FPU celebrated a year, and some careers, during the Faculty-Staff Appreciation Luncheon.

The annual event was May 9 in Shehadey Dining Room on the main campus. Among the highlights was the presentation of President’s Distinguished Service Awards. Registrar Linda Pryce-Sheehan, Ed.D., received the award for administration and Zachary Durlam, D.M.A., director of choral activities for faculty. Staff awards went to MaryJo Burchard, assistant director, School of Education graduate programs, Visalia Center, and Jonathan Maher, director of systems analysis.

Commencement usually takes a backseat to athletics when it comes to statistics, but several records were set May 4.

• 7,000 family, friends and loved ones in the audience at the two ceremonies
• 7,500 bottles of water distributed by FPU staff
• 5,000 complimentary paper fans waving in California’s Central Valley sun

And, most important:

Members of the university Alpha Chi chapter earned individual and group honors at the academic honor society’s national convention.

More than 500 new Sunbirds will take flight into the Valley spring when FPU hosts commencement.

The May 4 ceremonies will be at 10:00 a.m. for 184 traditional undergraduate and 117graduate students, including 20 from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary. Ceremonies for the 227 bachelor’s degree completion students will be at 6:00 p.m.

A new book from a well-known author was celebrated April 16.

Administrators, faculty and staff enjoyed ice cream topped with accomplishment at the WASC celebration.

President Pete C. Menjares, Ph.D., was among those scooping out the goodies during the April 8 event in Shehadey Dining Hall. Polo shirts were also given out to the many from departments across campus who helped prepare for the visit. Stephen Varvis, Ph.D., provost, and Linda Pryce Sheehan, Ed.D., associate dean for accreditation and registrar, led the effort.

Another year of doing good and having a good time took place April 5-6 on the main FPU campus.

The 46th West Coast Mennonite Sale & Auction for World Relief raised more than $200,000 for the international relief work of Mennonite Central Committee. The multidenominational agency works “In the name of Christ” in more than 50 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Canada and the United States.

A special feature of this year’s sale was a car auction. Other activities included:

Discussions of local and national issues and honoring supporters were on the agenda of the 2013 Sunbird Conservatives conference.

The event took place March 23, 2013, on the main FPU campus. National and local presenters presented a historical and intellectual what the conservative view of the American Way is. Speakers included: 

* Mychal Massie (keynote) is the former national chairman of Project 21—The National Leadership Network of Black Conservatives and its parent think tank, the National Center for Public Policy Research. 

Discussions of local and national issues and honoring supporters were on the agenda of the 2013 Sunbird Conservatives conference.

The event took place March 23, 2013, on the main FPU campus. National and local presenters presented a historical and intellectual view of conservatism. Speakers included: 

* Mychal Massie (keynote) is the former national chairman of Project 21—The National Leadership Network of Black Conservatives and its parent organization, the National Center for Public Policy Research. 

* Ashley Swearengin, mayor of Fresno.

The Rebecca Fountain has watched over FPU for more than 30 years. This spring she got a new look.

Since 1979 Rebecca, the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau, has greeted visitors from her spot between Sattler Hall and Marpeck Center. The fountain was the gift of the Dietrich Friesen family to honor Dietrich’s 27 years on the music faculty (1952-1979), including 15 years as head of the department.