“Adding the LPCC program positions APU ahead of the curve,” said David Morrison, Ed.D., professor and chair in the Department of School Counseling and School Psychology. “Thanks in large part to faculty member Paul Bernard, who helped develop the program and serves as the coordinator, APU stands as one of the first schools in California to offer this program. We anticipate a great increase in enrollment in coming semesters and expect the LPCC certificate to make a positive impact in mental health care programs.”
The LPCC program, which includes the involvement of three full-time and seven adjunct professors, comprises four courses and the completion of fieldwork hours. Students learn basic and advanced skills involved in clinical practice and study the topics of psychopharmacology, psychobiology, addictions assessment, and intervention. Fieldwork and internships occur at school sites, in juvenile detention centers, in mental health centers, and at other clinical sites where students learn to address issues related to personal growth, adjustment to disability, crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental programs in schools and other settings.
“We look forward to seeing how the addition of the LPCC certificate helps address California’s mental health care needs by preparing competent and compassionate professionals dedicated to excellence,” said Michael Block, Ph.D., program director and professor in the Department of School Counseling and School Psychology.
Program candidates must have a master’s degree in counseling, clinical counseling, or a related field to be admitted to the program. Beginning in 2012, the department will propose a master’s degree program in school psychology with an embedded LPCC certificate.
This certificate broadens graduates’ career options by allowing them to practice beyond the K–12 school counseling arena. Options include opening their own private practice, working in nonpublic schools or foster homes, and counseling individuals and families. “The certificate is a great addition to a candidate’s skill set,” said Block. “It positions them as competitive and highly marketable professionals in this area of study.”
Those values and lessons still exist in the 21st-century workplace and in the ethos of exceptional corporate executives like Jim Lee ’74, president and chief operating officer of Stater Bros. Markets. Lee credits his parents, who weathered the Dust Bowl days with hard work and instilled in him a strong faith, with his personal and professional success. “My dad served in World War II and then worked two jobs most of his life while my mom worked as a hairdresser for more than 50 years,” said Lee. “They rarely had new clothes, but they always had clean clothes, and they taught me by example that love and respect mattered more than dollars and cents.”
Lee kept that family tradition close to his heart as he set off to make his own mark. His journey began with a job as a clerk’s helper “box boy” at a local Ralphs grocery store and a scholarship to play basketball at Azusa Pacific College. Then-coach Cliff Hamlow, Ph.D., APU vice president emeritus, remembers Lee well even four decades later. “Jim was part of a great group of freshman players. I definitely saw leadership qualities in him, but what really stood out was his work ethic,” he said. “He understood the game and what it meant to be part of the team. He was never afraid to get sweat on his brow.”
Despite his tenacity, the Cougars’ exceptionally talented roster caused Lee to suspect he wouldn’t see much of the court at APU in the years that followed, so he transferred to neighboring Citrus Community College. The following year, California State University, Fullerton recruited him, but something or Someone told Lee it wasn’t where he belonged. He swallowed his pride and called Hamlow. “He could have made that call very difficult for me,” said Lee. “He could have rightfully told me that I had made my choice and there was no room for me on the team. Instead, Coach Hamlow said something that changed my life and became an important element in my career and my relationships. He said, ‘I’ve been saving a place for you.’ That simple act of forgiveness made such an impact on me that it now affects how I do business every day.”
Today, the man who began as a grocery bagger now heads one of the largest food corporations in the nation with a leadership philosophy forged from key mentors in his life. “I have a bit of Coach Hamlow in me,” he said, “and a bit of Jerry Smith, my manager at my first job, and a definite influence from an amazing man, Jack Brown, Stater Bros.’ CEO. They each modeled for me how to truly value people.” And like them, he gives back by paying it forward. “Jim inspires those around him and instills the confidence to reach higher,” said a Stater Bros. employee who has worked closely with Lee for 10 years. “He makes you want to do your very best, not only for the company, but for yourself. I am forever a better employee, but more importantly, a better person having worked for, and with, Jim.”
Over the years, Lee garnered similar respect from those outside the organization as he built a reputation for creating a workplace culture characterized by integrity. In 2008, APU honored him with the Academic Hall of Honor Award. The USC Marshall School of Business Food Industry Management Program named him the Food Industry Executive of the Year for 2010. And this year, he received the 2011 Humanitarian Award from the California Conference for Equality and Justice for his longtime dedication and service to the food industry.
Befitting the influence of his parents’ Depression-era wisdom, Lee humbly shrugs off the accolades and points to the true treasures in his life—his faith; his wife of nearly 40 years, Nancy; and their two daughters and four grandchildren. In a time when so many want to start at the top of their field, the Jim Lees of the world remind others of the value in beginning at the bottom, the satisfaction of a job well done, and the reward of contentment and peace that comes only from a life lived and worked for the Lord.
“My husband and I had never been to a marriage building seminar before, but were interested in attending one that had a biblical foundation and hearing about how to better a marriage with Christ,” said Cindy Olson, one of the conference’s attendees. “The biggest thing the conference provided us with was a reminder of the value of communication. We benefited from hearing Jim and Doug speak about simple tools that can be used to produce healthy communication within marriage. It is absolutely an event that I would recommend to other couples and one that we look forward to attending again next year.”
The two-day event brought together about 300 couples to focus on topics including marriage priorities, communication and conflict resolution, creative romance, intimacy, and growing spiritually together.
“I knew this conference was worth going to when I learned about the collaboration between Jim and Doug, both leading voices in ministry,” said Anthony Prince who attended the conference. “It was a great thing for my wife and I to be able to do together. Doug did an illustration where he put one balloon inside of another and showed that it was impossible to pop the outside balloon without also popping the one inside. He used this to show that in a marriage, one person cannot be harmed without harming the other and that the individuals are in it together.”
“Doug Fields brought fantastic humor and some of the strongest content I have ever seen in a marriage conference,” said Burns. “My favorite part was watching most of the couples renew their vows at the very end. Watching people hold each other while smiling, laughing, and crying was incredible. I loved the event and look forward to more at APU in the future.”
The HomeWord Center for Youth and Family is also hosting a family ministry conference in May to help church leaders be more effective in reaching families in the church. The FAM Conference will take place at APU May 10–12, 2012.
The students connected with FWM through their professor, Susan Shore, PT, Ph.D., who began volunteering as a consultant and researcher in 2008, conducting studies to determine the effectiveness of FWM’s first-generation wheelchair design. As her involvement with the nonprofit grew, it opened opportunities for her students to fulfill their residency requirement. Three years later, Don Schoendorfer, FWM president and founder, asked Felipe, Trotter, and Cain to create a training program for World Vision employees in Zambia, enabling them to correctly modify the new model to fit a variety of recipients. Excited to use the knowledge they had gained and eager to make an impact in a population so desperately in need, they agreed.
The collaboration proved useful for all involved. “The application of their physical therapy skills was a learning experience for the students. World Vision Zambia benefited from training sessions the students gave. Free Wheelchair Mission benefited from the partnership forged with World Vision in helping the disabled poor,” said Shore.
Because the training program is specific to the chair, the impact will not be confined to the Zambians or World Vision. Instead, the students created a resource for FWM that paves the way for potential recipients who still wait for a miracle. “FWM is immensely grateful for Nick, Brittani, and Jaclyn, and their help in developing our GEN_2 distribution and user training program. Their contribution will be an invaluable resource used around the world with World Vision and all our other distribution partners,” said Whitney Blaesser, FWM international operations manager.
While the DPT students expected to see the benefits to FWM and their disabled patients, they realized they had been blessed as well. “I went on this trip because I wanted to use the skills I’d learned to help others in need,” said Felipe. “It ended up being so much more. From training World Vision employees to actually distributing wheelchairs in Zambian villages, each experience helped me see beyond life in the U.S. to the overwhelming need in other parts of the world.”
Trotter saw the need as tangible on more than one level. As she glanced out at the crowd during their last distribution, she was drawn to the sight of a woman laughing and turning her new chair in circles. To her, the joy and hope radiating from the woman’s face represented the most important part of their work. “I loved that we got to help others in the name of Jesus and practically meet their needs while pointing them toward Christ,” said Trotter. “It reminded me that our God cares deeply about His Creation.”
A college degree is becoming essential to securing employment. The U.S. Department of Labor finds that 62 percent of all U.S. jobs now require a two- or four-year degree. The number is expected to increase to 75 percent of all U.S. jobs by 2020. While the value of a college education is evident, many families ponder how to pay for one. Amid the current economic climate, Americans must exercise more financial caution than ever in selecting a college.
In response to greater student need, Azusa Pacific University has increased its financial aid budget by $7 million over the last three years, according to David Dufault-Hunter, vice president of enrollment management. The average award per student grew by about $2,000.
Hunter also said that 92 percent of APU students receive financial aid. APU institutional aid accounted for 65 percent of total aid for students in the 2010—11 school year, with state aid making up 17 percent and federal aid making up 13 percent.
For students considering Azusa Pacific, here are six tips for cutting the cost of tuition:
1. Check on merit-based awards during your sophomore year in high school to ensure you meet criteria.
APU offers many merit-based awards for incoming freshmen and transfers. The Trustees Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship awarded to five first-time freshmen who are interviewed and selected by the Trustees’ Scholarship Committee. In addition, APU offers academic awards for incoming freshmen ranging from $6,000 to $10,000 per year, depending on academic standing, SAT and ACT scores, and grade-point average. There are also transfer scholarships available, which award $4,000 to $5,000 per year, depending on grade-point average.
2. Take AP classes in high school to reduce your time in college.
By taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes, you can complete general studies requirements, such as Freshmen Writing Seminar, Introduction to Literature, or foreign language classes, ahead of coming to APU. With those classes out of the way, you focus on your major and reduce the time it takes to graduate.
3. Research APU and community-based scholarships.
APU offers scholarships in music, athletics, acting, musical theater performance, cinematic arts production, forensics, vocational pastoral ministry, multi-ethnic leadership, chemistry, biochemistry, and many others. The requirements and number of awards vary depending on the department, so make sure to research the scholarship(s) that interests you.
There are also exclusive scholarship opportunities for Azusa residents through the Azusa Scholars program. Each year, five Azusa Unified School District (AUSD) graduates and two transfer students from Citrus College are awarded the Celebrate Azusa Citizen/Nancy Moore Scholarship. These renewable $5,000 scholarships cover up to four years. This scholarship honors community service and academic achievement and encourages students’ personal growth and development. Scholarship recipients must engage in consistent service within the city of Azusa, discussion forums once a semester, a one-on-one mentor program, and training retreats once a year.
Junior social work major Marie Millares is an Azusa Scholar who sees the benefit of attending a private university where she will graduate on time.
“I feel like I’m paying less than my friends who go to University of California schools,” Millares said.
4. Explore affordable summer classes.
By taking two full-time summer semesters, you can reduce the length of your program by one year. During the summer, APU offers 60 percent off of tuition, with the exception of nursing classes. The classes are offered in short, intensive four-to-six-week terms with morning and afternoon sessions. You can even stay in Azusa with flexible and affordable campus housing.
5. Participate in a Federal Work-Study Program.
The Federal Work-Study Program provides funds for part-time employment to help students finance college.
Senior communications studies major David Gracida receives $1,500 a year for working on campus in the Information and Media Technology (IMT) office.
“APU has helped me pay for college,” Gracida said. “And the Federal Work-Study Program gives me valuable job experience.”
6. Look for external scholarship programs on the Web.
Reputable scholarship search sites allow you to find and apply for scholarships outside of institutional and federal aid. CollegeBoard.com offers a scholarship search and currently helps 7 million students annually prepare for higher education. Their scholarship database contains more than 2,300 scholarship opportunities, totaling nearly $3 billion.
Fastweb has helped 50 million students find money since the site was founded 15 years ago. Fastweb’s site indicates they currently have roughly 1.5 million scholarships worth $3.4 billion in their database.
Another resource, Scholarships.com now claims to be the largest free and independent scholarship search and financial aid information resource on the Internet, with more than 2.7 million scholarships, totaling $19 billion, in their database.
While researching scholarships and applying for financial aid can be time consuming, Pamela Christian, Ph.D., professor and chair of APU’s Department of Doctoral Studies in Education, reminds us that college is worth the effort and investment.
“In today’s competitive marketplace, establishing a career calls for at least an undergraduate degree, often a master’s degree, and substantial experience,” Christian said. “A college education serves as a prerequisite for both marketability and flexibility.”
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray so the world would know they were His followers, He taught them a prayer in which one of the central tenets is to “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Forgiveness is not optional for Christ followers. In fact, it stands as a primary virtue that defines Christian faith. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In fact, true forgiveness is not fully possible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Platitudes like “just forgive and forget” not only trivialize the challenge of forgiveness, but also heap additional guilt on people struggling to forgive those who have hurt them. How can the people of God learn to forgive as Christ has forgiven us?
The film Dead Man Walking portrays the story of Sister Helen Prejean as she struggles to serve as spiritual advisor to Louisiana death row inmate Matthew Poncelet. Although fictional, the story illustrates Sister Helen’s real experiences ministering to convicts like Matthew. I love the beautiful and complicated way the film portrays Christian forgiveness. It also reveals at least three important truths about forgiveness.
First, I am reminded that in order for forgiveness to take place, sin must be taken seriously. In the film, other spiritual leaders remain unconcerned about Matthew experiencing forgiveness. Their primary concerns are that he partakes in the Eucharist (simply as ritual) and that he goes peaceably to his execution. But Sister Helen refuses to pacify him or bestow an empty blessing. She keeps working, talking, probing, and loving until Matthew—who consistently blames others for his horrific crimes—tells the truth about himself and his actions.
In a powerful moment of genuine confession, Matthew breaks down with Sister Helen and reveals the truth about his responsibility in the brutal murder of two young people. In that Spirit-filled moment of confession, Sister Helen looks at him, extending the grace of Christ. She quotes John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Genuine forgiveness and absolution take place when Matthew faces the truth about himself.
Christians often desire forgiveness without confession of sin. Forgiveness requires that we take sin seriously. Humankind is very good at blame. When God finds sinful Adam hiding from Him in the Garden of Eden, He asks him if he had eaten from the forbidden tree. Adam replies, “The woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it” (Genesis 3:12). Did you catch that? Adam worked in a double-blame. He blamed the woman and her Creator for his sin. From the beginning, humankind has excelled at covering sin, ignoring our rebelliousness, or shifting the blame for brokenness to others. Forgiveness cannot begin until we recognize, name, and confess the ways we have been hurt and the ways that we have hurt others.
Second, forgiveness means moving toward reconciliation and not just retribution. The ancient concept of justice focused on restoring balance in the world. For most people, however, justice is more about retribution.
In Dead Man Walking, the devastation wrought on the families of Matthew’s victims overwhelms. But even more horrific is how their anger and bitterness begin to define their existence. Both families work diligently for, and finally get to witness, Matthew’s death as punishment for his actions. But as is always the case, retribution fails to bring longed-for peace.
Which leads me to my final observation. Forgiveness takes practice, or more precisely, it takes practices. My favorite quote from the movie is toward the end when the father of one of the victims encounters Sister Helen after Matthew’s funeral. Still filled with hate, he tells Sister Helen he wishes he could move on, but he simply doesn’t have her faith. She responds with some exasperation, “It isn’t faith. It’s work!”
In that one brief line, the contrast between Sister Helen and the others in the film becomes clear. Sister Helen isn’t a model of Christian forgiveness because she believes in God more than others. She isn’t some kind of “super saint”—far from it. Sister Helen embodies forgiveness and grace in the most challenging of circumstances because she works every day at peace and reconciliation. In small and large ways, she works at and practices forgiveness.
Becoming people of forgiveness requires our participation in the Spirit-filled practices of forgiveness. Forgiveness in the most challenging moments occurs only when we have learned to forgive in the small moments. John Wesley led his Methodist small groups to begin their weekly encounters with the question, “How have you sinned since the last time we got together?” How much better would the people of God be at forgiveness if we took sin seriously enough to practice confessing and forgiving one another?
Dead Man Walking ends with Sister Helen and the victim’s father kneeling in prayer. Forgiveness isn’t easy. It takes work. But it is one of the primary qualities that define us as Christ’s disciples. He forgives us our debts and we, by His grace, work at forgiving our debtors.
Students pursuing careers working with persons with disabilities received a significant boost toward their goal in fall 2011 with the distribution of APU’s Joni Eareckson Tada Scholarship, which helps identify, encourage, train, and prepare undergraduate social work and practical theology students called to that work. The first award went to Angelica Guangorena ’12, with seven more scholarships earmarked for APU students throughout the next three years.
“My ultimate career goal is to work with children with autism,” said Guangorena. “That God chose to bless me through this scholarship validates that I am going in the right direction by pursuing my passion.”
The scholarship honors Tada’s legacy of championing persons with disabilities worldwide. An internationally known speaker and author, Tada founded Joni and Friends International Disability Center, a ministry that coordinates outreaches and advocacy efforts throughout the world. “I’m deeply honored that APU established this scholarship,” said Tada. “But I am even more excited about how APU students are getting involved in disability ministry and receiving special training to share the love of Christ with special needs families.”
Peggy Campbell, the scholarship’s primary donor and APU Board of Trustees member, describes the importance. “Serving on the Board of Trustees has afforded me an ideal position to see APU’s God First motto lived out in so many avenues,” said Campbell. “It is tremendously encouraging to know that Joni’s longtime commitment to those with disabilities, and those with family and friends with disabilities, will continue to equip students like Angelica to use both their spiritual and professional strengths to serve this community.”
The scholarship coincides with the creation of the interdisciplinary course Suffering: Theological and Practical Perspective on Disabilities. Mary Rawlings, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Undergraduate Social Work, identified the need for curriculum that helped students understand the theology of suffering. Rawlings and Cheryl Crawford, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Practical Theology, co-developed and co-teach the class, aligning with Crawford’s desire to increase content on disabilities in the curriculum for practical theology.
The course develops an understanding of the impact disabilities have on the lives of individuals and families, increases awareness of current available resources in the community, helps students develop a personal theology of suffering, and uses this knowledge to articulate strategies churches can implement to better meet the needs of those with disabilities.
“Our goal was to combine both a theological and social work perspective to best prepare students for working alongside persons with disabilities,” said Rawlings. “We are thrilled that this scholarship invests in future Christian leaders who express a passion for working with people with disabilities. Joni’s work and the efforts of her center exemplify what we hope to accomplish in our students: an effective combination of faith and skilled service.”
“This competition is a way to teach students that to be green means not to waste,” said Toney Snyder, assistant director of environmental stewardship. “Jesus cared about the planet and we as believers have a responsibility to be aware of our resource usage and to conserve. Our goal is to train students to develop better conservation habits.” Students were given practical tips on how to save water, such as turning off the faucet while they brush their teeth, and adjusting shower heads to reduce water pressure.
The conservation competition adds to the list of many efforts made by the department to assist APU with being good stewards of resources. The university has completed many conservation projects since 2006, including replacing light bulbs around campus with energy saving ones, the development of recycling programs, and installing low-flow shower heads. The light bulb project alone saves the university $125,000 in electricity costs annually.
For the second consecutive year, Azusa Pacific University’s Department of Theater, Film, and Television received a $7,500 grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), supporting student filmmakers with their projects and giving them invaluable filmmaking experience. Other beneficiaries include the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Columbia University, Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, and New York University.
Each year, HFPA hosts the third-most-watched award show on television, the Golden Globes, which has enabled the organization to donate more than $12 million to entertainment-related charities and scholarship programs with the goal of preserving the culture and art of motion pictures. “Azusa Pacific University is grateful to the Hollywood Foreign Press for its commitment to assisting the next generation of filmmakers in learning their craft,” said Michael Smith, Ed.D., associate professor in the Department of Theater, Film, and Television. “This prestigious grant increases the credibility of our program by enabling our students to create films that compete on a national and international level with other top-rated university film schools.”
To date, HFPA has helped fund eight senior capstone film projects involving 31 APU students, including the award-winning production The Good River. Named Best Student Film at the 2011 Offshoot Film Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and earning third place at the 2011 Elgin Film Festival in Elgin, Illinois, The Good River screened at the James River Shorts Film Festival in Richmond, Virginia, and the Stepping Stone Film Festival in Bengaluru, India.
“My experience in producing our senior thesis project, The Good River, allowed me to put my passion for filmmaking to the test, and I was able to explore what filmmaking really entailed,” said Lauren Guerard ’11, one of the film’s producers. “Receiving the HFPA grant provided that first step our team needed for the success of our filmmaking journey.”
Holguin’s assignment (completed with two classmates as part of his MBA capstone class) required the creation of a comprehensive business plan that incorporated all aspects of previous coursework: accounting, human resources, marketing, operations, economics, and international business. Holguin’s idea has since turned into reality. He started multiple businesses in the marketplace with the sole purpose of funneling funds into overseas ministry efforts.
Upon graduation, Holguin started Working to Give, Inc., and the Working to Give Foundation. The for-profit Working to Give, Inc., operates Colossal Gelato and Legendairy Gelato, two portable gelato booths that frequent state fairs in California and Arizona, and Popular, a gourmet popsicle kiosk located in Downtown Disney in Anaheim. Holguin invests 50 percent of the profits back into growing the businesses, and funnels the other half into the not-for-profit foundation that invests in missions work, microloans, orphanages, documentary videos, and other difference-making efforts overseas in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. “The whole point of Working to Give, Inc., is to make lots of money,” Holguin admitted. “The more money the for-profit arm makes, the more resources the Working to Give Foundation will have to invest overseas!”
Holguin encountered a compelling example of this business model’s potential for changing lives during a recent trip to Uganda. A wood carver who cares for 16 orphans came to him requesting a $12 microloan. He needed the money to buy blocks of wood he would use to teach the orphans to carve animal figurines that they could sell at the market. Thus, that investment forms the foundation for a useful trade for the orphans to support themselves in the future. “In business, we like to talk about return on investment,” explained Holguin. “Twelve dollars to change 16 lives? To lift 16 orphans out of poverty? Talk about return on investment!”
Holguin also discovered an unintended consequence of this business model—it motivates people to give more freely. “Often when folks give to churches or causes, they question how much of their money really goes to helping people, and how much pays salaries or builds bigger buildings,” he said. This model removes that hurdle, because the for-profit company covers the salaries and overhead, allowing all of the money channeled to the foundation to go directly to those in need. Holguin asserts that this act of removing barriers follows a biblical example. “If we are to follow Paul’s example, we need to remove any obstacle stopping us from communicating the Gospel’s message of hope. And for us in the United States, what greater barrier is there than money? So the question is: What if we remove that hurdle completely? What if we say, ‘You can give as you are led, but I don’t need your money?’”
Holguin saw this dynamic at work on the plane ride home from Istanbul. He sat next to an American woman and ended up telling her about the foundation’s work. She responded, “I will never be able to do that, but I have money and want to help.” She donated $1,000 on the spot. “I think there are many more people like her,” Holguin said. “Generally, Americans are generous and willing to help if they feel their dollars will really make a difference and have a personal connection to what is going on.”
To current and future APU business students, Holguin offers encouragement and a warning. “Poverty-stricken people around the globe depend on us to be faithful with the resources God has given us. Someday, you’re going to be held accountable for what you do with your gifts. Someday, God is going to say, ‘I provided you with every resource and opportunity. I placed you in the richest country, sent you to a top-notch school. What did you do with it?’ We live in a country that is the most fertile environment for success in the world. Take your education and start something new. Go for it!”
To learn more about Working to Give, visit www.workingtogive.com.
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