Vanguard University of Southern California

We’re checking in on our Lions since its #wellnesswednesday and asked freshmen @sophianitti how it was going. My freshman year has been a challenge but I’ve connected with so many of my classmates over the last couple of months that have been going through the same challenges as me through social media. We are able to laugh about funny things that happen on Zoom or text each other to ask questions if we need help on something. I am so excited to go on campus soon and make ev...en more connections with my professors and my classmates! Thank God for community. Even if we can’t meet in person yet, at least we can still encourage each other from wherever we are. We’re praying for your mental, emotional and physical health, Lions. May God continue to strengthen you! #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #yourhealthmatters #yourcommunity #weatheringwithyou

The Blue and Gold have been ranked inside the Top 25 in each poll since the 2002 season, a mark which stretches across 205 consecutive ratings - the second long...est streak in the NAIA. Additionally, the Pride sits in second place with 45 times being selected the number one team in the country. See more

Happy Monday Lions! We’re looking forward to seeing you on campus and in select in-person classes in one week from today. If you plan on returning to campus, what are you excited to do next week?... #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #campusviews

Dr. Pete Menjares grew up as an inner-city kid in the Boyle Heights of East Los Angeles until his family settled in Pico Rivera. His father passed away when he was young leaving him and his two other siblings under the care of his newly single mom. Growing up Catholic, he didn’t have an encounter with God until he attended a Bible rap at a local storefront building on an invitation by his girlfriend at the time. There, he heard a Puerto Rican American preacher share the gospe...l like he hadn’t heard before then accepted Jesus as His Lord and Savior. He attributes this experience to fueling his passion to work in Christian education and eventually becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. Not only that, but he went on to become Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Academic Effectiveness at Biola University where he served for 18 years. He then transferred to Fresno Pacific University where he became the 11th president, a position he held for two years before coming to VU. Today, Pete is our Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. We’re so thankful for how the Lord has ordered and directed his steps over the years and his strong desire to see our students grow academically and spiritually here at VU. To learn more about his story, click on University News in our link in bio. #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #yourstoryisourstory #yourstorymatters #provost #firstgenerationgraduate #hispanicheritagemonth #HSIWeek #facultyfriday

As we celebrate #hispanicheritagemonth and National #HSIWeek our road to #VU100 takes us back to 2015 when we received our first Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to strengthen and enhance the attendance of Hispanic and low-income students from early engagement to alumni. Then in 2017, we received another Title V grant to develop comprehensive integrated pathways for Hispanic students to enter the teaching professions in collaboration with Orange Coast... Community College. Last year, we received another grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities to develop and launch a Humanities Bridge program to develop and launch American stories a program to engage First-generation and Students of Color in the Humanities. Today, we are one of 531 HSI’s across the United States; and one of four HSI’s in Orange County. An HSI is defined by the DOE as an institution of higher education whose total undergraduate enrollment is at least 25 percent Hispanic. We are delighted to serve a richly diverse student population, which includes a Hispanic undergraduate enrollment of 44 percent. We seek to be a Hispanic-serving, thriving and graduating institution, while ensuring every student from every background is celebrated and prepared for service in the church, community, and workplace. Please join us in celebrating National HSI Week,along with recognizing the extraordinary contributions our Hispanic community makes at Vanguard University. #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #yourstoryisourstory

Seniors How’s your year going so far? We asked @abigailfaith.n (pictured at right) and she had this to say:... My senior year is going well! I mean a lot has changed and none of this is what I expected at all, but I have loved seeing how we all have tried to make the best of our situation. While it feels like there are constant obstacles being thrown, I have friends reminding me to find the opportunities from them. I’ve loved finding new ways to find community; I love meeting new people so it’s fun meeting people outside campus in creative ways. As I start to see friends explore new opportunities, it makes me excited for our next season and a reminder to be present in this one. I’ve hit a point where I look at my friends or the people that I meet and I’m just so excited to see where God will take them! How they will impact and love the people they will meet. I like to think Vanguard has a special breed of people (haha). But I’m taking this year day by day and making sure to choose joy, even in midst of an unexpected senior year. And my three favorite memories of being at Vanguard: - Studying Abroad in Ecuador - Mock Rock!! - Brunch Brothers, my friends and I started doing brunch once a month together last year. Love friends and brunch! #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #senioryear2021 #classof2021 #Lionpride

With Orange County’s progression to Tier 2, and in accordance with State guidance,Vanguard University is permitted by the State and County to move forward with additional in-person learning and will do so on a gradual basis beginningMonday, September 28.An email from the Provost detailing the additional class offerings approved to return to in-person learning will be sent following this email. As I have shared previously,students will have the option to continue the semester remotely or return inperson, based on preference. For more information, visit vanguard.edu/fall2020 (link in bio). #wearevu #vanguarduniversity

We’re kicking off our #HispanicHeritageMonth celebrations with @elpuentevu President, Andrea Velasquez. Here’s what she had to say: What I love most about Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrating my people's accomplishments. I love seeing different Hispanic/Latinx countries celebrating their independence and having the opportunity to learn more about my culture. A tradition that my family and I do to celebrate this month is hosting a carne asada in our home and inviting loved ...ones. We share stories from our homeland during this time. We discuss our family's experience coming to the United States and the struggles that were faced with providing future generations, like myself, an opportunity for a brighter future. Some of my favorite dishes are panes rellenos and pupusas! What I am most proud of being a Hispanic is having the determination to do the best I can for myself and future generations; we never give up. I am proud of being a prime example that you can succeed in life with prayer and hard work. Si se puede. As president of @elpuentevu , my goal is to provide a family-based atmosphere for Hispanic/Latinx students who want to learn and embrace their culture some more. My goal is to help these students feel proud of who they are. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about El Puente, feel free to contact me via email: [email protected]. Make sure to follow us on @elpuentevu to be updated in any club meetings or events we may host. #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #yourstoryisourstory #HSIWeek #elpuente

We’re closely monitoring the Bobcat fire near Arcadia in LA county. Lions, if you or your family are impacted by these fires or other state of emergencies, please fill out the VU CARE form in our link in bio so that our VU community can best assist you. We’re praying for you and your families as well as the firefighters and first responders during these uncertain times. ... #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #prayforrain #prayforcalifornia : @gettyimages

Growing up, Dr. Chris Woods, swam competitively, played goalkeeper in water polo and worked as a lifeguard at south county beaches like Doheny or San Clemente. When Chris isn’t teaching, he enjoys spending his days under the sun out in the water like surfing on single fin longboards or going fishing off the coast. Chemistry is his other passion because it allows him to look more deeply into God's creation. He remembers meeting different scientists throughout his time at UCSB ...and UCI which gave him an eye opening experience to their research and different walks of life. "UCSB was great. After I graduated, I knew I wanted to get a PhD and had the chance to go to the University of California Irvine to do my fieldwork for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration." To read more about Chris’ story, click on University News in our link in bio. We’re excited to welcome Chris into our VU community! #facultyfriday #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #chemistryprofessor #collegeprofessor

Since it’s #WorldSuicidePreventionDay we asked Dr. Kathy Tong, Chair of our Pre-Licensure Nursing Program to share her passion for suicide awareness and prevention which started after her stepson died by suicide on December 28, 2013, six months after hearing @pastorrickwarren and his wife, @kaywarren75 , share with their @saddlebackchurch congregation about losing their son to suicide after a long battle with mental illness. Kathy’s stepson, Evan, was only 17 years old when h...e died. He loved video games, reading and swimming. Hundreds of friends, family, school faculty and community members came from all over to attend his memorial services. But eventually they lost friends because of the stigma associated with suicide. So she and her husband, Barney, joined the @afspnational which helped immensely. Then they volunteered and participated in the organization’s Out of the Darkness Walks. Not long after Evan died, their friend, Chris Atencio, a veteran of the US Army, also died by suicide. Today, Kathy takes students with her to volunteer at the First Aid booth at the AFSP walks. If you’d like to get more involved, please go to @afspnational and click on their bio link. The next Orange County Out of the Darkness Walk will be held on October 24, 2020. You can also register in @afspnational ‘s bio link. If there’s one thing we all need to be aware of, Kathy says it’s that suicide can affect anyone and unfortunately, during this pandemic, anxiety and depression rates have increased, therefore increasing the risk for suicide. Also, Pastor Rick Warren mentioned, "There's no shame when any other organ in your body fails, so why do we feel shame if our brain is broken?. To read more about her story and how to get involved, click on University News in our link in bio. Thank you Kathy for all that you’re doing for suicide prevention and awareness. #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #yourstoryisourstory

Nothing is beyond His reach. We’re praying for you to receive His assurance that He is God Almighty who works in the unseen for you. All you need to do is to be still, keep praying and stand firm in your faith.... Tag a friend who needs some encouragement today. #wearevu #vanguarduniversity #vupride #bibleverseoftheday

Hope you had a nice, long weekend, Lions. It’s #InternationalLiteracyDay so if you could curl up somewhere with a good book, what would it be? Our @vanguarduniversitylibrary is closed due to the pandemic, however you can still check out and pick up books by filling out a LibAnswers form (link in bio) or sending an email to [email protected]... If you need certain library-use only items like commentaries, the staff can scan up to 10% of the book. And you can get research help too. Either fill out the form or send an email. #wearevu #vupride #vanguarduniversity #collegelibrary #readmorebooks