A Gates Foundation scholarship winner will be part of the 2012-2013 FPU freshman class.

Alexandria Longoria, a Hanford High School senior, is among 1,000 students nationwide to receive a Gates Millennium Scholarship. The grants, underwritten by billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates and wife Melinda, offer up to $20,000 per year for education as long as each student remains in school.

Fresno Pacific University has been included in the top 100 institutions for Hispanics by The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine.

Colleges and universities across the United States are ranked by degrees awarded to students from a Hispanic background earning bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Rankings are based on information from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

The desire to tell people what it means to fully experience God’s grace and the freedom of the Gospel led to a book by a professor and student.

Mark D. Baker, Ph. D., associate professor of mission and theology at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, and his student, Kefalew Dinsa Eticha (seminary ’06) wrote Freedom Gospel (Addis Ababa: Baranna, 2011). The book is Baker’s and Eticha’s adaptation of Religious No More: Building Communitites of Grace and Freedom (InterVarsity Press, 1999), which Baker published based on his doctoral dissertation.

The many faces that make up FPU were recognized at the Night of Cultural Celebration May 4 in Ashley Auditorium on the main campus.

The2012 Faculty-Staff Appreciation Luncheon took place May 8 in Shehadey Dining Room on the FPU main campus.

Among the honorees were:

30 years of service
Anne Guenther, associate director, Hiebert Library;
Beverly Kopper, director of advancement services

25 years of service
Theron Esau, electrician/utilities technician;
Michael Kunz, professor of biology;
Bobbi Mason, professor of education;
Edith Thiessen, credential analyst;
Dave Youngs, professor of mathematics education

Saying Good-bye after nearly half a century isn’t an easy matter. It takes a lot of friends.

For Richard Unruh, 1967 graduate and political science professor since 1968, farewells—official and unofficial—were many and heartfelt. Faculty from the School of Humanities, Religion and Social Sciences surprised Unruh during his last class session April 26. Alumni and current students were invited to a reception May 3 in BC Lounge. Social sciences faculty and retirees hosted a meal May 9. Faculty and staff universitywide honored Unruh May 10 in Shehadey Dining Hall.

During finals week every spring, Student Life hosts the End of the Year BBQ. On May 1 students had a chance to take a break from studying for an evening of relaxation on the main campus University Green. Inflatable games, snow cones and cotton candy were among the treats, and a photo booth was constantly full of friends creating memories. Six lucky students walked away with $100 gift cards to Disneyland.

A new feature at FPU’s commencement May 5 was recognizing those who attended 50 years ago as Golden Alumni.

All members of the Pacific College classes of 1960-1962 had their names listed in the commencement program. Golden Alumni were also invited to a luncheon in Ashley Auditorium in McDonald Hall after the morning graduation ceremony and received commemorative sashes. Pictured from left are: Carol (Becker AA ‘62) Friesen, Ken (AA ’62) Becker, Arthur Wiebe (president from 1960-1975) and Marilyn (Enns AA ‘62) Pittman.

Adult students face challenges as they return to school to complete their bachelor’s degree: family, work, sometimes health and personal issues. Romelia “Romie” Gonzalez has endured challenges enough for all 280 of her degree completion classmates.

D. Merrill Ewert told the 2012 graduates what he has told every Fresno Pacific University graduating class for a decade: “Commencement is my favorite day of the year!”

 

What’s significant about Ewert’s May 5 announcement is that this favorite day was his last as a college professor, administrator and president. Ewert, who became FPU president in June 2002 after a career at Wheaton College, the University of Maryland and Cornell University, will retire July 31, 2012. Pete Menjares, a faculty member and administrator at Biola University, will be 11th president.