Pepperdine Ambassadors Council Newsletter

Greetings, PAC alumni! We hope the holiday season is treating you well. As Alumni Liaisons, we wanted to give you an update of our Fall 2016 semester. PAC 27 has been busy connecting with fellow students, Faculty, Staff, Crest, and President and Mrs. Benton at various events. Below you will find a deeper look into some of our involvement throughout the Pepperdine community.

PAC Retreat, September 9th
This year, President and Mrs. Benton graciously hosted the Pepperdine Ambassadors Council at Brock House for our annual retreat. After sharing a great meal together, some of the Council enjoyed a bonfire outside with President Benton, while other Ambassadors talked with Mrs. Benton over delicious chocolate chip cookies. Over the course of the evening, the Council was able to come together after a busy summer and identify common goals, growing from peers to friends. The Benton's presence and leadership set the tone for an evening filled with team building and meaningful conversations.

Founder's Day, September 21st
PAC 27 made our first blazer appearance at Pepperdine's Founder's Day celebration. As many of you remember, Founder's Day festivities remind our community of the University's remarkable heritage and history, inspiring the Waves community with a renewed sense of purpose for the coming year. At the event, PAC assisted by robing international students, passing out programs, showing VIP guests to their seats, and working the information booth. The Council was happy to be of help in such an esteemed Pepperdine tradition.

PAC Reunion, October 15th
During Waves Weekend, the Council hosted a reunion for PAC alumni where past Council members were invited to share snacks and refreshments with the current Ambassadors. Many guests enjoyed browsing through scrapbooks from past Councils dating back to before 1990. The sunny day provided a beautiful setting for great conversation, reconnecting, and networking. If you weren't able to join us this year, we hope you can make the trip back to campus in October 2017!

Etiquette Dinner, October 18th
President and Mrs. Benton invited the Council back to Brock House for the annual PAC Etiquette Dinner, where we learned the necessary proprietaries expected at formal dining occasions. The gentlemen escorted the ladies to their seats and prepared for a lesson filled with etiquette tips and interesting stories from AKB, while Catering Director Norman Higashi and his Head Chef prepared a delightful four course meal. We came away from the night of delicious food with an eye for etiquette and an even greater appreciation for our University President.

Crest Mixer, November 7th
Perhaps the most empowered evening of the semester, the Crest Mixer allowed PAC to socialize with members of the Pepperdine Crest Advisory Board at the home of Barry and Sharon Garapedian. The event presented an opportunity for members of the Council to meet and interact with dedicated members of the Malibu community, many of whom serve as mentors to current Ambassadors. The evening concluded with a fireside discussion regarding PAC's favorite professors and the importance of pursuing passions for a meaningful life. It was an incredible night for all who attended!

Beach Clean-Up, November 12th
PAC 27 woke up bright and early to partner with members of the Malibu community in cleaning up trash at Topanga State Beach. There, we spent two hours filling trash bags with debris from the beach to do our part to keep the California coastline beautiful. Passersby at the beach enjoyed seeing these efforts, and we celebrated the successful service project by heading to Malibu Country Kitchen afterward for breakfast burritos. It was a great opportunity to re-group as a Council during a busy time and to give back to the community!

Oh What Fun It is to Give!
As you learned during your tenure on PAC, Pepperdine is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of friends, parents, and alumni like you to continue preparing students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. In the spirit of the holiday season, we invite each of you to choose to support an area at Seaver that has most impacted you. Every gift, of any size, signifies your belief in Pepperdine's mission and enables the school to continue changing the lives of its students.

Click here to make your gift!

For those of you already in our donor family, your gifts mean so much, and we are extremely grateful.

President's Holiday Open House
On Monday, December 5th, four lucky Council members had the pleasure of attending this holiday event, an Open House for major donors, the Board of Regents, the University Board, and other esteemed guests. Complete with an accompaniment of Christmas carolers, fresh miniature donuts, and a three course meal, the night was an absolute blast. PAC assisted by helping greet guests at the door, facilitating coat check, and generally mingling. With so many good and gracious hearts under the same roof, the night was bound to be a success, and the Council enjoyed being a part of such a unique celebration of life, community, and dedication to the University.

As a Council, we have greatly enjoyed getting to know one another and the greater Pepperdine community. This past semester has been filled with personal and professional growth, and we have been challenged to better serve this community on a daily basis. We believe that PAC brings people together from all walks of life, and we want to assist you in remaining a part of that community. As a way of keeping you up to date, we want to begin a PAC alumni database with your phone numbers and addresses. If you would like to be included in this database, please respond with your name, phone number, and home address. We would love to keep you in the loop in all the things PAC is doing as the year progresses.

If you are interested in collaborating with this year's Council, email the them directly at peppambassadors@gmail.com.

We hope your 2016 was a year filled with happiness and success, and we wish the same for you and more in 2017.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,
Davina Morales and Trevor Stachura
Alumni Liaisons
Pepperdine Ambassadors Council