In this issue…

• Current News
• Family Updates
• Personnel Updates

Current News

CBU ROTC cadets honored at Inland Empire award ceremony

Cadets from the California Baptist University ROTC received recognition at the Golden Lions Battalion (GLB) awards on April 26, including two honored with the Superior Cadet Award (SCA).

Military Science students Michael Doss (’17) and Sheraya Bentick (’18) were awarded the military science II and III SCA awards, respectively. The awards were given on behalf of GLB, which is comprised of 15 universities and colleges in the Inland Empire that can have up to 280 students participating in ROTC during the year. The awards reflect the top cadets in their respective ROTC units.

Additional CBU awards included Shannon Garcia, winning The Daughters of the American Revolution award and Caleb Fink, landing the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the Unites States award. Both of these awards are given to a recipient in the respective category that demonstrates a record of military and scholastic achievement.

“I’m proud of the quality of cadets we have at CBU,” said Capt. William Brookshire, assistant professor of military science. “We have a bunch of great kids doing awesome things.”

Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for academic affairs, was present at the ROTC awards to hand out CBU’s President Awards that went to military science students that demonstrated excellence in the classroom and in ROTC activities. The winners were cadets Suthisak Vejsawan, Bryanna Mora, Kendall Morris and Kevin Grebbien. A total of $1,000 in scholarship funds was distributed to the winners.

“Overall our students are doing well academically and physically and are demonstrating the quality of traits needed to become future Army leaders,” Brookshire said.

 

CBU honors top Professor, Scholar and Employee of the Year

California Baptist University awarded top honors to two faculty and a staff member during its annual faculty and staff awards banquet on April 28.

Each year, CBU’s board of trustees selects the Distinguished Professor and Distinguished Scholar award recipients.

Dr. Daniel Prather, founding chair and professor of aviation science, was named Distinguished Professor, a faculty member who has established a record of distinguished service to CBU.

Prather came to CBU in 2012 to launch the university’s flight school.

“Being recognized shows great appreciation on the part of students and university leadership. I am exactly where Christ intends for me to be,” he said. “I desire for our programs in aviation science to prepare students to impact the aviation industry for Christ.”

Dr. Kathryn Short, professor of education, was named Distinguished Scholar. Her proposal is to conduct research on the use of NAO, a humanoid robot, as a communication tool for 4-year-old children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Short, who has taught at CBU for 10 years, will collaborate with the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, which has several NAO humanoid robots.

Short has a heart for children, as a professor, one of her goals is teach students how to serve families.

“I have always hoped that my students serve children and their families with love, knowledge and passion,” she said. “I want my students to remember that every encounter they have with young ones is an opportunity to model what a man or woman of God looks like.”

Daron Hubbert, director of residence life, was named Employee of the Year. CBU’s Executive Council selects the Employee of the Year recipient from those staff members who have been named employees of the month during the year.

Hubbert’s job duties include overseeing the staff of residence life and the various living areas on campus. His department strives to provide quality living environments for the students.

“I am humbled and honored to be recognized with the award,” Hubbert said. “For me, it is a reflection of how hard my entire staff works to create a great environment for the students who are living on campus at CBU.”

 

Kugel tradition kicks off 2016 mobilization effort

California Baptist University’s first wave of volunteers for the 2016 International Service Projects (ISP), United States Projects (USP) and Summer of Service (SOS) are being sent out to their fields of service this week.

This summer, more than 300 volunteers comprising 37 teams will serve in 17 countries. 2016 marks the 20th year of CBU’s of mobilization efforts. Fifteen teams are scheduled to depart from CBU May 1- May 4 en route to service projects in the United Kingdom, Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Africa, Thailand, Poland and Germany.

“Prayer is the preparation for great work,” Jeff Lewis, interim director of the Office of Mobilization, told one group departing on May 2.

In accordance with CBU tradition, before their departure, teams gather to pray at the Kugel, a granite globe on a base inscribed with the scripture from Matthew 28:19-20, symbolizing CBU’s commitment to the Great Commission.

“The Kugel represents the heart of the university, the DNA of this institution,” Lewis said. “It’s exciting to see what God is doing here at CBU.”

Each service project volunteer completed more than 75 hours of training, including the annual Intensive Training Weekend that simulates overseas situations.

 

Lancer Athletic Hall of Fame inducts four new members

The Lancers recently inducted four alumni into the California Baptist University Athletic Hall of Fame. The newest recipients bring the Hall of Fame count to 65 legendary Lancers.

The latest Hall of Famers includes men’s volleyball standouts Ben Wahlman and Shaun Dyk, along with women’s basketball star Nicole Adams and softball ace Amy Ramirez.

Read more about their awards here.

 

 

 

 

CBU graduates more than 1,400 during  dual commencements

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, commended 1,414 graduating students during two commencement ceremonies held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on April 30. The afternoon exercise included 685 traditional undergraduate degree candidates, while the evening ceremony honored 729 students, including all master’s degree candidates, and Online and Professional Studies programs.

Ellis noted that the class was part of a record number of graduation applications for the 2015-2016 academic year.

“[You have] contributed to the continuing growth of CBU’s campus culture as ‘a University Committed to the Great Commission’ during an exciting time of ongoing growth and improvement,” Ellis said. “Each [student] has overcome obstacles to achieve this goal. Graduates, you have faced many difficulties and yet you persevered. We congratulate each one of you.”

Amy Johnson, CBU alumna and news anchor and reporter for KCBS and KCAL9 television, was commencement speaker. Johnson told students that graduation is just the “starting blocks.”

“I know you’ve worked hard—some of you harder than others—and I’m not saying you shouldn’t celebrate this huge accomplishment, because what you’ve done is outstanding,” she said. “I’m just saying this isn’t the end. This is really the beginning for you.”

Johnson (’90) elaborated on her journey to find her purpose.

“I wasn’t praying about it; I wasn’t trusting in the Lord. I was sticking with the safe route,” she said.

Johnson said it was during her last year at CBU that she identified her passion—to become a news anchor and reporter—and this propelled her back to school to continue to receive the training she needed to pursue her dreams.

“What I’m really telling you is to follow your dreams—live your purpose—do what it is that you really want to do. It may seem a little scary…but this is where you rely on your faith and you pray, not just for money but for God’s guidance to help lead you to do what you really want to do, and most importantly to follow God’s will,” Johnson said.

Awards for student achievement were presented at both ceremonies. Khai Ho, an accounting major from Vietnam, received the Min Sung Kim International Student Award, and Moriah Langley, a mechanical engineering major from Roseville, Calif., received CBU’s Outstanding Senior Award. Gustavo Trujillo, from Baldwin Park, Calif., was honored with the Outstanding Online and Professional Studies Student Award. Trujillo received a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

In total, 1,797 students applied to graduate this April and August. When combined with the students who graduated last December (521), the total number for the graduating Class of 2016 is 2,218 applications, the largest number in the history of CBU.

 

CBU students get up-close access to KVSH Racing’s team

Nineteen engineering students got VIP access to the latest member of the California Baptist University engineering team – KVSH Racing – at the 2016 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 16.

CBU is an associate partner for the KVSH No. 11 team, which allowed students the up-close access to the car, driver and crew.

“My favorite part of the day was getting the opportunity to talk to the driver and the engineering team about the technology incorporated throughout the IndyCar,” said Jonathan Osborne, a senior mechanical engineering major.  “It was exciting to see the practical application of what I had been learning in my ‘signal and system’ lab just a few weeks before the event.”

Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, said access to KVSH engineers provided a great learning opportunity for students.

Diana Ortega, a mechanical engineering junior, agreed.

“We got to talk to and learn from all of the engineers that work on all of the different parts of the car,” she said. “We were treated as actual engineers, and it gave us insight to what it’s like to work on a team of actual professional engineers.”

For William Rosentrater, a mechanical engineering senior, the experience left an impression on his future career pursuits.

“This experience definitely had an impact on what I want to do later on in my life,” Rosentrater said. “Every person we met was no doubt a master of their specific trade. I would be very excited to be a part of a team like KVSH.”

The partnership will allow CBU students continued access to the KVSH engineering team throughout the 2016 season. There will also be opportunities for students to apply for engineering internships as they become available. Additionally, a select group of students will be placed among the KVSH team for the 100^th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, assisting the team’s engineering staff with problem solving.

 

CBU senior wins President’s Award for Excellence in Writing

Melissa Chesney, a senior English major at California Baptist University, has been selected as the winner of the 2016 President’s Award for Excellence in Writing. Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, presented the award at a luncheon April 21.

Chesney wrote her paper, Keats, Greeks, and Beliefs: A Mythical Quest for Human Truth, for her senior capstone project. She explored the implications of English Romantic poet John Keats’ presentations on human suffering and mortality, and attempted to tackle the question of Keats’ understanding of spirituality.

“The compassion and nuanced vision Melissa brings to her topic allow her to accurately and robustly describe Keats’ struggle with … suffering without losing the tension and complexity of his philosophy and his art,” wrote Dr. Gretchen Bartels, assistant professor of English for Online and Professional Studies, who was Chesney’s instructor.

Chesney’s award included a plaque, a certificate and a check for $500.

Two other students received runner-up honors.

Yvette Quintana, a graduate student in English, was awarded first runner-up for her paper, The Crux of the Matter in ‘The Lord of the Rings’: On the Absence of an Incarnation in Middle-Earth. The paper examined theological principles that paralleled the incarnation of Jesus in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Quintana received a certificate and a check for $300.

Sarah N. Rodriguez, a sophomore English major, was recognized as second runner-up for her paper, Following Jesus: Flannery O’Connor’s Inspiration for ‘Wise Blood.’ The paper provided a detailed examination of how the novel Wise Blood reflects Jesus’ challenges against the religious notions of first-century Judaism through parables. Rodriguez was awarded a certificate and a check for $200.

A six-member faculty selection committee using a formal voting process chose all winning entries.

 

CBU students affirmed for professionalism as interns

Three behavioral science students at California Baptist University received commendation for their “professional dependability,” during their internships at the Riverside County Department of Veterans Services (RCDVS).

Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the School of Behavioral Sciences, recently received an appreciative letter from retired Col. Mark Earley, who is now the director of the RCDVS, for students Priscilla Contreras, Emily Erickson and Nick Slayman.

“All three are experts at task management, setting priorities and getting complex tasks done effectively in a limited period of time,” wrote Earley. “They are all solutions oriented employees and any one of them individually is capable to serve within a business organization.”

During their internships, the students worked in the outreach department at RCDVS to create awareness for the agency by networking, developing business presentations and creating a social media presence.

“Through their efforts, the outreach program has grown from just a handful of organizations to more than 150 area businesses,” Earley wrote.

To read the rest of the story, go here.

 

Engineering club places third at its first regional competition

Chemical engineering students from California Baptist University participated in the regional Chem-E-Car competition for the first time and came away with an impressive third place finish.

The annual competition pitted universities’ American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) clubs against each other to construct a fuel-powered miniature car that could travel a given distance. Fourteen cars competed in the final contest which was held at University of California, Riverside, on April 15-16.

“This was the exposure we needed as a smaller, relatively new club. We showed up with a very simple, large car that many people were surprised it even worked,” said Evan Schneider, a chemical engineering junior. “I’m really excited because I could never have expected our first try, knowing so little to turn out so well. It’s a confidence booster.”

The AIChE team at CBU consisted of seven chemical engineering students that garnered help from CBU faculty and mechanical engineering students, to design and build their shoebox-size car. With a short time frame and no prototype to work from, the team’s aim was to get into the competition with a functioning car, said Stephen Dueck, a chemical engineering junior.

To keep on schedule and costs low, students often designed parts themselves by recycling materials from the engineering shop. The students also found an efficient way to produce fuel by using a combination of sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid for fuel.

“We turned what was essentially baking soda into fuel,” said Schneider, of the team’s fuel choice. “We didn’t overcomplicate things at all. It was probably the simplest car we could have built.”

Simplicity worked to the team’s favor, as they were able to build a car on time and for approximately $100.

The third place finish qualifies the team to participate in the national competition in November.

“A good performance shows… that we have students who are hard-working, enthusiastic and technically competent,” said Dr. Mark Anklam, professor of chemical engineering and chair of the program.

 

Family Updates

Brenda Flores, assistant director-business administration for Facilities and Planning Services, Margaret Marquez, accounting clerk for Facilities and Planning Services, and nine CBU students volunteered for a beautification project in Riverside on April 16. They, along with other volunteers for Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful, collected more than 2,580 pounds of litter, green waste and bulky items in the Arlington and Ramona neighborhoods.

 

 

Dr. Daniel Prather, professor of aviation science, taught a two-day airport operations course at the International Aviation Snow Symposium in Buffalo, N.Y., on April 23-24. He also a two-day airport operations course at JFK International Airport on April 27-28. He also completed an Airport Cooperative Research Program project through the Transportation Research Board titled Airport Sustainability Practices— Drivers and Outcomes for Small Commercial and General Aviation Airports.

 

 

 

Michael Jewell, director of guest services and marketing at the Tahquitz Pines Conference Center, received his master’s degree in leadership and organizational studies from California Baptist University on April 30.

 

Shawn Wilhite, assistant professor of Christian Students for Online and Professional Studies, presented There are two ways of life: The Didache and Apocalyptic Alteration in Early Christianity at the Society of Biblical Literature Pacific Coast regional meeting in Claremont on March 13-14. He also presented Is the Didache an Apocalyptic Anomaly? How the Didache’s Two-Way Tradition Alters Early Christian Tradition at the Evangelical Theological Society Far West Region meeting on April 15 in San Diego. He also has published several articles. He co-authored An ‘Unspeakably Narrow Discipline’: Martin Hengel and the Need for Interdisciplinary Scholarship,” and a review of Rediscovering the Apocryphal Continent: New Perspectives on Early Christian and Late Antique Apocryphal Texts and Traditions, both published in Fides et Humilitas: The Journal for Ancient Christian Studies Issue 3 (Winter 2016); and 7 Ways to Care for your Pastor in the online The Gospel Coalition (Feb 11, 2016).

 

Dr. Dan Wilson, professor of Biblical studies, was re-elected for a second term as chairman of the board of trustees of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary at the board meeting April 12-13. Wilson has been on the board for nine years.

 

 

 

 

Gary Steward, history adjunct for Online and Professional Studies, recently co-authored a book, God’s Design, published by P & R Publishing. The book is for children ages 4-8 on biblical manhood and womanhood.

 

 

 

The Office of Alumni & Parent Relations invites alumni, students, family, friends, faculty and staff to participate in these summer activities.  Sign up now!

• LA Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals: 7:10 p.m. May 13, at Dodgers Stadium. $40 ticket includes CBU baseball hat and Friday Night Fireworks. Seats – Right Field, Loge Deck. Register online
• Bible Journaling Class: 9:30 a.m. June 18, 2016 at CBU. $10 includes refreshments and supplies. For ages 12 and up. Sometimes called Bible Journaling, and sometimes Illustrated Faith, this new trend is a great way to ignite your passion for exploring God’s Word, whether you are a new Christian or have been a believer for a long time. Journaling Bibles feature wide-margins for writing observations, reflections, prayers and praises. While it is recommended that you bring your own journaling Bible to this class, it is not required. Register online
• Anaheim Angels vs Chicago White Sox: 7:05 p.m. July 15 at Angel’s Stadium. $35 ticket includes baseball hat and Angels’ promotional give-away – ’70s Groovy Rally Monkey (sponsored by Jack in The Box). Register online
• San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies: 5:40 p.m. Sept. 10 at Skyline Patio @ Petco Park. $55 ticket includes CBU baseball hat, dinner and Padres’ promotional give-away – USB Charger. Register online

 

Robert (Bory) Molina, plumber/pipefitter I in the Facilities and Planning Services Department, was named CBU’s Employee of the Month for May. The nomination form included the following statements: “Bory has received notes of commendation from Provider and other departments on campus.  He has great attention to detail and the pride that he shows in completing his work correctly is appreciated by others.  Bory’s attention to the little things often makes his work stand out from others.”

 

 

 

 

The California Baptist University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program received its accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) on March 31. All new programs receive an initial “Accreditation-Provisional.” Of note, the program received a perfect score on its accreditation site visit in October 2015. The program is interviewing and selecting its inaugural class, which matriculates in September 2016. For more information, visit the program’s website at: www.calbaptist.edu/mspas

 

 

 

 

Dr. Anthony Chute, professor of church history, delivered the presidential address at the Evangelical Theological Society/Far West Region meeting at San Diego Christian College on April 15. His address was titled Jesse Mercer: A Ministerial Profile. In addition, Chute’s book review of Baptists in America was published in the journal Themelios.

 

 

 

 

Doug Barnett, business adjunct for Online and Professional Studies, and his family were invited to create and staff a booth at the Columbia International Festival (CIF) in South Carolina on April 16-17. The event showcases the music, culture, food and performing arts of various cultures, nationalities, races and language groups. Barnett and his wife  lived for more than 25 years in Africa and their booth featured information about an American family’s life overseas. About 10,000 people attend the festival annually.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Beverly Howard, professor of music, wrote a chapter appearing in the book Introducing Glory to God. The chapter, Musical Genres in Glory to God, explores distinct styles of music used for congregational songs. Howard also performed with Larry Johansen, a retired CBU music professor, in concerts in Whittier and Riverside. Howard, playing the organ, and Johansen, on the trumpet, performed two major works, Psalms and The Other Voices of the Trumpet, by American composer Daniel Pinkham.

 

 

 

Dr. DawnEllen Jacobs, vice provost, and Kristen White, former CBU director of mobilization, presented a session, Equipping the Equippers, at the University Educators for Global Engagement (UEGE) annual conference in Richmond, Va., on April 14-17. This year’s theme was Equip: Giving Students the Resources They Need for Effective Cross-Cultural Witness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. H. Bruce Stokes, professor of anthropology and behavioral sciences, was elected to the executive board of the Southwestern Anthropological Association (SWAA) at its meeting in San Diego on April 21-24. Julie Goodman, assistant professor of anthropology, serves on the board as secretary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kenneth Minesinger, associate professor of law for Online and Professional Studies, made a presentation at American Society for Public Administration meeting on April 28 in Riverside. The presentation was titled Slander and Libel in the Age of Social Media.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science, organized a trip with environmental science majors and the Environmental Science Club to Cabrillo Beach and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on April 16. About 40 students and family members participated in a beach clean-up and Earth Day activity.

 

 

 

Dr. Torria Davis, instructional designer for Online and Professional Studies, recently had a blog, http://blog.blackboard.com/tips-avoid-a-mess-in-online-course-design/, distributed by Blackboard Inc. to other Instructional Design MVP award recipients as a must read.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Won-Pyo Park, visiting scholar in the natural and mathematical department, Dr. Bon-Jun Koo, professor of environmental science, Andrew Chang, Dr. Thomas Ferko, professor of chemistry, Dr. Jonathan Parker, professor of education and history,  Dr. Tracy Ward, associate provost for administration,  Stephanie Lara, environmental science major, and Chau Nguyen, biology major,  co-authored the paper Dissolution of Metals from Biosolid-Treated Soils by Organic Acid Mixtures that was recently published in Applied and Environmental Soil Science (vol. 2016).

 

Dr. David Poole, vice president for Online and Professional Studies (OPS), Dr. Dirk Davis, associate vice president for academics for OPS, Dr. Tran Hong, associate vice president of technology for OPS, and Dr. Elizabeth Morris, associate provost for accreditation, assessment and curriculum, presented at the WASC Senior College and University Commission Academic Resource Conference on April 7 in Garden Grove, Calif.  Their presentation was Contributing to the Purpose of Higher Education: A Comprehensive Student-Centered Design for Online Programs.

 

 

Dr. Monica O’Rourke, visiting professor of kinesiology for Online and Professional Studies, Michelle Moore, exercise science graduate student, and Mary Carlan (’07) presented a session at the state conference for California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in Santa Clara, Calif., March 10-12. The session was titled Skill-related Fitness and History: Olympics and Roman Empire Activities. O’Rourke and Moore also presented the session Promoting Personal Fitness and Conditioning using Social Media. Also, O’Rourke co-presented a health educator workshop students at the National Society for Health and Physical Educators Annual Convention in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 5-9.  The workshop was titled Out of Control Health: Strategies to Bridge Disconnected Health Values. O’Rourke also presented Teaching leadership and advocacy in health/physical education teacher education using technology-based strategies.

 

Online and Professional Studies celebrated National Public Health Week (April 4-10) by organizing a faculty, staff, and student walk at the Galleria at Tyler in Riverside. The purpose of week is to help communities connect, highlight public health issues, and acknowledge public heath contributions to communities across the country. Dr. Dominick Sturz, associate professor of public health, organized the event as a way to celebrate the week, and to promote health through intentional movement. The group participated in a one-mile walk inside the mall. CBU Online students were encouraged to organize their own walks and to share the experience using various media channels to spread the word about National Public Health Week.

 

 

 

Shawna Rainwater, daughter of Darrell Rainwater, director of advancement services, graduated from the Army’s 15W Advanced Leaders Course on April 29. The course is for leader development as a non-commissioned officer. She is a staff sergeant with HHC 3^rd Combat Aviation Brigade out of Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia.

 

 

 

 

 

Joel Brown (’11, ’12), financial aid loan counselor, and his wife, Carrissa (’15) welcomed their first child on April 26. Courtland Noah Brown weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel Updates