Greeter:  Sarah Haggard

Flag Salute: Charlie Moe

Innovation:  Ryan Crowl

Song: President Jeff! 

Guests: 

Ben Taft hosted his incredible son Ethan, who is home for a week from Purdue before doing a summer internship in Texas!  Great job, Ethan and Dad Ben!

Juan Bustamante hosted Aryana Nicholson

Kamal Bhakta hosted Christian Sanchez

Good News:  

Sgt. Clinton Trimmer announced The Salvation Army Bakersfield is holding a National Donut Day drive-thru fundraiser on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Compassion Corner (22nd St. & L St.), featuring fresh donuts from the Bakersfield Donut Company. Pre-orders are available, with proceeds supporting local food pantry services!

Program:  

Andre was as surprised as we were that our technology worked today. Jacob Frost was relieved.

Today’s speaker was Fresno Pacific University (FPU) president Andre Stephens, Ph.D.  FPU is a private Christian university located in Fresno, California, established in 1944. Its academic programs emphasize ethics, character development, and Christian values. 

President Stephens assumed his role in July 2022, initiating a comprehensive university-wide partnership aimed at refining student experiences through the optimization of administrative policies and academic procedures. This initiative spans all educational levels, encompassing traditional undergraduate paths, degree completion programs, graduate studies, and the seminary. Under his guidance, the institution has observed measurable improvements in both recruitment figures and student retention within various strategic sectors.

FPU offers a wide array of over 100 areas of study, including more than 40 bachelor's degrees and various advanced degrees and credentials. Popular undergraduate majors include Elementary Education, Child Development, Organizational Behavior Studies, Business Administration, Pre-Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Liberal Studies, and Psychology. The university is structured into the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Graduate & Professional Studies. FPU also provides numerous master's degree programs in fields such as Education, Business, Leadership & Organizational Studies, Social Work, Kinesiology, Nursing, Divinity, Ministry, and Marriage & Family Therapy.. The university is committed to accessibility, with 98% of undergraduates receiving financial aid. Furthermore, a significant portion of FPU students are the first in their families to attend college, and it is recognized as a Hispanic-serving institution. FPU has been ranked highly for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal, making it the top private university in the Western United States in this category.

FPU  is home to the Sunbirds, its athletic teams that compete in the NCAA Division II. In fact, about 60% of students are student athletes.  The university is primarily a member of the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) for most sports, with its men's and women's water polo teams competing in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA). In 2026, many of FPU's teams will transition to compete in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). FPU fields 17 varsity sports, including men's baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, and water polo. Women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and water polo.  The Sunbirds have a strong athletic history, with 15 national championships and over 50 conference titles.