Palm Beach Atlantic University

Overview

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) is a private Christian university in West Palm Beach, Florida. It started in 1968 as part of a local Baptist church. Later, it became open to students from all backgrounds. The university has nine colleges that study liberal arts and some professional subjects.

Campus and Enrollment

In 2024, about 2,600 undergraduate students attended PBA. The first building just for students was finished in 1982, after using many different places before that. There is also a smaller campus in Orlando.

Athletics

PBA has eighteen sports teams that compete in NCAA Division II. Remember, this university is not the same as Florida Atlantic University; they are two different schools.

History

Palm Beach Atlantic University began in 1968 when Pastor Jess C. Moody started it. He guided the university until the first class finished in 1972, then moved on to work with his church. Many leaders have helped the university grow since then.

In 2020, Dr. Debra Schwinn became the first woman to lead the university. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the university kept its doors open for students to learn in person. They also helped students who were ill by bringing them meals and arranging support so they could rest and get better at home.

Campus

Palm Beach Atlantic University’s campus is in West Palm Beach, Florida. The first building made just for the university, called the W.G. Lassiter Jr. Student Center, was finished in 1982. More buildings, like Johnson Hall and Sachs Hall, were added in 1989. New campuses were opened in Orlando and Wellington in 2002, but the Wellington campus stopped operating in 2017.

The university has many places for students to live, such as Baxter Hall and Oceanview Hall. There are also many buildings for classes, like Vera Lea Rinker Hall and the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy. In 2022, the university started a plan called “God-Sized Dreams” to add more programs and special spaces. In early 2024, they began building the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall, which is the first of four big projects in this plan.

The university also has a large sports area called the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus. It opened in 2014 and was finished in 2017. This campus has facilities for training and hosting sports events.

Growth

Palm Beach Atlantic University has grown a lot in recent years. In 2024, it had over 4,100 students from many countries. The university helped bring money to the local economy.

In June 2024, PBA was ranked third in the country for growth in new students. Because of this growth, PBA plans to build new buildings, including a business hall, a performing arts center, a welcome center, and a health sciences complex.

Academics

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) offers more than 100 programs for students to study. These programs are offered through nine different schools. Some of these schools include the Rinker School of Business, the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the School of Health Professions.

The university also has seven special centers. These centers help students learn about important topics such as money management, leadership, and science. The centers support learning at PBA.

Ministry life

Chapel at PBA happens four times a week from Monday to Thursday at 11 a.m. in the DeSantis Family Chapel. All full-time students need to attend 24 chapel sessions each year.

PBA has a program called "Workship" where students help others in the community and around the world. Since 1968, students have worked with many groups in Palm Beach County.

The university also offers mission trips every year. Students can travel during the summer or spring break to different countries to help others.

Athletics

Main article: Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish

The athletic teams at Palm Beach Atlantic University are called the Sailfish. Their colors are navy blue and white. They compete in NCAA Division II, mostly in the Sunshine State Conference since 2015. Some teams, like track and field, compete on their own because the conference does not sponsor those sports.

PBA offers 18 different sports for men and women, including baseball, basketball, soccer, and more. The university has a special athletic campus with many places for these sports, including fields, courts, and training rooms.

Facilities

PBA's Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus has beach volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis, and running trails as well as a new weight and training rooms. PBA's 34,000 sq ft (3,200 m²) building has locker rooms and meeting rooms as well as PBA Athletics offices.

Mascot

The sailfish is a fast fish with a tall dorsal fin. When the university was founded in 1968, leaders chose nautical themes for the teams, and the sailfish became the mascot, shown in the university’s athletics logo.

Notable alumni

Palm Beach Atlantic University has helped many people do great things. Some famous graduates include Lizbeth Benacquisto, who works in the Florida Senate, and Grant Horvat, a golfer and YouTuber. Others include Victoria Jackson, an actress who was once on Saturday Night Live, and Ruthie Ann Miles, a Broadway actress who won a 2015 Tony Award for The King & I. The university’s alumni also include Brian Mast, who serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Martin David Kiar, the Broward County Property Appraiser. Author and speaker Jennifer Rothschild, violinist Susan Sherouse, and Florida House of Representatives member Priscilla Taylor also graduated from PBA. The Christian music band Tenth Avenue North began there.