Kendall Hood: My Art Connects Me to God

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

When Kendall Hood ‘25 decided to take a gap year after graduating from high school in 2020, it was truly a leap of faith. Hood had a dream on the line: She wanted to pursue a career in animation and felt that the best place to do that was a Christian university with an animation program led by professors with significant experience in the industry. Azusa Pacific University fit that bill perfectly. “During my gap year, I prayed and prayed that God would call me to APU, but it was way out of my family’s budget,” she said. “My dreams came true when I found out that I had received a Trustee’s Scholarship. I felt like it was a sign from God. I couldn’t do it on my own strength. He opened the door for me. Now it’s my job to continue pursuing my dream by working hard and doing all that I can.”

Hood discovered her passion for animation when she was just 9-years-old. She and her father downloaded free animation software and learned how to use it by watching tutorials on YouTube. She intuitively grasped the storytelling power animation offers. “Animation has a way of conveying a story that no other medium of art can match. It’s so cool that we can put our own stories, characters, and personality into the work we create,” she said. “It’s just so personal.”

Animation allows Hood to integrate her faith into her work. “What inspires me reflects God's love. Art can be a way of worshiping him,” she said. “Creating art, creating what’s beautiful, just sitting down and starting to draw, lifts me up because it’s a way to connect with God.”

In high school, she took a course with animation expert Chad Stewart, showing her the fundamental principles of animation. She used this knowledge to make videos that she publishes on her own YouTube channel, ToonZee Animation. She began by creating animation meme videos, simple designs with music. “I loved creating animation memes. Viewers loved them too, so people began to watch my channel more and more,” she said. Hood’s channel, which she started as a 14-year-old in 2016, now has more than 174,000 subscribers and approximately 18 million cumulative views.

When she started as a freshman at APU, Hood had several years of experience, giving her an edge in her animation classes. She used her knowledge of Toon Boom and the animation process to help her classmates learn how to bring their creations to life. Although she had a leg up, she said she had a lot to learn during her first year about things like storyboarding and networking. The biggest lesson she learned concerned life outside the classroom. “Relying on the Lord was so important for me,” she said. “I’d been homeschooled my whole life, so this was my first time being away from home and getting used to the regular routines of a school schedule. It was definitely challenging, but even when things felt like they were in shambles, the Lord was constantly there for me. I made time to read my Bible, to get off campus, and spend time with God.”

Hood was raised in a Christian household. Although she grew up going to church and got baptized when she was 7-years-old, it wasn’t until middle school that she understood what it meant to be a follower of Christ. In her youth group, she learned that she could have a personal relationship with God and that He would be there for her through any struggle. “My faith is my foundation. I couldn’t live without it,” she said. “I’m a doubtful, anxious person. It helps me a lot to know that God has a plan and a purpose for me. Many times I’ve tried to approach projects on my own strength and it just doesn’t work. Relying on Him daily gives me a lot of motivation, confidence, and hope.”

As her sophomore year quickly approaches, Hood looks forward to learning more about animation. She is also excited for the chance to teach and mentor others, including another freshman animation trustee scholar. “I hope to encourage her and others to use their talents that God has given them,” she said. “I came to APU knowing this is what I want to do. God gave me this talent. I’m not going to be happy doing anything else. I’m loving learning more about animation and I’m praising God every day I get to do it.”

Changing Hearts and Minds with Police Therapy Dogs

This article originally appeared on APU’s website.

When most people think of dogs in law enforcement, they picture big German Shepards who use their menacing presence to detain suspects and their advanced sense of smell to sniff for drugs and explosives. The Los Gatos Police Department recently added two pups to their unit, but instead of intimidating canines who use their noses to aid the police, they chose two adorable Goldendoodles—JJ and Gary—who use their hearts to help. These dogs joined the department thanks to dispatcher LeAnn Linenko, ‘22, MPA, who wrote her capstone paper while a graduate student at Azusa Pacific University on the ways therapy dogs can support law enforcement officers’ mental health.

“I come from a law enforcement family,” Linenko said. “I’ve seen the things officers have to deal with day in and day out. This line of work can take a serious toll on your mental health.” According to Blue H.E.L.P, nearly 200 police officers die by suicide each year. Linenko said the stigma around mental health in law enforcement is still very present. “So many people in law enforcement think that they have to be so strong. They think sharing about their anxiety and PTSD will lead them to be viewed as weak or that they might lose their job,” Linenko said. That’s not the case at all, but that’s how so many of them feel. I hope this is another outlet for them that will help.”

Therapy dogs, while not commonplace in law enforcement, have grown in popularity in recent years, with more than 50,000 in the U.S. currently. Trained therapy dogs provide psychological and physiological therapy to humans. They can come in a variety of breeds, but must have stable temperaments and friendly personalities. Interacting with therapy dogs releases powerful hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin, as well as regulating cortisol levels. Therapy dogs can also help decrease PTSD symptoms. According to Atlas Assistance Dogs, “veterans who were paired with service dogs showed fewer suicidal behaviors, decreased anger, and fewer had sleep disorders.”

“In our department, the officers will come in pretty frequently to just sit with the dogs. They’ll pet them, throw their toys, and just destress,” Linenko said. “I get a lot of texts asking if the dogs are here today. It’s great to see the officers smile when they’re hanging out with them, to see how happy they make them.” Linenko realized another big benefit of the canines when walking JJ downtown. “When people see police officers in public, they aren’t usually inclined to come up and talk to them,” she said. “The dogs serve as an icebreaker, enabling people to feel more comfortable interacting with police. They’ll come up and ask to pet JJ or Gary and suddenly we’re talking. This opens up conversations with community members who often become willing to bring up topics they otherwise would not.” Linenko said the community response has been overwhelmingly positive. The dogs have visited schools around the area and there are even plans to introduce them at retirement homes and rehabilitation facilities.

Therapy dogs are relatively new to law enforcement. A very small number of police departments across the country have them. Linenko pitched the idea of getting a pair to her department last year, but it took a while to get the funding. The department received donations for the dogs, with the top two donors getting naming rights for the Goldendoodles. The funding also covered three months of training for each dog. “We’re just sticking with the two dogs for now, but we may look at expanding in the future after we see how things go,” Linenko said. “JJ and Gary have been really great for increasing morale in the department and are essential to our community policing mission.”

A Reno native, Linenko graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. After graduation, she moved to Los Gatos for work. While serving as a dispatcher in the police department, Linenko began pursuing her Masters in Public Administration (MPA) by taking online classes at APU. Linenko finished her MPA in May 2022. “I’m also a trainer. I’ve already used a lot of what I used in my public administration classes in that part of my job,” she said. “Mostly I think about how everybody learns in different ways and how people have unique viewpoints on everything. I try to understand where they’re coming from and help them find better ways to learn.”

Linenko said her faith informs every aspect of her life, including her career. “I can’t really discuss my faith at work, but during my APU classes, I learned some tools where I can integrate my faith into my everyday job,” she said. “I lean on my faith for big decisions, to get through the hard calls at work, through the tough times and the stress. I rely on it daily.”

Part of this stress stems from the tension of working in law enforcement in the current sociocultural climate. “I want to break down barriers. I want to show our community that despite tragic events that have hurt law enforcement’s reputation nationally, we care for and want to protect our neighbors,” Linenko said. “I’m really hoping that JJ and Gary will help bring about that change to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community.”

Read more about Linenko’s work with therapy dogs in this article from The Mercury News.

Better Together: APU’s College of the Arts Hosts Industry Showcase at Warner Bros.

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Azusa Pacific University’s College of the Arts (COTA) culminated their academic year by hosting a landmark event at the legendary Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood. APU’s Industry Showcase featured the exceptional talent of students from five areas––cinematic arts, animation, theater arts, studio orchestra, and graphic design. This unforgettable evening drew more than 1,200 attendees, including agents and industry professionals.

“It all came together beautifully. I’ve been to these types of events at universities with prestigious film schools and APU’s showcase was on that level, if not better,” said Jesse Negron, MFA, interim associate production chair of the Department of Cinematic Arts.

Capitalizing on APU’s close proximity to Los Angeles, Warner Bros. proved the ideal venue. “It was an amazing opportunity for our students to showcase their work at the same place where Charlie Chaplin made movies, Friends was filmed, and a Clint Eastwood film recently premiered,” Negron said. Sarah Maria Wilson, ‘22, who double majored in screenwriting and acting, performed a live monologue entitled, “The Godfather: Part IV.” Wilson also shared a scene from the webseries, “Wait For It,” which was composed entirely of APU theater students. “If someone would have told me that my final college performance would be at Warner Bros. when I had first auditioned for APU’s program, I would not have believed them,” she said.

For APU’s animation program, the event presented an opportunity for the first class of animation students to introduce their artistic creations. Tony Bancroft, director of the Bachelor of Arts in Animation and Visual Effects program, proudly looked on as nine seniors he had instructed for the last four years debuted their work on the big screen. “To share their work at Warner Bros. studios, with its great tradition and history, in front of talent recruiters from all the major studios in one night—you can’t dream of that kind of opportunity. And yet it happened,” Bancroft said. The event was attended by representatives from DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Netflix, Pixar, Warner Bros., Bento Box, and even Disney legend Floyd Norman.

Quamdyn Hale, ‘22, a member of APU’s inaugural class of animation graduates, screened his film “The Kajis,” which was awarded Best of Show by APU faculty at the “Animation-Yeah!” part of the evening. “The Industry Showcase meant the world to me,” Hale said. “Making this film was the hardest thing I’ve done in my life so far. It was as if I spent a year baking a single special dish, and I was finally able to serve it to everyone.” Cayla Jones, ‘22, echoed Hale’s sentiments about sharing her animation film. “ I remember movie nights with my family where my mom would tell me how my name would be on the screen one day,” Jones said. “Seeing my name flash across the screen felt like a dream come true. I felt like all my hard work paid off.”

In a different theater on the Warner Bros. lot, APU theater students performed monologues in front of casting directors and agents. “We had 28 agents come, which is unheard of. It was a very successful night and more than 15 students have already been signed,” said Jill Lincoln, chair of the Department of Theater Arts. “We want our students to experience real world, industry centric moments like this. ” One of these students, Catherine Winner, ‘22, performed a monologue about rejecting a number of engagement proposals and is currently meeting with several agencies for representation. “Last year was so difficult. We were very limited in what we could learn and do over Zoom, so this was a really lovely culmination of our training wrapped up into one special night,” Winner said.

To enhance the Industry Showcase further, APU’s studio orchestra, composed of 70 students, performed live music to accompany some of the films. “The studio orchestra and choir performed with an inspiring level of fire, energy and technique,” said School of Music faculty member Mark Gasbarro. “Many of these students will find their careers performing cinematic music. I don’t even know how many times I performed at the Eastwood stage, right next to where they played. APU is turning out real performers who are going to be the next generation of people playing there.” Gabriel Teixeira, ‘23, a music composition graduate student who composed three scores for student animation films shown during the event, reveled in the opportunity. “This event showed me that I’m on the right path,” Teixeira said. “I’m excited for the future and the things I’ll be able to do in this industry.”

The evening also included students in Design Studies who created a mini portfolio of their projects, displaying them on banner boards in the halls leading up to the film screenings. “This was the first time design students were included in a premier event like this. I loved being able to show my work that I’ve put so much time and effort into and having hundreds of people see it,” said Bethany Lizarraga, ‘22, communications coordinator in the Office of Alumni Engagement.

This wildly successful inaugural event that celebrated the best student work from so many areas, will no doubt open the door to future COTA partnerships .“We now see what we can achieve when we all collaborate together,” Negron said.

Ezekiel Hong: A Trilingual Journey of Faith

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Ezekiel Hong, MDiv ’22, walked up to the podium for the Azusa Pacific Seminary commissioning service full of gratitude and awe. Just eight years prior, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to move to the United States or if he could afford to live in California while seeking his Master of Divinity degree. Placing his faith in God, Hong moved from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Los Angeles. It was the second major move Hong had made in his life, after moving to Brazil from South Korea 20 years earlier at the age of 11. Hong used his proficiency in the Korean, Portuguese, and English languages to deliver his commissioning speech at APU in all three. “The seminary has a Hispanic and Korean program and I really wanted to honor graduates from all programs and to celebrate the diversity we have in the school,” Hong said. “I was honored and humbled by the opportunity to give the speech. It felt like a confirmation from God that His faithfulness had carried me and my family through and He fulfilled his promises.”

Hong was born in South Korea in 1982. Following a divorce, his mother decided to move to Sao Paulo in 1994 where much of their family already lived. “There was a population of more than 30,000 Koreans living in Sao Paulo, but culturally, it was completely different from Korea,” Hong said. “Brazil’s culture is very open, more relational, while South Korea at the time was more hierarchical and systematic.” Hong said the transition was difficult, that learning a new culture and language led to an identity crisis. “I struggled a lot after the move. It was at the peak of my emptiness and loneliness when I had my first encounter with Jesus at the age of 20,” he said. “I realized life made more sense when I thought about how God created us and is in control, so I decided to surrender my life to the Lord.”

A decade later, Hong made another life changing decision. He had visited L.A. in 2012 and connected with a woman he knew from high school named Bibiana who is also Korean-Brazilian. They began dating, a long distance relationship, and a year later they got engaged. In the beginning of 2014, Hong moved to L.A. and they got married that October. The move was full of challenges, mainly because Hong did not know English and was not financially prepared. “It wasn’t an easy process and there were many hardships along the way, but I heard God telling me that He was in charge, that He was the one who was leading us here and would take care of our family,” Hong said. “In the midst of all these challenges, it’s not that God came and just solved our problems, but He gave us the strength to overcome them. He walked with us. He reminded us of His promise for our family and our ministry. Because of his faithfulness, we persevered through that season.”

While he pursued his M.Div. at Azusa Pacific Seminary, Hong began to work as a youth pastor at LA Full Gospel Church, a Korean church. “The funny thing is that after living in Brazil for so long, Portuguese became my main language, so I had to relearn Korean when I started working at the church,” he said. “I don’t have a favorite of the three languages I speak, in my house we speak a mix of all three, but I do love being able to connect with others in different ways.” Hong plans to continue working as a youth pastor for now, but is open to different paths in the future. “I used to be adamant that I wanted to go into church planting, to have my own church. However, God has been working on my heart and I’m really happy where I am right now. My heart is always focused on pastoral ministry, that’s my calling, but I don’t know where the Lord is going to lead me next.”

In his commissioning speech, Hong read the passage 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. This Scripture shares that God did not choose the wise, the strong, or those of noble birth to bring His glory. Rather, He chose the foolish, the weak, and those who came from nothing to bring His glory to the world. “That’s literally how I felt. I didn’t come from much, but God is still using me for His purpose,” Hong said. “The only reason I was on that stage is because of the Lord.”

Tiffany Nakla: Connecting My Faith and Science

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Raised in an Egyptian Christian family, Tiffany Nakla ’22 grew up attending a Coptic Orthodox church where the beautiful prayers and hymns sung in Arabic and Coptic during the services deeply moved her and inspired her faith. Transitioning to college, Nakla enrolled at Azusa Pacific University where her faith continued to flourish.“At APU I grew in spiritual maturity in tandem with the strong sense of community here,” she said.

A love of scholarly learning, especially science, inspired Nakla’s decision to study biology and honors humanities. “The Honors College is one of the biggest reasons why I chose APU,” she said. “It’s such a unique aspect of APU’s education. You really can’t find anything like it at most other undergraduate universities. It gave me a way to explore ethics and philosophy in a special way with the Socratic style discussions.” Double majoring in humanities also meant Nakla wasn’t required to take general education courses, which allowed her to focus more intently on her science classes. After her sophomore year, Nakla decided to switch from biology to biochemistry.. “I was already planning on applying to medical school, and I learned biochemistry increases your chances of getting in and allows you to take more challenging courses. I’m really glad I made the switch because I engaged in some really cool projects and learned a great deal.”

After reflecting on her four years at APU, Nakla said her favorite class was Regional Human Anatomy. “In the cadaver lab, you get to connect with what you learn in the lectures. Most undergraduate universities don’t have cadaver labs, so this was an unparalleled opportunity,” she said. Analyzing the ways different systems in the human body interact, from muscular to skeletal and organ systems, led Nakla to realize something critical.

“Science and faith naturally intersect, yet I think a lot of the time scientists and Christians have a hard time putting these two together,” she said. “There’s a level of delicacy and intricacy in the human body that you just can’t get from natural selection or evolution. Learning these things in anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, and microbiology all ultimately enhanced my understanding and knowledge of God.”

At APU, Nakla was able to participate in research projects as an undergraduate student, a rare opportunity for a science student before graduate school. “The point of research is not to get an A; rather, it’s to learn how you can further your own knowledge within niche research areas,” she said. “My principal investigator (PI), Kevin Huang, PhD., was instrumental in helping me write a grant proposal, which requires a lot of writing skills you don't learn in class. We investigated the potential anti-cancer qualities of spirocyclic molecules. That’s one of the real benefits of research, learning more about these complex scientific ideas and explaining them in a way that anyone can understand.”

Nakla, who graduated this May, plans to attend Touro University in Nevada for osteopathic medicine. “The DO program is similar to its MD counterpart, and you get the same licensing and certification as a doctor but the emphasis focuses on holistic care. You look at a patient as a whole person, taking into account the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence their symptoms and their day-to-day life,” she said. Nakla is unsure if she will stay in Nevada, return to Southern California, or move to a new location after medical school. However, she is sure that she’ll be prepared for what the future brings. “I’ve made a lot of lasting bonds at APU––with peers and professors who continue to support me and care about my wellbeing––mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I’ve received a lot of compassion and want to pass that on because it’s very much needed in today’s world.”

Mark Gobrail: Listening to God’s Call

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Mark Gobrail ’22 took a leap of faith and answered God’s call to travel across the globe to attend graduate school, immigrating to the U.S. from Cairo, Egypt in August 2021 to complete his Master of Science in Organizational Psychology degree at Azusa Pacific University. “I wanted to pursue a degree at a university that would share my Christian values and enhance my professional career in HR,” he said.

A graduate of Ain Shams University in Cairo with a degree in business, management, and marketing, Gobrail began his foray in the corporate world working in human resources at Deloitte, one of the big four accounting firms. “I learned a lot working there. I could see how my faith integrated with all my decisions at work,” he said. “It enabled me to keep my integrity while working remotely during the pandemic. My managers saw a difference in my performance because of my honest work ethic.”

Although he grew up in a Christian household and regularly attended church as a child, Gobrail came to know Christ when he was 16 years old. He was praying in his room one day and cried out to God, “I’ve been practicing Christianity for a long time, but I don’t have a relationship with You. Please reveal Yourself to me.” At that moment, he felt God’s presence for the first time. “From that day on, I’ve grown in my personal relationship with God.”

Gobrail said that sharing his Christian testimony in a predominantly Islamic country was challenging. “I have a lot of Muslim friends, and I have to be very careful with my words,” he said. “I’ve lost some friendships because of sharing my faith. I can point them to the Gospel, but they need to take that step. I can only show them the way.”

Attending APU, Gobrail is able to contribute to his program in meaningful ways, incorporating his unique cultural and professional experiences into class discussions and assignments. “I’ve loved learning from professors who truly integrate their faith with the course material,” he said. “In my classes, we’ve talked a lot about sharing the truth in a graceful, meaningful, loving way.”

Recognizing the benefits of Gobrail’s international perspective on the organizational psychology field, his professor David Dunaetz, PhD encouraged his scholarship. Gobrail recently published an article entitled, “Around the World in Two Strategies: Maintaining a Successful Performance Management System in Cross-Cultural Situations” in Training Industry Magazine. “I’m very grateful for my professor’s support. I would never have thought about approaching a magazine and asking them to publish a paper that I wrote without his encouragement.” The article explores the different steps organizations can take to help their employees from different cultural backgrounds thrive instead of seeking promotions based on numbers only. “So far, I’ve gotten good feedback from colleagues and friends, and I plan on writing more in the future. English is my second language, so it's very difficult to find the words for what I want to express, but I work on improving my writing consistently.”

As Gobrail completes his degree and looks to the future, he draws inspiration from the Bible, especially from his favorite verse: Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (NKJV). “This Scripture shows how compassionate God is, how much he loves us,” he said. Gobrail wants to go into full-time ministry someday, trusting in the Lord and following His plan whenever He calls him.

Karla C. Alejandro Meza: Following God’s Lead

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Choosing to pursue leadership positions as an APU college student was a transformational decision for Karla Consuelo Alejandro Meza ’22. From becoming a residence advisor her sophomore year to serving as president of Azusa Pacific University’s Student Government Association (SGA) her senior year, Meza follows God’s call to lead. “I want to advocate for students and amplify their voices,” she said. “I love APU students. I love people. I’ve been surrounded by amazing leaders here who have inspired me. When I took a leap of faith in obedience to serve, that’s the moment God started using me to make a difference for His Kingdom.”

Meza is guided by her abiding faith. She recognized God’s call early in her life, seeing Christ’s love and service modeled by her family. Her father ministered at a small church in Mexico City, Mexico, prior to moving the family to Sunnyvale, California when Meza was eight months old. “My grandfather was also a pastor. Ministry runs in my family,” she said. Meza followed in their footsteps, giving her first sermon at age 10.

“I was just sharing with kids at first, but I moved on to preaching to the adults as well. Those are the moments I feel closest to God, when I connect with Him powerfully. It’s the best feeling, just letting the Gospel flow through me.”

While living out a vibrant relationship with Christ, Meza admits that she has struggled with her faith at times. During her senior year in high school, Meza and her family faced a series of challenges and loss. “That was a tough year,” she reflected. “We celebrated the birth of my brother, but the next day, my grandfather died.” Then just weeks after Meza came to visit APU as a prospective student, her kitchen caught on fire, causing financial hardship for her family who lacked insurance to fund the repairs. “I clung to my faith.”

Meza, who grew up going to public schools, said she felt called to APU, believing that attending a Christian university would allow her to thrive spiritually, academically, and socially. Though her family’s financial situation posed a challenge, “God came through. He has been so good about providing scholarships and opening doors,” she said.

This included the chance to be a residence advisor. “A lot of people told me that no one gets selected to be an RA as a sophomore, to wait until next year to apply,” she said. “I felt God telling me to apply, so I did, taking a leap of faith. It was definitely the right decision.”

Two years later, after talking to former SGA presidents Tayo Agbalaya ’20 and Camila Gaona Galvan ’21, Meza contemplated running for office. Again she was hesitant, partially because she wouldn’t be allowed to continue serving as an RA if she was elected, a role that enabled her to make meaningful connections and provide support to residential students in her living area. Then that rule changed. “I was also nervous because I didn’t want to be known as the person who lost the election, but I realized I needed to put that aside and respond to God’s prompting,” Meza said. “Those moments of obedience have been a big part of my faith journey.” As SGA president, Meza represents the interest of APU’s undergraduate students to university administration with the goal of enhancing the student experience.

“It’s been a truly humbling role and I’ve learned that it’s okay to not be perfect. I’m doing important work serving my community while growing in my faith and as a leader.”

Meza is majoring in psychology with a concentration in industrial organizational psychology and a minor in communication studies. She plans to pursue a master's degree after graduation and aspires to work in the medical or tech field to help organizations better care for their workers, a career she sees as a ministry. “I want to support and advocate for others in the workplace to help meet their needs,” she said. “I’m excited for what’s next and my time at APU has prepared me to lead well.”

APU Grad Shows Resilience with Medal Win in Tokyo Paralympics

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Trenten Merrill ’15 went to the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games on a mission. He was determined to succeed in the long jump and represent the U.S. on the podium after falling just short in his Paralympic debut at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro. Although his jump in Rio was a personal best and it broke the American record, it placed him fourth and just off the podium. 

“Rio was an amazing experience. Tokyo was incredible, but more laid back without all the fans there,” he said. Although he felt much more prepared going into his second Paralympic games, Merrill didn’t have an auspicious start in Tokyo. “I tripped up on my second jump and just ate it in front of everyone.” 

Although the jump was painful and hurt his chances at attaining a medal, Merrill was not daunted by a little adversity. He had overcome much greater obstacles in his life.

When he was 14 years old, Merrill and his best friend were riding dirt bikes to his house in San Juan Capistrano, California. They came to the final turn before the house, looked both ways, and began to cross the street. “We didn’t see the car when we checked, and they didn’t see us, because there was a divided median with trees and shrubs that obstructed the view,” he said. “I woke up in the other lane and it felt like the whole thing was a dream at first. Then I looked over and saw my friend Scott on the ground, screaming. I realized it wasn’t a dream. It was real.”

Merrill felt a numb sensation in one of his feet and could tell from looking at it that it was broken. He grabbed his cell phone and called his dad, who arrived followed by two ambulances. They first took Scott, who was in critical condition with a broken back, chipped pelvis, punctured lung, and a bruised face from hitting the car’s windshield. With much medical intervention and prayer, Merrill’s friend eventually made a full recovery. 

Merrill remained in the hospital for the next month and a half. After several weeks of effort to avoid the unthinkable, the doctors at Mission Hospital delivered the news that he would need his right leg amputated, just below the knee. Merrill began to cry, panicking at the thought of a life without one of his legs. He reflected on his identity, which was largely rooted in athletics. 

Growing up, Merrill played numerous sports—soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, swimming, and motocross racing. “I remember watching those old Gatorade commercials with Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm and falling in love with sports,” he said. “My dad taught me to play basketball when I was in preschool and we’d play every night until dinnertime, but I would only come in to dinner if I was winning; otherwise we’d keep playing.” This passion for competition grew with time. When he was asked to think about his dream career, Merrill always answered he would be a professional athlete. 

“I felt like my identity was gone when they told me about the amputation. My heart was broken and I didn’t know what my life would be like,” he said. “Then my friend’s mom walked into my hospital room and started praying over me. I felt the Holy Spirit and I sensed God telling me He had big plans for me.” Merrill decided to place his trust in God, and at that moment his uncertainty and anguish were replaced by peace and hope. 

Soon after Merrill received his prosthetic leg, he was up and moving again. “I was walking on it that first day, and jogging by the end of the first week. Once I knew I could run with my prosthetic, I just wanted to go back to playing sports. I allowed myself to be me again, to try everything, and not be afraid to fail.”

Merrill continued playing sports in high school, including two new ones for him, volleyball and wrestling. It wasn’t until college that he began competing in track and field. He always knew he was fast, even outrunning some of his teammates during wrestling practice, but he didn’t find out about the Paralympics until his sophomore year at Saddleback Community College. He was invited to a running clinic hosted by the Challenged Athletes Foundation where he met Joaquim Cruz, a retired Brazilian Olympian sprinter who now coached Paralympians. Merrill instantly recognized that this was the move he needed to make—his new dream was to become a track and field Paralympian.

To take the next step in his journey, Merrill decided he needed to transfer to a university. “I had heard a lot of Azusa Pacific ads on my Lecrae/Christian rap Pandora radio station. Then I was watching track and field videos on YouTube and came across Bryan Clay training for the 2012 Olympics at APU,” he said. “The last sign came one day when I was heading to the gym and reached into a pile of workout shirts and pulled out an ‘APU Track & Field’ shirt. I had gotten it at a camp from a friend named John Ellis, who had gone to APU. I decided three signs were enough.” 

Merrill began to research APU. He reached out to then-coach Kevin Reid, who got back to him immediately and said the team would love to have him. “I went to check out the school in person,” said Merrill. “As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I knew this was the place I belonged. God brought me to Azusa.” Merrill competed for the Cougars from 2013-14. He went professional in 2015 and finished up his last few APU classes online.

His years of hard work and perseverance paid off in Tokyo. After his second long jump, Merrill crawled out of the sand pit determined. “I told myself to keep going, to fight. It was a mental battle. I focused on taking it one jump at a time, not worrying about anything else,” he said. He jumped three more times, including a 7.08-meter jump that placed him third in the T64 category. “To put the U.S. on the podium and see that American flag raised, that was an incredible feeling. To get a medal was such an amazing experience,” he said. “It’s now a part of history. I’ll always be grateful.”

Merrill celebrated his achievement, but is by no means resting on his laurels. He aspires to keep competing and setting personal bests, has broken the American record three times, and strives to set more records, including becoming only the second jumper in his category to jump over 8 meters (his current record is 7.75 meters). If he can jump that far, Merrill has a shot at beating Markus Rehm, an undefeated German jumper.

Merrill plans to compete in two more Paralympic games, and he dreams of ending his athletic career at home in Los Angeles in 2028. That goal, and his desire to bring glory to God, are what drive Merrill. “Faith is what helps me in the best and worst of times,” he said. “All this is meaningless without it. It gives me a purpose. It gives me the fuel to keep going. God created me to be an athlete. He hasn’t told me that I’m finished yet, so I’m going to keep going.”

APU students make an impact, working for biotech leaders developing COVID-19 drugs

This article was originally published on APU.edu.

When David Dyer, Ph.D., became the executive director and professor of the newly designed M.S. in Biotechnology program at Azusa Pacific University, he may not have anticipated the significant work his students and graduates would be doing just three years later when COVID-19 struck. Dyer, a researcher and industry consultant for drug development and testing, led the nation’s first multi-campus biotech graduate program for California State University before launching APU’s Master of Science in Biotechnology in 2017. With a focus on training California’s growing high-tech workforce, APU’s program, housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, helps numerous students land prestigious internships and jobs at major companies in the industry.

One of these biotech leaders, Gilead Sciences, located in San Dimas, has developed a promising medicine for the coronavirus called Remdesivir. “Gilead is a highly ethical pharmaceutical company that does things the right way,” Dyer said. Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day pledged to donate 1.5 million doses of Remdesivir to those afflicted with COVID-19. This will enable up to 140,000 patients to receive the potentially life-saving medicine.

Keep Reading: The Benefit of Hands-On Experience in Biotechnology Graduate Programs

Graduate student Najeh Salamah, M.S. ’20, interns at Gilead, where he has logged more than 900 hours so far working on a data integrity project. He is happy to work for a company striving to find a solution to the pandemic. “The manufacturing department is working around the clock with a huge demand and need for Remdesivir, the experimental drug to treat COVID-19,” Salamah said. “Medicines help diagnose and cure illnesses, which enable us to live a safer and better life. Because of continuous mutations of viruses, we need to have tangible technological advancements in order to keep up with epidemics and pandemics. The coronavirus exemplifies this acute need.”

Several APU biotechnology students work at Grifols, another industry leader. Grifols is currently working on a medicine called Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Globulin, made from the plasma of COVID-19 survivors. The drug contains the antibodies of patients who beat the coronavirus and may help others fight the virus if they become infected. Graduate student Helke Criado, M.S. ’20, interned at Grifols for seven months before securing a full-time position. Prior to Grifols, Criado worked as a clinical laboratory scientist for six years, but chose to make a change. “I decided to transition to the biotech field and found APU’s program. It was the best move I’ve made in my career,” she said.

Keep Reading: California’s Biotech Industry Boom and What It Could Mean for You

Criado selected APU because of the program’s success with placing students and graduates in jobs. According to Dyer, the biotechnology industry experiences up to a 40-50 percent employee attrition rate in new hires. “It’s expensive for businesses to hire and train new people. If they move on within a year or so, the enterprise loses that investment,” he said. “At APU, we also focus on the business side of biotechnology, including project management and regulatory affairs. This way, our students are more prepared and well-rounded and companies don’t have nearly as much turnover. Our industry partners love our students.”

According to Dyer, 92 percent of APU’s biotech students get hired immediately after graduation. Many students, like Criado, are hired at the companies where they intern. He believes that Gilead, Grifols, and other pharmaceutical companies also choose APU students because of their strong moral character. Biotechnology professionals often face ethical situations in the development of new drugs and treatments.

“Gilead and other leading industry partners are interested in partnering with APU to create groundbreaking ethical training for the entire industry,” Dyer said.

Jason Richardson '10 lands deal on Shark Tank

This article was originally published on APU.edu.

Azusa Pacific University alumnus Jason Richardson ’10 walked onto the set of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” with his heart pounding and adrenaline coursing through his veins. “That was probably the most nerve wracking moment of my life, other than proposing to my wife,” he said. Despite the high stakes and pressure, Richardson artfully delivered his business pitch to the celebrity judges and a television audience of millions, negotiating his way to a deal with a spectacular finish.

Richardson, who holds a marketing degree from APU, came into the tank asking for $300,000 for 10 percent of his company Bad Birdie, a golf clothing brand that designs “the freshest polos in golf.” As he stood in front of the five wealthy sharks, Richardson described the inspiration behind his business. “I went into a store to buy a polo for a golf tournament and I walked out with a basic shirt. I had an epiphany that all golf polos are the same. They’re dominated by solid colors and stripes, and are very boring. I’m someone who likes to wear bolder stuff,” he said. Richardson hunted online and in retail stores for something more exciting, but couldn’t find any golf shirts that appealed to him, so he decided to create some himself. Six months later, in May 2017, Richarson launched Bad Birdie.

With no fashion industry experience, Richardson researched the steps to make polos and found a designer to help him create bold prints that would be sure to grab attention on the golf course. The challenge came in finding a manufacturer to make the shirts. His business was so small at the time, that his orders weren’t large enough to meet factory terms. He improvised, buying plain white fabric in bulk, taking it to a printer, and bringing the designed fabric to a seamstress who sewed the polos by hand in a 1,000-square-foot space.

Initially, Richardson’s company struggled to lower manufacturing costs, but he gradually brought prices down as the demand for his product skyrocketed. In his first year of business, Bad Birdie captured $72,000 in sales, then grew to $412,000 in 2018, and to more than $1 million in 2019. “People love the look. They see Bad Birdie polos for the first time and say that’s exactly what they’ve been looking for,” he said. “The majority of growth has been word of mouth. People come up to each other on the course and ask where they got their polo, what brand it is.”

While Richardson has learned a lot in the three years since starting Bad Birdie, the road hasn’t been easy. “There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes. You might think, this guy started his own company, so he’s got it made, but it never lets up. Your back is against the wall every day. That’s why I wanted to bring in an investor who has done this many times already and can help us continue to grow year after year.”

That investor is tech mogul Robert Herjavec, and winning him over required some creativity on Richardson’s part, providing an entertaining television moment for “Shark Tank” viewers. While Herjavec clearly wanted a deal, he wasn’t willing to sway from $300,000 for 25 percent of the company. In response, Richardson walked behind his set display, pulled out a putter, and proposed that the shark make a six-foot-putt for a 25 percent deal, but if he missed they would settle on 20 percent. Herjavec accepted the challenge. The other sharks jeered and jibed as Herjavec lined his shot up and it stopped just an inch short of the hole. “I may not have made the putt, but I made the deal. Jason’s a great guy and it’s a great company. I’m really looking forward to getting out there,” Herjavec said in an Instagram video.

Richardson said he is extremely excited for the partnership and where his company is headed. He is also grateful to integrate the sport he loves into his business while continuing to enjoy it as a pastime. “I try to get in at least nine holes once a week. I don’t have nearly as much time to play as when I was a student at APU,” he said. Richardson recalls his final semester as a senior in college when he only had a couple classes, so he used his extra time to play golf every morning at Rancho Duarte Golf Course with his roommates.

If it had not been for those early morning rounds on the green, Richardson’s career path might have taken a different trajectory. “There’s a letter, a little prayer to God, that I wrote in my room. A week before I went on the show, I said, ‘I’m giving this all up to you and seeing what happens.’ That’s been my mantra this whole time,” Richardson said. “I have the huge privilege of running this company. At the end of the day, I’m trusting God. I’m not in this alone.”