The new editor of the '97--'98 Ambassador yearbook views her position as both a vehicle for ministry and an outlet for creativity.

Mary Aguilera, a sophomore journalism major, said her ultimate goal as yearbook editor is to "reflect Multnomah as a trainer of ambassadors for Christ."

Aguilera likens the significance of this year's "Pressing On" theme to Paul's desire to "press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me...forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead" (Phil. 3:12-14).

Her responsibilities as editor include facilitating the yearbook workshop class, formulating the yearbook's scope and theme, and leading all aspects of decision making.

Although this year's team is understaffed with only three members, Aguilera finds the shortage a source of personal challenge and motivation.

"With the size of our staff, one of my major concerns is getting adequate coverage," Aguilera said. Consequently, she's actively recruiting volunteers who will take photos and write special-interest stories.

Another challenge is making the yearbook representative of and appealing to a broad audience. Aguilera points out the age gap between her and her younger staff--different approaches and "younger" ideas--as potentially creating some difficulties.

At the same time, Aguilera believes the age difference actually could be an advantage. "Since our focus is in different areas, we may do a better job of representing MBC's diverse student body," she said.

The aspects of production that Aguilera enjoys most are photography, design and layout. While participating in a week-long Jostens workshop at Oregon State University this summer, Aguilera became excited about publication design.

While there, she expressed her idea for a cover design to one of the Jostens artists, who then created it. Aguilera plans to use that design for this year's edition of The Ambassador.

Last spring, Aguilera was enrolled in the yearbook workshop and publication design. Photography is also one her interests. Her projects have ranged from weddings to portraiture to scenic photography.

Aguilera wanted to attend MBC since 1986, when she heard Dr. Joseph Aldrich speak at a family camp in Mt. Hermon. That initial exposure to MBC planted a desire within her for biblical education.

She was then living in Carson City, Nev., so attending MBC wasn't feasible. In August of '95, her daughter, Melanie, moved to Portland with her husband so he could attend dental school at Oregon Health Sciences University.

The employment contract of Aguilera's husband, Nick, ended in January 1996. They seized this opportunity to move to Portland so they could be with their daughter and Aguilera could attend MBC. Her husband soon found a job as a computer programmer, and she enrolled at MBC last fall.

Prior to attending MBC, Aguilera was executive director of the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Carson City for two-and-a-half years. Before that, she owned her own business, Accounting Specialties, for 10 years.