SPRING 2015
THE MAGAZINE OF CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TAKES NCAA DII WEST REGION TITLE
NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Fellow Lancers, What a great year California Baptist University has experienced in 2014-2015! As the semester draws to a close, we look with gratitude to the Lord who continues to bless this campus and with anticipation as we look forward to wonderful things to come. This issue of The Roundtable features the Lancer women’s incredible run as they advanced to the NCAA DII Elite Eight, then the Final Four and on to the championship game. Their journey was chronicled on numerous television screens on campus and drew the campus community together as we cheered them on. CBU had other reasons to rejoice during this academic year. In terms of economic impact, the university contributed an overall $392.3 million to the local economy this year, according to California Annual Series Regional Input-Output Multipliers. Just in campus facilities alone, the university has invested more than $300 million since 2000 in new construction, renovation and property acquisition to improve the educational experience at CBU. But our mission is not about money—it’s empowering students to impact the world around them. The articles in this edition of the magazine provide a perspective on how some of our alumni are making a difference. Three students who came to CBU from Rwanda now serve at NASA. Melissa Marshall, Kathleen Ferrell Ware and Madison Webb share their stories of how they are living their purposes. Current CBU students reveal what motivates them to volunteer for International Service Projects, including one student who has participated all four years of her college career. I hope you will be as inspired as I have been reading this issue. CBU’s faculty and staff work hard to mentor students, and it is a special privilege to hear how their investment has paid off in terms of students’ lives. After all, it is what CBU is all about. Thank you for your support and continued interest in California Baptist University. May the Lord continue to bless. Ronald L. Ellis, Ph.D. President
The Magazine of California Baptist University Spring 2015 * Volume 59 * Issue 2 Editor: Dr. Mark A. Wyatt Managing Editor: Dr. Kathie Chute Associate Editor: Jeremy Zimmerman Art Director: Edgar Garcia Graphic Designer: Kyle Ready Photography: CBU Athletics, Edgar Garcia, Jessica Bills, Ryan Welsh, Jacob Armstrong, Nick Francis, Tim Kothlow Contributing Writers: Kathie Chute, Gail Ronveaux, Carrie Smith, Leslie Roberson, Samantha Sheppard, Andrew Shortall
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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 www.calbaptist.edu/ua
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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
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FEATURES 4
2015 Spring Commencement
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Lancer Women’s Basketball
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Alumni Profile: Melissa Marshall
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Rwanda Scholars
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Alumni Profile: Madison Webb
DEPARTMENTS 10 Athletics 13
Coach Q&A
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CBU News
34 Alumnews
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ABOUT THE COVER: The Lancers celebrate after winning the NCAA Division II West Region title. The team lost their bid for the NCAA DII title in the championship game against California University of Pennsylvania.
Postmaster, Please send address changes to: California Baptist University 8432 Magnolia Avenue Riverside, CA 92504-3297 Non-profit permit No. 268 calbaptist.edu www.facebook.com/CalBaptist The Roundtable Reprint Policy Contents copyright 2015 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 kchute@calbaptist.edu. Editorial Inquiries Contact Dr. Mark Wyatt at 951.343.4474 mwyatt@calbaptist.edu
SPRING COMMENCEMENT 2015 “We are a university that is committed to Christ’s Great Commission.”
CBU HONORS RECORD 1,420 GRADUATES DURING SPRING COMMENCEMENT Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, congratulated 1,420 graduating students during afternoon and evening commencement ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. Afternoon exercises included 717 traditional undergraduate degree candidates, while the evening ceremony honored 703 students, including all master’s degree candidates, as well as undergraduates from Online and Professional Studies programs. Ellis noted that the class was part of CBU’s record enrollment of 7,957 for the 2014-2015 academic year. “They have contributed to the continuing growth of CBU’s campus culture as ‘a University Committed to the Great Commission’ during an exciting time of continuing growth and improvement,” Ellis said. “Each of these graduating students has arrived at this point because of a shared commitment to the challenging yet rewarding endeavor of higher education.” As commencement speaker, Dr. Jonathan K. Parker, CBU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, told students that it is not enough for university educators to help them achieve a lucrative profession, a fulfilled life or intelligent participation in the political process.
“We are a university that is committed to Christ’s Great Commission,” he said. “When you look at Matthew 28: 19-20, the first thing Jesus tells the disciples is to go. Go where? Everywhere. What are they to do? Teach, baptize and disciple; in other words have a significant impact on people’s lives.” Parker explained that if a CBU graduate becomes a nurse and always gives the correct medication dosage, never misses a vein on an IV and efficiently and effectively follows all the protocols of appropriate patient care, and that’s all, then their professors will have failed to live their purpose as educators at this institution. “On the other hand, if you become the nurse who whispers a prayer over each and every one of your patients or spends an extra minute to reassure someone who is scared to death before going into surgery because you have been biblically rooted as a result of your time here at CBU, then we will have succeeded,” he said. Parker, a native of San Francisco, earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and religious studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, a master of arts degree in psychology at San Francisco State University and a doctor of education degree
in educational psychology from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. He will conclude his service as provost and vice president of academic affairs at the end of June to return to the classroom and pursue his passion for teaching. “I believe that all of you have been equipped to serve,” he said, “that all of you will live lives of purpose and that because of that we will have fulfilled our purpose as a university committed to the Great Commission.” Awards for student achievement were presented at both ceremonies. Won Young Kim, a psychology major from Korea, received the Min Sung Kim International Student Award, and Joseph Gemignani, a math major from San Mateo, Calif., received CBU’s Outstanding Senior Award. Tiffany Angel Ruiz, who works for the County of Riverside and lives in Moreno Valley, Calif., was honored with the Outstanding Online and Professional Studies Student Award. Ruiz received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Combined with students who graduated last December, the Class of 2015 totals 1,946 applications for graduation, the largest number for a single year in CBU history.
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NCAA TOURNAMENT DII
LANCER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CBU TAKES NCAA DIVISION II WEST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP March Madness lived up to its name for the California Baptist University Lancer women’s basketball team, whose post-season performance propelled them to the national championship game and provided CBU’s highest finish in NCAA Division II to date.
The unranked Lancers entered the NCAA DII West Region tournament as the No. 5 seed. The tournament was hosted by the No. 1 seed Alaska-Anchorage, also the top-ranked team in the division.
But as the tournament progressed, CBU’s women became known as the “Cinderella team.”
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07 | THE ROUNDTABLE | SPRING 2015
NCAA TOURNAMENT DII
“I am really proud of the season that we had this year.” -Jarrod Olson
All four higher seeds lost in the first round, leaving CBU as the highest seed and new favorite to win. The Lancers did just that, with gusto. CBU first defeated No. 25 Hawaii Pacific 77-69, before taking down Point Loma — which had upset AlaskaAnchorage — 73-46 to move onto the region title game. The Lancers’ opponent in the regional championship contest, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, was well acquainted with NCAA Division II postseason play, having won five DII championships in program history. But the Lancers kept rolling and won the 2015 West Region with ease, 81-58, becoming the first PacWest women’s basketball program to win the West Region title. En route to the West Region championship, the Lancers held a 19.3 scoring margin over the three regional opponents.
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Then, in the first round of the Elite 8, the Lancers defeated No. 23 New Haven 86-77. Next, the Lancers turned in the highest margin of victory in the national semifinal game with an 85-67 win over No. 2 Limestone, snapping the nation’s largest win streak to claim a berth in the championship game. It was pure determination and a sense of togetherness that kept CBU’s Cinderella story alive heading into the championship game. “I know we have a really good team and can beat anybody,” said Coach Jarrod Olson after the Limestone win. “I’m certainly not surprised that we’ve played well.” The phenomenal run came up just shy of CBU’s first-ever NCAA Division II team title as the Lancers lost the championship game 86-69 to California University of Pennsylvania.
Even so, by battling to the end the CBU women made the entire Lancer Nation proud of their success. “I am really proud of the season that we had this year,” said head coach Jarrod Olson. “The girls really finished the season strong, and while we are all disappointed with our loss in the final game, we should all be happy with the season as a whole.” The Lancers finished the year as the No. 2 team in NCAA Division II in the final rankings. CBU only loses two seniors, while most of the other top-four teams lose three or more starters to graduation. Those returners are eager to settle unfinished business and get back to the final game next year. Until then, it’s almost certain that CBU will not have to wait for the final rankings to break into the Top 25.
At left: Point Loma’s center is no match for CBU’s as Darsha Burnside shows her strength at the basket. This page, from top: Kamille Diaz works her magic in the quarterfinals against the University of New Haven; Courtney Nelson is double teamed by Point Loma defenders; Senior guard Chanel Cambronero lays it in against a Point Loma defender
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CBU ATHLETICS
LANCER NATION
COMMISSIONER’S CUP For the second year in a row, CBU won the PacWest Commissioner’s Cup. Since joining the conference during the 20112012 season and winning their first Commissioner’s Cup, the Lancers have won the Cup three times, becoming the first program to do so. CBU is also just the second school to take home back-to-back awards after claiming the Cup last year and has never finished outside of the top two in the standings. CBU ended the winter in the top spot in the race for the Cup, leading rival Azusa Pacific by .429 of a point (12.429 to 12.000) heading into the spring. In the last standings, the Lancers had increased their lead to almost a full point, 12.611 to 11.677, after capturing their third PacWest conference title in women’s golf by a dominant 34 strokes. With the conclusion of both baseball and softball’s regular
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seasons, CBU finishes the year with a score of 12.682, towering over the Cougars’ 11.091 mark.
CHEER CBU cheer made National Cheerleaders Association history this past year as the Lancers won their third-straight championship title, remaining undefeated since the 2013 season. It also was the first year CBU scored the highest over its competition in every category. Four Lancers, Katarina McKnight, Briana Davee, Taylor Hendricksen and Raven Rivera also competed for the first time in the all-girls open division stunting competition, taking eighth overall.
BASEBALL CBU entered its 20th regional playoff tournament appearance as the No. 3 seed in the NCAA DII West Regional. The Lancers ended the regular season with a
30-20 record and a 22-10 PacWest record that secured the team a runner-up finish in the conference standings. Andy Crowley is in reach of some history for the team, just five hits from becoming the all-time hits leader for the Lancers with a career 278.
MEN’S BASKETBALL The No. 21-ranked Lancers finished as the PacWest Tournament runner-up and went on to their second-straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearance. After drawing Chico State in the first round the second year in a row, CBU avenged last year’s loss with a 67-61 victory. The most dramatic win came the next day as Trevone Williams made a last-second putback to give his team a one-point win, 7877, over Seattle Pacific to push the Lancers into their first-ever NCAA Division II West Region Championship game.
MEN’S GOLF CBU closed out the season with four topfive finishes in its last five tournaments of the year. To cap the year, the Lancers placed a team-best third in the PacWest after coming in seeded fifth. Kavan Eubank had a remarkable six-under-par 66 round to come back to win the PacWest Championship.
WOMEN’S GOLF For the second year in a row, CBU clinched a berth to the NCAA DII postseason after winning its first-ever conference championship at the PacWest Tournament. The Lancers took fourth place in the West Region, an improvement on its sixth-place performance from 2014. Four of five golfers earned all-tournament honors by placing in the top-10 individually. Tina Yang tied for first in the individual standings, taking second overall after a playoff hole.
SOFTBALL CBU’s No. 11-ranked softball team took second in the PacWest Conference before heading to its second-straight NCAA Division II West Region tournament. The Lancers lost to No. 4 ranked Dixie State and ended their season with a 42-11 record on the year.
WOMEN’S SWIM CBU moved up a spot in the final NCAA Division II standings to eighth place. There were a total of 13 AllAmerican performances at the national
championships, with five program records set in the process at the event. It came after the team repeated as RMAC Champions, dominating the four-day event with almost 300 points more than their runner up. The women won event after event and set 11 new RMAC records, 10 Colorado Mesa pool records and seven CBU records. They won 16 of the 21 events with three relay gold medals and 13 individual titles. Mary Hanson and Alena Rumiantceva helped destroy a lot of those records and both were named Swimmer of the Meet. Hanson also added Swimmer of the Year to her accolades. On the diving board, Lauren Skinner swept the awards with both Diver of the Meet and Diver of the Year. Rick Rowland was named Coach of the Year for the second straight year.
MEN’S SWIM The men finished 10th at the NCAA Division II Championships with 18 AllAmerican performances at the national championship. Five new program records were set at the national championship meet. The Lancers also defied expectations in the RMAC, taking second place after being predicted to take third in the conference. Josh Hanson was named Swimmer of the Meet after a stellar performance. Freshman Zach Parry picked up the Diver of the Meet honor after sweeping both the 1-meter and 3-meter events. Parry had to battle round-afterround on the one-meter platform to take the event. It came down to the last dive
of the night in what Coach Rick Rowland called “the closest scoring dive meets” he’d ever seen.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL The Lancers finished the year with a 6-22, 2-20 in MPSF record in the toughest conference in the country. Kevin Kustura had 17 digs at Long Beach State on March 18th, which ranks fifth in CBU single-match history and second in a three-set match.
WRESTLING CBU won a record 13 duals this season, going 13-4 overall, and took seventh in the NCAA Division II’s Super Region IV. Jacob Waste became the first D2Wrestle.com Wrestler of the Week in program history for the Lancers and became its fourth NCAA All-American. He was one of two DII National Championship qualifiers, along with freshman Nolan Kistler.
WOMEN’S WATER POLO CBU posted its best-ever finish in the Golden Coast Conference, taking fourth place after defeating Azusa Pacific, 17-8, in the first round of the tournament last week. Hannah Evans received first team all-conference and all-tournament honors. Malloy Montano and Meghan Rowland also received all-conference accolades. Despite an injury-filled year, the team finished the season with a 20-15, 2-4 in conference record.
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CBU LANCER ATHLETICS
LANCERS SHOW HEART OF GOLD
From left: Breanne Schlenger, Amanda Jennings and Lauren Skinner
C
alifornia Baptist University divers Lauren Skinner and Breanne Schlenger made an impression at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships in February. And not just because of how they dove off the board. A rival, Colorado Mesa’s top diver Amanda Jennings, was out of the competition because of a hand injury. Skinner and Schlenger decided if one of them won the 1-meter dive, they would give the medal to Jennings, who was a favorite before her injury.
psychology and criminal justice double major. “I think that’s because we know what it feels like to hit a good dive and we also know what it feels like when you make a mistake.” Schlenger, a junior psychology and sociology double major, said they had grown to love Jennings.
Although Jennings is their competitor, the two CBU divers were upset she would not be able to compete.
“We wanted to show her that she meant more to us than just a competitor, that she’s not just somebody we dive against, but she’s someone we love and we care for, and the best way to do that was to pull her up with us and give her the medal,” she said. “Actions mean so much more than words in every aspect of life.”
“The diving community is really close, which you generally don’t see in a lot of sports,” said Skinner, a sophomore
Skinner won the event and Schlenger took third. After the medal ceremony, Jennings was called over, pulled up on
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the podium, and Skinner gave her the medal. “She was really happy,” Skinner said. “Once the whole thing was over and I gave her my medal, she kept saying that we mended her broken heart back together.” Skinner and Schlenger are two amazing student athletes, diving coach Jeffrey Couto said. “I am excited to see how God continues to mold and shape them in their college years.”
GARY ADCOCK Baseball Head Coach
What is your favorite thing about being at CBU? Unfair question, too many things to name one. I enjoy the family Christ-centered environment coupled with extremely supportive administration, staff and students, thus making it a wonderful place to work. What are you most proud of during your time as a coach or as a player yourself? I enjoy hearing from old players and seeing how their time spent at CBU in the classroom, on campus, and on the baseball field helped shape and mold them into the husband, father, and godly man they have become. It’s the number one thing I enjoy about getting older!
What’s the biggest goal for your team here at CBU? Development for sure! Development spiritually, athletically and academically. We want our players to leave with a degree, a ring and a heart closer to the Lord prepared to embrace all life has in store for them after CBU. What can we look forward to this season? A group of young men and coaches who will compete to the best of their ability for the Glory of the Lord.
FAVORITES Holiday: Christmas Food: Ribs Movie: Sandlot TV show: Little House on the Prairie Place to visit: Big Bear Hobby: My Family Music: 80’s Childhood Memory: Smelling orange blossoms in Riverside when you went out to get the newspaper.
What is the most valuable skills or attribute you’ve developed over your career? I have been so fortunate to work for and with men and women who have helped me develop over the years. Notably Coach Adams at UCLA showed me how to care for your players, Coach Rogers at RCC how to be detailed and prepared in all things you do. Coach Smitheran at UCR about discipline and accountability and its role in team building and implementing philosophies. I am constantly trying to evolve and grow with each new person God puts in my life. Who do you look up to? My wife and my father.
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ALUMNI PROFILE
FROM CBU ATHLETE TO CBU NURSING FACULTY Melissa Marshall has a Heart of Blue and Gold
The collection of California Baptist University identification cards shows a young woman growing up over the past 18 years: Melissa Marshall as a student, Melissa Marshall as staff and now Melissa Marshall as a member of the faculty.
“As of next year, I will have been at CBU for half my life,” she said. Marshall stepped into her new role as assistant professor of nursing in Fall 2014. Her journey began in 1997, when she came to CBU on a basketball scholarship. “I was from Hawaii, so I didn’t visit the campus before I decided to attend,” Marshall explained. “I showed up that first day for orientation, and I was a little shellshocked. I’d never been away from home. It was really hot. Small campus. It was not what I was expecting.” Even so, Marshall started classes, made friends and quickly learned she had made the right decision. Now she says: “I bleed blue and gold. Real bad!” After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2001, Marshall returned to CBU working as an admissions counselor. “My plan was to stay at this job for about a year, and then go back to school to study nursing,” Marshall recalls. But those plans changed as Marshall realized that she loved her job. So much in fact, she stayed for the next eight years, becoming assistant director of undergraduate admissions. And then one day while attending staff orientation, Marshall learned that CBU was introducing an entry level master of science in nursing (ELMSN) program, which would allow those with a bachelor’s degree in another field to earn a master’s degree in nursing. In 2009, Marshall resigned from her admissions role and entered the ELMSN program.
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“The program is very rigorous,” Marshall recalled. “It’s 16 months of intense nursing curriculum. You’re just like, head down, get it done.” In 2010, Marshall became a registered nurse and began working at the Community Hospital of San Bernardino. It was through her work at the hospital that Marshall discovered her love for teaching. “As a nurse on the floor, they put students with you,” Marshall explained. “I really enjoyed investing in them early, while they’re still learning.” She continued working full-time as she completed her master’s degree with an emphasis on education in 2013 and became an adjunct professor at CBU—but Marshall knew she wanted to teach full time. When a position opened up, Dr. Geneva Oaks, dean of the School of Nursing, warned her it might be difficult to be hired with only three years of hospital experience, but Marshall’s motivation and determination showed in the interview process. “I applied and did the teaching demo, and I must have done okay,” Marshall recalled. “I think they saw that it was what I wanted to do, and they knew I loved this school.” Marshall says she is excited to be part of CBU’s rapidly growing undergraduate nursing program. “We get great feedback from our local hospitals, and also from patients, about how CBU students are different,” Marshall said. “I think that’s because we are preparing nurses who are in it for something different. We help our students understand that nursing is a very tangible way to show others who Christ is.”
CBU SCHOLARS
RWANDA SCHOLARS TAKE STEPS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Faith Mwiza was part of the initial group of 12 Rwanda Presidential Scholars who came to California Baptist University in 2008. The students were part of the Rwanda-California Baptist University Presidential Education Agreement, established in 2007 when Dr. Ronald Ellis met with Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame. Out of that meeting grew CBU’s plan to help educate the next generation of leaders from the genocide-ravaged nation. The program offers Rwanda’s best math and science students four-year scholarships to do their undergraduate studies at U.S. colleges and universities. Mwiza chose electrical and computer engineering. For part of her studies, she was the only woman in the program. At times, she questioned her decision to be an engineer. “I think I did struggle, like all other students in the challenging field of engineering do in their four-year journey,” she said. “You know, asking yourself the big questions, whether you are in the right field.” From left: Faith Mwiza, Michael Ngamiije, Roger Manzi and Vincent Mwumvaneza
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Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, asked Mwiza if she could name one problem in the world that she would want to be part of the solution.
Helping rural Rwandan people have more food to eat, she responded. But she didn’t see how electrical and computer engineering could help her. “I can’t connect all the dots, but God asks us to be faithful in each next step,” Donaldson told her. Mwiza kept taking steps, graduated in 2012 and went to work at NASA DEVELOP, a branch of NASA’s applied sciences department. NASA DEVELOP is a research and training program that fosters interdisciplinary research among undergraduate students, graduate students and young professionals. While working with scientists and natural resource managers, team members use NASA technologies to address community concerns and public policy issues. “I worked with teams where we conducted applied science research with the goal of using science to serve society,” she said. With the guidance of NASA and partner science advisers coupled with data derived from NASA’s Earth Observations (EOS), the teams were able to address diverse environmental issues and community concerns such as renewable energy, modernizing agriculture and ecological forecasting. Some of the research and projects were geared toward modernizing agricultural methods in rural Rwanda.
This helped boost food production, she said. But she wondered if it was enough. “I feel like what we did is just a drop in the ocean as the issue of food security and production is a very complex issue,” she said. “However, like Mother Teresa said, ‘we ourselves might feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.’” Mwiza is now pursuing a master’s in information systems and technology at Claremont Graduate University in California. She hopes to continue in work that uses science and technology to serve society. Other Rwanda Scholars also are taking steps to make a difference. Vincent Mwumvaneza graduated in 2013 with a degree in civil engineering. He then worked as a NASA DEVELOP project consultant on the Solar Energy Project, which located suitable areas feasible for solar energy in Rwanda. He is now pursuing his master’s in civil engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
“My purpose was, and still is, to apply engineering skills that I acquired from college and help serve my country,” he said. After graduating in 2014 with a degree in civil engineering, Roger Manzi was hired at NASA DEVELOP. “The main objective of the projects my colleagues and I work on is to bridge the gap between sciences and data at NASA with society in general,” he said. “We process data gathered by NASA’s Earth Observing Satellite systems to make them beneficial to communities all over the world.” CBU and the College of Engineering equipped him with traits that have helped him thrive, Manzi said. He also grew into being a servant engineer. “At CBU, I was not only working toward becoming an engineer, but the kind of engineer that takes seriously Christ’s call to use our God-given talents and abilities to serve others,” Manzi said. “I am sure that God has equipped me with all it will take to make a significant difference in life. I must, therefore, spend my lifetime on this planet, not as a spectator, but as a man on a God-given mission.”
Michael Ngamije graduated in 2014 in electrical and computer engineering. He is a research consultant at NASA DEVELOP, using NASA Earth Observation Satellites to come up with solutions that benefit society in areas such as energy, water resources and agriculture.
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MIND. BODY. SPIRIT. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge. 2 Peter 1:5
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CBU WINS BIG
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CBU’s campus communication programs won several top awards recently in both regional and national competitions. The Division of Marketing and Communication won a gold award in the total advertising campaign category in the 30th annual Higher Education Awards for the fall 2014 campaign that featured alumni living their purpose in a variety of professions. The division and agency partner RHB also won a silver award in the New Media category for RHB’s video series for the Collinsworth School of Music. “The marketing and communication team that shares credit for this campaign wasn’t working to win a prize,” said Dr. Mark A. Wyatt, vice president for marketing and communication. “We just wanted to tell compelling stories about successful CBU alumni who personify the tagline, ‘Live Your Purpose.’ That we also achieved positive recognition for CBU by receiving this gold award is both affirming and gratifying.”
Two of California Baptist University’s campus publications, The Banner newspaper and Pursuit magazine, took home top national awards at recent journalism conferences in Los Angeles and New York City. The Associated College Press awarded 1st place “Best of Show” awards to both The Banner newspaper and Pursuit magazine, in those respective categories, and The Banner Online earned the 5th place award in the Best Website category. The 31st Annual ACP National College Journalism Convention was held in Los Angeles Feb. 26 to March 1. “This is really unprecedented in my experience that one program would be awarded 1st place Best of Show in both the newspaper and magazine categories,” said Dr. Michael Chute, director of the journalism & new media and public relations program. “It is the third year in a row that The Banner has been named the top ‘Best of Show’ newspaper at the ACP convention. This really speaks to the quality work our students do on the
campus publications and shows how consistent our students have been in producing quality publications.” In the California College Media Association convention Feb. 28, CCMA awarded seven CBU students for outstanding achievement in writing, photography and design. The Pursuit staff also earned an honorable mention in the Best Magazine category. At its Spring National College Media Convention in New York City March 11-14, the College Media Association awarded Pursuit magazine 2nd place in Best Magazine Spread, as well as 3rd place in Best Overall Design for another magazine spread, which competed against design entries from newspapers, magazines, yearbooks and advertising. CBU faculty and students won several awards in the 2015 American Advertising Awards-Inland Empire ceremony held March 13. Gold award-winners, whose entries automatically advance to district competition, include: Emily Poulin for House Catalog in the brochures/ annual report category; Jessica Schollerman, Science Fiction, illustration, single; Matthew C. Cook, Class Demo, animation or special effects; Michael Berger, assistant professor of graphic design, for two entries: French Paper in the poster category and Fred Jordan Mission brochure in the brochure category. Berger also won a silver award for Maiden Massacre in the poster, single category. Other silver award winners are: Michael A. Barraza, Abuse, poster, single; Emily Galina, Anthony Perez, Delaia Federico and Jazeena Pineda, Summit Tea Co., packaging; Salvador H. Castrejon, Travel Dreams, consumer or trade publication; Timothy J. Kothlow, Waiting for the Wave, photography; Anthony Perez, Summit Tea Co., logo; Colton James Von Pertz, Jeep Instagram Campaign, photography, campaign; Alexa Brianna Aguilara, Dunkin Donuts, animation or special effects.
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CBU NEWS
Riverside beautification program honors CBU Lancer Plaza renovation Grill, one of the newest and most popular dining campus facilities. The award is one of nine KRCB beautification awards presented each year, with some including second- and third-place honors.
Lancer Plaza North features space for university offices, student areas and El Monte Grill.
California Baptist University’s Lancer Plaza North was honored with a beautification award Jan. 22 from the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful (KRCB) program. CBU received first place in the category of Exterior Reconstruction with Landscaping. Mayor Rusty Bailey and Cindy Roth, CEO of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, presented the KRCB awards during the annual State
of the City address. Mark Howe, CBU vice president for finance and administration, accepted the award on behalf of the university. Before CBU acquired the 11-acre property in 2006 and subsequently renamed it in honor of the university’s mascot, restaurants and retail stores occupied the shopping center that was known as Adams Plaza. Today, Lancer Plaza features space for university offices, student areas and El Monte
According to the KRCB website, the awards are presented to “buildings and facilities within the City of Riverside that capture outstanding landscape, cleanliness and curb appeal.” KRCB is a community program sponsored by the City of Riverside and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. Its mission is “to instill a sense of community pride by creating partnerships that work toward the beautification of the city.” In 2014, CBU’s Recreation Center received the Mayor’s Award from KRCB.
CBU student pilots fly aircraft from Texas to California California Baptist University students gained a real-life experience in January by piloting two recently purchased aircraft from east Texas to California. The students, accompanied by two flight instructors from the department of aviation science, flew the twinengine 1979 Beechcraft Duchesses from Gilmer, Texas, to the Riverside Municipal Airport. The trip took more than 11 hours over a period of two days. The students, junior Jennifer Endeman and sophomore Howard Dang, both aviation flight majors, did the preflight check, the flight plan and the flying. The instructors, Shannon Cardin and Jared Tapsfield, ensured the students did those things correctly. The group stopped at several airports along the way, including an overnight stop in El Paso, Texas.
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“This trip not only gave me an opportunity to build more flight hours but also helped me gain more confidence as a private pilot,” Dang said. “I got to land and takeoff at many different types of airports, both towered and non-towered airports.” Both the flight instructors said it was great experience for the students “I think the most that both of the students gained was to be ready for anything,” Tapsfield said. “If something were to go wrong, even though nothing did, they needed to know where the closest airport was and how to get there quickly. ” The department of aviation science now has 11 aircraft: a Boeing 727, five Cessna 172s, two Cessna 150s and three Beechcraft Duchesses.
“The twin-engine aircraft always bring a new element into a program. They’re larger aircraft, they’re more complex aircraft, said Dr. Daniel Prather, chair of the department of aviation science. “It allows us to handle a significant number of students working on their multiengine rating.”
CBUOnline makes gains in U.S.News & World Report ranking of best online programs California Baptist University earned the no. 23 spot among online bachelor’s programs in the 2015 Top Online Education Program rankings released recently by U.S.News & World Report. This is a jump up from No. 37 in 2014 and puts CBU second among California colleges ranked in best online bachelor’s programs. CBU entered the online education market in the spring of 2010 with programs offered by the university’s Division of Online and Professional Studies. Since 2013, the first year online programs were ranked by
U.S. News & World Report, CBU has placed in the top 40 for three consecutive years. CBU now serves more than 3,400 students online throughout the United States, offering 30 online undergraduate majors and concentrations and 16 graduate majors and specializations. “We are happy to be consistently top ranked since inception, especially considering CBU’s four short years offering online programs,” said Dr. David Poole, vice president for Online and Professional Studies at CBU. “We are even more delighted given the significant jump in our ranking to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report in 2015.” In addition to the no. 23 spot for best online bachelor’s programs, CBU also was ranked among the best online graduate MBA and best online graduate education programs as evaluated nationwide for factors including faculty credentials and training.
CBU ranked no. 7 for faculty credentials and training in the online bachelor’s degree category, no. 3 for online MBA faculty and no. 1 for online Graduate Education faculty credentials and training. “The ranking methodology reviews student engagement best practices, graduation and retention rates, student indebtedness, faculty credentials and training, as well as technological infrastructure. These are all key elements, central to our focus as we build and deliver programs that serve the adult student who seeks a quality, reputable degree in an online format, at a reasonable cost,” Poole said. “This acknowledgement and ranking continues to support our mission and drive that quality and experience of faculty, innovative, cutting edge technology, and student support and service are at the heart of what we do at CBU.”
CBU student athlete wins national writing contest Sheppard, director of sports information, entered him in the contest without his knowledge, so he was even more surprised he won. “I was shocked. I never thought that something I’d write would win anything, let alone something that’s soccer-related,” he said. Zalesky also is a member of the soccer team.
A California Baptist University senior recently won the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Writing Contest in the college student division. Jake Zalesky, a public relations major and sports information intern, won with a soccer article he wrote for cbulancers.com. Sammi
“That was really exciting, the fact that I wrote an article for my team, and it won an award,” he said. “That was great. That was a huge blessing.” It also made it a challenge writing the stories. “As a writer, you have to get rid of all biases,” he said. “You have to stand neutral with things that you’re writing about. It was tough at first, but now it’s a lot easier for me.”
For Zalesky, the biggest reward is seeing his articles online or in print and having the opportunity to write. “Just seeing it actually there with my name on it is really rewarding,” he said. “It’s giving me a lot of experience. Just being able to write for the school is a huge reward for me.” Sheppard wanted to give him practical experience after he expressed an interest in sports information. “I’m very happy for Jake,” Sheppard said. “It’s always encouraging to get some positive feedback, especially when you’re still learning. He’s been a great help this year and has the makings of a great sports information director if he wants to be.”
23 | THE ROUNDTABLE | SPRING 2015
CBU NEWS
CBU professor selected for Oxford project In addition to attending the summer seminars with lectures from eminent scholars in the field, Smith will work on her own original research project, Promoting and Preventing the Dialogue: Psychological Influences on Discussion in Science and Religion. She will also establish a science and religion student club at CBU. Grant funds are provided to assist with the research and the student organization.
Dr. Erin Smith, assistant professor of psychology, has been selected as one of 25 participants for the Bridging the Two Cultures of Science and the Humanities project during the next two summers in Oxford, England. The announcement came from Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford (SCIO), the United Kingdom Centre of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. The organization is a research and educational institute in Oxford, producing and supporting scholarship in a recognized center of international educational and scholarly excellence. Funded by the Templeton Religion Trust, the program fosters in participants the interdisciplinary skills and understanding central to the study of religion.
A final conference with presidents from participating institutions will be held in the summer of 2016. According to the SCIO, the selection committee looked for early-to-mid-career faculty with proven interdisciplinary, leadership and communication skills and a strong research record who were fully supported by their sending institutions. The project is “a timely and important initiative that will greatly strengthen teaching and research in science and religion, and enhance the intellectual experience of the faculty and their students,” said Allister McGrath, academic director of Bridging the Two Cultures, Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion and director of the Ian Ramsey Centre at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, is flanked by Dr. Kim Wilcox, chancellor of University of California, Riverside (left) and Dr. Randal Wisbey, president of La Sierra University. The trio of higher education leaders were photographed Feb. 12 at the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce “Good Morning Riverside” event. Ellis presented the keynote address, describing CBU’s growing economic impact in the Inland Southern California region. (GRCC photo)
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CBU volunteers will serve in 16 countries on 42 teams during summer 2015
A 2014 volunteer from CBU prays for women and children in South Asia.
Several hundred California Baptist University students filed into the auditorium at Sherman Indian High School in Riverside Dec. 3 for Team Reveal, the time when the Office of Mobilization reveals which volunteer teams the students will serve on. Approximately 400 students, faculty and staff in 2015 will make up 42 teams for International Service Projects, United States Projects and Summer of Service. The teams will serve in 16 countries. The theme for the year is Resolved, with the theme verse I Peter 4:1-2: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve — because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished
with sin — in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.” The Scripture calls for Christians to be resolved to do whatever it takes to live their lives in the will of God, Jared Dobbins, assistant director of global mobilization, told the students. “Start to ask yourself, what does it mean to be resolved to live in the light of the gospel for the sake of the unreached,” he said. Each participant received a different colored envelope at the beginning of the evening and were dismissed by color groups later. When they reached their designated spot, they opened the envelopes to find a colored carabiner.
A leader announced where each color was going. For example, those with a red carabiner were going to South Asia. The leaders and students began getting to know each other and preparing for the training which will run through the spring semester. Earlier, Kristen White, director of global mobilization, told students to do their best whatever team they are on, whether it’s sports or nursing. “It’s really not about where you go, it’s about who you serve,” she said. “Over the next six months, you’re going to learn more about yourself, more about the world and more about God.”
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WHY STUDENTS VOLUNTEER:
CBU’S ISP PROGRAM Approximately 400 students, faculty and staff will make up 42 teams serving in 16 countries for International Service Projects, United States Projects and Summer of Service this year. Many of
J
acqueline Garland is one of a few students who is 4 for 4, meaning she has gone on ISP each year she has been a student.
Garland went to Asia with her three previous teams. This year she will be going to the United Kingdom. As she gains experience, she is also sharing that experience. This is her second year of being a student leader on the team.
students grow and change
“Looking back I feel like I was so young and so unprepared,” said the history and international studies senior. “I do bring a lot of experience to the team. I know a lot of the stuff about training and what to expect. I’ve been able to reassure some fears.”
because of the experience
Her reasons for going has evolved.
and often keep participating
“The first time was because I really wanted to travel and that’s always a factor. I mean I love seeing the world, but I think the biggest motivation since the first trip is seeing how much God has worked and being able to be a part of his work in the world,” she said.
them have unique reasons for volunteering, but all the
in ISP.
Nursing graduate student Allyson Souza is also 4 for 4. She has gone to the Philippines, South Asia and Thailand and will be going to Thailand again as a student leader. The team will be making home health visits in villages and educating the local community and health care staffs. She finds the diversity of cultures beautiful, but no matter where she goes, she finds the human need for hope.
“Even across the borders, across countries, people are all still broken,” she said. “People are looking to be fulfilled and satisfied, and that’s the commonality that you have even when you have different backgrounds and languages and cultures.” When Jackson Brown’s older sister attended CBU, she went on ISP. Her stories and experiences made Brown want to have that same opportunity. The fact that Brown is deaf did not slow him down. “I was not concerned with the fact that my deafness would pose an obstacle, because He made me this way. There are millions of people like me who experience what I experience every day,” he said. He went to Thailand twice with teams to work among the deaf. Now, the 2014 graduate and adjunct professor at CBU is leading a team to work among the deaf peoples of South Asia. Of the five members on the ISP team, three are deaf and two are not. They all know American Sign Language. Brown said being deaf himself means something to those he meets. “Often the field workers have told us, that if a hearing team shows up and they’re able to sign, it doesn’t have the same connection with the deaf people,” he said. “Being men and women from America and we’re deaf, we’re able to travel and meet those people on the other side of the globe and (say) we’re just like you. It makes a very, very large impact on them.”
27 | THE ROUNDTABLE | SPRING 2015
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
STUDENTS GAIN EXPERIENCE ABROAD The topics include international business from the perspective of England and Europe and the free-trade agreement between the United States and the European Union. “The actual cultural experience in England is far different than our cultural experience in the U.S., so it’s good to be exposed to the perspectives of another culture,” Bishop said.
California Baptist University offers several international study programs that provide students opportunities to learn while also gaining experience in other cultures. The study programs are reflective of the university’s mission statement, which is expressed in the Core 4: Academically Prepared, Biblically Rooted, Globally Minded and Equipped to Serve. For example, the College of Allied Health’s Global Health Engagement (GHE) program allows students to work in an intercultural health setting. The focus of the program is threefold: academic, missional and service. Students gain practical, hands-on, real-world experience that will set them apart when applying for professional/ graduate school or jobs, said Dr. Charles Sands, dean of the College of Allied Health. GHE involves a seminar course and a practicum course. As part of the practicum, students will travel to China or the Philippines for three to four weeks this summer. There, depending on their major and discipline, students will do clinical rotations in hospital settings, clinical time in rural healthcare setting, or focus on rehabilitation,
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disease prevention or the business side of healthcare. “We believe that the GHE opportunity is an excellent way for our students to be transformed while learning and serving in these settings,” Sands said. Students are required to learn about healthcare in the chosen locations. They compare and contrast those countries with the U.S. healthcare system. The School of Business offers the Oxford Summer Studies Program. Although any CBU student may participate, the program has a strong business emphasis. Students meet during the spring semester for reading assignments and studying cultural differences. Then in the summer, they will spend 10 days in Oxford listening to lectures, writing papers and visiting England businesses. “The purpose and goal of the trip is for that intensive cross-cultural experience that the students will have,” said Jim Bishop, associate professor of criminal justice and business law, who leads the program. Speakers will include those from Oxford and the financial district.
The School of Education provides students in the credential program and master students specializing in international education an opportunity to complete part of their student teaching abroad. CBU partners with Network of International Christian Schools (NICS), which has 20 schools in 16 countries. Students must meet the criteria for student teaching and be accepted by NICS as student teachers. “It gives our candidates a chance to experience working in a career that has great potential for Christian outreach,” said Tamara Solis, program adviser and clinical coordinator. “Many teachers never consider teaching overseas. This also exposes them to that option.” Ashley Ramming is getting her multiple subject credential and an international education master’s degree. She took advantage of the international option and taught fourth grade in South Korea. She wanted to student teach internationally for a few reasons. “I want to eventually live and work overseas so it provided me with an opportunity to see and understand what that looks like,” she said. “I saw it as a great opportunity to try something new.”
Left: Daniela Medina, Isabel Archuleta and Jodi Baker, who served on a Global Health Engagement team in East Africa, work with a patient. This page: Daniela Medina with kids at an East Africa clinic
ALUMNI PROFILE
HER LOVE FOR VETERANS SHOWS THROUGH HER WORK
T
he military has a hold on Madison Webb. More precisely, service men and women and veterans have a hold on the California Baptist University graduate. Webb (’14) has been married to a U.S. Marine for five years. When they lived in North Carolina, she was a personal trainer for Marines, sailors and their families. She was also part of a group that provided fitness classes to those in the Wounded Warrior Project. When her husband was stationed in Barstow, Calif., she pursued her psychology degree through CBU’s Online and Professional Studies. After graduating, she landed a job finding housing for homeless veterans and families and those imminently facing homelessness. She is the veteran housing coordinator for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families at the Riverside County Housing Authority. In the 2014 count of homeless veterans, there were 296 in Riverside County, 49,933 in the United States. “As a Christian and as someone who is very close to the military community, it felt like it fit,” Webb said. “When this job came up, I knew that God was saying, here’s your opportunity to give back.” Webb identifies veterans who need help, finds landlords, connects veterans
with other resources, tracks financial resources and for those meeting qualifications, provides one to five months of housing assistance. “The focus of the SSVF grant is housing first, and that part of the program resonated with me as a Christian, because I don’t think we can expect people to address their substance abuse or their domestic violence issues or their PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder] until we’ve met their basic needs by giving a secure place to live,” she said. “Jesus helped people, and if we’re not here to do that, what are we here for? ” The goal is to help 50 families with housing in a fiscal year. Referrals come from the Veterans Administration, homeless shelters and outreach teams. She contacts the individuals, by phone or going to where they are, such as a homeless shelter or an abandoned building. She also builds relationships with potential landlords. Webb said she is living by Isaiah 58:57, which talks about pleasing the Lord and giving food to the hungry and shelter to the homeless. “I think the very basic, most rewarding part of my job is being able to serve God every day, in being able to wake up and just give my effort so that hopefully people will see Him,” she
said. “I can be a light in their darkest hour, just by the way that I treat them and approach them.” Webb maintains that CBU prepared her for this job in many ways, from learning Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to tying Christianity into the papers she wrote. Maslow’s theory maintains that people’s basic needs must be met before other issues can be addressed. “I’m surprised at how much I use the information that I learned in my psychology degree when dealing with people who are going through stressful situations,” Webb said. Shortly after they were married, her husband Chad was deployed to Afghanistan for 13 months, giving her an understanding of what Marines endure in their careers. “He’s very passionate about his job and about being a leader in the Marine Corps community and that really inspired me to work with veterans,” Webb said. Webb isn’t sure if she will seek more education or what she will do in the future, but knows she wants to continue working with people. “I want to be in the position to influence people and change the way they think about themselves,” she said. “I get so much energy from encouraging people and I just love doing it. I love doing it.”
31 | THE ROUNDTABLE | SPRING 2015
CBU ALUMNI BOARD
INTRODUCING CBU’S ALUMNI BOARD Graduating does not have to mean saying goodbye. Some alumni want to stay connected to their college and want to help others become and stay connected, too. That is the purpose of the California Baptist University Alumni Association Board, which primarily advises the Office of Alumni & Parent Relations. The members volunteer at homecoming, attend regional events, promote CBU and help with fundraising. The board is elected by members of the Alumni Association, which is made up of graduates and former students of CBU. The board can have up to 12 members – three officers and nine members at large – but currently there are nine. The board members are as varied as CBU’s student body. Members took classes through the traditional program, night school or the Online and Professional Studies and graduated with bachelor or graduate degrees. Some graduated when CBU was California Baptist College. Board president Eric McBride, a ’09 graduate, is assistant chief with the San Bernardino Police Department. His goal on the board is to seek out programs that are meaningful to alumni. “I am proud to represent CBU,” he said. “It allows me a forum to promote the university.” Felipe Lopez (’01), the board’s vice president, is the chief business officer for the Compton Community College District. He wanted to be part of the board to serve the institution that provided him so much. “For me, the most important aspect is to expand the alumni network and support from alumni which will provide opportunities for the next generation,” he said. Dale Moore (’86), a board member at large, is a peace officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Both of his daughters, a son-in-law and a brother-in-law are graduates of CBU. “I have seen firsthand the impact CBU can have on a young life, usually an impact that affects a lifetime. I believe in what Dr. Ellis is doing and I believe that God has amazing and powerful things still in store for CBU,” he said. “As a senior member of the board, both in age and longevity, I enjoy seeing new alumni as they enter the world and come back to CBU to see what is happening now and what is happening next.”
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Lindsay Wine (’13), a board member at large, works for Pacific Dental Services as a benefits/treatment coordinator. While she was a student, she worked in University Advancement. “I got to see what the Alumni Association does for the graduates and how they were willing to help the students even after they had been out of school for years,” said Wine. “My goal, both for myself as a board member and for the board as a whole, is to find a way to help students through the transitional period from being a ‘college student’ to ‘college graduate.’” Brennan Cackett, (’11 and ‘13) a member at large, consults with the Alumni Office and advises it on how to grow social media. He tweets when he attends alumni events and posts pictures on alumni social media pages. “It means a lot to me to be a part of the university that helped mold me,” he said. “it feels right to be giving back to the institution that gave me so much.” Tara (nee Sparks) Falsetti (’86) is an appeals specialist for the County of Riverside’s Department of Public Social Services. She enjoys helping CBU as it grows. “I would love to see more active alumni that support the school in at least one of three ways: prayer, time or monetarily,” she said. The remaining members are Kristi (nee Narmore) Cairns (’09) interim secretary, Camille Sidoti (’10, ’11) and Lisa Brandl (’11), both members at large. Lopez summed up the purpose of the board best. “The goal of the board is to promote and advance the mission of CBU and the alumni. Success is achieved by reminding other alumni of why they love CBU and reaching those who don’t know the CBU name,” he said.
From left: Eric McBride (’09), president; Lisa Brandl (’11); Lindsay Wine (‘13); Carrie Smith (’00), manager of alumni and parent communications; Brennan Cackett (‘11), Gail Ronveaux, director of alumni and parent relations; Kristi Cairns, nee Narmore (‘09), interim secretary; Janet Crate, special events and volunteer coordinator; Felipe Lopez (’01), vice president; Tara Falsetti, nee Sparks (’86); Dale Moore (’86)
33 | THE ROUNDTABLE | SPRING 2015
ALUM NEWS
1970’s Walter E. Dry (’77) works as a cabinetry detailer for L & M Services Inc., and makes his home in Riverside, Calif.
1990’s
Amy Estep (nee Martinez ’09, ’13) works as a private voice instructor. She and her husband, Andrew, live in Sylmar, Calif. Jason Seipp (’09) was named 20142015 Crystal Apple Award recipient for Excellence in Teaching. Jason teaches at Ramona High School in Riverside, Calif.
Brian M. Riley (’98, ’99) serves as president and CEO of Mohave State Bank. He was elected to represent financial institutions in the State of Arizona on the board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. He will serve a four-year term on the board.
DO YOU KNOW STORIES BEHIND CBU FOLKLORE? Vi Estel, CBU archivist, and Gail Ronveaux, director of alumni and parent relations, are partnering together in their quest to gather CBC/CBU folklore, ensuring that the vast knowledge held by older alums, faculty and staff will live on long into the future. Some traditions, such as the candle lighting ceremonies at Fortuna fountain and how our snack bar acquired the name “Wanda’s” are already well documented, but what is the real scoop about the cow in the elevator? Was there actually an alligator that lived in a bathtub in the James building? When did students hold a food strike and who led it? Did our campus have a mortuary? And what about those catacombs? Kelli Welzel, director of new student programs, recently asked about campus traditions to increase awareness of and appreciation for CBC/CBU traditions. “Our hope is to connect incoming students with CBC/CBU history, providing a sense of belonging and allowing them to see that they are now a part of a rich legacy,” Welzel said. “We also want to provide opportunities for current students to appreciate those who went before them and helped create the CBU they now enjoy. We would love to bring back something special, representative of CBC that can become a new tradition – new yet rooted in the university’s history.”
TO SHARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THE PAST PLEASE CONTACT: GAIL 951-343-5045 GRONVEAUX@CALBAPTIST.EDU VI 951-343-4250 VESTEL@CALBAPTIST.EDU OUR HOPE IS TO MAKE THE COLLECTION READILY AVAILABLE TO ALUMNI AS WELL AS FUTURE GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS.
Jerome Watson (’99, ’02) works as a licensed marriage and family therapist at A New Beginning Therapeutic Solution Counseling Center in Victorville, Calif.
2000’s Brian Bunnell (’02) serves as the director of annual giving at California Baptist University. Ross Hartsock (’03) works as a project manager for Layfield USA Corporation and lives in Carlsbad, Calif. William C. Hidalgo (’03) serves as a pastor at Family of God Church. He and his wife, Zaira, reside in Moreno Valley, Calif. Juan Cervantes (’06) works as a pastor at Family of God Church in Colton, Calif., and as a correctional officer with the California Department of Corrections. He and his wife, Ileana, live in Colton, Calif.
Melanie Hernandez (nee Story ’06) works as Macy’s Starbucks manager and lives in Colton, Calif. with her husband, Jesse. Jacqueline Rowlett (nee Olague ’06) works as a group exercise instructor at her local 24 Hour Fitness. She is enrolled in an online MBA program at Morehead State University and plans to finish in the fall of 2015. She and her family live in Canyon Country, Calif. Kristina Suzanne Burris (’08) and her family reside in Sandy, Utah. Alyssa Gazard (nee Pescuma ’08) works in human resources for Zodiac Inflight Innovations. She and her husband, Adam, live in Corona, Calif.
Denise Flores (’12) serves as a teacher in the San Bernardino Diocese. She and her husband, Joseph, live in Riverside, Calif. Margaret Marquez (’09) works as an account clerk II in the facilities and planning services department at California Baptist University. Erica Gomez (’10) works at Covina Assembly of God Church as a database manager. Stacia McCambridge (’10) serves as a program administrator at California State University, San Bernardino. She and her husband, James, reside in Highland, Calif. Cassandra Vetter (’10) works as a clinical therapist with the County of San Bernardino Department of Behavioral Health. She lives in Victorville, Calif. Tayler McGinnis (nee Jonker ’11) serves as children’s ministry assistant director at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif. Kyle Sternjacob (’11) works as a deputy sheriff with San Luis Obispo County and lives in Arroyo Grande, Calif. Stacey Kimmell (’12) serves as a school psychologist with Fontana Unified School District. Jenette Lopez (nee Di Genova ’12) works as a registered nurse with Glendora Unified School District. She and her husband, Alexander, live in Downey, Calif.
Michael Magiera (’12) and his wife, Sarah (’14), live in El Cajon, Calif. Michael works as an electrical engineer with Northrop Grumman, and Sarah is a teacher.
Angela Perry (’14) serves as executive assistant to the city administrator for the City of Rialto. She and her husband, Vernon, live in Victorville, Calif.
Iliana Perea (’12) works as a therapeutic behavioral services counselor at Mental Health Systems in Victorville, Calif.
William Thomas Reiter (’14) is a lieutenant with the California Department of Corrections.
Michael A. Perry (’13) works as an electrical planner with Asplundh Construction Corp. He resides in Cherry Valley, Calif.
Benjamin Sanchez (’14) works as a therapist at Riverside City College.
Greg Anthony Widman (’13) and his wife, Ramona, live in Hemet, Calif. He works as a planner/scheduler with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Daniel Bishop (’09) and his wife, Natalie (nee Torna ’09), welcomed their second son, Graham David Bishop, on Feb. 18, 2015.
Little Lancers Antoinette Murray (nee Archer ’08) and her husband, Clifton, welcomed their daughter, Abigail Evangeline, on Feb. 12, 2015.
Raquel Alvarado (’14) and her husband, Michael A. Contreras, live in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Raquel works as a teacher with the Riverside County Office of Education.
James Culin (ex ’99) and his wife, Alyssa, welcomed their fourth child, Braylee Ann Culin, on Feb. 22. Braylee joins her brothers, Judah, 6; Daeson, 4; and Elias, 2. James serves as student ministries pastor at LifeBridge Church in San Diego, Calif.
Weddings
Melissa Marie Breden (nee Pacheco ’14) and her husband, Robert William Breden III, live in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Melissa works as a legal assistant with Miller, Walsh, Kutz & Laster.
Brian Morris (’11) was married to Vanessa Hlebowski (’12) on Sept. 20, 2014.
In Memoriam Benjamin A. Upton (’58) Lyn Futch-Hart (’64) Thelma Bacon (’65) Ray Hooper (’67) Charles Dustin Huffman (’02) Kenneth C. Holsten (’08) Janice “Kushi” Jones (’08) Dr. Margaret E. Dana (faculty emeriti) Dr. James E. Shearer (former adjunct faculty) Retired Army Lt. Col. Philip “Phil” N. Tilden Sr. (former staff)
Aaron DesCombes (’14) works in the Riverside Unified School District as a teacher. Brianna Lopez (’14) is a music teacher with Christian Arts and Theatre in Riverside, Calif. Cristina Nava (’14) lives in Corona, Calif. and works as a teacher with the Riverside County Office of Education.
GET INVOLVED The CBU regional network now includes Sacramento, Fresno, Dallas, the Inland Empire and Phoenix to help you maintain and develop rich connections with CBU alumni and parents in your area. If we don’t yet have a network in your area, help us start one! Contact Carrie Smith at csmith@calbaptist.edu or 951-343-4439.
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
8432 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
From left, back row: Michael Procter; Glenn Gaines; Margaret Hollis; Don Nichols; Cindy Cook; Wayne Reynolds; Brian Chelette; Eydie Miskel; Steve Davidson; E.W. McCall; Fermin Whittaker; Gil De La Rosa; Mike Staver; William Eng; Anthony Dockery. Second row: Walter Carney; Wayne Stacks; David Gill; Walter Crabtree; Ronald L. Ellis, president; Kyung Yi; Gary Vick; Phoebe Lambeth; John Bolin; Chrystal Kern; L. Dean Lowe. Front row: Walter Price, chair, student services committee; Richard Phillips, chair, business affairs committee; Mike Poma, chair, board of trustees; Robert Gates, chair, academic affairs committee; J.T. Reed, chair, board development committee; Bart Shifter, chair, university advancement committee; Not shown: Tai Byon; Tom Holladay; Jim Williams; Charles Doremus; John Wells