Check out the latest alumni updates and events
APU’s Homecoming 2024 Recap
Thank you to all of those who attended Homecoming on February 23-24!
APU’s 125th Birthday Celebration was held on Cougar Walk and, of course, birthday cake was served to all!
The 125th Anniversary Homecoming Broadcast, featuring Terry Franson and Christian Okoye '86, was a delightful event highlighting the history of APU via a video compilation across the decades—from the 1950s to the present. Watch the broadcast below.
Throughout Saturday's events, visitors were seen taking pictures at many of the favorite and most iconic places on both campuses as part of the Homecoming Scavenger Hunt.
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The Support Local Market provided an assortment of local fare with the very best of the best from artists, businesses, and culinary favorites for sale.
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One of the more festive events was the Raising Cane's VIP Lounge, where alumni guests enjoyed an exclusive experience with a wide variety of game day treats and a bird's eye view of the basketball games.
Both the APU Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams played exciting games that ended in victories against Concordia University! The wins were celebrated with a post-game dance party on the court.
All alumni are invited to join us next year at Homecoming 2025!
Prayer Letter from APU
President Adam J. Morris, PhD
President Morris asks alumni to pray for APU’s students and faculty as they began the spring semester, the families of recently passed students and graduates, and special upcoming chapel speakers.
Ep. 6: Josh Holm ’16 on Making Forbes 30 Under 30 List as a Fashion Designer in L.A.
Josh Holm ’16 majored in journalism and practical theology with a minor in leadership at APU. He’s a full-time fashion designer and creative director in Los Angeles for his fashion brand, Castles and Queens, and made the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for the Arts and Style category. In this episode, Holm talks about entrepreneurship, creative inspiration, and encouragement for future professional creatives.
Alumni Spotlight
Are you or an alum you know a difference maker and want to be featured in an APU article or Life on Film? Nominate yourself or a fellow alum.
Dave Canales ’03 Hired as Carolina Panthers Head Coach
Dave Canales ’03 was named the head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers on January 25. Canales served as the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year and spent the previous 13 years in several coaching spots for the Seattle Seahawks.
Christina Mansour ’07: Serving Students as an Educational Counselor
After 16 years teaching high school math, Christina Mansour ’07 became an educational counselor. She loves serving students, helping them plan classes, begin thinking about life after graduation, and caring for their needs through a wellness center.
Dominique Johnson ’10: Pouring Into the Next Generation
How do you define legendary? Dominique Johnson ’10 is driven to pour into the next generation. After 13 years playing professional basketball in the NBA D-League, for many international teams, and in the Big3, he returned to APU as an assistant coach for men’s basketball.
Going for the Gold: Natalie (Peterson ’17) and Chris Meinhold ’20 Make an Impact Through Physical Therapy
As APU college sweethearts now married, Natalie (’17) and Chris Meinhold ’20 are giving back to their community! Together, they are using their training from APU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program as physical therapists for the USA’s deaf basketball teams, recently winning the 2023 World Deaf Basketball Championship.
Alumni Events and Opportunities
APU Chapel: Jonathan Roumie
On February 16, APU honored acclaimed actor Jonathan Roumie, best known for his portrayal of Jesus in The Chosen, with the 2024 Inspirational Artist Award. Jonathan also spoke in chapel, which can be viewed in the video above.
Unsung Hero: Private Screening and Q&A at APU
Sunday, March 24, 2024
4 p.m.
Upper Turner Campus Center, APU East Campus
APU is proud to host a private screening of the much-anticipated film, Unsung Hero, a cinematic journey (starring for KING + COUNTRY’s Joel Smallbone) that celebrates the extraordinary achievements of ordinary individuals who have made a significant impact on their communities and the world. Following the movie screening, there will be a Q&A session with Josh Walsh, the esteemed film producer of Jesus Revolution and Unsung Hero.
Availability for this event is limited, and we’re accepting registrations on a first-come, first-served basis. Register by March 22 to secure your tickets.
APU All-Community Chapel:
Joni Eareckson Tada
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
10:30-11:20 a.m.
Felix Event Center, APU West Campus
Joni Eareckson Tada is a renowned author, speaker, and founder of Joni & Friends, an influential organization in the advocacy of people with disabilities.
No registration or parking permits are required for these special chapels. Chapels may also be viewed online live at apu.edu/live/.
APU Pacific Islanders Organization’s (PIO)
35th Annual Lūʻau: Pathway to Jesus
Saturday, April 6, 2024
5:45-9 p.m.
Felix Event Center, APU West Campus
Join PIO—a student-led ethnic club that strives to honor God and share the Polynesian culture at APU—for an immersive cultural experience! This year’s Lūʻau is a celebration of the women in the Bible who paved the way for Jesus and have had a lasting impact throughout history. Enjoy a Hawaiian feast dinner and shave ice before the Lūʻau by purchasing a Dinner and Show ticket.
APU Giving Day: Alumni Decades Challenge
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
apu.edu/givingday
Get ready for this year’s APU Giving Day! Join the Alumni Decades Challenge for a chance for your grad decade to win and unlock an extra $25,000 in scholarship support for students. The winning decade gets to vote on the 2024 Alumni t-shirt design!
Click the button below to get early access to a Social Media Quick Guide and to learn how to become a Giving Day Advocate to encourage your decade to give on April 9.
50-Year Reunion
May 3-4, 2024
APU West Campus
APU invites the classes of 1973, ’74, and ’75 back to the Azusa Campus to join us for a special reunion to celebrate your friends from the class of 1974’s 50-year anniversary! Click the button below for more information and to RSVP by April 1.
Alumni Updates
If you have any news you’d like to share with the alumni community through our newsletter, let us know!
Ronald Ogan ’84 and Luisa Parra ’87 Ronald and Luisa are working closely with Young Life and other supporting organizations from around the world in the creation of a youth camp in Medellin, Colombia. They are asking for our prayers that God will call the workers, volunteers, and partnering churches from across the globe into this mission to engage Colombian youth to minister to the ends of the world.
Mike Benton ’04 Mike is currently in his third season as an NHL radio broadcaster with the Seattle Kraken as a pregame, intermission, and postgame show host. |
Caitlin (Hill) Volk ’07 Together with her brother and sister-in-law, Caitlin and her husband have launched a coffee roasting company, Inland Roasters.
Wesley Ellis ’08 Wesley is excited to announce the publication of his new book, Youth Beyond the Developmental Lens: Being Over Becoming. The book explores a theology of youth ministry that centralizes God’s action in the actuality of young people’s experience. |
Kelsy (Zarick ’14) and Jordan Rice ’16 Kelsy and Jordan are excited to announce the birth of their son, Sunny, on August 31, 2023. Jordan also earned his second master’s degree in K-12 administration and he is the vice principal at a school in Kansas City, aspiring to be a principal one day.
Justine Obiakor ’23 Justine was a presenter at the Chaffey College’s second annual Black and Brown Minds and Mattering Conference held on November 11, 2023. |
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