Roundtable Magazine ǀ Fall 2022

Courtyard

Festival

CBU sends out teams again for global mobilization

Study and enjoy nature in Lancer Farms and Gardens

new field and new era for CBU soccer teams

The Courtyard Shakespeare Festival returns to CBU. The directors and actors share why it is so important to the theatre arts community.

MUSIC CONNECTION

Alumnus Greg Johnson scores for directors and producers around the world.

COUNSELING CENTER

The director talks about the mental and emotional health of students.

WILLIAMS INSPIRED

Alumnus Martoinne Williams found his purpose and urges others to do the same.

SOCCER

The teams look forward to the home field advantage.

STUNT

The team wins back-to-back national championships.

ISP

Teams

in

countries in

program.

global

Architecture

Students visit and study major architectural monuments in Europe.

Lancer Farms and Gardens

This area on campus provides an opportunity to study and enjoy nature.

Athletics

After a four-year transition, CBU receives full

Division

status.

PRESIDENT’S NOTE

RONALD L. ELLIS

Fellow Lancers,

As you read this, a new fall semester has begun at California Baptist University. We are thrilled and excited for the campus community to gather again, to learn, make new memories and to celebrate fall events such as Midnight Madness and Parent and Family Weekend.

The articles featured in this edition of The Roundtable reflect how God continues to work through the people and the programs at California Baptist University. I am pleased to preview some of the highlights.

For example, with pandemic closures easing and the world re-opening, international travel opportunities are available once again. International Service Projects, CBU’s flagship global mobilization program, returned this summer and more than 140 participants served in 13 countries. They conducted sports camps, taught English to university students, aided with various children’s ministries and more.

Meanwhile, nearly 60 architecture students and six faculty members spent five weeks in Europe for the ultimate field trip, visiting major architectural monuments. Another seven traveled to Greece on an architectural mission trip.

Back at home, the Lancer Farms and Gardens, near the Colony apartments, supplies an opportunity to study botany and to enjoy nature. The gardens show how everything in God’s creation works together, says Dr. Jacob Lanphere, associate professor of environmental science. Speaking of nature, be sure to read about the BrightView Landscape crew who maintain CBU’s grounds. Learn how a team of 13 ensures that the CBU campus is kept beautiful and sustainable—from the sports fields to the lush, spacious lawns.

This issue of The Roundtable also features a talk with the director of the CBU Counseling Center. The mental and emotional health of our students is vital to us, and we find out what that looks like in 2022 and how the pandemic magnified anxiety for many.

We also take a close look at the popular Courtyard Shakespeare Festival. The outdoor performances returned this year after a two-year hiatus due to the global pandemic. Directors and actors share why the festival is so important to the theatre arts community.

CBU finished its transition to NCAA Division I over the summer. We are excited for the opportunity of postseason play now. Meanwhile, the soccer program celebrates playing home games again this fall—on a new field. The coaches talk about the new facilities and the teams’ philosophy.

The STUNT team, which debuted at CBU two years ago, already has made a name for itself by winning back-to-back national championships. In this issue, the coach gives us insight into the team as it prepares for its third season.

Finally, we feature two alumni who are using their CBU degrees in unique and purposeful ways. Martoinne Williams (’16), who at one time thought college was not for him, is the founder and CEO of a motivational speaking and life coaching business. Greg Johnson (’08) graduated with a degree in music theory and composition and is now scoring projects for directors and producers around the world.

This fall marks the 28th anniversary of my presidency at California Baptist University. It has been a remarkable journey, and I am convinced that the years ahead are brimming with promise and opportunity. I hope you will enjoy this edition of The Roundtable.

May the Lord continue to bless!

Ronald L. Ellis, Ph.D., President California Baptist University

THE MAGAZINE OF

CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

FALL 2022

VOLUME 64 • ISSUE 2

EDITOR

Angela Meluski

MANAGING EDITOR Vivian Quezada

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Lauren Rios, Amanda Warner

ART DIRECTOR

Edgar Garcia

PHOTOGRAPHY

CBU Athletics, Edgar Garcia, Vivian Quezada, Camille Grochowski

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Andrew Shortall

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STAY CONNECTED

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences restructuring announced

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University underwent organizational changes that became effective July 1.

“The restructuring benefited both students and faculty with continuity and collaboration,” said Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. The programs were divided into three divisions: social work, psychology, and family and culture. Previously, social work had its own department, and the remaining programs were grouped by undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson continues to oversee social work but as associate dean. Dr. Joshua Knabb became the associate dean of psychology, and Dr. Doug Wallace is the associate dean of family and culture. Additionally, Dr. Mischa Routon is the associate dean of faculty development, and Dr. Antonio Mejico is the associate dean for academic services.

“The changes provide synergy within the academic disciplines,” Gustafson said. “There will be continuity in curriculum, in leadership and research teams. I think that benefits both students and faculty.”

Gustafson said since she became dean in 2014, the number of students has grown from more than 700 to 1,800 and the number of faculty from 20 to 60. Additionally, the Center for the Study of Human Behavior, the Center for Sport and Performance Psychology, the Center for Community Engagement and Social Innovation, and the Psychological Services of Riverside clinic have opened.

CBU creates Collinsworth School of Performing Arts

The music and theatre programs at California Baptist University have been joined together to create the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts effective July 1.

The change benefits students by integrating faculty and resources, said Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the Collinsworth School of Performing Arts. The school was formerly known as the Collinsworth School of Music.

“The faculty and administration are confident that we can serve our theatre and music students better by combining faculty, resources, vision and cultures,” Bolin said.

The coming academic year will bring minimal changes to the programs as faculty and administrators focus on developing a strategy as the school moves forward, he said.

“This is a merger of two significant CBU communities into something new and unprecedented in the university's history—a unified school of performing artists committed to applying its full power toward cultivating the next generation of actors, musicians, educators, producers, technicians and worship facilitators,” Bolin said.

An immediate perk is that performance schedules can be adjusted so students can participate in both a theatre production and a musical ensemble, said Lee Lyons, director of the theatre program.

“That's a clear benefit because before a student would have to choose,” Lyons said.

In 2021-22, CBU music programs had nearly 250 students and 71 full-time and adjunct faculty. The theatre program had more than 40 students and five full-time and adjunct faculty.

“Our mission moving forward is to inspire students to the highest standards of craft and character, preparing them to impact the world through careers in the performing arts,” Bolin said.

Student filmmakers showcase work at CBU film festival

California Baptist University’s film department hosted its annual Student Film Festival at The Box Theatre in downtown Riverside on April 24, 2022. The event, which was part of the Riverside International Film Festival, featured the screening of a series of films, created and submitted by CBU film students, as well as an awards ceremony.

Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, has been involved in the planning process for the annual event for years. The film festival is open to all CBU students.

“The students have an opportunity to share what they have been doing in classes and out of classes in the last year creatively,” Croteau said. “There is no substitute to seeing one’s work with a group of people and having your work appreciated. I really think that is invaluable.”

The festival offered a vast array of short films from multiple genres, including narrative, horror and a music video.

Michael Metzler Jr., junior film major, submitted two films for the festival—“What Is Real” and “Simon Says.” The latter won best picture.

“What I enjoyed about sharing my films was being able to see them on a real big screen and being able to experience the audience’s reactions to the stories,” Metzler said. “I learned that spontaneity often gives rise to the best ideas, and you can’t get better at something unless you actually take initiative and dive straight in.”

Josiah Murphy, a film senior, worked on several films—“One Night Only,” “Saudade,” which won best actress, and “What Is Real.” Murphy enjoyed collaborating with other film students throughout the filmmaking process and then attending the festival.

“It’s always fun to come together as students and watch others’ work in support,” Murphy said. “It also makes it even better when there’s a big turnout so others can see the varied work that the film program is doing.”

CBU students pitch entrepreneurial ideas at business plan competition

Nine teams of students from California Baptist University pitched ideas for innovative products and services at the annual Bob Goodrich Business Plan Competition on March 28, 2022. During the event hosted by the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business, the teams presented a five-minute pitch to a panel of judges and an audience of over 150 students.

“We style it as a ‘Dolphin Tank’ event,” said Dr. Tim Gramling, dean of the School of Business, making a reference to the TV show “Shark Tank.” “It is not intended to harm or to be mean-spirited but to give students feedback and to nudge them in the right direction.”

The competition resulted in the top three teams receiving scholarship money intended to fund the start of the proposed business. The prize money given to the first-, second- and thirdplaced teams was $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. The judges’ opinions as well as a survey of the audience members’ opinions determined the winners.

The winning team, WaiSmart, pitched a mechanical-electrical engineering mechanism that controls shower temperature and water flow. GeoChat received second place for a geo-smart app that would allow for communication in a college community within a geographic area. SafeSuds, which offered a sustainable and clean approach to washing cars, earned third place.

WaiSmart team members included Carson Merrill, Jared Prewett, Jack Lee, Josh Bromby and Austin Esquerra, all mechanical engineering juniors.

Throughout the process, the team received advice from professors.

“We are engineers. We do the math; we do the science. We don’t know the business,” Lee said. “It showed to me that you don’t just do it by yourself.”

CBU celebrates 2022 spring commencement at multiple ceremonies

California Baptist University held three days of celebratory spring commencement ceremonies in the CBU Events Center. Students received cheers and praise in front of thousands of friends and family members during five ceremonies on May 2-4, 2022.

Combined applications for graduation for the spring 2022 commencement ceremonies consisted of nine candidates for doctoral degrees, 661 for master’s degrees and 1,217 for undergraduate degrees for a total of 1,887 applicants.

In the commencement address, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, congratulated the graduates.

“Commencement is the occasion when we celebrate academic achievements,” Ellis said. “Even more, you weathered continual changes, interruptions and

unknowns caused by a global pandemic. You adapted to these unprecedented circumstances and finished strong. And through the sacrifices you made, your true character was exemplified, and the relentless pursuit of your educational goals was steadfast.”

Ellis told the graduates he hoped their CBU experience will continue to inspire and influence them as they live their lives and serve others.

“May you also take with you a continuing passion for learning, the friendships made and the life lessons gained during your college years. My earnest hope and prayer is that each of you will embrace this new beginning with Lancer enthusiasm,” Ellis said.

Walter Price, a CBU Board of Trustees member who gave the invocation, read from Psalm 46:1-3. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in

trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” (ESV)

“Graduates as you entered today, I noticed that almost every one of you was looking up as you came into the room,” Price said. “I want to encourage you on the basis of this scripture to keep looking up, but look farther up, to the God who is your refuge and your strength. Whatever comes, good or bad, He is your refuge and strength.”

Ellis offered encouragement to the graduates as they prepared to leave CBU.

“May you move forward with the same resolve that has guided you to this joyful day of celebration. May your CBU experience and your CBU degree serve as solid building blocks in a sturdy foundation for all your ambitions and dreams,” Ellis said. “You are ready to move on to what lies ahead in life, no doubt better prepared than you might imagine for whatever that may be.”

During the ceremonies, CBU recognized the efforts of two students who achieved noteworthy excellence in their academic accomplishments. David Torres Salas, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in pre-law and a minor in music, received the 2022 Outstanding Senior Award. Shalomita Sumito, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, received the Min Sung Kim International Student Award.

For Jonathon Vancil, who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, commencement was extra special. He is the first in his family to graduate from college.

“I am first generation from Cuba, and I am the first of my family to finish college,” Vancil said. “There was a lot of stuff that was on my shoulders, and I took the next step to finish my degree. I’m excited to finish and now I can pass this onto my children.”

Marcelo Blanco, a captain with the Upland Police Department, earned his Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership to fulfill his goal of becoming a leader in his organization.

“Most of the things I’ve learned in the master’s program are things that we are doing, so it made sense to me. It’s where the rubber meets the road,” Blanco said. “You take the academic side of things and apply it to the real world.”

MIND. BODY. SPIRIT.

“In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful.”

Colossians 3:14-15 (NASB)

International Service Projects are back in the field after pandemic hiatus

California Baptist University resumed its mobilization season in early May as volunteers departed campus for International Service Projects (ISP).

More than 140 participants comprising 16 teams served in 13 countries in Africa, Asia, Central America and Europe this year.

Traveling abroad looked different than when teams last went out in 2019, before the global pandemic placed ISP on a two-year hiatus. Every country has different COVID requirements that could change at any given time. Teams were encouraged to be flexible as plans could alter with little notice. There were also cost increases for food, lodging and field expenses.

Safety was of the utmost priority and each team adhered to the policies for each location they served, said Kris Smith, assistant director of mobilization. The teams then rely on the local field workers’ expertise to determine best safety practices while on the field in that region.

“This year, we added a layer of benefits to our travel health insurance to cover the cost of quarantine if a participant should test positive before returning to the United States,” Smith said. “We also made contingency arrangements with our field workers to support anyone who is delayed due to quarantine.”

Still, as travel restrictions eased, ISP teams prepared for months to go back out and share the gospel with the world.

Everyone was excited to have the opportunity to travel again, Smith said.

“The encouragement and support our teams bring as they serve field workers who have struggled to do ministry during the pandemic is such a privilege and a blessing,” Smith said.

Mikayla McAtee (‘22) traveled with her team to Greece. The team attended training every week and were taught how to start conversations with people and how to share the gospel with those who may not have heard it before.

There were few COVID restrictions since Greece was open to tourists regardless of their vaccine status or COVID test results, McAtee said.

The team partnered with a field worker who oversees several ethnically diverse churches.

“One of the things that impacted me the most was getting to see how in Christ there is unity,” McAtee said. “The way the [congregants] came together and served and worshiped as a unit despite cultural differences was such a privilege to see and witness.”

The team interacted with refugees from various countries including northern Africa and the

“The encouragement and support our teams bring as they serve field workers who have struggled to do ministry during the pandemic is such a privilege and a blessing.”

— Kris Smith Assistant director of mobilization

Middle East. McAtee said it was inspiring to see how the refugees persevered amid challenging circumstances.

“In the midst of deep heartache, loss and confusion, so many refugees we served alongside were joyful in all that the Lord had given them and were eager to serve and share the good news of Jesus,” McAtee said. “I hope one day to follow in their footsteps and share the gospel with the same level of boldness and tenacity that they did.”

Angelina Mejia-Leyvas (‘22), who traveled to Greece as well, said she interacted with refugees whose families disowned them for believing in Jesus.

“I don’t think Christians in America understand the cost to believe in Jesus for individuals from other countries because America gives us so much freedom to believe,” Mejia-Leyvas said.

“The reality of people’s situations has helped me be more grateful for the amount of freedom I have in America and to have compassion for those who are persecuted for their faith and to pray for them.”

Dr. Chris McHorney, department chair of history and government, and his team worked with elementary school children and college students in the United Kingdom. Most of them were Muslim. The team built relationships with the goal of having spiritual conversations and supporting the fieldworkers’ ongoing ministry work.

“We served in a highly diverse community with representation from many unreached countries,” McHorney said. “My desire is for my students to be better equipped to evangelize and disciple in their communities regardless of cultural barriers.”

This year marked the 24th year of CBU mobilization. The university has sent out more than 5,000 volunteers since the start of the ISP program. The teams help with various tasks such as conducting sports camps, teaching English to university students, providing healthcare and assisting with various children’s ministries.

Getting out into the field and experiencing life and building relationships in another culture is when so much of life transformation takes place, Smith said.

“There is something really special about having no other responsibility but to see what opportunities God unfolds for you and have the courage to step into that and allow God to work in and through you,” Smith said. “We can’t wait to share the good news of the gospel with those who have never heard it all around the world.”

Traveling to global monuments key to architecture program

Nearly 60 architecture students with six faculty from California Baptist University spent five weeks in Europe this spring for the ultimate field trip.

They studied and sketched major architectural monuments. They viewed artwork in places such as the Vatican and Prado museums. They visited basilicas, cathedrals and historic sites such as the Forum and the Colosseum.

“It’s a fundamental part of architecture curriculum to travel to the monument sites especially in Rome and other places with ancient and medieval and Renaissance architectural masterpieces that the students have studied. Touring them, photographing them and sketching them [brings them to life],” said Keelan Kaiser, program director of architecture, one of the six faculty.

A group of 39 students visited Florence, Venice and Rome for their itinerary. Twenty students toured Rome and then Spain, visiting Barcelona, Granada and Seville.

The trip is typically for students ending their third year, but this year included some fourth year and graduate students who could not take part before because of COVID restrictions.

“Architects have always traveled to see monuments as part of their architectural

education. Since the beginning of time that’s been the case, so it’s a longstanding tradition for architecture education,” Kaiser said.

Learning on site

For student Keiren Wright, seeing buildings up close brought insight to classroom lessons.

“We research and analyze ancient buildings in school like it’s a small feat, just a little image on our computer screen. But there’s no way to truly comprehend the awe-inspiring and moving beauty of those buildings until you stand outside and move through them,” Wright said. “There are so many details that I never knew were designed until I came here!”

A highlight for Wright was the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. He constructed a dome inside a dome. The students climbed stairs between the two domes to see “these amazing feats of architecture,” Wright said.

“There will always be people who will take the easy road and do what’s already been done or try to hold you back from a design because it’s too difficult. Even Brunelleschi had a genius, beautiful design yet still had to convince people and invent new ways of doing things,” she said.

Jennifer Muganza was fascinated by Sagrada Familia, a large unfinished basilica in Barcelona.

“The craft inside the basilica is just majestic,” she said. “The level of thoughtfulness in each detail is almost inconceivable to perceive.”

Muganza said she learned that architecture is poetry, history, beauty and emotion.

“As architecture students, we often forget that there is more to beauty than form. There is landscape, code, history and site context. I have learned that there is beauty only when there is harmony between different aspects of architectural work,” Muganza said. “I have learned that it is essential to think about the people we design for. When we design a building, we share a message with the users every day, and emotions are to be carefully understood for the building to flourish ultimately.”

Architecture impact

For Chrystian Combs, a highlight was the opportunity to experience another culture, one that is proud of its history and architecture. A second highlight was experiencing how the historical cities embrace and introduce modern elements into design.

“What I’ll take away the most from this trip is that no design is perfect nor will it ever be perfect if made by man’s hands,” Combs said. “There’s no use in stressing myself out over an ‘imperfect’ design or project. These prominent pieces of architecture aren’t considered impactful or necessary to Italy’s culture because they were ‘perfect’ but because of how they contributed to their cities and people.”

Kaiser enjoyed Spain’s Sagrada Familia, Guggenheim Bilbao, and the Mezquita in Cordoba.

“All three are out-of-this-world architectural sites and experiences,” Kaiser said. “The Cordoba ‘patios’ are a wonderful view into the Mediterranean roots of courtyardhouse planning, typical in Southern California.”

Mark Roberson, dean of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design, joined the Italy group in Rome. He said the trip impacts how the students see architecture and the world.

“For them to stand in the middle of the Colosseum and feel the enormity of it, walk through its circulation systems that are still a model for stadiums today and think about the kinds of activities that happened in that time and place had an impact that looking at a thousand pictures of it could never convey,” Roberson said.

Mission opportunity

This year the architecture program also started a pilot program with an architectural mission trip. Seven sophomores traveled to Greece and worked with CosmoVision Center, a center for youth outreach. The students helped the center with events and developed a master plan of the site for future improvements and expansion.

Kara Bray learned how important it is to know the people you are designing for and the community that it will be serving.

“Being able to use what we have been learning and accomplishing in school on a project overseas as service was such a blessing,” Bray said. “It was neat to see how the Lord chose each person on the team. Everyone brought their skills and gifts and worked so hard on the project.”

A highlight was presenting their plan and how it motivated the people in service, said Joshua Dicken, one of the students who traveled to Greece.

“Though our work was conceptual, to hopefully one day see realization, it was very rewarding to see the life that we brought into the room we presented in. It will be a moment I will cherish forever in my career and service as a future architect,” Dicken said.

The group also visited Athens, the Acropolis, ancient Corinth and the shore where Paul set sail for Ephesus.

Different culture

Along with learning about architecture, the trips provide an opportunity for cultural immersion.

“Apart from architecture, I learned a lot about life in general and how small of a scope I have of the world in my westernized bubble,” Dicken said. “I thank CBU and CAVAD Architecture for such a wonderful opportunity. I hope that opportunities like this for me and future students can help spread the mission and testimony of not only our school but Christ as well.”

Combs said she now has more of a respect for Italy’s people and culture.

“Prior to this trip I had never left the country, let alone California, so it was a bit of a culture shock,” she said. “Witnessing the pride and love that these people feel for their home and its history, it’s an experience I’ll never forget.”

During their visit, the groups stayed in apartments. They shopped at local grocery stores, used the Laundromat and traveled on public transportation.

“Students have been given a crash course in being sensitive to other cultures, learning to navigate different languages and transportation systems, and generally thinking about the world in a bigger way than ever before,” Roberson said.

Little known CBU garden brings science to life

California Baptist University’s campus is home to a hidden gem. Tucked away behind the Colony apartments that house junior and senior students is a garden blooming with life.

Planted on the grounds of the historic Hawthorne House lies Lancer Farms and Gardens, a space dedicated to glorifying God’s creation through organic and sustainable farming.

Hawthorne House, constructed in the late 1800s, is now part of the CBU campus.

The Botany and Environmental Science clubs created Lancer Farms and Gardens in the spring of 2019 after seeing a need to establish an area for students of all majors and interests to go relax and be out in nature, said Dr. Jacob Lanphere, associate professor of environmental science and advisor to the Botany Club.

Honoring the house and respecting its historic charm, the clubs partnered with Facilities and Planning Services to construct raised garden beds around the outside of the house.

The garden includes lavender and sunflowers, along with tomatoes, different types of lettuce and a citrus grove. The space is now maintained by Facilities staff and the environmental science faculty as well as CBU students who are referred to as farmhands.

The various plants and foods in Lancer Farms and Gardens are grown organically, without chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. A permaculture system allows the garden to utilize sustainable farming and gardening methods, along with creating a natural ecosystem, Lanphere said.

The garden was designed to imitate the way plants grow out in nature without the interference of man-made elements, he said.

“We added tons of biodiversity, so if you go out to the farm and look around, you’ll see so many different types of flowers and plants, and what we are trying to do is mimic God’s creation,” Lanphere said.

Jaz Livingstone, an environmental science junior, said the garden became his favorite place on campus after attending a volunteer event held by the Botany Club.

“My favorite thing about the garden is all the organic vegetables, many of which I have never seen or heard of,” Livingstone said. “It’s fun to go there using my plant identifier app and learn more about new plants that I might not have known about otherwise.”

Lancer Farms and Gardens implements organic systems and lets nature take its course. While oftentimes bugs can be looked at as a bad thing while gardening, all bugs and pollinators are welcome because in God’s economy nothing is wasted, Lanphere said.

“Everything works together. For example, the ladybug eats the aphids. The aphids are tapping into the leaves of the cabbage or kale and consume sugar from the leaves, but then more bugs come along, and the birds come and eat those bugs. They are using the nutrients from the insects to develop their offspring and the offspring’s shells,” Lanphere said. “The baby birds hatch, and the remains of the shells

return to replenish the soil. It’s beautiful and amazing how it all works together.”

Throughout the school year, Lanphere takes any and every opportunity to teach his students out in nature. Learning in the garden takes the material they are learning in their textbooks and brings it to life.

“Whether it’s a soil and water class, or having my students identify certain plants and flowers, I always find an excuse to get my students out there,” Lanphere said. “I teach the students how to sustainably grow food, how to manage a little raised garden bed and beyond.”

Livingstone said he enjoyed when class took place in the garden.

“Dr. Lanphere took us to the garden for a scavenger hunt, which was a lot of fun,” Livingstone said. “I am taking an urban agriculture course in the fall, and I can’t wait to be out at Lancer Farms and Gardens.”

Lancer Farms and Gardens is more than just a place to learn about the environment and how to garden, Lanphere said. It has many proven health benefits that are beneficial to students and visitors.

All are welcome to visit the garden throughout the year, especially when life gets busy and stressful. Students, faculty and staff can even pick the produce. Upon the entrance of the garden, the sweet scent of French and Spanish lavender fills the air.

Grabbing a bundle of the lavender plant and smelling the fragrant aroma brings many calming and natural healing

properties, Lanphere said.

“God provided these things for us because he knew we had to live in a stressful world, and these little systems are made to benefit us,” Lanphere said.

Being outside in the fresh air contributes to overall good health.

“Having soil underneath your fingertips increases the serotonin in your body, which acts as a stress reliever,” Lanphere said. “Even seeing the color green has actually been proven to benefit your cardiovascular system.”

The systems God put into place out in nature work for a reason, Lanphere said.

“Mankind was created in the Garden of Eden and too often this world pulls us out of the garden,” Lanphere said. “The garden is so powerful because of the systems that God put into place. Everything has a purpose to work together and help create life.”

Greg Johnson (’08) graduated with a degree in music theory and composition that opened doors in scoring music around the world.

He has worked with directors and producers internationally. He is a TV and film composer with credits for Netflix (“The Sound of Magic”), Roku (“The Pact”) and Al Jazeera (“About Cinema”). He also has done work for Katara Studios ("Medinah" and “Orca”) in Qatar.

It all started in 2009 when a friend was making a film with a Qatari filmmaker. Johnson asked his friend if they needed music. He asked Johnson to score music for a seven-minute teaser of the film, which would be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in a few days.

If it went well, he could score the whole film. It

went well. Johnson also became friends with the Qatari filmmaker, who is now the CEO of Katara Studios.

That connection led Johnson to compose music for the 2022 Qatar World Cup Final Draw, the first official event of the FIFA World Cup, which occurred in April 2022. He continues to work on related music projects.

While music had led to connections around the globe, Johnson discovered that music itself is not the same everywhere. For example, the West has 12 notes in an octave. Arabic music has 24. Also, the rhythmic structure is different.

“Sometimes if you mix Western music with Eastern music, to our ears an Arabic singer might sound out of tune, but they're not,”

Johnson said. “They're singing in a different tonal system. You have to be aware of how you can adjust to combine the two.”

Learning about music theory and composition at CBU gave him the foundational knowledge that he needed.

“Being able to communicate with other instrumentalists in other genres, having a common language that I could speak to and get my ideas across helped tremendously, especially early in my career,” Johnson said. “Later in my career, as I started to work in different countries, all the theory knowledge helped me analytically to be able to think about how their music differs from our music and how to meld the two together.”

For example, for the World Cup draw he created music that started as a folk sound that led into something more modern.

“I was marrying East and West. [It’s important to] be able to understand how the two work and what are different and to think analytically about that,” he said.

Johnson said he often experiments when writing music. He will have a conversation with the director or creator to get an idea for the music. He then may conduct web research on different types of instruments.

“There are times when a project needs a palette of sound or a blend of genre that doesn't quite exist. So, I will look for new instruments and play them in unique ways, or I will turn everyday items into instruments,” Johnson said. “These sort of experimentations in sound genre are some of my favorite things to do when I am composing.”

Johnson’s journey in music started when he was 11. He saw a friend of his sister play guitar. He dropped baseball, soccer and skateboarding to make time to learn how to play the instrument.

“It just seemed like the coolest thing in the world to me,” Johnson said. “I started playing and learning songs on the radio. I spent all my free time obsessed over playing the guitar and writing songs with my friends.”

After graduating from CBU, he spent seven months in Germany with his band, On Being Human, to record the album “To Light the Coals of Hearts.”

He still plays in the band and produces, co-writes and plays with upcoming artists, but scoring music is his main job. He has a studio in his backyard in Southern California, where

he lives with his wife, Whitney (’18). He occasionally calls on friends from CBU for help, or he collaborates on their projects.

“I feel very blessed that the thing that I love to do most in life also happens to be the thing that I am best at and am fortunate enough to make my living doing. I've managed to find my own little spot where I can create fun and interesting music with the friends I've made along the way,” Johnson said.

“If I can ever inspire a young musician in the same way I was inspired when I first heard [composers] Danny Elfman or Hans Zimmer, that would be endlessly rewarding for me.”

“Later in my career, as I started to work in different countries, all the theory knowledge helped me analytically to be able to think about how their music differs from our music and how to meld the two together.”

— Greg Johnson (’08)

ON STAGE AT THE COURTYARD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

On a cool June evening, a stage rose in Smith Courtyard. Crickets chirped among the trees and bushes. A small plane occasionally flew overhead.

But the show must go on.

With words written more than 420 years ago by William Shakespeare, actors brought to life “Much Ado about Nothing” in the courtyard. The following evening, “Richard III” had its turn.

This past June the two plays finally made it to the stage during the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival at California Baptist University. The productions originally were scheduled for 2020 when the pandemic cancelled the festival.

Frank Mihelich, director for “Much Ado” and adjunct professor of theatre, was excited for the festival’s return.

“I think that this festival is hugely important to the health of the arts culture of the Inland Empire,” he said. “A theater and arts community needs the theater that delves into and really embraces the

classics. The classics are like Miracle-Gro for artists. If an actor can do the classics well, contemporary stuff is really easy.”

Cast Lessons

Both casts comprised a mixture of CBU students, alumni and actors from the community including a few from the Los Angeles area. Many were playing more than one role, either in the same play or in both.

Caleb Leal (’19) played Claudio in “Much Ado” and Richmond and other characters in “Richard.” It was his fifth season performing in the festival.

“There is a certain level of complexity that each role requires. It is never the same and so you are never done learning as a performer,” Leal said. “I play seven different characters across two plays, and to do that I have to find the unique qualities each character holds. This is always a challenge, but with each show, I learn more and more how to master this.”

PERFORMING ARTS

Performing in the festival was a welcome opportunity, for many reasons, said Derrick VanDerMillen, an actor from Los Angeles, who played Richard III.

“The first being the chance to step back onto the stage after being so long without any opportunity, during the pandemic. That eagerness to return has energized every bit of rehearsal and the many hours of memorizing lines,” VanDerMillen said.

“Another reason is because it’s the role of Richard III! What a truly amazing, textured and despicable character!”

Susanna Vaughan, an actor from LA, played the mother in both plays.

“Keeping two shows in my head at the same time is something I haven’t had to do in a while. It’s been great fun to stretch that brain muscle again,” Vaughan said.

The outdoor stage Staging the festival required a team effort.

The theatre department at CBU constructed the three-story Elizabethan stage in Smith Courtyard in four weeks and created the 110-seat theater.

Dr. Josh Rodriguez, assistant professor of music theory and composition, composed original music for both shows. A choreographer helped the “Much Ado” cast learn swing dance. A swordplay instructor provided directions in “Richard.”

Performing outdoors offers challenges for actors; they need to be more demonstrative in their acting and project more with their voice.

“There’s a steep learning curve for actors to be able to fill that space and also keep some sort of sense of intimacy and realism,” Mihelich said. “It’s always a shock to actors who have never performed outside before. I keep telling them, ‘You got to project.’

They’re like ‘Frank, I’m screaming.’ I’m like ‘Yeah, you have to scream and make it look like you’re just talking all at the same time.’”

“If you have a vibrant Shakespeare festival or a theater that’s doing the classics, all of the theater in that community, in that ecosystem, benefits from it.”

— Frank Mihelich Adjunct professor of theatre

Those involved agree there is something special about performing Shakespeare outdoors.

“I think our Shakespeare Festival is special for many reasons. The most exciting reason for me is the chance to perform the shows in CBU’s courtyard. These plays were meant to be performed in the open air, and I think that will remind [theatergoers] and even introduce newcomers to Shakespeare what the spirit of these shows feels like,” VanDerMillen said.

Shakespeare’s theater was outdoors and he had nature in mind when writing plays, Mihelich said. He gave the example of a moment in “Romeo and Juliet” when two actors pause and look at each other.

“Indoors that works, but outdoors it works even more. The sounds of nature like winds blowing through the trees or whatever the ambient noise of nature, it suddenly allows nature to become a soundtrack to this play. Shakespeare knew that,” Mihelich said.

“It’s a chance to perform Shakespeare the way it was written: outside!” Leal said. “This experience pushes the actor to have to be bigger than life, while still retaining all the truth of what they are speaking and experiencing. As an actor, this is one of my favorite challenges, and the chance to get to do it in such a great community is thrilling and amazing.”

The Shakespeare challenge

The classic plays—Shakespeare, Greek and Roman— demand the full use of the actor’s resources: physicality, voice, intellect, psychology and emotions, Mihelich said. When actors play classical roles in rotating repertory as many of the actors did this summer for the festival, it becomes an extended full creativity workout for that actor.

“Shakespeare is the most difficult and demanding playwright in the English language. If an actor can

perform Shakespeare well, they can perform anything,” Mihelich said. “The more actors are exposed to Shakespeare the faster they grow, and this benefits all the region’s theater where these actors will perform.”

Kendall Lloyd (’07), director of “Richard,” said the audience also can still learn from Shakespeare.

“There’s a reason that these texts have survived this long,” Lloyd said. “That we can still see hints of our humanity in these really old texts I think is magical. We’re exposing classical theater to an audience that may not have much experience with Shakespeare.”

Lloyd also said the story of “Richard” can be seen today in the current cultural-political-church climate where families are fighting with families.

“You can see that on our social media now and in the way we handle ourselves just in our everyday conversations,” Lloyd said. “I’m seeing it all over the place in the church, where we’re being divisive over things with our brothers and sisters. It feels really tangible in seeing that sort of infighting going on.”

Taylor Bjur (’16) played Benedick in “Much Ado” and Clarence in “Richard III.”

“I think it’s an excellent chance for CBU to invite actors and audience members from the community to take part in something that has been bringing people together for hundreds of years,” Bjur said.

Mihelich said that the festival is more than just a fun little event.

“If you have a vibrant Shakespeare festival or a theater that’s doing the classics, all of the theater in that community, in that ecosystem, benefits from it,” Mihelich said.

“Actors are going to come, they’re going to embrace the classics. Then audiences are going to embrace the classics. And then those actors and audiences are going to go and participate with other theaters and be better for it.”

Counseling Center continues to help students

In 2021-22, the Counseling Center at California Baptist University served 1,046 students and held 9,755 sessions with a staff of 28 counselors. In addition, the Counseling Center provided support groups, offsite referrals and an online self-guided therapy app and mental health assessments.

Dr. Jeff Biddle, director of the Counseling Center, has been at California Baptist University for nine years. We asked Biddle what mental health looks like in 2022. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Have students’ top concern changed over the years?

The top concerns have remained constant, but the flavor of the contributing factors have changed.

What we see on a regular basis is what I’ve called the top five: anxiety, depression, stress, eating disorders and mental illness, which includes schizophrenia, bipolar 1, bipolar 2 and borderline personality disorder.

What do you mean the flavor has changed?

We’re seeing the resiliency of our students being worn down, their ability to recover is often prolonged, and we’re seeing a lack of positive coping strategies.

We’re also seeing an increase of “catastrophizing” mentality. Everyday issues seem to be larger in proportion than normal. Catastrophizing is

Dr. Jeff Biddle

often viewed as negative but can also be seen as a protective instinct when one is living in an unstable socioeconomic and political world. It’s not to minimize students or their generation, it’s just what we’re seeing—instability creating high levels of anxiety, deeper levels of depression and more pronounced trauma.

Why do you think there is less resiliency?

I see it as a trifecta. One is a different parenting emphasis, where some parents become overinvolved and overprotective, again a common reaction to the state of our environment, which unfortunately can lend itself to underdeveloped resiliency skills that are critical during hardships.

Second is social isolation. The more social media becomes prevalent in a student’s life the more social isolation occurs. It is a sort of irony, a manufactured way of socialization leading to a sense of false intimacy often resulting in loneliness and depression.

And then you’ve got world crises—pandemic, wars, racial tension and a general sense of unpredictability.

How has the pandemic changed mental health?

COVID has become an amplifier, a magnifier and often a solidifier of pre-existing stresses, fears and anxieties. COVID, coupled with everything else, has produced what I would call anticipatory anxiety.

We call it the anxiety cycle. You feel anxiety, then you worry that you’re going to feel more anxiety, which produces more anxiety, perpetuating the cycle. It’s a sense of constant unpredictability and instability ushered in by an unforeseen pandemic.

How does one stop the anxiety cycle?

That’s where our faith and psychological integration comes in—a process in which we identify our core fears, not just secondary or tertiary ones. Core fears often have to do with the loss of life, security, love, purpose, approval and intimacy.

Half of the healing is to name the fear and then with compassion and understanding draw the correlation between the emotional symptomology of anxiety and the fear. Often people will comment that they didn’t even know

that that was a root of their anxiety. Once the connection is made, we must begin to dismantle any belief systems and lies associated with the core fear. The brain can be rewired! Science calls it neuro pathways and brain plasticity. The Bible says in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Tragedy is part of life. How does the campus prepare for that? One of the reasons most students come to CBU is that they feel loved, welcomed, safe and a sense of belonging. Our staff and faculty are great at this simply because we love God and people. This culture that has been cultivated will always be a foundation for our students when they experience trials. In John 16:33, God tells us that in this world we will have trouble, but He promises peace and that He has overcome the world.

In addition, we provide great preventative efforts ranging from awareness events to faculty and staff first responder training. We are blessed to have a fully operational Counseling Center with an after-hours line for students in distress. There is a strong coordinated effort between the Counseling Center, Safety Services and Student Care.

CBU has had its share of tragedies like many universities of our size. Out of our grieving has

come a renewed passion, empathy and structure for caring for our students.

Before the Counseling Center moved into its building in 2018, staff and counselors wrote prayers and Scriptures on the floor. Why? Throughout the Bible, there are dedications of space to be used for service for the Lord.

I saw the Counseling Center not just a building but as a sacred space. It was our way of dedicating this building for what our philosophy was going to be. Our prayers and Scriptures that we wrote on the floor were for present and future students who would walk these hallways and sit in these rooms. It’s a constant reminder that you’re walking on holy ground.

Although we are a counseling center, we do not believe that psychology is god; but psychology is under God’s sovereignty and it can be used. The true healing transformation is through God.

We know that reaching out for help is probably the hardest decision of their lives and walking through that front door takes phenomenal courage. Little do they know, when they step foot on our premises, they’re walking on verses, prayers, statements of hope, healing, truth and grace. I think it creates a sacred space with power.

GRADUATE FINDS HIS WAY AND NOW INSPIRES OTHERS

The road to graduation was not an easy one for Martoinne Williams (‘16). After enrolling and dropping out of different colleges several times, he made the decision that school wasn’t for him. He was able to land a job working as a public safety officer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and was content with his career.

“School was not on my radar,” Williams said. “I was convincing myself that everyone goes to college to get a good paying job and I already had that.”

Then his wife, Rhea, posed the question, “What happens when you don’t want to do this anymore?”

“I thought that day would never come,” Williams said.

However, the day did come when Williams didn’t find purpose in his work.

“I felt stuck, and I didn’t know what to do or what was next,” Williams said. “Places won’t even look at you if you don’t have a degree.”

Williams’ brother resided in Riverside, and the two began talking about California Baptist University’s online program. Williams researched the different degree programs and flexible options.

He took a chance and applied but was hesitant to dive back into higher education since he had struggled in the past.

“I built this false narrative in my head that no one is going to accept me because of my past,” Williams said. “I thought I’d apply anyway, and I thought it would be perfect if CBU accepted me because I could finally finish my degree and I could finally do this one thing that I thought was impossible.”

Williams was accepted to the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies program, but selfdoubt crept in.

He turned to his biggest supporter, Rhea, to motivate him to complete the program. He said community is key and to lean on people when things get hard.

“I thought I couldn’t do it,” Williams said. “She kept reminding me why I started in the first place. We forget why we started; we forget the reason we are going down this road that is filled with bumps, but we have people in our lives that pull us back in.”

Rhea helped Williams push past the challenges and focus on his goal of getting a college degree.

“All I saw was this 10-page essay that’s due tomorrow right in front of me,” Williams said. “I forgot the bigger picture, and she kept pushing me to see it.”

Throughout his educational journey, Williams had professors who were supportive and cheered him on every step of the way.

It’s so important to be willing to put yourself out there and ask for support, Williams said.

“The faculty at CBU is more than willing to help,” Williams said. “I think it’s a huge thing to recognize that there are plenty of resources and help available.”

Ahead of his graduation in 2016, Williams experienced a devastating loss to his family with the passing of his grandfather and then his sister.

“It was a terrible time for me, and I thought I needed to stop school, I just can’t focus on these things right now,” Williams said.

His professors reached out to offer condolences and understanding in his challenging time. Not only were they accommodating, but they wanted to pray with him and help understand his circumstance better.

“Not only do I have a professor who understands that I have things going on, but I have a professor who’s like ‘Can I just be in this with you?’” Williams said. “I felt part of a community and I will never forget that.”

Williams went on to graduate with a higher GPA than when he started and a passion for communicating with others. He put his passions into action and became an international motivational speaker. Founder and CEO of his motivational

speaking and life coaching business, Williams Inspired LLC, he tries to help improve the lives of individuals all over the country.

“I initially fought the idea because I felt like all the motivational speakers I had seen weren’t really saying anything besides spewing out clichés,” Williams said. “I wanted to actually help people and inspire them.”

Williams said he created a different method for speaking to a large audience.

“I began to share the most vulnerable parts of my life,” Williams said. “I wanted them to know that they had infinite value and their life and story mattered. Those reasons fueled me and still do to this day.”

Williams continues to use his skills to ignite passion and inspire others to live their lives with purpose. He talks on issues such as diversity and inclusion, transformative hope and creating culture.

“I hope the audience I speak to is moved and filled with an unshakeable hope and they understand that no matter what has happened, the future is brighter than the past,” Williams said. “I want to compel, motivate and inspire them to take risks, believe in the big, and believe they can achieve the impossible no matter how great or small.”

“I hope the audience I speak to is moved and filled with an unshakeable hope and they understand that no matter what has happened, the future is brighter than the past.”

— Martoinne Williams (’16)

The ‘View’ behind the CBU landscape

California Baptist University resides on more than 155 acres in the heart of Riverside’s historic Magnolia Avenue District in sunny Southern California. The buildings on campus blend the old with the new, while staying true to CBU’s Mission Revival architecture style.

To complement the buildings, the landscape was planned to not only enhance the natural beauty of the campus and its surroundings but to help support CBU’s sustainability efforts.

Much goes into maintaining a campus of this scale and size. CBU’s Facilities and Planning Services contracts with BrightView Landscape to maintain CBU’s grounds. From the sports fields to the lawns and various types of trees, a team of 13 ensures that CBU is kept beautiful.

Ed Schmachtenberger, manager of grounds and landscaping at CBU, said BrightView brings a vast knowledge of landscape and sports field maintenance to campus.

“BrightView maintains CBU’s campus landscape to provide students, parents, faculty and staff with an aesthetically pleasing experience while on campus,” Schmachtenberger said.

Kyle Kramer, account manager for BrightView, said the crew is on campus five days a week for a minimum of eight hours per day, trimming, mowing and edging, as well as removing and preventing weeds.

“We work with a very knowledgeable crew and alongside CBU Facilities to maintain the campus, proactively solve any problems and ensure things are running smoothly,” Kramer said.

BrightView also maintains CBU’s outdoor sports fields—soccer, softball and baseball.

“Our job is to ensure than the infields and outfields are absolutely playable,” Kramer said. “We are mowing upwards of five days a week with a specific type of mower for the infield and a specific type of mower for the outfield. It takes many hours to mow the fields.”

Over the past 10 years, CBU converted approximately 109,000 square feet of turf to waterwise landscape on campus. That is almost the equivalent of two football fields.

CBU recently completed its transition to NCAA Division 1. Each field must comply with NCAA regulations. Specific mowers are used to ensure that CBU adheres to the guidelines. For instance, on the baseball infield, a 26-inch mower is used because the blades lay down the grass in a particular pattern.

“The grass on the soccer and baseball fields is overseeded Bermuda. It is a warm-season grass that grows really well in Southern California,” Kramer said. “It is overseeded in the winter time with perennial ryegrass and that’s why it appears super green during the spring time.”

This past summer, artificial turf replaced grass on the softball field. Below the field is a drainage system that allows the field to be maintained and cleaned on a regular basis.

Maintaining turf is different from real grass, Kramer said.

“There’s particular equipment needed to brush the field after it gets used,” Kramer said. “You have to water it because even though there are rubberized pellets that loosen the turf as much as possible, it still gets very hot.”

In addition to mowing the fields, the crew works to prepare the field, specifically the batter’s box, pitcher’s mound and the bullpens, so they meet specifications.

Around campus, water-wise vegetation has been planted over the years to support CBU’s water conservation efforts. They require less watering but still contribute to the overall beauty and feel of the campus. CBU has two wells on campus that provide 80 percent of the campus’s irrigation.

“CBU is great because it has access to its own water,” Kramer said. “We are trying to create more of a desertscape, and these plants are acclimated to the climate.”

BrightView has a full-time irrigation tech on campus to ensure that the water systems are running smoothly. Most of the campus is on smart controllers through a Rain Bird IQ system that is managed by both BrightView and CBU staff. Through this system, the team can use an app to manage the irrigation and program how often areas are watered.

“Everything has turned really high tech when it comes to watering,” Kramer said. “The controllers will make adjustments depending on how hot it is, the humidity in the air, the wind and how much sunlight is actually hitting the ground versus the shaded areas.”

The BrightView team works diligently alongside CBU’s maintenance staff to ensure that the campus is looking its best.

Kramer said that many of the crew members found a passion for landscaping from a young age.

“We’ve been mowing lawns and trimming hedges since we were young,” Kramer said. “It’s in our blood, and we’ve become really passionate about maintaining CBU.”

NCAA

In August, California Baptist University was granted active status as a Division I institution effective for the 2022-23 academic year by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors.

“This is an exciting day for California Baptist University,” said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president. “Division I is the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics and making the transition to full membership represents a significant step forward for CBU. It’s another way we demonstrate our continual pursuit of excellence, and I am convinced that our student-athletes will compete strongly on the national stage.”

With active status, CBU student-athletes now have the opportunity to compete for berths in NCAA Division I championships.

“There were years of preparation that went into this, and I am thankful for all of the hard work by our campus leadership and staff members to make this a reality,” said Tyler Mariucci, director of Athletics. “We are ready for this new opportunity of postseason eligibility to compete at the highest level in the NCAA.

“Our goals remain the same, with our main focus on providing the premier Christ-centered student-athlete experience nationwide. We are thrilled to watch our student-athletes compete while having the potential to bring home a national championship to Riverside.”

CBU first announced its plans for a move to the next level in a press conference on Jan. 13, 2017. During the four-year transition process, CBU Athletics teams experienced considerable success including qualifying 14 teams for postseason tournaments involving Division I programs. The Lancers are now immediately eligible for NCAA Division I postseason play, including all Western Athletic Conference Championships, in the 2022-23 season.

TRANSITION TO SUCCESS

SPORTS RECAP

BASEBALL

• CBU finished the 2022 season runner-up in the WAC West Division in the regular season.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

• The team finished the 2021-22 season at 18-16, including the program’s first WAC Tournament win.

• Head Coach Rick Croy recorded his 200th win and is now one away from becoming the all-time winningest coach in the program.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

• The Lancers capped the 2021-22 season with a 23-9 overall record, going 13-5 in WAC play.

• Caitlyn Harper was named WAC Player of the Year and Ane Olaeta WAC Defender of the Year.

CHEER/DANCE

• The cheer and dance programs brought home three national championships from Daytona, Florida.

WOMEN’S GOLF

• The Lancers had six top-four finishes this season.

• Jocelyn Chee recorded her fourth career win, which tied the program record.

• The Lancers posted the lowest team score at the WAC Championships.

SOFTBALL

• With a final record of 30-26 on the year, the Lancers finished the season in third place in the WAC West Division standings.

SWIM/DIVE

• Evan Honer and Paula De Moya Alvarez swept the WAC Diver of the Year awards.

• Jeff Couto earned the WAC Women’s Diving Coach of the Year, and Head Coach Rick Rowland was named to the list of the 100 Greatest Coaches by the CSCAA.

TRACK

• The Lancers totaled four individual championships and 25 all-conference finishes at the WAC Championships.

WOMEN’S WATER POLO

• The Lancers announced the hiring of CBU alumna Julie Snodgrass as the new head coach in June.

LANCER

xcited. That was the word repeated over and over as the head soccer coaches looked forward to the 2022 fall season. Excited about playing home games again—on a new pitch and at night.

Then add the excitement of being eligible for postseason play now that the transition to full NCAA Division 1 membership was completed this summer.

“It’s going to be an incredible home field advantage for us and an incredible environment for the players to thrive in. We’re grateful for the facility, and we’re grateful for the support,” said Kristen St. Clair, head women’s soccer coach. “We’re just excited for the future.”

“We’re excited for these guys to come out, under the lights, with home fans to support them,” said Coe Michaelson, head men’s soccer coach.

Both coaches say the new facility is one of the best on the West Coast. The $3.9 million project included a new game field with hybrid Bermuda grass, which sits on top of eight inches of sand and an underground drainage system. The bleachers can seat 520 with space for overflow crowds and include a covered, open-air press box. The field also features 90-foot-tall stadium lighting for night games.

The old soccer field, which sits adjacent to the new one, is now the practice field, with a two-lane practice track around it.

During the construction the past two seasons, the teams played at SilverLakes in Norco and the Great Park in Irvine.

“If you need any proof that the administration values athletics, it’s in the

fact that they have invested in this new facility in the midst of a pandemic on behalf of the student-athlete experience,” Michaelson said.

Players and philosophy

Building a successful soccer program takes more than new facilities. It takes the right players.

Michaelson and the coaching staff consider two areas when recruiting athletes to CBU: style of play and their character.

“They need to be quick, intelligent and technical players,” Michaelson said. “We definitely put a lot of value on guys who cover a lot of ground in a game. Players who are willing to chase and work defensively.”

Michaelson said the staff believes the quality of the people within the team has an impact on the experience of the people within the team.

“We seek guys who are selfless, who are natural hard workers, who put the team first, and who recognize the connection between their actions off the field and the goals they have on the field,” Michaelson said.

Michaelson said the men’s team’s philosophy has changed during the transition to D-1. Initially they played more of a defensive game, but now they go on the offensive.

“The last few years of our transition into Division 1, we’ve become the team that is certainly taking more responsibility of trying to take the game to our opponent rather than being the team that’s seeking to survive our opponent,” he said.

St. Clair looks for similar characteristics in players.

LANCER ATHLETICS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SOCCER

“We’re looking for a player who has a good work ethic, a good soccer skill set and athleticism. We also value the ability for players to read and understand the game. But probably the most important thing is we’re looking for someone with integrity and character,” St. Clair said.

Soccer teams tend to approach a game with either direct play or possession play, St. Clair said. CBU’s attacking style is a hybrid, as they try to get the ball into the other team’s half of the field as quickly as possible either by playing direct or through purposeful possession, she said. And they have a balloriented defense, wanting to have consistent ball pressure as much as possible.

“We want to be a team that’s balanced on both sides of the ball and that begins with being the fittest team in the conference,” St. Clair said. “We want to make sure that players understand their roles and want to put them in a position to be successful in every match.”

The staff also helps the team be on the same page of the playbook, St. Clair said.

“I think the difference between good teams and great teams is that last 10% that’s fostered off the field. They spend time together. It’s learning to get to know somebody,” St. Clair said. “Because when you’re in the 118th minute [of the game], your legs are spaghetti and you’re in a 0-0 game, and if everybody is bought in and everyone is willing to sacrifice and to work hard for each other, they’re more likely to make that game-changing play. And that is fostered and developed off the field.”

Aiming for the goal

This fall, CBU will host the men’s Western Athletic Conference (WAC) soccer championship.

In 2021, the men’s team received their first ranking by United Soccer Coaches in the Far West Region.

“It’s certainly something that the guys are proud of. It adds legitimacy to their program and pride to who they are and what they’re doing,” Michaelson said. “Does it change us? No. But it is a marker that legitimizes who we are and that we are a team that is playing at a very high level.”

WAC soccer includes teams from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Washington. Both coaches say it is one of the top conferences in the country.

“Our goal is to compete for championships and to put ourselves in the best position possible to be successful,” St. Clair said. “Our goal every year is to win the WAC and go to qualify for the NCAA National Championship.”

To prepare for the conference competition, the teams face tough nonconference opponents.

“We’re not getting ready for a conference that we can just steamroll,” Michaelson said. “We’re getting ready to play Seattle who’s been in the Sweet 16. Grand Canyon who has been in the national tournament three of the past four years. Air Force who’s been in the national tournament. It’s important that we have games that prepare us for that.”

He is looking forward to the fall season.

“We have a good group of players, and we have a group that has a lot of belief in themselves and big expectations of themselves,” Michaelson said.

St. Clair said the new facility will help the soccer teams get closer to their goal.

“This new facility is such a blessing because it allows us to continue to elevate our program across the board and on a national scale as well,” she said.

PLAYERS TALK ABOUT BEING A LANCER AND THE 2022 SEASON.

Ariana Coronado, forward Fifth season with CBU

CBU has helped me grow as a player by being surrounded by amazing teammates who push me to become better. The coaches care about you more as a person than just a player and will always be your No. 1 fan. I have met incredible empowering women throughout my time here who have helped me get through the highs and the lows.

I am so excited to get on the field in the fall. We’re hungry to play for a league championship and make it to the NCAA tournament. We have a great team that is very talented and, for us seniors, it’s the final dance.

Erin Gallagher, defender Fifth season with CBU

Playing center defender taught me to be strong, patient and, most importantly, how to be a leader for my teammates on the field even when things get tough. These emotions and lessons translate directly into my life and have taught me how to be a better person during stressful times, whether in the field, classroom or workplace.

Fall is going to be something that, as a team, we have never faced before, but there is no one else I’d rather go to battle with. While my hopes and expectations for the team are to work hard, win the WAC and earn the opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament, I also hope that we undeniably do our best and leave everything out there on the field. We are all excited to open up the new stadium and win home games under the lights.

McKenna Ray, defender Fourth season with CBU

CBU has helped me grow as a player and as a person. Coming in as a freshman, I had a broken tibia which made me lose confidence. With support from my coaches, I have grown in many areas mentally and positionally.

Being a student-athlete is not easy, but it is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Individually, I have grown in my faith which has helped me navigate through some of the more challenging moments I have experienced as a college student.

As we just got a new field and can now qualify for postseason play, we are excited and committed to bringing home a WAC championship this year and qualifying for the NCAA tournament. My hopes and expectations for the fall are that we will continue to grow together as a team.

Brian Gonzalez, midfielder Fifth season with CBU

CBU has been very impactful in the way I play because being at CBU helped me identify many strengths and weaknesses to my game.

When I saw the field for the first time it was a sense of relief to finally be able to call a stadium our home. It has been a long time coming, but it is worth it. My hope and expectations for this last season are very simple: Win the WAC, play postseason games and leave CBU feeling accomplished.

Bryan Iliohan, striker Third season with CBU

One thing I learned here that stands out for me is how mentally locked in you have to be for a game and how to deal with your emotions during a game so it doesn’t affect the way you play.

My hopes and expectations for the fall is that we are going to win a conference title and qualify for the national tournament. Because this is our first year that we are eligible and because we have a lot of quality players in our team, I think we are capable of achieving this. And we got everything we need for it: a new field and quality players who have played together for 2-3 years, so the team chemistry is really good.

Jordan Lane, defender Fifth season with CBU CBU has helped me grow immensely as both a player and person with all the opportunities that have been opened for us studentathletes. The coaches have had a huge impact on me as not only do they challenge us on the field every day to get better, but they also show us that being a good person comes above anything else.

When I first saw the field, I couldn’t believe it. The facilities were amazing, and it looked like an incredible place to be able to play. Hopefully we can create a great atmosphere and make it an enjoyable experience for the CBU community. My biggest hope is that we can all stay as healthy as possible to maintain competitiveness within the squad. If we are able to achieve this, then I don’t see why postseason play shouldn’t be an expectation.

MAKING A STAND

The STUNT team at California Baptist University has had only two seasons but already is making a stand. The Lancers made history as the team claimed its second straight championship title at the DI/DII STUNT National Championship in April 2022.

The CBU STUNT team has been undefeated since its official debut and will enter the 2023 season with 34 straight wins.

How does a rookie team turn into purpose-driven champions? We sat down with Brandon Seagondollar, head STUNT coach, to learn the secret to success.

How did you get your start in coaching STUNT?

I got involved with cheerleading when I was in the eighth grade. Fast forward a bit, I went to the University of Hawaii and cheered there during my undergraduate and graduate degree. I returned to California, and I worked with U.C. Santa Barbara and an all-star gym in that area.

Why did you want to coach at CBU?

I wanted to coach here because CBU has good Christian values. Additionally, I know that the cheer program had a lot of success and a long legacy of championships, and I wanted to be able to grow in my coaching ability. I came here and I fell in love with it.

What is the biggest difference between cheerleading and STUNT?

I think often people put them together. STUNT is a four-quarter game with cheerleading elements. The first quarter is partner stunts, the second is pyramids and tosses. The third quarter is jumps and tumbling, and the fourth quarter puts all those elements together into a team routine. It focuses on the technical elements of cheer.

What does a typical practice look like?

At the beginning of practice we dedicate 10 minutes to journaling. Mondays are motivation, Tuesdays we do attitude/gratitude, Wednesdays is devotionals and Thursdays is a life lesson. We focus on what we need to be grounded in and that helps us focus. Then we warm up and start developing and running the routines. USA Cheer gives us routines, and we have to execute them exactly. We run them, clean them up and perfect them. After the routines we do weightlifting and conditioning.

What makes a team a national champion?

It comes down to everyone understanding and playing to the best of their ability. Our

first-year motto was “all in” since it was a new year. All of the girls adapted and grew, and we were all growing and developing together. For our second season, our motto was “prove it.” Prove our loyalty to God and prove that we can achieve greatness once again.

How does the team prepare for next season after back-to-back winning seasons?

God puts people in specific places to grow, and pressure is always a thing. He has already written the story, and we just have to continue walking in the footsteps God has made for us and not stray from His path. I remind myself and the team that winning or losing doesn’t define them but shapes their character. It’s how we hold and carry ourselves when we win or lose.

What makes CBU’s STUNT program unique?

We were the first Division 1 varsity program in the nation. Many of the athletes have a gymnastics or cheerleading background and haven’t done STUNT before. They’ve really invested in what CBU has to offer them. The student-athletes want to be here, and they want to be the best.

What does training look like during

We practice about 20 hours a week. Jason Quan, director of athletic strength and conditioning, is a former cheerleader and knows the ins and outs of the sport. He comes up with different workouts for the flyers who need to be more pliable, and he focuses on the legs, core and upper body for the back spot and base positions.

What qualities does a student need to be part of the team?

STUNT is a unique sport since it is not a one-sizefits-all approach. Skills vary between the different positions, and it really applies to the particular athlete and what they have to do. We look for coachability, adaptability, and the eagerness and aggressiveness to learn and improve.

What skills can the athletes take from the mat and apply to their lives?

We want to teach them confidence going into the world. When they walk into a room, we want them to understand that they’re important and what they say matters. It carries with them into the future when they are going to interviews and how to hold themselves. They are not just champions on the floor, but we encourage them to take that mentality with them in everything they do.

Brandon Seagondollar

Head STUNT coach

’60s

Jerry Hill (’61) has retired from the business world. He and his wife, Karen, are moving from Lake Palestine, Texas, to be closer to South Padre Island.

Walter (’62) and Marilyn Crabtree (’62) celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on June 10, 2022. The Crabtrees have three children, 10 grandchildren and 14 greatgrandchildren.

’70s

John (’73) and Shirley LaJuan (Lawrence, ’71) Hobson celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They also moved to Spokane, Washington. John retired from his position as director of missions at Mt. Baker Baptist Association.

Chrystal (McElfresh, ’76) and Harry Kern (’82) celebrated their 45th anniversary on May 20, 2022. Chrystal currently is a trustee of California Baptist University.

’90s

Kevin Pope’s (’92) oldest son Michael Daniel joined the United States Army in January 2022.

Gina (’99, ’19) and Robert Gurrola (’99) celebrated their 30th anniversary.

’00s

Vernon McBride (’02) published a book, “The World Is My Oyster.” He also won first place at the 2022 Toastmasters International Speech Contest. He plans to pursue a Doctor of Social Work at CBU this fall.

David Blair (’06) has served as pastor at Brookville First Baptist Church since 2018. The church recently celebrated 185 years. David is married to Leslie (Newkirk, ’06)

Dr. Jesse Neimeyer-Romero (’07) served in various roles at California State University, San Bernardino, since 2008. He is now serving as the executive assistant to the dean of science at San Bernardino Valley College

Tina Frias (Mims, ’08) has been a member of the Clark County Department of Aviation team since 2013 and now serves as deputy director of aviation. Previously, Frias served as a legal policy analyst for the Nevada Assembly Leadership Office and as a legal fellow for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Tina holds a juris doctor degree from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She and her husband, Damian Frias (’07) have two sons, David and Johnnie.

Amy Kidd (’08) is a middle school teacher with the Alvord Unified School District. She and her husband, Brian (’07), recently celebrated the graduation of their son Jake from Hillcrest High School in Riverside. Jake will attend CBU, majoring in computer science.

’10s

Nathan Devlin (’12, ’14), president of Devlin Realty, was recognized as a Top Producer in the Inland Empire real estate market. He received a Top 500 award from IE Real Producers. Additionally, Nathan and his wife, April (Mirizio, ’08, ’14), vice president at Devlin Realty, were invited to speak at the Inland Gateway Association of Realtors Young Professionals Network Coffee and Culture Symposium.

Kimberly Hauer (Schuette, ’12) has joined her husband, Desi, in their business, Big Bear Off Road Experience Inc. Previously she had worked at the public electric utility in Big Bear Lake, California, as an accounting supervisor and manager. Kimberly also became a grandma in February 2022.

Douglas Misener (’16) and his wife, Sheri, recently graduated from Gateway Seminary, earning their master's degrees.

Steven Guglielmana (’19) is the founder and director of Triumph Volleyball Academy, a volleyball ministry. The teams have competed in the U.S.A. National Championships and the AAU National Championships. Steve is also the head boys and girls volleyball coach at Fresno Christian High School.

Chris Cochran (’19) and his wife, Angela, joined the staff of The Awakening Church in Murrieta, California. Chris is a lead middle/high school teacher at the church’s Brightwood Education Center. He is also the children’s director at the church, and Angela is the worship director.

’20s

Vanessa Mendiola (’20) was promoted to quality improvement facilitator II at EPIC Management.

Seth Davis (’20) is the department chair for all career technical education pathways at Escalon High School in Escalon, California. He is leading a first responders high school program in Northern California. He has certified over 100 students in CPR and First Aid as well as Stop the Bleed.

Hayley Kennon (’20) is a substitute teacher for the Glendora and Upland unified school districts. She is starting a master’s program in clinical mental health counseling at Grand Canyon University.

Karla Felix (’21) is a staff analyst at the Western Riverside Council of Governments.

Kenneth Morgan (’22) is an assistant coach for men’s basketball at Chaffey Community College in Rancho Cucamonga, California. He is also enrolled in the master’s program for organizational leadership at CBU. He and his wife have three children.

Weddings

Carollyn Stockbarger (’18, ’20) married Valentin Mendoza in November 2021.

Michelle Gutierrez (’21) married Jason Sprowl in September 2021.

Rachel Johnson (’94) married Eric Jeffres in Santa Maria, California, on April 30, 2022. Rachel completed her Doctorate of Education in Leadership Studies and founded The Key Academy, where she serves as a certified life coach. They reside in Santa Maria.

Madeline Kozelchik (’21) married Nathan Tinker (’21) in September 2021.

Anna Hart (’13, ’17, ’19) married Mark Hirami on June 21, 2022, in Kauai, Hawaii. Anna is teacher in the Rialto Unified School District.

Jazmine Perez (’19) married Charles Turner on May 1, 2022. Jazmine is a program coordinator for math and physics tutoring with Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, Arizona. She is working on her Ph.D. for applied mathematics at Arizona State University.

Sara Hernandez (’19) married Jonathan Sanchez in 2019. In March 2022, Sara was promoted to a charge nurse position in behavioral health at Corona Regional Medical Center.

Tamra Francis (’21) married Brandon Meyer on April 1, 2022. Tamra is a substitute school counselor with the Beaumont Unified School District.

Kaya Ledet (’22) married Michael Torquat (’22) on May 21, 2022, in Fallbrook, California.

Little Lancers

Amanda (Collins, ’13) and Christopher Cisi welcomed triplets on Aug. 25, 2021— Maddox, Joseph and Alexandria.

Preston (’17) and Leah Herdt welcomed their first child, Luke, in April 2022. Last summer, Preston obtained a master’s in clinical psychology. He is a lead clinician at Douglas Young Youth and Family Services.