Eimee Ponciano: Trusting God in the Uncertainty

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

When Eimee Ponciano ‘24 is confronted with big decisions, she turns to the one who has always steered her in the right direction—God. Ponciano has been presented with many opportunities at Azusa Pacific University. Although she faced uncertainty in these moments, she decided to go for it each time with no regrets. “My biggest advice for young students is to take a chance on things you might not normally do and trust God. For me, that’s being an honors student, an alpha leader, and a resident advisor,” she said. “I’m normally a more quiet and reserved person, but these experiences and programs at APU have brought me more fulfillment than I’ve ever known.”

A first generation college student, Ponciano’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala. Ponciano’s grandfather started a nondenominational Spanish church, Iglesia de Cristo Unidad Familiar in Florence-Graham, when she was a young child. Today, her father and grandfather serve as co-pastors. “I was literally raised in the church,” she said. “But it wasn’t until middle school that I really found my own faith. I felt God’s presence and my faith grew from there.”

Ponciano applied to many colleges across Southern California, wanting to stay close to home. She chose APU after feeling a strong connection to her counselor. “I had a lot of questions. She just kept answering them happily and asking if I had any more,” Ponciano said. “I really liked that. That was something I didn’t get from any other school—the personal touch and dedication from the staff.” This support from faculty and staff proved pivotal for Ponciano since school often felt overwhelming. “Everything was so new to me. I didn’t know anything about credits or how to get the classes I needed,” she said. “I overcame these challenges by admitting I needed help, not trying to do everything on my own. The GEN1 Scholars and TRIO programs have been invaluable, especially the advice from my mentor Armando Bustos.”

Ponciano entered her freshman year undeclared, enrolling in the exploring program. Although she didn’t know what she wanted to study for her primary major, She boldly decided to join the Honors College and double major in humanities. “I was a little intimidated at first. I felt like everybody in honors was a genius and I didn’t think I had much to offer,” she said. “But I felt God calling me to do it. It’s been a great experience. I love hearing all the insights my classmates have to offer, showing me things I never would have thought of during colloquy.” Ponciano has enjoyed reading great texts including Homer’s Odyssey, Dante’s Divine Comedy, and Milton’s Paradise Lost. “I’m able to learn so much about philosophy and theology without majoring in those subjects. I love that aspect.”

After taking an introductory course, she decided on Psychology as her second major. Ponciano’s favorite course, Abnormal Psychology taught by Stephen Lambert, PsyD, was full of key information she’ll use in her career. “It’s easy to get distracted by how fantastical some of these illnesses are, but professor Lambert always made sure that we remembered these are real people we’re working with,” she said. “This isn’t a movie you’re watching or a book you’re reading. This is real life and you need to treat everyone with grace and respect.”

After finishing her freshman year virtually, Ponciano looked forward to experiencing APU in person, commuting from Watts to Azusa. Presented with another opportunity that was out of her comfort zone, Ponciano chose to go for it again, becoming an alpha leader. “I loved helping my alpha group members, but I wanted to go deeper,” she said. “So I decided to apply to be an RA.” Ponciano got the job, serving as an RA in Engstrom hall during the 2022-23 school year. “I want to be of service to my freshmen,” she said. “To be there for them however I can.”

Ponciano looks forward to being the first in her family to graduate from college. “My parents came here to give a better life to their children,” she said. “Graduating from college is what they dreamed of for my sister and I—we’re their living wish. I may be the first in my family to graduate from college, but I certainly won’t be the last. It makes me happy to see their dreams come true.”

Baseball Coach Kirk Nieuwenhuis Comes Full Circle

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis ’12 returned to his old stomping grounds in 2020 with a plethora of professional baseball experience, eager to help the Cougars program excel to new heights. At first, he served as an assistant coach, but after 18-year head coach Paul Svagdis left APU to return to his alma mater, Tufts University, in 2021, Nieuwenhuis was chosen to be his successor, serving at the helm of Cougar baseball.

Nieuwenhuis was a star outfielder for the Cougars from 2006-08, batting .373 over three seasons alongside eventual MLB All-Star Stephen Vogt ’07. Together, they helped APU reach the NAIA World Series in back-to-back years. Reflecting on his time as a player at APU, Nieuwenhuis said he wouldn’t trade it for anything. “I have so many good memories [of] hanging out with teammates on and off the field,” he said. “Those bonds and relationships were so strong. Many of my teammates came to my wedding, and I’ve gone to theirs. Those lifelong friendships are what made it special.”

In 2008, the New York Mets made Nieuwenhuis the highest MLB draft pick in APU history, selecting him in the third round with the 100th overall pick. “I always had a desire to play in the big leagues, but I was certainly surprised when I got drafted in the third round,” he said. Nieuwenhuis said that the first year in the minor leagues was the hardest transition as he adapted to the demanding pro schedule. “I realized quickly that I needed to rely on and draw near to God,” he said. “I remember missing a family reunion that my parents and relatives attended and feeling lonely and homesick.”

In that moment, and many more that followed throughout his professional career, Nieuwenhuis turned to a favorite Scripture, Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Nieuwenhuis knew that God had a plan for his life and he could only take things day by day. “In all the uncertainty, that verse provided comfort for me, knowing that God’s in control and I could trust Him.”

This trust in God proved pivotal to Nieuwenhuis’ career. It took a few years before he matriculated from the minor leagues to MLB, but when he debuted in 2012, Nieuwenhuis made a splash, batting .252 with 7 home runs, 12 doubles, and 28 RBIs over 91 games. He appeared in 226 games for the Mets over the next three years, but was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in 2015, before being cut and re-signing with the Mets in a matter of weeks. “I relied on God a lot during that time,” he said. Later that year, Nieuwenhuis became the first player to hit three home runs in a single game at Citi Field and the first Cougar to play in a World Series. “That was the highlight of my professional career. It just emphasized how special baseball is and the excitement you have in playing with your teammates at the highest level. I was just so grateful for the opportunity to play in a World Series. It’s something that every ballplayer dreams of but there’s not many people that get to do it.”

Nieuwenhuis went on to play a few more seasons in the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers before deciding to end his professional playing career. Soon after, he received a call from his former head coach at APU. “I didn’t know if coaching was ultimately the career for me, but coming back to APU felt right. I wouldn’t have done it anywhere else,” he said.

Nieuwenhuis said Coach Svagdis was a great mentor during his time playing for APU and an even better teacher in the two years Nieuwenhuis was able to coach under him. “I was a pretty fiery player and he helped me keep my emotions in check on the field and channel them into higher levels of performance, especially in high-stakes games,” Nieuwenhuis said. “In terms of coaching, the biggest thing I learned from him is that players respond to different styles of coaching. What works for one of my guys may not work for another, so I have to get to know my players and how to coach each of them best.”

Nieuwenhuis teaches his players to focus on each pitch. “Being present during a game and in life takes an incredible amount of mental energy; that’s why it helps to focus on just one day or one pitch at a time,” he said. “My players are learning, just like I did, to trust the process, not the results. You don’t always get the results you want, but you can control the process and learn from it.”

Coaching at APU provides Nieuwenhuis with an avenue for sharing his faith with his players. “That’s not something you get to do everywhere,” he said. “It’s important for me to help them learn the perspective that baseball is important, but whether you win or lose, at the end of the day, it’s just a game. The bonds these guys form with each other, how they treat people, and ultimately their relationship with the Lord is far more important than anything they do on the field.”

After working with the team each day, Nieuwenhuis returns home to his wife, Bethany, and their two children. His professional career taught him a lot about how to prioritize his time. “When I leave the field, I leave work behind. My time at home is for my family and I’m grateful that coaching at APU allows me to be present and focused with them,” he said.

For Nieuwenhuis, it truly feels like he has come full circle—after an amazing collegiate baseball career at APU, he spent years cutting his teeth in the minor leagues, then made a lasting impact at the MLB level, and now is back at his alma mater coaching the next generation of Cougars. “It’s definitely been an honor and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be back on the campus where I learned so much and made many lifelong memories and friends.”

Melissa Moore: Finding My Voice through “Faith Hope Love”

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Although the decade after graduating from Azusa Pacific University didn’t go exactly according to plan, Melissa (Dowdy) Moore ’11 is living her dream. Moore is the host of the “Faith Hope Love” show on Spirit Radio in Visalia, Calif. “I dreamed of being on the radio as a kid, but I never thought it could actually happen. I was a bit of a nerd and lacked the courage necessary,” she said. “It was only over time that God gave me the opportunities—many of which were at APU—to slowly build my confidence, to trust in Him that whatever He called me to, He would make happen.”

Originally from Cambria, Calif., Moore attended church as a child, but it wasn’t until high school that her faith became her own. “One day it just hit me that this isn’t just a book to read or songs to sing on Sunday, God cares intimately about me. I was starting to look at schools and I chose APU because God was central. I knew I could grow in my faith and character there.”

Moore found her community at APU, thriving in different areas across campus. During her freshman year, she joined Bel Canto and had an amazing time performing on tour. As a sophomore, she studied abroad in South Africa. “It really took me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to learn about God in new ways. Seeing different perspectives and forms of worship taught me that I had so much to learn,” Moore said. “A church there even asked me to preach, which was a life changing experience.” As a junior, Moore served as a resident advisor (RA) in Adams Hall and a research and teacher’s assistant (TA) in the Department of Psychology, leading her to broaden her horizons, before graduating a semester early with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Biblical Studies.

Following graduation, Moore began a job at a local church and later went back to school for a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) at Western Seminary. “I was about halfway through the program when my husband, Chris, and I experienced tremendous loss,” she said. “We had three miscarriages back-to-back. I thought I had been through grief before, but that just hit me differently.” Moore questioned what God was doing in her life.

As part of her recovery, Moore stopped pursuing her MFT, ending up with a Diploma in Pastoral Care to Women instead. “God was pulling me in a different direction. I was able to use my gifts of counsel and connecting with the hearts of women,” she said. Moore began speaking to groups of women about her grief, before delving into other topics. She enjoyed speaking, but was forced to pivot when the pandemic struck. One of her friends had suggested starting a podcast a year earlier, but Moore had dismissed the idea at the time. “Then I was stuck at home bored because of COVID. I needed to do something. I decided to take my friend’s suggestion.” For the show, she reached out to a few publishers and started receiving author interviews. “I got to talk with Joana Weaver and Suzanne Stabile—these were bucket list authors for me,” she said. “I had many friends supporting me, listening to the show. It was nice to see the impact it was having.”

About a year later, Moore got a call from a producer at Spirit Radio, who wanted to turn her podcast into a radio show. She accepted the position and has hosted “Faith Hope Love” weekdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. since the beginning of 2022. “My biggest goal for my show is for people to know how God loves them. If we can fully embrace the unconditional, unmerited, incredible love God has for us, it can change our lives,” she said. “I’ve seen it happen for me personally. I went through so much in my 20s that I never thought I’d have to endure, but God’s love pulled me through and gave me hope for the future.”

Although she’s living her dream now, there were many challenging moments along the way. “There were a few times I almost quit. I was afraid,” Moore said. “I found that when you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone, even when you’re terrified and there’s no guarantee of success, God shows up. He has a plan.” Moore gained the tools she needed to step out in faith through her collegiate experience. “Being an RA, a TA, presenting research, performing on stage, sharing my faith in South Africa—all of these things helped me build the confidence I needed to succeed,” she said. “I can honestly say that I wouldn't be who I am or where I am today without APU.”

Breaking Barriers: Randall Trice '19, '20 Provides Foster Youth with Shoes for Grades

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

Randall Trice '19, '20 got lost on his first day of school at Azusa Pacific University. As he tried to find the way to his theology class, his nerves began to grow. When he finally stumbled into the classroom, his professor, Paul Shrier, looked at him with compassion and asked if he was looking for theology. Trice nodded and Shrier replied, “Well then, you’re in the right spot. Have a seat.”

As a first generation student, the struggle to get to that classroom on his first day of college was symbolic of a greater challenge. “I didn’t have any family to show me how to fill out the FAFSA application or how to read a syllabus. I had to learn to navigate college on my own,” he said.

As he adjusted to college life, he explored majors. Like many students, Trice wasn’t sure what career path to take. He knew he loved working with kids and thought about becoming a nurse, then a psychologist, before discovering his dream profession. “There are so many avenues to travel with social work. You won’t become rich by being a social worker, but you will gain a lot of knowledge and be able to help many people,” he said.

With a clear direction now in mind as a social work major, Trice focused on growing in his faith. He had chosen APU because of the university’s God First commitment. Although he grew up going to church for the first half of his life, his faith had dissipated over the years. “I wanted to get connected back to God. I felt lost for so long and knew I needed His guidance,” he said. “When I got to APU, it was like Christmas day. Chapel provided the spiritual TLC I needed. I wanted to stand up, put my hands up, and just groove to the worship. I was like a kid in a candy store.”

As Trice flourished spiritually, he developed a passion for education. After he graduated in 2019, he went on to earn his Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree in 2020. As part of his MSW coursework, Trice had to analyze a nonprofit organization. He didn’t like any of the available options, so he decided to start his own. “My professor, Donna Gallup, told me if I could come up with a mission statement and a target audience, she'd let me make my own for the class project. I had an idea in my head for a while before that, but this led me to put it on paper and start it soon after that.” Based out of Pasadena, Trice’s idea is now a functioning nonprofit called Shoes4Grades, which donates shoes to foster youth. Kids can get one pair of shoes for free. If they’d like to get a second, all they have to do is bring up their quarterly scores by 5 percent, or half a letter grade. “I wanted Shoes4Grades to motivate kids to do well academically and to develop a lifelong love of learning,” he said. “If you can get a good education, you can break the cycle of poverty and set an example for the next generation to follow.”

This mission is personal for Trice. At 9-years-old, he and his brother were separated from their mother and placed in the Department of Children and Family Services care. Trice went from living somewhere without gas, hot water, and very little food to a place where his needs were met. “Being put in foster care was the best thing that could have happened at the time,” he said. “We were not living in good conditions. I prayed and prayed and God answered. Although the transition arose from some unfortunate events, it was something we desperately needed.”

As Trice settled into life in his new home, he began to go to school, something he hadn’t done before. Unfortunately, he experienced something many foster kids can relate to—bullying. “All of my clothes were hand-me-downs, things that other foster kids had worn before, but weren’t really fit for me,” he said. “A lot of kids were really mean. They’d pick on me because I didn’t have the latest clothes or shoes.” This changed when he joined the basketball team. “I was pretty good at basketball back then, so kids decided they would rather align with me than bully me,” he said. “Sports were definitely the common denominator for us.”

While Trice began to find acceptance socially, he still struggled academically. “I was a poor reader. I didn’t fully learn how to read until 7th grade,” he said. “My mother never sat down and read with us. My caregiver didn’t even know because I was too embarrassed to say anything about it.” Trice’s lack of literacy made it hard to succeed in school, until one day when he found the courage to ask his English teacher for help. “She took me to a reading club where I started learning basic phonics and how to blend words. It took a long time and was very frustrating at first, but she kept pushing me to show up and learn.” After Trice learned to read, his grades drastically improved. By the time he graduated high school, his GPA was strong enough to apply to college. He attended a school in Maryland, before coming back home to take classes in a setting where he felt more comfortable, transferring to Pasadena City College, before landing at APU.

Trice strives to make sure his sons Jordan, 11, and Kyrie, 3, have the upbringing he lacked. While taking a full load of classes at APU, he worked a full-time job as a campus supervisor at a group home called Hillsides. Balancing higher education, a job, and fatherhood was a tall task. “Jordan’s schedule often conflicted with mine, so I had to be proactive and move things around so I could be there for him,” he said. “I don’t know how I did it, but it all worked out.” Failure was not an option since Trice was determined to set an example for his sons. “That’s why I went to school, to lay down the foundation for them to follow. Education opened up so many doors for me, and I want them to experience the same thing, just without the barriers I faced.”

This is what Trice aims to do through Shoes4Grades, to remove obstacles, allowing children to thrive in school. As of June 30, 2022, the organization has donated 2,307 pairs of shoes to children in need in the community and across the nation. The results have been striking– the motivation of new shoes has led to children getting much better grades. Trice hopes to continue the growth of Shoes4Grades by building a facility to provide a space for mentoring and tutoring. He also hopes to partner with a shoe company. “We want to go from 2,000 pairs of shoes to 200,000, but we don’t have the funds for that,” he said. “If we had a partner to help us, we could expand our impact, blessing more kids in the community with confidence and encouraging them to do well academically.”

Faith got Trice where he is today and it continues to guide him. “My faith is a huge part of every decision I make,” he said. “My favorite verse has always been ‘with God, all things are possible.’ God called me to start Shoes4Grades. I hope my example shows that anything is truly possible through God.”

Randall Trice is APU’s nominee for the 2023 Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) Young Alumni Award which recognizes an individual (or a team of individuals working in a joint venture) who has achieved uncommon leadership or success in a way that reflects the values of Christian higher education.

Manuel Camacho: My Faith Comes First

This article was originally published on APU’s website.

When Manuel Camacho walks across the stage at Azusa Pacific University’s commencement ceremony in May 2023, he will have accomplished a lifelong goal: to become the first person in his family to graduate from college. Camacho’s hard work led to this moment, but it wouldn’t have been possible alone.“I have a lot of my family rooting for me, helping me stay focused on graduating,” he said. “I want to make them proud.”

It all began with a simple campus tour. Camacho received a letter in the mail from APU, and although he didn’t know much about the school, he and his mother decided to make the 45-minute drive from Colton to check it out. “We both fell in love with APU and all it had to offer. By the end of the tour, we were already talking with admissions and signing up for registration,” he said. “I knew this was the right place for me.”

As a first generation college student, Camacho faced many challenges. Not knowing where to turn, Camacho found APU’s community provided the help he needed to thrive. “The community aspect was so impactful for me,” he said. “APU was where I learned it’s okay to be friendly and talk to random people, to introduce yourself to strangers and just have conversations. That was very new for me. It made it easy to make friends, which I’m grateful for.”

Camacho also enjoys the Christian aspect of APU’s community, the way it feels to be at an institution that puts God First. “My faith comes first,” he said. “Ever since my Mom and I were reintroduced to church when I was 14, my faith has continued to grow. It influences every decision I make in my business, school, and life. It’s great to be surrounded by a community of people who share my values at APU.”

With an entrepreneurial background, Camacho decided to major in business. “I’ve learned a lot in my classes that will help me later in life,” he said. “For now, the most important thing I’ve learned is the significance of networking, which helps me in my current business.” He runs his own company called Camacho Customs, where he creates one-of-a-kind designs on shoes. “It started at the beginning of COVID. I was looking for something to make and I began researching customized shoes. I taught myself how to create them,” he said. “At first I was just doing commissions for friends and family, then other people began hearing about my shoes through word of mouth.” Camacho has created dozens of designs on leather and canvas sneakers— everything from Vans and Converses to Nike Air Force 1s and even a pair of $400 Air Jordans. His past designs include sports teams’ colors, band logos/album covers, animated characters, flowers, cups of coffee, and everything in between. Camacho showcases his designs on Instagram and TikTok. “I bring my customers’ ideas to life.”

As Camacho’s business continues to grow, he has not lost sight of the big picture. “One day I’d like to partner with a shoe company to expand my business,” he said. “For now though, my number one goal is graduating. I’m excited to make my family proud when I walk across that stage.”

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.”