7 APU Alumni That Deserve Acknowledgement | The Odyssey Online
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7 APU Alumni That Deserve Acknowledgement

People you didn't know graduated from Azusa Pacific University.

Brianna Rose
Jan 12, 2016
Azusa Pacific University
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7 APU Alumni That Deserve Acknowledgement

Azusa Pacific University is a Christian College in Southern California. The university is growing rapidly, with nearly 6,000 undergraduate students. However, due to it smaller size and reputation, that doesn't stop people from asking, "Azusa what?" and "Azusa where?"

Here are 15 APU graduates that are helping put the university on the map. You never know, you could be the next notable alumni.

1. Robert DeLong


The 29-year-old DeLong is an international electronic music sensation, traveling the globe to preform at various music festivals. He grew up in Washington before moving to LA to studying drumming at Azusa Pacific University. He is known for his unique one-man-show and live sets involving keys, drums, pads, pedals, joysticks, and game controllers. Check out his top single, Long Way Down.

2. Marcie Dodd

Marcie Dodd graduated from APU in 2001, and began her career through a singing gig at Disneyland. After working her way from Disney to performing in many Las Vegas musicals such as Hairspray and We Will Rock You, she found her calling staring as Elphaba in Broadway's Wicked.

3. Hailemariam Desalegn

Never heard of Hailemariam Desalegn? That may be because he lives in Ethiopia. In fact, Desalegn is the current Prime Minister of Ethiopia. He attended APU in the '80s, earning his MA in Global Leadership.

4. Bryan Clay

Bryan Clay graduated from APU in 2002 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and record-shattering college track career. He went on to become the World champion for the decathlon in 2005, and the 2008 Summer Olympic champion. Bryan was the 10th American to win the gold in the decathlon and the 1st since 1996. Today Bryan is a well known motivational speaker and brand ambassador.

5. Tracee Carrasco

Tracee Carrasco is an American TV news reporter for CBS 2 News, WCBS-TV in New York, New York. She Studied Communications at Azusa Pacific, and interned with several news stations in LA. Her talent and success have led her to multiple Upper Midwest Emmy nominations.

6. Britt Nilsson

Britt Nilsson was born in Michigan, then decided to move to closer Los Angeles and attend APU in hopes of pursuing her modeling dreams. After being featured on both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, she has apparently given up her modeling dreams and is working at her local church.

7. Colleen Evans

Colleen Evans (more commonly known as her YouTube personality "Miranda Sings" grew up in Santa Barbra then moved to Azusa Pacific University in LA to study vocal performance. After graduating, she took up random jobs singing at bars and working princess parties. She got her big break in 2009, when her humorous video Free Voice Lesson went viral overnight. She continued the YouTube channel and began to receive requests to preform as "Miranda" at different venues in New York. Colleen Evans has been successful ever since.

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