67) attended Homecoming to reconnect with former classmates and to see the changes that have happened on campus.

“It’s not only the buildings — it’s a tangible way of seeing the dreams that many of the founders had,” Jezik said. “They had some kind of a glimpse of what this institution would become.”

Moss said more than 4,000 attended Homecoming one of the largest events of the year on campus. Although many of the weekend activities are alumni centered, he said that Homecoming is an event that all Lancers can enjoy, both former and current students.

“One thing that’s really important to us is to make sure students understand that they’re part of Homecoming,” Moss said. “We want them to connect with alumni. We want them to understand and see that once you graduate from CBU, you’re a Lancer for life. We hope as students they enjoy the memories they are making and that they can come back as alumni and connect with the university and continue to be part of what it means to be a Lancer.”

“It gets the community involved and inspires people who don’t go here to think of CBU as an option to come to school.”—Jessica Palacios, student

▲ Clarissa Morales performs during the pre-game party.

ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

ZACH ESQUERRA (’13)

BASEBALL

BERNADETTE ESQUERRA (WITZ, ’13)

WOMEN'S SOCCER

VICENTE ANDRADE (’11)

MEN'S SWIMMING

NICOLE JOHNSON (SHIPMAN, ’09)

WOMEN'S SWIMMING

HANNAH CRICK (EVANS, ’16)

WOMEN'S WATER POLO

2023 ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS

MONIQUE GARCIA (’19)

Young Alumni Achievement Award

She is a human factors engineer at MITRE and was selected by NASA to be an analog astronaut for a simulated mission to Mars.

DR. ALIA A. RODRIGUEZ (’20)

Alumni Service Award

She is CEO and domestic violence advocate at the Corona-Norco United Way and CEO of her consulting company, Alia Rodriguez Independent Advising (ARIA).

METHODE MANIRAGUHA (’13)

Alumnus of the Year Award

He is founder and CEO of Current Renewable Engineering Inc., which provides engineering services for the solar industry.

LUKE WOMACK (’11)

Distinguished Service in Christian Ministries Award

He is founder and president of The GO Fund, a nonprofit that pays off student loans for missionaries and recently launched The Missions Course, a six-lesson course to help Christians explore God’s heart for the nations and discover their role in His global plan for redemption.

PATTY (’85) AND MICHAEL GEYER

Alumni Philanthropy Award

Patty is founder and president of Victory Coaching International. She and her husband volunteer in areas such as a food pantry and disaster relief.

ROBERT LANGLEY (’70)

Lancer Lifetime Achievement Award

He served as a pastor for 45 years. He also helped create SoCal Baptist Ministries, which provides small missions and ministry grants to California Southern Baptist churches and related organizations.

LANCE UP!

When attending a basketball game to cheer Lancer Nation on to victory there is no denying that the energy in the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center is electric. Fans can be heard shouting the phrase “Lance Up!” as they passionately root for the Lancers on the sidelines. But the phrase was not always part of the Lancer tradition.

So where exactly did “Lance Up!” come from?

Back in 2010, Chris Hofschroer, dean of students, and a former athletic director, Dr. Micah Parker, were brainstorming how to inspire more tradition and school spirit at games.

They discussed how other universities had signature slogans and how it played such a large role in the school’s culture.

“I suggested to Micah that we should do something with Lance,” Hofschroer said. “He mentioned Oklahoma State Cowboys’ ‘Guns Up’ and we both immediately said, ‘Lance Up.’”

With the phrase also comes the signature “Lance Up” signal. At first they thought of using the whole arm, but after discussing the idea with fellow staff members, they settled on making the three finger “L” with only the right hand.

“That way those across the gym would see the ‘L’ which stands for Lancers,” Hofschroer said.

To test and see how the phrase would resonate with the students and fans, foam fingers in the “L” shape were given out at men’s and women’s basketball games. The CBU Crazies, a studentbased cheer section present at all games to boost fan engagement, along with the CBU Cheer squad shouted, “Lance Up!” during the team’s free throws.

“The students caught on, and ‘Lance Up!’ was born,” Hofschroer said.

Ben Jero, a junior majoring in music for worship arts and ministry and member of the CBU Crazies, said, “Lance Up!” is like a shield you take out to battle.

Rick Croy, men’s head basketball coach, said “Lance Up!” is a unifier, for aspiring Lancers, current students or alumni.

“It means family, it means we are pulling for each other,” Croy said. “It demonstrates passions, it shows deep care and it screams we are all in it together.”

A few years later, students were taught how to “Lance Up!” during Welcome Weekend and the rest is history.

When CBU’s new fight song — “Lance Up, CBU!” — debuted in 2017, it cemented the slogan. It is seen and heard at campus events ranging from games to commencement.

Hofschroer said he loves seeing CBU community members using the phrase because it is more than just two simple words.

“They’re saying ‘Go get ‘em!’ ‘Be excellent!’ ‘Be ready for whatever God has for you!’” Hofschroer said. “It’s a simple phrase that means a lot to those of us who call or called CBU home.”

The official slogan and hand signal of California Baptist University.

▲ Ivania Montes shows how to Lance Up!

SPORTS CAMPS INVITE YOUTHS TO PLAY AND LEARN

Every year, CBU Athletics holds various sports camps for youths and prospective student-athletes. Thousands of youths play on CBU’s fields and courts while learning skills and techniques from college coaches and athletes. More than 6,000 young athletes participated in 2022.

“We believe the camps are a great way to give back to our community and offer the opportunity for our student-athletes to show what makes CBU special,” said Tim Strader, assistant women’s soccer coach.

“CBU softball takes pride in developing athletes of the game, and camps are a great opportunity to expand these young athletes’ skills and softball knowledge,” said Daphne Pofek, director of operations for softball.

At the camps, the young athletes develop their skills, scrimmage and have fun. CBU coaching staff and student-athletes provide the instruction.

“Having many of our student-athletes from the local community and around the world gives the campers a unique and personal

experience in getting to know them,” Strader said. “Many of the campers come back to soccer matches throughout the season, which is special for our teams to see the platform they hold as role models to the next generation as NCAA Division I studentathletes.”

“Camps give our students the opportunity to give back to the community and the future of softball,” Pofek said. In return, “the camps benefit the kids by sharing the college athlete experience. They are able to play on a college field and visualize themselves playing at a collegiate level. The camp experience encourages them to keep working hard toward their athletic and academic goals.”

An 11-year-old girl has attended softball camp several times. The girl plays pitcher and first base and is learning to play the outfield. She wanted to attend camp because her mom and an aunt played softball for CBU.

“I get to attend with some of my friends and have fun while learning a lot,” she said. “I love watching and learning from the CBU softball team and pray that one day that can be me.”

MEN AND WOMEN 2X WAC CHAMPIONS

CROSS COUNTRY

• For the second time, CBU swept the WAC Championships — men and women brought home first place.

• In their first year of eligibility, the men and women competed in the NCAA postseason with both placing fifth at the NCAA West Region Race.

77/254

THE WOMEN RECEIVED AN AT-LARGE BID TO COMPETE FOR THE NCAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP. YASNA PETROVA WAS THE TOP FINISHING LANCER, CROSSING THE LINE IN 77TH PLACE OUT OF 254.

WAC CHAMPIONS

WOMEN’S SOCCER

• Women’s soccer played the first match in the new CBU Soccer Stadium on Aug. 20, 2022.

• The team finished the season with 8-5-5 overall and 5-3-3 conference and played in its first-ever WAC Tournament.

MEN’S SOCCER

The new CBU Soccer Stadium debuted for the 2022 season and hosted the WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament.

CBU’s men’s team won the WAC championship over San Jose State in penalty kicks 3-1.

The championship game set a CBU and WAC Tournament record for attendance with 1,416 people.

MVP

GOALKEEPER NOLAN PREMACK WAS NAMED THE TOURNAMENT MVP.

▲ The 2022 WAC champions ▲ Makayla Soll

MEN’S WATER POLO

• The water polo team reached a historic milestone in 2022, breaking its Division I program record with 23 wins in a season. The milestone was achieved after a 10-9 victory over Air Force in the WWPA Tournament.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The CBU men’s basketball team made its mark in the DI era with its first victory over a Power-5 program when they defeated the Washington Huskies of PAC-12 73-64 in Seattle.

The team made it to the WAC quarterfinals after winning the opening game against Abilene Christian University, 69-62.

THE D1 ERA 23 WINS

D1 PROGRAM RECORD

▲ Blondeau Tchoukuiegno

▲ Taran Armstrong

#4 SEED

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

• The Lancers earned the #4 seed and a first-round bye in the WAC Tournament, making it to the championship game.

• Ended their season as Women’s Basketball Invitational champions and 22-13 overall and 13-5 conference.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

• Women’s volleyball finished the 2022 season with a 7-7 conference record and a 7-3 home record overall.

• They qualified for its first-ever trip to the WAC Tournament as a seventh seed.

7-3 2022 HOME RECORD

▲ Sila Finau

⊳ Left to right: Scherine Dahoue, Paige Johnstone, Chandler Gorman and Cassidy Dennison

Alumni Spotlight

Mike Staver (’83) is the CEO of The Staver Group, a speaker, an author and a leadership coach. He serves on California Baptist University’s Board of Trustees, joining for the first time in 1998.

A certified speaking professional, Staver was inducted in 2022 into the Speaker Hall of Fame with the prestigious Council of Peers Award for Excellence.

We talked with him about public speaking, the Hall of Fame and more. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

MIKE STAVER CLASS OF ‘83

Mike Staver

How did you get into public speaking?

I was an administrator in a hospital. Our doctors did seminars and nobody ever came. My boss asked if I would do one. She said, “People tend to listen to you.” I said “OK, but I have to have the same budget that doctors get, and I can speak on whatever I want.” So I did a workshop called how to recover from a broken relationship, and we had over 100 people come. At the end, I said how many would come back next month if I did a seminar on how to have a healthy relationship, which at that age I knew nothing about. I would have to study a lot. We had over 160 show up. A woman came up at the end and said, “You could do this for a living,” and I said, “You can make money talking?” I wish my firstgrade teacher knew that. I wouldn’t have been sitting out in the hall as much as I was.

I started doing occasional speaking engagements. Then I auditioned for an organization called Career Track. They told me that I lacked the professionalism to be a professional speaker.

I re-auditioned. I stood in my kitchen with a cassette recorder. I had the evaluation on my right and the outline of the seminar they wanted me to teach on my left and I did everything exactly as the critiquer wanted me to do it. I sent my tapes back to the same person. And she said, “Biggest transformation I’ve ever seen. Welcome to the industry.”

Was the critique correct?

Yes. I missed marks; I missed points; my timing was off. I was too casual with the material. I was young.

I got a C in speech class at CBU. I just got up and talked. There’s a difference in being able to speak and being able to speak professionally.

What advice would you give people on public speaking?

First get some good coaching. Join Toastmasters. You don’t have to be a professional, but I think you need a good coach.

Secondly, you need to understand that speaking is not about the speaker, it’s about the listener. The reason people get so uncomfortable speaking is because they’re focused on themselves. If I’m speaking, and I believe I have a gift and I want to share that gift with you, I don’t have time to be worried about me. Focus more on your audience.

And the third thing is practice. You got to get out there and do it. Even now, doing as many gigs as I do, I’m always refining, practicing and critiquing.

What does it mean to you to be inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame?

It’s an enormous validation from my peers. I’m a certified speaking professional, which is a designation held by fewer than 10% of professional speakers in the world, but I earned that. I jumped through the hoops. I got the certification. To be in the Speaker Hall of Fame, it’s a peer-nominated, peerelected designation, so it means that I have been recognized by my peers, and that’s very humbling to me.

I often say my purpose in life is to help people perform better. And if I can help somebody along the way, then my living will have been worth it, so I think it’s a validation of that.

How did your business of coaching and leadership come about?

I graduated from CBU (with a business administration degree), and then my graduate work is in psychology. I moved up the ladder pretty fast as an executive. I had a lot of leadership experience. My firm was managing speakers and trainers for other companies, and somebody asked me to come speak on leadership.

I started thinking through it one day and I thought, this is probably the place I need to be focused. The intersection of psychology and business as it relates to leadership is often overlooked. I thought we had a space where we could have a meaningful impact on leaders.

What drives you?

The primary thing that drives me is the knowledge that I was blessed with a purpose to help people perform better and live better lives.

I don’t believe in to-do lists; I do accomplishment lists. They’re pretty straightforward. I want to have a positive impact in somebody’s life, have a positive revenue impact in the business, and have a positive impact in my physical, spiritual and emotional health.

National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame

1950s

Betty Barks (Miller, ’59) and Jim have been married 57 years. They have two children and seven grandchildren. Betty was an elementary school teacher for 16 years.

1960s

1 Dr. J. Dean (’66) and Sheryl J. Hane (’66) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 20, 2022.

2 Claude Mariottini (’68) published a book, “Divine Violence and the Character of God” (2022). Claude is a professor emeritus at Northern Baptist Seminary.

1970s

3 Merle (’72) and Gale Wiseman (’74) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Merle is a physician in a mental health clinic in El Dorado, Arkansas. Gale is a retired Christian school teacher and helps her daughter homeschool her grandchildren.

Fred (’73) and Roberta DeBerry (Roth, ’72) celebrated their 50th anniversary on Jan. 27, 2023. Fred served as pastor to the Deaf at Calvary Baptist Church in Renton, Washington, for 40 years. He retired in 2018.

Keith (’73) and Peggy McLellan (Russell, ’73) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in September 2022. Keith retired from college administration. He serves as chaplain with the local city fire and police departments and the county fire department. Peggy retired from the local school district and volunteers with community and church groups. They live on the central coast of California.

Steven Johnson (’76) retired in September after 40 years of practicing dentistry in Riverside.

David Leonard (’77) resigned from the Riverside County Planning Commission in January 2023 after serving as chairman.

Bonnie Kee (’72) traveled to Ecuador on her 16th short-term, international mission trip.

4 Dr. John “Jack” Bracy (’78) retired in May 2022 after 44 years of pastoral ministry. He served the last 34 years at New Hope Community Church in Apple Valley, California. He was also an adjunct professor at Gateway Seminary. His wife, Jean (Tibbets, ’79), retired after working 33 years for local government agencies. The couple celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary in August 2022. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Melinda (Phillips, ’79) and Dr. Robert Russell spent the last six years in China. Roger works in education. Melinda published her second book, “The Star ... Der Stern,” on Jan. 1, 2023.

1980s

5 Heather Baker (Clark, ’81) and husband Tim own Caring Transitions South Bay Palos Verdes. They help senior citizens relocate and downsize.

6 Dale Almer (’83) and his wife, Mishelle, celebrated their 25th anniversary on Sept. 6, 2022. Dale is an adapted physical education specialist for the Alvord Unified School District. They have two sons.

7 Kevin Cannon (’86) is the director of federal programs for the Trenton Independent School District in Trenton, Texas. He is also a first-time grandfather with the birth of Gracie Marie Cannon, born Nov. 8, 2021.

Jon Bratta (’88) is vice president of emerging brands for Monster Energy Corp. based in Corona.

1990s

8 Jaquitta Brown (’91) earned her Master of Social Work from Loma Linda University in 2000. She is a supervising social service practitioner in San Bernardino County.

9 Scott Scorse (’92) and his wife, Brigitte, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

2000s

Beau Christian (’00, ’18) earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Frontier Nursing University and is assistant director of undergraduate nursing at Carson-Newman University.

10 Jessica Garcia (Mosebach, ’03) received two Nevada Press Foundation 2022 Awards of Excellence: first place in Explanatory Journalism (rural) and third place in Profile (rural).

11 Sandra Hughes (Bennett, ’05) published a poetry collection, “Why Faeries Bite: Poems from RockRiver Hill.” The title poem was first published in The Dazed Starling Unbound.

12 Ja'net Young (’05) started Alliance for Young Women and Girls, a nonprofit organization based in the Los Angeles area in 2014. The organization empowers young women and girls from marginalized communities to pursue careers that lead to upward economic mobility and professional growth through leadership and employability training.

13 David Haglund (’06) is the superintendent of schools in Pleasanton Unified School District in the San Francisco Bay Area.

14 Lawson (’07) and Laura Moore (Bugbee, ’07) live in California. Lawson is on the advancement team at The Cambridge School in San Diego. Laura owns LKM Studios, providing marketing and mentoring to small businesses. They have three children: Judah, 14; Jordyn, 12; and Jericho, 10.

15 Stefan Chapman (’08, ’18) published a young adult science fiction novel, “Escaping Justice: Book One, Earth Two - The New World Journey Trilogy.” He is a Spanish teacher for Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

16 Amy Estep (Martinez, ’09) performed in the play “Fools” by Neil Simon in Santa Clarita, California.

2010s

Brett (’11) and Ashley Baldwin (Gonzales, ’12) celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in August 2022.

April Martin (’11) is an assistant library services manager in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

17 Brittany Raulino (O’Connell, ’11) is a registered nurse. She and her husband, Jason, reside in Vista, California, with their 2-year-old daughter.

18 Nathan Devlin (’11, ’14) received the Excellence in Client Service Award from Homesnap and Homes.com for the second consecutive year.

19 Teresa Serrano (’11, ’14, ’22) graduated with a Doctor of Social Work from CBU. She is CEO and president of Hope Wellness Counseling Inc.

20 Brendan King (’12) finished in 10th place in the North American Championship Series for Spartan Obstacle Course Racing in the males 30-34 division.

21 Chris (’13) and Kayla Rabbich (Jech, ’13) have a 2-year-old son, Owen.

22 Kevin Marstall (’14) published his first novel, “Discoveries: The Omniscients.”

23 Angela Perry (Finney, ’14) and her husband, Vernon, celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 27, 2022.

24 Kiersten Laxamana (’15) is manufacturing and process manager at Bioseal.

25 Sherry Manoly (Aziz, ’16) graduated from occupational therapy school in 2021. She is a pediatric occupational therapist at Gallagher Pediatric Therapy and HealthBridge Children’s Hospital. Sherry married in 2020.

Alejandra Villa (Estrada, ’16) received the Teacher of the Year award for the Hesperia Unified School District. She is a special education teacher.

26 Reneisha Wilkes (’16) appeared on the final episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” with the group Ellen’s Lucky 13. Wilkes was honored for her community contributions. She had been featured on the show more than 10 times.

27 Nicole Hennessey (’16, ’17) is head softball coach at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

28 Cassidy Mihalko (’17) is in her eighth season playing professional basketball overseas. She has played in countries such as Australia, Germany, Cyprus and Greece. Cassidy’s team won the Cyprus League Championship and the Cyprus Cup Championship for the 2021-2022 season. She is in Melbourne, Australia, playing in the NBL1 professional league.

29 Morgan McCutcheon (Sherman, ‘17) is a per diem nurse at Kaiser Permanente in the GI lab. She and her husband, Christian, reside in Laguna Nigel, California. They have a daughter, Addison.

30 Megan Bastreri (Cordova, ’18) and her husband, Marc, live in Texas. She is a second-grade teacher at Lindsey Elementary. The couple was married in January 2022.

31 Sara Lariviere (’18) is a project manager at the City of Hope.

32 Bridget Avila (’18) is in the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program at CBU.

33 Emily Done (’18, ’22) is a speech-language pathologist for Chula Vista Elementary School District.

34 Staci Holt (’18) is a communications manager for United Services Automobile Association.

Lukas Stauderman (’18) is general manager for D-BAT Aggieland, an indoor baseball/softball training facility.

35 Julia Brushett (’19) is a data analyst in bioinformatics for Bionano Genomics, a biotechnology research and development company.

36 Moriah Mesina (’19) opened a coffee shop, Chrome Coffee, in Antioch, California.

37 Genaro Gonzalez Silva (’19) works for SoCalGas, where he received an Up and Comer Award in November 2020. In June 2022, he became a licensed professional engineer.

38 Cherica Bell (’19) is an assistant director for the California State University, San Bernardino Education Talent Search. She received the WESTOP Achiever’s Award in March 2022.

2020s

Michael Gonzalez (’20) is a manufacturing engineer at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. He graduated from Keck Graduate Institute in May 2022 with a Master of Science in Medical Device Engineering.

39 Macy Lange (Mascarenas, ’20) works in real estate with Wathen Castanos Homes. She is married to Joseph.

Alfredo Solis (’20) is a construction business owner. He is married to Irene.

Elizabeth Vander Weide (Pollock, ’20) works in the neonatal intensive care unit at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California. Her husband, Nicolas (’20), is a reliability maintenance engineer at E&J Gallo Winery.

40 Riley (’20) and Leslie Forristel (’20) live in Corpus Christi, Texas. Riley is training to become a pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Vanessa Mendiola (’20) works for EPIC Management in Redlands, California, as a quality improvement transformation facilitator II.

Bailey Borup (’21) is the clinical director of Altitude Recovery Community, a diagnosis substance use and mental health treatment center.

Dr. Pattie Soltero Sanchez (’21) became a board certified professional in healthcare quality. In October 2022, she was appointed associate chief quality and informatics officer at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services-Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.

41 Ashlee Crispo (’21) is a therapist at Rite of Passage for at-risk foster youth.

42 Brittney Murray (’21) is a teacher in the Oro Grande School District in California. She was asked to attend a filming of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” after current and former students sent letters to the show expressing their appreciation for her.

43 Joseph Brown (’21) is a manager at Apple Inc.

44 Jennifer Penner (Smithwick, ’22) is an adoption social worker at Olive Crest and an adjunct professor at CBU.

45 Faith Padilla (’22) is a member of the 2022 NFL Seattle Seahawks dance team.

46 Rachel Payne (’22) is a labor and delivery nurse at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

47 Sarah Valenzuela (’22) is in the Master of Education program at UCR.

Leandra McLaurin (’22) started JNL Consulting LLC, which provides professional growth training and coaching. She and a business partner also started JNL Foundation Inc., a nonprofit that supports minority and marginalized women in the field of maternal health.

48 Joey Aszterbaum (’22) is a teacher at Cristo Rey San Diego High School. He teaches advanced placement government, economics and world history.

Michael Lipps (’22) is a mental health professional at Dinuba Children’s Services.

Andrew Zuniga (’22) works at Riverside University Health System Public Health. He leads the Riverside County Monkeypox Community Response Branch Team.

Weddings

49 Madison Tassi married Ocean Lee (’19) in July 2022. The couple lives in London and are working on their master’s degrees at the University of Roehampton.

50 Anna Saviage (’21) married CJ Lucas on Nov. 20, 2022, in Rochester, Minnesota. Anna is a financial advisor at Thrivent Financial.

51 Alexa Hanley (’15) married Karl Eckmann in December 2021. She received a MSc in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alberta in Canada. She works for the Anchorage School District as an occupational therapist for children with special needs.

52 Nicole Van Dyke (’14) married George Grayson on Oct. 1, 2022. The couple live in Frankfort, Kentucky. Nicole works as a therapist at Better Help, and George is a sergeant with Louisville Veterans Affairs.

53 Akera Briscoe (’22) married Jeremy Evans on April 10, 2022, in Glendale, California.

54 Brynna Hayes (’21) married Adrian Rominu (’20) on Aug. 27, 2022.

55 Jayne Gales (’87) married Donald Solley in Maui on March 6, 2020. Jayne retired as financial and administrative officer for the Department of Philosophy at UCR in 2013. The couple live in Gardnerville, Nevada.

56 Robyn Glessner (’05) married Michael Luna on Aug. 5, 2022, in Orange, California. Robyn is an adjunct professor of history at CBU and Oak Valley College.

57 Michaela Malneritch (’17) married Mitchell Myjak on March 25, 2022. Michaela works as a museum educator at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. She participated in the game show “The Price is Right” and won the showcase of four trips. The episode aired March 1, 2022.

58 Alyssa Gowling (’20) married Michael Bailey (’20) in January 2022. Michael graduated with a master’s in May 2022 from West Texas A&M University. He is a strategy analyst for The Wonderful Company. Alyssa graduated with her master’s from Loma Linda University.

59 Hannah Doerfert (’21) married Nathaniel Wong (’21) on May 27, 2022. Hannah works as a graphic designer, and Nathaniel is a mechanical engineer. They live in Northern California.

Shelbi Lackey (’22) married Adan Tello in December 2021.

60 Jessie Adkins (’17) married Jacob Waste (’17) on Oct. 31, 2021.

61 Jana Moore (’19) married Zachary Cunningham on July 3, 2022, in Prescott, Arizona.

Little Lancers

62 Kyle (’18) and Analy Jarboe (Garcia, ’18) welcomed a daughter, Cheyenne, in July 2022.

63 Anthony (’21) and Nilla Williams welcomed a son, Adonnis Nehemiah Williams, on Sept. 23, 2022.

64 Chris and Molly Anderson (Knight, ’22) welcomed a daughter, Grace, on Oct. 6, 2022.

65 Chris and Rebecca Forry (McCullah, ’03, ’08) welcomed Norah Sage, born in October 2021. She joins sister Lily, 3, and brothers Silas, 4, and Carver, 7.

66 Corey (’07) and Shannon Rhoads welcomed a son, Bradley Alan, on March 2, 2022.

67 Jorge Terrones (’14) and Nancy welcomed a girl, Madeline, on June 14, 2022.

68 Caleb (’21) and Catherine Deveau (’21) welcomed Eloise Josephine on Sept. 1, 2022.

69 Noe and Desiree Oseguera (’21) welcomed their fourth child, Micah, on Aug. 15, 2022.

70 Tyler (’12) and Lauren Aagard (Knuppe, ’13) welcomed a daughter, Nora Judy, in March 2022.

71 Mariah Flores (’22) welcomed a girl, Gianna Ayla, in January 2022.

72 Baron and Kylee Jones (’12) welcomed their third child, a girl, on Sept. 9, 2022. Kylee earned her licensed clinical social worker credentials on Aug. 31, 2022.

In Memoriam ALUMNI

Marilynn Sue Blackaby (’60)

Rev. William “Bill” Hann (’65)

Joanne Hann (’66)

Bjorn “Bud” Hjalmarson (’72)

FACULTY AND FRIENDS

Dr. Melissa Conway Luther, Library Director