Fresno Pacific staff and faculty and their families enjoyed food, fun and games at the Fiesta Celebration during the women's and men's basketball games January 19. Look for more staff and faculty appreciation nights throughout the semester in collaboration with other events.

The FPU health services office, The Nest, run by Campus Nurse, Amy Berger, promotes student health and wellness through a variety of services from flu shots to emotional and mental care. Stop by The Nest in Schlicting 117 to get your flu shot and to meet Amy.

Robert Smith, Jr., took the mic in College Hour guest January 18—but he didn’t need it.

Smith is professor of divinity and Christian preaching at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. He does research on passion in preaching, and put that passion into practice for students, faculty and staff in the Special Events Center.

Fresno Pacific forward Paul Islas will fulfill a lifelong dream of playing in the MLS.

By Brandon Tripp, assistant director of sports information

The Fresno native was drafted in the first round with the 19th pick of the MLS Supplemental Draft by Chivas USA. In Fresno Pacific's first year in NCAA Division II Islas was the first player from DII to be drafted in 2013.

Giving new teachers a head start is the goal of a new master’s degree program.
 

Transfer Connection, a group for transfer students, has begun a video series by Marcus Buckingham called “Trombone Player Wanted.” This five-week series encourages students to grow in their strengths and better their weaknesses. The group began meeting on January 14 and will continue throughout the semester. Transfer Connection meets in North Hall Chapel from 10-10:50 a.m.

The residence life team began a semester of student activities January 11 with the first Weekends at FPU. Open Gym in the Special Events Center provided residents with late-night pizza and recreation. To find out more about upcoming Weekends at FPU, join the Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/WeekendsatFPU.

To teach Fresno Pacific students about discipleship, The Well Community Church is offering a five-week teaching series in Ashley Auditorium on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.. The series began January 10 and continues through February 7. For more information, visit the Student Life Office in Steinert Campus Center.

The Provost's Convocation was a special College Hour January 9 in the Special Events Center. President Pete C. Menjares spoke about understanding God's calling in your life and Ruth Dahlquist, assistant professor of biology; Karen Croizer, assistant professor of practical theology; and Kevin Reimer, dean of the School of Humanities, Religion and Social Sciences, shared how God called them to their field of study. If you missed the Provost's Convocation, you can view it and other College Hour events at fresno.edu/osfstream.

The employment outlook is good for those enrolling in teacher education programs in general—and FPU students in particular.

“You have a supply and demand picture that’s very promising,” said Linda Hoff, Ph.D., professor of education and director of teacher education at Fresno Pacific University.