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.

Darren Duerksen, Ph.D., assistant professor of intercultural studies, published “Ecclesial Identities of Socioreligious “Insiders”: A Case Study of Fellowships among Hindu and Sikh Communities” in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research. See the article at internationalbulletin.org/archive/all/2013/4

FPU students had the chance to showcase their diverse talents in the Special Events Center for FPU's Got Talent. The March 19 event featured a variety of performances, including the evening's winner The Broke Orchestra, which won $300. To find out more about future FPU events, visit facebook.com/fpustudentactivities.

Cory Seibel, Ph.D., associate director of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT), speaks about the impact the Fellows Society will have upon the CCT and its goal to bring together the community together and create new opportunities throughout the Central Valley. To find out more about the Fellows Society and how to become a member, visit their website transformcentralvalley.org/fellows.

A member of the FPU Board of Trustees was elected mayor of Clovis.

Clovis City Council members elected Lynne Ashbeck as mayor at their meeting March 11, 2013.

Nathan Magsig was chosen mayor pro tem. Ashbeck, who succeeds Jose Flores, served as mayor pro tem the past two years.

City Council members select a mayor and a mayor pro tem for two-year terms every two years after each election.

Ashbeck and Magsig were up for election on the five-member council but had no challengers. They were appointed for four more years.

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