APU moves classes online, cancels events for rest of semester

This article was originally published on ZU News.

On Thursday morning, Azusa Pacific President Paul Ferguson emailed the student body that due to coronavirus concerns, all classes will move to an online format for the rest of the semester, effective March 16. Ferguson also announced several other measures APU is taking.

“Since the news broke about the virus, APU has been closely monitoring the evolving status of COVID-19 and assessing our campus academic and operational strategy to promote the health and wellbeing of our community,” Ferguson said. “We have activated our Critical Incident Response Team COVID-19 Task Force to lead our preparedness, response, and decision making. Our strategies align with public health guidelines and reflect an abundance of caution.”

Currently, there are no known cases of COVID-19 on APU’s campus or in the cities of Azusa or Glendora. The closest case was reported on Wednesday in Pasadena. 

Classes will transition to Canvas or other online formats, and will be designed and managed by faculty. According to the email, clinicals, internships, labs, student placements and service-learning opportunities will continue unless otherwise specified by the department chair and/or dean. 

University housing will remain open for the semester, as will dining services. This means students may continue to stay on campus, for now. 

“We will continue to assess this decision in light of unfolding developments and guidance from public health agencies,” Ferguson said.

All events on campus scheduled for the rest of the semester are canceled effective immediately. This includes all chapels. It also includes the Presidential Inauguration and Strategic Plan which were scheduled for April 3. 

According to the president’s email, some events may be permitted to go on if they are deemed essential for academic progress and degree completion.

Athletics events will continue, but they will be spectator free effective immediately, in accordance with recent NCAA COVID-19 guidelines. Limited family attendance may be allowed.

General operations of the university will remain open. Employees will continue to come to work, but are encouraged to stay home if they feel sick.

According to the email, Commencement ceremonies and related activities, such as Baccalaureate and hoodings, remain scheduled at this time and under close review.

All U.S. outbound international travel for APU business or study remains suspended.

More information on how the coronavirus will affect APU can be found on the university’s COVID-19 site.

Zoe March loves basketball again

This article was originally published in ZU News.

Senior guard Zoe March has been a star on Azusa Pacific’s women’s basketball team for the past four years. With enough talent to start as a freshman, March helped lead the Cougars to two straight conference championships and three consecutive NCAA Division II postseason appearances.

From Reedley, Calif., March began playing basketball as a kid, but it wasn’t until her freshman year of high school that she fell in love with the game. She originally wanted to be a professional soccer player, but after working with her high school coach, she knew basketball was the sport for her.

“I love the team aspect of basketball. There’s nothing like it,” she said. “In basketball, there’s no way of winning a game on your own. There are highlight players and there are players that obviously contribute more than others, but when it comes down to it, you need the entire team to win games.” 

March practiced more than three hours every day. She soon became a leader on the court after her high school coach instructed her on how to be more vocal during games. Her leadership and skill led her to earn a spot at APU. Although she had the talent to make a Division I squad, she chose APU because of her faith and the way head coach T.J. Hardeman spoke about the program.

“He said he invested more in the players than in the game of basketball,” March said.

Photo courtesy of Zoe March.

During her freshman year, March earned a starting nod and got her Cougar career off to a strong start. She averaged 7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Her sophomore campaign was even stronger.

In her incredible sophomore season, March earned WBCA All-American honors and was voted to the PacWest all-conference team. This led her to have even higher expectations for her junior year. She was on pace to beat her personal bests in points with 11.4 points-per-game and steals, averaging 2.5 per game. 

Then the unthinkable happened.

On Dec. 17, 2018, in a game against Dominican, March was driving down the lane and stopped to shoot a jumper when she collided with a Dominican player. 

“The top of her knee hit the bottom of mine, so the top of my knee was stabilized but the bottom kept going. I remember feeling like it popped out and popped right back in,” March said. “I knew instantly I tore it based on the pain. I just kept praying in the back of my mind, ‘Lord, don’t let this happen to me.’”

March tore her ACL, the ligament which connects your thighbone to your shinbone, and knew she would be out for months, missing at least the rest of the season. She had surgery soon after and returned to APU and the team just three weeks later.

While she couldn’t play, March cheered her team on from the sideline at every game, home and away. She went to most practices too, only missing the ones she had to for physical therapy. Even though she wasn’t playing, March was still happy getting to watch her team succeed.

“It was hard because I couldn’t play, but I was never angry or frustrated because basketball is my mission field and I could do that whether I’m playing or not,” March said. “I love basketball, but in the end it doesn’t fulfill you. I find fulfillment in God. I want to share that with other girls and pour into them. That’s why it’s my mission field.”

Since March couldn’t practice and train, she decided to find another aspect of her life to control which would help her get back to her former playing shape.

“I didn’t want to gain weight after surgery, so I highly limited what I ate, to the point where food consumed my mind all day long. I thought, ‘I can’t eat here. I can’t eat this,’” March said. “It became something I could control because, at that time, it was the only thing I could control. It became very unhealthy.”

March lost weight, to the point where her friends started to notice. 

“I was working out a lot and not eating enough to sustain my body. It was affecting every part of my life,” she said. “One of my roommates, Ally, started to notice and held me accountable. She would eat with me. I started gaining it back and I started gaining so much that I felt like I was overweight. Then it was no longer a thing about accolades, now it was just my appearance.”

When March eventually returned to the court, she noticed she wasn’t able to move the way she could before the injury. Because of this, March struggled to find love for the game that she had once treasured so much. Then one day in her Interpersonal Communication class, she heard something that changed her life.

“My professor, Courtney Davis, was talking about identity and I realized that my identity was being an athlete. That meant I had to look a certain way. I had to act a certain way. I had to be the best I could be on the court and get back to the point of earning accolades to show people that I’m a good athlete,” March said. 

Photo courtesy of Zoe March.

March realized she was thinking about her identity in the wrong way. 

“That class changed my whole outlook on basketball. Now, honestly, I couldn’t care less if I drop 30 points or I don’t score at all. I just want to work really hard and do my best to be a good team player, because when I do that, I have a really fun time with my team,” she said. “I don’t focus on other things that can hinder that. I’m less selfish on the court. I respect my teammates more. I’m more attuned to people’s feelings and emotions on the court if I’m not focused on myself.”

While it took March a while to learn this throughout the recovery process, she said she’s happy with where she is now.

“I’m glad I learned that because it was starting to consume me. I’m having way more fun now that I don’t focus on the accolades,” March said. “I love the game again.”

Azusa Mayor Joe Rocha reflects on time in office

This article was originally published in ZU News.

On Monday, Azusa will have a new mayor for the first time since 2007. Joe Rocha is retiring after 13 years as mayor of Azusa.

As he began to clean out his office, Rocha reflected on his time as mayor and his life in the Canyon City.

“I don’t look like what a mayor should look like according to some people. When I first was elected, I went to meetings and people asked, ‘where’s the mayor?’ They would point to me and say, ‘He can’t be the mayor. That’s not what a mayor looks like,’” Rocha said. “Take the time to get to know people before you pass judgment on them.”

At 75, Rocha has lived his entire life in Azusa. He said the city looks remarkably different now than it was in the 1940s and 50s. 

“When I was young, there were certain parts of Azusa where we were not allowed to go,” Rocha said. “Our destiny was determined by other people based on the color of our skin.”

Rocha’s parents were denied the opportunity for many things, including buying a house in the northern part of Azusa. Because of this, his father pushed the importance of education on his family from a young age. 

“My dad only went to third grade. My mom only went to seventh, and they were both hard workers,” Rocha said. “My dad really wanted us to graduate and go to university. He worked a couple of jobs to help me get through [the University of] La Verne. I was the first one in either family to go to college.”

After graduation, Rocha became an elementary school teacher. He began working at Magnolia Elementary, but soon transferred to Charles H. Lee Elementary, where he taught for more than 40 years.

Rocha taught third through sixth grades throughout his time at Lee. Then at 28 years old, Rocha began teaching ESL to adults. As if this wasn’t enough to fill his time, he decided to go back to school to get his master’s at La Verne.

“I worked days and nights when I was getting my Master’s,” Rocha said. “I was married. My wife and I got married really young, I was 22, and we had three or four kids by that point. I knew I wanted something better for the kids.”

Rocha gave his kids a piece of advice that he has strived to live by to this day.

“I told them, ‘Dreams come true if you aspire to be what you want to be. Don’t let anybody else determine your destiny. Don’t try to prove them wrong, but prove yourself right,’” Rocha said.

Rocha instilled this lesson in all of his students, to treat everyone with dignity and work hard.

“It’s not a perfect journey, but as long as you know the Lord is always with you, you will get to the point with a lot of hard work and perseverance,” Rocha said.

Rocha was asked to run for City Council in the 90s. He declined the first time, but the next time, he listened. In 1997, Rocha ran along with nine other candidates. He finished with the second most votes and earned a seat on the council. 

After a decade of service on the City Council, Rocha decided he wanted to do more. 

“In 2006, there was not a balance between economic development and quality of life in Azusa because we were so hungry to bring in businesses. We were accepting anything without any concern of how these new businesses were going to impact our people, our families,” Rocha said. “That was my platform, to maintain equal balance between economic developments and the way it impacted our residents.”

One of his accomplishments as mayor focused on community development. He created an opportunity on Saturdays for kids to work with adults, planting flowers and trees. Rocha saw this as an opportunity for kids who didn’t have older siblings to receive mentoring from adults. 

“We give up a lot of our time, but seeing the difference in the kids, it’s all worth it,” Rocha said. “Don’t ask of others what you’re not willing to do yourself. So if I ask them to pick up trash or to plant plants, I’m right alongside them.”

Another of Rocha’s accomplishments as mayor was a structural change to City Council meetings. He made sure that the meetings always began with a prayer. That way, even if there were harsh words to be exchanged soon after, each meeting began on a positive note of faith.

“Our meetings have been very calm and respectful with the different pastors from the different churches,” Rocha said. “We had a ministry association and it fell apart because of in house fighting. So I brought it back about a year ago and now they’re strong. They make sure that we always have somebody here to start with prayer.”

Rocha is hopeful this tradition continues with his successor. He said one of the candidates promised he would keep it going, but Rocha is unsure.

In his tenure as mayor, Rocha has seen numerous businesses come and go. Several prominent chains have built new locations in Azusa in the past year, including Raising Cane’s and In-And-Out Burger. Rocha said he always tries to speak with the new business operators before they open.

“I ask them, ‘If there are two qualified applicants and one is an Azusa resident and one is not, please give the job to [the] Azusan,’” Rocha said. “I hope that it continues, that businesses come in, businesses that are going to enhance the city and also hire Azusans.”

Rocha has also worked to help the homeless. He helped start a food bank 12 years ago under Pathfinder’s Ministry.

“Every Friday we feed about 40-50 people. It doesn’t matter if you’re from Azusa, or if you’re working or not. If you come in, you get food,” Rocha said. “The people are very respectful. I hope some of the things that we have will continue.”

***

When thinking about his legacy, Rocha turned to the famous John F. Kennedy quote, “Don’t ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

“That’s my motto. Don’t ask for what your people can do for you. Ask what you can do for them,” Rocha said. “I think my students and the people of Azusa can vouch for that.”

Rocha decided not to run for reelection because he wants to spend more time with his wife and the rest of the family. His wife has had health issues for years and Rocha began experiencing some too recently. 

Last year, Rocha caught pneumonia. When he went to the doctor’s office, his doctor found a lesion in his lung and another abnormality in Rocha’s chest.

“From February 8 last year until July 30, I had to have procedures done almost on a daily basis,” Rocha said. “I went from taking zero pills a day to five a day.”

Although he is sad to leave the office he loves so much, Rocha is prepared.

“We knew it was coming. My wife and I, we’ve been together since we were kids. We knew the day would come,” Rocha said. “My wife has been sick for a long time. I knew it was time.”

Rocha recently bought a condo in Hawaii where he and his wife will spend most of the next year. They don’t plan on keeping it much longer than that, but he wants all of his family to come out with him for a week or two at a time. 

“I’m excited to spend time with my family out there,” Rocha said. “But that’s not home. Azusa is home.”

APU CFO Ross Allen named president of Bethel University

This article originally appeared in ZU News.

On Thursday, Bethel University named Ross Allen as their sixth president-elect. Allen departs from Azusa Pacific after serving as the school’s CFO for the past two years. He will begin his new position as president of his alma mater in St. Paul, Minn. on July 1.

Allen was fundamental in orchestrating APU’s financial turnaround last year. Just one year after reporting nearly a $20 million loss, APU returned to the black with a gain of $4.8 million. This was possible primarily because of temporary heavy cuts to faculty and staff’s retirement plans and raises. 

APU President Paul Ferguson congratulated Allen on his new position. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Ross personally and professionally,” Ferguson said. “The APU community is so grateful for the many years of service Ross gave as a member of the APU Board of Trustees and for his extraordinary contribution to our fiscal recovery. I wish Ross and his family success and joy in this new role.”

According to Bethel’s announcement, the decision was made unanimously by the school’s Board of Trustees. Bethel Presidential Search Committee Chair Jim Green and Board of Trustees Chair Julie White narrowed an extensive pool of candidates down to one.

“Of all the candidates we interviewed, Ross demonstrated a uniquely thorough understanding of Bethel’s mission and the challenges facing Christian higher education,” White said. “He is a deeply committed Christ-follower, a seasoned executive leader, and a transformative developer of people, culture and organizations. We are thrilled to welcome Ross back to Bethel.”

In a video announcement, Allen described how working at APU prepared him for his new role. He said he would not have been ready to transition from his 25 year career at Medtronic, a multinational medical device company, to the president of a higher education institution without learning from his experience at APU. Allen also expressed his elation for his new position.

“It’s exciting to think what we all can do here at Bethel in such a critical time as this. To step into the shoes of those who have come before, I’m excited about that and yet humbled and honored,” Allen said.

Allen will replace Jay Barnes, who has served as Bethel’s president since 2008 after serving as the school’s provost for 13 years before that, according to the Star Tribune. Barnes managed Bethel’s transition from a college and seminary to a university in 2004.

Allen graduated from Bethel in 1984 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. He is the school’s first alum to become president, according to the Bethel Clarion. 

***

In an email to APU faculty and staff, Ferguson announced that effective March 6, Alanna Godoy, APU’s director of financial planning and analysis, will assume the position of vice president for finance and business strategy and CFO. 

Godoy joined APU in 2019 after serving for nearly 10 years at Biola University, most recently as director of University Budget. She received an MBA and a B.S. in Business Administration from Biola University, and completed the Management Development Program at Harvard University. 

“Since her arrival at APU, Alanna has distinguished herself through positive engagement with the APU community and Board of Trustees,” Ferguson said. “She has worked to improve fiscal awareness and discipline, contributing to our financial turnaround while providing strategic thinking for future sustainability. I look forward to and welcome her substantive contribution and leadership on the President’s Cabinet and her continuing work with the Board of Trustees finance committee.”

According to Ferguson, Allen will serve in an advisory role to Godoy and the Division of Finance and Business Strategy over the next month, ensuring a smooth transition.

That's Debatable: It's okay not to vote

This article was originally published in ZU News.

In just eight months, the people of the United States will have the opportunity to either replace President Donald Trump or give him another four years in office. But before you make the decision of who to vote for, consider the unpopular alternative of not voting.

From a young age, citizens of the U.S. are educated of the significance of voting. We are told to vote because it’s our obligation, because people died for our rights to have a democracy and thereby our right to vote, because our vote can make a difference. 

This is all true.

I am not arguing against the importance of voting. It is our duty. People did go to war and die for our right to vote. Indeed, our vote can make a difference. 

Our vote can also make a difference if we choose not to use it.

Most people associate not voting with laziness or apathy to politics. While this is true for millions around the country who do not vote each election cycle, it is not true for everyone.

In 2016, I had my first opportunity to vote. I had turned 18 just 10 months prior to election day and I did vote in the Nevada Primaries. While I’m not fond of politics, the significance of voting had been instilled in me through my AP US History class and my Citizenship in the Community and Nation merit badges from Boy Scouts. 

I had every intention of voting in the presidential election. Then the unthinkable happened. Trump won the GOP presidential nomination. 

I am a registered Republican. The vast majority of my family are Republicans. I was raised with conservative values and like most who affiliate themselves with a party, I planned to vote for my party’s candidate. 

I could not in good conscience vote for Trump.

While I may agree with some of his policies and points of view, such as being the “most pro-life president ever” to supporting the military, I do not agree with the way he treats people or many of the decisions he makes.

From his disgusting mocking of a disabled reporter to his extremely crude “locker room talk,” Trump has been the definition of scandalous since far before he was elected. 

This leads me to the second half of my argument, I could not vote for another candidate. 

In 2016, Hillary Clinton captured the DNC nomination for presidency. While Clinton may not be as bad as Trump, she was just as untrustworthy. You can see this in her private server email scandal or her foundation taking money for corrupt reasons. 

I, and millions of other Americans, did not trust Clinton. Thus, I could not in good conscience vote for her. 

Then there were the third party candidates. The most popular was Gary Johnson who received 4.4 million votes in the election (Trump and Clinton both received more than 60 million). I didn’t vote for Johnson because I didn’t agree with many of his stances on topics like abortion. The same goes for Jill Stein, Evan McMullin and all of the other third party candidates that you probably forgot about three years ago.

In essence, I did not vote in the 2016 election because I did not trust or agree with any of the candidates. 

When I told friends and family members that I chose not to vote, I heard numerous negative responses. No one seemed to understand my decision to abstain from voting. 

Yet, just months earlier, I had heard a family member say this might be the first time they might not vote for a Republican candidate because of how terrible he was. But when election day came, they proceded to vote for Trump because they did not want Clinton to be elected. Numerous other Republicans did the exact same thing. This is a mistake to me.

To pick the lesser of two evils is still to pick an evil. You’re still supporting a candidate you don’t agree with. By giving them your vote, you have to live with the aftermath of all the decisions they made while in office, knowing that you supported them. 

Trump’s scandals have not ceased since he took office. If anything, they have amplified dramatically. From the Ukraine aide freeze to the Stormy Daniels hush-up, Trump has been anything but presidential in his tenure in office.

If you voted for Trump in 2016, you have to live with knowing you supported perhaps the most controversial, scandal-bound president in U.S. history. I chose not to vote for him and I chose not to vote for any other candidate. 

There weren’t any candidates I trusted or agreed with on enough important issues to support with my vote, so I didn’t.

And that’s okay. 

That’s all the reason anyone needs. If you vote for someone who you don’t trust or agree with on a majority of important issues, it’s a mistake in my opinion. People are blinded by their pride and party loyalty to a fault. 

I am confident I will hear many of the same things I heard in 2016 later this year if I again exercise my right not to vote. “If you don’t vote, that’s a vote for Trump,” “If you don’t vote, that’s a vote for Bernie,” or “If you vote for a third party candidate, you’re wasting your vote.”

People need to stop being blinded by party loyalty to the point where they feel like they have to vote for a candidate they don’t like or agree with. Not voting is perfectly fine. If there is a candidate you believe in, that’s wonderful, vote for them, but if you can’t find a candidate that you can get behind, you are well within your rights to choose not to vote. 

APU's Games and Interactive Media Hosts Global Game Jam

This article was originally published on APU.edu.

Azusa Pacific University’s Games and Interactive Media program recently participated in the Global Game Jam (GGJ) for the second consecutive year, hosting a group of 40 students and gaming enthusiasts. The GGJ is the world’s largest game creation event where people come together and express themselves through video games. This year more than 48,700 people joined the jam at 934 “jam sites” in 118 countries.

“It was an amazing event. This year, we doubled the amount of participants and games we created,” said Tim Samoff, MFA, program director for the Bachelor of Arts in Games and Interactive Media. “Everyone came together and started working.They went from idea to game production very quickly, which was really fun to watch.”

Participants incorporated the theme, “Repair,” into their eight games in different ways. One group created a game called “Mending,” where players must salvage a broken relationship by moving through a house and repairing memories of their significant other. Another game, entitled, “Shipwreck in the Sky,” puts players on an alien planet with a broken spaceship where they need to avoid obstacles and aliens while finding the missing pieces of their ship.

Keep Reading: Careers in the Games Industry Have Moved Beyond Entertainment

Participants had 48 hours to complete their game, starting Friday night and ending on Sunday. This year, Samoff decided to close the event at midnight on Friday and 10 p.m. on Saturday, giving the gamers only about 20 production hours to finish their project. “It’s always a challenge to complete a creative project quickly,” he said. “On the flip side, that time pressure provides an amazing inspirational force that can spark the creative process.”

On the first night, the group split up into four-to-six-people teams, each with a programmer, artist, audio expert, and narrative writer. “The jam encourages people, no matter their primary skillset, to do other things as well,” he said. “It was great to see everyone contribute with their strengths and tackle a lot of jobs along the way.”

In addition to designing games, attendees learned from keynote speaker Ryan Green, co-founder of Numinous Games. Green is a designer of the award-winning game, “That Dragon, Cancer,” which tells the story of his son Joel who was diagnosed with cancer and the grief the family experienced. Samoff met Green through the Christian Games Developer conference and invited him to share his knowledge at the GGJ this year. “Ryan was gracious enough not just to speak to our students, but he collaborated with us as well,” Samoff said. “He shared best practices and helped groups who were struggling with tasks in their game, from coding bugs to trigonometry and game art.”

Many students in APU’s Games and Interactive Media Program participated in the event. This immersive game design degree is a confluence of story and play. Students learn to build games of all types, benefitting from a well-rounded curriculum that integrates storytelling, game mechanics, art, and sound.

Samoff said his program plans to continue hosting the GGJ at APU. “It’s an amazing community-building experience, and an opportunity to meet new people and use creativity to work together and solve a common problem,” he said.

Watch Green's keynote speech.

Cougars crush Academy of Art on Senior Night

This article was originally published in ZU News.

Azusa Pacific’s women’s basketball squad took on the Academy of Art (Art) on Thursday night, defeating the Urban Knights 92-62 on APU’s senior night. The Cougars were on fire from behind the arc, hitting 16 three-pointers on the night, while their defense stifled Art to the tune of a 32.9 shooting percentage.

APU got off to a hot start, going on eight and nine point runs to start the first quarter. Senior guard Savanna Hanson led the Cougars with three triples in the first five minutes. Then freshman forward Molly Whitmore went on a tear, hitting three straight baskets for the Cougars. At the end of the quarter, APU led 30-16, shooting 54.5 percent.

“I’ve been warming up well and getting in tempo so in the game I can be relaxed when I shoot,” Savanna Hanson said. “ My teammates found me a lot and their [Art’s] zone was kind of sagged down, so we had a lot of open looks at threes.”

The Cougars quickly added to their lead in the second quarter, including two more triples from Savanna Hanson. However, for a few minutes, both teams struggled to find the basket. The Cougars and Urban Knights played tough defense, fouling each other six times in the closing minutes.

By the end of the quarter, APU increased their lead to 23 points at 47-24. While the Cougars only scored 17 points, their defense suffocated the Urban Knights, allowing only eight points on a dismal 11.1 percent shooting.

“Our communication was a lot better this game,” said senior guard Daylee Hanson. “Our scouting was on it this game, whereas last time they had a couple girls that just went off. This game we really focused on that.”

The Urban Knights entered the second half determined to score more points, which they were able to, scoring 12 points in the first four minutes of the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Cougars struggled to make shots in the quarter, only hitting on 25.0 percent. 

While their offense struggled, Daylee Hanson made the most of her opportunities from the charity stripe, making all six free throws in the quarter. She ended the game with 10 free throws made on 10 opportunities, a perfect 100 percent shooting and an APU record.

“I’ve been off free throws for the past few games, so it was just in my head to focus on that,” Daylee Hanson said.

The Cougars entered the final quarter up 67-43. They continued to increase their lead off a pair of layups from senior guard Zoe March and three more triples from Savanna Hanson. When the game was down to the final two minutes, head coach T.J. Hardeman sent in the reserves as the starters exited to thunderous applause. APU scored one last basket before the buzzer, ending with a 92-62 win.

Both Hanson sisters had big nights in their final regular season home game as Cougars. Savanna Hanson led the team with 26 points, including eight triples on the night. Daylee Hanson also had a stellar performance with 16 points, three steals, six assists, and a team leading 11 rebounds.

“It was really special. The win felt good, just the way we all played together and set each other up,” Daylee Hanson said. “I’ll miss playing with my sister for sure. Not many people get to do that.”

The Hansons were joined by three other seniors — March, Rachel Bozlee and Cierra Roufosse — after the game and presented with flowers. The group led APU to the NCAA Division II postseason tournament two consecutive years, including an Elite Eight appearance last year.

“Every one of them has had a huge impact. It’s the biggest loss we’ve ever had to lose that whole group,” Hardeman said. “They’re phenomenal. You cannot replace that group. You’ve just got to rebuild and do something else. It was special to see them work together.”

Although Hardeman is sad to lose the five seniors, he knows this is not the end for the Cougars.

“This was a nice win, but we’re not done,” Hardeman said. “There’s other things to happen and we’re excited for those.”

Overcoming diabetes, Jesse Haas excels for APU tennis

This article was originally published in ZU News.

If being a collegiate athlete wasn’t hard enough on its own, having Type One Diabetes on top of that would daunt most people. Jesse Haas is not daunted. Haas, a junior on Azusa Pacific’s men’s tennis team, was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes at 16.

“I got diagnosed in May 2015, about five years ago now,” Haas said. “I just finished playing state for tennis when I found out. It was pretty heartbreaking. You don’t really know that much about it, but you know that it’s not good. Initially, you have all these thoughts of am I going to be able to keep playing tennis? Am I going to be able to live a normal life? What is it going to look like? You just don’t know.”

Living with diabetes presents a series of challenges for Haas.

“Having Type One diabetes limits your recovery. If you have an athlete with diabetes and an athlete without it, the one with diabetes just won’t recover as well,” Haas said. “I have to be smart in my training.”

Haas takes around eight to 12 injections per day to regulate his blood sugar. He has grown used to this, although it spooks some people when he injects his insulin in the middle of a conversation. Haas is more aware of a lot of aspects of nutrition than most people.

“When you have type one you have to think about the little things,” Haas said. “The worst part at the beginning was getting used to counting carbs, understanding that my body’s not going to feel good sometimes because of certain things I eat. Sometimes it’s not even in your control, your blood sugar just rises and falls on its own. The tough part is just accepting that you’re not going to be as healthy as you used to be and your life is going to be a little bit more complicated.”

While managing everyday life can be difficult for him at times, Haas has grown used to it through a basic routine. He maintains a good sleep schedule, works out most mornings and drinks a lot of water.

After his diagnosis, Haas learned a lot about good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. He quickly developed a passion for fitness. This led him to decide on his major — kinesiology. “In a kind of a twisted way, it’s been a blessing because it’s showed me what I really love and what I’m passionate about,” he said.

After graduation, Haas is unsure of what he wants to do. He loves nutrition but doesn’t know if it’s the right career for him. He has thought about going to graduate school for physical therapy or biomechanics as well. On top of this, he hasn’t ruled out going pro.

“That’s been a dream of mine for a long time,” Haas said. “I would love to go pro, but with my current skill level and health, I don’t know if I’ll be able to. We’ll see in two years and if I’m able to, that would be a dream.” Haas began playing tennis when he was nine-years-old, but he didn’t start taking it too seriously until he was 11 when he began traveling and playing in tournaments.

He continued playing through middle school and high school, before joining Azusa Pacific’s men’s tennis team. At APU Haas has excelled on the court. Last year in his sophomore campaign, Haas had a 16-4 record in singles and a 15-8 record in doubles.

Although he played many memorable matches last year, Haas said his most significant match came just last week, against the Cougars’ biggest rival, Biola. APU lept to a quick 2-0 lead, but soon Biola clawed back and with a 3-3 tie Haas’ match was the deciding factor.

He won the first set 6-4 but fell in the second set 3-6. The third set came down to a tiebreaker, which Haas won 7-3, sealing the victory for the Cougars.

“It was under the lights and everybody was watching. I knew it came down to me. That’s the dream. To close at 7-6 in the third set, that’s awesome,” Haas said. “In those situations, it helps that coach [Mark] Bohren pushes us so hard. We prepare a lot better than other teams, that’s a strength of ours. When you’re in those situations, I think you feel more comfortable because you’re ready for it. You play with a little more confidence, a little more of an edge.”

Haas said the support from his teammates was critical along the way. 

“My teammates have been great role models for me,” Haas said. “My dad and my coach Jim were probably the biggest mentors in my life. They instilled my work ethic in me. But right now, my teammates are the biggest mentors. They support me and create an environment where I can stay on top of things.”

As a junior, Haas has a little over a year left at APU. He plans on improving every day on the court and enjoying all the time he has left with his team. “At the end of the day, during my last match, I want to look out on the court and see my teammates as friends,” Haas said. “If I can do that, I know I’ll have been successful.”

That's Debatable: Celebrities and Politics

This article was originally published in ZU News.

Over the past few years, award shows have undergone drastic structural changes. The Oscars no longer have a host. The Golden Globes dinner is now entirely plant based. However, no change has been bigger than the shift of award acceptance speeches from simple monologues of gratitude to political tirades.

Perhaps the first big instance of this was Leonardo DiCaprio’s speech after winning the Best Actor award at the Oscars in February 2016. As millions of fans watched DiCaprio accept his first Oscar, instead of talking about how long he had been waiting for the award like everyone expected him to, he spent a minute saying his thank you’s and then launched into a rant about the environment.

The audience of celebrities sat transfixed as DiCaprio regaled them with a series of bold statements, including “Climate change is real,” “It’s the most urgent threat facing our entire species,” “for those people out there whose voices who have been drowned out by the politics of greed.” 

It was the first major acceptance speech of its kind, but it would not be the last.

Just one year later, renowned actress Meryl Streep delivered a potent speech attacking then President-Elect Donald Trump for making fun of a disabled reporter, and talking about the need for a free press. Streep went well over her time limit, but no one booted her off stage because what she was doing was unprecedented and admirable.

“Disrespect invites disrespect, violence incites violence,” Streep said. “And when the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”

Other actors began taking note of the new trend and decided they would give it a go, including Andrew Garfield at the 2018 Tonys. Garfield talked about the struggles of the LGBTQ community and how they deserved to be treated the same as everyone else.

“It is a spirit that says no to oppression; it is a spirit that says no to bigotry, no to shame, no to exclusion. It is a spirit that says we are all made perfectly and we all belong,” Garfield said. “So let’s just bake a cake for everyone who wants a cake to be baked.”

While Garfield, Streep and DiCaprio spoke about vastly different topics, they had one theme in common. They used their platform for something more. 

For decades, these speeches have had the same format. Thank you Mom. Thank you Dad. Thank you to the production company, to my spouse, to the other actors in the production and the other actors who did not win but had such brilliant performances. 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you Leo for throwing a wrench in the format of acceptance speeches. We’re all tired of all the gratitude. We know you’re grateful for everyone. We know that you would not have been able to do it without their support. 

What we do not know is what else they can do with that time in the spotlight. 

DiCaprio loves the environment and has fought for environmental issues for years. He wants to stop climate change and the best way to do this is through awareness. If one person decides to change their lifestyle, to recycle more and maybe bike to work instead of driving, that will make a small difference. If millions of people make the same small decisions, the ripple effect will be monolithic.

Streep is a kindhearted woman. She saw an abuse of power and called the president-to-be out on it on national television. That takes guts. Streep fought a culture of bigotry and used her speech to inspire change in the way we treat others.

Garfield used his platform to fight for equality among the LGBTQ community. When people, no matter their political views, see a celebrity they love and respect advocating for something bigger than themselves, that just might incite a change in heart.

You accomplish nothing by telling the world how grateful you are. Your family and cast and crew already know that. You can tell them that at literally any point. However, even celebrities only have a live audience of millions at a handful of times in their lives. 

Should they waste it, or should they use it for something more? 

The day Kobe died

This article was originally published in ZU News.

There are a few moments in life when the whole world stands still and people collectively stop what they’re doing to take in what has happened. One of these moments came on an overcast morning last Sunday as Los Angeles learned that one of its greatest heroes had died tragically in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter and seven others. 

At 9 a.m on Sunday, Jan. 26, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others boarded Bryant’s private helicopter to fly to a basketball game hosted by Bryant’s amateur basketball league, Mamba Sports Academy, where his daughter and two other passengers on board would play later that day.

A little before 10 a.m, the helicopter became trapped in a very thick fog north of Calabasas, Calif. Scott Daehlin, who happened to be in the area at the time, reported the helicopter was, “hovering in low cloud cover seconds before it crashed in the hills.” Daehlin said he believed the pilot was disoriented in the heavy fog that was so thick that the tops of the hills north of Calabasas weren’t even visible from the ground.

The helicopter struck the side of the steep terrain with such force that the debris covered the span of a football field and the helicopter burst into flames. It was incredibly difficult for first responders to reach the crash site due to the terrain, and the helicopter’s flames were difficult to extinguish due to the magnesium present at the crash site once the firefighters arrived. All of the people on board perished, including the 41-year-old basketball icon

The full emergency response briefing can be found here.

Along with Kobe and his daughter, the victims included Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their daughter Alyssa (Gianna’s teammate); Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton (also Gianna’s teammate); Christina Mauser (assistant coach of Kobe’s Mamba League team) and Ara Zobayan (the pilot of the aircraft).

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating what exactly caused the crash — if it was a matter of weather complications, pilot error, mechanical error or a combination of circumstances. 

Regardless, nine people tragically lost their lives, including two children who had their whole lives ahead of them. Kobe is, of course, the most well-known person in this tragedy, but the others on board cannot be forgotten.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Bryant established himself as an NBA’s prodigy from an early age. Growing up in both Philadelphia and Italy, Kobe began to play basketball at three-years-old, which was heavily influenced by his father’s professional career. Kobe’s father, Joe Bryant, played in the NBA for nearly a decade. 

Kobe became nationally recognized due to his historic playing tenure at Lower Merion High School in his home state of Pennsylvania. He was quickly noticed as the best high school basketball player in the country, and his skill set was developed enough to where he declared for the NBA Draft following high school graduation, the youngest player to ever enter the NBA.

Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick, Kobe was traded to his childhood team, the Los Angeles Lakers, after a brilliant move by Jerry West, the Lakers’ general manager at the time, who sent starting center Vlade Divac to Charlotte for the pick. Little did anyone know at the time, the move was one of the greatest trades in NBA history.

After the inevitable high school-to-professional adjustment period for Kobe, he became a consistent starter and eventually a fan favorite of Los Angeles. His explosive style of play, in which he would attack the basket with a merciless approach, along with his awe-inspiring ability to create separation from defenders and make clutch shots that seemed impossible in the moment, made Kobe a box office talent.

Even wilder is how he would get better, year after year.

Combined with MVP center Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe and the Lakers went on one of the most impressive runs in NBA history, winning three consecutive titles from 2000-02. After a power struggle on the team, the Lakers traded O’Neal to Miami, and the team went through some rebuilding years. However, Los Angeles management eventually brought in a new team that would lead the Lakers back to the championship with Pau Gasol, Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum joining Kobe to bring two more titles to Los Angeles.

Along with five championship rings, Kobe was also an All-Star a whopping 18 times, making the roster 17 straight seasons and winning four All-Star Game MVPs. He was named to 11 All-NBA First Teams, including nine All-Defensive First Team nods. His most impressive season was in 2008, his lone MVP-winning season, in which he averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.

Kobe experienced major injuries later in his career with a torn Achilles tendon, a lateral tibial plateau fracture in his left knee and a torn rotator cuff all affecting his play throughout his final three years of competition. But it didn’t matter. It was still Kobe Bryant, he was still going to compete, and he was always going to do it wearing purple and gold.

Kobe concluded his career with the most impressive final game of any NBA star’s career. Against the Utah Jazz on April 13, 2016, Kobe scored 60 points in his farewell game, including 23 points in the final quarter. 

In total, Kobe is the fourth highest scorer in NBA history with a cumulative total of 33,643 points. He was also the first player in league history to have at least 30,000 career points and 6,000 career assists. LeBron James is the only other player on that exclusive list.

When comprehending the legacy of Kobe, it may be the statistics that jump out at you, or maybe it’s the countless moments, such as the final game against Utah, that makes him such a special basketball figure. Nevertheless, his legacy expands far beyond the reach of professional basketball. 

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Kobe’s commitment to his craft is something that anyone can value. There has never been another player who was as committed to basketball as Kobe was. The tales of his preparation and competitiveness on the court are nearly mythological, with stories of him spending hours in the gym before practice (even in high school) or him making teammates play him in one-on-one games to 100.

But Kobe’s love for basketball became unselfish once his daughter Gianna found that same passion. The two built a relationship that was supported by their similar work ethic on the court, and Kobe was influenced to further expand the game’s appreciation of female players. Kobe was a major supporter of the WNBA and made it a personal goal to speak highly of a league that so often gets criticized.

“There’s no better way to learn than to watch the pros do it,” Kobe said to the Los Angeles Times in May 2019. “The WNBA is a beautiful game to watch.” 

Kobe also had several passions beyond the sport. Once he retired, Bryant used his legendary “Mamba Mentality” in all facets of his professional career. He learned to become an award-winning storyteller and content creator, with his short film “Dear Basketball” winning an Academy Award and his book “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play” being beloved by both fans and critics. Surely, there was so much more opportunity that Kobe was destined to receive, and most likely conquer.

However, to understand the man Kobe truly was means to understand him as a father and husband. All of his colleagues and friends drove home this truth of the 41-year-old loving his family more than anything else in the world. He built a relationship with his wife Vanessa in which love was the focal point. They had four daughters together, the last of whom was born only seven months ago. Kobe raised all of his children with pride and jubilation, and he loved being a girl dad.

When living in the spotlight, life tends to go slower. In the world of sports there is always pressure to succeed, always a desire to be the best. Kobe lived that life to its fullest potential, and he did it for the sheer love of the game.

Kobe left everything he had on the court, which he later admitted was a major reason why retirement felt so right in 2016. But beyond basketball, his life was just beginning. That is what makes this such a hard loss for not only the basketball community but for his family and the entire world; Kobe had so much more to offer.

All of us should have a positive reflection on the life of Kobe Bean Bryant. We have the memories that he gave us on the court — the slam dunks, the game-winning three-pointers and the championships. We have the lessons he provided us throughout his life — how to treat pressure with a winning mentality, how to approach commitment to be the best at your craft and how to be a good father. The NBA and countless professional athletes have been and will continue to be inspired by the model Kobe set. 

Millions of Americans will channel their inspiration from Kobe into the daily facets of their lives, whether that’s the young kid practicing layups at the park, or the father trying to embrace the passions of his children. The outpouring of love and support has been evidence of how important Kobe was to all of us. 

When thinking about Kobe’s legacy, a quote from the classic movie “The Sandlot” jumps to mind. “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” Kobe Bryant was a legend. He may be gone, but the “Mamba Mentality” lives on.

And for that, we thank you No. 8 and 24.

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Kobe’s impact in the words of fans

T.J Hardeman, Head Coach of Azusa Pacific Women’s Basketball

“Colossians 3:23 tells us to do everything as unto the Lord. Kobe embodied that scripture with his work ethic. What a great example for all of us to follow on a daily basis in every aspect of our lives.”

Corey Langerveld, Azusa Pacific Sports Information Director

“The news of Kobe and GiGi’s passing was heartbreaking and shattering. Perhaps the hardest part was that we were able to see the connection that they shared around the game, and you saw their love for one another and desire to be with each other as much as possible. From the perspective of a former basketball player, Kobe’s death leaves a huge hole in the game. We all know his work ethic, and he set a standard that demanded excellence and commitment. Even the possibility of his presence at any game or event created a sense of accountability, in that we all wanted to earn his respect and more importantly, not disrespect the intensity and passion he brought to the game. 

Above all else, this tragedy is excruciating because the surviving members of the Bryant family lost two members of their unit and must face this reality daily. Their pain will be overwhelming without the love and presence of God, and my prayer is that they look to Him and find hope in who He is.”

Selom Mawugbe, Azusa Pacific Men’s Basketball Player

“Pure disbelief. It’s always hard to come to terms with someone like that being gone. It’s a little bit different, but I’ll equate it in some ways to Michael Jackson’s death because I remember where I was, what I was doing, exactly when it happened and just how widespread the news was. That was all that mattered in the moment. He’s going to be greatly missed. Someone like that is irreplaceable. What we can do now is learn from the time he had on earth and what he gave us. We can also support his family that was left behind. However we feel, they had the worst end of it. They lost a father, a brother, a husband.

It’s kind of hard to put into words how big of an impact someone like that has until they’re gone. Many times you don’t know what you have until you don’t have it anymore. Kobe’s definitely one of those players that transcended the game, even how he did it, with his work ethic and his influence off the court. If you just take a look at social media alone, just how far-reaching someone like that outside of his game alone … in football, tennis, golf, all these different people respected him. That was not only because of what he did on the court but what he did off the court, in terms of his family, his faith, the way he carried himself among others … how he wanted to share those things and willingly did so with others, sharing his technique, his work ethic, his knowledge, not only to help himself but to help others around him.”

Mandrell Worthy, Azusa Pacific Men’s Basketball Player

“I was in shock. I didn’t want to believe it at first. Like he said, disbelief. I was upset for a while. I didn’t talk for a couple hours. I was just sitting there, thinking about his wife, his family, who I don’t even know. It was just a shock, to be honest. He inspired so many people.

My dad is a huge Kobe fan. All my life he told me to like Kobe. At first, as a little kid, I never liked Kobe, but I always respected him, his work ethic, that’s where I get my work ethic from. He’s always inspired me to want to be the best I can, to do the best I can at whatever you do. That’s what I live by. His impact on the court for me and off the court was just as big. Even after he retired, he’s been showing love to the WNBA and helping other players that are currently playing. There’s been so many interviews about his impact outside of basketball. He’s reached so many people outside of basketball. It’s crazy to think that he’s gone. He’s had an impact on the WNBA, the NCAA, girls basketball, all of that stuff.

Reid Conant, ZU Media Staff Writer

“It’s crazy because I hated Kobe as a kid and it wasn’t until I moved to California before I realized the true essence of the Black Mamba. His reach and impact go so far beyond basketball, he truly touched the world and that’s why it hurts so bad. He was one of a kind human and athlete. The world is far worse without him here with us.”

Camille Reyes, APU Junior

“Initially when I first heard about it, I was in disbelief. I got a text from a friend in our group message in the middle of church. Once I started to look into it more I began to cry and anxiety rushed through my body. I stood up and began to worship with everybody else at Fellowship as tears came down my face and my body was shaking. The moment the world heard about Kobe passing is a moment they will never forget. Nobody will forget who they were with, where they were at, or what emotions they felt. 

My family grew up in LA so I naturally became a die-hard Lakers fan. I’ve been repping the purple and gold ever since I could remember. My fondest memories are watching the games with my family and celebrating Kobe and the Lakers organization’s accomplishments. The first and last game I went to was back in 2009 against the Golden State Warriors with my dad. We sat in the second row behind Jack Nicholson, and many other celebrities sat amongst us that night. It was a moment I will forever cherish with my dad and will never take for granted. My dad and my love for the Lakers was a common thread that tied our hearts together.

Hearing that Gigi passed away with her dad in that helicopter crash made it hurt even more. Gigi was Kobe’s legacy, she was about to be the best in the WNBA. They had a common passion and love for basketball. It was very evident post-retirement when he began teaching and coaching her. I can only imagine what their last moments were like together as he was probably holding her tight in his arms, telling her how much he loved her. Kobe was there for Gigi’s first and last breath. 

The death of Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba, the GOAT is a tragic loss that the whole world mourns. I pray for peace and strength for Vanessa and her family. I also acknowledge the other people on the helicopter that lost their lives as well. I pray that their families can find healing and courage to push through these hard times. Kobe Bryant was an icon that inspired the world. His spirit and mamba mentality will live in forever.” 

Gillian Day, APU Senior

“In the sixth grade, I went to my first Lakers game for my birthday. After we won, I waited around with my brother and cousin, hoping that Kobe would pass by. Twenty minutes of standing around had passed, and I saw him walking in my direction. I reached my hand out and he gave me a quick high-five; I was in absolute awe. I didn’t even want to wash my hands! That was my first memory of him. Since then, I knew I was going to be a Laker fan for life.

Yesterday I cried about four different times, and I couldn’t really process what had happened. It seemed silly to cry over someone who never knew me, but it was a ridiculous thought for me to not grieve over someone who made such an impact on my life. Because of him, I fell in love with the beautiful game of basketball. I literally joined a “co-ed” basketball team and refused to leave despite me being the only girl. I discovered a way to have fun, while simultaneously find rest. I built a forever and always tradition with my father. He taught me to “love the hate” and expect greatness from myself. This was a tough one, but I will keep Kobe and Gigi in my heart forever.

Cameron Kerr, Los Angeles Resident

“I’ve always admired Kobe Bryant’s work ethic since I was five-years-old. I idolized him. Everyone has their superhero. I’m 24-years-old now and my superhero is still Kobe Bryant. I was in shock when I heard about the tragedy. I thought if anyone is jumping out of a helicopter on their two feet holding his daughter tight it would be Kobe. His work ethic is absolutely unmatched, but I try my best to imitate it. I will not take credit away from my family and friends; however, Kobe has also taught me at a young age that you can become anything and accomplish any goals if you just put the work into it. 

There have been countless times where I wanted to give up, not continue school, perhaps find a job just so I can settle. He taught me that all the days and nights I dedicated to study and work will pay off in the future. I always focused on the end goal, the destination. I finally learned when I was 23 that it’s not the case. It’s the journey that means everything. It’s how you get there and appreciate your own work that you put it in. Enjoy life. 

I think the most important thing he taught me was to find my purpose in life and I did. I’m a few years away but I plan to become a Neuro Pharmacist and I want to treat patients that have epilepsy, depression, anxiety, etc. I’m continuing to work extremely hard so I get to this point. Not only having your purpose in life. But love what you do. I’m in love with the career I am pursuing. He taught me that it’s so important to wake up and be excited to go to work. So many other things matter in my life, but for me personally, just a sense of purpose in this world and doing what you love every day, that is my dream. Kobe truly inspired me and I wish I could just thank him for the significant impact he has made in my life. 

Lastly, I never took anything for granted, but he and the other lives that were lost reminded me that life is extremely fragile. I chose to live a little differently after the tragedy. Love a little more and let the little things go. I [can] also admit I let school and work get the best of me at times. Sometimes my priorities are a little mixed up when it comes to my personal life. I promised myself to be better at approaching people and just letting my family and friends know how much they mean to me.”

Adrian Barajas, Los Angeles Resident

“Kobe was so much more than just basketball to me. Sure that’s where it started, but [it] was just the beginning of how he impacted my life. I picked up the game of basketball as a young kid and enjoyed it as I did all sports, I was an athlete. But it wasn’t until watching Kobe [that] I fell in love with the game. “The game”… that goes far deeper than just enjoying playing or watching it. It’s because of Kobe that I fell in love with it by studying the game as he did. I would watch him and have to learn everything he was doing. 

I would practice every day, and I mean every day, no days off. I would literally shoot hundreds of shots every day until I got really good at it, but that wasn’t enough. Kobe could use both [his] right and left hands to play, so I decided I also had to. So for a couple of months, I did everything left-handed to teach myself to use my left. And I did. I wanted to put in the work that I knew he was doing, to say that I was outworking everyone else. So when it was raining outside, I knew no one would be playing, so I went outside and shot jumpers so I could say, rain or shine, I’m putting in the work. When the fires burned the mountains back in 2003 and school was canceled for a week because there was too much ash falling. I knew no one was outside playing, so I went outside and took shots so I could say, ‘yup, fires aren’t stopping me either.’ And when the winter came and it was snowing at my house, yup I was out there again because I wanted the same drive Kobe did. So fast forward years later, I have never played in organized basketball, just pick up games but I didn’t care, those games were my NBA and I treated the game as Kobe had showed me so many times, with respect so I played hard no matter what. I never thought I would not be playing basketball because as the saying goes, “ball was life”. But knowing I would never be a professional ballplayer I had more ambitions in life and this part of life was where I learned that the mamba mentality went well beyond the court. 

I was married and just had a baby, but I wasn’t completely happy with my life. I didn’t feel like a true purpose. It wasn’t until then did I realize the bigger point of what Kobe’s messages always was. It was to find your true passion and go after it. That’s where true happiness lies, that’s what will keep you grinding even when it gets really tough. The passion is what drives you and doesn’t allow you to quit. But the key ingredient that most people miss is not what you want but what you are willing to do for it, what sacrifices will be required of it. A little secret, none of them are easy, as they should be. But even more so it about being the best version of your true self. Not what anyone else wants you to be. Not your parents, not your friends, not your spouse and not even your kids. So as I found my passion and have gone all in, I found myself struggling a bit with the balance of the two most important things, my family and my passion. And once again, Kobe’s example was there. 

I got his book “Mamba Mentality,” and [it contains] so much knowledge of the game and different aspects of it, but the thing that stood out to me and is engraved in my mind was when he talked about his family and passion and how he balanced the two. And as Kobe was, his answer was different from the normal ones, he used the analogy of a tight rope and using a balancing pole. You use it to balance one side when the other is tipping too far. So when he would be too much on the passion he would move more towards family and vice versa. And then he said that he wasn’t willing to sacrifice either of the two, so he sacrificed himself. He slept less and adapted. I was so happy to learn this and applied it immediately, which sleep was already something I didn’t get much of and was able to function on about 3-4 hours daily. So I learned so much from Kobe from the age of 10 years old to a grown man of 32 years. So Kobe was so much more than basketball to me, he was my first mentor and is responsible for me feeling that it was okay to want more for myself and build a drive in me that never wants to quit. I will miss you so much Kobe ,and will keep the Mamba Mentality strong and going through my generations.

Bryce Ronquillo, APU Senior

It was a normal Sunday I worked that morning then went to church and during the service my phone kept going off. I was thinking to myself ‘who is blowing up my phone?’ and when I saw the article and text messages from friends I instantly fell into shock. I try to compare it to other times a famous person I knew had died like Michael Jackson or Nipsey Hustle but they can’t compare.

I grew up in a Laker household so Kobe was always on the TV. Every night it seemed like he was doing something out of the ordinary. He was just different. 

Now that he is gone along with eight other precious lives, I’m reminded every day how short life is. And how while we are here we should praise God for every minute we get to live. Kobe lived his life to a certain standard of ‘greatness.’ I would like to honor that by holding myself to that same standard, and living life to be great in everything that I do. 

My favorite Kobe moment has to be his game-winner vs. the Phoenix Suns in the 06 playoffs. I remember that moment so vividly. My grandma, my aunt and I were jumping up and down, hugging and screaming. It was as clutch of a shot as you’ll ever see and it’s a memory I’ll never forget.