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When Melinda arrived at Pepperdine, she was full of hopes, dreams and plans for a rich life. She participated in campus life, Greek life and the Heidelberg summer program, along with keeping up with her studies. Unfortunately, we lost our sorority sister and friend on February 4, 2025.

When her family requested that in lieu of flowers, friends donate to their favorite charity in her name, we thought it would be an opportunity to focus our donations to Pepperdine in her name to create a small fund to help Seaver College and Heidelberg Students enjoy their time at Pepperdine as much as she did.

Melinda left Pepperdine in 1987 and pursued a life in the insurance industry, ultimately owning her own agency in Napa, California. She was the loving mother of three boys and one grandson. Family and friends have always been the center of Melinda’s life and those of us in her orbit have been blessed with a little bit of extra sunshine. Please feel free to make a donation, of any size, because together we can create a lovely tribute to our friend and help a student or two along the way.

She will be missed by so many, but her friends and loved ones know how lucky we were to be on the receiving end of her gentle spirit, fierce friendship and ever-present smile.

*You'll be able to select if you'd like your gift to go towards Seaver College Scholarships or Heidelberg Scholarships on the following page. 

On May 11th, 2024, Nicole Jane Macbeth Hill passed away due to the impact of an unexpected and sudden cardiac arrest. Nicole was a treasure to those who knew her, and her sweet voice, kind heart, and generous spirit will be missed by many.

Nicole was a Seaver College alumnus (’04) and earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts. She utilized her degree to provide enriching learning experiences and positively shape the lives of many young children. Nicole taught kindergarten and volunteered in several local church preschool programs, but her greatest joy was extending her love of learning to her own two children.

A highlight of Nicole’s life and college experience was her participation in Pepperdine’s study abroad program in Heidelberg, Germany, during the 2001–2002 academic year. Through this program, she developed many lifelong friendships; it was even mutual friends from Heidelberg who eventually introduced her to her future husband, Brent. Nicole loved her abroad experience and made it a point to attend both her 10- and 20-year Heidelberg reunions, relishing the ability to reconnect with friends and relive the memories from a time and place in her life that were so special to her.

To help honor and remember Nicole, Pepperdine has created the Nicole Jane Macbeth Hill Memorial Fund to provide financial assistance to other Seaver College undergraduate students who wish to study abroad in Heidelberg.

Nicole is survived by her husband Brent Hill and their two children, David and Catherine, her parents, Charles and Anita Macbeth, and her brothers Chad (’08), Cameron, and John (’14).

The purpose of this scholarship is to help cover the International Program fees, expenses for the educational field trip, and/or other study abroad-related expenses for students in financial need and good academic standing who attend the Heidelberg program.

On October 17, 2023, the Pepperdine community suffered the tragic loss of Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams, four Seaver College students.

These students were bright lights in the Pepperdine community and each one of these students had a special impact on everyone they met. Their absence will long be felt. In an effort to honor their memory, Pepperdine is establishing the "Our Four Angels Endowed Scholarship,"  which will help continue the legacies of Niamh, Peyton, Asha, and Deslyn. 

Through the generous support of our community, the Pepperdine Strong Fund has successfully met the immediate financial assistance needs of our faculty, staff, and students affected by the Franklin Fire and the Palisades Fire. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of care that has made this possible.​

As of March 19, 2025, gifts to the Pepperdine Strong Fund will support new needs expressed by our community, specifically a key initiative spearheaded by Pepperdine’s Resilience-Informed Skills Education (RISE) Program. This effort will engage 4–8th-grade students at Calvary Christian School in the Pacific Palisades—many of whom have recently endured unimaginable hardship due to the fires—in meaningful discussions and activities designed to develop their resilience skills, care for themselves and their peers in times of need, and prepare them to navigate life's challenges with confidence. 

Your continued support allows us to extend Pepperdine’s mission beyond our immediate campus to enrich lives and foster the well-being and strength of our broader community. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to creating a lasting impact.

The University has created the following website to provide updates on all helpful information pertaining to the current wildfires in the surrounding areas: Pepperdine.edu/Wildfire

PREVIOUS UPDATES: On the evening of Monday, December 9, 2024, the Franklin Fire broke out in the areas immediately surrounding Pepperdine’s Malibu campus. In the hours and days that followed, the fire directly impacted our campus community—especially our students. We are grateful for God’s divine protection over our campus and for the unwavering leadership of our Emergency Operations Committee, faculty, staff, and our first responders in ensuring everyone’s safety and well-being.

As recovery efforts from the Franklin Fire continue, the Palisades Fire, which emerged on January 7, just nine miles east of Pepperdine’s Malibu campus, and continues to burn, has required more urgent attention. Additionally, multiple other fires across the Los Angeles area are affecting our students, faculty, and staff in various ways. While the effects of these disasters are still being tallied, we are already aware that many in our community face unforeseen financial burdens.

In response to the mounting challenges caused by these fires, Pepperdine has established the Pepperdine Strong Fund to provide immediate financial assistance to those impacted by this crisis. Your generosity will help alleviate the financial burdens of evacuation costs, travel interruptions, and other urgent needs, allowing students, staff, and faculty to focus on their recovery while starting the semester during this difficult time.

These funds will:

• Assist with temporary housing, food, and basic necessities for displaced students, faculty, and staff.
• Cover transportation expenses, including rides to airports or other safe locations.
• Help ship items students left behind—such as passports, prescriptions, and other critical belongings—from areas affected by the fires.

Thank you for standing with our Pepperdine community. Your support during this season of unprecedented challenges makes a profound difference in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff.