Advanced Education Miniter Naomi Yamamoto, made a visit to Trinity Western University on Dec. 15 along with the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Mary Polak, and Marc Dalton, MLA Maple Ridge-Mission.

Yamamoto was greeted by TWU student leaders and then toured the campus, stopping at the newly expanded Neufeld Science Centre where she met with faculty, undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry, biology, and nursing.

This was Yamamoto's second visit to campus - she attended a reception last July with the premier.

"It was wonderful to visit Trinity Western once again - to talk with students, meet faculty and staff, hear about your quality programs and look around your beautiful campus," said Yamamoto. "It's when I get a chance to see firsthand the exciting work that is taking place at our postsecondary institutions that I'm most proud of what we're doing together to enrich the lives of learners and train the skilled workers of the future."

University president Dr. Jonathan Raymond shared with Yamamoto, Polak and Dalton, TWU's focus on developing people of high competence and exemplary character who distinguish themselves as exceptional leaders in the marketplaces of life, its desire to become a world-class Christian university, and its support of educational vitality in British Columbia.

"TWU in 2012 will celebrate its 50th anniversary as a institution of higher learning in service to the public," Raymond said. "We are pleased to be an important part of the provincial university system and grateful for the provincial leadership advancing higher education for B.C."

TWU is a Christian liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies university, enrolling approximately 4,000 students and offering 42 undergraduate majors, ranging from biotechnology, education, theatre and music, to psychology, communications and biblical studies.

TWU's 16 graduate degree programs include nursing, counselling psychology, marriage and family therapy, business, theology, linguistics, and leadership, and interdisciplinary degrees in English, philosophy and history.

TWU holds Canada Research Chairs in Dead Sea Scroll Studies, Developmental Genetics and Disease, and Interpretation, Religion & Culture.