2017–18 FAFSA Deadline Is May 1

Now that April is here, SFS would like to remind all prospective freshmen, transfers, and continuing student families that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) priority consideration deadline is coming up on May 1. You can find more information on the SFS website and your family can complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov. SFS staff are happy to help with any questions that you may have, as well.

Student Workers of the Year and National Student Employment Appreciation Week

Over 900 students are employed by Seattle Pacific University, playing a key role in the success of SPU. Student employees work hard to balance school and work, all while learning valuable skills for the future. The National Student Employment Association (NSEA) designates one week each year for universities and colleges across the country to recognize the substantial contributions of students who work on campus. This year that was April 10–14.

During this weeklong celebration, these two student employees were recognized as the Student Employees of the Year:

Kylie Sproles is a student dispatcher with the Office of Safety and Security. She is also in training to become the first female student security officer. According to OSS, Sproles has learned to handle stress under pressure, be professional in sensitive situations, and deal with a diverse population. All this experience is great preparation, she’ll tell you, for her future career as a trauma nurse.

Bethany Houston began at Water’s Edge Natural Medicine, a state work-study employer, as a stocking assistant. She gained more experience and became fully trained as a receptionist. Working at Waters Edge has given Houston the chance to gain experience in the medical field. Houston is currently in the nursing program, and working in the medical field while going to school gives her a more holistic experience.

SPU Campus: Join the 360 Video Tour

You won’t miss a thing. Seriously. Not a thing. Experience life at SPU without leaving your living room through our new 360-degree tour of campus.

Find yourself in the middle of a basketball scrimmage. Step inside a residence hall room. Observe science students in a chemistry lab. Sit in on a class with Brenda Salter McNeil, associate professor of reconciliation. Ride along as an SPU crew rows down the Lake Washington Ship Canal. You’ll find yourself stepping inside some of our favorite places on campus — and you’ll be able to explore the action from every angle.

Visit spu.edu/undergraduate-admissions/virtual-reality-360-video to discover how easy it is to experience being right here on campus — no matter where you are.

NSA: Helping Students Take Right First Steps

New Student Advising, or NSA, is the required process by which all new students are registered for their first-quarter classes. Once students know they’ll be joining us at SPU, they should sign up for this next step!

NSA can be completed in a variety of ways to help meet scheduling needs and student preferences, including: On-campus sessions; Direct Registration; or, for those who live more than four hours from campus, a phone-advising appointment.

Additional information on each type of NSA is available on spu.edu/nsa, including additional resources to determine which NSA option is best for you and your student. Sign-ups must be completed via the New Student Menu in the Banner Information System (spu.edu/banner).

If you have any questions, email nsa@spu.edu or call 206-281-2575.

Meet Professor of Art Roger Feldman

Tell us about the art installation you created near a Scottish castle.

It’s called echo, but we spelled it in Norwegian, so it’s ekko. This castle was built [in Scotland] in 1100 by the [Norwegian] Vikings. It’s a spiral. In Celtic tradition, a spiral is a connection to infinity and to spiritual reality.

It’s 8'4" high, but when you’re inside of it, because of the spiral, you can hear the roar of the ocean from over 100 feet away. It’s constantly windy, but this blocks out the wind. It’s a still point, in the midst of chaos. Those are spiritual connections with the site.

How does your Christian faith influence your work?

I went to seminary for a year. I did paintings while processing what I was learning theologically. Most of my work comes from a theological core. You’ll find themes that resonate with biblical principles, and sometimes specific Scriptures.

How are students involved with installation art?

In my sculpture class, we make pieces and then install them in Kruckeberg Botanic Gardens. They’re typically up from May to October, and thousands of people come to the park.

How do you prepare students for careers after graduation?

In our Art Foundations courses, we invite at least three guest speakers from different realms in the arts. As freshmen, students are being exposed to “How can I get a job when I leave here?” They see their options. Then internships are a way of testing the waters, of saying, “Do I really want to do this?” You get to see what it’s really like.

How is SPU connected with the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)?

We have the strongest student chapter in the Pacific Northwest. This spring, our students organized and hosted a portfolio review. Eighty professional designers from the larger Seattle area came to SPU to look at portfolios of students from across the state. Through AIGA, we get to visit design firms and see what it’s like to work in downtown Seattle.

What sort of careers do students have after graduation?

We’ve had four students at the firm that designed Starbucks. There are also ministry opportunities for visual communications and photography. Ministry is an option, for organizations that need to have their stories told. Our students have gone to World Vision and to World Concern, just to name a few.

Meet Lola Sosanya, Student Body President

Seattle Pacific University provides many options for students to grow and learn, including serving in student government, or the Associated Students of Seattle Pacific. During the 2016–17 academic year, student body president is Oluwadamilola “Lola” Sosanya.

Sosanya — a junior and premed student — was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and her parents are Yoruba, an ethnic group in Nigeria. “It’s something I have so much pride in,” she says.

As president, she’s part of ASSP Officer Core, a team of students elected each year. Their vision for this year is inclusivity: the valuing all students. However students might feel different, Sosanya wants to create an environment where they can be included.

In her role, Sosanya is a direct representative of the SPU student body to President Daniel J. Martin, the SPU administration, the Board of Trustees, and the greater community. “It’s been a privilege to be in those places,” she says. “I feel grateful to be able to be a voice for the student body, and also to start advocating for students on the margins who are represented at SPU.”

After graduation, she’ll study for the MCATs — but hopes to find time to visit Nigeria before starting medical school. She’s interested in women’s health, family practice, and has also been exploring the possibility of pursuing a master of public policy.

“ASSP is based on the belief that leadership gives students opportunities to develop qualities that SPU wants to see in its graduates … character traits like integrity, honesty, responsibility,” says Whitney Broetje, director of the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership. “Lola is incredibly thoughtful as a leader. She has a vision for deep care of the individual.”

Falcons Forever BBQ

Is your student graduating this June? You and your family are invited to the Falcons Forever BBQ, a picnic to celebrate both the graduating class of 2017 and the class of 2016’s one-year reunion. Don’t miss this fun, summer-inspired BBQ featuring the best in food truck cuisine, live music, and inspiration for all. RSVP and purchase your tickets by Wednesday, June 7. No refunds will be available after this day. We’re getting everything ready for you!

Friday, June 9, 2017 | 5:30 p.m. (preceding Baccalaureate)
On campus, Tiffany Loop
Cost: $10/person (kids under 8 eat free)
Dress: Casual

RSVP: give.spu.edu/falcons-forever-bbq