Written by Mary Strother There is a door for each of us, a chosen direction for our lives. Some people do not reach this doorway without hardship along the way; their road may seem unstable. The call to the life of a missionary is no different. For those whose lives and careers are impacted by missions work, it can be a shock to their system to change the course of their lives so radically from what they have always accepted as the social norm to a life now dedicated to living with less. Even at a biblically centered university like Biola, tackling the missions career can take a great deal…

Photography by Emily Cariaga Written by Kahlie Colwell Theme 1: Be Spontaneous! Take a weekend road trip with some buddies. Plan a cheese fondue party. (Experiment with different cheeses? Ask the Cheese Society!) Buy an ugly plant and name it. (All the companionship without the hassle.) Ding dong ditch your neighbors and leave them a Mr. Potato Head. Theme 2: Post-College Prep Attempt to make yourself dinner. (Remember: third times the charm!!!) Daydream about where you hope to live one day when you finish growing up. Apply for a summer internship. Update your résumé. Theme 3: Experience Biola Ask for a photo with DBC. (Don’t forget to get his autograph…

Photography by Jaicee Almond Written by Sarah Huffman Seth Wegter High School English Teacher: 10 years High School Wrestling Coach: 7 years Bag Crafter/Designer: 7 years Biola Adjunct Faculty, English Department: 4 years If everything had gone according to his plans, Seth Wegter would currently maintain two homes: one in Seal Beach and the other in Washington, D.C. As a California senator, he would be helping to improve the home state in which he has lived his entire life. But as an English teacher and head wrestling coach at Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, a professor of critical thinking and writing at Biola University, and a designer of his own handcrafted bag…

Written by Brittany Cervantes President Dr. Barry Corey, known affectionately by his students as DBC, never expected Biolans to view him as a celebrity on campus. “When I was in high school, I really wasn’t that hip,” he says. On weekends, he was playing board games with friends or spending quality time with his parents around the TV. He believes that he did not have the “cool factor” and that this is still true today. But that all started to change when his wife Paula bought him a little black book — “The Little Hiptionary,” that is. “That was maybe the family joke behind [the “Hiptionary”] — that I need…

Written by Brittany Cervantes Biola Hiptionary Terms (Courtesy of senior cinema and media arts major Greg Sanders) Sidewalk Strumming: Playing worship in public places around campus, seemingly unaware that suitors are passing by. Tray Blazin’: The act of confidently walking through the Caf, letting everyone know you’re a new student or visitor by using a tray. Worship Wander: Strategically placing yourself in front of an attractive guy or girl during a chapel or Singspo so that when you raise your hands in worship, that “special someone” can see you have a deep and meaningful relationship with the Lord. Social Network Saint: Posting Scripture and/or a picture of a highlighted Bible verse on Facebook while…

Written by Alyssa Alvarez Most students at Biola have one thing in common: a tight budget. Keeping up with the pace of university life while balancing tuition costs can certainly squeeze the wallet, especially when one is making the college journey without financial help from relatives. When a lack of funds threatens to force a departure from Biola, options may seem few and trust in God’s provision is the only beacon of hope. For most, saving grace comes from family members, employment or financial aid. For other students, help arrives from an unexpected source: friends. Austyn Lewis Raising $4,000 in 24 hours might sound impossible. But at first, even Emerson…

Written by Conner Penfold In an upstairs corridor of the Chase Gymnasium, at a window overlooking the soccer field and the distant La Mirada Civic Center, sits a quiet, reserved man. He presides over all Biola University athletics, and is the mind behind a flourishing men’s basketball team and its countless wins and successful seasons. He is Dave Holmquist, an icon on campus not only for his incredible basketball achievements, but for his character, his love for the players and his love for the game. Holmquist’s passion for basketball, and consequent successes on the court, have elevated him to a level of achievement on par with the greatest coaches of…

Written by Ashley Shafer It’s a good thing I met Bobby O’Neill in Common Grounds for our interview, because he really needed a cup of coffee. The exhausted super senior is busy enough with typical college responsibilities like class and a part-time job in the lumber industry. But O’Neill also plays minor league baseball, and the road to the majors is an unbelievably tough and taxing one. O’Neill emphatically ordered black coffee — something his dad introduced him to when he was 12 years old. In addition to teaching his son the importance of a proper caffeine jolt, Vince O’Neill also emphasized hard work and faith in God. These two…

Written by Michelle Hong Although teachers are often defined by their occupations, what truly individualizes them are their quirks and their unique pasts. Professors, like anyone in the workforce, have lives and interests beyond what their jobs demand of them. For some Biola professors, this outside interest lies in the realm of music — an art they have pursued in a variety of ways. Elizabeth Larson: Concert Violinist, Music Professor Elizabeth Larson began playing the violin at age 3, made her debut at age 6, toured with the Boston Pops at age 11, joined an international chamber ensemble at age 26 and founded The Geneva Conservatory of Music, in New…

Written by Bethany Miller In 1959, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles moved from its bustling downtown location to a quiet plot of land dotted with olive trees. That same year, the school broadened its academic offerings from evangelism and Bible training to a full-fledged liberal arts curriculum, obtained accreditation, and was officially renamed Biola College. Fifty years later, Biola has grown into a university comprising seven schools and 37 undergraduate majors ranging from philosophy to kinesiology. “Biola’s mission has remained the same, but the outreach has really broadened,” says Dr. Rick Bee, director of Alumni Relations. “Now, it’s not just people being prepared to serve in the church or…

Written by Kelsey Osterman Climb into the passenger seat for a ride in Biola’s coolest vehicles. 1966 Ford Mustang Dr. David Bourgeois Associate professor of information systems, Crowell School of Business When it comes to classic cars, Dr. David Bourgeois has had his share of bad luck. His first Mustang was totaled in 2006, while Bourgeois was driving home from an early morning Bible study. His car was parked at a stoplight when a semi-truck flipped off a freeway exit ramp, crushing Bourgeois’ car and two other vehicles. He was knocked unconscious in the wreck, but escaped without serious injury. About a year later, Bourgeois bought his second vintage Mustang,…

Written by Rebecca Nakashima Students at private, Christian universities are typically expected to fit a specific mold. The prevailing assumption is that they are raised in church-going families and sheltered from the barrage of secular culture. They are often labeled as “good kids” with little real-world experience. While pieces of this stereotype may ring true, it is never really that simple. Some students shatter the mold entirely, throwing off common expectations as they transition from uncommon pasts. A few of these remarkable individuals have arrived at Biola University, each with his or her own powerful story. John Reid “I wanted to go out. I wanted to travel. I wanted to…