Issuu

THE PEPPERDINE GRAPHIC Volume LV

Issue 1

August 24, 2026

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IS PEPPERDINE SUSTAINABLE? ater From w

to solar

Faculty, students, alum question Pepp’s sustainability efforts Amanda Monahan Managing Editor In the outdoor seating area adjacent to the Rockwell Academic Center, Sustainability Program Coordinator Chris Doran’s class sat in the blazing heat. Two guest speakers, Ricky Eldridge, director of the Center for Sustainability, and Nicolle Taylor, senior vice president and chief operating officer, conversed with students. Students in the class, held in spring 2023, asked Eldridge and Taylor about their backgrounds, quickly learning that neither had any sustainability experience. As the conversation continued, fewer and fewer students asked questions. The intense and unwelcoming space — along with the tone of the administrators’ responses — caused many to shut down, alumna Kathryn Horvath (‘23) said. Horvath said she remembers the administrators giving disrespectful responses to their questions regarding the University’s sustainability initia-

tives and showing a lack of interest in getting to know her and her classmates. But things got worse when students asked administrators why Pepperdine University does not take a stance on climate change. Eldridge and Taylor told the group — which consisted of juniors and seniors who would soon be graduating with degrees in Sustainability — that there was no scientific evidence in support of climate change. Some students froze up, some cried and some had the courage to respond. But everyone was shocked. “You know, you read it on the website, or you hear it from other people, but having somebody directly tell me as a student graduating with a degree in Sustainability from the University that they can’t acknowledge that climate change is real and that the University’s stance is to provide an open discourse and debate,” Horvath said. “Is the University providing an open discourse and debate about gravity? Like, no. That would be dumb.” Despite existing in a city that cares

deeply about issues such as coastal erosion, climate change and water pollution, Pepperdine exists in its own world — one that refuses to take a stance on climate change. The school references its 1972 water reclamation system as a sustainable initiative on the Center for Sustainability website, but faculty and students said it has been slow to implement more contemporary sustainable practices, such as solar energy. Alumna Belle Li (‘26), who was a double major in Sustainability and Hispanic Studies, has known she wanted to study the intersection between social justice and the environment since she was young. However, in her past four years at Pepperdine, she has grown increasingly discouraged with the University’s own environment when it comes to these topics. “I feel like the school deliberately tries to not be sustainable,” Li said. “The more I learn, the more I’m disappointed with the different things that we do — it’s both the lack of action and then the actions are

actually unsustainable.” Backgrounds Eldridge has no background in sustainability, environmental work or education. He is a licensed attorney, graduating from USC Gould School of Law in 2018. Horvath noted her frustration with this, having someone without relevant background in the position. “That was frustrating as a student who was hoping to get a career in the environmental field,” Horvath said. “To see that even at my school, the folks who are in charge of our sustainability for the entire university don’t have that background that I’m trying to achieve and am now getting a master’s degree to achieve.”

See NEWS | A3

August 24, 2026 | NEWS | Pepperdine Graphic Media

Upcoming events...

Good News: Community found in house hopping Aug. 26

Amanda Monahan Managing Editor

Bark to School From 11:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m., Payson Library will host therapy dogs to help students, faculty and staff adjust to the beginning of the semester.

Sept. 1 President’s Speaker Series The first speaker series of the school year returns to the Surfboard Room in Payson Library to host Dan Wright, co-founder and CEO of Armada. RSVP required.

Sept. 5 Waves of Flags In annual rememberance, the Pepperdine community is invited to participate in setting up the Waves of Flags display on Alumni Park to honor those who died in the 9/11 attacks.

Sept. 12 Step Forward Day Pepperdine’s annual day of service kicks off with a list of service projects for the Waves community to partake in. Signups required.

In the past four years, I have lived in seven different homes. As I am no stranger to shifting between my varying houses over the years, I have learned that sometimes home is not within the confines of four walls and a roof. This summer, I felt particularly inclined to stay in a place I won’t be able to call home much longer: Malibu. Going into my senior year, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my past three years at Pepperdine. And as my time here comes to a close, I have realized what a blessing it is to live in Malibu — something I will likely never have the opportunity to do again. When Elizabeth Smith, director of Pepperdine Graphic Media and associate professor of Journalism, asked if I would want to take care of her three pets while she taught abroad in Florence, Italy, I grew excited about spending my first summer in Malibu. But I had no idea that I would go on to live in two more faculty homes on campus afterward. One of my best friends since my first year at Pepperdine, Graphic Copy Chief Lila Rendel, joined me shortly after my house-hopping adventures began. Every night, we would cook and eat dinner together before watching a show with our temporary dogs

Photos by Amanda Monahan | Managing Editor A collage of Managing Editor Amanda Monahan’s summer spent house hopping in Malibu. Monahan stayed in three faculty homes over the summer.

Millie, a golden retriever, and Coconut, a shih tzu. Lila and I embarked on several other adventures around the area that have been on our bucket lists for the past three years. Finally being here in the summer without the hectic schedules of class and extracurriculars, we were able to visit Ventura, explore new parts of Los Angeles, celebrate my 21st birthday together and try new coffee shops. After our time with Millie and Coconut came to an end, Lila and I still felt like there was too much Malibu summer to be had. We hopped across campus to another professor’s house on Baxter Drive, where instead of taking care of dogs and cats we were looking after plants.

Then, after a week spent at home in San Francisco, I returned to Malibu for yet another house-sitting job, this time on Via de Casa with a miniature golden doodle named Scout. And now, I am finally settled into yet another faculty home on Mariposa Circle — this time, for the year. So, if I stayed in your home, was your neighbor or pet your dog in the faculty neighborhoods this summer, thank you for welcoming me into your community and for letting me be a newcomer to the Malibu summer. There is truly nothing like it, just as there is truly nothing like the Pepperdine community.

amanda.monahan@pepperdine.edu

“Pepperdine Graphic Media (PGM) is an editorially independent student news organization that focuses on Pepperdine University and the surrounding communities. PGM consists of the digital and print Graphic, a variety of special publications, GNews, Currents Magazine, social media platforms and an Advertising Department. These platforms serve the community with news, opinion, contemporary information and a public forum for discussion. PGM strengthens students for purpose, service and leadership by developing their skills in writing, editing and publication production, by providing a vehicle to integrate and implement their liberal arts education, and by developing students’ critical thinking through independent editorial judgment. PGM participates in Pepperdine’s Christian mission and affirmations, especially the pursuit of truth, excellence and freedom in a context of public service. Although PGM reports about Pepperdine University and coordinates with curricula in journalism and other disciplines, it is a student (not a University) news organization. Views expressed are diverse and, of course, do not correspond to all views of any University board, administration, faculty, staff, student or other constituency.”

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August 24, 2026 | NEWS | Pepperdine Graphic Media

Advocates call for solar power on campus From A1 The Graphic spent weeks trying to schedule interviews with several members of the Pepperdine administration, including Eldridge and Taylor, about their stance on climate change and the University’s sustainability practices. Michael Friel, senior director of Communications and Public Relations, indicated the requested administrators would only respond to written questions. Pepperdine Graphic Media’s interview policy requires real-time interviews for clarity and context to better understand a subject. In some cases, the Graphic accepts email responses for data, abroad travel and breaking news statements. This was not the case for this story. Eldridge’s LinkedIn page indicates his position is the “Associate Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Pepperdine University.” His “About” section has 57 words — the last two are “and sustainability,” the only time the topic appears in the section. Rhiannon Bailard, founding director of the Center for Sustainability in 2007, worked in environmental regulation, land-use planning and community relations before helping found the center. Though Bailard focused on what the University needed to do from a regulatory perspective, she said the excitement from students about “doing work that was greater than themselves” sparked her passion for her work. Though Doran, a religion professor, has no relationship with the current administration at the Center for Sustainability, Bailard and Doran had a strong, collaborative relationship before Bailard left the University. After Doran critiqued Pepperdine’s sustainability practices in a Graphic article, Bailard

reached out to Doran, asking to chat. Rather than feeling upset at the criticism, Bailard said she really just wanted to use it as an opportunity to collaborate. “He had concerns, and you know, my response to him was there’s always room for improvement,” Bailard said. “He was willing to meet with me, and I said ‘Let’s partner,’ and we did. I’m really grateful for that, for his partnership and his incredible passion on the subject.” Bailard said she was grateful to learn from Doran. “[He is] one of the foremost experts on the overlap between Christianity and sustainability,” Bailard said. “And frankly, I learned most of everything I know about that from Dr. Doran.” Bailard said the University declined to take a stance on climate change when she was at Pepperdine. While this can make doing sustainable work more complicated, she encouraged people to look past the overarching dialogue. “My approach was to continue to do the good work to move sustainability forward,” Bailard said. “I do understand why individuals would be frustrated by that sentiment and by that perspective; at the same time, I would hate for that to stop the work and the partnership about what can we do from a sustainability perspective.” Two Sides of Sustainability Doran said there are two ways of thinking about sustainability at Pepperdine: academically and operationally. The academic sense refers simply to the academic minor, which Doran founded in 2015, and major, which Doran founded in 2020. The operations side, however, is far more complex. Doran explained that this side of the spectrum focuses on the things Pepperdine does to ensure its

Infographic by Amanda Monahan | Managing Editor compliance with state and federal regulations in terms of the environment. “I’d love to think that they [the two sides] would work together more cohesively,” Doran said. “But that’s kind of an up-and-down relationship in the past 19 years that I’ve been here.” Since the incident involving Eldridge and Taylor in Doran’s class in 2023, Center for Sustainability staff have not responded to any of Doran’s invites to class or general emails. Further, several students in the Sustainability program said they have faced difficulty contacting Center for Sustainability staff. This frustrates Doran, as he thinks that Pepperdine’s emphasis on being a small community should help bridge this gap — especially at the high price that students pay to be here. Li shares Doran’s sentiment, as Pepperdine administration has pushed her, along with her peers, away on several occasions. “I think what administration does really well is say no, or say wait,” Li said. “They say wait until people leave, and then if the person who cares is not here, then it’s just not get-

Photo by Amanda Monahan A wall covered with sustainability information panels sits in the common area of Eden House. Despite receiving a $150,000 renovation to make the house a sustainable living community in 2015, nearly no sustainability practices still exist in the house today.

ting done, and that’s what they want.” Li heard of many Sustainability students who faced hurdles before she hit a wall herself. For her fellowship, which she got from outside of Pepperdine, Li’s goal was to create a newsletter that focused on sustainability initiatives at Pepperdine. She reached out to the Center for Sustainability, as she figured their involvement made sense. “They said no,” Li said. “I had multiple meetings with them. I wasn’t really allowed to talk to the director, Ricky Eldridge. He didn’t want to make time for me. I just talked to the assistant.” The Mountain at Mullin Park, a new recreational center and gym that took 21 years of planning, is set to open this fall. In a 2023 video, Pepperdine states that “the University’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated in every Mountain facility with a LEED silver certification for energy and environmental design.” However, falling behind its neighbors, such as Malibu High School, there is no solar energy planned to be installed on top of the facility. Considering how rare it is for a university to begin a building project entirely from the ground up, Doran said Pepperdine missed a huge opportunity to implement sustainable initiatives and student involvement in the planning process. Given where The Mountain is located on campus, Doran said that at some times of the year there could be 8 to 10 hours of solar coverage per day. An analysis of The Mountain’s potential for solar energy showed that 704 megawatt-hours per year could be created with a 0.422-megawatt rooftop installation. While this analysis did not show a cost savings for Pepperdine’s energy, it would result in zero carbon emissions. With the installation of batteries, the University could also store energy in case of an emergency.

The Eden Project Bailard worked for weeks on an application for the Waves of Innovation Award under former President Andrew K. Benton. The proposal that ended up winning $150,000 was Bailard’s for the Eden Project. “We had wanted to have an opportunity to have students not just hear about what we were doing from a sustainability perspective, but to really live and learn and experience and participate in sustainability,” Bailard said. The renovation process was complete in 2015, and included the implementation of a garden, rain water catcher, interior lighting to grow plants indoors, kitchen and more. Bailard said this was intended to be both an academic and operational experience and living space. In its early years, the Eden House required an application process for residents to live there. There was a panel process, which both Bailard and Doran were on. “The idea was you didn’t just get assigned to it [Eden], like anybody ended up there like another residence hall,” Bailard said. “You actually had to write why you were interested. The criteria was your commitment to sustainability or interest, how you would contribute to those types of things.” However, in the past 11 years, this has drastically changed. Eden no longer requires an application process to live in the house. The house is now a first-year residence for women, with primarily female athletes living there. When alumna Hannah Duffee (‘26) began her first week as the resident advisor (RA) of Eden, she took a walk around the house before her residents arrived. She noticed a large wall in the entryway describing the sustainability practices of the house, as well as a kitchen and a water bottle filling station. “Me and my fellow RA and SLA [Spiritual Life Advisor]

A4 just kind of found out [that Eden was a sustainability house] then and there,” Duffee said. Duffee did not know the deeper renovation history behind the house, and said it is hard to tell what is left beyond the kitchen, water filler, low-pressure water system, motion-activated sinks and ability to turn off more lights than other houses. She noted that there is not enough of a difference from other first-year houses, such as DeBell, where she lived her first year, that would make her residents really feel like they are living in a sustainable house. The Discovery Students in the Sustainability program said they remember the moment when they realized Pepperdine had a larger issue regarding sustainability. “I knew in the back of my head from the very beginning,” Li said. Early on during her time at Pepperdine, Li noticed the trash cans and recycling bins were actually one conjoined bin that had no divider. Rather than being separate bins, there was one bin with two sides painted differently. Alumna Anna Benjamin (‘26), who was a Sustainability major and did not join the program until after her first year, said discovering the behind the scenes of Pepperdine sustainability led to a moment of disarray. “The first time I learned about that [Pepperdine’s lack of sustainable practices], I was definitely pretty disappointed and also kind of confused,” Benjamin said. “It’s like, how am I studying this issue at this University, but the University itself doesn’t even believe that this is real?” Beyond the discouraging moment she faced in class, Horvath felt a larger sense of defeat in connecting the two sides of sustainability at Pepperdine. “It was just disappointing to see that the part of the University that we could really connect most to, and ideally would be really excited to have a lot of students do free work, and great ideas and a lot of creativity and energy that they could have utilized,” Horvath said. “They never took the opportunity to collaborate with us, despite both students and Dr. Doran and other professors extending that relationship offer.” Malibu’s Care for Nature Beyond the Pepperdine bubble, there is something intrinsic to Malibu’s nature where residents show great concern toward climate-related issues. At least one agenda item at nearly every city council meeting concerns an environmental problem and residents often line up to make public comments. Farah Stack, environmental sustainability analyst for the City of Malibu, emphasized

August 24, 2026 | NEWS | Pepperdine Graphic Media the Malibu community’s deep care for the environment. “We are 21 miles of scenic beauty along the coast,” Stack said. “That love for our coast, that love for our beaches, that love for the water, that love for the mountains — it’s so embedded in the history and culture of Malibu and of people that have lived here for generations.” Stack said she believes it is this immersion in nature that causes residents to be passionate about protecting Malibu’s natural spaces. Having grown up in Malibu, she said caring for the environment is in the city’s DNA. Despite her office being less than a mile away from Pepperdine, Stack said the only communication she has received regarding sustainability from Pepperdine is invitations to Earth Day and Climate Calling. While she enjoyed connecting with students and hearing from Climate Calling 2025 keynote speaker Bill Weir, Pepperdine alumnus (1990) and CNN’s chief climate correspondent, there has been little outreach from Pepperdine to the City of Malibu. This is something she wishes could be improved, but she acknowledged the city’s intense focus on fire recovery for the past year. Malibu resident Julie Blunden, board member at Nextpower, formerly Nextracker Inc., which is a clean technology provider that does solar tracking, said she has seen firsthand the difference between Pepperdine and Malibu’s journey toward cleaner energy. “You may see people with solar on their roofs [in Malibu], or if you fly into LAX you might have seen solar-powered canopies over parking lots,” Blunden said. “Pepperdine could do all that if it wanted to.” Though Malibu residents are increasingly turning to cleaner energy sources, whether for disasters or everyday use, Blunden said she does not see Pepperdine as a part of this — and neither does the Malibu community. “I don’t think your average Malibu resident sees Pepperdine as a leader in the Malibu community,” Blunden said. Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) prioritizes sustainability, the district’s Sustainability Manager Austin Toyama said. Beyond complying with state and federal laws, SMMUSD also follows Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) — a collaborative that strengthens the vision for green schools across the United States. Toyama said the district adheres to CHPS “plus 25%,” meaning they go 25% above the minimum threshold to be considered CHPS-designed. Toyama said SMMUSD also educates students about sustainable practices. A com-

mon approach for this is to connect the issues to the students’ communities. “We see these impacts locally — we always tie it back to, ‘You live near the beach, who sees trash on the beach?’” Toyama said. “They all raise their hands, and then we talk about ‘This is why it’s important. Your campus is connected in the community all the way out to the beaches, the storm drain systems, the ocean health and the wildfires.’” Having studied sustainability and environmental science throughout college, Toyama said he believes education on climate issues is important regardless of students’ career aspirations. “It’s more personal [to students] when we can say, ‘This is what’s happening, this is how it affects your community,’” Toyama said. “We are trying to teach these kids to be stewards for the future, whether or not they go into an environmental or green job position, just to have that in their mind as future leaders and adults that their actions every day have consequences.” Malibu High School installed solar panels on its Administration Classroom Building, which currently powers a portion of that one building. SMMUSD is currently working on a project that will be able to power the entire middle and high school campus: a hillside solar panel installation. This project will entirely power the school through solar energy, but it will also connect to a one megawatt battery that will be able to store energy. Both Malibu and Webster Elementary already have rooftop solar installations, and Toyama said another part of the solar plan for the next few years at SMMUSD includes installing a battery at each of these schools so they can store their own energy as well. Toyama expects the project at the elementary schools to be done by mid-2027, and the middle and high school project by early 2028. Toyama was surprised at Pepperdine’s lack of sustainable initiatives and the complete absence of solar energy on campus. While he acknowledged that upfront cost is a common deterrent to solar installation, he said in a community like Malibu, the cost is worth it. “The benefits of installing solar is so much greater than any drawbacks,” Toyama said. “Especially just being situated in Malibu, in that area alone, and going through the Palisades Fire and the Franklin Fire.” Several SMMUSD schools serve as disaster shelter areas for the community to charge their phones, plug in medical machines, have access to refrigeration and more. Considering Pepperdine also opens its doors to the community in times of disaster, solar would be a way to provide energy access without the use of gas.

Further, the new solar batteries will allow Malibu High School to keep power during shutoffs, which are common in Western Malibu. In 2025, Malibu Elementary School faced 24 days without instruction due to SoCal Edison (SCE) power outages, according to The Malibu Times. “If the school’s focus is to educate students and keep students learning, that’s a main way of doing so because we’re in an area where the grid is really volatile and it shuts off,” Toyama said. Sustainability Encounters Beyond Pepperdine Despite the environment he faces at Pepperdine, Doran has found a much different community outside of Pepperdine’s campus. A few years ago, Doran was appointed as an associate director of the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, a board which is part of County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath’s office. He remembers a Pepperdine administrator briefly congratulating him before they quickly moved on to asking him to connect Pepperdine more deeply with the county office. As he has continued his work outside of Pepperdine in the Los Angeles area, he has encountered several people who shared their own past experiences with Pepperdine administrators. “There’s scientists that work in this organization, there’s policymakers, etc. and very few of them have a positive understanding of Pepperdine until they met me,” Doran said. As students from his program have graduated and moved on to careers and graduate schools in sustainability and environmental policy, Doran has received countless messages, phone calls and emails from students recounting experiences regarding their history at Pepperdine. One of Doran’s students, who attended graduate school for climate policy, had an administrator ridicule them in front of 30-40 other grad students. The administrator asked why the student went to a school that does not accept the reality of climate change. While Doran did not agree with or appreciate the administrator doing this, he believes this speaks to the greater issue at hand. Benjamin will be attending UC Santa Barbara for graduate school starting this fall, as she hopes to get a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management. She had an interview with another graduate school, which she is not attending, and she was asked what it was like to learn about climate topics at a school that essentially does not believe in climate change. This moment made Benjamin realize Pepperdine’s issues with sustainability extend beyond the Pepperdine and Malibu communities.

Similarly, Horvath began her graduate school application process this spring. As she filled out the educational experience boxes by saying she was a Sustainability major at Pepperdine, she started to feel uneasy. “It’s hard to go out postgrad with a degree in Sustainability from Pepperdine University when some people may know that Pepperdine University doesn’t even acknowledge climate change,” Horvath said. Through roughly 20 years of pushback and ignorance from Pepperdine administration, Doran said there have been times where he and his wife, Amy Doran, have talked about whether this is still the right place for him. However, getting to teach students about sustainability is one thing he has always been able to do. “No one has stopped me from creating the Sustainability program,” Doran said. “I think students kind of think that administrators get in the way of stuff like that more than they actually do — no University administrators want to be known for stopping academic work.” The Dorans also grant an annual $7,500 climate fellowship at Pepperdine that funds a student’s efforts toward educating the Seaver College community about climate change. Doran said if he could have the University implement anything related to sustainable initiatives, two things come to mind: solar arrays, which he believes is a practical option, and more sustainable food selections in dining halls on campus, which he said can be trickier but just as important. ‘A People Issue’ The Trump Administration has pulled back on all climate efforts, including solar and wind power, according to Climate Action Campaign’s “Trump’s Climate and Clean Energy Rollback Tracker.” The New York Times also reported the major regression in climate change progress in an April 9 article. Members of the Sustainability program believe climate change should be nonpartisan. Blunden said that while fighting for change in terms of climate conversations and sustainable practices can feel like a losing battle at Pepperdine, it is never worth giving up on. “In this current political climate, the opportunity to budge the current leadership at Pepperdine on this subject is close to zero, even if we had another fire this fall, even if we just had the hottest March of all time in Los Angeles, which, by the way, did just happen now,” Blunden said. “However, the opportunity is at moments of change, and it matters for there to be a communicated drumbeat of attention.”

amanda.monahan@pepperdine.edu

August 24, 2026 | NEWS | Pepperdine Graphic Media

Student Center opens at The Mountain

Photos by Griffin Pilcher | Photo Editor Reporting by Marcos Lizarraga | News Editor

Pepperdine University is embarking on a new chapter with the opening of the new Student Center on Aug. 20. Over the 20-year development of The Mountain at Mullin Park, the vision for the Student Center was to put student health and well-being front and center. “This [the Student Center] fits with the University’s overall commitment to students’ well-being and provides the benefits for mental, physical and resilient health,” said Andrew Clark, senior director of Administration, Planning, Operations and Construction. “It fits into the whole resilience theme in general.” The new three-story facility includes various state-of-the-art equipment and features scattered throughout. The first floor’s doors open up to a brand-new gym, separated into a cardio and weight lifting section. The gym, with equipment by Precor, includes over 30 cardio machines as well as selectorized machines, lifting racks and free weights. The second floor’s various workout rooms are home to spin-cycle and dance classes that offer a place for students to learn and grow in their physical health. The second floor also features a shared locker room with individual showers and changing rooms. Lastly, a 24-hour student lounge will be located on the third floor where students can study, play a game of pool or watch a movie. The third floor will also be the new home to Pepperdine’s Resilience-Informed Skills Education (RISE) Institute. As for the second half of The Mountain’s development, the 3,600-seat sports arena is set to be completed by December, with the University eyeing a Dec. 5 date for the opening event for the building.

Aug us t 24 , 2026

The Graphic

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PERSPECTIVES

THE PEPPERDINE GRAPHIC SENIOR LEADERS Managing Editor

Amanda Monahan

Currents Editor-in-Chief

Haylie Ross

Special Edition Editor

Nina Fife

News Editor Perspectives Editor Life & Arts Editor

Marcos Lizarraga Ashley Burton Alexa McGlathery

Sports Editor

Madison Chavez

Lead Designer

Christine Park

Photo Editor

Griffin Pilcher

Art Editor

Cara Tang

Copy Chief

Lila Rendel

Digital Editor

Karla Suzuki

Pixel Editor Advertising Director

Shalom Montgomery Jonathan Jimenez

THE PGM STAFF Art by Cara Tang | Art Editor

Staff Editorial: Waves stick together in Malibu Graphic Staff Editor’s Note: PGM staff members decide on the topic of a staff editorial together. The staff as a whole provides opinions and content included in this staff editorial to provide thoughts about and shed light on solutions for happenings at Pepperdine. Welcome home, Waves! We are so excited to welcome you back to Malibu. Whether you’re stepping onto campus for the first time and settling into your new home or beginning your final year and soaking in every moment before graduation, the Pepperdine community and all of us at Pepperdine Graphic Media are excited to be part of your journey. With a new school year comes a new opportunity to explore the bells and whistles our campus has to o!er. There are always possibilities to meet new people, explore the Malibu area and join on-campus clubs. With a new school year comes a fresh opportunity to discover all that Pepperdine and the surrounding Malibu community have to o!er. Meeting someone new, exploring a hidden corner of Malibu, joining an on-campus club or simply stepping outside your comfort zone is all part of the Pepperdine experience. At the heart of those experiences is the Pepperdine community — one built on connection, encouragement and a willingness to show up for one another. Through moments of

celebration and moments of challenge, this community continually prevails with resilience and a positive mindset. There is always a place to find support, extend a helping hand and remind one another of the light that can be found even during difficult seasons. As we enter this new year, we encourage you to embrace it with optimism and an open mind. Say yes to new experiences, introduce yourself to someone you haven’t met and take advantage of the community around you. Pepperdine is more than the campus we call home; it is the people who make it feel like one.

As we enter this new year, we encourage you to embrace it with optimism and an open mind. Graphic Staff

Throughout your time at Pepperdine, you will find there are di!erent ways we show up for our community. We stand together amid challenges, we ask for help and we find comfort in knowing there is always someone looking out for us. The relationship goes both ways. As much as the students show up for Pepperdine, year after year, Pepperdine makes campus upgrades in an e!ort to show up for us.

In its latest e!ort to further this mission, Pepperdine introduced The Mountain at Mullin Park, a gathering space designed to support students’ physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The Mountain will open this fall, with the Student Center opening Aug. 20, according to the Pepperdine Community website. We hope The Mountain will provide a space for students to connect with one another and grow our love for the campus. This year, Pepperdine is also making curriculum upgrades. International students will have the opportunity to enroll in the World Waves Program, which looks to “promote intercultural exchange and success at Pepperdine,” according to Pepperdine’s official website. All incoming first-years will enroll in a new course entitled Waves 100: Thriving in College — a one-unit class designed for first-years “to facilitate a successful transition to university life while building foundational competencies for academic, personal, and spiritual development,” according to Pepperdine University. As we enter the 2026-27 school year, we hope you take advantage of these resources and new courses, and more importantly, build community around them.

News Team News Staff Writer

Oliver Evans

Life & Arts Team Assistant Life & Arts Editor

Jordan Baquiran

Perspectives Team Assistant Perspectives Editor Perspectives Staff Writers

Karina Guzman Riley McGeehon Abby Samuel

Sports Team Assistant Sports Editor

Genevieve Cantu

Copy Team Perspectives Copy Editor

Caitlin Murray

Photo Team Assistant Photo Editor Staff Photographers

Olivia Schneider Guinevere Hesse Louisa McQuilling

Design Team Design Assistant

Ming Hsu

Art Team Assistant Art Editor Staff Artists

Sofia Cifuentes Mariah Mapa Ava Miller

Podcast Team Podcast Producers

Ellya Asatryan Nicolle Assumpcao

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LIFE & ARTS

New in the ‘Bu: Discover Malibu’s hidden gems Alexa McGlathery Life & Arts Editor A new school year brings new opportunities to explore beyond Pepperdine’s campus. If the weekend has become a cycle of repeating the same routine, it may be time to venture somewhere new. From recently opened destinations to hidden gems tucked away from the usual crowds, Malibu and its surrounding communities offer more than the well-known tourist favorites. “Malibu is really growing, and there is seriously so much more to do here than people think,” sophomore Andi Berger said. New Restaurants One of Malibu’s newest additions, ELA Greek Eats, brings a taste of Mediterranean cuisine to Malibu. Located just off Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), ELA Greek Eats serves a fast-casual take on traditional Greek cuisine with a menu featuring customizable bowls, falafel, fresh pita and other Mediterranean staples. The restaurant combines authentic Greek flavors with a laid-back atmosphere, offering students a new spot to grab lunch or dinner, according to the ELA Greek Eats website. For those craving something closer to the coast, Prima Cantina brings Baja-inspired Mexican cuisine to Malibu with fresh seafood, handmade tortillas and seasonal dishes.

Using locally sourced ingredients, the restaurant pairs coastal flavors with a contemporary ambience, making it a more elevated option for a night out, according to the Prima Cantina website. “This place is absolutely delicious,” restaurant guest Fred Lacerda said. “I had never been to the L.A. location and to be honest, I didn’t have super high expectations. But the restaurant blew me away and had really good fajitas.” Retail & Style Cross Creek Ranch recently welcomed a handful of new shops, including more L.A.-based fashion brands. Madhappy, a lifestyle and clothing brand, opened its Malibu location in March. The store embraces a monochromatic blue interior that reflects the brand’s relaxed, minimalist aesthetic. Known for its signature logo, Madhappy offers elevated everyday pieces ranging from matching sweat sets to casual basics and accessories, according to Business Insider. “I like the clothes a lot because they are soft and super cute,” Berger said. “I also really like Madhappy because they not only have a clothing section but matcha and a whole pantry section.” The pantry section of Madhappy refers to the café located in the middle of the store that serves coffee, matcha and other teabased drinks, according to LA Eats. Cherry Los Angeles has also made its way to the

Malibu Country Mart. The store brings a distinct Western-inspired style to Malibu, which blends vintage Americana influences with upscale streetwear. The L.A.-based clothing company offers everything from graphic tees and denim to statement pieces, according to Cherry Los Angeles. “I’m excited for all these new additions to the Country Mart,” Berger said. “I walked around the Country Mart and saw a bunch of new stores that I haven’t been into, and they looked really cute.” Hidden Gem Beaches Although Malibu has many popular beaches, there are still plenty of coastline stretches that students may have yet to explore. From hidden caves and quieter shores to some of the area’s best surf breaks, venturing farther down PCH can offer a different, almost new side to Malibu.

Malibu is really growing, and there is seriously so much more to do here than people think. Andi Berger Sophomore

About a 25-minute drive from campus, Leo Carrillo

Photo by Liam Stringer | Currents Asst. Photo Editor A display of sweatshirts hangs below Dodgers memorabilia for sale in Cherry Los Angeles. The store officially opened in Malibu on June 19, according to Cherry Los Angeles.

State Park has rocky coves and coastal caves, while also featuring one of the most popular right-hand surf breaks in Malibu, according to Surfline. Whether catching waves or exploring the shoreline, Leo Carrillo offers plenty beyond a typical beach day. “I love Leo Carrillo because of the pretty beaches and campground,” local surfer Danni Lehman said. “The campground is maybe a two-minute walk to the beach — so it’s nice being able to wake up and spend the whole day hanging out and surfing.” Leo Carrillo State Park has over a mile of scenic beach for all types of recreational activity. The beach is also pet and bike friendly on the campground and North Beach,

according to the California State Parks website. “Usually my friends and I all bring bikes and go for an evening sunset bike ride which has some of the most amazing sunsets,” Lehman said. Another spot that may fly under the radar is Nicholas Canyon Beach, commonly known among surfers as Zeros or Point Zero, according to the Department of Beaches & Harbors. Nicholas Canyon is home to one of the few remaining point breaks in L.A. County, which means the waves break along a rocky point or headland, creating consistent waves, according to Degree 33 Surfboards. Beyond surfing, the beach offers opportunities for body surfing, bodyboarding, swimming, windsurfing and scuba diving. During the summer months, there is a lifeguard on hand and even sometimes a food truck during peak hours, according to the California Beaches website. Nicholas Canyon also has picnic tables, restrooms and plenty of space to spend the day away from Malibu’s busier stretches of sand.

Photo by Griffin Pilcher | Photo Editor A mural hangs outside of Prima Cantina, a new restaurant located off PCH. The restaurant offers “Fiesta Hours” from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on weekdays that offers 50% off selected menu items, according to the Prima Cantina website.

alexa.mcglathery@pepperdine.edu

August 24, 2026 | LIFE & ARTS | Pepperdine Graphic Media

First-years set their sights on new experiences Jordan Baquiran Assistant Life & Arts Editor The Pepperdine Class of 2030 moved in Aug. 17 and 18 to kick off New Student Orientation (NSO), which takes place a week prior to the academic school year and is designed to ensure a successful transition into college, according to Pepperdine’s website. NSO begins a period of experiencing what college life is like, meeting new people and joining on-campus extracurriculars. This transition of moving away from home and into an unfamiliar environment may be stressful yet exciting for students. “[I’m excited to] just meet people and I think everyone else is in my position too,” first-year Anna Claire Cokins said. “I want to make a bunch of friends and find familiar faces.”

I’m a little nervous because I don’t know literally anyone, but I’m more excited than nervous over anything. Anna Claire Cokins First-year

Bucket List for the Year Students may find that starting a new chapter of life at a new school can be exciting — new shops to explore, a new culture to be part of and so many places to experience nature. First-year Marnee Richardson said she wants to get involved in extracurricular programs. “I’m waiting until I see the clubs [at Waves Expo] so I can narrow it down to maybe three or four,” Richardson said. “Definitely Greek life and maybe the Outdoor Recreation trips.” Waves Expo is an annual NSO event that takes place on Alumni Park. First-years and their families can meet Malibu’s local churches, the University departments and student-led organizations, according to the NSO Fall 2026 Schedule. First-year Spencer Reed said he hopes to get involved in intramural basketball, which meets once a week in the spring semester for a traditional 5-on-5

Photo courtesy of Spencer Reed First-year Spencer Reed (middle) and his parents help him move into his dorm Aug. 18. New Student Orientation (NSO) events like New Student Sunrise, Frosh Follies and Waves Expo have historically been a staple in the first-year experience.

play, according to Campus Recreation. During her first year, Cokins said she wants to learn how to “actually” surf. Being from Austin, Texas, she said she only knows how to wake surf, but the surf classes offered at Pepperdine might help her learn. Cokins also said she will come to a final decision regarding which International Program she wants to apply to, as she’s deciding between Florence, Italy or Kyoto. “Japan would be so fun because it’s so inspiring there,” Cokins said. “But Italy is Italy and it’s right in the center of Europe.” A Year of Firsts For first-years, the transition to college can mean building a new community from the ground up, Cokins said. “I’m a little nervous because I don’t know literally anyone,” Cokins said. “But I’m more excited than nervous over anything.” Cokins said she also wants to participate in a recreational activity on campus or join a club she would not normally join to get out of her comfort zone. “I’m big in my faith, so I’d like to join a small group for that,” Cokins said. “I’m really excited about that because I recently am getting into my personal faith.” Richardson said she is most looking forward to the “Meeting with Divisions and Majors” NSO event, where incoming students can connect with their peers, professors and division staff, according to the NSO Fall 2026 Schedule. She said she feels excited, hopeful and curious about this year. “I get to take some communication classes this year like ‘Storytelling Through Media,’ so I’m interested to see what that will be like,” Richardson said.

Looking Into the Future By the time she graduates, Cokins said she wants to advocate for Pepperdine to recognize and qualify American Sign Language (ASL) as a language that fulfills the General Education language requirement. Currently, ASL is not a course that fulfills the language requirement because it is viewed as “second language acquisition,” according to Pepperdine. “I took sign language for three years in high school, and I loved it,” Cokins said. “A big thing I want to do is try and get them to at least accept it by the time I graduate.” Richardson said she wants to make use of the Seaver College Career Center.

I’m excited to take specialized classes for the major I’m going into instead of just general study courses.

Photo courtesy of Marnee Richardson (From left to right) First-years Marnee Richardson, Alexis McCoy, Grace Ingram and Katharine Rotramel celebrate the start of NSO on Aug. 18. Richardson said she wants to learn how to surf now that she lives in Malibu.

Marnee Richardson First-year “[In the future,] I’ll be glad that I explored lots of opportunities and put myself out there to meet lots of people,” Richardson said. Reed said he wants to pursue investment banking and strives to take advantage of Pepperdine’s resources to set himself up for a stable career. “[I want to] just get to know as many people as possible and open up my horizons,” Reed said.

jordanisabel.baquiran@pepperdine.edu

Photo courtesy of Anna Claire Cokins First-years Anna Claire Cokins (left) and Kate Medin (right) pose on Lower Dorm Road on Aug. 19. Cokins said she plans to push herself to be more social during NSO week.

August 24, 2026 | SPORTS | Pepperdine Graphic Media

Women’s Indoor Volleyball hits the court for 2026 season Genevieve Cantu fill the roles left behind by sevAssistant Sports Editor eral key playmakers from the The Pepperdine Women’s Indoor Volleyball team returned to Firestone Fieldhouse on July 30 for preseason training, officially beginning preparations for the 2026 season. While the Waves welcome a new roster and fresh faces, last season’s outcome continues to shape the team’s mindset. For the past two seasons, the Waves finished second in the West Coast Conference (WCC), including a tie with the University of San Diego in 2024, and continue to rank second in the WCC 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll. With these consecutive outcomes, the team is entering preseason focused on turning resilience into results and preparing to thrive in every challenge they face, Head Coach Scott Wong said. “We’re hungry,” Wong said. “We’ve done the work over the summer, we’ve done the work over the spring and now we’re ready to grow in our ability from being good to becoming elite.” To help reach that goal, the Waves welcomed seven freshmen — the largest recruiting class brought in by this coaching staff, Wong said. As preseason training continues, the freshmen class has embraced the opportunity to

previous season. Their willingness to learn and compete is already making an impact on the court, junior outside hitter Chloe Pravednikov said. “There are many roles that need to be filled,” Pravednikov said. “But the freshmen came in wanting to work and were willing to adapt. They’ve been very coachable, and this preseason we have been focused on bonding and getting closer together, so it’s already reflecting on the court.” As the newcomers settle into the program, returning players are embracing expanded responsibilities to become mentors the new class can rely on. Pravednikov and sophomore setter Tristen Raymond are key players stepping into those leadership roles, with their names listed on the WCC 2026 Preseason Team after having standout 2025 seasons. Pravednikov enters her junior year after leading the Waves with 339 kills while starting all 29 matches and playing every set in 2025. She earned All-WCC First Team and WCC All-Academic Team honors, establishing herself as one of the Waves’ top performers both on and off the court, according to Pepperdine Athletics. “Being a junior, I realize how important it is to have upperclassmen guiding you

Photos by Amelie Sears | Staff Photographer Junior outside hitter Chloe Pravednikov helps assist the dual block for the Waves against Santa Clara with sophomore setter Tristen Raymond ready to support the dig behind her at Firestone Fieldhouse on Nov. 15. Raymond led the team with 30 assists in the match.

and setting examples and standards on and off the court,” Pravednikov said. “So, I want to be that person that sets a good example and brings the team together.”

We’re ready to grow in our ability from being good to becoming elite. Scott Wong Women’s Indoor Volleyball Head Coach

Junior outside hitter Chloe Pravednikov (No. 3) walks away from the play to regroup with her teammates against Santa Clara on Nov. 15 at Firestone Fieldhouse. Pravednikov led the team with 13 kills in the match.

Wong said Pravednikov has been one of the team’s most focused and unstoppable players since returning for preseason. “I don’t know if there’s somebody that’s returning to our conference that can impact it more than she can,” Wong said. “She has all the tools and a great mindset, and I’m excited to see her continue to grow in pursuit of excellence.” Like Pravednikov, Raymond set a large example in her first year with the team during the 2025 season. The setter started every match and set, recording a team-high 753 assists while earning WCC Freshman of the Week, All-WCC First Team, WCC All-Freshman Team and a pair of WCC Setter of the Week honors throughout the season, according to Pepperdine Athletics. Now entering her sophomore year, Wong said Raymond is expected to take on an even greater leadership role, with hopes that she will run the Waves’ offense and lead the charge. Raymond said she is ready and willing to do just that. “This season, I’m hoping to be the best person I can be as a teammate and a leader,” Raymond said. With experienced leaders returning and a talented freshmen class joining the program, the Waves have their sights set on winning the conference and qualifying for the NCAA tournament, aiming to advance further than in previous years. But, those goals begin with the work the team puts in during preseason. “Having such a strong preseason will show us how to be tough and work through challenges because no match goes super smoothly,” Pravednikov said. “Being able to fight back from close scores or coming back after being down will

help us in season to be a stronger, grittier team.” As the Waves enter their second week of preseason, the team’s focus remains on daily improvement and taking each match one at a time with a winning mindset. While the schedule ahead is demanding, Wong said that’s exactly how the coaching staff designed it. “We have a tough schedule because we want to be tested and tugged on to see where our weaknesses are, but also to see the level of our girls rising to the occasion and being resilient,” Wong said. “It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be tough and challenging, but we’re excited about the road ahead.” Before officially opening the 2026 season against Villanova University on Aug. 28 at Firestone Fieldhouse, the Waves hosted the University of California, Los Angeles on Aug. 15 in their first exhibition match, securing a 3-2 win. The Waves defeated the Bruins 3-1 in last year’s battle, but both teams enter this season with new rosters and a fresh slate. For the Waves, the exhibition was less about the opponent and more about putting months of work from the spring and summer into action. Wong said the match served as the first opportunity to establish the identity and culture the team hopes will define the rest of the season. “As long as we go in with our game, we’re not worried about who’s on the other side of the net,” Raymond said.

genevieve.cantu@pepperdine.edu

August 24, 2026 | SPORTS | Pepperdine Graphic Media

Photos courtesy of Byungho Lee Junior Byungho Lee stands with his trophy from the PNGA Men’s Amateur Championship at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Wash.

One summer, two championships: Byungho Lee has breakthrough year

Alexa McGlathery Life & Arts Editor Winning one prestigious amateur golf championship is an accomplishment. Winning two in the span of a month is a statement. Byungho Lee, Pepperdine Men’s Golf junior, did exactly that, capturing the 117th Texas Amateur Championship in June before defeating the twotime defending champion to win the 124th Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) Men’s Amateur Championship on July 11. The back-to-back victories elevated Lee to No. 387 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. “It was surreal,” Lee said. “It felt really, really good to win another tournament right after winning the first.” From Setback to Success Before becoming one of the nation’s fastest-rising amateur golfers, Lee said he faced one of the most difficult seasons of his golf career thus far. Born in South Korea, Lee competed as a member of the Korean National Team before moving to Texas, where he quickly established himself as one of the country’s top junior golfers. He entered college as the No. 1 recruit in Texas and the No. 3 overall recruit in the nation for the Class of 2024, according to

Pepperdine Athletics. Even with the high rankings, Lee said his transition to collegiate golf at Pepperdine was anything but smooth. “I had one of the worst seasons ever,” Lee said. “I was at a point where I wanted to quit, but I went to the golf course every day and stayed until I figured everything out.” Rather than letting disappointment define him, Lee said he used it as motivation. “Byungho’s drive started after he missed a tournament in Florida,” said Michael Beard, head coach for Pepperdine’s Men’s Golf. Months of relentless work transformed one of the most challenging periods of Lee’s career into a breakout sophomore campaign. The Championship Wins After opening the Texas Amateur Tournament with consistent rounds of 69, 68 and 69, Lee said he entered the final day tied for the lead. Lee delivered when the pressure was highest, carding a tournament-best 6-under-par 66. Fueled by an eagle on the 11th hole and a birdie on the 12th, Lee pulled away from the field to finish at 12 under par and claim a two-stroke victory, according to the Texas Golf Association. Lee was only one of two golfers to finish in double dig-

its under par on the demanding course, according to the Texas Golf Association. Just weeks later, Lee proved the victory was no fluke. At PNGA Championship, Lee battled through a tightly contested, 36-hole championship match that featured multiple lead changes, according to PNGA. After the match was tied through the morning round, Lee surged late with clutch birdies on the back nine and held off his opponent to secure the title with one hole remaining, according to PNGA. The victories reflected more than just Lee’s talent — they showcased the composure and maturity that Beard said sets him apart. “Having Byungho win elevates the program even further,” Beard said. “It’s a message to the rest of the team.” Beard said Lee’s steady demeanor is one of the biggest reasons for his success. “One thing that maybe everyone would say after watching Byungho and being around him is that he has a great presence about himself,” Beard said. “He takes things in stride. He doesn’t get too emotional.” Looking Ahead Fresh off Pepperdine’s 2026 West Coast Conference (WCC) championship in May, Lee said his focus has already

Junior Byungho Lee hugs his mom after winning the PNGA Men’s Amateur Championship on July 11 at Palouse Ridge Golf Club. Lee said his parents have been a huge support in his golf career. shifted to the season ahead. While his individual accomplishments have earned national recognition, Lee said his ultimate goal is to help the Waves return to the WCC Championship and compete for another conference title. “Shoutout to my teammates,” Lee said. “I love them. I would do everything I can to help us go to the national championships again.” Beard said the future is bright for Pepperdine Men’s Golf. With Lee returning alongside a talented roster, the program is poised to build on their recent success and contend at the highest level.

“For next year, we’re going to have one of the most competitive teams we’ve had in the past handful of years,” Beard said.

alexa.mcglathery@pepperdine.edu

Aug us t 24 , 2026

The Graphic

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Women’s Soccer rises to 2026 season Nina Fife Special Edition Editor The tide is rising at Tari Frahm Rokus Field — and the Waves are rising with it. This year’s Pepperdine Women’s Soccer team is building off the victories of their past seasons, and they have all the pieces to pave their own path to similar success. After winning back-toback West Coast Conference (WCC) championships and clinching NCAA Tournament berths in both 2024 and 2025, the Waves are looking to keep climbing the competition ladder. “All things are possible with this group,” Head Coach Tim Ward said. “We’re young, talented and hungry. I’m really proud of the girls’ work so far, but we’ve got a long way to go.” Following the 2025 championship season, Pepperdine lost eight graduating players —

one of whom went on to sign a professional contract with the NWSL’s San Diego Wave FC. With the loss of many veteran Waves, three seniors are stepping up as core leaders this season. Defender Peyton Leonard, midfielder Kyra Murphy and forward Julia Quinonez make up this year’s senior class. The trio may be small in number, but they bring loads of experience, strength and consistency to the program — proven through their selection to the WCC Preseason All-Conference team. “You’re not going to be the same as any other leader, but we are taking what we’ve learned from our three years here and playing the role that the team needs us to be,” Quinonez said. “Every year we’ve been here, there’s always been a great group of girls to look up to. I just want to be that leader that people were to me.” The senior trio aren’t the

only returners that will make an impact on the field. Ward said his junior class will see a lot of minutes on the pitch, proving to be dangerous against all opponents. “That junior class has done a remarkable job of rising up,” Ward said. “Those women have been the unsung heroes of our program the last few years because they would probably not play the minutes they wanted, but they’re hungry. They are hungry for more, and so far, they’re doing a wonderful job.” The defensive side will be one of the strongest areas for Pepperdine this year. Leonard is entering her senior year as the No. 60-ranked player in the nation as well as being named to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy watch list — the top individual honor in collegiate soccer, according to Pepperdine Athletics. Leonard will help lead a talented

backl i n e supported by juniors Chloe Brown and Lily Stewart, with junior goalkeeper Jillian Medvecky holding things down in the net. In the midfield, Murphy will be joined by junior Alex Pendleton and a trio of redshirt sophomores with Sarah Spears, Victoria Alessandrini and Ava Schall. Junior Ariana Salvador will also support the midfield, slotting in as a forward to be a threat on offense too. As the Waves dive into the 2026 season, the expectations are high. Coming in as reigning two-time WCC champs, this team knows what they need to do to achieve the success they’re hunting for. “The goal is to try to threepeat — no team in Pepperdine history has ever done it,” Ward said. “It’s not an easy thing to

do, but that’s a stated goal — it’s just understood. We try to focus on the process and what we are doing every day to get a little bit better.” These returners have a strong group of newcomers that join the Waves with the same hungry mindset, Ward said. The veterans are learning how to play with these young players, while also teaching them the recipe for success. “Our leadership at the top, one of the strengths would have to be that they’ve been there before as back-to-back WCC champions, and they know the difference between good and great,” Ward said. “The margins are thin; they’re small.

To get it done requires focus, concentration and not taking your eye off the ball. You can’t fall asleep at the wheel at all.” As part of the freshmen class, midfielders Fiona McCormick, Sahaana Potti and goalkeeper Addi Bartell all join Pepperdine’s squad from the same De Anza Force club team in Northern California. McCormick was ranked the No. 71 player in the nation for the class of 2026, according to Pepperdine Athletics. “Three incredibly strong players, personalities, quality human beings and quality soccer players,” Ward said. Emjae Soriano is another young Wave that will look to make an impact on the field.

Coming from a highly competitive San Diego Surf club team, Soriano will play as both a defender and forward. Erin Ha is another freshman defender coming from Slammers HB Køge, one of the best clubs in the country, Ward said. “These girls have these pedigrees where they’ve had experience competing at the highest level and on the biggest stages,” Ward said. On the offensive side of things, Quinonez will team up with freshmen Kate Ryan, Eva Awoyinka and Sam Hosford. With these young Waves being able to play all positions, Ward said the class of 2030 is a remarkable one. “There’s not a single freshman that can’t contribute in a significant way in the present and future of this team,” Ward said. “ I always say seasons come down to

win over University of California, Berkeley. “Our schedule is designed to test our girls at the highest level,” Ward said. “Especially in our non-conference section, we schedule those teams because we feel like they’re going to be NCAA tournament teams, most of them if not all of them. The hope is to obviously get a great result, but nonetheless, we’re going to get better by playing this soccer game.” Even with a strong start, Leonard and Quinonez are rooting their game in the program’s values. Rather than expecting winning results, the captains are expecting their team to leave everything they have out on the field. “Obviously winning is the goal, but it’s not our purpose,” Leonard and Quinonez said. “How we do anything is how

games, and games come down to moments, and moments come down to character and preparation. We spend the majority of our time recruiting women of character, developing women of character and preparing the best we can so that when our moment arrives, we are ready for it.” Above all, Ward said the team’s greatest strength is their depth. “Our motivation, our grit, our energy on and off the field has really helped play a big role into this culture,” Leonard said. “This is a great group of girls. We have the same motivation, the same goal and that we ultimately want to reach at the end.” Pepperdine has already seen success in their first games of the season. Off to a 2-0-1 start, the Waves picked up a 3-1 win over Colgate University, fought hard in a 1-1 tie against the University of Southern California Trojans and most recently secured a tough 1-0

we do everything.” As the Waves take the field, they are starting a new tradition within their program. Inspired by the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the players will line up to sing U2’s “Street of Dreams” after any result the team is content with, Ward said. “When players honor their fans, it’s really a beautiful thing because we cannot do it without our fans,” Ward said. “It’s really important to me, and more importantly, it’s important to the program. It’s a song of hope, and it’s a song that brings people together. That’s why we want people to sing it with us.” Fans wanting to join in on the new tradition will have to wait two weeks before the Waves come back to the ‘Bu. Pepperdine Women’s Soccer will be on the road before returning home Sept. 13 to host the University of Arizona.

nina.fife@pepperdine.edu