SPACE Club
In today's packaged, food-on-the-go environment, it's easy to forget where our food is coming from. That's why students David Eschliman and Jenna Herrman are involved with the Garden SPACE. This is SPU's garden club, which maintains an on-campus community garden. "SPACE" stands for Seattle Pacific Agriculture for the Community and Environment. Fruits and vegetables such as zucchini, carrots, and strawberries are grown and donated to food banks around Seattle. It's also open to SPU students and the surrounding neighborhood for use. Jenna, a junior majoring in ecology, believes that "as city-dwellers, there needs to be an opportunity for students to work with the earth again." The club also puts on a plant sale each year, donating the proceeds to Seattle Tilth, and they have helped local schools build their own community gardens. You can visit the Garden SPACE at Fourth Avenue and Dravus Street.

April Is Financial Literacy Month
There are lots of ways students -- and parents -- can become financially educated, including budgeting, strategizing, or learning what it means to manage money. The subject can be overwhelming, but according to Debbie Bristol in Student Financial Services, "The best thing a parent can do is talk to their students about finances and encourage them, rather than doing it for them." Another thing that's important is to not only have a current in-school budget, but to also start preparing now for entering a career.

Here are a few tangible resources for students. And remember, Student Financial Services is always available to help at 206-281-2061 or sfs‑info@spu.edu.

• CashCourse: A National Endowment for Financial Education resource geared specifically to college students and recent graduates; provides a wealth of information and tools for financial education.
• MoneyWise: This program uses CashCourse resources and financial-awareness counseling from the Department of Education. Students gain eligibility for a $500 scholarship drawing May 20 (funded by SPU) as they complete the short and easy courses.
• Financial Awareness Counseling: This counseling is included in the MoneyWise courses. It's an excellent resource for students to help them manage their finances while in school, and prepare them to enter the career world. Students have the ability to learn about student loan repayment and create budgets that pertain to their current and anticipated finances. Working through this counseling with your student can help you learn together and give you an opportunity to discuss various financial concepts.
• MyFico: Educational information on credit scores and credit reports.
• Financial Four: The National Endowment for Financial Education and the Financial Planning Association have created an interactive online bracket where, instead of choosing teams, users rank priorities among 32 financial concepts, selected by FPA experts. This could be a great tool for initiating conversations about a variety of financial concepts with your students.

Check It Out
Eric Long, professor in the Biology Department at SPU, explains what he thinks makes SPU a good value.

SPU's Alumni Facebook Page
Are you a Falcon? The Seattle Pacific University Alumni Facebook page connects and celebrates alumni and friends of Seattle Pacific. "Like" us to see photos from the past, get updates on what's happening around campus, and much more.

Support SPRINT
You can tackle that spring cleaning project and support SPRINT (Seattle Pacific Reachout International) missions at the same time. Hire SPRINT students for cleaning, yard projects, etc. for $10 per student per hour.

Through international service-learning and mission trips ranging from two to six weeks, SPRINT students learn and serve inside and outside the United States. SPRINT students learn firsthand from leaders engaged in significant ministry in their communities and encourage others through their service.

For more information on SPRINT students and spring cleaning projects, contact Daniel Lee: leed13@spu.edu.

New Student Advising
New Student Advising is the academic orientation program in which incoming students will be registered for Autumn Quarter classes. If your student will be an incoming freshman or transfer student, faculty and staff work together to provide your student with the tools needed for academic success -- tools for not only the classroom, but also for navigating the processes associated with earning an undergraduate degree. The online tutorial provides your student with the background information necessary for a successful experience. It also includes placement tests, which are required for registration for certain classes. Don't let your student show up to class (New Student Advising) without having done the homework (the tutorial)! Visit spu.edu/orientation for more information.

New Graduate Business Program for Non-Business Majors
The School of Business and Economics has a new, 11-month graduate business program for recent graduates in non-business majors. The program is going into its second year. Last year, 100 percent of graduates landed jobs within a month of graduation, with median salaries ranging from $53,000 to $65,000 per year. For "newly minted" graduates in a lethargic economy, this is striking success. For more information, email dhallak@spu.edu.

SPU Student Employee of the Year
Congratulations to the 2012-13 Student Employee of the Year Karina Woodruff. Karina has served as a peer advisor for Residence Life since 2011, as well as the Collegium coordinator for Student Programs since 2010. "Karina has consistently been innovative as a peer advisor, raising the bar for what is considered excellent in regards to student engagement and educational programming," says her supervisor. "Karina's accomplishments are dizzying, but because she has excellent planning skills, she is able to get things done, under budget, and on time. Because of this, she has established a reputation as someone who gets things done."

National Day of Prayer
Parent Council Prayer Team is partnering with SPU Student Prayer ministry for SPU's National Day of Prayer event on May 2, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. in the SUB's Gazebo Room.

All are welcome to join in this special event, which is part of the 62nd annual National Day of Prayer. Organized events will be held in thousands of public venues around the country.

Downtown Business Breakfast
The 2013 Downtown Business Breakfast speaker, Eric Metaxas, is the author of the acclaimed New York Times best-seller Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.

Metaxas will present a free and public lecture called “God Hates Dead Religion” on Monday, April 22, 3-4 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons on the SPU campus.