Roundtable Magazine ǀ Summer 2022

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THE MAGAZINE OF CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

Creativity on Display H O N O R S E X H I B IT S H OW C A S E S S TU D E N T S ’ A R T WO R K PA G E 1 4

Dr. Dan Wilson trusts God’s vision for his life in the midst of struggles PAG E 1 0

CBU TV provides students hands-on experience PAG E 2 0

Cross country coach credits success to the support of the team PAG E 2 8

IN THIS ISSUE

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14 The annual Honors Exhibit displays students’ creativity. Students—and others—see their art in a professional setting, an important experience.

Contents

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DIVERSITY INITIATIVES The PsyD program encompasses cultural humility—in and out of the clinical setting.

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DR. SANDRA ROMO The professor seeks to be an effective communicator in the various areas of her life.

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ANEW PROJECT Alumnus Juan Arambul’s team-building business inspires youth.

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ALUM NEWS

Walking by Faith

Dr. Dan Wilson shows others how to live with illness.

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Cross Country

Adam Tribble attributes the success to the support the team receives.

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CBU TV

Students get hands-on experience while creating a news show.

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Homecoming

Thousands of alumni and friends attend Homecoming activities.

PRESIDENT’S NOTE RON A LD L. EL L IS, P H. D.

THE MAGAZINE OF CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

Fellow Lancers,

It is a joy to have students back on campus at California Baptist University after the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Once again, we are gathering to cheer our Lancer sport teams, enjoy theatre and music performances, and celebrate Homecoming. How good it is to experience community within the Lancer Nation!

Articles in this issue of The Roundtable illustrate how God continues to work through the people and the programs at California Baptist University. For example, the ninth annual Honors Exhibit at the Rose Garden Chapel Art Gallery displayed students’ creative giftings.

Students share what it was like to see their art in a professional setting, and faculty explain why that experience is important.

We also look inside CBU TV, part of the Lancer Media Group, which provides CBU students hands-on experience while creating a news broadcast. The skills they learn range from what questions to ask to how to hold a microphone. Deservedly, the program is getting positive notice.

An article about Dr. Sandra Romo, associate professor of communication, explains how she seeks to be an effective communicator in various areas of her life, both in and out of the classroom.

In another feature, Dr. Dan Wilson, professor of biblical studies, describes how he walks by faith while living with a potentially debilitating health issue.

There are more than 65 student clubs on campus at California Baptist University, ranging from academic to co-curricular clubs. In this issue we show how some of those clubs provide students opportunities to connect with other students who have similar interests or simply want to learn something new.

And be sure to read how CBU’s Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program is developing students to meet the needs of a diverse public, while also serving the needs of the students themselves with an intentional emphasis on cultural humility.

Speaking of humility, Adam Tribble, head cross country and track coach, and his teams have enjoyed considerable success the past four years. Tribble humbly attributes that success to the “village” at CBU.

California Baptist University alumni continue to make a difference. One example: CBU graduate Juan Arambul helps students and school staff find their purpose. In his business, he creates games and activities to mix fun with lessons about teamwork and leadership.

Community is a vital part of the CBU experience, its mission and the vision of a university committed to the Great Commission. As we continue carefully navigating ever-changing pandemic conditions and guidelines, may we also cherish past blessings, celebrate today’s achievements and work diligently to build a better tomorrow. And may the Lord continue to bless!

Ronald L. Ellis, Ph.D., President California Baptist University

SUMMER 2022 VOLUME 64 • ISSUE 1 EDITOR Dr. Mark A. Wyatt MANAGING EDITOR Vivian Quezada ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lauren Rios, Amanda Warner ART DIRECTOR Edgar Garcia PHOTOGRAPHY CBU Athletics, Edgar Garcia, Vivian Quezada COVER ART Emma Limtiaco CONTRIBUTING WRITER Andrew Shortall, Emily McGinn SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES California Baptist University Division of University Advancement advancementservices@calbaptist.edu 951.343.4226 Alumni and Donor Information Division of University Advancement 800.782.3382 calbaptist.edu/advancement Admissions and Information Department of Admissions 8432 Magnolia Avenue Riverside, CA 92504-3297 877.228.8866 The Roundtable is published three times annually for the alumni and friends of California Baptist University.

Third Class Postage at Riverside, California Postmaster, Please send address changes to: CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY 8432 Magnolia Avenue Riverside, CA 92504-3297 Non-profit permit No. 3078 THE ROUNDTABLE REPRINT POLICY Contents copyright 2022 by California Baptist University.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED None of the content in this issue of The Roundtable may be reproduced in part or in whole without written permission from California Baptist University’s Marketing and Communication Division. To obtain permission, please send your request to mwyatt@calbaptist.edu.

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES Contact Dr. Mark A. Wyatt at 951.343.4474 mwyatt@calbaptist.edu STAY CONNECTED

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AROUND CAMPUS NEWS A N D EV EN TS

CBU honors renowned bassist with honorary doctoral degree Music ensembles from California Baptist University filled a Corona church’s sanctuary with jazz music on Feb. 5, 2022, in celebration of Black History Month and in honor of renowned bassist Marshall Hawkins.

During his career, Hawkins played with jazz performers such as Betty Gray, Shirley Horn and the Miles Davis Quartet. After years of touring, Hawkins focused his efforts on education. In 1988, Hawkins founded the jazz program at the Idyllwild Arts Academy.

Currently, Hawkins teaches master classes for the CBU jazz program.

Midway through the concert at Northpoint Church, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of CBU, awarded Hawkins with an honorary Doctor of Music Performance degree. Ellis spoke of Hawkins’ lifetime musical and educational achievements.

“The life and career of Marshall Hawkins reflects a strong work ethic and positive commitment to faith and service consistent with the values promoted by California Baptist University,” Ellis said.

“God is good all the time,” Hawkins said after receiving the honor.

The Marshall Hawkins Seahawk Modern Jazz Orchestra took center stage as it entertained with songs such as “When Sunny Gets Blue” by Marvin Fisher, and the black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The CBU Jazz Ensemble and Strings showcased their talent by performing songs such as “Jeeps Blues” by Duke Ellington, and “‘Round About Midnight” by Thelonious Monk.

Fletcher Jones Foundation Endowed Professor is named Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, has been named the Fletcher Jones Foundation Endowed Professor of Research at California Baptist University.

“I am excited by the opportunities this position presents and humbled by the support of the university in selecting me to help shape CBU’s research culture,” Smith said.

The professorship is funded with a $600,000 grant from the Fletcher Jones Foundation. CBU matched this with institutional funds as part of the endowment matching program, creating a $1.2 million permanent endowment.

“CBU is incredibly grateful for the gift,” said Dr. Charles Sands, provost, and vice president for Academic Affairs.

The professor role will involve leadership, administrative and academic responsibilities, including providing leadership in cultivating a culture of research and scholarship at CBU, and developing and enacting strategies and programs to enhance the research environment and opportunities in the university.

Smith started teaching at CBU 10 years ago and became director of research for the Center for the Study of Human Behavior five years ago.

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“In many ways, my tasks as the Fletcher Jones Endowed Professor of Research will be an extension of what I have started in the CSHB— helping faculty with their next steps in research,” Smith said. “However, this position will afford me a different vantage point of faculty expertise across the campus. I hope that this campus-eye view will be fruitful in the cultivation and flourishing of important multidisciplinary work to address some of the most pressing issues facing our culture.”

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Speech-language pathology graduate program is accredited The speech-language pathology graduate program at California Baptist University has received full accreditation for five years.

The accreditation comes from the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), which is within the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program received candidacy status in 2016 when the first students enrolled.

“Full accreditation status is evidence our program meets the rigorous standards established by ASHA and has consistently done so for many years,” said Dr. Bryan Ness, chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Aviation Science program enters agreement with Horizon Air The Department of Aviation Science at California Baptist University has signed an agreement with Horizon Air for a pilot development program.

to be employed by the airlines with 1,000 flight hours instead of 1,500 hours.

CBU has similar agreements with regional airlines, but the certificate and ATP approval allows CBU to talk to “the big boys,” Marselus said.

CBU students accepted into the program will receive conditional offers of employment, funding for part of their flight training, and the opportunity to transition from a minor “These two areas opened us up to an entirely to major airline—in this case Horizon Air to new future of airline agreements,” Marselus Alaska Airlines. said. “Others look at us and realize, ‘These guys are serious. They have a professional flight “This is a whole new era for the aviation training program and it’s been recognized by department at CBU,” said Dr. John Marselus, the FAA.’” chair of the Department of Aviation Science.

The agreement came about after CBU earned Students must complete their private pilot its Air Agency Certificate as a Part 141 school license flight training before applying for the last year. To achieve this, CBU was required program. Once accepted, students receive to have dedicated training facilities, flight $5,000 after earning their instrument instructor oversight and FAA-approved course rating and $7,500 after earning their multicurriculum. With the certification, CBU applied commercial airplane license. Horizon will also and received restricted ATP (Airline Transport provide mentors to help students prepare to Pilot) approval, which allows college graduates be airline pilots.

During the candidacy period, CBU submitted yearly reports on course curricula, clinical practicum experience and student assessment.

The program applied for full accreditation in fall 2020. The program completed a self-study and underwent a virtual site visit.

“For CBU, this means we continue to do what we have been doing—providing personalized, relevant and evidence-based academic and practicum experiences for students and demonstrating to our professional organization our commitment to uphold the highest standards of quality education,” Ness said. “CBU now transitions from being a ‘new’ speechlanguage pathology program to an established one, and we will be active members in our professional community.”

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MIND. BODY. SPIRIT. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2 (NASB)

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PSYCHOLOGY

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PsyD students learn about diversity as they prepare to serve The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology program at California Baptist University is developing students to meet the needs of a diverse public, while also serving the needs of the students themselves.

To accomplish those goals, the program, which began in 2018, established diversity initiatives, including Voices on Diversity and the Student Diversity Representative Committee.

“We try to help our students understand that people are diverse in many ways, and we want to educate them in the way that they can also work with individuals who are diverse in their therapy,” said Dr. Veola Vazquez, professor of psychology and diversity coordinator of the program.

Vazquez said diversity encompasses more than race and ethnicity. It includes disabilities, socioeconomic status, religion and other ways people might be diverse from each other.

“We want the students to understand that in the field of clinical psychology, we want to meet the psychological needs of all people,” Vazquez said.

“And as Christians we want to meet those needs also, to work towards healing and health and growth and support for all individuals.”

Voices on Diversity is a speaker series in which local and national psychologists have talked about topics such as religion, disabilities and the

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Latinx population. Speakers also talk to students about their career path and opportunities.

The Student Diversity Representative Committee is comprised of one student representative from each PsyD cohort (four currently). The committee provides support and representation for diverse students, provides a means to address concerns of diverse students and provides leadership opportunities. It also strives to meet the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation’s requirement to make efforts to recruit and retain diverse students.

Dr. Joshua Knabb, director of the PsyD program, said the diversity initiatives aid in having an ongoing conversation about psychology and diversity.

“We try to help our students understand that people are diverse in many ways, and we want to educate them in the way that they can also work with individuals who are diverse in their therapy.”

— Dr. Veola Vazquez Professor of pyschology and diversity coordinator of the program

⊲ Dr. Veola Vazquez (from left) and members of the Student Diversity Representative Committee: Savannah Senger, Josue Esperante and Kamonie Davis. Not pictured is Laiyatu Manya.

Josue Esperante, representative for the second-year cohort, said topics of discussion have included scholarship and academic opportunities. Another topic covered how comments on someone’s appearance may be benign but to the listener the comments may contain assumptions.

“We want to give our students the opportunity to learn from leaders in the field on salient diversity topics,” Knabb said. “Additionally, we want PsyD students from diverse backgrounds to feel mentored and supported.”

The student representatives meet with Vazquez twice a semester, discussing articles on diversity. They share that information with their cohort and listen for any concerns the students have about diversity issues.

“In the field of diversity, we talk about helping people develop cultural humility—humbly approaching people who are different from us. We recognize that ‘I don’t know everything about everybody,’” Vazquez said. “If I come at individuals humbly, recognizing the various ways that people might be different, then I can more likely be able to develop a relationship with them and then therefore help them.”

Savannah Senger, representative for the firstyear cohort, said the committee demonstrates to her that the faculty care about their students.

“I wanted to be part of the diversity committee because I wanted to challenge myself. I had never had a space to share my experiences as a deaf woman, and I felt that the diversity committee was the perfect opportunity to do so,” Senger said. “I felt that this committee would help me learn about different cultures.”

Senger said the most important thing she has learned was cultural humility.

“It helped me realize that one way of life is not superior to another,” Senger said. “By being culturally humble, I can have a respectful discussion about the various cultural backgrounds amongst my colleagues.”

“I have gained ground in knowing how to be culturally humble and more competent in approaching individuals with different identities—in and out of the clinical setting,” Esperante said.

Laiyatu Manya, representative for the thirdyear cohort, said a committee like this is critical because many students come to this program with diverse backgrounds, stories and concerns.

“What better time than now to create an environment of love, kindness and fellowship among Christians or whatever your faith background is, especially in our field of clinical psychology,” Manya said. “It is an amazing avenue for students to be able to learn from those different from them and to be their brother’s keepers. I think every program should encourage diversity and inclusion.

It is critical.”

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT BIBLI CA LLY ROOTE D

Trusting God’s vision for his life

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Nearly 30 years ago Dr. Dan Wilson, professor of biblical studies, underwent radial keratotomy eye surgery to correct nearsightedness.

For almost 20 years after, he had nearly perfect vision. But when the vision loss began, it declined quickly. Over the years, scar tissue from the surgery had thickened and hardened, leading to cornea transplants about 10 years ago.

At a follow-up appointment, his surgeon said Wilson needed to see a glaucoma specialist.

Tomorrow.

“That scared me,” Wilson said.

The next day he was diagnosed with glaucoma, a condition that damages the optic nerve. The damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in the eye. Glaucoma can lead to irreversible vision loss.

Wilson said although he has wrestled with the fact that he may become blind, he has not wrestled with God.

“I have never been a why-me kind of person.

Because my understanding of the Bible is that because I’m a person of faith doesn’t mean that I’m exempt from struggle,” Wilson said.

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serve Him doesn’t suggest to me in the least that I should be exempt from anything that anybody else would struggle with.”

Life with glaucoma

That struggle has led to 15 eye surgeries in the past 10 years, including the transplant surgeries and cataract surgeries. Other surgeries put in glaucoma implants to relieve the pressure in the eye.

“The disease has been very aggressive in both of my eyes,” Wilson said. “It’s kind of a closing in, so it feels often like there’s a cloud in front of me. Like when you’re in really thick fog and it’s right on you—that’s what it feels like most of the time now.”

He has lost much of his peripheral vision. He has to concentrate more to focus on distant objects.

Wilson said he is probably finished reading physical books; he now reads e-books. In class he has students help read for him.

He uses big screen monitors, where he can increase the type size and place the screens on dark mode. While he occasionally uses the whiteboard in the classroom (“It’s never legible anyway”), he finds it easier to use a whiteboard app on his iPad and shares that on the screen.

Bright light and sunlight bother him. Because

“I have never been a why-me kind of person. Because my understanding of the Bible is that because I’m a person of faith doesn’t mean that I’m exempt from struggle. Because I believe in God and I’ve given my life to serve Him doesn’t suggest to me in the least that I should be exempt from anything that anybody else would struggle with.”

— Dr. Dan Wilson Professor of biblical studies

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his eyes seem to work better when shifting focus, he can still drive, although he sticks to areas he knows.

Being an example

Wilson’s legacy goes beyond the classroom. He was the founding dean of the School of Christian Ministries for 10 years. He helped create the Bachelor of Applied Theology program. He loves teaching Greek.

Although he does not focus on the disability, he is open with his students about the struggle. He said he feels a sense of responsibility to show his students and others how to walk this path.

“I think they need to see me determined to live my life.

Whether I have sight or not,” Wilson said. “I’m a normal person like they are, and I’m going to struggle with things in life because I’m living this life in a sinful world.”

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“Based on a lifetime of following and serving Him, I understand God to be a good God who loves me and wants what is best for me. I could say that blindness is not best for me, but who am I to say that?

He is God and He knows best.”

— Dr. Dan Wilson Professor of biblical studies That included showing his students how to grieve when his father passed away last year.

“Why should I hide that grief? Because somebody might think that I’m not strong enough or that I don’t believe God?” Wilson asked. “I was OK letting them see me grieve and showing them that I still trust God. Just because Dad died doesn’t mean that God has died.

“All of them will struggle with something. They’ll deal with illness; they’ll deal with loss; they’ll deal with disease.

My prayer would be that knowing me helps prepare them to struggle with whatever life throws at them.”

Wilson looks to Apostle Paul as an example of how to live with trouble.

“I see somebody like the Apostle Paul, instead of pushing away from his struggle, you see him leaning in and embracing what that struggle is,” Wilson said. “My confidence in God says that He is with me. He’s a very present help in trouble. No matter what that trouble is.”

However, Wilson does admit struggling with joy. He has a sign in his office written in Greek that quotes Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord.”

“How do I live my life in joy from day to day?” Wilson asked.

“Joy would be easy if I could just do it on Sundays. But Paul says to rejoice in the Lord always. The ‘always’ is what makes that hard.

“So, when I wake up one morning and everything is going crazy, it’s easy not to choose joy. When I realized that I could be blind, it’s not easy to choose

joy,” Wilson said. “But I choose to follow Him, I choose to trust Him, I choose to believe with all my heart that He is with me.”

‘This is a part of life’

Wilson acknowledged that if this had happened 30 years ago, he may not have responded in the same way.

“Do what you need to do to grow in your faith, to grow in your relationship with God so that you have that confidence that He is with you when you face what you have to face,” Wilson said. “Based on a lifetime of following and serving Him, I understand God to be a good God who loves me and wants what is best for me. I could say that blindness is not best for me, but who am I to say that? He is God and He knows best.”

He said he has not given much thought to one day not being able to see his wife and two adult children. But about a year ago, he started praying, “God, help me see what I see.”

“I’m trying to train myself to pay attention to things that I see that are interesting, that are beautiful, that are captivating. And really see them,” Wilson said.

Several months ago, Wilson asked his glaucoma specialist if he would wake up one day and be blind. The doctor assured him that blindness will come gradually. That gives Wilson hope that he will be able to complete his teaching career with sight.

Meanwhile, he is sharing his story.

“I told my students last week; I don’t tell you this because I want you to feel sorry for me because I don’t feel sorry for me. This is a part of life. This is a part of my life,” Wilson said.

“I just want to keep my eyes on the one who’s blessed me the way He has and even with this struggle, I feel incredibly blessed to have what He’s given me and to be able to do what He’s allowed me to be able to do with my life,” Wilson said. “I see God’s faithfulness in my struggle and I trust Him.”

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FINE ARTS

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HONORS EXHIBIT DISPLAYS CREATIVE ARTWORK

BY STUDENTS T he ninth annual Honors Exhibit at the Rose Garden Chapel Art Gallery occurred during the 2022 spring semester at California Baptist University.

A variety of work produced by CBU students in fine art courses were on display at the exhibit. Fine art faculty selected more than 70 works, which featured painting, drawing, mixed media and sculpture.

Malea Valdez, an art therapy studies freshman, had six pieces chosen. Her pieces were made with multiple media, including acrylic paint, ink, magazine paper and colored pencil.

“It was such a fulfilling experience to see my pieces being displayed in the exhibit,” Valdez said. “As an artist it can be so easy to compare yourself to the works of others. When everyone got to see the pieces during the opening night, there was such a strong environment of goodwill. I got a lot of positive feedback on my pieces and was able to share that moment in a community of people with the same interests, which was so uplifting and motivating.”

Kristi Lippire, associate professor of visual art, said faculty look for the best examples of work created in their classes, in terms of artistry, concept and execution. While the works come from fine art classes, the students featured in the exhibition come from a variety of majors. Most of the works

were created during the academic 2021-22 year, though a few were older because of the pandemic online instruction.

“This exhibition is a way to encourage and support our students on campus that make really good artwork in our classes,” Lippire said. “Students love seeing their work in the context of a gallery space and that keeps the bar high in terms of what can be done.

“Being a creative thinker and problem solver is an asset in any major. Encouraging students to develop those skills, to push themselves past the point of what they think they are capable of, that is the real payoff for any art educator,” she added.

Valdez said most of her inspiration comes from the idea “we are made in God’s image, and because He is the Creator, we are sub-creators.”

“Professor Lippire did an outstanding job in pushing and challenging me to work outside of my comfort zone. It’s thanks to her that I’ve been able to apply artistic principles to my work and understand what they mean on a deeper level,” Valdez said.

Lindsey Thomas, a graphic design and visual experience junior, said having virtual art classes during COVID was

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“I find inspiration from many places but normally from my surroundings and God’s creation. My professors have really helped me foster growth in the process of my work. They’ve helped me find meaning a challenge, so she was glad her work was noticed and appreciated.

behind what I do and why I do it, which then provides a platform

“I find inspiration from many places but normally for the entirety of a project from my surroundings and God’s creation,” Thomas said. “My professors have really helped me foster to be better.” growth in the process of my work. They’ve helped me find meaning behind what I do and why I do it, — Lindsey Thomas which then provides a platform for the entirety of a Graphic design and project to be better.”

visual experience major

During the opening reception, attendees voted on their top choice for the three People’s Choice Awards.

Addie Panasiuk received first place, Brenna Buell received second and Steven Martinez received third.

Panasiuk, an art therapy studies junior, had six pieces in the exhibit, including a collage titled “Cousin” that won first place.

“When I heard my name, I was in disbelief and I was just overwhelmed with happiness,” Panasiuk said.

“Seeing my pieces in the gallery is rewarding. I put so much hard work and dedication to these pieces, and I am so happy that they are being appreciated.”

Additionally, fine art faculty presented a Best Overall Award. It is usually a fine art major who has shown excellence in several art classes and who had several media entered in the show, Lippire said.

Emma Limtiaco, a fine art senior, was named Best Overall. She had six pieces in the exhibit, using media such as acrylics, oil paint, watercolor and marker. She was happy to have pieces chosen for the exhibit and to be chosen as the Best Overall.

“It’s always exciting to have opportunities to show my work in a formal setting. It’s exciting to be acknowledged for artwork that represents my personal style,” Limtiaco said. “I love the faculty, so it means a lot that they’d select me.”

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Limtiaco said the simplicity of the gallery space allowed the art to speak for itself.

“What I love about art is that it brings people together,” Limtiaco said. “The opening reception was a perfect example of this. Having family and friends come together and enjoy the experience of viewing art was really encouraging. For me, this is what being an artist is all about ... creating experiences that bring people together.”

Duncan Simcoe, program lead of visual arts, said the exhibit gave the students affirmation for the work they have produced.

“Since we are training them to be exhibiting artists, it is very good for them to experience their own work in a gallery setting. This will affect their sense of the scale of their work, the way that it projects into the space and how it looks in relation to other work,” Simcoe said. “It is also very gratifying to see their friends and parents come to the reception and be caught up in the energy of this event.”

Simcoe said, when selecting the pieces, he looks for technical qualities that are specific to the medium involved.

“Seeing my students’ work in the gallery gives me a sense of accomplishment that the students I have had the privilege of working with have been able to produce some quality work,” Simcoe said.

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT EQUI PPED TO SE RVE

Showing the importance of effective communication To say communication is vital for Dr. Sandra Romo, associate professor of communication, is an understatement.

Communication helped determine her career, shaped her relationship with her students, and led to research after her daughter was diagnosed with autism.

“Ten years ago, there was a huge stigma around the idea of having a child with autism, so people didn’t want to talk about it,” Romo said. “It was looked at as something very negative and something that was associated with shame.”

Her daughter, now 13, was diagnosed with autism at 2. Romo saw there was a significant gap in the

“I was very passionate not just about wanting to build awareness but to talk about it more,” Romo

“Communication was put here not only for the Lord to communicate with us but for us to communicate with each other,” said Romo. “To be an effective communicator, you need to look beyond just sending a message to somebody and really dive deeply.”

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way providers and doctors were communicating to families.

Dedicated to changing the narrative, Romo pursued studying autism from a scholarly perspective. She focused her doctoral dissertation on how families navigate learning about a child’s autism diagnosis and how it impacts communication within the family.

said. “And to let people know it’s something that can be integrated into society very naturally.”

instill in her students a passion for effectively communicating with others.

Today, Romo works to provide information and “I love teaching in an asynchronous environment illuminate stories of those impacted by autism. because it provides opportunities to students that Through the equity, diversity, and inclusion lens, cannot attend in-person classes,” Romo said. “I she is working to spearhead discussions on love the opportunity to give back to those working neurodiversity. full time with families trying to achieve their educational goals.”

When Romo started her educational journey, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in education. Outside the virtual classroom, Romo and her She thought about how she could have a career family serve the community. She volunteers as a while still focusing on her family. Romo wanted Sunday school teacher in the special needs class to be a K-12 teacher. But after working in the at the Rock Church and World Outreach Center in communication field, she switched course to San Bernardino, California. She and her husband, find a career that would apply her knowledge Mark, own a baseball club, GT TRIBE, in Grand in education to the field she became passionate Terrace, California, that her son plays in. The club about. invests in the lives of teenagers and teaches them integrity, positive sportsmanship and respect.

While working full time in the field of sales, Romo and her husband work to provide equitable marketing and public relations, Romo began opportunities for all players in the program off attending evening classes through California and on the ball field.

Baptist University’s adult completion program.

Romo said wherever they are at, people should “Knowing that I was able to do it, I want to motivate strive to create experiences with one another to my students and show that if they have the drive foster healthy relationships. and desire, they too can reach their goals,” Romo said.

“I chose communication because when you see Then a faculty position opened in the communication arts department at CBU. She loved that she could express her faith while preparing the next generation of communicators to enter the world.

what it encompasses and studying how humans communicate from a faith-based perspective, it really answers a lot of questions of who we are, and how we are called as humans in society to interact

“Once I taught a course in that area, I knew that this with one another, spread the gospel and spread the was the area of higher education that I wanted to end up in,” Romo said. “I chose communication word in a way that’s effective.” because when you see what it encompasses and studying how humans communicate from a — Dr. Sandra Romo faith-based perspective, it really answers a lot of Associate professor of communication questions of who we are, and how we are called as humans in society to interact with one another, “As the years pass, we may not remember every spread the gospel and spread the word in a way aspect of the conversation with others, but we that’s effective.” remember how we felt,” Romo said. “My goal is to create rich experiences with my students, the Romo said she is intentional when connecting players in our baseball program and my family. I with her students in an asynchronous class work to honor Christ in my interactions and hope environment. She checks on them regularly they remember our experiences with one other in to monitor their success and she hopes to the years to come.”

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CBU TV

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CBU TV PLACES FOCUS ON HANDS-ON TRAINING

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or California Baptist University students who are interested in pursuing a career in broadcast journalism, CBU TV provides hands-on experience. Part of Lancer Media Group, CBU TV gives students training in front of and behind the camera as they create and produce a news broadcast.

Students write, edit, design, shoot and produce the stories, building their portfolios and gaining knowledge while sharing news with their peers.

The broadcast stories cover news, sports and features on CBU’s campus and in the local community.

Many segments are also filmed in Spanish for Lancers Noticias. Shows are produced once a month and uploaded to the CBU TV YouTube page.

Ignacio Dominguez, a journalism and new media sophomore, joined CBU TV to not only improve his broadcasting abilities but also to create segments for Lancers Noticias.

“Initially, it was challenging putting stories together and understanding how to capture everything I wanted correctly,” Dominguez said. “With time,

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CBU TV

ACA DEMI CA LLY P RE PARE D

it became something so natural that instead of seeing it as work, I would begin looking forward to doing it every day— looking for stories, speaking to people and learning along the way.”

Dr. Victoria Brodie, department chair of communication arts, said CBU TV is a blessing to have as part of the Lancer Media Group. Since its inception in 2019, CBU TV has gained notoriety on and off campus, with more students eager to join and increased views of its broadcast videos.

“CBU TV has produced excellent work that has been noticed by professionals in the field. With their broad scope of programming and dual-language approach, this outlet serves our students and region well,” Brodie said. “CBU TV has done outstanding work over the last few years and is experiencing rapid

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growth,which we anticipate will increase as the students continue to produce programs that engage our campus, the community and the region.”

Gaining a skill set

Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, interim director of Lancer Media Group, said video has become an in-demand element of communicating in the fields of journalism and public relations.

“Learning to record, edit the video, and be the face in front of the camera is a really important skill set,” Pearson said. “The work the students are doing expands on the skills they already have for creating.”

CBU TV provides opportunities for students to learn how to form questions to promote storytelling and how to interview a variety of people, from classmates to city residents.

“You need to be on your toes, and you need to be ready to leave the script. CBU TV has given me four years of work experience, which is something that most college “It gives the students the confidence to perfect their public speaking and to understand some of the language and vocabulary of broadcast journalism, along with perfecting their techniques,” Pearson said.

They also learn how to hold a microphone, how to maintain eye contact and what to do with their hands.

“Those are learned skills, sometimes by trial and error,” Pearson said.

Providing mentorship

graduates cannot say.”

— Wyatt Mitchison Journalism and new media major “I use Christ’s teaching style by asking the important questions,” Kruppa said. “This allows me to see the hearts and passions of our students and help guide them in reaching their goals.”

Kruppa said the CBU vision statement —“a university committed to the Great Commission”—is incorporated into everything CBU TV does.

CBU TV also uses mentorship to prepare students for the field of journalism, “We take that calling literally,” Kruppa said. connecting them with program advisors “We show the gospel, not just talk about it. who provide feedback and guidance.

This is demonstrated in the lives of our reporters and the angles of our stories.

Sonya Singh, assistant director of student Everywhere we go, we represent Christ.” publications and visiting professor of journalism, said mentorship is one of her favorite aspects of student journalism.

On-site learning Every week students gather in the “We get to engage with the excitement of newsroom in the James Building to plan and developing new story ideas, brainstorming execute story ideas for the monthly shows. unusual ways to shoot an assignment, Students have roles such as reporter, anchor, helping students pursue their dream news manager or director. internships and more,” said Singh, who also works as a freelance writer, editor and Many segments are filmed in the field to photographer. “The hands-on learning that give students a glimpse of reporting in goes on in the newsrooms is inspiring, even the real world. The on-campus studio during the long hours of a deadline week.” newsroom has a news desk surrounded by audio-visual equipment and a teleprompter.

James Kruppa (‘01), adjunct professor of In the post-production room, students broadcast journalism, CBU TV advisor and compile clips from the studio and field shots local pastor, brings his experience working to create the broadcast. Once approved, the in film production to help students grow as completed show is uploaded to YouTube. storytellers. Kruppa has worked on several small independent films.

Ivania Montes, a senior double majoring in journalism and new media and public He tries to point everything back to Christ relations, is the broadcasting director when it comes to helping his students for CBU TV. She said she loves learning succeed in their pursuit of storytelling. something new every day.

“The fact that I picked a career where I can meet new people, share their stories, cover the facts and then share that with others still leaves me in awe,” Montes said. “CBU TV has helped me get the experience by allowing me to get out there. They’ve given me the full foundation of what is expected in the real world of journalism.”

Because of his work as a CBU TV reporter, Dominguez has been approached by several news outlets who are interested in hiring him after he graduates.

“I would love to work for a national Spanish network and continue emphasizing the need for more Latinos in the media, telling stories of underrepresented communities and informing them,” Dominguez said.

While working for CBU TV, students can pursue their passions and cover stories they are interested in sharing.

Enthusiastic about the world of sports, Wyatt Mitchison, a journalism and new media senior, has been excited to share stories from CBU Athletics during his four years working with Lancer Media Group.

One of his favorite segments features CBU’s STUNT team, the newest sport at CBU. Mitchison was invited to a practice where he watched the team and even joined in briefly.

“You need to be on your toes, and you need to be ready to leave the script,” Mitchison said. “CBU TV has given me four years of work experience, which is something that most college graduates cannot say.”

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STUDENT CLUBS

CR EATI N G C OMMUN I TY

Finding community in clubs There are more than co-curricular clubs.

65 student clubs on campus at California Baptist University, ranging from academic to

Kryssa Johnson, program coordinator for student clubs in Community Life, recommends students get involved in at least one club to connect with other students who have similar interests or to learn something new.

“Clubs give students intentional community where they can feel a part of something, grow as individuals, pursue their passions, develop in their leadership skills and just have fun alongside other students,” Johnson said.

Some club presidents answered questions to give a glimpse of their club.

BOTANY CLUB

Ash Leatherwood, president

What does your club do?

What does your club do?

We work with plants and encourage environmentally friendly choices. We help people learn more about their plants, and we maintain Lancer Farms and Gardens in The Colony apartments. You aren’t expected to be a plant expert; you can just be a person who wants to learn more about nature and sustainability.

Our club is geared at bringing students together to articulate what we as Christians believe and to give reasons for why we believe it. We study what Christians believe and practice articulating that by training students in public speaking. We then conduct outreach events on campus where students will articulate what they believe and give reasons for it.

What does a typical meeting look like?

We partner with guest speakers to teach about plant care, host planting events around campus, and hold street cleanups with the Environmental Science Club.

Why did you join the club?

Having a leadership role in a safe environment was really useful. I am an anxious introvert so having a safe way to gain these skills has been great. It’s also helped me make friends!

What does a typical meeting look like?

Everybody needs a little slice of nature in their dorm room!

It’s scientifically proven to improve mood and to purify the air. But when plants are finicky and seem intent on dying, it is nice to have people who can help you troubleshoot. Our club can be an escape from the frantic life of a student, sitting in front of a computer all day.

How has being club president shaped your CBU experience?

How has being club president shaped your CBU experience?

Why should students join your club?

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GENERATION ZION

Rebekah Solorio, president

I started this club because of my own thinking and questioning through my faith and ultimately as a result of studying apologetics, which strengthened my faith and strengthened my evangelism as well.

We typically watch two short videos teaching apologetics, and then we discuss the content and reason through questions and doubts together.

I’ve learned about friendship and service and what it really means to invite Christ into every action, every conversation and every relationship.

Why should students join your club?

Students should join our club if they want to learn to articulate the gospel and give a defense for the Christian faith. In short, if students don’t feel equipped to share their faith but want to, we can help them by equipping them to do just that.

DISNEY CLUB

Tiffany Robitzer, president

What does your club do?

The club is meant for CBU students who have a love and interest in things relating to Disney, whether it’s classic Disney, Star Wars, Marvel or Pixar. The main mission of our club is to provide students with opportunities to express their passion for Disney with others and have an escape from the pressures of college life.

What does a typical meeting look like?

There are movie nights and game nights. On theme nights, we select a movie and then plan our snacks and games on the theme of that movie. On sing-along nights, members sing and dance the night away.

What has been a favorite moment with your club and why?

One of the biggest ones was during a sing-along when nearly 25 guests were singing and dancing to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” It was so fun to watch everyone screaming the song and dancing along with the characters in the movie “Encanto.”

How has being club president shaped your CBU experience?

It’s allowed me to take on leadership and pour into my members’ lives and academic careers. It’s connected me with medical schools and with medical students to provide information for my members. Being president has allowed me to build a community, improve my leadership skills and further solidify my choice of medicine as my career path.

Why should students join your club?

If you’re interested in going to medical school and are looking for community, resources and opportunities, join our club!

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION Sami Timblin, president

What does your club do?

Our mission is to fight modern day slavery and human trafficking. We do this through advocacy, prayer and fundraising.

How has being club president shaped your CBU experience?

What does a typical meeting look like?

Becoming the president has allowed me to take on more responsibility and taught me how to multitask and become a leader. I have become more confident in myself and how much I am able to do when I put my mind to it.

In our meetings, we spend time learning about human trafficking, the work that IJM does and how we can best advocate and support. We also spend time praying for God to bring justice.

Why should students join your club?

It is a club that is very diverse and provides a great stress relief. Even if they aren’t very knowledgeable about Disney, students can still interact with students from different majors and make the most unlikely friendships.

PRE-MEDICAL CLUB

Lucy Esber, president

What does your club do?

The CBU Pre-Med Club is here to inform and uplift students along their medical journey. Events include medical students as guest speakers, MCAT review prep and volunteer opportunities.

What has been a favorite moment with your club and why?

My favorite moments are being able to see the community our officers have built and to see the relationships among the members. It’s a tightknit community, in need of a lot of support and guidance.

What has been a favorite moment with your club and why?

Threads is one of my favorite events. It’s a pop-up thrift shop on campus where we sell clothes donated by students and 100% of the money goes to IJM’s field office in Ghana to combat child labor trafficking. A recent event raised $2,100.

What impact have you as president had on the club?

I hope my impact has been to grow the club and help equip the members with tools for advocacy and knowledge of human trafficking and IJM’s work. In turn, they can help equip others to advocate as well.

Why should students join your club?

Every single person should be joining the fight to end slavery.

If we all step up in prayer, advocacy and donating, we could end it today. It may seem like a problem much too big for college students to be able to do anything about, but we can do the little we are able to do now and make a difference that way.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Alum’s team-building business inspires youth Juan Arambul (’14, ’20) wants teenagers to have fun while learning lessons about teamwork and leadership.

“You get kids who are working together who have never worked with each other, and then they’re congratulating each other, or they’re cheering each other on because they realize the only way to complete these activities is if they work together,” Arambul said.

Arambul’s business, ANEW Project, works with mostly private and public high schools from Santa Cruz to San Diego. Arambul and his team help students and staff reach their highest potential by using team building and leadership exercises.

Participants often play games using items typically seen at a summer camp—hula hoops, jump ropes, balls—while solving a problem or puzzle.

“All these things allow the students to have the opportunity to come out of their comfort zone and build more confidence within themselves,” Arambul said. “Our whole mission with the ANEW Project is to encourage and inspire individuals to reach their highest potential but do it in a way that is old-fashioned fun. Put the technology down and let’s forget that we have a cell phone for the next hour. Let’s just have fun.”

After the games and activities, participants reflect and debrief, which shows students how to apply life lessons to the activities, Arambul said.

“Our debriefing allows them to have that aha moment where they look back and they say, ‘Oh this isn’t just a dumb mindless game, but there’s actually something bigger to what they’re trying to teach us,’” he said.

Arambul has always enjoyed working with youth. His mother was an elementary school teacher. Even as a teenager growing up in Nuevo, California, he often visited her school, playing basketball, tetherball or Legos with the kids.

During college, he worked at summer camps. At Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, he coached basketball and track and was a residential assistant.

Arambul played basketball, volleyball, and football in high school.

He played intramurals at CBU. His flag football team won the Fortuna Bowl.

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After graduating in 2014 with a degree in communication studies, Arambul worked for a large nonprofit based in Los Angeles where he developed programs for team building and leadership at inner city schools.

Two years later he started his own company. Alumnew LLC is a creative agency that supplies photography, music or film for fundraising efforts of businesses or nonprofits. Two years after that, he developed ANEW (Associated Network of Educational Workshops) Project. Meanwhile he also earned a master’s degree in leadership and organizational studies at CBU. Helping students and staff reach their potential is similar to CBU’s motto, Arambul said.

“I always say that we should all live a life of purpose and then, in that purpose, vision focuses our decisions and then decisions determine our destiny,” he said.

CBU professors, such as Dr. John Shoup, executive director of the Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute, helped him to thrive, Arambul said.

“Dr. Shoup was one of my professors who I felt like I could always ask important questions, not surface level but deep questions. He may not always have the answer to those questions, but he allowed me to think in a different way,” Arambul said.

Classes, intramural sports, conversations with professors and friends at CBU challenged him to reach his own highest potential.

“Passion and purpose go hand in hand. I think CBU definitely prepared me for those things by just offering me incredible resources and supporting me along the journey,” Arambul said.

RESIDENTIAL LIFE

Students unhurt, moved to new housing after tree falls on campus apartments High winds caused a 92-foot tree to snap and fall on Lancer Arms apartments on Feb. 2, 2022.

Roommates Amariah Hunt, an anthropology senior, and Megan Lansing, a nursing junior, were in their apartment at the time.

“It was terrifying because out of nowhere I heard this really loud crash as the tree broke, and then everything was shaking really hard when it hit the apartment,” Hunt said. “It all happened so quickly, so my thoughts were racing about whether I needed to duck underneath my bed or just run out of the building.”

Cierra Sao, residence director of Lancer Arms, was in her office when she heard a loud crack, like thunder. A couple seconds later the building shook. She ran around the two-story building and saw the tree had snapped and fallen.

“I ran upstairs, made sure those apartments that I could get to were clear, trying to get a head count of where everybody was and tried to make sure everyone was safe,” Sao said.

Only a few students were in their apartments that late morning, she said.

No one was injured, however 15 students from six apartments had to be moved to other campus housing for the remainder of the semester. Over the next couple of days, staff from Residence Life and Facilities and Planning Services gathered the students’ belongings and delivered them to their new apartments.

Aubree Bellanca, a liberal studies junior, was one of the students who had to move.

It was an adjustment because Lancer Arms was home, she said. In the move, she was thankful for her roommates.

“We were able to get a new apartment and stay together,” Bellanca said. “Residence Life was very adamant that we would not be separated.”

“While the construction can cause some disruptions, residents have been understanding of the situation,” Sao said. “Facilities has also been working with the construction company to minimize disruptions to students’ daily lives as much as possible.”

“We care deeply about them and will do our best to make sure their needs are taken care of,” Sao said.

After the tree fall, Kent Dacus, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, said staff provided the students assistance where needed, whether contacting faculty about missing or late academic work because of the incident or replacing personal items that could not be retrieved from the apartments.

“We are committed to helping each affected student work through this,” Dacus said.

“All in all, we were very fortunate in the The tree damaged a section of the roof and outcome we had. It could have easily been a second-floor apartment. Needed repairs different with injuries or death. I really included wood framing, drywall installa- think we have built a culture of caring and tion, painting, flooring, and roof sheeting taking care of our students. I think our staff and tiles. and community is doing that.”

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LANCER ATHLETICS C ROSS C OUNTRY

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COACH CREDITS SUPPORT FROM LANCER NATION FOR SUCCESS

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or Adam Tribble, head cross country and track coach at California Baptist University, the key to success is support.

Since joining CBU in 2018, Tribble has earned five Western Athletic Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year awards after successfully leading the women’s team to three straight titles in 2018–20 and the men’s team to back–to–back championships in 2020–21.

Even though he has achieved many accomplishments in four years, Tribble humbly attributes his success as a coach to support from CBU, including president Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, and to working with great athletes.

“In order to have a successful environment it takes so many people and a lot of resources,” Tribble said.

“That goes back to Dr. Ellis and CBU equipping us with what we need to be successful. I’ve been blessed to be able to work with and for a lot of really good people.”

Tribble got his start in cross country in junior high school after trying a variety of sports that were not a good fit. A friendly competition with a classmate sparked a passion, and Tribble has been running ever since.

“There was a guy in my class who was on the track team, and I thought, ‘I’m faster than him,’” Tribble said. “I thought if he can do it, then I’m sure I can do it.”

Tribble began his coaching career at an early age. While in high school, his cross country coach unexpectedly died, causing him to step into a leadership role on the team. That ignited a passion for coaching. After attending and competing at University of Georgia, Tribble coached there, at Oregon State, and most recently at the University of Alabama.

“I’ve worked with so many good people and that has prepared me for my coaching position at CBU,” Tribble said.

Improving performance in cross country and track takes time. Athletes train year-round and put in hours of hard work to shave seconds off their time and improve technique. Early morning training sessions, running over 70 miles a week and weight training are essential for students to reach their personal best.

Tribble said the most rewarding part of coaching is seeing a student accomplish their goals no matter how big or small.

a long time that wasn’t possible before. And that’s very fulfilling.”

The cross country and track team have created an environment to give student athletes the tools they need to be successful on and off the track.

“There are so many people involved in an athlete’s life,” Tribble said. “From housing to the training facilities, to academics and professors, our international offices, to the bus drivers who take us to different locations for us to train multiple times a week. It takes a village.”

While his athletes balance schoolwork and a rigorous training schedule, Tribble encourages them by building relationships with them individually.

The team is made up of athletes from all over the world, representing 18 countries. Tribble said it is important to understand that not everybody needs the same things, and he takes time to connect with his athletes one-on-one.

“Different people need different things “I think it’s really exciting when you see at different times,” Tribble said. someone achieve a goal they really want,” “Sometimes that can be challenging, but I Tribble said. “It’s not a matter of how try to tailor my support to the individual fast someone is, but it’s about seeing as best I can, especially when you have someone achieve something that takes people from all over the world on a team.”

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LANCER ATHLETICS SPORTS RECAP

SPORTS RECAP ACADEMICS CBU Athletics continued its trend of academic success in the fall of 2021 as the Lancers posted a department grade-point average of 3.413. All 19 CBU teams posted GPAs above 3.15 and eight maintained GPAs above 3.5.

“Academic and competitive excellence must go handin-hand for a NCAA Division I program to be successful,” said Tyler Mariucci, director of Athletics.

CROSS COUNTRY CBU won eight of the 12 team meet titles in fall 2021, including the men winning the Western Athletic Conference title with a perfect 15-point score. It was good for the Lancer men’s second-straight conference championship, while the women took second place. Adam Tribble was named the WAC Men’s Coach of the Year. Florian Le Pallec was the individual WAC champion and Men’s Runner of the Year, while Greta Karinauskaite was voted the WAC Women’s Freshman of the Year.

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MEN’S SOCCER The Lancers went 11-4-3 on the season and 6-3-2 in the WAC to take fifth in the conference. The 11 overall wins and six conference victories are the most in a single season in the team’s NCAA Division I era. CBU also placed four players on All-WAC Teams, as Bryan Iliohan made First Team, Antonio Gomez made the Second Team, and Mikkel Konnerup and David Cordes were selected to the All-Freshmen squad. The team spent much of the season ranked in the NCAA Division I Far West Region, peaking at No. 5.

WOMEN’S SOCCER CBU logged a 6-8-3 overall record and went 4-4-2 in the WAC to take fourth in the West Division. The Lancers had four players named to the All-WAC Teams. Romy Salvador and Devyn Kelsey were named All-WAC First Team, while Malia Cerdon and Morgan Witz were named on the All-Freshmen Team. Kelsey was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region Third Team, marking the fifth straight season the Lancers have placed at least one student-athlete on the All-Pacific Region Team.

VOLLEYBALL The Lancers finished the season with a 13-11 overall record and tied for fourth in the Western Athletic Conference West Division with an 8-6 conference run. It was good for the program’s 17th season with a record of .500 or better over the last 18 years. A trio of CBU players–Tesa Oaks (Second Team), Christine Graf (Second Team) and Laura Walewska (All-Freshmen)–earned AllWAC recognition.

MEN’S WATER POLO CBU ended the 2021 season ranked 13th in the NCAA with a 2014 overall record for the program’s fourth 20-win season in the last five full campaigns. The Lancers advanced to the Western Water Polo Association Championship game for the second year in a row and first time in a full season. They defeated then 10th-ranked UC San Diego, 14-13, in the conference tournament semifinals for their fourth top-10 win in program history and fourth win over a ranked opponent in 2021.

Zach Lowery earned NCAA Division I All-America honors, and All-WWPA honors (First Team) with PJ McDonough (Second Team), Hunter Barnett (Honorable Mention) and Gavin McKenzie (All-Freshmen). Sixteen Lancers earned All-Academic honors from the WWPA, which led the conference.

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HOMECOMING

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omecoming weekend at California Baptist University drew thousands of alumni and friends to campus on Feb. 11-12, 2022.

The weekend featured various events for attendees to enjoy, beginning with a reception on Feb. 11 to welcome alumni back to campus. In the evening, the Alumni Awards Dinner was held. Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, thanked the alumni audience for returning to campus and for all the support they have given the university throughout the years.

CBU recognized several alumni at the dinner: Ross Stout (’07), recipient of the Young Alumni Achievement Award; Jessie Bekkedahl (’02, ’04), recipient of the Alumni Service Award; Will Taylor (’94), recipient of the Alumnus of the Year; Dr. John Chestnut (’88), recipient of the Distinguished Service in Christian Ministries Award; Frank Ciprian (’84), recipient of the Lancer Lifetime Achievement Award; and Lisa Collinsworth (’83), recipient of the Alumni Philanthropy Award.

Also that evening, students and alumni enjoyed the Homecoming kickoff event on the Front Lawn, which featured carnival rides, food, and hot air balloons.

Bob and Jana Tingle, graduates of 1976, attended several events and said they were most looking forward to seeing how much the campus had changed since they were students.

“I’m excited about everything and just to see the campus,” Jana Tingle said. “We are doing the tour because everything is so new to us now.”

The events on Feb. 12 included a 50-year reunion breakfast, a hymn sing, a paint party, campus tours, and 10- and 25-year reunions.

Sandy and Alan Young, graduates of 1969, attended many of the events, including the 50-year reunion breakfast, the hymn sing and the basketball game.

They have attended Homecoming in previous years and their granddaughter now attends CBU. Sandy said her favorite part of Homecoming is the chance to see people they used to know.

“At the dinners and the breakfasts, they always set out the old yearbooks that were our years, so we go through

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HOMECOMING

“The facilities are just amazing.

We have friends who have not been here since graduation who came back in the last couple years and they didn’t even know where they were.”

— Sandy Young Class of 1969

those and talk about the people. That part is really fun,” Sandy said.

Sandy said her dorm was in the James Building, proving that CBU has changed a lot over the years.

“The facilities are just amazing,” Sandy said. “We have friends who have not been here since graduation who came back in the last couple years and they didn’t even know where they were. And then the programs and the outreach. There are so many more majors and things than what we ever had. We just had a few hundred kids.”

Alan was excited to attend the basketball game while at Homecoming and enjoyed hearing President Ellis speak during the weekend’s events.

“Every time I hear him, I’m inspired, and it reminds me of the vision that he had when he came,” Alan said. “He uses the phrase ‘Roll up the sleeves.’

Obviously, a lot of people rolled up their sleeves here to make all this happen.”

Homecoming weekend came to an end Saturday with a pregame party and a men’s basketball game against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The pregame party featured games, activities and food for eventgoers leading up to the game’s tip-off.

The CBU Lancers secured a victory over UTRGV with a final score of 80-72 in front of more than 4,600 fans.

During the game, seven new inductees into the CBU Athletics Hall of Fame were announced: Ashley Boyd and Emma Holden, softball; Kamille Diaz and Cassidy Mihalko, women’s basketball; Brian Sharp, baseball; Michael Smith, men’s basketball; and Jacob Waste, wrestling.

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California Baptist University 2022 Alumni Award Recipients

ROSS STOUT

JESSIE BEKKEDAHL

YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD

WILL TAYLOR

DR. JOHN CHESTNUT

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES AWARD

LISA COLLINSWORTH

FRANK CIPRIAN

ALUMNI PHILANTHROPY AWARD

LANCER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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Alum news ’60s

Ted (’62) and Betty (’63) Campbell are grandparents to Casey Reid (’16).

Casey is now a resident in surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Charlene Moody (nee Chun, ’70) is a retired elementary and middle school teacher. She is now a substitute teacher. She lives in Grass Valley, California, after moving from Oahu to be near her grandchildren.

Duane Lee (’65) and May Chism (’63, nee Campbell) both retired from the Air Force in 1991 after 25 years of service. Their first great-grandchild, Winston Spencer Church Hill, was born in April 2021.

David Valerio (’72) is a retired attorney and volunteers as a legal ministry advisor to three Adult and Teen Challenge divisions.

Miriam Callahan (nee Montgomery, ’73) and Ray celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Gailya Brown (’66) was selected as a 2021 Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals CA, Desert Communities Chapter.

Edward Hillhouse (’68) retired from teaching in Orthodox parish schools after 31 years. He lives in Oregon.

Benjamin Sparks (’69) published his third book, “Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow: A Pastor’s Memoirs.”

Dennis (’69) and Joy Hall celebrated 60 years of marriage in June 2021.

’70s

Dr. Don Shannon (’70) received a distinguished instructor award for teaching the course Principles of e-Learning Instructional Design at the University of California–Irvine.

Mike Procter (’74) completed a 10-month transitional pastorate at First Baptist Church in Wasilla, Alaska.

He serves as the transitional pastor for the First Baptist Church in Wahiawa, Hawaii. He is pictured with his wife, Rebecca.

Rick Ogston (’76) has been a U.S. Marine Corps officer, pastor, Navy chaplain, counselor, educator and the CEO of Desert View Academy in Yuma, Arizona, for the past 20 years.

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David Ajeigbe (’78) retired in 2016 after having worked in various roles in healthcare. David and his wife are both Nigerian immigrants and have been married since 1984. They have three grown sons.

K. Galen (’78) and Sondra (’91) Greenwait celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 21, 2021.

Galen is a tribal member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma and has been a pastor of a Native American congregation for the last seven years. Sondra is a retired school teacher.

Deb Duckett-Morris (’81) retired Dec. 31, 2021, after working for the federal government for the last 33 years. She spent 24 of those years working in the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

She has five grandchildren.

Chuck Starr (’81) worked at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, for three years and now works for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in the creative services department. Chuck and Melodie (nee Keller, ’77), have lived in Lowell, North Carolina, since he retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2004.

Carrie Whisler (’81) retired in March 2022 after working for 20 years at RINA Accountants & Advisors, most recently in human resources.

Cindy Cunningham (nee Gibson, ’82) was ordained as an elder in the Church of Nazarene. She and her husband, James, live in Sedona, Arizona.

Bryant Sinkler (’79) is a charter member of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

Carol Headen (nee Skinner, ’82) moved back to Australia to be near her son, his wife and her grandchild.

’80s

Bill Bathe (’77) spent 31 years in law enforcement, including opening a private investigating business. He retired in 2007. He and his wife reside in North Texas.

Talley Dillard (’77) is a Bible study teacher at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, California.

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David Leonard (’77) was elected chair of the Riverside County Planning Commission for 2022.

Linda Hagen (nee Foster, ’80) has taught since 1980.

Cindy Derrico (nee Hatch, ’83) completed a Ph.D. in higher education leadership in May 2020. In January 2021, she was promoted to associate

vice president for Student Affairs at California State University–Channel Islands. For the past 27 years, Cindy has served at three different CSU campuses. She and husband Jay celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. They live in Camarillo, California.

Max Herr (’85) celebrated his fifth anniversary as an elected staff member of the California Southern Baptist Convention (CSBC). He is the ministry specialist for human resources and church compliance. Additionally, as a licensed insurance agent, he created and manages CSBC’s in-house insurance agency.

’00s

Randall Robinson (’02) graduated in October 2021 with a Master of Divinity from Northwest Baptist Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia. He works as director of worship and operations at RiverPark Church in Parkville, Missouri. He and Meghan Robinson (nee Overlien, ’03) have two sons.

Adam Christman (’06) works as a senior pastor at First Baptist Church Clairemont in San Diego.

Creative Writing Contest The Office of Alumni & Parent Relations held its first CBU Alumni Creative Writing Contest in the fall of 2021. Alumni were invited to submit works of poetry, fiction or nonfiction to be considered by a panel of four judges—three alumni and one faculty member.

Sydney Aguas (’20) won first place for her poem titled “Tragedy.”

Abel Gonzalez (’18) received second for his short story, “And the Glory Fell.” Kaci Rigney (’87) won third place for her poem “Cover Me.” All three pieces will be featured in the spring edition of The Dazed Starling, a literary journal published by the Department of Modern Languages and Literature.

Be sure to follow @alumnicbu on social media to learn more about future writing contests.

Jon Bratta (’88) is the senior vice president of merchandising at BevMo!, a beverage retail chain.

Robert (’88) and Karen Newton (nee Thompson, ’87) moved from Alaska to Oklahoma to be near family and three grandchildren. Karen works for a tax law firm and Robert works in telehealth.

’90s

Carol Hoover (’08, ’11) retired from Rialto Unified School District as an education specialist on June 30, 2021.

Carol and her husband, Ralph, had a grandson born March 9, 2021. They also have four granddaughters.

Dawn Morgan (’94) authored the book “52-Card Pickup: How COVID Made Magic Disappear.”

Maribeth Myers (nee Pofahl, ’94) is the mother of two CBU graduates, Keri Myers Murcray (’01) and Kelly Myers Marley (’02), the mother-in-law to Joshua Murcray (’20) and David Marley (’04), and the grandmother to Katelyn Rose, Jonathan David, Jayne Iris and Caleb Joshua.

Ricardo (’95) and Amanda Gomez (nee Barton, ’97) celebrated 25 years of marriage.

Jill Burke (nee Cullison, ’99) started her own real estate transaction company after working in real estate for the past 10 years.

Sydney Aguas

Abel Gonzalez

Matthew Alvarez (’12) serves as captain in the U. S. Air Force Reserve Nursing Corps. Matthew received his Master of Science in Nursing in October 2021. He works at the VA Loma Linda Medical Center. His wife, Lea (nee Palmer, ’12), is also a graduate of the CBU nursing program.

Bobbi Blasjo (’09) moved to Fruitland Park, Florida, after retiring from Riverside Unified School District.

’10s

Holly Hewitt (nee Bricker, ’11) worked for 10 years as an Early Head Start teacher. She is now a stay-athome mom to her three boys.

Adam and Bree Rauschenbach (’12) celebrated five years of marriage.

Kaci Rigney

Melanie Bonilla (nee Villarreal, ’15, ’20) is the public health board liaison for the Riverside University Health System.

Beatriz Delgado (’17) passed her clinical exam and is a licensed marriage and family therapist at West End Family Counseling Services in Ontario, California.

Anthony Lozano (’17) earned a master’s degree at Holy Names University in Oakland, California. He is now the head coach of cross country and track at the university.

Teri Carter (’19) enrolled in the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication at CBU in January 2022.

Lorelyn Lucas (’14) is in the Army Reserve and has been promoted to captain. She was deployed to the Middle East.

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ALUM NEWS Koryna Barrozo (’20) is a special education teacher for California Virtual Schools.

Jenna Van Mourik (’20) was promoted to social media assistant at Sunrise Community Church in Fair Oaks, California.

Monique Garcia (’19) was selected

by NASA to take part in the human spaceflight research program at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. She was part of a team trained to perform a simulated mission to Mars in a capsule environment for 45 days.

Lucas Haines (’19) is a supply chain planner at Ashley Furniture HomeStore.

Rose Navarrete (’19) is a language proficiency assessment committee clerk with Clint Independent School District in El Paso, Texas.

Karla Daniela Facio (’20) was hired as contract specialist for the Navy in May of 2021.

Noe and Desiree Oseguera (’21) celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on Oct. 3. Desiree is an early infant interventionalist at Thrive Pediatrics. They have three children.

Yina Sibrian (’21) is a staffing manager at Randstad, an HR service provider.

Amanda Heck (’20) graduated from CBU with her master’s in education and a California teaching credential.

She teaches at Western Christian High School. She married Tyler Keys (‘16) on Oct. 21, 2021.

Ashley Pancratz married Matthew Nissen (’08) on Sept. 25, 2021.

Matthew is director of development at Project Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and restoring victims of sex trafficking.

Missy Patton (’20) was promoted to education program manager at Stanford University for post graduate physician programming. Her husband, Bryan, is working on his Bachelor of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology at CBU. Chelsea Dones (’21) is a site lead for the Boys and Girls Club of the San Gorgonio Pass.

Nicole Trulove (’12) married Burton Lashway on June 25, 2021.

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ROUN DTA BL E MAGA ZI N E

Kristen Clark (’20) married Ryan Berardelli (’20). Ryan is a system integration engineer for a military defense contractor.

Kelly Summers (’20) married Zachary Calpino (’20). They live in San Ramon, California.

Sarah Graham (’21) works as the marketing and communications director for the Southern Baptist Convention.

Joshua Beevor (’17, ’20) married Sydney Mcgaughran on Nov. 5, 2021.

Kasaan Hammon (’20) was promoted to the assistant chair of the Music Department at Idyllwild Arts, a residential high school for the performing arts. She teaches voice, songwriting and humanities classes.

A song she wrote, “Elephant Rope,” reached the finals for two international songwriting competitions.

Sarah Murguia (’17) married Julio Solano (’14) on June 5, 2021. Julio is an accountant at Tawnia’s Accounting Services, and Sarah is an artist at Family Custom Design Labels in Redlands, California.

Weddings

Jentry Salvatore (’19) has been promoted to director of marketing and A&R (artists and repertoire) at Empire, a digital media distribution company in San Francisco.

’20s

Megan Lee (’21) was accepted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles.

Joshua Lomeli (’21) works as a licensed California realtor with Fathom Realty.

Rebecca Patty (’20) married Mitchell Bradford.

Shayla Duncan (’20) married Jordan Luck (’20) on March 27, 2021. They have started a wedding venue business. Jordan is pursuing his Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology at CBU.

Jazmin Paz (’20) welcomed a son, Johnny, in March 2021.

In Memoriam Alumni Jamie Fischer (’13) married Peter Ignatius (’10) on May 28, 2021.

Elizabeth Pollock (’20) married Nicolas Vander Weide (’20) on June 26, 2021.

Little Lancers

Jason and Emily Day (nee Cummins, ’11) welcomed a son, Riley Mark Day, on Sept. 23, 2021.

Allen and Mikayla Long (nee Lammons, ’14/’16) welcomed a son, Jaylen, on July 31, 2021.

Ryan (’14) and Jessica Fuller (nee Olson, ’14) welcomed a daughter, Brooklyn Jane Fuller, on Aug. 11, 2021.

Flor Castillo (nee Valente, ’19) welcomed a second child, Manuel Levi Castillo, on Aug. 8, 2021.

Anthony and Sandra Hughes (nee Bennett, ’05) welcomed their fourth child, Randall David Hughes, on June 25, 2021.

Ryan (’08) and Janai Rindels welcomed a daughter, Scarlett Camille Rindels, on Sept. 8, 2021. Scarlett joins siblings Josiah, 6, Stella, 5, and Sophia, 3. Ryan is a pastor at First Baptist Church Sonoma in Sonoma, California. He received his Ph.D. from Gateway Seminary where he is also an adjunct professor.

Josiah and Amber Aston (nee Baus, ’10, ’13) finalized the adoption of their daughter. The couple completed a merger of their company, an online private school, to become Wilson Academy Online, and launched an onsite campus.

Kevin (’19, ’21) and Stormi Dodd, welcomed their first child, Phoenix, on May 27, 2021. Kevin graduated from CBU with a master’s in organizational leadership.

Jean (’20) and Esther de Dieu Athanga, welcomed a son, Aser.

He joins two sisters.

Jesse Benavides and Cindy Piz (’20) adopted two boys, Gabriel (4) and Michael (3), and welcomed a son, Jesse James, on Oct. 9, 2020. Cindy is pictured with Jesse.

Brandon (’20) and Crystal Steppe, welcomed a son on June 4, 2020.

Brandon works as a clinical research coordinator for Velocity Clinical Research.

Judy Hillhouse (’68) Daniel Martinez (’66) Patricia Ann Murcray (’98, also a trustee) Julie Stokes-Thomas (’18)

Faculty & Friends Nelson Samuel

To submit an item for the Alum News section please contact Josh Moss, Senior Director of Alumni, Parent & Donor Engagement, at jmoss@calbaptist.edu.

Beloved friends of CBU Shelby Collinsworth, a longtime supporter of California Baptist University, passed away Aug. 4, 2021, at age 94. Shelby and his wife, Ferne, became supporters of CBU when their daughters Lisa (’83) and Leslie (’95) attended. The couple were CBU’s first $1 million donors. For that gift to the School of Music, The Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music was named in their honor in 2005. They also have two endowed scholarships: The Collinsworth Ministerial Scholarship and the Collinsworth Family School of Music Scholarship.

Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf, a former longtime CBU employee, passed away Aug. 4, 2021, at the age of 97. She graduated from then California Baptist College in 1969 and worked in several positions at the university from 1971 to 2000, including secretary to the vice president for Academic Affairs, professor of education and vice president for Academic Affairs. The Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education was named in her honor in 2003.

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