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:

Walter Saul, D.M.A., released a CD of original compositions titled Walter Saul: Sonatas and Meditations for Piano. The recording will be released by Enharmonic Records in the summer of 2013. Compositions include “Sonata #5 for Piano,” “On the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus,” “Sonata #2 for Piano, “Palingenesia,” “Sonata #1 for Piano,” “For God Alone My Soul Waits in Silence” and Sonata #4 For Piano.” A CD release event is planned for January 2014 as part of the Pacific Artist Series.

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.

Our best and brightest were on display at “Transforming Lives—Stories of FPU.”

FPU welcomed some old friends back to the Teacher Education Job Fair.

Some 29 districts were represented at the event, which took place March 19 in the Special Events Center on the main FPU campus. Among those new graduates and alumni interviewed with were Parlier, Exeter and others that haven’t been represented for a few years.

John M. Perkins loves the young people—and has a job for them.

“This is the first generation that values difference; that sees it as an asset,” Perkins told students, faculty and staff at College Hour chapel March 15 in the Special Events Center.

Student musicians blossom during spring concerts. 

Admission to all concerts is free unless otherwise noted. For more information, telephone 559-453-2267, email music@fresno.edu or click fresno.edu/thearts

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, Brass and Woodwind Ensembles. Conductors Wayne Huber (brass) and Patricia DeBenedetto (woodwind). Butler Church, 4884 E. Butler Ave., Fresno.

A Congolese politician with Mennonite Brethren ties visited FPU.

Lumeya Dhu Maleghi, a member of the legislature of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, spoke February 12 on the main Fresno Pacific University campus. He had earlier represented the D.R.C. at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., February 2-6.

Several members of the FPU music faculty were mentioned in a Fresno Bee article on the local chamber music scene.

“Chamber music charms with its intimacy,” by Donald Munro, was published February 17, 2013, on the front page of the Spotlight section. Those listed included:

We’re all works in progress, no matter where we come from or where we are today.