More than 400 students grades four and up will present exhibits, displays, performances, documentaries, websites and historical papers as part of Fresno County History Day, Saturday, March 19, at the FPU main campus.
 

The Fresno Grizzlies will host the Sunbirds in an exhibition baseball game April 5 at 7:05 p.m. in Chukchansi Park in downtown Fresno.

But there’s more than just great baseball: In honor of this first match-up, the Grizzlies will donate $500 to FPU for every full-season seat sold to the Cru Club until opening day March 31 and 25 percent of the profits from any of the various Cru Club plans sold--and continue to donate that amount each year those seats are renewed. The FPU Foundation will also be the beneficiary of a 2011 Grizzlies jersey auction.

California Zeta, FPU’s Alpha Chi chapter, has again been named a Star Chapter by the national honor society. This is the fifth annual award since 2006-2007.

Only 37 of Alpha Chi’s 300 chapters nationally received the designation. Star chapters are those that:

* Have a faculty sponsor and a student member at the annual national or regional convention

* Have a student presenter on the convention program

* Have a national scholarship or fellowship nominee

* Sponsor a campus program with an academic emphasis

* Register new members

Friends, family and colleagues of Seminary President Emeritus Henry J. Schmidt gathered February 24 to dedicate a tulip tree and two rosebushes planted in honor of him and his wife, Elvera, when he retired as seminary president.

About a dozen students immersed themselves in biblical Hebrew during a weekend retreat at Casa Pacifica February 19-20. 

Making solid relationships and adapting to change can make or break ministry, the pastor of a church of 8,000 told more than 400 pastors, lay leaders and parachurch staff during Fresno Pacific University’s 2011 Central Valley Ministry Forum.

Larry Osborne, senior pastor at North Coast Church, Vista, California, was the speaker at the February 17 event in the Special Events Center on the main FPU campus. His title was “Ministry in a Hyperchange World: Staying Focused When Everything is a Blur.”

Marcus P. Johnson has been named 2011 National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators. Johnson is superintendent of the Sanger Unified School District in Fresno County.

Johnson earned his master’s degree at FPU in 1984 and his preliminary credential administrative services credential 1990. He is also a graduate of Reedley College and California State University, Fresno.

The decision was announced February 17 at the national AASA conference in Denver. Johnson was one of four finalists among 49 state winners.

Dr. Henry J. Schmidt, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary President Emeritus, formerly Professor of Evangelism and Mission, 1976-2003 and President, 1993-2003, passed away peacefully Tuesday evening February 8 at about 11 p.m. in Reedley, CA. 

Super Bowl commercial fans who checked out the Brandbowl competition for the best ad during the game may have caught a familiar sight. Those who clicked on Salesforce ads for its Chatter product saw the university logo and a testimonial from Jonathan Maher, FPU institutional research data analyst.

Fresno Pacific’s growing reputation is leading to a new center in Merced.

The university began bachelor’s degree completion classes in Merced in the 1990s. Three years ago FPU began considering another center, to join those in North Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield, and satellite programs in Hanford and Lemoore.