You may have recently received a phone call from Union, and if you haven’t, you probably will soon. The annual Phonathon is well underway raising money for The Union Fund to support the university’s continuing mission. We asked one of this year’s student callers, Christian Valdez-Nolasco, to write about his experience talking to alumni.
I was looking for an on-campus job when I saw an opening in the Outreach Call Center. As I read through the description, three words instantly caught my attention: “talking to strangers.” Out of everything in the world, one of the things I love most is talking to people. I knew right away this job was for me.
When I started, we went through training on how to talk to people and make them feel good about the call. After two weeks of training, I finally got on the phone for my very first call — and it was incredible! From that moment, the calls just kept coming. I’ve talked to people of all different ages, backgrounds, experiences, and degrees. Some days I come into work a little tired after long classes, but the moment I start a call, a smile automatically appears on my face. Before I know it, I’m having an amazing conversation with someone new.
The stories we hear in this job are unbelievable. People have shared everything about their experience at Union — from funny college pranks to throwing up after eating too much on move-in day, and last-minute mission trips where they nearly drowned to meeting their crush and getting married just six months later! I’ve also heard heartwarming stories of people encountering Jesus for the very first time at Union and how it shaped and changed their lives.
One of the coolest parts about this job is realizing just how small the Adventist world is. One time, I called a lady who sounded familiar, and we realized we had met two days earlier at our alumni weekend at Maplewood Academy! She was in the choir I conducted and is related to my high school science teacher. I’ve also had the chance to meet the author of my favorite Sabbath School lesson who wrote about the book of Mark, and even the organist from College View Church who always amazes me with his playing. These connections just never stop, and honestly, I will not be surprised if I end up calling my dentist!
The best part of the job isn’t just the stories — it’s the unity we share here at Union. I talk to so many alumni who say wonderful things about this school, but one thing always stands out: they say the Union community really cared about them and made them feel special. Union is still doing that for me today. This school has brought me so much joy and keeps me growing, learning, and busy — in the best way. Through my job, I get to see firsthand how The Union Fund stands strong because of the generosity of its supporters. Every gift, big or small, makes a huge difference for Union Adventist University.
If you’ve ever donated — whether it was $1, $10, $50, $100, or even $15,000 — I want to say from the bottom of my heart: thank you. Your generosity has helped me, my friends, my classmates, and my peers to have a meaningful and successful experience here at Union. May God bless you for the blessing you’ve shared with us. And if you see Union show up on your caller ID, please answer. I can’t wait to hear your Union stories.
by Christian Valdez-Nolasco, a freshman music education major from Minnesota