CBU
Graduates celebrate their achievements with family and friends.
We connect with the program’s first graduates. 25 Homecoming
Alumni
The
PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Fellow Lancers,
California Baptist University has wrapped up another academic year, one especially meaningful as we celebrated our 75th anniversary. This milestone offered the opportunity to reflect with gratitude on CBU’s rich history while looking ahead with confidence to the future God continues to shape.
Throughout the year, our campus was filled with moments of connection and celebration. Homecoming welcomed alumni back to campus, renewing friendships and shared memories. Commencement marked a different kind of celebration, as graduates completed their academic journeys and stepped into the next chapter of their lives, prepared to serve with purpose.
This issue of The Roundtable reflects the many ways CBU continues to make an impact. We catch up with the first graduates of the Bachelor of Applied Theology program to see how their education has shaped their lives. Our photography alumni share how they are capturing beauty and meaning through their creative work. Meanwhile, CBU’s Mobile Health Clinic extends compassionate care to underserved communities while training nursing students to see and serve the whole person.
As the campus prepares for the year ahead, we acknowledge that the future carries uncertainty. Yet at CBU, we remain rooted in knowing that our future rests in God’s hands. As graduates begin new journeys and members of the Lancer Nation continue their own, may we all be guided to live out faith and service wherever we are called.
May the Lord continue to bless!
Ronald L. Ellis, Ph.D. President, California Baptist University
THE MAGAZINE OF CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
SUMMER 2026 VOLUME 68 • ISSUE 2
EDITOR Angela Meluski
MANAGING EDITOR Vivian Quezada
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Kristeen Farlow, Alexis Anderson
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Edgar Garcia
CONTRIBUTING
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Shanah Chomsinsub
PHOTOGRAPHY
CBU Athletics, Edgar Garcia, Emily Ma, Jon Nyquist, Ashley Chruszcz (cover)
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 2026 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 ameluski@calbaptist.edu
EDITORIAL INQUIRIES
Contact Angela Meluski at 951.552.8242 ameluski@calbaptist.edu
STAY CONNECTED
GIVING A FRESH START THROUGH PORTRAITS
For almost 10 years, students and faculty at California Baptist University have provided free headshots for men in the Inland Empire chapter of Teen Challenge, a Christian nonprofit offering residential treatment for substance abuse. CBU returned this year, photographing nearly 70 men.
Sonya Singh, instructor of journalism, invited CBU students and alumni to volunteer for the nationwide event, titled Help Portrait.
“I love getting to see the reactions of everyone who’s involved,” Singh said. “It’s a really special thing to turn the camera around after you make the portrait and show it to someone. You see them light up, maybe because they haven’t seen themselves look that way on camera.”
Singh, along with CBU students and alumni, captured portraits, another alum did light makeup, and a student was on lint roller duty. As the men at Teen Challenge awaited their turn, they shared their stories.
One said he grew up with drugs at a very young age. He got clean, but a tough relationship then led him to substance abuse again. He’s grateful for Teen Challenge. When asked what he hoped to use the portrait for, he pulled out an old image of himself.
“This is how much I’ve changed,” he said. He looked forward to having an updated image to show himself and others the work God had done in his life.
DR. ELLIS HONORED AS 2025 CITIZEN OF
THE YEAR
The Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce honored Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, as the 2025 Citizen of the Year. The annual recognition honors individuals whose leadership has made a lasting impact on the Riverside region. Ellis received the award during the Chamber’s 126th Inaugural Celebration on April 8, 2026.
Under his leadership, CBU has become a strategic partner in shaping Riverside’s future. He has worked closely with city leaders and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
to bring together higher education, business and civic partners around a shared vision for regional collaboration and economic growth.
One hallmark of Ellis’ presidency has been aligning academic programs with workforce needs and emerging industry trends. CBU has prepared graduates who are equipped to lead and serve in real-world contexts. His work with the Workforce Advisory Panel has strengthened ties between educators, employers and civic leaders. This has helped ensure that Riverside’s economy is supported by a pipeline of skilled and mission-driven workers.
Additionally, through his involvement with the Riverside Community Health Foundation and initiatives such as CBU’s Mobile Health Clinic, he has helped address critical needs in underserved neighborhoods. These efforts reflect a practical commitment to improving quality of life and serving those who may otherwise go without care.
Elijah Hickman (’23)
INNOVATION ON DISPLAY AT BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
Eight teams of students at California Baptist University pitched innovative ideas for products and services at the ninth annual Bob Goodrich Business Plan Competition on March 17.
The participants presented pitches to a panel of three judges and a room full of guests.
Business proposals ranged from glasses that audibly told a blind person about their surroundings to an app for buying or selling used textbooks. The top three ideas were awarded prize money: first received $7,500, second received $5,000, and third received $2,500.
This year’s winning team created Pwoomba, developed from an engineering capstone project. In simple terms, the device is a pressure washer Roomba that cleans large flat outdoor surfaces, the team said.
“We really have faith in the long-term profitability of our capstone project that we’ve been working on for the last five months,” said John Zambriski, a mechanical engineering senior.
Second place was awarded to team Solar Canopy AI, whose product was a solarpowered pop-up canopy that provides shade and renewable power in one setup. Third place went to team RoadBuddy, which presented a harness that protects pets from harm in the car.
“There are so many people who have ideas,” said Dr. Tad Hove, associate dean of the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business. “I encourage anyone to be part of (the business plan competition). God gives us ideas and vision and it’s up to us to have the courage to go and put it out there.”
STORIES FROM OUR MOST SEASONED STUDENTS
There is a group of Lancers at California Baptist University who aren’t your typical college students. Six septuagenarians, ranging in age from 70–75 years old, are striving for a degree. Several had their educational journeys delayed or interrupted because of family or other responsibilities. But they returned, working toward that degree.
As CBU approached the middle of its 75th anniversary year, Barbara Wilkinson, a liberal studies senior, blew out the candles on her 75th birthday cake.
Wilkinson started college when she was 27 years old but stopped after getting married
and moving to California. Now, she plans to be a substitute teacher. She offers this advice to older people considering college:
“YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD, & IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.”
When beginning college, Debra Basco, a counseling ministry graduate student, couldn’t foresee the children she would need to raise or the detours life would hand her. Yet it was in these years where she found her calling to be involved in suicide prevention.
“Being an older student, you can withdraw,” Basco said, now 74. “In this case, I’m very
engaged with the students. I’m learning a lot from them.”
Debra Marquez, a philosophy graduate student, is going for her doctorate at 71. She waited until her youngest child turned 18 before going to college for her bachelor’s. Now pursuing a Ph.D., Marquez landed on CBU due to its biblical integration.
Marquez offers similar advice once given to her.
“Be persistent, be consistent. Don’t give up. As long as you push through and stay dedicated to your practice, you’re going to succeed.”
John Zambriski (left), Jose Mendoza, Pason Broek, William Sims and Titus Rehard
MIND. BODY. SPIRIT.
“Who
among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”
James 3:13 (NASB)
Matthew Mendoza (left), Kate Goodwin, Andrew Pepper and Rylee Long
Congratulations Spring Class of 2026
36
Candidates for Doctoral Degrees
678
Candidates for Master’s Degrees
1,187
Candidates for Undergraduate Degrees
As you walk today, you’re taking the first steps in the next phase of your journey with Jesus. You will probably have a few difficult days. When you do, don’t view them as difficulties, but let the power of Christ rest upon you.
CHRYSTAL KERN, CBU Board Trustee
Min Sung Kim International Student Award
RAFAELA DE FIGUEIREDO
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
A student from São Paulo, Brazil, De Figueiredo served as a member of the CBU Student Senate, speech and debate team, FYE leadership team and Student Success Office. She was also inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society.
2026 Outstanding Senior Award
GRACE BERGQUIST
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
In engineering, Bergquist contributed to projects on tissue elasticity prediction and subliminal learning in large language models. She was also a student-athlete and captain of the women’s water polo team.
Kate Goodwin
Mia Peralta
Emily Lee
WHEELSThe Hospital on
HOW CBU’S MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC HEALS SOUL AND BODY ALIKE
After making its debut in October 2024, California Baptist University’s mobile health clinic has made a name for itself in multiple communities.
The clinic started as a dual-purpose project: to provide care to underserved areas and act as a clinical site for students. However, the payoff has run much deeper. The clinic offers a hands-on learning environment for students that emphasizes holistic care while providing medical service to underserved populations in Riverside County, regardless of whether the patient has insurance.
“Rather than waiting for patients to come to us, we meet them where they are,” said Chloe Good, a nursing student. “Working in the field gave me the opportunity to see firsthand the environments they come from and to better understand their daily lives and lived experiences.”
Michelle Pearson-LoGiudice, clinical administrator of the mobile health clinic, has overseen the operations of the clinic since January 2025. Her roles include caring for patients, overseeing students and managing the clinic.
“I know how to run a clinic, but I’d never ran a mobile one,” Pearson-LoGiudice said. “I was a little hesitant at first about what the response would be like in the community, but you can see God in every detail.”
Although each site serves a different demographic, the overarching goal of the clinic remains the same.
“We are able to go into underserved areas that do not have access to medical care, whether it’s because they don’t have money to put gas in their car, the bus ride is two hours to their doctor’s office, whatever the reason is. And because of this, they’re not getting treated,” Pearson-LoGiudice said.
The clinic goes out three times a week and attends health fairs on Saturdays. It has a contract with the Riverside County Department of Social Services and visits each location once a month: Beaumont, Moreno Valley, Mead Valley, Temecula and Perris. It also frequently appears at various health fairs in the Inland Empire.
In Perris, the clinic also partners with Concerned Family, an organization that provides meals, groceries and clothes to migrants, underserved and unhoused populations.
Pamala, a regular patient of the clinic, was one of the first to receive treatment when it arrived there. Like most of the patients at all mobile clinic locations, she suffers from high blood pressure.
“I like this clinic because they’re very personal,” Pamala said. “They make sure they share with you and give it to you in laymen’s terms.”
An early goal of the clinic remains: to provide education not only to the students but the patients as well.
“We’re here to empower the patients with knowledge, compassion, prayer and resources,” said Wendy Johnson, associate professor of nursing. “Those are the things we really focus on with the individuals in the community.”
Some of the clinic’s services include checking blood pressure, doing bloodwork, providing immunizations and offering tests for strep, pregnancy, A1C (blood sugar) and cholesterol.
Many students appreciate the holistic learning the clinic provides. At the Concerned Family rotation, students also serve in the kitchens packing food and handing it out to those in need.
This teaches them to look at all the factors that play into health. Nurses need to look at the whole individual, Johnson said.
“I’ve learned a lot about the types of resources different cities have and what their environment is like,” said Jessica Dunn, a nursing student. “Getting to know the community areas and what the specific struggles are in each helps a lot to know what the population needs overall.”
The clinic also partners with First 5, a family resource center in Mead Valley, often drawing in people who utilize the center. Charity Webb, the manager at First 5 Riverside, said that clients oftentimes don’t have access to the clinics they need.
“The mobile clinic eliminated a lot of the running around that tends to happen when people are trying to find resources,” Webb said.
Along with Pearson-LoGiudice, Johnson and nursing students, the clinic is staffed with a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant who can prescribe medication and follow up with patients.
Continued on next page
Rebecca Collister
” ”
WE’RE HERE TO EMPOWER THE PATIENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE, COMPASSION, PRAYER AND RESOURCES.
WENDY JOHNSON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Dr. Brian Bearie, medical director for CBU’s physician assistant studies program, serves as the clinic’s provider. Bearie works with Southern California Emergency and Urgent Care, where all the physician assistants for the mobile clinic come from.
Ian Pope (’24), a physician assistant, has worked at the clinic in Moreno Valley and Temecula. As a CBU alum, Pope gets a firsthand look at the unique benefit the clinic provides students.
“As a student it’s important to be exposed to as many situations as possible,” Pope said. “Any little pearl of wisdom you’re exposed to on a patient in one rotation can help you build a diagnosis on another one.”
Students who have been through the mobile clinic rotation appreciate the unique outlook it gave them on nursing. Goode was on the rotation for the spring ’25 semester. Looking back, she recognized the learning variety the clinic provided.
MILES DRIVEN
SINCE THE CLINIC OPENED:
5,770 APPROX.
“The mobile clinic serves as an example of one of the many different avenues the field of nursing presents. Rather than waiting for patients to come to us, we met them where they were,” Goode said. “I witnessed the genuine compassion my professors have for their community, with the mobile clinic serving as a demonstration of their commitment to care.”
Along with medical services, staff and students on the clinic offer prayer to anyone
who visits. The clinical instructors often mention that they never want to shy away from who CBU is, and the treatment that can heal the soul as well as the body.
For this reason, the clinic never misses a scheduled day of being in the community.
“We never know if that day could be a turning point in someone’s life, and we never want to be a barrier to getting them care,” PearsonLoGiudice said.
NUMBER OF BLOOD PRESSURE CUFFS:
STUDENTS ON THE CLINIC
IN 2025-26 YEAR:
400 APPROX.
5
1406% GROWTH
SLATED TO SEE APPROX. 2,500 PATIENTS THIS YEAR
*GROWTH SINCE LAST YEAR
NUMBER OF A1C DEVICES:
7 3
Marissa Rodriguez (left) and Aaliyah Durham Madison Gordinier
TRAILBLAZERS OF APPLIED THEOLOGY
Showing how the program equipped its first graduates
In 2006, 11 students crossed the stage as the first graduates of California Baptist University’s Bachelor of Applied Theology program. Since then, about 220 have graduated, making an impact in churches, universities and organizations of all kinds. We reached out to some of the first graduates to hear where their journeys have taken them in the past 20 years.
Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Daniel Bishop
Lead pastor at The Grove Community Church Riverside, California
What did your path look like after graduating?
What did your path look like after graduating?
I served for a year in Chile with a church that The Grove supports, learning to love all people the way God does. I returned to The Grove as the junior high pastor and then high school pastor. After that, I entered into a five-year succession plan and officially became the lead pastor (no training wheels) in February 2020.
How did the BAT program equip you?
It equipped me to faithfully study and teach God’s word. My parents raised me to love and fear the Lord, but the BAT program deepened that foundation by teaching me to revere the very words of God and to develop a philosophy of ministry and preaching that flows directly from Scripture.
Is there a professor who still influences you today?
Dr. Chris Morgan, dean of the School of Christian Ministries, and Dr. Dan Wilson, professor of biblical studies, not only influenced me during college but continue to encourage me. Dr. Wilson serves on our board at The Grove and is in my small group Bible study that meets in my home. These men continue to be a tremendous blessing in my life and ministry.
How does your ministry reflect the BAT program’s mission?
When I began preaching regularly at The Grove, I committed to preaching through a book of the Bible each year for about seven months. I wanted to faithfully preach expository sermons from the text and help our church learn and understand entire books of the Bible. That desire was formed during the BAT program.
How would you encourage today’s BAT students?
I would encourage every BAT student to dig deep into who God created you to be. Don’t compare yourself to other students or their giftings. The best pastor you can be is the one God designed you to be, using the gifts He has given you.
I served as a youth pastor and in young adult ministry. Then I became lead pastor at a church in Southern California, then Northern California before accepting my current role.
How did the BAT program equip you?
The BAT program provided a firm foundation in theology and equipped me with critical skills to properly interpret Scripture. It also ignited a deep passion for preaching God’s word and a desire to foster spiritual growth in others.
When have you used what you learned in the BAT program?
My three-year internship while in the program provided invaluable pastoral experience, offering a supportive environment to learn and even make mistakes. I constantly rely on those experiences to help me create a strong staff culture, provide compassionate care for people in crisis, and clearly communicate a vision for where God is leading our church.
What from the program still shapes you?
I remember a project on designing a discipleship pathway for a church plant. My team and I went beyond the requirements, collaborating to produce over 40 extra pages. That experience helped me think holistically and systematically about how to foster spiritual formation.
How does your ministry reflect the BAT program’s mission?
The program’s influence has been vital in my work of revitalizing ministries and churches. For instance, its teachings helped me turn around a church facing a particularly difficult season. At my current church, it’s empowered me to amplify the existing momentum, enabling it to grow significantly.
How would you encourage today’s BAT students?
I would tell today’s BAT students to lean into their internships, gathering as much experience and knowledge as they can from those who’ve come before them. Also, prepare emotionally for the challenges that come with church revitalization — it’s likely to be the most common experience you’ll face.
Continued on next page.
Paul Crandell
Lead pastor at Sonrise Church Hillsboro, Oregon
Lead pastor at Pathway Church Redlands, California
What did your path look like after graduating?
I graduated from Gateway Seminary. I then held various roles, including youth and worship pastor and church planter before moving to Redlands to pastor.
How did the BAT program equip you?
I initially thought that I would be a missionary overseas. But during my time in the BAT program, God grew a love for the church in me. I found myself desiring to pastor people and mobilize them toward the nations.
What from the program still shapes you today?
Dr. Dan, Dr. Morgan and Dr. Anthony Chute, professor of church history, all had a profound influence on my character, my values and on how to treat people. They also gave me confidence and believed in me, which has shaped how I enjoy thinking the best of others and giving younger ministers in training a shot to lead.
I do remember being amazed that we could have a course on the Doctrine of Sin. I didn’t know there was enough material to last a semester. I was very wrong, and the content of that class helped me understand the holiness of God and the need for Christ even more.
How does your ministry reflect the BAT program’s mission?
In 2018, Dr. Morgan visited me and others in Oregon. Chris generously gave his time to my elder team, preaching at my church and enjoying fellowship by hiking. That trip really encouraged me during the season I was in, and I think that Chris embodied the mission and values of the BAT program. He cared for us and just spent time with us.
How would you encourage today’s BAT students?
I’d encourage them to make a conscious decision to look up to people because of their character and not because of their aura. Because you will become what you admire.
What did your path look like after graduating?
I earned a Master of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School (Samford University). I also interned with Dr. David Platt and was involved with a church plant. I then earned a PhD on the doctrine of the church at the University of Western Sydney and Moore Theological College. I served in churches in Sydney and taught at Moore Theological College before becoming rector of St Matthias Anglican Church.
How did the BAT program equip you?
It is where I was first helped to piece together some of the doctrinal puzzle that I saw in the Bible. Second, the theology was thoroughly biblical. In fact, I remember being challenged not to assume beliefs but to search the Scriptures to see what they said was true. Finally, the BAT program helped me live my faith more fully. What we were taught in the classroom was always with an eye to ministry in the local church. And so, we were shown that theology must move from the head to the heart. When our heart is affected, it will manifest itself in love for God and love for our neighbors.
How does your ministry reflect the BAT program’s mission?
The uniqueness of the BAT program is the careful attention given to my formation as a minister by the CBU faculty. They cared for my soul. As I moved into lecturing in a seminary, I wanted to emulate what I experienced at CBU. I wanted students to know that the kind of person they were being formed into as a follower of Christ was more important than the grades they would receive.
How would you encourage today’s BAT students?
Stick close to the Bible. We can feel tempted to be clever or to entertain, but faithful ministry is delivering God’s Word to God’s people (2 Timothy 4:2-5).
Josh Howeth
Rev. Dr. Chase Kuhn
Senior Minister at St Matthias Anglican Church Centennial Park, Sydney, Australia
Andrew Spradlin
Co-senior pastor at Valley Baptist Church Bakersfield, California
What did your path look like after graduating?
I went to seminary and then returned to my home church of Valley Baptist. I have served as college-age, young married adults, education and executive pastor before my current role.
How did the BAT program equip you?
When I first started, I was convinced God had called me into full-time ministry, but I had no idea what that was to look like. I lacked confidence in many areas of ministry and did not believe I possessed the gift set for being a senior pastor. I was content with that, but through my professors at CBU, God began opening my eyes to the possibility that someday He may want me to become a senior pastor.
When have you used what you learned in the BAT program?
It’s difficult to quantify because I believe everything I learned in the BAT program helps me in ministry today. However, Dr. Morgan’s words to our preaching class stand out. He told us, “Just be yourself when you preach.” At Valley Baptist I followed one of the best preachers in the country. I’ve often reminded myself of Dr. Morgan’s words.
How does your ministry reflect the BAT program’s mission?
The BAT program champions practical hands-on ministry training in the form of local church internships. What I learned from the BAT program, we are now implementing at Valley Baptist, as we invest in the next generation of pastors and leaders. We are increasing our number of interns at a rapid rate.
How would you encourage today’s BAT students?
I would encourage our BAT students to truly treat every class, every meeting and every internship responsibility as a learning opportunity. Sometimes college students are focused on completing a degree, but the best students are focused on being equipped for what God is calling them to.
What did your path look like after graduating?
I served as middle school, high school and family pastor in various churches throughout California.
How did the BAT program equip you?
I developed a hunger for training theologically. I only got one C at Cal Baptist and it was in Jesus and the Gospels. I met with Dr. Dan afterward where he said, “I wonder if the BAT program is the right thing for you.” And that was a real kick in the pants. I needed to take this seriously. This is about my sense of preparedness for ministry.
When have you used what you learned in the BAT program?
It can be lonely being a pastor and feeling like you can’t be completely vulnerable. The concept of community as a need for ministry leaders was deeply instilled because I was in the BAT program.
What from the program still shapes you today?
Dr. Morgan is incredibly intelligent and approachable. He didn’t feel distant because he was a professor. That’s deeply impacted the way that I wanted my ministry.
Another way is when Dr. Richard Mobley, professor of Christian studies, talked about context. He bent his elbows at 90 degrees, arms extended in front of him and palms spread apart. “What’s important is context,” he said, as if holding it between his hands. I didn’t live in first century Corinth, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get anything out of the Scriptures. We have to understand the context. I do that hand motion now when teaching my students.
How would you encourage today’s BAT students?
Invest in the relationships that you have in the BAT program. Study hard, take it seriously and invest relationally. It’s not all about what you’re learning. It might be also about the people you’re learning right alongside.
Curtis Warren
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
DAVID FOUTS (’22)
Fouts first picked up a camera while at a boarding school in Germany. He spent time photographing sports and events within his town, but the work didn’t resonate with him.
It wasn’t until spending time in Liberia, where his parents served as missionaries for Samaritan’s Purse, that something shifted. He was asked to take photos for the organization, leading him to focus on people and everyday life. This experience sparked a deeper connection to the work.
“I think the big thing of photography is that you should be working on what you care about,” Fouts said. “I’m drawn to strong composition and color in my work.” During his time at CBU, Fouts created many works around those elements.
He valued much of what he learned from professors like Christopher Kern, associate professor of photography and department chair of visual arts and design, who regularly went above and beyond for the students in the program. Fouts recalls taking classes during COVID-19, where each week Kern scheduled Zoom sessions for students to learn from a professional photographer.
Each graduating class from the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design enters the professional world with a honed creative pursuit and cultivated skills to live out their calling. This has certainly proved true with graduates of CAVAD’s photography program.
As the fourth largest photography program in California, CAVAD has produced alumni working for nationally recognized sports teams, iconic companies and partnering with big names in music and television.
Since being established as a bachelor’s program in 2013, it has steadily grown in the number of students enrolled along with program offerings. We connected with some alumni, who each tie a large portion of their success to their time at CBU.
His first year out of college, Fouts continued freelance work while simultaneously interning for Art Streiber, a photographer and director based in Los Angeles and a frequent speaker to the photography program.
In conjunction with the internship and freelance, he worked as a lighting assistant, and eventually a digital technician. He looked at several full-time photography jobs and was even an adjunct professor in CBU’s photography program for a time, but ultimately decided to pursue freelance in a fulltime capacity.
He has freelanced for Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Palm Springs Life Magazine and many other publications and companies, photographing subjects in environments such as a theatre, tennis court, kitchen or broadcast studio, blending his love of people with his experience shooting landscapes early in his career.
An important lesson he learned from Kern during his time at CBU was that his work does not define who he is. This lesson has inspired Fouts’ day to day, as he continues to cultivate what the program taught him and live out his purpose as a creative.
ASHLEY CHRUSZCZ (’22)
When Chruszcz was young, she had a fascination with art, often studying how to create emotion and imagery through light.
She picked up her first camera in a high school yearbook class. “I was surprised that the characteristics of light are the same in photography as they are in painting,” she said.
When the time came for her to pick a college, she sought one that was close to home and had a strong foundation in Christ — along with offering a solid art program.
“As I researched the CAVAD program more in depth, I noticed the courses were geared toward industry standards, and I saw the success of students coming out of it,” Chruszcz said.
In each photography class, she developed a creative eye as students gave constructive criticism on her work and others.
“This is helpful now as I am shooting and delivering images for my clients and have to deliver what they are looking for, not only what I want to photograph,” she said.
Following college, Chruszcz did freelance work for six months, assisting photographers in Los Angeles, photographing couples and events and helping friends with their test shoots. Then she worked as a photo assistant for La Jolla Group, a multibrand operator.
During her time there, Chruszcz built upon skills that were introduced while in CAVAD.
“I refined my retouching skills, gained a strong understanding of studio, e-comm and lifestyle photography while learning how to communicate with clients,” she said.
After a year and a half at the company, she returned to freelance full time. Chruszcz’s current portfolio blends warmth and sunlight as seen in environments like the ocean, snow or a local cafe. Much of this reflects her experience at CBU.
“The professors gave me the knowledge and systems I needed to step into the workforce with confidence,” she said. “I’m excited to continue growing from where I am, building on the foundation I gained through CAVAD.”
Continued on next page
RAYMOND ALVA (’22)
Alva’s interest in photography sparked after attending a summer camp at 15 years old. While there he borrowed a friend’s camera, shooting portraits of campers and counselors. After that, he begged his parents for one and was pleasantly surprised when they gave him a Sony A6000 for his 16th birthday.
He used it nonstop, eventually doing freelance photography for musicians such as Social Club Misfits while still in high school.
Throughout college, Alva continued photographing musicians, doing album covers, press photos and events. Like Fouts, he did an internship with Streiber following graduation, which opened many doors for him.
In the two years after receiving his degree, Alva split his time between shooting, assisting photographers and being a digi tech. Eventually, he made the tough decision to no longer take assistant or digi tech jobs, hoping that clients would see him solely as a photographer.
It’s been two years since then, and he just finished a gig shooting Junior H, a Mexican singer-songwriter, for the cover of Billboard Magazine.
This is Alva’s second time working with Billboard. In addition, he has photographed musicians such as Pharrell, Travis Barker and Leon Thomas for other publications and clients.
Alva ties much of his success to the mentorship he received from Kern and other professors.
“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the photography program,” Alva said. “I wouldn’t have gotten the awareness of what the industry is doing.”
This impact persuaded Alva to teach in the program shortly following graduation. For two years, Alva was an adjunct professor, teaching commercial photography, location lighting and digital asset management.
“I wanted to give students the same sort of access and connections and knowledge that I got when I was in their shoes,” he said.
CONNER SCHUH
(’18)
Long before heading to CBU, Schuh would borrow his mom’s camera and take videos of his skateboarding progression. He already loved sports, but this got him interested in cameras and the myriad of things you can create with them.
“I figured that as long as I kind of stuck around cameras that would probably keep me around different sports,” Schuh said.
As the first and only in-house photographer for the Sacramento Kings, this decision certainly worked in his favor. Four years later, his daily work includes creating mood boards for upcoming shoots, photographing all the merchandise, building out the website and taking photos at games.
On the side, Schuh does freelance photography, which he’s been at for over 12 years. He’s partnered with Oakland A’s, NASCAR and Sacramento Republic FC, the city’s soccer team.
“The people around you can really shape you and push you forward in your career,” Schuh said. “I definitely appreciate CBU for making sure I knew that was important.”
When Schuh came to CBU, the photography program was still relatively new. At the time, Dirk Dallas, dean of CAVAD, was a professor in the program, and Kern hadn’t arrived yet.
Still, Kern had a grand impact on Schuh’s education after his arrival. He took Schuh under his wing and was instrumental in getting him ready to graduate, Schuh said.
Schuh got some added experience as a student photographer for CBU’s athletics department and the campus newspaper. This created versatility in his work and skills, and he finished college with a diverse portfolio of studio work, street, journalistic and sports photography.
He’s grateful for professors who took him under their wing, and cared about him as a person, not just a grade.
THE FOOD INNOVATION CENTER PREPARES FUTURE FOOD SCIENTISTS
Sensory Testing
Sensory testing evaluates food through taste, smell, texture and appearance. At the FIC, students conduct structured panel tastings to rate key qualities. These evaluations help students refine recipes, improve formulation and better understand consumer perceptions.
The Food Innovation Center (FIC) at California Baptist University provides a state-of-the-art facility for students and faculty to conduct research, engage in community service projects and develop food products. In the 4,000-squarefoot space, equipment includes five oven ranges and a commercial baking oven, digital scales, pH meters for acidity testing and a refractometer for measuring Brix (sucrose concentration) in liquids. Most Nutrition and Food Science undergraduate classes are taught at the FIC. Some courses, such as Intro to Nutrition and Food Science, are open to all students as electives. Health Science and Public Health majors take Community and Public Health Nutrition there as well.
Step inside the space designed for discovery, creativity and real-world learning.
SCAN FOR THE FULL STORY
Community Service
Community partners include local food banks and nutrition programs, such as Feeding America affiliates and Riverside University Health Systems – Public Health’s nutrition and WIC programs. Students support these partners by helping create or prepare medically tailored meals that address specific dietary needs.
Food Safety Testing Capabilities
Food safety testing ensures products are prepared and handled safely. Students learn sanitation, hazard identification, cross-contamination prevention, proper storage and basic quality checks like pH, moisture and shelf stability.
Local Producers
Nutrition and Food Science students use locally grown produce, such as citrus and avocados sourced from Sunsets and Citrus Family Farm in Riverside, to strengthen ties between food production, nutrition education and community health.
Community-Based Intervention Pilot
A nutrition and food science student piloted a healthy snack education program at the FIC, creating low-cost recipes using food bank ingredients. Families sampled snacks, received recipes and learned simple strategies for preparing nutrient-dense options. Based on the positive feedback, the program is being refined and expanded, with plans to incorporate additional recipes, increase community outreach and establish recurring education sessions at the FIC.
Recipe Testing
In introductory classes, students use established recipes to learn core food science principles such as ingredient function, texture and flavor balance. In advanced courses, they develop their own formulations to meet goals such as improving nutrition, developing culturally relevant meals or designing functional food products. Students typically develop dozens of recipes each semester.
Careers
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Sciences go into the food industry or on to graduate programs in dietetics, food science or public health. In the Master of Science in Integrative Nutrition program, graduates pursue careers in nutrition, corporate wellness and the food industry. Some pursue advanced studies to prepare for a career in dietetics, while also expanding opportunities in food science or public health.
CELEBRATING HOMECOMING
Thousands of visitors celebrated Homecoming 2026 at California Baptist University on Feb. 27-28. Alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and families gathered for a weekend designed to reconnect and create new memories.
Events included the carnival on the Front Lawn, various reunions, campus tours and the Hymn Sing. The weekend concluded with a pregame party followed by the men’s basketball team defeating Tarleton State University, 82-67.
“Homecoming is a special time where the entire Lancer Family is welcomed home to CBU. It’s where generations of Lancers return to the place that shaped them,” said Josh Moss, senior director of alumni, parent and donor engagement.
We caught up with a few alumni.
“THE MAIN THING IS TO STAY CLOSE TO THE LORD. FOLLOW HIS LEAD AND DON’T GET AHEAD OF HIM BECAUSE HE HAS HIS OWN TIME.”
— Doris Slaten (’58)
2026
“WITH HOMECOMING, YOU PICK UP WITH PEOPLE, AND IT’S JUST LIKE YOU NEVER LEFT.” — Allen Johnson (’74)
“TREASURE THE FRIENDS YOU MAKE, STAY CLOSE TO THE LORD AND, IF YOU CAN, COME BACK AND GIVE BACK THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS OR PARTICIPATION.”
— Lisa Collinsworth (’83)
2026 ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS
LUCAS WEHNER (’11, ’12) Alumni Service Award
After completing his master’s degree, Lucas returned to Germany. Since 2013, he has led international affairs, mobility, financial aid and alumni relations at Internationale Hochschule Liebenzell, a Christian university. He also served as Bad Liebenzell’s first municipal administrator (mayor).
JON O’NEILL (’08) & ANGELA O’NEILL (’04) Young Alumni Achievement Award
Jon serves as vice president of strategic accounts for Integra Mission Critical, where he leads key client relationships for a data center company and continues recruiting CBU students to join his team. Angela has served as creative director in ministry settings, teaches theatre at Belmont University in Nashville and hosts the “Stories in Progress” podcast.
DR. RANDAL S. LANTHRIPE (’79) CINDY V. LANTHRIPE (’80)
Distinguished Service in Christian Ministries Award
The Lanthripes have had a lifelong partnership in ministry. Following seminary training in Fort Worth, they returned to California in 1987, where Randy served 37 years as founding pastor of Church in the Valley, in Ontario, California. Together, they equipped leaders, planted churches and advanced global missions through networks and theological training initiatives.
DR. JAY OBERNOLTE (’20) DR. HEATHER OBERNOLTE (’20) Alumni of the Year
Since graduating from CBU, Jay has gone on to serve as a member of Congress representing California’s 23rd Congressional District since 2021. Heather has also dedicated herself to public service, serving on boards for the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Foundation and the bipartisan Congressional Club.
PHYLLIS ESCOTT NASH (’67) Alumni Philanthropy Award
Phyllis has demonstrated long-standing service and generosity shaped by faith and community. She worked more than 35 years with the University of California. She has been actively engaged in church leadership at Magnolia Church and service with Care Connexxus Adult Day Services. Influenced by her CBU experience, she values lifelong learning, global compassion and meaningful relationships.
MICHAEL R. PROCTER (’74)
Lancer Lifetime Achievement Award
Since 1974, Michael has served as pastor and church planter across the U.S. and Germany. Together, Michael and his wife, Rebecca, have helped plant 25 congregations, mentored generations of leaders and served churches through transitional pastoral ministry.
LEVI A. CABRAL
’12, ’13 VOLLEYBALL
JONATHAN BENGARD
’13 BASEBALL
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
NIKKI CAMPBELL-LOWE
’09, ’11 SOFTBALL
ADRIANA QUEZADA STANPHILL
’12 SWIM
BRENT TERAOKA
’16 WATER POLO AND SWIM
Painting Lancer Legacy
CBU’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY MURAL TURNS HISTORY INTO A HANDS-ON TRIBUTE
What began as a blank canvas became a living tribute to California Baptist University’s 75-year legacy. Unveiled and completed during Homecoming weekend, a paintby-numbers mural invited the CBU community to help bring the university’s story to life.
When CBU began planning its 75th anniversary, no idea was off the table. A cross-campus team met regularly to imagine ways to elevate the 2025-26 school year. Concepts included motivational signage, photo-ready backdrops and a campus wide “birthday” celebration.
That creativity ultimately led to the mural, featuring some of CBU’s history over the past 75 years.
Juan Navarro, a past Riverside Art Museum artist-in-residence, was brought in to support the mural project, a concept designed by the CBU Marketing and Communication division.
The mural features elements from the CBU campus, academic programs, the university’s Core 4 and Riverside’s rich citrus history. Navarro made it a collaborative project by numbering sections of the mural for guests to paint, mixing custom colors and adding final touches.
“The mural is a beautiful piece, and I wanted to ensure each element would stand out with the significance it brings to the university’s history,” said Navarro. “Mixing custom colors ensured the dramatic effects the mural truly deserved.”
Over the two days of Homecoming weekend, over 65 people — alumni, students, family, friends and visitors — visited the mural in the Great Commission Plaza to contribute their effort to this permanent art piece. Navarro was onsite to provide direction to visitors and talk about the reasons for color choices and other elements of the artwork.
“It was great having a chance to make a lasting, visible mark on campus in a way that will be here long after my time at CBU,” said Daniel Greer (‘25), who’s currently pursuing a master’s degree in education.
“These types of projects bring me such joy,” said Navarro. “From the community engagement and creative design to creating a piece of history with alumni of all ages, I am honored to have played a role in bringing this mural to fruition.”
The mural now hangs in its permanent location in the Yeager Center admissions hallway, where it serves as a lasting reminder of CBU’s 75year history and the generations of Lancers who helped shape it. While Navarro guided the artistic process, the finished piece reflects the collective contributions of alumni, students, families and friends who added their own brushstrokes to this celebration of CBU’s legacy.
Dr. Ronald L. Ellis (left), Juan Navarro and Jane D. Ellis
CBU Pre-College Credit
EARN COLLEGE CREDIT NOW
Eligible high school students can now earn college credit by enrolling in one online course every eightweek session at California Baptist University. Each online course is asynchronous, which means students can access course materials like lectures, readings and assignments on their own time.
A SEASON TO REMEMBER, A FUTURE TO CELEBRATE
In its final season in the Western Athletic Conference, California Baptist University delivered a year to remember. From the soccer pitch to the cross country course to the hardwood, CBU athletics thrived — capturing nine conference championships and a STUNT National Championship, all while showcasing excellence across multiple sports.
That success was reflected nationally as well. CBU entered the spring ranked No. 6 in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings among all Division I — AAA programs and No. 99 overall among every Division I institution.
Now, a new chapter begins. On July 1, CBU joins The Big West Conference as a full member. Beginning with the 2026–27 season, CBU’s addition brings The Big West to 12 member institutions, with most located in California. Riverside becomes home to a rare distinction: two NCAA DI programs competing in the same conference — California Baptist University and the University of California, Riverside.
FOR LANCER NATION, 2025-26 WAS A SEASON TO REMEMBER. NOW IT’S ON TO A BIGGER STAGE.
CBU men’s basketball had a historic year, winning the WAC Tournament Championship for the first time in program history. The Lancers won 25 games throughout the season, including a perfect 15-0 run at home in the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center. In the Round of 64, the team faced Kansas at the Viejas Arena in San Diego and came within 8 points of making a historic comeback.
Guard Dominique Daniels Jr. was named the 2025-26 WAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and 2026 WAC Tournament
Most Outstanding Player. He was invited to participate in the NABC-Reese’s Division I College All-Star Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 3.
The team prepares for a new era as it welcomes head coach Kyle Getter as the 13th head coach in program history.
The women’s basketball team was not to be outdone, winning the WAC Regular Season Championship, its third WAC Tournament Championship, and making its second March Madness appearance. Guard Filipa Barros was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 WAC Tournament, finishing the championship game with a double-double. Barros, along with teammates Emma Johansson and Shawnee Nordstrom, were named to the WAC All-Tournament team.
The Lancers lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion after a hard-fought game. Women’s basketball finished its season winning 20+ games for the fourth time in the DI era under head coach Jarrod Olson. Olson was named WAC Coach of the Year.
SOFTBALL
The softball team claimed its first WAC Championship in the program’s DI history. In the regional round of the NCAA Tournament, they faced UCLA. CBU scored 10 runs in the fifth inning, falling short to UCLA at a final score of 12-11. CBU posted the winningest season in its DI era, ending the year with a 43-19 record overall.
TRACK
At the WAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the track team earned three individual champions and a total of 17 All-WAC finishers. Jude DeVries won the 10K with a time of 30:15.33. Ernesto Ruiz earned the Steeplechase crown, and Petra Kis won the 1500 in a photo finish.
BASEBALL
Baseball closed the regular season 43-13, setting a new DI era record for the most wins in a single season.
Head Coach Gary Adcock secured his 800th win leading the CBU baseball program during his 23rd season.
Lauren Olsen
Emily Darwin
Jude DeVries
Martel Williams
W A C
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Y RAE
GOALKEEPEROFTHE
Women’s soccer capped off a historic comeback during the 2025 WAC Tournament, becoming back-to-back tournament champions and clinching an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. In their final match of the tournament, the Lancers went into overtime, finally besting their opponent in a penalty shootout thanks to a goal by goalkeeper Mikayla O’Brien. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, they put up a strong fight against Kansas, but fell short, losing 3-1.
This was the third consecutive season CBU won a major conference post season award. O’Brien finished her season with 88 saves and was named WAC Goalkeeper of the Year.
MEN’S SOCCER
Men’s soccer concluded the 2025 season 10-4-3, winning the WAC Regular Season Championship. They entered the WAC tournament as the No. 1 seed but lost to San Jose State in the semifinals. For the first time in its DI program history, the Lancers became a nationally ranked team.
MEN’S GOLF
Men’s golf made an impressive finish in season play, posting a secondplace finish as a team along with Jared Abercrombie finishing individual play in second place at the El Macero Classic. It marked CBU’s third top-three team finish this season.
CROSS COUNTRY
The men and women swept the 2025 WAC championships. The men then placed second in the West Regionals and earned an auto bid to the national championship.
Meanwhile, Sean Smith was named the 2025 WAC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Mikayla O’Brien
Stavros Charalampous
SWIMMING & DIVING
The men’s and women’s swim and dive teams earned 14 individual and relay medals, five of which were gold, at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships. Three Lancers went on to the NCAA National Championships.
WRESTLING
Three Lancers earned placement at the Big 12 Championship. Drayden Morton earned Seventh Place in the 157 lbs. class, giving him the first Big 12 placement of his career. Gabe Schumm secured Seventh Place in the 165 lbs. class. At heavyweight, Tristan Kemp finished eighth.
MEN’S
WATER POLO
The men’s water polo team faced off in its third consecutive West Coast Conference Tournament Championship match, ultimately falling to San Jose State in a 15-9 defeat. The team ended the season 24-11, with two players being named All-Americans: sophomore Andrea Nuzzo and senior Alex Righetti.
CHEER
The cheer program wrapped its season at the 2026 NCA & NDA College National Championship, earning first place in Intermediate All Girl Division I Finals and second place in Advanced All Girl Division I Finals.
DANCE
The dance team captured the D1 Collegiate Jazz title at the USA Spirit Nationals.
VOLLEYBALL
The volleyball team made program history winning its first-ever WAC tournament match in straight sets over Utah Tech. CBU volleyball nearly pulled off the dramatic upset in the conference semifinals but came up short against top-seeded UT Arlington.
Andrea Nuzzo
Filippa Batcher
CHASING THE DREAM
DANIELS’ PATH TAKES HIM FROM COMPTON TO CBU ON THE COURT
This season, California Baptist University men’s basketball made history. For the first time, the Lancers charged their way to a Western Athletic Conference Championship — securing a coveted spot in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
At the heart of this electrifying run was guard Dominique Daniels Jr., a driving force behind CBU’s incredible season (25-9 overall, 13-5 conference), with a perfect 15-0 run at home.
“I had a dream a long time ago that I was going to be playing in March Madness,” said Daniels.
“When I stepped on the court … and it said ‘March Madness,’ it was like a dream come true for me. That just goes to show that anything is possible for anybody if you put God at the forefront of your life.”
Daniels spent three years wearing Lancer blue and gold. In his final season, he averaged more than 23 points per game, the fifth best in the country. The performance earned him the title of WAC player of the year.
Basketball has been part of his life for a long time. At 4 years old, he tagged along as his dad headed to the gym. There, he watched his dad, an uncle and cousins play in a basketball league, and it looked like fun. Soon the boy from Compton, California, started picking it up. By middle school, after stepping away from football following an injury, basketball became his focus.
Nearly two decades later, Daniels is living his childhood dream as he became one of the top basketball players at CBU. But the journey wasn’t without challenges.
His high school career ended when COVID hit. With no college offers and uncertainty about whether to keep playing, Daniels found himself at a crossroads. After praying and feeling God was telling him to continue, he ended up at San Bernardino Valley College. It was there, CBU found him.
“I took the chance on coming here because of the love that they showed me, the respect that they showed me, and the loyalty that they showed me,” Daniels said. “This feels like a true family and it’s hard to find something like that in college basketball these days.”
He embraces every part of the game: playing defense, scoring, encouraging teammates, grinding through workouts and studying game film. In practice this year, he put an emphasis on improving his passing.
“A lot of teams worry more about me on the court, and I feel like that gives my team opportunities to be more open,” Daniels said. “Me being able to find the open guys at the right time and put them in a position to score is what I practice.” But he feels this past year he grew the most in a different area — being a leader.
“I really improved being more vocal with my teammates and making sure they’re doing what they need to do on the court and also making sure I’m doing what I need to do so they can follow my lead,” he said.
FUTURE GOAL: PLAY IN THE NBA
LITTLE-KNOWN SKILL: HE CAN SING & PLAY INSTRUMENTS (BASS GUITAR & DRUMS) ON HIS PLAYLIST: GOSPEL
FAVORITE SNACK: HONEYBUN
CAREER RECORDS
1,737 POINTS
(MOST IN DI ERA, SECOND MOST ALL-TIME AT CBU)
POINTS PER GAME: 20.9
(MOST IN DI ERA, 4TH MOST ALL TIME AT CBU)
30+ POINT GAMES: 12 GAMES
2026 WAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR (SECOND IN PROGRAM HISTORY)
ALL-WAC FIRST TEAM: ’25 & ’26
As a leader, he tries to work hard every day and talk as much as he can to his teammates to show them what needs to be done to be better players.
“I try to show them that every day and hopefully they pick up on it, especially some of the younger guys,” Daniels said. He is grateful for his coaches who pushed him to be a great player, especially Rick Croy, former head men’s basketball coach. He wanted players to get better at basketball and in life, Daniels said.
“Having a coach like that who wants to see you get better and succeed is truly a blessing,” Daniels said.
47
CBU RECORD POINTS IN A SINGLE GAME
SINGLE-SEASON RECORD:
766 POINTS (’25-’26)
The best piece of advice he has received is “enjoy the moment,” which he tried to do during his last year at CBU.
Daniels doesn’t think that kid from Compton would have thought he could come so far. But he would tell his younger self to keep working.
“Don’t stop. Keep God first and He’ll lead you wherever you need to go. He’ll direct you on whatever path you need to take. So just continue to trust the process.”
STILL UNDEFEATED CHAMPIONS
O N & OFF TH E F LOOR
Six seasons in, California Baptist University’s STUNT team closed another perfect year at 33-0, earning its sixth consecutive national championship and extending a remarkable 140-0 run — the longest winning streak in college sports history. Since launching in 2020, the program has never dropped a competition.
When Brandon Seagondollar, head coach, started CBU’s program, he wanted to prioritize discipling the student-athletes and winning.
“It’s that balance of being able to put God first, but then being able to be competitive and be driven to live our purpose that He gives us,” he said.
STUNT began at CBU during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seagondollar had no assistant coach and routines shifted as athletes tested positive. Flexibility was essential not optional. Yet, the team finished its inaugural season 12-0.
“Anything that can go wrong will go wrong and we’ll adapt. That’s just life,” Seagondollar said.
Each season, Seagondollar introduces a new team motto. After the first year, it became “Prove It,” a challenge to show that early success was not a fluke. The results speak for themselves.
“I love the pressure. Pressure makes diamonds. With pressure comes something beautiful,” he said.
Gracie Thurston (’23), a member of the program’s first team, remembers the excitement and uncertainty of helping build something new. The first season was marked by close competitions and the challenge of competing against well-established programs.
“We were trying to prove ourselves and prove that we had what it took,” she said. “Being a
part of that was super exciting because it was like we got to show them, ‘we’re here and we’re ready to work.’”
For Ava Hersman, a backspot, team members help hold each other accountable.
“Everyone wants to be the best they can so that means listening and learning from one another in order to get better,” said Hersman, an early childhood studies junior.
However, with sustained dominance comes expectation, especially for athletes joining a program that has never experienced defeat.
“I tell them if we were meant to lose, the story’s written,” Seagondollar said. “Then we’ll wake up and we’ll try our best the next day. There is that pressure, but it’s understanding that it doesn’t define you.”
Maddison Arochi (top) and Thi Nguyen
Maddison Arochi, a flyer and tumbler, focuses on controlling her effort and attitude instead of worrying about others’ expectations.
“If I continue to give my 100%, I won’t ever be disappointed at the outcome,” said Arochi, a criminal justice senior. “At that point it’s all in God’s hands.”
Abby Eshleman, a tumbler and side base, emphasizes staying present rather than focusing on the program’s history.
“I remind myself to trust the work we’ve put in and stay consistent. We have to earn it every day,” said Eshleman, an entrepreneurship senior.
Those qualities guide Seagondollar’s recruiting philosophy. He looks for athletes who are hardworking, motivated and coachable.
“It’s one big puzzle,” he said. “Each piece matters so much but doesn’t dominate another piece.”
The team practices five days a week, beginning with time devoted to personal development. Athletes discuss topics such as motivation, attitude, gratitude and devotionals before transitioning into two to three hours of physical training. Warmups include jumps and yells that must be perfectly synchronized. If even one athlete is off count, the entire team repeats the sequence.
During warmups, athletes shout “champion.” Alumni have told Seagondollar they still repeat it before job interviews as a reminder of confidence and preparation.
“We yell champion not just because we are champions on the mat, but because in life we are champions,” said Lexi York, a business administration senior who is a tumbler and mid-layer. “We have been taught that nothing is given to you and to work for everything you want in life.”
That demanding environment produces results beyond competition. Arochi said the discipline she’s gained through STUNT has influenced how she approaches challenges in life.
“By carrying the drive I’ve learned as a studentathlete, it makes me want to outwork every competitor,” she said. “I also learned how to handle high-pressure situations.”
As the program continues to grow nationally, the sport itself is gaining recognition. The NCAA recently granted STUNT championship status, with its first NCAA championship projected for spring 2027.
Still, those in the program define success beyond wins and titles.
“One thing this program has taught me is
that you can always be better and to never be complacent,” York said. “There is always room to grow.”
Eshleman said the experience has taught her to play with purpose.
“Being a part of this team has reminded me to stay grounded in my faith, trust God through both the highs and lows and not tie my identity only to performance,” she said.
Hersman has learned to have gratitude and respect in every setting.
“I will always carry this with me because you can see the difference it makes on other people,” she said.
The impact extends beyond graduation. Thurston, now a first-grade teacher, said STUNT taught her to show gratitude and how to be personable.
“STUNT shaped me into who I am as a teacher,” she said. “It taught me time management and how to work as a team.”
Even more important, several players have been baptized over the years, including York.
“Growing in my faith while doing this sport has been amazing,” she said.
For coaches and athletes alike, the program functions as family.
“We become a family that just wants to see the sister next to us succeed,” Arochi said. “We will be hard on each other, but we also just find so much joy in laughing with one another.”
That bond is especially meaningful for Eshleman, who competes alongside her sister, Savannah.
“Growing up together, we’ve always been competitive,” Abby Eshleman said. “We also know how to encourage each other.”
For Hersman, the family extends to supporters and staff.
“There is so much that goes on outside of the practice room,” Hersman said. “We can feel the love and support they give us, and we truly would not be as successful as we are without them.”
One of Seagondollar’s guiding mottos reflects the heart of the program: “rings rust, banners dust, but family’s a must.”
“If these girls can have those friendships and have learned from those moments and go be great mothers, great CEOs, great God-fearing people — that’s what I want everyone to remember,” he said.
Seagondollar’s championship rings sit in a box on a shelf. For him, the memories that stand out are off the mat: students being baptized, singing karaoke on the team bus and running in the rain in Nashville.
From the beginning, he envisioned a program that would impact lives and glorify God. Years later, undefeated and nationally recognized, that vision remains unchanged.
“I want to remember that we impacted the athletes and that we put Him first,” he said.
Kaleigh Hafner (left), Maddison Arochi, Kaelyn Ortega, Thi Nguyen, Gator Olmsted and Alexcius York
’60s
1 Marilyn (Greenlee, ’62) and Walt Crabtree (’62) celebrated their 65th anniversary on June 10, 2026. They have three children, 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
’70s
2 James Florence (’74) retired as dean of the Doctor of Health Science program at Appalachian College of Pharmacy in Oakwood, Virginia. He previously worked at Liberty University and at East Tennessee State University. He and his wife, Annette, live in Piney Flats, Tennessee. They have three daughters and four grandchildren.
’80s
3 Mark Curts (’81) is a chaplain at Adventist Health Hospital in Hanford, California. Previously, he served as interim pastor at FBC Walnut Valley and pastored other Southern Baptist churches throughout California. His stepson, Dr. Mike Lovato, completed his 20th year on staff at Magnolia Church in Riverside.
• David Dona (’83) retired as a physician assistant after working in emergency medicine for 35 years.
• Clay Renick (’84) has published two books: “Remember That Summer,” a Christian romantic suspense, and “Always,” a contemporary romance.
• Marie “Kaci” (Cutshaw, ’87) and Kevin Rigney (’93) celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 22, 2025. Kevin is a loan supervisor for Golden 1 Credit Union. Kaci sings and writes music. She performed with the Eugene Opera from 2007–2010 and published illustrated poetry eBooks. They live in Visalia, California, and have two daughters and six grandchildren.
’90s
4 Jessica McIntyre (Debrick, ’98) completed a master’s in reading, language and literacy, graduating from California State University, San Marcos on Dec. 15, 2025. She was the grand marshal for the ceremony.
• Jim Ringdahl (’99) has worked for more than 20 years for the Greater Europe Mission, conducting psychological interviews for the organization.
• Rebecca Langston-George (’95, ’00) wrote a middle grade historical novel, “One Fine Voice.”
’00s
• Kevin (’03) and Keri Sheckler (’92) minister to immigrants in a city in the United Kingdom. They have hosted CBU student teams.
• Dr. Carolyn Cummings (Bennett, ’05, ’25) is a continuing education provider for mental health clinicians in California. She also works as a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical supervisor in Bakersfield, California, and as an adjunct professor for California Baptist University.
5 Sandra Rose Hughes (Bennett, ’05) had three children’s poems published in “I’ve Got a Bad Case of Poetry,” a children’s poetry anthology.
6 Luke (’05) and Kate (Leathem, ’07) Neighbors celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Their son attends CBU.
• Joe Davis (’08, ’10) earned his doctorate in business administration from Bellevue University in August 2025. He is working on a second doctorate in education.
’10s
7 Candice Ganza (Peters, ’10, ’22) is a missionary in Rwanda. She is the head administrator for a church in the Northern Province. She and her husband, Michel, married in 2025 and serve in ministry together.
• Andrew Thill (’11) had a logo design published in LogoLounge Book 15, a respected international logo design publication.
• Jason Simon (’11) and his work as project manager at ADG Concepts were written about in Compressed Air & Cooling Best Practices magazine. He and his team solved issues at a frozen food plant by redesigning the compressed air system to improve efficiency.
8 Kimberly Yocum (’14) graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center with her Master of Science in Nursing in December 2025.
9 Kara Fredrickson (Knudsen, ’12) is an entrepreneur and mom of two.
10 Vincent Baum (’15, ’25) is dean of students at Valor Christian High School in Colorado. Previously, he worked in Aurora public schools as a physical education teacher and coach for football, track and field. He and wife Nikki welcomed their third daughter in May 2025.
11 Jason Garcia (’15) is an adapted PE teacher and teaches individuals with disabilities.
• Tanya Polstra (Long, ’16) is CEO of Deaf Kids Connect and Deaf Harbor.
12 Pavankumar Raja (’16) is a clinician board member of the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.
13 Ammie Gomez (Sandoval, ’17) teaches art and ceramics at Rancho Christian School and graphic design at Chaffey College.
14 Lauren Springer (Cagle, ’17) graduated in May 2025 from Johns Hopkins University with her Master of Science in Individualized Genomics and Health.
15 Harlan Kistler II (’18) is an English teacher and the head wrestling coach at John W. North High School in Riverside. As coach, he has won four league titles, two Southern Section Academic titles and had the district’s first state champion.
16 Destiny Cuellar-Braun (’19) is the school resource officer for schools in the City of Atascadero, California.
17 Carla Torres Rogel (’19) works at Van Buren Elementary in Jurupa Unified School District. She and her husband married on Oct. 10, 2025.
18 Kaylan Jean Cummins (’19) became a licensed architect in the state of California.
• Owen Brown (’19) started the Bread and Wine Theatre Co. in St. Louis and wrote a play, “The Time of My Life.” He also graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary in January 2025.
19 Kristin Huneau (Rego, ’19) is a clinical supervisor and senior counselor with Riverside County RUHS behavioral integration.
20 Lindsey Galbraith (’19, ’21) is president of the Pick Group of Young Professionals, a network of rising leaders in Riverside.
’20s
• Anastasia Peterson (Morris, ’20) was elected as a board member for the Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce for the 2026-28 term.
• Richard Andrew Steele (’20) is the lead exercise physiologist at the Cardiopulmonary Rehab Clinic at the Intermountain Riverton Hospital. In 2023, he married Kylie.
21 Jared (’20) and Abigail (Cate, ’20) Stephen serve as the pastoral residents at Calvary Church in Moorhead, Minnesota.
22 Caleb Taufi (’20) works in IT and digital services support with the LA Clippers.
23 Abigail (Wolf, ’20) and Luke Romano (’20) celebrated their one-year anniversary and live in North Carolina. Luke works for Mr. Beast’s YouTube channel.
24 Michael Joseph Dubisz (’20) taught high school math at William Carey Academy in Bangladesh for five years. He is back in the U.S. and works for SonSet Solutions, an engineering ministry.
• Savanah Carey (McPhillips, ’20) is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional clinical counselor. She works for the County of Riverside.
25 Yesenia Gomez (’21) piloted an ESL online program at Burbank Adult School.
26 Butch Maier (’21) has written, produced and directed six movies in the past two years for Sumbadhat Productions. He also is editor of Coastal Virginia magazine.
27 Katelyn Ann Short (Cagle, ’21) graduated with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Baylor University.
28 Amber Estrada (’21) passed her LPCC exam and is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional clinical counselor.
29 Ashley Hanson (’21) is a clinical director at Turning Point Centers.
30 DeShanai Padilla (’22) graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Academy and is a deputy sheriff.
31 Keoni (’22) and Rachel (Gee, ’22) Fernandez married December 2022. They now have two children: Jonah and Naomi. Keoni works as a Marine vessel inspector in Texas, and Rachel stays home with their children.
32 Dr. Kasey Phillips Brown (’24) marked 25 years with the Occupational Therapy Training Program. She is a clinical supervisor.
33 Raymond Hathaway Scholz (’24) is an IT technician for the City of Ontario.
• Malea Valdez (’25) is a residence hall director at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, leading a team of 20 resident advisers and two junior RAs.
34 Leslie Cruz (’25) is the wellness center coordinator at Colton High School.
35 Emily Yang (’25) is a school psychologist at Suncoast Preparatory Academy in Newport Beach, California.
• Carinna (Zinzer, ’25) and Alexander Hill VI (’23) created a board game called “Museum Mixup” during Carinna’s final semester at CBU. The game is centered around famous works of art.
• Kailyn Matheson (’25) left the U.S. Marine Corps and is pursuing a master’s in kinesiology at CBU. Her husband, Matthew, graduated from recruiting school in the Marine Corps.
• David Regier (’25) set Psalm 118 to music — “The Stone the Builders Once Refused.” It is included in “The Sing! Hymnal.”
WEDDINGS
36 Patricia Victoria Hernandez (’17, ’20, ’21) married Daniel Bittner on Oct. 13, 2025. She is an injury prevention specialist with Southern California Edison.
37 Sarah Miller (Spaulding, ’17) married on June 8, 2025.
38 Mengjie Xia (’18) married Junqiang Wang in May 2025.
39 Niki Johnson (’20) married Aaron Snell on April 6, 2025.
40 Alicia Perkins (’22) married Phillip Inzunza on Dec. 7, 2025.
41 Isabella Esquivel (’25) married Nathan Moretti, (’22), on Sept. 20, 2025.
42 Courtney Taylor (’22), married Jack on Sept. 7, 2025.
43 Grace Thurston (’23) married Harrison Spohn (’22) on Nov. 29, 2025.
44 Alexis Birdsell (’23) married Marshal Geldbach in April 2025. They live in Yorba Linda, California, and Alexis works as a digital designer at Bear Down Brands.
45 Alexis Parsio (’23) married Nathan Sporcich (’23) in April 2025. Alexis is the daughter of Jennifer (Flood, ’98) and Michael Parsio (’98).
• Nayann Brown (’25) married Kenneth on Nov. 15, 2025.
LITTLE LANCERS
46 Sulgi Lee (’22) and her family welcomed their third baby.
47 Mitchell (’19) and Makenna Peters (Lammons, ’17) welcomed their first child, Callen Anthony, on May 8, 2025.
48 Ron and Kenyetta Fugate (’24) welcomed daughter Kaylani on Sept. 20, 2025.
49 Luke (’21) and Daphne (Nance, ’17, ’21) Poutre welcomed their first child, Evangeline, on July 14, 2025.
50 Ryan (’18) and Jess (Olson, ’18) Fuller, welcomed their third girl, Ella Brielle, in May 2025.
IN MEMORIAM
Joan Malcolm (Edwards, ’69)
Irene Maria Dona (Garcia, ’81)
Ronald Joe Bryant (’70)
Dr. H. Bruce Stokes Reflects on a Life of Teaching Experience
When he was in high school, Dr. H. Bruce Stokes’ principal told him not to attempt college. Growing up in a troubled family, Stokes earned his diploma at a continuation school and followed that advice.
Years later, a pastor encouraged him to attend college. Stokes enrolled in a community college at age 28 and quickly fell in love with learning.
“My life has not been planned,” Stokes said. “Well, it’s been planned, but not by me.”
Stokes eventually earned several degrees and began teaching as an adjunct at California Baptist College in 1984 to fulfill a doctoral requirement. The campus had fewer than 600 students. He stayed because he loved the campus. A professor of behavioral science, he became CBU’s most senior faculty member in 2017 and led the procession at every commencement ceremony with the mace.
This spring, he did so for the last time. After 42 years at CBU, Stokes retired.
Over the years, he has taught Christian behavioral science, anthropology, sociology and psychology, and served in leadership roles including division chair and founding dean of the former School of Behavioral Science. He was named Faculty Member of the Year in 1990 and Distinguished Professor of the Year in 1999.
Stokes loves the classroom. “That’s where my energy comes from,” he said.
His hope for students remained simple.
“I want them to say, ‘I learned from him. I’m still learning because of him.’”
Read the full story:
CBU School of Performing Arts Season
Season tickets and A CBU Christmas packages available now.
CONTINUE YOUR CBU STORY
Flexible online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs designed to fit your life.
When Felicia Solis decided it was time to further her education, she wasn’t sure how she would manage it all. As a full-time medical assistant and mother of six, her schedule was already full. Through CBU’s online program, she found the flexibility to continue working toward her future while staying present for her family. Supported by caring and invested Admissions staff and faculty every step of the way, Felicia earned her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and gained something even more valuable along the journey: confidence in herself and her calling.
I was able to work, take care of my kids and further my career.
Scan to Watch Felicia’s Story
We want your feedback!
Take our quick survey for a chance to win a $100 gift card.
The Roundtable magazine is designed to keep the Lancer community connected and informed, and your feedback helps us continue improving it.
This survey asks about how you read the magazine, what you enjoy most (or least), and what kinds of stories you’d like to see more of in future issues. The survey will take approximately three minutes to complete. All responses are confidential and will be used to improve the magazine.
As a thank you for completing this survey, you have the option of being entered to win a $100 gift card for the CBU Campus Store.
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and for staying connected to the CBU community. Scan code to take the survey.