A school librarian looking for a new career. A student-athlete who came to run. A master’s student with a passion. Sound like a list of character archetypes about the college experience? They’re more. Amanda Garza, Rodney Chemalmal and Samantha Valencia are but a few examples of the range of students at Fresno Pacific University. 

They took different paths to get to FPU, but they will leave with similar goals: to serve God and their communities with the Faith, Wisdom and Service they learned here. 

The Librarian
Amanda Garza, pursuing her B.A. in Social Work at the Visalia Campus, was drawn by a desire to help others. 

Garza lost both of her parents at a young age, and says these losses and other life experiences have given her the ability to empathize and connect with students who are going through tough times. “The need for social workers is there. The kids need someone to listen to them,” she says. 

Garza, who lives in Delano, appreciates the convenience of the Visalia Campus, as well as the mix of in-person and online class meetings that allows her to continue working as a school librarian and be present for her four children. 

She also appreciates the way faith is integrated into every aspect of FPU. “We start with prayer and then we end with prayer,” she says of her classes. “We don’t know what everybody is going through, but being mindful of the situation and having prayer helps whatever anyone’s dealing with.” 

It’s a mindfulness she hopes to bring to her work as a school social worker. “Having that [mindfulness] helps me in whatever I’m dealing with,” she says. “At the end of the day, I want to make a difference and inspire them to make a difference.”

The Runner
Rodney Chemalmal came to FPU from Kenya as a student-athlete, but found more. 

The cross-country and track athlete, who runs 10 miles a day and harbors dreams of one day running all of the World Marathon Majors, is enrolled in the nursing program. “After being here, I decided I wanted to help others,” he said. 

Chemalmal cites the school’s programs and people as inspiring him to deepen his faith and make the decision to get baptized. “I’ve been able to grow spiritually [here]. The education is faith-based and full of integrity,” he says. 

Praying before classes and athletic events, chapel sessions, Bible studies and wisdom shared by other Christians have been integral to his development. 

“The staff, coaches and the faculty in general… all of them are Christian and try to align faith and Scripture into their work,” Chemalmal says. “I’ve learned the Word. I’m learning to serve others wholeheartedly, have faith in what I’m doing and in others and how to be accommodating as a Christian. Having all this has helped me as I prepare to serve others with a heart for the Lord.” 

The Master’s Student
Samantha Valencia is on a mission born from experience. 

Valencia completed her B.A. in Criminology and Restorative Justice in 2019 and is now adding a M.A. in Strategic and Organizational Leadership, hoping to establish a restorative justice program in her home town of Mendota. 

“When I was in high school, I went through a situation where if I hadn’t been able to prove my innocence, they would have arrested me,” she recalls. “There are a lot of families here with students who, if they get booked into juvenile hall, there’s less of a chance to get out and make something for themselves. I want to bring resources into our community that help youth make better choices.” 

FPU’s emphasis on faith has been a guiding force in her professional and spiritual development, she says. “I’m Catholic, but I wasn’t practicing. Once I started learning more about God and reading more verses, when we got into our devotionals at the beginning of class, it helped me a lot,” she says. 

Ongoing support from mentors has also boosted Valencia’s confidence and emboldened her to serve others. “I’m more confident in my beliefs and I express myself in a more positive way than I did a couple years ago,” she says.