Skip Navigation

News and Events

News & Events Recaps

July 2007

 

  • Students of the Graziadio School of Business and Management celebrated their graduation on Aug. 4 in Firestone Fieldhouse on the Malibu campus. Foster Friess, founder of Friess Associates, a Wyoming-based prominent investment company, received an honorary doctorate. Arif Shakeel, former CEO and a current director of Western Digital Corporation, was honored as the Distinguished Alumnus.
  • Nick Rodionoff, head coach of the Pepperdine women's swimming and diving team, was selected as the featured artist at the 36th Annual Malibu Arts Festival. A Malibu resident for 34 years, Rodionoff photographs sunsets, seascapes, landscapes, wildlife, and the mesmerizing Malibu surf. His work has appeared inOutdoor Photographer, Surfer, and Los Angelesmagazines, as well as the book Malibu: California's Most Famous Seaside Community, authored by longtime Malibu resident Marian Hall.
  • Nearly 50 high school students, youth ministers, and youth workers came to the Pepperdine University campus in Malibu for YouthWAVE, a Churches of Christ summer program. YouthWAVE, short for "Youth with a Vision for Evangelism," helps students learn how to delve deeper into their faith. Joined by adult leaders who participated fully in the week's events, the students gained experience and confidence to share their faith with their friends. 
  • SongFest, an intensive summer training program for aspiring classical singers, presented An Evening at the Opera: its final performances for the 2007 season on July 12 and July 13 in Smothers Theatre on the Pepperdine University campus in Malibu. Both performances were free and open to the public. The two performances featured singers from the Young Artist Program performing scenes from operas by Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Bizet, Delibes, Floyd, and Offenbach. Conductor Kritof Van Gryspeer led the singers and chamber orchestra in the repeat performances, with stage direction by William Gustafson.
  • Former Pepperdine All-American Dan Haren started the Major League Baseball All-Star Game for the American League on Tuesday, July 10. Haren, who went 10-3 with a 2.30 ERA in the first half, faced a hard-hitting National League lineup featuring Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Prince Fielder. San Diego's Jake Peavy, another young pitcher, started for the National League team.
  • The Pepperdine University Center for the Arts presents its world-class lineup of exciting performances for 2007-08. The new season begins on Saturday, Sept. 15, with the return of one of America's favorite sibling rivals, The Smothers Brothers Show with special guest The Yo-Yo Man. Other notable performances include a When Divas Were Divas: Remembering…Their Lives, Their Way; pioneering jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and his acclaimed quartet; Richard Alston Dance Company, which many compare to the great American dance company Alvin Ailey; infamous Kris Kristofferson; The Kingston Trio's Christmas Show; Incredible Acrobats of China; guitarist Tommy Emmanuel; and many more. 
  • Pepperdine University School of Law hosted A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of William French Smith on Friday, June 29, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. The 74th U.S. attorney general, Smith served on the School of Law's Board of Visitors, and was honored at the school's annual dinner in 1984. Tributes by former members of the Reagan cabinet and William French Smith Justice Department began at 4 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. reception and gala dinner in Air Force One Pavilion. The dinner included remarks by special honored guests, including former mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani.