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.

FPU Athletics hosted the annual Sunbird Athletics Awards, where the year's accomplishments were honored through awards presented to athletes, a highlight video and a message from guest speaker and YouTube sensation, Jeff Bethke. To learn how you can support Sunbird Athletics, visit fpuathletics.com.

Graduates of the Career Achievement Program were invited to an annual Networking Luncheon April 9, hosted by the Career Services Center. Attendees met with employers from the Fresno area, including The Fresno Bee, Youth for Christ, the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, Wealth Financial Group and many others. To find out more about FPU's Career Services office, visit the website at fresno.edu/careerservices.

The Fellows Society of the Center for Community Transformation held its inaugural luncheon on April 11 as an opportunity for members to get to know each other. Other prominent members of the FPU community were present, including FPU President Pete Menjares, Ph.D., who gave a dedicatory prayer. To find out more about the organization, visit transformcentralvalley.org/fellows.

Barry McGuire, a pioneer of Christian music from the 1970s, visited Hiebert Library on April 4 as part of the Unquiet Library series. FPU staff member and long-time friend of McGuire Mark Royce spoke briefly about McGuire before the singer shared about his career and testimony and sang a few songs. To find out more about Hiebert Library and its programs, including the Unquiet Library, visit fresno.edu/library.

Students traveled to Europe in February and March, where they had the opportunity not only to be tourists, but to experience a L'arche community for those with intellectual disabilities.

By Christopher Christwell

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.