In this issue…
Current News
CBU sends first wave of volunteers to global fields of service
Before gathering around the Kugel to pray, volunteers asked for support as they serve others in their designated field of service.
California Baptist University sent 16 volunteer teams to their respective fields of service around the world this week, in the 2014 season’s first wave of International Service Projects (ISP), United States Projects (USP) and Summer of Service (SOS).
In all, 45 teams will serve in 16 countries, with more than 400 participants involved. Groups departed May 6 and 7 for East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Italy.
As they left the campus, each team gathered to pray at the Kugel, a 10-ton granite globe that rests on a base inscribed with the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).
“We’re about men and women called to be world Christians,” said Jared Dobbins, assistant director of mobilization. “Our preparation this year has been based on the theme Stand: Stand on, stand up and stand fast.”
Each volunteer goes through more than 75 hours of training to prepare for service opportunities, including an Intensive Training Weekend that simulate overseas situations. Of this year’s more than 400 students and team leaders, 73 percent are participating for the first time.
“Please pray that we will be effective as we work with our people group,” one volunteer asked family and friends. “Pray that God will use us at every opportunity.”
CBU wins second PacWest Commissioner’s Cup
With the California Baptist University baseball team grabbing a 9-3 win over Azusa Pacific Monday afternoon, the Lancers clinched their second PacWest Commissioner’s Cup in only their third year in the conference.
It was one of the closest races in conference history, as the Lancers became just the second school in the conference, along with Hawai’i Pacific, to win the Commissioner’s Cup twice. With a 12.500 average, the Lancers edged out conference-rival Azusa Pacific (12.455) for the top spot in the standings.
“Winning the Commissioner’s cup for the second time in three years is quite an accomplishment,” CBU Athletic Director Micah Parker said. “Our coaches have done a tremendous job of recruiting and then developing those players into cohesive teams. I’m proud of all the hard work our athletes, coaches and staff put in this year.”
CBU took home three conference championships this year, in men’s cross country, men’s basketball and softball. The Lancers also had top-three finishes in all of the seven other Cup-eligible sports to secure the award.
BYU-Hawaii finished in third place, knocking off Hawai’i Pacific, while Dixie State rounded out the top-five schools in the Cup standings.
Since not every team in the conference sponsors the same sports, the PacWest Commissioner’s Cup Standings are based upon average finish instead of point totals. Each school’s points are totaled and then divided by the number of PacWest athletic programs it offers, giving an overall average finish for the school.
This marks the second Commissioner’s Cup for CBU, after the Lancers took the title their first year in the conference two years ago. Last year, CBU came up just shy of a back-to-back first place finish.
The PacWest Commissioner’s Cup Scoring System awards points to schools based on their finishes in conference-sponsored sports. Regular-season standings are used for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball, while the results of the conference championships in the sports of cross country, golf and tennis.
Record number of graduates honored at spring commencement
Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, congratulated 1,335 graduating students during afternoon and evening commencement ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. Afternoon exercises included 683 traditional undergraduate degree candidates, while the evening ceremony honored 649 students, including all master’s degree candidates, as well as undergraduates from Online and Professional Studies programs.
“Each of these graduating students has arrived at this point because of a shared commitment to the challenging yet rewarding endeavor of higher education,” Ellis said. “Each one has overcome obstacles to achieve this goal.”
Dr. E. Bruce Heilman, chancellor of The University of Richmond, challenged students with an address he titled You may not know where you are going until you get there so don’t be surprised if you end up some place else.
“We, of my era, lived under circumstances which made truth out of this descriptive title,” he said.
Heilman, whose great uncle was one of California Baptist College’s founders, earned B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Vanderbilt University in the fields of business and education administration and served in various positions at Kentucky Wesleyan College, Georgetown College and Peabody College. He became chancellor at the University of Richmond in 1988, after serving as president and chief executive officer for 17 years. At 88, he said he still rides his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and considers age to be only a place on the calendar.
“Keep on learning so that you will be prepared to accept what God-given opportunity may come your way,” he said. “Above all, do something of which you will be proud and which serves mankind. And don’t quit living to the fullest at whatever age you find yourselves. Life isn’t over until it’s over. Keep your bucket list long and full.
Ellis conferred upon Heilman an honorary degree of doctor of arts and humane letters in recognition of his contributions and achievements.
Awards for student achievement were presented at both ceremonies. Stephany Durksen, a liberal studies major from Canada, received the Min Sung Kim International Student Award, and Kari Carlson, an accounting major from Evergreen, Colo. received CBU’s Outstanding Senior Award. Karen Joy, financial administrator for Loveland Church, which has multiple locations in California, was honored with the Outstanding Online and Professional Studies Student Award.
Combined with the 327 students who graduated last December, the Class of 2014 included 1,662 degree applications, the largest number of candidates for graduation for a single year in CBU’s history.
Family Updates
This photo was taken during the event with a cell phone camera pointed at the eyepiece of a telescope.
CBU students joined Dr. Kyle Stewart, assistant professor of physics, his astronomy class and the math club on the Front Lawn to watch the total lunar eclipse on April 14-15 from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
North High students analyze the evidence they collected during Forensic Science Day.
Students from the Law Enforcement and Protective Services Academy at John W. North High School participated in Forensic Science Day, hosted by CBU’s department of natural and mathematical sciences, on May 6. Dr. John Higley, associate professor of criminal justice, helped the 39 students process the “crime scene” and collect evidence to solve the case of the missing mammoth molecules. The students then analyzed their evidence in the chemistry lab, with the assistance of Dr. Tom Ferko, professor of chemistry, and several chemistry and biochemistry and molecular biology majors.
Dr. Seung-Jae Kim
Dr. Seung-Jae Kim, associate professor of mechanical engineering and bioengineering, is co-author of an article titled Effect of Explicit Visual Feedback Distortion on Human Gait, which was published in the April issue of Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.
Phil Martinez
Phil Martinez, director of assessment, made a poster presentation titled University-level Assessment and Program Review Reporting at the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Academic Resource Conference, which met April 23-25 in Los Angeles.
As of April 28, 2014, membership to the Alumni Association is free and open to all CBU graduates in good standing. This change was made possible because of a generous donation from an anonymous alumnus who wanted to help provide equal benefits to all alumni. To take advantage of these benefits, alumni in good standing will need to show an Alumni Association card. Cards are being mailed to 2014 graduates, and alumni from previous years may request a card through the Alumni Office at alumni@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4439.
More than 300 CBU students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, families and friends attended the inaugural CBU Night at Angels Stadium on April 15. Guests were treated to a pre-game reception featuring game-time favorites including hot dogs, Cracker Jacks, peanuts and more. Everyone in attendance received a CBU t-shirt, an Albert Pujols blanket, and because the group was seated in the Trout Farm, everyone received Trout hats and boom sticks. To view the photo gallery, click here.
Dr. Mark Kling
Dr. Mark Kling, assistant professor of criminal justice and public administration for Online and Professional Studies, presented an executive management topic titled Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace: Tools to Strengthen Employee Decision Making and Behavior at a meeting for County of Riverside Fiscal Managers April 28 in Riverside. He also presented a case study and introduced ethical tools to assist management level executives in preventing unethical employee behavior.
Dr. Matthew Rickard
Dr. Matthew Rickard, associate professor and interim chair of bioengineering, made a poster presentation May 6 at ARVO 2014, the largest gathering of eye and vision researchers in the world, which met in Orlando, Fla. The poster was titled Time-Related Reduction in Ahmed Valve Flow Resistance: A Six-Month Study Using a Novel In Vitro Pulsatile Perfusion Apparatus. The abstract is available by clicking here.
Bryden Lazaro
CBU All-American grappler Bryden Lazaro was featured in an article on NCAA’s website about his perseverance through a knee injury that occurred the day before the team left for NCAA competition. Lazaro finished in 5th place. The article is available by clicking here.
Stephen Christie
Stephen Christie, assistant professor of accounting and finance, was honored as Outstanding Faculty of the Year for 2013-14 at the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business faculty/staff workshop, which was held May 7 at the Hyatt Place in Riverside.
Dr. Marc Weniger
Dr. Marc Weniger, assistant professor of business, presented research titled Atmospheric Lifting Phenomenon and Associated Turbulence at the Southern California Balloon Association Safety Seminar for commercial and private hot air balloon pilots and crew, which met May 3 in Riverside.
Dr. Ben Gall
Dr. Ben Gall, head men’s and women’s cross country/track coach, wrote an article titled Ties That Bind: Developing Relationships Cultivates Winning Results, which was published in the May issue of Techniques Magazine, a publication for the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Click here to view the online version of the magazine.
Kyle and Sarah Smith
with their new son, Bram
Kyle Smith, assistant director of the Recreation Center, and his wife Sarah, a CBU alumna, welcomed a son on April 28. Abram Dean Smith was born at 7:58 a.m., weighing 6 lbs. 2 oz. and measuring 18 ½ inches long.
Kennedy Hope McDonald
Lisa McDonald, administrative assistant in the School of Education, and her husband, Mike, welcomed their first grandchild, a granddaughter, on April 18. Kennedy Hope McDonald weighed 5 lbs. 11 ozs. and measured 18 inches long. She lives with her parents, Kevin and Kadee McDonald, in Beaumont, Calif.
Personnel Updates
| DATE | DEPARTMENT | POSITION | NAME | STATUS |
| 4/28/2014 | International Center | Receptionist | Shellyn Beltran | New Hire |
| 5/12/2014 | Enrollment Services | Undergraduate Admissions Counselor/Recruiter | Austin Boaman | New Hire |
| 5/1/2014 | School of Nursing | Assistant Professor | Susan Jetton (formerly Nelson) | Name Change |
| 5/2/2014 | Institutional Advancement | Gift Administrator | Laura Linos (formerly Stump) | Name Change |
| 5/9/2014 | Athletics | Assistant Men’s Volleyball Coach | Allan Vince | No Longer Employed |
| 5/2/2014 | School of Education | Program Advisor/Clinical Coordinator | Cherlyn Johnson | No Longer Employed |