APU News
Announcing Homecoming 2023!
March 23-25, 2023
Azusa Campus
The entire APU community is invited to a weekend full of fellowship and celebration. Save the date and stay tuned for more details:
apu.edu/homecoming
Class Reunions - ALL Alumni Invited!
March 25, 2023
Azusa Campus
All alumni are invited to the class reunions, with a special recognition of the classes of 2018, ’13, ’03, ’93, and ’83 for their 5-, 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-year milestones. Let us know if you are interested in attending the reunion, being part of a reunion planning committee, or sharing reunion ideas to enhance the celebration.
Alumni Spotlight
Karen Hall ’09: Reimagining Classical Music Through Clowning
After securing several on-camera spots in TV shows and commercials as a cellist, Karen Hall’s agent suggested she take improv classes. While exploring improv, Karen stumbled upon clowning. She loved how the craft engaged the audience in a way that classical music performers were missing. “Connecting with the audience is the whole idea of the clown,” she said. “The clown exists to see and be seen, to feel and to display those changes publicly.” Read Karen’s story.
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Lydia Garcia-Usry, DNP ’19, RN, PHN:
Cultivating Transformation: Socks, Shoes, and Salvation
Lydia Garcia-Usry, DNP ’19, RN, PHN, makes a difference by cultivating nursing students who impact and, ultimately, transform the local community through service that extends beyond the hospital with a focus on whole-person care. Students recently served veterans during the time-honored Socks, Shoes, and Salvation event, November 11, exemplifying the season’s spirit of giving. Watch her transformative story by clicking the video above.
In photo, from left to right: President Morris, PhD, Deanna Daniel, DNP '19, Lydia Garcia-Usry, DNP '19, and Rev. Rick Givens, MDiv.
Alumni Opportunities
and Events
RECAP! ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT EVENTS
The Phantom of the Opera Alumni Night
The Phantom of the Opera Alumni Night was a wonderful evening! Before the show, alumni enjoyed dinner complete with a photo backdrop of the famed Paris opera house where the Phantom's story was derived. A sold-out show at APU’s Warehouse Theater gave the crowd a phenomenal performance by the cast and crew and confirmation of why APU was chosen as one of only five universities in the nation to tell this beloved story! We hope you will join us for future Alumni events supporting the amazing talent in APU’s College of the Arts.
L.A. Rams Game and Meet-and-Greet with Matt Orzech ’18
APU alumni gathered at SoFi Stadium for a L.A. Rams game and meet-and-greet with Matt Orzech ’18, APU football alumnus and L.A. Rams player #42. After the game, Matt graciously took photos and signed autographs, and one lucky alum won an official NFL L.A. Rams football signed by him. See photos of our cheering section, meet-and-greet, and APU's special shoutout on the jumbotron.
GET TICKETS! UPCOMING EVENTS
L.A. Kings Pre-Game Hangout and Hockey Game
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Crypto.com Arena
Pre-Game Hangout: 6 p.m., Golden Road Lounge
Game Start: 7:30 p.m., Section 218
The APU Alumni Engagement team invites you, your friends, and your family to join fellow alumni for a pre-game hangout in the Golden Road Lounge before we watch the Los Angeles Kings face off against the New Jersey Devils.
The exclusive hangout is for our APU group to socialize and participate in trivia and a raffle to win APU Alumni merchandise, L.A. Kings swag, signed hockey stick and puck, and game tickets. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. There will also be an opportunity to watch the L.A. Kings warm up before the game, and our group will be spotlighted during the intermission.
Ticket Price: $85—Includes discounted game ticket and pre-game hangout (parking not included).
Segerstrom Center for the Arts Presents
Disney’s Frozen: The Musical
Friday, February 17, 2023
Segerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa
Show: 7:30 p.m., Orchestra Terrace
Get discounted tickets for the musical theater production of Frozen, a show the whole family can enjoy! Following a storming success on Broadway, and earning three Tony nominations in the process, Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff head out across North America to bring the magic of Frozen to you. Limited tickets are available for this one-night-only APU alumni benefit.
Ticket Price: $45
L.A. Clippers Fan Experience and Basketball Game
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Crypto.com Arena
Watch the Stars: 5 p.m. (Entrance before general admission)
Game Start: 7 p.m., Sections 107 & 115
The APU Alumni Engagement team invites you, your friends, and your family to join fellow alumni to watch the Los Angeles Clippers face off against the Memphis Grizzlies. Before the game, our group has the opportunity to Watch the Stars, which is a special fan experience that includes entrance before general admission to watch the teams during their pre-game shoot-a-round.
Ticket Price: $78—Includes discounted game ticket (parking not included), fan experience, and an APU alumni item.
Alumni Updates
If you have any news you’d like to share with the alumni community through our newsletter—such as career or education accomplishments, a wedding announcement, or additions to your family, to name just a few— let us know!
Tamar (Nitcher) Miller ’93Tamar resides in Florida with her family and published her first book in 2022, Odd Moms Out: God's Redemptive Grace in the Lives of Five Biblical Mothers, available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. |
Michael Morrison, |
Melissa Villa-Nicholas ’05Dr. Villa-Nicholas' book Latinas on the Line: Invisible Information Workers in Telecommunications (2022, Rutgers Press) received an honorable mention for the inaugural Labor Tech Research Network Book Award. |
Arianna Quiroz ’18After spending two years in the news industry in Yuma, Arizona as a multimedia journalist and anchor, Arianna transitioned into ministry. She completed a two-year assignment at her home church and now works for a Christian media company, Sola Media. Arianna married her high school sweetheart Adam Quiroz on August 20, 2020. God did some amazing things in their life through their 10 years of friendship, dating, being long distant, and now together forever. Congratulations, Arianna and Adam! |
Sandra Contreras, |
Ernesto Ruiz, |
Jacqueline Alvarino, |
Esveiri Natali Conchas Garcia, MA ’21Esveiri is currently a residence life coordinator at the University of La Verne. |
Karina Gray ’22Karina is working as a systems engineer for L3Harris, and begins her master’s degreeat Stevens Institute of Technology in January. |
Orlando Jayasiri Gunesekere, |
Diana Macias ’22Diana is six months into her new position as a research, evaluation, and policy director. |
Journey Back Again, 2nd ed., is edited by APU Professor Diana Glyer, PhD, and the essays are written by class of 2020 Honors College alumni: Jensen Kirkendall, Jordan Mar, Britta Bunnel, Mark Jung, Hana Harbman, Josh Harbman, Anna Dickinson, Jacob Bradley, and Wyatt Zeimis. The cover is designed by current Honors College student, Caedon Spilman.
This project began as an Oxbridge book that the students wrote for their senior Honors College project in 2020. Mythopoeic Press then selected the book for commercial release.
This book is available on Amazon and appeared as #1 on Amazon’s list of “New Releases in Science Fiction and Fantasy Literary Criticism.” All proceeds from the sale of Journey Back Again will help fund The Compass Award for the best Oxbridge essay, celebrating student writers in the Honors College.
NEW! L.A. Chargers Ticket Alumni Discount
Alumni now have access to specially priced Chargers tickets for the remainder of the season! Access your offer and check out using your APU email address. Upcoming game dates include December 11, 18, and January 1. Please contact groups@Chargers.nfl.com for orders of 10 or more tickets or support regarding your order.
APU Alumni Perks
Check out your APU alumni perks and ways to save by visiting apu.enjoymydeals.com. Sign up by using the registration code: APU1899. Find local and national discounts from thousands of hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, retailers, florists, car dealers, theme parks, national attractions, concerts, sports, and events!
APU Campus Store
Alumni Discount
Alumni still have access to shop at the APU Campus Store at a discounted education price. Take advantage of seasonal sales, plus get free shipping as an added bonus by using this discount code at checkout: V7V72TS97112. Visit the APU Campus Store online.
Impact Communities
Near and Far
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APU Community News
If you want to learn more about academic and co-curricular activities at APU, please review the following newsletters shared with the APU community.
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