Minneapolis recently celebrated its coldest first day of spring in 48 years. I know, because I was there, trying to keep my ears from turning purple. (If you鈥檙e not familiar with what it feels like to walk around in single-digit temperatures, imagine the headache you get from drinking a milkshake too fast, but with none of the flavor.)

The quick visit to the Upper Midwest gave me a booster shot of appreciation for Biola鈥檚 ever-sunny Southern California climate, where early spring is a time for shorts and T-shirts, not parkas and ski caps. As I returned to see classes meeting outside and Frisbees flung across lawns, I was reminded what a blessing it is to be at one of the nation鈥檚 25 鈥淕reat Schools with Great Weather.鈥 (At least that鈥檚 what Newsweek calls us.)

So you won鈥檛 be surprised to see the weather make an appearance on our 鈥105 Reasons We Love Biola鈥 鈥 a sprawling, celebratory list that we鈥檝e compiled for this issue鈥檚 cover story to mark the university鈥檚 105th birthday. (What would a round-numbered anniversary be without some kind of celebration?) For the list, which starts on page 16, we asked alumni, faculty and staff to help us think of everything we collectively love about the Biola experience. We ended up with a good mix of lightheartedness, nostalgia and earnest gratitude, all of which help to sum up what makes Biola's community special.

Though we鈥檙e presenting the results in no particular order, it should be clear that the overwhelming favorites 鈥 the 鈥渋t wouldn鈥檛 be Biola without this鈥 items 鈥 all pertain to Biola鈥檚 enduring heritage as a biblically centered institution: a place where God鈥檚 word, Christian community and spiritual formation are still an integral and essential part of the college experience.

Since Biola鈥檚 founding 105 years ago, God has faithfully preserved the mission of the university, even as it has expanded from a small Bible institute to a leading Christian university. Today, Biola is still a place that teaches men and women to think biblically about everything, and to live out the gospel in every area of life.

As you browse through the 鈥105 Reasons鈥 and the rest of the issue, we hope it will encourage your faith, summon old memories, provide a laugh or two, and even make you feel like you are here with us on campus. Especially if you鈥檙e somewhere like Minnesota.