It’s hard to believe it, but the Fall 2023 semester at Pacific is almost at an end! From volunteering in the community to celebrating Homecoming with the entire Pacific community, it’s definitely been a semester to remember.  

Here’s a look back at some of our favorite memories from the past few months.  

Pacific Welcome 

The Fall 2023 semester kicked off with Pacific Welcome from August 19-27, a jam-packed week of fun activities and Pacific traditions designed to welcome thousands of new and returning students to campus and the city of Stockton.  

The festivities began with a successful move-in and orientation, where new students and families learned the ropes of college life. Students also explored the nearby Miracle Mile shopping district at the Tiger Prowlin’ the Mile event and enjoyed an on-campus concert at Block Party.

The incoming class officially marked the start of their collegiate career with Convocation in historic Faye Spanos Concert Hall, where they were introduced to university leaders and heard advice on making the most of their time at Pacific. 

Day of Service 

One of the newest Pacific Welcome events was the Day of Service on August 26, where more than 350 students, staff and faculty members spent the day participating in a wide variety of community service projects throughout the city of Stockton.  

The busy day started bright and early on the Stockton Campus, where buses shuttled volunteers to 24 local non-profits and agencies, from animal shelters to community gardens to after-school programs. 

Homecoming and Family Weekend 

From October 13-15, Homecoming and Family Weekend rocked Pacific’s campus with three days of fun festivities, epic reunions and lots of Pacific pride.  

Nearly 3,400 Tigers of all generations came together to celebrate Pacific at a wide array of events, including wine tasting, a beer fest, a tailgate, athletic events and the annual Orange and Black Ball. We even got to welcome prospective students and their families to join the fun at our Fall Open House!  

Queer Cheer 

October is LGBTQ+ History Month, which highlights and celebrates the history and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Pacific celebrated with the annual “Queer Cheer” event, where students gathered on the DeRosa University Lawn for performances, music, education and fun.  

Pacific Trick or Treat 

An estimated 5,000 witches, superheroes and monsters of all sizes enjoyed a frighteningly fun evening of candy, costumes and games at Pacific Trick or Treat on Wednesday, October 25 at the Stockton campus. 

At this annual event, Pacific invites local families to receive candy from student, faculty and staff volunteers and enjoy a safe Halloween on our beautiful campus.  

Diwali Celebration 

In celebration of Diwali, Pacific’s Indian Student Association hosted a special evening event with a DJ, dancers, dinner, activities and more at the DeRosa University Center Ballroom. Diwali, or “Festival of Lights,” is a five-day Indian holiday that symbolizes light conquering the darkness.

Autumn Campus Beauty  

As we close out the fall semester, we leave (or should I say, leaf) you with a few photos of Pacific students enjoying our beautiful brick and ivy campus in its full, autumnal glory. See you in the spring, Tigers!  

As part of Pacific’s Week of Welcome festivities, all students are invited to give back to the Stockton community during Pacific’s Day of Service from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, August 26.  During the event, you’ll get to participate in a wide range of community projects throughout the city.  

Here’s what you need to know about how to sign up and what to expect day-of.  

What community service projects are available? 

During the Day of Service, Pacificans will come together to participate at over 20 community partners sites in Stockton. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in many areas of service, including: 

• Agriculture and support 
• Community care and family aid 
• Animal advocacy 
• City improvement and beautification 
• Cancer patient support 
• Education and art 

Can I volunteer if I’m differently abled?  

Yes! There will be a variety of roles available during the event so all students can participate. If you require accommodations to attend this event, you can email the Volunteer Center at volunteercenter@pacific.edu.  

How do I sign up?  

To secure your volunteer spot, RSVP by Thursday, August 24. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to create an account and sign up: 

Create a profile on our volunteer portal. Here is a quick guide on creating your profile.  

1. Create a profile on our volunteer portal. Here is a quick guide on creating your profile.  
2. Register for Pacific Day of Service  
3. Download and sign the waiver 

Once you’ve reviewed and signed the waiver, drop it off in the Sears Hall lobby (located in the Morris Chapel building) any time before the event begins on Saturday, August 26.  

What should I bring/wear? 

Be sure to dress in clothes that you don’t mind getting dirt or paint on. Closed-toe shoes are required. Sturdy and comfortable shoes are recommended.  

You’ll receive a hat at check-in to protect yourself from the sun, but you should bring your own sunscreen or any other type of sun protection you’ll need.  

You should also bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day. You can refill your water bottle at your volunteer site. Don’t worry about food—you’ll receive a snack at check in.  

What can I expect day-of?  

On Saturday, August 26, please plan to arrive at Knoles Lawn at 8 a.m. to check in. Transportation to your volunteer site will be provided through a bus service. Be prepared for a fun, rewarding day of service! 

If you have any other questions about Pacific’s Day of Service, email the Volunteer Center volunteercenter@pacific.edu. You can also follow the Volunteer Center on Instagram @PacificVolunteerCenter to learn more about volunteer opportunities at Pacific.  

What did you do over spring break? Chemistry major Seung Ham ’24 spent part of his week off serving the Stockton community at Unbound Stockton’s Peace and Unity Camp. Ham led elementary school students through a variety of activities to help them develop kindness and appreciation for diversity while also cultivating new friendships.  

“It’s been a great experience,” Ham said. “I get to work with kids in the area. At the Peace and Unity Camp, the kids get to experience peaceful activities such as gardening, yoga or cooking, and then they do it together. They’re forming a sense of unification.” 

Ham has been working with Unbound Stockton, a nonprofit organization that encourages local students to get more involved in their community and become future leaders, during the academic year as part his service in the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program. The initiative was launched in partnership with California Volunteers (Office of the Governor) and AmeriCorps to engage college students in service projects in their communities while also providing financial aid to assist with university costs.   

Ham said he was originally drawn to the College Corps program because of the academic award (College Corps funds up to $10,000 in tuition expenses) but also sees the program as a “great experience to work with nonprofits in the area.”  

“Being in College Corps has allowed me to continue giving back to the community and build my leadership skills,” said biological sciences major Vyna Nguyen ’23, who has also been working with Unbound Stockton throughout the academic year. “From this experience, I learned more about the education system and ways we can work together across lines of difference.”   

Phillip Hon ’11, lead founder and executive director of Unbound Stockton and a Pacific alumnus, said partnering with the College Corps fellows has been a rewarding and mutually beneficial experience. 

“We’re so thankful for the College Corps fellows, as well as the experience of partnership through University of Pacific. They’ve leaned into all different areas of this work…and ultimately, they’ve created a long-lasting impact on the students,” Hon said. “We feel like this is a valuable partnership because it also influences our fellows to see the community themselves, to be ingrained in Stockton.”  

“We really appreciate the partnership and collaboration of Unbound Stockton,” said Francine Redada, director of the Pacific College Corps Program. “The Peace and Unity Camp is just one of the examples of their commitment to elementary school students in the community. We’re so grateful that three of our fellows had the opportunity to organize and assist the Unbound staff to provide leadership experiences to camp participants.” 

Unbound Stockton’s Peace and Unity Camp concluded with a final showcase, where students presented plays they’d practiced throughout the week and shared what they learned with their families and community members. Ham said it was rewarding to see how students came to embrace the camp and grow from the experience. 

“Working with the students was pretty chaotic at first, but once you get to know them, they’re actually pretty fun to be around,” Ham said. “Some of the students didn’t want to come to camp because it’s spring break, but after the first day, many wanted to come back and were excited about the camp.”  

Hon said he is eager to continue the partnership between Unbound Stockton and Pacific College Corps.  

“We’re so lucky to be a part of this program and can’t wait to work with and impact more fellows in the future. It’s no coincidence that Unbound Stockton also abbreviates to ‘US.’ This is the collective community, and we’re glad to be a part of it and be able to offer this to our community.”  

In partnership with California Volunteers (Office of the Governor) and AmeriCorps, University of the Pacific’s #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program launched in fall 2022. Pacific’s College Corps will create pathways for 100 students to earn credit and receive up to $10,000 in funding in exchange for a commitment to serve 450 hours in a community service assignment during a full academic year. Are you interested in becoming a College Corps fellow? Visit the program webpage to learn more.  

(Editorial note: The Media X degree changed its name to media arts and production in November 2024)

Among the many hands-on learning opportunities Pacific’s Media X students can experience is the annual Media Mash, in which Pacific alumni and filmmaker Chris Schueler and producer Dean Butler return to campus and lead intensive production projects. It’s an opportunity to take advantage of the connections students make at Pacific while creating a real impact on the community. 

This October marked the third Media Mash. Students created promotional videos for local nonprofit groups. Media X major Matthew Ford ’24 gives us his take on the experience: 

What is Media Mash? 

Media Mash starts over the course of a weekend, beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday. Don’t worry about catching breakfast. One of the instructors, Pacific alum Chris Schueler, always brings enough coffee and donuts to hold you over. You eat some donuts, maybe get some coffee, and sit down with the rest of your peers and prepare for the unrivaled energy that Chris can bring to any subject.  

Media Mash takes place over a month, but you only fully meet up with instructors twice — once in the beginning and again at the end.  During the first weekend, Chris gives an energetic lecture about the process and craft of documentary filmmaking. He breaks down the three P’s (pre-production, production, post-production) for documentaries and provides a deep dive into the psychology of interviewing and looking out for the right soundbites for your film project.  

Producing ads for nonprofits 

On that first Sunday, we broke into two groups for each of the local nonprofits. Each group made a video for the nonprofits to use for advertisement. My group was working for the nonprofit Unbound Stockton, an organization hoping to start a charter school. Our team was made up of myself and classmates Xander Beck and Achish Enriquez.  

That afternoon, we met with spokespeople for Unbound Stockton. We learned that what’s unique about about Unbound Stockton is their schedule. Between Monday and Thursday, it’s like any other school, but on Friday, they take kids out and help the community in the hope of building better bonds and roots in Stockton.  

My group and I started brainstorming ideas for the video. After our spokesperson left, I became the liaison between our group and him. Our imaginations ran wild soon after we found how amazing our team member, Achish, is with motion graphics. And it became a great part of our video in the end.  

Alumni connection 

The experience and knowledge that Chris has is immense and working with a successful filmmaker was incredible. Besides the obvious knowledge that we gained from the lectures, Chris provided great examples of soft skills in dealing with hiccups and problems that will always come your way when starting a big project such as this one.

Another amazing Pacific alum joined us later during the month, Dean Butler. Hearing Dean and Chris talk about the college and hearing the differences between then and now was incredible. Having that connection with two industry professionals who also attended Pacific was invaluable and a great motivation for our future endeavors.