News Articles

Walla Walla University Short Film "Color of Threads" Wins International Award

March 4, 2025 | College Place, Wash. | Stacy Wisener

A man and woman look into an on-camera monitor at women being filmed on set. — Richard L. Ramsay, director of the award-winning film Color of Threads, mentors a Walla Walla University student on set. The film was produced by Walla Walla University’s Center for Media Ministry (CMM). Photo: Walla Walla University.

London Director Awards, a film festival based in London, England, named Richard L. Ramsay, the director of “Color of Threads,” the best U.S.A. Director of 2025. The short film also won the title of Best Western 2025 at the Los Angeles Short Film Awards.

Ramsay offered valuable support not only to the film’s production but also to the students on set. Fifteen students of the WWU film program had the opportunity to assist with filming in the Walla Walla area during the summer of 2023, working alongside Ramsay to learn from his professional experience and gain industry knowledge. Read more about the students' involvement in the film here.

Six months after its initial showing, the film won its first two awards at the Wild West Film Festival in Vacaville, Calif. “Color of Threads” has won four awards and has been shown at 11 film festivals, including two international film festivals in Europe.

As the film’s recognition continues to grow, the CMM offers “Color of Threads” to be shown at schools or churches. Groups can request screenings of the film for their classrooms or events, and Matt Webster, producer, and director of studio operations for the CMM, is available to lead discussions on filmmaking, storytelling, and the themes of the film. There is a screening fee to cover the cost of travel.

To request a screening, please visit www.colorofthreads.com, and to stay up to date with the CMM, go to wallawalla.edu/cmm.

~Stacy Wisener is a Marketing and University Relations student writer.

Scholarship Encourages Excellence in Senior Care for Southern Adventist University Student

Southern Adventist University commends Fred Hutagaol, sophomore business administration major with a focus on health services and senior living, as the recipient of the Morning Pointe Scholars Endowment for the 2025-2026 school year. He grew up assisting his grandparents with household chores and lived with and assisted a family member who was passing due to cancer, leading to his interest in the healthcare field. He has held leadership roles in his church, as well as serving as head of logistics for a student entrepreneurial project with Enactus.

A Dream Come to Life: Pacific Union College Flight Center Builds Custom Simulator

Pacific Union College Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker had the idea to build a type-specific aircraft simulator for his students. Since flight training devices in general aviation tend to be generic, limiting their usefulness, Tasker questioned how he and the program could obtain a simulator to teach basic skills, such as visual ground reference maneuvers and landing techniques. This would allow students to progress efficiently, as these skills cannot be effectively taught in traditional simulators.

Walla Walla University Short Film "Color of Threads" Wins International Award

“Color of Threads,” a film produced by Walla Walla University’s Center for Media Ministry (CMM), continues to make waves after its strong start in the independent film circuit. Written by WWU alumna Josie Henderson, the story follows five women who move to the Pendleton Valley in 1909 in an effort to rebuild their lives. London Director Awards, a film festival based in London, England, named Richard L. Ramsay, the director of “Color of Threads,” the best U.S.A. Director of 2025. The short film also won the title of Best Western 2025 at the Los Angeles Short Film Awards.

Adventist Educators Establish Worldview Studies Center at La Sierra University

On January 28, 2025, La Sierra University celebrated the opening of a new center at the Zapara School of Business where students, educators, business and community leaders can explore various worldviews and their effect on informed decision-making, leadership development, and academic and professional growth.

One Day Last Year

One day in February 2024 an unusual assortment of North American Division leaders walked into the president’s office. Those represented included the Ministerial Association, vice presidents, the president’s office, Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI), Professional Services, and communication. After prayer and an exchange of pleasantries, the leaders looked to president G. Alexander Bryant. “What do you all remember about Pentecost?” he asked. Typical answers surfaced referencing the Acts 2 account. “What if we were to do something like that at the NAD? What if we could get all our churches involved? What if we focused on prayer, outreach, and proclaiming the gospel message?”