A Heritage of Excellence in Christian Higher Education

On September 18, 1950, the Los Angeles Baptist Association opened the doors of California Baptist College in El Monte. The college began operations with 42 students in Fall 1950; 120 were enrolled during the 1950-51 academic year. In 1955, after four years of continued growth, the college relocated to larger facilities in Riverside.

Today, the Spanish-style buildings, which include classrooms, campus housing, a library, offices, maintenance and athletic facilities are located on the 128 acre campus. In the midst of dynamic growth, California Baptist University continues the tradition of liberal arts education in a Christian environment.

Historical Events and Milestones

1920s

1921: Building that currently houses the Annie Gabriel Library constructed
1927: Administration Building constructed

1930s

1934: W. E. James Building constructed

1950s

1950: P. Boyd Smith named first President
1950: September 18 - Classes began for 42 students at First Southern Baptist Church El Monte, CA
1951: Olie T. Brown named first dean of students
1953: California Baptist Convention assumes full responsibility for California Baptist College
1953: First Angelos yearbook published
1954: College chartered by the State of California
1954: Eight students become first to earn undergraduate degrees from CBC
1954: CBC We'll Love You, composed by Dr. S.E. Smith, adopted as the official Alma Matter
1955: CBC moved to Riverside campus
1955: Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church organized by faculty, staff, and students
1955: Lancer Mascot named
1956: Dewey H. Jones organized the first competitive basketball team
1958: Dr. Loyed Simmons named second President

1960s

1960: Annie Gabriel Library dedicated
1960: The Roundtable became the official campus publication for alumni
1961: CBC receives full regional accreditation granted by the Western College Association
1964: First Candle Lighting ceremony takes place
1964: Lancer Arms Apartment buildings constructed
1964: CBU enrollment reaches 500
1968: Simmons Hall and Smith Hall constructed and dedicated
1968: Van Dyne Field House constructed and dedicated
1968: Dewey H. Jones appointed first academic dean
1969: California Chapter of Beta Alpha Chi installed

1970s

1971: Dr. James R. Staples named third President
1971: Annie Gabriel Library adds 100,000th volume
1973: The Wallace Book of Life Building dedicated
1975: Physical Plant/Maintenance building constructed
1979: $800,000 note for the Riverside campus paid

1980s

1984: Dr. Russell R. Tuck named fourth president
1984: First graduate degree granted
1984: Accreditation granted by National Association of Schools of Music
1986: Board of Trustees voted to create the California Baptist College Development Foundation
1987: S.E. Boyd Smith contributed P. Boyd Smith Hymnology Collection to the Annie Gabriel Library
1989: Bob and Dorothy Pentz Tennis Center constructed

1990s

1990: First Evening College classes offered in High Desert
1994: Dr. Ronald L. Ellis named fifth president
1995: First students enrolled in Master of Education degree program
1995: CBU enrollment reaches 1,000
1996: California Baptist University becomes first college on West Coast to receive accreditation by Association of College Business Schools and Programs
1996: Metcalf Art Gallery opened
1996: CBU enrollment reaches 1,500
1997: Mission Hall, Fitness Center, Training Room, and Athletic Offices constructed
1997: CBU enrollment reaches 2,000
1998: Lambeth House purchased
1998: Willow Wood Apartments, Pine Creek Villas purchased
1998: California Baptist College officially became California Baptist University
1998: The U.S. News and World Report listed California Baptist University among the top five regional liberal arts college for student-faculty ratio
1998: Aquatic Center constructed

2000s

2000: 50th Anniversary celebrated
2001: Willow Wood Apartments and Pine Creek Villas officially became University Place Apartments
2003: Eugene and Billie Yeager University Center completed
2003: Graduate students participate in Inaugural Graduate Commencement (separate from undergraduate exercises)
2004: Phase I of The Cottages completed
2005: Woodman of the World Building purchased
2005: Royal Rose and Rose Garden Apartments purchased
2005: Evening College Program officially became Adult Degree Completion Program
2005: First Adult Degree Completion Program classes offered in Beaumont
2005: School of Nursing added to academic program
2005: Van Dyne Gym renovation completed
2005: Adams Villas Apartments purchased
2005: Phase II of The Cottages completed
2005: James Complex North Wing/Garrett Room renovation completed
2005: JoAnn Hawkins Music Building completed
2005: CBU named “Business of the Year” by Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
2006: Magnolia Hacienda Apartments purchased
2006: Lutheran Church of the Cross purchased
2006: Adams Plaza purchased
2007: Lancers Outdoor Sports Complex completed
2007: School of Engineering added to academic program
2007: Organic Chemistry lab renovation complete
2008: Lambeth House (School of Nursing) renovation completed
2009: Bourns Engineering Lab established
2009: 1,000 students graduated in a single year for the first time in school’s history

2010s

2010: 60th Anniversary celebrated
2010: Surpassed 400 participant-mark and 200th team for International Service Projects since 1997 founding of program
2010: College of Allied Health established
2010: Division of Online and Professional Studies established
2010: Enrollment reaches 4,715
2010: CBU is named for the fifth straight year as a top-ranked university by U.S. News & World Report and is listed as a 2011 “Best Regional University”
2010: Membership approved in NCAA Division II, Pacific West Conference

2011s

2011: Health Center Opened
2011: Adams Plaza renamed “Lancer Plaza”
2011: First-ever 10-year accreditation received from WASC
2011: Fall and spring commencement combined yielded 1,147 graduates—the largest number of graduates in a single year

Photos courtesy of the Annie Gabriel Library

Lancers Athletics Legacy

California Baptist University athletic teams regularly compete at a high level in the NCAA-DII's Pacific West Conference. Great accomplishments in Lancer history include the following:

Baseball

1997 – GSAC Champions, 3rd place at NAIA World Series
2001 – NAIA Region II semifinalist
2003 – Tony Orozco selected in the 34th round of the MLB Draft
2004 – NAIA Region II runner-up, fourth straight winning season
2005 – Finished 2nd in GSAC
2006 – GSAC Champions, Aaron Hartsock selected in the 23rd round of MLB Draft
2007 – Finished 2nd in GSAC, Aaron Seuss selected in the 27th round of the MLB Draft
2008 – Program-record fifth straight playoff appearance
2010 - GSAC Champions

Basketball – Men

1976 – District III Champions, 28 wins, First NAIA Tournament appearance
1988 – Tied for second in the GSAC
2003 – Third straight winning season
2005 – NAIA Tournament Sweet 16 (first since 1976)
2007 – NAIA Tournament appearance
2008 – NAIA Tournament Sweet 16
2008 – Mark Roussin named GSAC Player of the Year and All-American first team

Basketball – Women

1988 – GSAC Champions, 27 wins (team record)
1990 – GSAC Champions
1991 – Sonja Akkerman earns third straight GSAC Player of the Year award
1996 – Head coach Dave King records his 300th win (326-237 all-time)
2003 – Angela Romagnoli earns Kodak All-American honors
2008 – Nicole Davis earns All-American first team honors

Cross Country – Men

1998 – GSAC Champions, 9th at NAIA Championships
1999 – GSAC Champions, 10th at NAIA Championships
2000 – GSAC Champions, 8th at NAIA Championships
2001 – GSAC & Region II Champions, 3rd at NAIA Championships

Cross Country – Women

1999 – 10th at NAIA Championships
2000 – 16th at NAIA Championships

Soccer – Men

1990 – GSAC co-champions
2001 – 12 wins (tied team record)
2003 – Won 10 games, Augustine Rodriguez becomes four-time All-GSAC selection

Soccer – Women

1999 – Received first-ever NAIA national ranking at No. 25
2003 – First-ever NAIA Tournament berth, reached quarterfinals
2003 – Amy Harris earns All-American second team honors
2007 – Regional finalists, Jacqueline Witz earns All-American honors

Softball

1990 – GSAC co-champions
1992 – GSAC co-champions
1996 – Diane Stark earns All-American Honors
2003 – Rachael Bermudez appears in Sports Illustrated
2004 – GSAC co-champions, first-ever NAIA Championships appearance, tied for seventh in NAIA
2005 - GSAC champion, Region II Champion, NAIA national runner-up. All-Americans include Candice Thomas, Amanda Xavier, Kristen Hernandez (2nd team), and Tami Trujillo (2nd team)
2006 – NAIA National runner-up. All-Americans include Candice Thomas, Tami Trujillo, Chantal Millard, and Sarah Sherman (2nd team)
2007 – Finished 3rd at NAIA National Championships, Amy Thomas earns NAIA Pitcher of the Year honors. All-Americans include Amy Thomas, Candice Thomas, Chantal Millard.
2008 – Finished 4th at NAIA National Championships, fifth straight GSAC championship, Amy Thomas earns second straight NAIA Pitcher of the Year honors. All-Americans Include Amy Thomas, Chantal Millard, and Sara Goforth.
2010 - GSAC Champion

Swimming – Men

2000 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships
2001 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships, Rick Rowland earns NAIA Coach of the Year honors
2002 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships, Felix Sutanto is NAIA Outstanding Swimmer
2003 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships, Felix Sutanto is NAIA Outstanding Swimmer
2004 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships
2005 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships
2006 – NAIA Champions, NAIA Outstanding Swimmer honors include Brad Terwilliger, Jan Tichy and Russell Thompson
2007 – NAIA Champions, Jan Tichy is NAIA Outstanding Swimmer
2008 – NAIA Champions, Rick Rowland earns NAIA Coach of the Year honors
2010 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships

Swimming – Women

2000 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships
2001 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships, Rick Rowland earns NAIA Coach of the Year honors
2002 – 3rd place at NAIA Championships, Lyndsay Devaney & Jessica Wild are co-Outstanding Swimmers
2003 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships, Lyndsay Devaney is NAIA co-Outstanding Swimmer
2004 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships
2005 – NAIA Champions, Kimie Cook is NAIA co-Outstanding Swimmer
2006 – NAIA Champions, Rick Rowland earns NAIA Coach of the Year honors, Kimie Cook is NAIA co-Outstanding Swimmer
2007 – NAIA Champions
2008 – NAIA Champions
2010 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships

Volleyball – Men

1999 – Inaugural season, NAIA champions
2000 – 2nd Place at NAIA Tournament
2001 – NAIA champions, Rafael Paal named Tournament MVP
2004 – NAIA champions, Shaun Dyk named Tournament MVP and appears in Sports Illustrated
2005 – NAIA champions, Shamsu Awudu named Tournament MVP
2006 – NAIA champions, Shamsu Awudu named Tournament MVP
2007 – NAIA champions, Donald Baliaba named Tournament MVP
2008 – 2nd Place at NAIA Tournament
2010 – NAIA champions, Adiel Tiedjop named Tournament MVP
2011 – NAIA champions, Levi Cabral named Tournament MVP

Volleyball – Women

1988 – GSAC Champions
1989 – GSAC Champions, 5th place at NAIA Championships
1992 – 2nd place at NAIA Championships
1999 – GSAC Champions, quarterfinals at NAIA Championships
2004 – NAIA Champions, Ryan McGuyre earns NAIA Tournament Coach of the Year
2005 – NAIA Champions, Verania Willis earns NAIA Player of the Year, Ryan McGuyre earns NAIA Tournament Coach of the Year
2006 – NAIA Championship Semifinals
2007 – NAIA Championship Runners-up

Water Polo – Men

1999 – Inaugural season
2000 – Ended season ranked No. 15 in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association
2001 – Ended season ranked No. 14 in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association
2002 – Ended season ranked No. 17 in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association
2004 – Ended season ranked No. 19 in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association
2006 – Ended season ranked No. 20 in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association
2007 – Hosted and won inaugural CWPA/NAIA Water Polo National Invitational Tournament, Ryan Steiger earns National Tournament MVP.

Water Polo – Women

2000 – Inaugural season
2000 – 6th Place, National Collegiate Select Championships
2003 – Ended season ranked No. 20 in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association
2004 – Ended season ranked No. 20 in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association
2005 – Ended Season ranked No. 20 in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association
2008 - Hosted and won inaugural CWPA/NAIA Water Polo National Invitational Tournament, Whitney Shaw earns National Tournament MVP.

Golf – Men

2007 – Finished 14th at NAIA National Tournament

Golf – Women

2007 – Finished 20th at NAIA National Tournament
2008 – Finished 8th at NAIA National Tournament, Malin Thorberg finishes fifth and earns NAIA All-American honors

Tennis – Men

1974 – Bengt Anthin & John Blomberg win NAIA Doubles’ Championship, NAIA All-Americans include Bengt Anthin, John Blomberg, Dave Lucky, and Henri Elkins
1990- NAIA All-Americans include Frank Ofori and Tamer El Sawy
1992 – Frank Ofori earns NAIA All-American honors
2007 – Alessandro Ventre earns NAIA All-American honors
2008 – NAIA Quarterfinals, NAIA All-Americans include Alessandro Ventre and Carlos Cirne-Lima (first team) and Patrick Olobo (second team)

Tennis – Women

2008 – NAIA Quarterfinals, Finished year ranked No. 6 (best finish in program history). Marcela Montanha and Barbara Oliveira earn All-American honors.

Track and Field – Men

1999 – NAIA Indoor National Champions (first national title in school history)