In this issue…
Current News
First wave of CBU volunteers begins 2017 global service projects
California Baptist University officially launched the 2017 mobilization season May 7 as the first wave of volunteers headed out on Summer of Service (SOS) and International Service Projects (ISP).
More than 300 volunteers, comprising 36 teams, will serve this summer in 23 countries. Fifteen teams will depart from CBU May 7-9 enroute to South America, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Eastern Europe, Greece, United Kingdom, Poland, France and Germany.
Teams are going to Portugal, South America and new areas of Southeast Asia for the first time. The teams will be assisting in many areas, including English clubs, university ministry, engineering projects, sports and kids camps and healthcare.
This year’s theme is Insanity, inspired by Philippians 1:21, which states “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”
“Our theme beautifully captures the insane nature of Christ’s call to the cruciform life in contrast with the egocentric focus of our present culture,” said Jeff Lewis, director of Mobilization. “Full engagement in the mission of Christ calls Christians to be liberated from the slavery of living for self that we might live for Him. To the world that is insane.”
Per CBU tradition, before their departure, teams gather to pray at the Kugel, a globe that rests on a base with the scripture from Matthew 28:19-20 etched in stone symbolizing CBU’s commitment to the Great Commission.
Participants received more than 75 hours of training to prepare for service opportunities, including an “Intensive Training Weekend’ that simulates situations to engage in service and gospel conversations.
Record 1,940 graduates honored during spring commencement
CBU 360 2017 Spring Commencement – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, congratulated 1,940 graduating students during commencement ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, on May 6.
Afternoon exercises included 850 traditional undergraduate degree candidates, while the evening ceremony honored 1,090 students, including all master’s degree candidates, as well as undergraduates from Online and Professional Studies programs.
Combined with students who graduated last December, the Class of 2017 totals 2,554 applications for graduation, the largest number for a single year in CBU history.
Ellis noted that the class was part of a record 9,157 students enrolled at CBU in the 2016-2017 academic year.
“Each of these graduating students has arrived at this point because of a shared commitment to the challenging yet rewarding endeavor of higher education. Each one has overcome obstacles to achieve this goal,” Ellis said. “We congratulate each one of you. The faculty and the entire university family join me in saying we are proud of you, and we pray God’s blessings upon you.”
Bruce Hitchcock, CBU vice president emeritus, was the commencement speaker. Hitchcock, an ordained Southern Baptist minister and author of nine books, currently serves as a church growth specialist with the Inland Empire Southern Baptist Association. Hitchcock told the students that coming to CBU was a good decision.
“You made the right choice when you decided to come to CBU. You made a good choice when you decided to study and persevere to get here today,” Hitchcock said. “Now, from this point on, the life choices you make will continue to get more difficult.”
Hitchcock emphasized two concepts he has used to make life’s decisions—spiritual honesty and spiritual integrity. Hitchcock defined spiritual honesty as adhering to God’s truth and spiritual integrity as steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
“My challenge to you today is very simple: choose to practice a life of spiritual honesty. Choose to live a life of spiritual integrity,” Hitchcock said. “Now, go out, and with God’s help and direction, ‘Live Your Purpose.’”
Awards for student achievement were presented at both ceremonies. Nadia Mugisha, an engineering major from Africa, received the Min Sung Kim International Student Award, and Christopher Sands, an aviation management major from Camarillo, California, received CBU’s Outstanding Senior Award. Dawn Taylor, from Alta Loma, California, and who works with special needs children for an elementary school, was honored with the Outstanding Online and Professional Studies Student Award. Taylor received a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Distinguished Professor, Scholar and Staff of the Year honored
From left: Dr. Kathryn Norwood, Dr. Ogbochi McKinney and Nathan Hicks
California Baptist University honored two faculty and a staff member on May 4 during its annual faculty and staff awards banquet.
CBU’s Board of Trustees each year selects the Distinguished Professor and Distinguished Scholar award recipients.
Dr. Kathryn Norwood, dean of assessment and accreditation for the Division of Online and Professional Studies (OPS), was named Distinguished Professor, a faculty member who has established an impressive record of service to CBU.
Norwood has been at CBU for 11 years. She teaches education courses for OPS and helps prepare numerous reports for accreditation purposes.
“Her students consistently characterize her as passionate, articulate, engaging, and clearly an expert at ensuring that students are able to meet learning objectives in a wide range of courses,” Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, said at the awards ceremony. “Dr. Norwood exemplifies a servant’s heart wherever she goes.”
Dr. Ogbochi McKinney, assistant professor of public health, was named Distinguished Scholar. She was honored for a research proposal to study factors that contribute to an increase in mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Uganda and Nigeria. McKinney plans to assess the effect of HIV testing and counseling, in addition to measuring access to food, nutrition and HIV care, along with quantifying social support, intimate partner violence and mental health issues.
“This project typifies the kind of scholarly research that this award is intended to recognize,” Ellis said.
Nathan Hicks, housing service coordinator in Residence Life, received the 2017 Employee of the Year award. CBU’s Executive Council selects the Employee of the Year recipient from among staff members chosen as employee of the month during the academic year. Any CBU employee may submit a nomination for employee of the month to that nominee’s supervisor.
Hicks in February responded to a fire that started in an apartment unit located in The Village. He immediately took action, made sure to vacate the immediate premises and used extinguishers to knock down the fire before the fire department responded.
“Nathan clearly went above and beyond in this situation,” Ellis said. “Nathan exemplifies the Lancers’ spirit as well as the CBU values of excellence, teamwork and customer service.”
Events Center dedicated at ribbon-cutting ceremony
California Baptist University celebrated a new 5,050 seat Events Center with a Ribbon-cutting and Dedication Ceremony on May 4.
Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, said the new multi-use arena is the realization of dreams and prayers of generations of Lancers.
“We were in pursuit of this for most of my 23 years here [at CBU]. And I know that people dreamed about such a facility long before I arrived in 1994,” Ellis said. “So this is an accumulation of generational dreams for many, many people affiliated with California Baptist College and California Baptist University.”
Plans for the Events Center were unveiled on Aug. 28, 2015. Completion of the more than $73 million project is expected in June.
Officials of Sundt Construction, the project contractor, estimated more than 266,000 man-hours and more than 2,000 individual workers went into building the Events Center. The 153,000-square-feet building is adjacent to the CBU Recreation Center located in Lancer Plaza near the corner of Adams Street and Diana Avenue. The center’s north-facing front entrance will be located on Lancer Lane.
Dr. Micah Parker, director of Athletics, envisions CBU providing exciting family fun entertainment for the Inland Empire community.
“We’re currently working on planning our opening basketball weekend tournament for both men’s and women’s basketball, which will be Nov. 10 and Nov. 11,” Parker said. Season tickets will be available online after May 9.
Besides athletics, the arena also will provide space for CBU’s chapel program attended by nearly 5,000 students weekly during the academic year. Other uses planned for the Events Center include student orientation activities and commencement ceremonies that are held each spring and fall.
“The CBU Events Center has been widely anticipated by everyone in the CBU community,” said Makenna Lammons, president of the Associated Student of CBU. “[Students] have eagerly waited and watched from the time the project broke ground…and we’re patiently waiting for when the doors will officially open.”
Lammons expressed gratitude to the CBU administration and thanked the CBU graduating classes of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 as well as the ASCBU student government organization for “substantial” gifts that helped fund the massive bronze statue, the Mounted Lancer, which towers above the Events Center entrance plaza.
Graduate students participate in hooding ceremonies
(Center) Meagan Minson, an athletic training master’s degree candidate at California Baptist University, participates in the College of Health Science hooding ceremony on May 2.
Hundreds of master’s degree candidates at California Baptist University have been celebrating their academic achievements at hooding ceremonies last week, leading up to commencement ceremonies on May 6.
Nearly 700 graduate students are eligible to participate in the spring commencements. Many of CBU’s graduate programs hold hooding ceremonies to recognize their candidates and give students their distinctive colored hoods to wear at their commencement ceremony.
The largest group of master’s candidates comes from the School of Behavioral Sciences with 108 candidates. CBU also had a large number of candidates from the Online and Professional Studies Division (OPS), numbering 271 candidates among multiple programs.
At the School of Behavioral Sciences hooding ceremony held on May 3, Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean, challenged students to help meet the needs of those hurting and vulnerable.
“We know that you have persevered through this experience…because you believe in making a difference for those whom you serve in your professions,” Gustafson said. “You will be the difference—one culture, one community and one person at a time.”
Meagan Minson, who is graduating with a Master of Science in Athletic Training, received her sage green hood at the College of Health Science ceremony on May 2.
“My experience [at CBU] was great. I came in with 18 other strangers, and I left with 18 family members,” Minson said. “I’ve always had a passion for helping people, and I love sports so this is where my world came together.”
Five Lancers selected to 2017 CBU Hall of Fame class
Five former Lancers are inducted into the 2017 CBU Hall of Fame class at the Athletics Senior Banquet on April 30. Featured in the above photo (from left): Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, Fabiola Zanella da Silva, Aaron Steiger, Steve Goins, Angela Willis, Blair Penner and Dr. Micah Parker.
Five former Lancers were inducted into the California Baptist University Hall of Fame at the Senior Banquet on April 30.
The 2017 Hall of Fame class includes—Fabiola Zanella da Silva (women’s soccer), Aaron Steiger (men’s water polo), Steve Goins (baseball), Angela Willis (women’s volleyball) and Blair Penner (men’s volleyball). The CBU’s Hall of Fame is now home to 70 legendary Lancers.
CBU also awarded individuals for the past academic year. Male Outstanding Co-Athletes of the Year went to Michael Smith, guard for men’s basketball, and Jacob Waste, heavyweight wrestler. Cassidy Mihalko, women’s basketball guard, won Female Outstanding Athlete of the Year, while Joseph Moorman, water polo goalie and Jenna Perry, women’s volleyball outside hitter, both won the Scholar Athlete of the Year awards.
Read the full story here.
Late-night breakfast aimed to help students cope with finals
Students put finals on hold for a short time April 27 to feast on a late-night breakfast served by California Baptist University faculty and staff.
The nighttime breakfast, served from 9-11 p.m., is a CBU tradition that gives faculty and staff an opportunity to encourage and serve students during finals week. Students were served a spread of eggs, French toast, bacon, Tater Tots and doughnuts at the Alumni Dining Commons.
“Before I came to CBU, I went to a community college and it was pretty dull, to be honest. The school was great but the teachers, they just taught the students and then went home,” said Sam Jacob, an engineering major. “Whereas CBU [professors] are always in constant communication with you to try and help you pass all your courses. They try to serve you.”
For Riley Forristel, a CBU freshman, the breakfast was a much-needed break.
“I have been studying all day, so this is the time I get to come and eat some food, hang out with some friends and enjoy their company,” Forristel said. “I feel pretty blessed just because all the staff and faculty are going around and serving us food. It’s a cool experience.”
Other stress-relieving activities for students during finals week included opportunities in the Stamps Courtyard for chair massages, petting puppies, popping bubble wrap and enjoying refreshments.
Up-and-coming filmmakers honored at CBU film festival
California Baptist University student Sean Lewis (right) wins Best Actor for “The Student” at the 6th annual Student Film Festival.
The 6th annual Student Film Festival featured 15 short films that were shown at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium on April 22 in conjunction with the Riverside International Film Festival.
The CBU festival draws new student filmmakers and motivates returning students to try new ideas, said Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies.
“It’s a forum for students to show how far they’ve come, but also to give them some motivation to start making films,” Croteau said. “Students are really excited to see their work on a large screen and appreciated by a group of people.”
Mario Adurias, a junior double majoring in film and theatre, won seven awards for two films. “The Student,” his tribute to silent films, earned Adurias the Best Narrative Film award. The comical short flick follows a college student who is determined to do the right thing.
Adding to his creative work, Adurias used a stop-motion process for “Strung Together,” a story based on a Chinese proverb about a red string that ties two fated lovers. The film won Best Editing at the festival.
“We learned the stop-motion process is both grueling and rewarding,” said Adurias, who spent nearly 20 hours editing “Strung Together.” “It is wonderful to see imagination come alive.”
Jordan Riley, a film studies senior, was inspired by the book of Exodus and films such as “Lord of the Rings,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Avatar” for her film “Existence: Age of Discovery,” which won Best Production Design.
“The entire film is filled with metaphors, symbols and religious ideas, because I truly love stories that have a much deeper meaning and purpose,” Riley said. “I want to change lives through making films and connecting to the audience’s emotions.”
One of the entries, “Lifeline,” a public service announcement (PSA) won Best Non-Narrative film. It is also nominated for the Directing Change Student Film Contest, a statewide competition that is part of the California Mental Health initiative.
“The students are making great films,” Croteau said. “I think it’s very important to have a film major on campus, something that trains young Christian filmmakers to really be a force, to be the salt and light in the film industry.”
Student Film Festival Awards
Best Actress:
Tess Braden, in Shortness of Breath
Best Actor:
Sean Lewis, The Student
Best Supporting Actress:
Summer Betancourt, in The Student and Strung Together
Best Supporting
Caleb Leal in The Student
Best Cinematography:
Robert Kojo Mensah for Existence: Age of Discovery
Best Music:
Traivon Williams for Existence: Age of Discovery
Best Screenplay:
Kenedie Gayle & Austin Campbell, Shortness of Breath
Best Special/Visual Effects:
Strung Together
Best Editing:
Strung Together
Best Production Design:
Existence: Age of Discovery
Best Film
Non-narrative: Lifeline, directed by Rebecca Lam
Narrative: The Student, directed by Mario Adurias and Danny Burger
Family Updates
From left: Rosaria Lawrie and Dr. Ron L. Ellis
Rosaria Lawrie, student accounts counselor, was named employee of the month for May. The nomination form included the following statements: “Despite managing one of the largest populations of students in our office this past year, Rosaria has successfully maintained a high level of service to her students. She’s has accomplished this by always having a positive attitude, remaining focused, and always being available and ready to serve students.”
CBU’s student publications—Pursuit magazine and The Banner newspaper—received several awards from the Evangelical Press Association last month. Pursuit received the Campus Award of Excellence and The Banner received a Campus Award of Merit. The Banner also received the Award of Excellence in the Campus-Digital category. Raine Paul was named the Student Writer of the Year for his story in Pursuit, “I Am a Syrian-American: Bringing the Refugee Crisis to Light.” In the professional categories, Pursuit placed fifth in the Feature Article and second in the Original Art: Traditional. For the entire list, please go here.
Dr. Gary Steward
Dr. Gary Steward, adjunct professor of history for Online and Professional Studies, successfully defended his dissertation, at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 29. The title of his dissertation was Justifying Revolution: The American Clergy’s Argument for Political Resistance, 1763–1783.
Dr. Greg Cochran
Dr. Greg Cochran, associate professor of applied theology, presented a paper at the Evangelical Theological Society-Far West meeting at Gateway Seminary in Ontario, California, on April 21. The paper was titled 500 Years Later: Is There (or should there be) a Protestant Work Ethic?
From left: Pastor Celestin Koffi, former director of the Yamoussoukro Bible Institute, Dr. Doug Barnett and Illia Djadi, Africa bureau chief of World Watch Monitor.
Dr. Doug Barnett, adjunct professor of business for the School of Online and Professional Studies, participated in The Regional Conference of Francophone Africa in Grand Bassam, Cote d’Ivoire, on April 18-22. Doug facilitated a workshop on Business as Mission. The conference brought together about 150 individuals from more than a dozen French-speaking African countries as well as Europe and North America. Together they discussed and strategized on how to bring the Gospel to the African continent by the African church.
Dr. Andy Herrity
Dr. Andy Herrity, professor of entrepreneurship and business, had a paper published in the Christian Business Academy Review (Spring 2017). The title of the paper was What if We are Graduating Utilitarians?
Ronan Andrew Musser
Andy Musser (’12), financial aid assistant director-traditional, and his wife, Kaleen, (’12), welcomed a son on March 22. Ronan Andrew Musser weighed 6 pounds, 16 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
Anita Jemima Clark
Dr. Daniel Clark, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and his wife, Nataliya, welcomed a daughter on April 27. Anita Jemima Clark weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 20 inches long. Her older brother is Caleb, 21 months.
Personnel Updates
