Pacifica Stories

Pacifica Summer Reading: Unreasonable Hospitality

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Authentic relationships and hospitality are hallmarks of the Pacifica experience. Strong relationships between students and teachers, within the student body, with parents, and with the community are essential to a strong community. These relationships are founded on the Great Commandment - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. From this commandment in scripture, we create community, love one another, build relationships and offer hospitality. This coming year, how can we become unreasonable in our hospitality?

The staff will be reading our staff will be reading Will Guidara's book, Unreasonable Hospitality.

I would frame Unreasonable Hospitality not simply as a book about restaurants, but as a book about leadership, service, culture, excellence, and the intentional care of others. These themes connect naturally to Pacifica's mission of teaching students to think and live well.

At first glance, a book about restaurants may seem like an unusual summer reading choice. Yet Unreasonable Hospitality is not really a book about food. It is a book about people.

Will Guidara tells the story of transforming Eleven Madison Park from a respected New York restaurant into one of the most celebrated restaurants in the world. Surprisingly, the transformation did not happen because of better recipes, more talented chefs, or a larger budget. It happened because the team became committed to a radical idea: people matter more than transactions.

Guidara argues that excellence is not enough. Technical skill, competence, and achievement are important, but they only take us so far. What people remember most is how they were treated. They remember generosity, kindness, attentiveness, and the feeling that someone genuinely cared.

Throughout the book, Guidara challenges readers to consider how small acts of intentionality can create extraordinary experiences. Whether in a restaurant, classroom, workplace, family, or friendship, hospitality has the power to transform ordinary moments into meaningful ones.

At Pacifica, we seek to cultivate lives marked by wisdom, courage, character, and service. This book offers a compelling invitation to think deeply about how we treat others and how excellence and kindness together can create communities where people flourish.

Albert Kong, 2026 Staff Member of the Year

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Pacifica Christian High School is pleased to recognize Albert Kong, Director of Student Life, as the 2026 Staff Member of the Year.

In his role, Albert helps shape the culture and student experience that define life at Pacifica. Through countless conversations, moments of encouragement, and acts of service—many of which happen quietly behind the scenes—he has become a trusted mentor, leader, and advocate for students and families alike.

Albert's influence stems not only from what he does, but from who he is. Colleagues consistently point to his integrity and faithfulness as defining qualities of his leadership. Whether empowering students' dreams of new clubs, planing school dances, or coordinating service projects, he demonstrates the same commitment to excellence regardless of whether anyone is watching.

This is because Albert's leadership is marked by humility. Rather than seeking recognition, Albert consistently seeks opportunities to serve and help students flourish. He approaches every responsibility with a desire to support, encourage, and equip those around him; and he does it all with a spirit that knows how to balance fun and depth.

Perhaps most significantly, Albert is a transformative presence within the Pacifica community. His influence encourages others to pursue what is good, to lead with character, and to live with greater purpose.

As Chapel Director Trevor Debenning shared during the award presentation:

"Albert is a person of transformation. You cannot be around him and remain the same. By being around him, you tend to love the right things more. He is an amazing leader, a godly man, a servant-hearted person who changes others. He is a great husband, and this year he has become a new father. It is my honor and privilege to introduce and announce the winner of Staff Member of the Year: Albert Kong.”

Congratulations, Albert, on this well-deserved honor and thank you for the countless ways you help Pacifica students think and live well.

Honoring Memorial Day

Mon, 25 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Memorial Day invites us to pause in remembrance, honoring the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. In the midst of a holiday weekend and the beginning of summer, it can be easy to lose sight of the solemn meaning behind this day.

At Pacifica, we remember with gratitude those whose service secured the freedoms we enjoy today.

Originally known as “Decoration Day,” Memorial Day began after the Civil War as communities gathered to honor fallen soldiers by decorating their graves. Over time, the holiday became a national day of remembrance for all American service members who died in military service.

At Pacifica Christian High School, we reflect with gratitude on the example these men and women set through their steadfast commitment to others. Their lives remind us that true service calls for humility, perseverance, and a willingness to place the good of others above ourselves.

As we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, may we also consider how we are called to live—with gratitude for the freedoms we have been given and with a renewed commitment to serve our neighbors and communities well. This Memorial Day, we honor and remember those whose legacy continues to inspire us.

French Students Earn National Recognition

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

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Students in the French program recently completed the national French exam, joining more than 10,000 participants from across the country in a rigorous assessment of language proficiency and cultural knowledge. The results reflect not only strong performance but also the steady growth of our students as confident, capable French speakers.

At the highest level of recognition, two students earned top national honors. Stephen Romanov achieved the médaille d’or (gold medal), placing in the 99th percentile nationally. LJ Kohen earned the médaille d’argent (silver medal), scoring in the 86th percentile. These results place both students among the top tier of all participants nationwide.

Also recognized for exceptional performance, though not pictured, Jana Schuler received the médaille de bronze (bronze medal), earning a score in the 75th percentile—a strong national placement in a highly competitive field.

In addition to medal recipients, several students were awarded honorable mentions for scoring in the 57th–67th percentile range. These students demonstrated solid proficiency and consistent effort throughout the exam process: Camila Torres, Charlie Diamond, Alexander Clark Whobrey, and Kaelyn Sollom.

Together, these results highlight both individual achievement and the strength of the French program as a whole. With students performing across a wide range of national percentiles—and several reaching the top decile—this year’s outcomes reflect sustained commitment to language learning, cultural engagement, and academic growth.

Meet Bethany Mudd, Director of Finance

Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Pacifica is excited to welcome Bethany Mudd as our new Director of Finance. Though she has only been on campus for a few weeks, Bethany already brings a thoughtful, mission-minded approach to her work and a deep appreciation for the community she is joining.

Bethany comes to Pacifica with more than a decade of experience in nonprofit financial management, with a background spanning accounting, financial reporting, and financial planning and analysis. She spent much of her career at the RAND Corporation and also worked with World Vision International. Along the way, she has served smaller nonprofits in volunteer leadership roles including CFO, board member, and financial literacy instructor.

For Bethany, finance is most meaningful when it supports a greater mission. “The world often wants the story to be about profit,” she shared, “but I’ve found joy in working with organizations whose leaders value the numbers only as far as they help them achieve their mission.”

Her faith has deeply shaped the way she approaches her career, guiding her to seek opportunities where her gifts can support wise decision-making and faithful stewardship.

Some of Bethany’s most formative experiences came during college, when she studied abroad in Buenos Aires and Costa Rica. Through studying Spanish and political science, she not only grew in language fluency, but also gained a broader perspective through immersion in different cultures and communities.

Though her parents are originally from Santa Barbara, Bethany was raised in Colorado, where she developed a love for the mountains and met her husband, Steven. The two later moved to Los Angeles for career opportunities and have now lived on the Westside for nearly 18 years. Together, they are raising three adventurous and athletic sons, and much of family life revolves around sports, movie nights, board games, and spending time outdoors.

At Pacifica, Bethany is grateful to join a community centered on growth, learning, and purpose. While her role may keep her mostly behind the scenes, she hopes to be a resource for students interested in business, finance, or the nonprofit world, and she especially enjoys helping others better understand financial concepts.

Outside of work, Bethany enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family, often cheering from the sidelines at a baseball or soccer tournament.

We are grateful for the wisdom, care, and steady leadership Bethany brings to Pacifica and look forward to the impact she will have on our community.

Looking Ahead: Pacifica’s Vision for the Future

Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Parents, staff, alumni, students, and friends gathered for our Spring Vision Dinner, an evening centered on our mission, our founding story, and a shared vision for the future. It was a time to celebrate what we are most proud of this year and to look ahead with clarity and purpose.

Following a dinner in the Knight Quad, which included a sushi and pizza bar along with curated cocktails, our program unfolded through the voices of staff and the gifts of student performers, all centered on the theme of formation. Together, we reflected on what it truly means to think and live well: to build lives of significance marked by the formation of heart, mind, body, and soul. Ours is a community pursuing more than independence or self-creation. We are after interdependence, connection, vision, meaning, and legacy, rooted in the conviction that there is something greater than ourselves: an eternal, intentional God who calls us into a life of purpose.

The evening culminated in a clear vision for Pacifica’s future. We cast a compelling picture of a multi-campus model, growing to 400 students, located at the very center of Santa Monica and the heart of West Los Angeles. In this collegiate model, the city itself becomes a classroom, a powerful pedagogical tool, shaping students through real-world engagement. Along the Wilshire corridor, students develop grit, perseverance, vision, and independence. They grow in courage and wisdom as they learn to navigate the world safely, thoughtfully, and faithfully, casting off both fear and foolishness. This vision also calls our community to meaningful engagement in a world-class city, bringing the light of Christ to places that need it most.

A highlight of the evening was the honoring of our girls' CIF championship soccer team, who made a great run in the California state tournament.

We also introduced a deeper vision for our Student Ministry Office, aiming to more intentionally connect the school, the family, the church, and the broader community in the formation of each student. Here, we break down the artificial walls between the school, the family, and the community that often separate a student’s life. Whether in a classroom, at a part-time job, around the dinner table, in a club sport, an artistic endeavor at UCLA, or in service to others, we affirm that growth is always happening. Students are not compartmentalized; they are integrated human beings. Our role is to support and guide that formation wherever it takes place, even if it doesn't belong to Pacifica, ensuring that each student is known, supported, and challenged to grow in every dimension of life.

Finally, we outlined key capital projects planned for Summer 2027, including the addition of a new science lab to support our growth to 400 students and new men’s and women’s locker rooms to strengthen our athletic program.

It was a meaningful and memorable evening, one that reminded us who we are, what we are building, and why it matters.

Head of School Awards 2026 Winners

Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

On April 30th, we gathered as a community to celebrate one of the great rhythms of school life, the opportunity to pause, reflect, and honor excellence. The Head of School Awards evening is more than a recognition of achievement; it is a celebration of formation. Across disciplines, academics, arts, leadership, service, and faith, we recognized students who have not only performed at a high level but who have pursued their work with integrity, curiosity, perseverance, and joy. These students represent the very best of Pacifica: young men and women learning to think deeply, live purposefully, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

SCHOOLWIDE AWARDS

JENNA KIM	HOWARD AWARD Named after its first award recipient, Asiah Howard, this award is given to the female student who most embodies Pacifica’s mission by exemplifying an ability to “think and live well.” Specifically, this student communicates effectively, and lives a life of faith, character, and service, all while fostering friendship and unity while at Pacifica.
JUDE TOREN	HAMMER AWARD Named after its first award recipient, David Hammer, this award is given to the male student who most embodies Pacifica’s mission by exemplifying an ability to “think and live well.” Specifically, this student communicates effectively, and lives a life of faith, character, and service, all while fostering friendship and unity while at Pacifica.
lucca tabar & val chimalpopoca	RYAN AWARD This award is given to the student who displays the highest degree of perseverance, character, and heart (P.C.H.) in his/her involvement at Pacifica.
chloe kim	LEADERSHIP AWARD This award is given to the student who has shown outstanding leadership in the Pacifica community.
langston brown & Aurora malerba	MULLIGAN AWARD This award is given to the student who volunteers for service to the Pacifica community above and beyond the call of duty.
SAM ROBERTS & ADDY Mehl	SALAZAR AWARD This award is given to the student who pursues Christ with their whole mind and seeks to live out a Christ-like life.
GEORGE KARAGHOSSIAN	SUMIDA SCHOLAR AWARD This award is given to the student who demonstrates a consistent and authentic joy in learning.
NONA GODDARD	FOUNDING ARTIST AWARD This award is given to the student who exemplifies a life and practice informed by artistic exploration.
ISABELLE SCHOEMAN	FIAT LUX AWARD This award is given to the student who illuminates Pacifica through relentless pursuit of truth and knowledge.
AUSTIN ORSO	VALEDICTORIAN
ADDY MEHL, AURORA MALERBA, JENNA KIM, & TRISTAN CAREL	SALUTATORIANS

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

MATH	9th William Lively 10th Mitali Saini 11th Teal Greene 12th Tristan Carel
science	9th Alexandra P. 10th Diké E. 11th Matthew Lee 12th George Karaghossian
English	9th Alexander Clark-Whobrey 10th Elysse Champion 11th Evan Der 12th Nona Goddard
latin	Latin 1 Lincoln Mehl Latin 2 Tessa Beccaria Latin 3 Gabriel Albertson Latin 4H Sam Roberts
FRENCH	French 1 Stephen Romanov
spanish	Spanish 1 Chrissy Teems Spanish 2 Anna Kim Spanish 3 Tyler Orso AP Spanish Matt McKay
SOCIAL SCIENCES	AP Psychology Moses DeBenning Minchin Center Campbell Lang
history	9th Enzo Mollica 10th Axi Mok 11th Moses DeBenning 12th Aurora Malerba
philosophy & theology	9th Daniella Garcia 10th Minnie Carr 11th Nicholas Constantine 12th Henry Brink
COMPUTER SCIENCE	9th Dietrich Debenning 10th Luca Shallenburger 11th Maxie Guttierez 12th Luca Szyszkowski
ENGINEERING	9th Peter Carr 10th Aaron King 11th Melat Yohannes 12th Ryan Woo

Visual, Film, & Performing Arts AWARDS

STUDIO ART	9th Samantha Lee 10th Neve Nugent 11th Eleanor Lenz 12th Alek Yordanov
FILM	10th Luce Herold 11th Haileigh Vasquez 12th Beckett Hawley
PHOTOGRAPHY	10th Jana Schuler
PERFORMING ARTS	9th Anna Telehowski & Elise Dufour 10th Everly Godsey 11th Tara Romero 12th Sophie Popp & Nikki Malin

ACTORS & ARTISTS COMPANY

OVATION AWARD Winter Art Gallery	Alek Yordanov, Aurora Malerba, Naomi Shen, & Bailey Coleman
OVATION AWARD W;t	Addy Mehl
OVATION AWARD Improv Comedy	Beckett Hawley
OVATION AWARD Acapella	Jenna Kim & Nikki Malin
OVATION AWARD Music	Sam Roberts
OVATION AWARD Dance Team	Sophie Popp

HONORS & DISTINCTIONS

LATIN HONOR SOCIETY	Minnie Carr, Isabelle Schoeman, Nick Constantine, Matthew Lee, Colin Sexton
National Latin Exam Honors	Gabriel Albertson, Matthew Lee, Kaia Shen, Nicholas Constantine, Isabelle Schoeman
ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE AWARD	George Karaghossian, Jeff Molina, Daniel Roberts, Ryan Woo
STEM SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION	Langston Brown, George Karaghossian, Jenna Kim, Tselot Lemma, Austin Orso, Naomi Shen, Luca Szyszkowski

Head of School Awards Opening Address

Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Each year, the Head of School Awards invites our community to pause together and recognize something deeper than achievement alone.

On April 30, 2026, students, families, and faculty gathered for one of Pacifica’s most meaningful traditions: an evening that honors excellence across disciplines while reflecting on the formation of the whole person.

In his opening remarks, the Head of School framed the night as more than a celebration. It was a journey—through the present, the past, and the future, all held within an eternal perspective. What followed was a call to gratitude, a reminder of the legacy we inherit and carry forward, and an invitation for students to consider not only their gifts and ambitions, but their responsibilities to others.

For those who were unable to attend, we invite you to read the full address below by Jim Knight and share in the vision that shaped this special evening.

THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE WITH ETERNITY THOWN IN

Good evening, students, parents, faculty, and friends,

Tonight is a special night in our school's life.
It is a night of recognition and celebration, honoring excellence in academics, the arts, science, service, and faith.

But more than that, tonight is a journey.

A journey through the Present, the Past, and the Future, held within an eternal perspective.

The Present

We begin here. In this moment. Fully present.

Tonight, we pause to honor you, our students. We see your work, your growth, your discipline, your creativity, your perseverance. We are proud of you.

To our teachers and staff, you are the guides on this journey. Your wisdom, care, and daily investment shape lives in ways that often go unseen. We are deeply grateful.

And to our parents, you are the foundation. Day after day, in the quiet faithfulness of raising your children, you are building something lasting. What we celebrate tonight begins with you.

Tonight is an invitation to gratitude.

Gratitude is not automatic; it is intentional.
In a fast-paced world, celebration is often missed. We move quickly to what’s next, what’s lacking. We often focus on what isn’t working rather than what is. We are pessimists.

The human condition tends toward complaint rather than thanksgiving.

We see this even in Scripture, the Israelites, after being rescued from slavery in Egypt, after being provided for in the wilderness, began to grumble. They forgot what had been done for them.

Tonight, we resist that instinct.

We slow down. We notice. We celebrate. We give thanks for what is.

The Past

But tonight is not only about the present. It is also about remembering.

We look back on the journey, on the work it took to get here, on the gifts that have been cultivated, on the people who have shaped us.

Our culture often dismisses the past, seeing it as outdated, irrelevant or wrong.

But we are not disconnected individuals. We are part of a larger story.

We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. We inherit wisdom, values, and a legacy entrusted to us.

I remind my own children of this often: you are not independent actors simply living your own story. You are connected, deeply connected, to those who came before you and those who will come after you.

You carry a name. You carry gifts. You carry a responsibility to honor what has been given and to pass it on.

And yet, the past is not only marked by goodness. There is also brokenness.

So as we look back, we do so with honesty, offering forgiveness where it is needed, and asking for forgiveness where we have fallen short.

We receive the past with humility, gratitude, and grace.

The Future

And from there, we look forward. The question before each of us is this:

What will we do with what we’ve been given?

How will we cultivate our gifts?
How will we use them to honor God, to serve others, and to build lives of purpose and joy?

We live in a culture that speaks often about individual rights, and rightly so. Rights matter.

But there is another side to that coin:

Responsibility.

What is our duty? What is asked of us, not just for ourselves, but for others?

I think of my father-in-law, Karl Henry, a World War II veteran. A man shaped by a deep sense of duty.

When his wife became ill, he didn’t step away; he leaned in. Day after day, he cared for her faithfully until the very end. He was responsible and took care of his responsibilities. He was made for that moment. His life, in some ways, pointed to the final chapter with his wife. Karl, a member of the greatest generation, shaped my life. He asked me to consider my duties, my responsibilities, and not simply my dreams, passions, and needs. He taught me that duty and freedom go together. A flourishing life takes one's serious dreams, visions, and independence and integrates them with one's duties. Life is not just about me, thank goodness, but about a community, a history, and a legacy.

Karl finished strong and passed down a legacy of goodness that I have the privilege of passing on.

Seniors, that is my challenge to you tonight:

Finish strong. Build a legacy.

As you step into what’s next, don’t think only in terms of your passions, your dreams, your rights.

Also, consider your responsibilities to your family, to your community, to the generations before you, and to those who will follow you.

The Eternal

And finally, beyond the present, the past, and the future, there is the eternal. There is something bigger than ourselves. Thank goodness it is not all about me and that I don’t have to figure it out on my own.

Tonight is not just about achievement. It is not just about recognition.

It is about placing all of this in a greater story. A story shaped by God. So as we celebrate, let us lift our eyes. Let us allow heaven to inform this moment, to shape how we see our accomplishments, how we understand our purpose, and how we live our lives.

This sanctuary we are in tonight says something. It is beautiful and grand. When I come in here, my attention and gaze are drawn up. As you enter, your eyes look upward. Churches like this and across the world are meant to draw our eyes upward, to the eternal, reminding us that the present, the here and now, what is right in front of us, is not all there is. It is not the entire story. When I enter St. Paul's in London, Notre Dame in Paris, or St. Peter's in Rome, I am drawn to heaven.

The past, present, future, and the eternal all mix to create a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.

Students, tonight, we celebrate excellence and performance. But more than that, we celebrate formation, and we celebrate God. We celebrate who you are becoming. Who you are called to be.

Congratulations to each of you.

You are loved and celebrated.

An Evening of Celebration: Pacifica’s Vision Dinner

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Pacifica’s Spring Vision Dinner was a night that beautifully captured both gratitude and anticipation—an opportunity to celebrate what is already flourishing in our community while looking ahead to all that is still to come.

From the moment guests arrived, the evening carried a spirit of warmth and festivity. Attendees enjoyed a vibrant array of food and drink, including a lively sushi bar, a pizza bar, and a curated beverage station featuring wine and Aperol spritz. A crepe dessert station and hands-on embossing experience added thoughtful, memorable touches that made the evening feel both elevated and personal.

The program itself reflected the heart of Pacifica. Throughout the night, speakers shared stories of mission, formation, and growth—highlighting the school’s commitment to cultivating students who think deeply and live purposefully. Guests were reminded that Pacifica is not just a place of academic excellence, but a community shaped by relationships, faith, and a shared vision for the future.

Student life was brought to the forefront through powerful performances that added beauty and depth to the evening. A moving piano performance of Chopin by student Dietrich Debeninng showcased the artistry and discipline of Pacifica's music program, while the school’s a cappella group filled the space with the beautiful harmonies "Great is Thy Faithfulness," creating moments that resonated with everyone present.

The evening also included a special recognition of the girls’ soccer team for their remarkable achievement as CIF-SS Champions—a proud moment that highlighted the strength, dedication, and teamwork that define Pacifica athletics.

As the program unfolded, guests were invited into the broader vision for Pacifica’s future. From ongoing investments in the Annual Fund to exciting developments like the Seawolf campus and future facility enhancements, the night underscored a shared commitment to growth. With $1.34 million already raised toward the $1.5 million goal, the community was encouraged to help close the remaining gap and finish strong.

More than anything, the Vision Dinner was a reflection of who we are: a community grounded in purpose, united in generosity, and hopeful about what lies ahead.

As shared throughout the evening, “This is a night to celebrate what is already flourishing at Pacifica— and to
invest together in what is yet to grow.” That vision was not only expressed; it was experienced.

Senior Activities: The Class of 2026 Finishing Well

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

The senior season at Pacifica is a uniquely bittersweet time, one foot still firmly planted in a community that has shaped them, and one foot stepping into the unknown of what comes next. It is, in many ways, the ideal place to be. These final weeks are not simply a series of events, but a connected journey where reflection and anticipation live side by side. In Senior Chapel, students pause to look back with gratitude, on friendships formed, challenges overcome, and the quiet, steady work of becoming. Soon after, the tone shifts to celebration, as Prom and Awards Night gather the class in joy, honoring both who they have been together and who they are becoming. College Photo Day captures this moment perfectly: a visible sign that while their time at Pacifica is coming to a close, their future is already unfolding before them.

As the days move forward, the experience deepens. The Senior Trip offers space for laughter, memory-making, and a kind of togetherness that is more meaningful because it is fleeting. The last day of school arrives not with finality alone, but with a sense of completion, of something good having been brought to its full measure. Graduation week carries this same tension of joy and longing. At the Senior Dinner, students gather one more time as a class; at rehearsal, they prepare for what is ahead; and at Grad Nite, they celebrate the friendships that have defined these years. All of it leads to Commencement at Bel Air Church, a moment that is both an ending and a beginning. In this season, our seniors are not simply finishing; they are finishing well, connected to one another, grounded in who they have become, and stepping forward with courage, hope, and purpose. Details Here.