The Encounter is a two-day event for high school juniors and seniors to experience campus life at FPU. The two events this semester offered students the chance to stay in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria and attend classes. For more information about future Encounter events and campus tours, visit experiencefpu.com.

Christian recording artist, Tyrone Wells performed a free concert in the amphitheater on November 6 for FPU students and Encounter guests. The evening performance featured music from his newest CD, Beautiful World. More about Tyrone Wells at tyronewells.com.

Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals announced its 2012 award winners—and an FPU staff member was on the list: Jill Coppler, regional center communications specialist, is FLYP’er of the Year.

Antigone, Fresno Pacific Theater's fall show, will be held in Ashley Auditorium on November 8-10 and 15-17 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from the cashier's desk (559-453-5586) or at the door for $5 for FPU community and $10 general admission. FPU students can see Antigone for only $1 during Student Rush on Thursday nights. For more information about the theater department and this production, visit their website at fresno.edu/theater.

FPU’s 1989 women’s volleyball team was among those inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 1. These Sunbirds were the first to win a national championship for Fresno Pacific, setting a new standard for athletics at the university. Eight other inductees were also added into the hall of fame, which now totals around 300 members. For information, check out: 2012 Induction Class.

Fresno Pacific's Resident Program Coordinators hosted the third Mountain Top Worship for the fall semester. On Tuesday, October 30, students gathered to set time aside for worship and prayer. The worship team from Kingsburg First Baptist Church led singing, and stations, such as painting and prayer boxes, offered creative worship throughout the evening. Mountain Top Worship happens once a month. For dates or more information, go to the Student Life Office. 

The annual Festival of Majors was held October 25 on the campus green. Students visited booths hosted by faculty representing each department and learned about the variety of majors FPU offers, along with the services the Career Services Center provides.

The No Name Fellowship came to Fresno Pacific's Ashley Auditorium October 17 to share breakfast, and celebrate its 20-year anniversary. The No Name Fellowship exposes Fresno leaders to key city issues, promoting an exchange of information and a call for action. The fellowship chose to hold the event on the main campus in anticipation of the launch of the Center for Community Transformation.

Results from a recent Pew study may concern and confuse those who care about the place of faith in the community.

Giving and getting are not opposites, they are two sides of the same coin—and people who flip their focus from the “get” side to the “give” side will actually receive.

Peter Kopriva, Ed.D., professor of special education and early childhood development, will present results of a year-long study during the 2012-2013 academic year. He was awarded Provost Research Grant in academic year to conduct “Children Living With Social Skills Deficits: Strategies for Identification, Instruction and Improvement.” Eleven elementary school children with orthopedic, health and intellectual impairments received instruction in social development and strengthening to increase their academic and social engagement with classmates and adults. Video self-monitoring allowed students to see and review elements of instruction. Kopriva also plans to showcase the study at conferences and meetings in the spring of 2013, and continue the research.

Aradhna creates Christian worship music in the traditional bhajan style of India, written in the Hindi language. The band performed two shows on the FPU main campus in the SCC lounge for students and staff Tuesday, October 16. If you missed the concert, or want to hear more, you can visit their website at: aradhnamusic.com.

Fresno Pacific hosted its first Worldview Forum on Tuesday, October 16. Speakers Steve Varvis, Ph.D, FPU provost, and Bret Kincaid, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, offered different perspectives on Christians and politics. The Worldview Forum will happen once every semester, with the next one set for February 26. 

Over the last several years, Fresno Pacific has sponsored the Christian concerts held at The Big Fresno Fair. This year, on Tuesday, October 9, members from FPU hosted a booth set up by the Paul Paul stadium. University Pastor Angulus Wilson - along with our Sunny the Sunbird - introduced the night’s concert event: Jamie Grace and TobyMac.

Jonathan Maher, director of systems analysis, co-presented a session titled “Extending the Platform Across the Campus” September 21 as part of Dreamforce, the world’s largest vendor technology conference. His co-presenter was Robert Lamb of the Salesforce Foundation. FPU uses Salesforce as a customer relationship management platform for a variety of offices.

Cory Seibel, Ph.D., assistant professor of pastoral ministries, has had a busy summer:

Senior Day, a collaboration of the Career Services Center, Registrar’s Office, FPU Alumni Association and Pacific Bookshop, was held Wednesday, October 3. Students graduating in December received a free t-shirt, signed up for raffles and, most important, got excited for the end of their college journey. If you are graduating at the end of this semester and missed out on Senior Day, contact almuni@fresno.edu for information. 

October 2 FPU’s Career Services Office hosted Resumania! The event was to instruct students on how to write an effective resumé that will help them launch their careers. There are other events throughout the semester to guide students into the job market, including an internship workshop and mock interviews. To find out more, check out fresno.edu/careerservices, or drop by career service in the Student Life Office. 

Traditional undergraduate enrollment passed a milestone in the fall of 2012, surpassing 1,200 for the first time in the school’s 68-year history.

University break October 5 was a celebration of Hiebert Library’s 50th birthday.