Spirit Week Staff Talent Show!

Rene Cortez singing opera.

Shelley RuggThorp singing with the students from our group The Hi-Hopes in accompaniment.

Vera plays the flute with Susie on piano.

SuzAnne singing opera.

Steven Noguera playing classical guitar.

Lisa brightening up the stage with comedy.

The Hope University students enjoying the staff talent show.

Michele V. & Vera O. sing karaoke for the students.

Our Spirit Week continued with a Staff Talent Show.  All of the staff at Hope University are artists in their own right.  Hope has visual artists, writers, singers, performers, musicians, painters and fiber artists.  On the day of the Staff Talent show, some of the performing artists were able to show off their craft.  The students were treated to a wonderful show of opera, classical guitar, flute, piano, and a comedy performances.  Shelley RuggThorp sang with some of the students from our performing group 'The Hi-Hopes' as accompaniment.  The students enjoyed seeing their instructors on stage and marveled at their amazing talents. 

Artists Ready Work for the Annual Fundraiser

The artist, Tom, concentrates on his work.

Excellent brush strokes.

A proud artist.

The artist, Oscar, painting with intention.

What a fantastic painting.

Diane is adding pattern.

Once a year Hope University hosts a gala fundraiser to raise money for the program.  Our hopes are to be able to purchase a building to call our own.  We are looking for a facility to hold all of the wonderful things and people here at Hope U.  Ideally an old school or church building would fit our bill.  Classrooms, outdoor areas, lunch areas, office space, and a large hall with a stage would be our dream.  This years gala is entitled 'Life is a Masquerade', (masks optional) will be held on Saturday, March 10th.  The gala opens at 5:30 with a social hour and silent auction, to be followed by dinner, a live auction and live music provided by Hope University's very own band, the Hi-Hopes and dancing if you choose.  The place is the Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort at 12021 South Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92804, just up the street from Disneyland!

In the photos above you see some of the Hope U artists creating work to be available at the silent auction.  The silent auction always has a large selection of wonderful items such as vacation packages, jewelry, sports tickets and memorabilia as well as a large selection of gift and food baskets. 
If you would like more information or to attend this years gala, please feel free to call us at (714)778-4440 or visit us on the web at www.hopeu.com. 

Christmas by Candlelight, Act ll

 Opening the second half of the show was the hand bell choir with a slide show of student artwork.

The hand bells.

Alexis getting ready for her keyboard solo.

The Choir.

Karen and Michelle start the 'Baking Cookies' dance.

'Baking Cookies'... the dance.

Ron playing his accordion.

Paul and Cathy sing a duet of 'The Christmas Song' or 'Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire'.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus!  (Maurica and Ben)

The Grand Finale, 'Joy to the World'.

The audience gives us a standing ovation!

The staff takes a bow.

Here is the second installment of Hope University performing in their annual Christmas Program, titled 'Christmas by Candlelight'.  The students enjoyed dancing, singing and acting as they participated on stage.  Photographed by Eric Stoner.

Disability Spotlight ...PKU

What is PKU? By Virginia E. Schuett, MS, RD, Director, National PKU News

PKU (phenylketonuria), in its “classic” form, is a rare, inherited metabolic disease that results in mental retardation and other neurological problems when treatment is not started within the first few weeks of life. When treatment is begun early and well-maintained, affected children can expect normal development and a normal life span. (Not all elevations of blood phenylalanine require treatment; any child with a level less than 6 mg/dl does not need to be on a special diet and is not risk for mental retardation.) Until recently, the only treatment was a very strict diet that limits the amino acid, phenylalanine. Now, however, there is a drug called Kuvan that can help in some cases.

Excerpt from The National PKU news.

One of the students at Hope University has PKU. Her name is Cathy Acton. Cathy has an amazing singing voice, many have likened her to Barbara Streisand or Patsy Cline. She has been performing since the '70s. She is one of the lead singers in the Hope University Group, The Hi-Hopes.

Having PKU means that Cathy has to eat differently from people without the disease. She cannot have steak, a cheeseburger, chicken or fish. So she follows a strict vegetarian diet. Some of her favorite allowed foods are corn on the cob, her Mother's cooking and broccoli slaw with ramen noodles.

Cathy enjoys singing, knitting, crocheting, acting, traveling and reading books about the British Royals.
She is currently working on a recording called 'Cathy Celebrates England' a CD of songs that were either sung by British artists or written by British composers. Some of the songs on the CD will be 'Yesterday', 'I Could Have Danced All Night' and 'Feed the Birds'.

Having PKU and adhering to the diet have been difficult at times for Cathy, fortunately with the latest research a pill has been created to help those with PKU to be able to eat more foods with protein. Kuvan was developed by the pharmaceutical company Biomarin.

Cathy sure has not let her disability slow her down! She has traveled to England, Wales, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico and Canada. She loves to travel and hopes to do much more in her future. Scotland may be next on her list!

Her favorite color is purple and she loves to go to tea houses for tea and scones. She had her last birthday party at 'Paris in a Cup' at the circle in Old Towne Orange Ca.

Cathy's philosophy is "Don't let anything stand in your way." Cathy sure has not let anything stand in her way, and we look forward to many more performances from her.

Thanks Cathy Acton, a woman with PKU.