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August 2014 | Volume 8, Issue 7
 Recipients of SERVE Grants Report From Around the Globe
Seattle Pacific University wants to help support students’ service and nonprofit unpaid internships. That’s why juniors and seniors can apply for $1,000 SERVE grants each quarter.
Here are excerpts from the midsummer reflections of three students who have SERVE grants: Giselle Gonzales in Slovenia, Nathaniel Ng in El Salvador, and Melanie Loud in the Czech Republic.
Giselle Gonzales traveled to the "sleepy" Eastern European town of Celje, Slovenia, returning for a second summer to work with a group of missionaries from the Christian nonprofit Josiah Venture. She is part of a music ministry that builds relationships with youth.
"Throughout the entire summer, one consistent element I have grown to love is the opportunity to disciple young women," says Gonzales. "I can't wait to see what God has in store over the next month and a half."
(Read more)
Campus News
 The 12th Annual Day of Common Learning
The Day of Common Learning is an annual all-day event in which the University suspends classes and gathers the community together to explore a significant idea or interest. This year's event takes place on Wednesday, October 22, and the theme is "The Promise and Perils of Power: Fostering Human Flourishing in a Broken World."
The day begins with a public keynote address at 10 a.m. in Royal Brougham Pavilion titled “The Good News About Power,” presented by Andy Crouch, executive editor of Christianity Today. He is the author of Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power and Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. In the afternoon, the “common” part of our day occurs. Faculty, staff, and students will facilitate presentations and discussions on the theme of power.
Parents and other members of the Seattle community are welcome to attend the morning and afternoon sessions. More information will be available on the SPU Center for Scholarship and Faculty Development website in early October.
Register Today for Orientation
September is just around the corner, which means incoming freshmen will be starting their SPU experience in a few weeks. Be sure to register for Orientation, which runs September 25-28.
This comprehensive event has programming for new students, parents, and guests. We look forward to seeing you on campus very soon!
From Student Financial Services
Check your mailbox for a letter from Student Financial Services during the last week of August. This letter will summarize your students’ estimated charges and financial aid. This letter is for informational purposes only, and is not a bill. A statement will be mailed in September with a due date of October 13, 2014.
If you want to set up a payment plan, please have your student apply by September 8 through the Banner Information System. Families on the payment play will have their own set of due dates.
SPU Athletes Earn Academic Awards
Fifteen Seattle Pacific student-athletes received Great Northwest Athletic Conference Faculty Athletic Representatives Scholar-Athlete awards for 2013-14.
Three of these student athletes had flawless academic records. Women's basketball player Suzanna Ohlsen is a biochemistry major who completed her junior year with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Two SPU freshmen also compiled GPAs of 4.0: soccer player Jordan Kollars, and rower Matthew Bowden.
Health Records Due for All New Students
Please note that all incoming freshmen are required to submit an immunization record prior to beginning the academic year. This document must be signed by a health care provider and returned to Health Services no later than September 1. If you have questions, please call 206-281-2231 during regular business hours.
Don't Miss Summer Socials for New Students
If you have a student who is starting as a freshman this fall, plan to attend a Summer Social. This is a chance to meet other students and parents from your area, to relax and enjoy treats in an informal setting, and to learn about the SPU Parent Council and how parents can get involved. Remaining Washington events will be held in Bellingham and Edmonds. There are also events in Salem, Oregon; San Jose, California; and Honolulu, Hawaii.
These events are just around the corner, so be sure to register soon for one near you.
Welcome From the Parent Council
The SPU Parent Council is an active group that works to develop lifelong relationships among parents. The Parent Council hosts several events each year, and the group is always looking for helping hands. Join us for the annual Mom's Day and Dad's Day festivities, as well as Homecoming Weekend events.
This year's chair of Parent Council is Marie Anderson, a 1986 graduate. Her husband and son are also alumni, and she has a daughter who is currently a senior studying communication. Another daughter is an incoming freshman.
You can also choose to join about 250 parents in the Parent Prayer Network. As part of the network, you can send in your prayer requests and join in praying for SPU’s leadership, faculty, and students during the academic year. For parents in the Seattle area, you can pray with other parents in person on campus.
To learn more about Parent Council or the Parent Prayer Network, email parents@spu.edu.
Alumni Survey Results for Job Placement
In an SPU alumni survey of recent graduates, 85 percent of respondents reported being employed in their first position within six months of graduation.
(Survey of one-year-out graduates; 27 percent response rate)
A Student Ministry Coordinator Shares Her Story
Student Ministry Coordinators (SMCs) are floor leaders who are responsible for building relationships with students. They are here to encourage spiritual growth and to help students on their floors get plugged into on-campus ministries. Read Shaina Mackin's story about her role as an SMC on 4th Hill last academic year.
Faculty News
 Castelo's New Book
Associate Professor of Theology Daniel Castelo's latest book, Confessing the Triune God, has just been published. Castelo makes a case for why a Trinitarian understanding is at the heart of the Christian confession of who God is. The book, published by Cascade, is part of the "Wesleyan Doctrine Series," which aims to help Wesleyans and Methodists in particular grow more conversant with features of the Christian doctrinal tradition. Learn more about the book.
Article by Robertson, Undergraduate Students Published
An article by Assistant Professor of Physics Amy Robertson and several undergraduate students about the physics learning assistant program was recently published. The article was written by Robertson and former physics learning assistants Erika Eppard, Lisa Goodhew, Emily Maaske, Hannah Sabo, Faith Stewart, David Tuell, and Scott Wenzinger. The invited article, "Being a Seattle Pacific University Learning Assistant: A Transformative Experience of Listening and Being Heard," was published in the American Physical Society Forum on Education newsletter.
Questions or Comments?
We'd love to hear from you. Let us know what's on your mind, or how we can help. Submit your questions and comments by emailing to parents@spu.edu.
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