Our Alumni — Today's leaders shaping tomorrow
FPU alumni are extremely important in enhancing the University's reputation and raising its profile locally and internationally through their successes, contributions and support. Our alumni are dynamic, passionate leaders who strongly believe in the academic foundation they received here at Fresno Pacific.
- Joshua Ollenberger — BA 2007, business administration
- As a former goalkeeper for the Sunbird men’s soccer team, campus resident, leadership student and business major, Josh Ollenberger has experienced the value of an FPU education. Admitting that it changed his own opinion of the “bottom line” and seeing the value of continued investment, he not only continues to help with the soccer team by coaching, he also established an accounting scholarship immediately upon graduation. Since the company for which he works, Wiebe and Associates, CPA, LLP, matches employees donations, his investment is doubled and so is the financial impact he is making in the lives of students.
- Krista Moore — BA 2007, music education major, flute and vocal performance emphases
- With future plans that include being an elementary, junior high or high school music teacher, a college music professor and also a symphony or philharmonic musician, Krista Moore is currently a student in the teacher credential program. She considered the music department a home outside of home and appreciates the impact each of the music professors had in her life.
- Sarah Carter — BA 2008, music major, performance/composition and secondary teaching emphases
- Sarah admits to taking different classes because they sounded fun which is part of the reason why she has a double emphasis to her major and was too busy to plan for graduate school. Planning to take a year off to research and apply to graduate schools, work, give private piano lessons and play in the wind ensemble, Sarah’s future goal is to get her master’s in orchestral conducting.
- Vanessa Ronk — BA 2008, English major, secondary teaching emphasis
- Vanessa just graduated, but she is already planning to eventually get her master’s and doctorial degrees so she can teach at the college level. Playing the violin as part of the University String Quartet last year, she feels it is an incredible blessing to have received a music scholarship although she was not a music major. According to Vanessa, FPU’s willingness to recognize and even scholarship interests that are outside of declared majors results in well-rounded graduates.
- Vanna In — BA 2008, English major, secondary teaching emphasis
- At 30, Vanna In has overcome more challenges than most us will face in a lifetime. He came with his family to the U.S. in 1978 as a refugee from Cambodia. When they arrived in Fresno, he followed his older brother into a gang. During his senior year of high school he was arrested for murder. He pled guilty and was place with the California Youth Authority. Vanna gave his heart to Jesus in the Fresno County Jail and turned his life around. He found Hope Now for Youth, an organization dedicated to rehabilitating gang members. They helped him find his first job and encouraged him to return to school. With the support of his wife, Sokmarly, Vanna graduated from Fresno Pacific and is now attending the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary while working as a vocational placement counselor at Hope Now for Youth.
