蜜桃av

When Daniel Arroyo, 鈥�12, first thought about 蜜桃av, he wasn鈥檛 exactly looking for a spiritual transformation鈥攐r even a four-year degree. 鈥淚 was just doing community college at the time, hanging out with the wrong people and not really focused,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 was the first in my family to go to college, and just getting an associate鈥檚 degree felt like a big deal.鈥�

His sister, who started her college career at another Adventist university, told Arroyo that he needed to get serious about God. She finally convinced him to transfer to 蜜桃av. It was his first time attending a Christian school, and though he grew up Adventist, he admits, 鈥淚t didn鈥檛 mean anything to me personally.鈥�

Early on, things didn鈥檛 look promising. A poor decision and a run-in with the police almost got him expelled. But that experience became a catalyst for him. 鈥淚 told God, 鈥業鈥檓 going to give you a one-month trial. I鈥檒l seek you with all my heart鈥攁nd if I find You, I鈥檒l follow You for the rest of my life,鈥欌�� Daniel says.
That month changed everything.

Daniel started waking up early, praying, reading Scripture, and testing God鈥檚 promises. 鈥淟ong story short: I met God. He became real to me.鈥� Former 蜜桃av professors like Philip Samaan, PhD, and Carlos Martin, PhD, played a key role in nurturing his faith. He became active in campus ministries, eventually graduating in 2012 with a degree in advertising鈥攁nd a renewed purpose. 鈥淚鈥檓 so glad I was at 蜜桃av during that time in my life,鈥� Daniel says.

He also met his future wife, Julia, at 蜜桃av. 鈥淪he was a freshman when I was a senior. She was cute but way too young,鈥� he laughs. 鈥淏ut God brought us together again during a summer of literature evangelism.鈥� 

After Daniel graduated, he took a role as publishing director for a small publishing house in Oklahoma. As he learned about the industry, he developed a desire to create a premium Bible. His boss didn鈥檛 think there was a market for a $200 Bible. After trying to sell the idea to her, he finally asked if he could go ahead and start it on his own, as it wouldn鈥檛 be in competition for their Adventist audience. She agreed, but predicted he would lose his investment. 
He didn鈥檛.

The first year, brought in $40,000. The next year, it doubled. Then it doubled again. Now seven years in, the company continues to grow, with customers around the world鈥攆rom Israel to Singapore鈥攁nd a growing team.

But it鈥檚 never just been about the business. 鈥淓very Bible we sell is a blessing to someone,鈥� Daniel says. Humble Lamb also runs a ministry in India, distributing audio Bibles to the blind鈥攊ncluding communities where people of other faiths are now encountering scripture for the first time. 鈥淲e want to build a worship house for the blind in India, where the Bible plays 24/7 and people can come and just listen.鈥�
Daniel and his wife are homeschooling their four children and are finding ways to involve them in the mission. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a family business in every sense,鈥� he notes.
The company continues to expand its premium offerings鈥攆rom Bible-length leather-bound journals to a fruit-of-the-Spirit-themed high-end pen. 鈥淲e want to publish all major Bible translations and eventually publish authors, too. But the foundation will always be the Word of God.鈥�

It all started with one decision, one month, and one very real encounter with God鈥攁t 蜜桃av.

鈥� Cheryl Torres,鈥�05, director of Alumni Relations

Staff, alumni, and students at 蜜桃av were joined by community members to participate in a unique twist on a traditional topping-out ceremony on March 5鈥攕igning one of the final beams for the new Ruth McKee School of Business building. 
 
鈥溾�楾opping Out鈥� the steel in a building signifies that other construction activities can commence,鈥� explains Marty Hamilton, 2025 honorary alumnus and recently retired associate vice president for Financial Administration. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big deal in the process that builds excitement for creating a strong presence.鈥�
 
The ceremony honored the time, money, and prayers that the community and friends of the university have poured into the building project to bring the new academic structure on campus to fruition. Individuals used permanent markers to cover the beam in signatures, each one a proud testament to the impact the building has already had on people both near and far.
 
鈥淲e have reached an important milestone,鈥� notes President Ken Shaw, 鈥�80, EdD. 鈥淚 vividly remember the vision shared with me nearly four years ago by School of Business Dean Stephanie Sheehan, 鈥�05, and Trustee Franklin Farrow, 鈥�93. That vision resonated with me then, and it is truly gratifying to witness the progress we are making today.鈥�
 
The following day, the beam was placed via crane on the building and now sits prominently at the top of the structure on the southeast side, clearly visible due to its white coating but also completely covered with names written in black, gold, and silver. The estimated date for the building鈥檚 completion is June 2026. 
 
The School of Business is the second largest academic department at 蜜桃av with 465 students currently enrolled. The new building will increase space from the current 9,000 square feet to approximately 53,000, providing much-needed room for students to learn. With state-of-the-art facilities鈥攊ncluding a business innovation center, entrepreneurship room, finance lab, and auditorium鈥攕tudents will gain access to a learning environment focused on excellence. 

蜜桃av鈥檚 $24 million School of Business Leadership and Innovation Campaign will support the new building and program endowment. For additional details and to watch continued construction progress, visit .

鈥� Chehalis Eno, senior English major

From April 2鈥�3, 蜜桃av Adventist University celebrated its annual Giving Day, with more than 1,000 alumni, parents, employees, students, and friends rallying to make a difference. Together, they raised $333,585 across more than 30 campaigns, all with one purpose: to enrich the student experience.
 
Giving Day was more than just a fundraiser, it was a movement of joy, generosity, and shared purpose. Alumni from across the country wrote in to share why they gave. One donor, a 1994 graduate, says, 鈥淕iving back is one way I can thank 蜜桃av for shaping who I am today.鈥� Another alum, giving from overseas, shares, 鈥淓ven far from campus, I鈥檓 still part of the 蜜桃av family.鈥�
 
Academic departments rose to the challenge, competing for bonus prizes based on donor participation. The School of Nursing claimed first place, earning a $6,000 prize with 164 donors and raising $17,775 to help purchase state-of-the-art simulation equipment. Applied Technology came in second, securing an additional $4,000 with 144 donors and raising an impressive $78,861 to support hands-on learning and innovation. Other standout performers included Student Missions, which saw a remarkable 253% increase in donors compared to last year.
 
Uniting people of all ages and backgrounds, Giving Day is proof that no matter where you are in life, you can make a difference for 蜜桃av students. Whether a student is giving for the first time, or a long-time supporter is returning to invest once more, every gift tells a story of commitment to 蜜桃av鈥檚 mission. 
 
During Giving Day, the 蜜桃av community came together to write the next chapter of this meaningful tradition, one filled with purpose, promise, and blessings for 蜜桃av students.

鈥� Sandra Ara煤jo-Delgado, associate director of Annual Giving

Experts across America have gathered statistics that point to a mental health crisis for college students. Anxiety concerns have risen from 56% in 2013 to 65% in 2023, according to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health. The center also found that the number of students seeking help steadily increased from 2009 until the pandemic. In response to the crisis, 蜜桃av is working to ensure that students have access to a variety of high-quality mental health resources.

蜜桃av has designated the current Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) as Healthy Minds. Through the QEP, 蜜桃av expanded its annual Mental Wellness Week, which began four years ago. This year, the event took place during the second week of school and culminated in a September 5 convocation presented by former 蜜桃av professor and local counselor Tiffany Bartell, PhD, LPC, MHSP. Bartell spoke about her personal story of resilience and encouraged students to recognize resilience in themselves.

鈥淲hat you did to get through high school may not work in college, but what you used to figure out how to do high school will work,鈥� Bartell explained. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 your resilience.鈥�

Bartell emphasized the importance of well-being in all aspects of life to achieve a healthy mind. This advice was reflected in booths in the Bietz Center for Student Life, where students could learn about resources for physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being during Mental Wellness Week.

Thursday鈥檚 booths targeted spiritual wellness, which recent research points to as a key aspect of mental health. Studies show a potential link between spirituality and lower substance abuse and depression, according to articles published in the National Library of Medicine.

鈥淚 believe that what sets 蜜桃av apart concerning mental wellness is that we have the spiritual component,鈥� says Dana Snedden, counselor and QEP director. 鈥淲e all have one thing in common, and that is a need for a relationship with Christ.鈥�
Snedden explains that the Healthy Minds plan is about 鈥渋mproving the mental wellness of the entire campus.鈥� In addition to events that bring attention to resources for students, mental wellness curriculum has been added within courses, such as 蜜桃av Connections and Developmental Psychology, as well as within professional development for professors. Snedden consistently listens to feedback to continue growing the initiative. Programs implemented will continue even after 蜜桃av implements a new QEP in 2027.

鈥淭he idea that we can continually improve the program here at 蜜桃av is a really important mindset,鈥� Snedden says.

To further enable mental wellness, 蜜桃av offers in-person counseling in the Bietz Center for Student Life and teletherapy with a 24/7 crisis line through uWill. Last year, Counseling Services had 1,995 appointments from 441 clients. To minimize wait times, students are quickly led through the initial steps by interns in 蜜桃av鈥檚 counseling or social work graduate programs. In addition, a fifth full-time counselor was hired this year to help meet demand.

Brandon Grentz, 鈥�20, Counseling Services coordinator, notes the importance of peer support in mental health. 鈥淲e can all take some time to engage with mental health as an entire campus by being kind to one another, checking on our friends, and fostering a healthy environment for each one to grow,鈥� he shares.

鈥� by Chehalis Eno, senior English major

Meg Jay, PhD, is a developmental clinical psychologist who specializes in twentysomethings. She is the author of The Twentysomething Treatment, The Defining Decade, and Supernormal. A recent New York Times profile called Jay "the patron saint of striving youth," and her TED talk, 鈥淲hy 30 Is Not the New 20鈥� is among the most watched to date. 

She visited 蜜桃av in March for multiple presentations to students, faculty, parents, and professional counselors as part of the Del Schutte Lecture Series. The wisdom she has gained in working with young adults has led her to a few profound insights that can benefit young people and anyone who knows someone in his or her twenties. Her poignant stories and compassionate perspective resonated with students and guests alike. 

Recordings of these presentations are available through June 5 this year at the following links:

• 鈥擩ay鈥檚 message to the student body as a whole.
• 鈥擧er comments during a smaller gathering for professional counselors, parents, and other mentors on the front lines of working directly with young adults.

鈥� Staff Report