tough questions you should ask every university – including us! PAGE 8
CHALLENGE
SUPPORT
SUCCESS
Rock on! One student takes a 40-day road trip with his prof – in Antarctica
Do the math! How to
How Todd Perry rose from PLU to become a Hollywood
Page 26
Page 18
discover which college will be the best value for you
special effects wiz Page 14
ASK A LUTE
1
Upcoming
Dates
From Microsoft to Martin Luther, and back again Page 24
for First-year Students March 12 SAT Test Date March 25-26 Passport Weekend, PLU campus April 9 ACT Test Date May 1 National Candidate Reply Date All admitted students should notify PLU of their intentions to enroll for Fall 2011 by this date May 7 SAT Test Date June 4 SAT Test Date June 9, 10, 13, 14 & 15 Charting Your Course Registration Dates, PLU campus June 11 ACT Test Date July 1 Applications accepted for 2012 Students who have completed their junior year in high school may submit PLU application materials July - Date to be determined Summer Preview Day
To find these and other events, visit www.choose.plu.edu. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
>>> www.choose.plu.edu COVER PHOTO: Alyssa Viray ’14. Photo by John Froschauer
Table of Contents
08
10 questions you should ask every university When choosing a university, remember to ask questions. It is among the most important decisions you will ever make
14
FX
26
Rock On!
04
How transfer student Todd Sheridan Perry ’92 rose from PLU to become a Hollywood special effects wizard (and Emmy-winner, to boot!)
Mike Vermeulen ’12 and his geosciences professor spend 40 days in Antarctica to study glacial deposits and ice sheets
Hello There
05 FAQS 06
Direct from Campus
18
Financial Aid
20
One-on-One
22
Great Northwest
24
Something I Never Thought I’d Do
30 Your New Home 32
Visit
34
The Arts
35
Apply
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
REAL
HELLO THERE
U Staff
Executive Editor Greg Brewis Editor Steve Hansen Writers Barbara Clements Chris Albert Kari Plog ’11 Art Director Simon Sung Photographer John Froschauer Vice President for Admission and Enrollment Services Karl Stumo Director of Admission Jennifer Olsen Krengel Admission Communication Coordinator Suzanne LeMere ‘09 Online Manager Toby Beal Volume 3, Issue 3 U is published three times a year by Pacific Lutheran University, S. 121st and Park Ave., Tacoma, WA, 98447-0003. Postage paid at Tacoma, WA, and additional mailing offices. Address service requested. Postmaster: Send changes to PLU Office of Admission, Tacoma, WA, 98447-0003, admission@plu.edu. © 2011 by Pacific Lutheran University Printed using: Eco-friendly Inks – vegetable based and certified as Ultra Low in Volatile Organic Compounds. Sustainable Papers COVER – 50% Post Consumer Waste (PCW). TEXT 50% PCW. REPLY CARD - 100% PCW. Printed at a Forest Stewardship Council® certified plant.
Greetings from Pacific Lutheran University
STORIES Greetings from Pacific Lutheran University!
We are thrilled that PLU is on the top of your college search list. There are bound to be many factors you’ll consider when selecting the school that is the best fit for you. While cost is most certainly a priority, finding a school that will fulfill you throughout your college experience is just as significant. That’s why it’s important to understand the value of a PLU education. In this issue, you’ll find helpful tools to answer these two questions: How can your top college choice be an affordable option? What can you look forward to as you join our community as a student? PLU is here to help. We can provide information and practical tools for you and your family to use when comparing each financial aid package you receive. Your personal admission counselor is a great resource to help you fully understand the true cost and value of your educational investment. There are many reasons why students invest in a PLU education. Learn how you can get involved in campus leadership, student-faculty research and studying away by connecting directly with your admission counselor. Many counselors will be traveling around the state and in our respective territories throughout the spring. Most importantly: Visit campus. Personalized campus visits are available through the Office of Admission. Whether it is a campus tour, a class visit, meeting with a professor or coach, your visit is key to finalizing your college decision. We sincerely enjoy helping students, like you, become Lutes for life. We hope to see you soon!
Jessica Winer and Brandon Bruan Admission Counselors
IN OUR NEXT ISSUE
>> FALL ’11
n Professors in the wild! Where to spot your
professors off campus n In the trenches at the Capitol – students in the
pre-law advising program at work in Olympia n It’s all about who you are and what you
believe in – faith-based clubs at PLU
and much, much more... 4
HELLO THERE
PLU ONLINE
For more detailed information visit www.choose.plu.edu
FAQS
ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS
ANSWERS
Your questions answered by real PLU students What is it like living on campus?
Living on campus means you get to be at the center of all the great things going on around campus. You’re never more than a 10-minute walk from a concert, dance, sporting event or faculty lecture. PLUS you live next door to some of your best friends. When so many fun people are your neighbors, it’s almost impossible not to make friends. It made it super easy to be involved when so many opportunities were right next door to my Res Hall.
Do you feel safe when you are on or around campus? I’ve never felt unsafe at PLU. Campus Safety is always a phone call away, and offers both driving and walking escorts on- and off-campus. If you’re aware of your surroundings like you would be anywhere else, you shouldn’t have any reason not to go out on- or off-campus.
What‘s there to do on the weekends? There is some kind of an event happening on campus almost every weekend, whether it’s a football game, a choir concert, an ASPLU dance, or kayaking with Outdoor Rec. When I want to get off campus, I head to downtown Tacoma to get dinner with friends or take a day trip to Seattle. Sometimes I’ll head to the mountains to go camping. If anything, it’s hard to decide what to do because there are so many great options, not too few.
FEATURED
PLU GUEST EXPERT Emily Richey ’11 MAJOR Hispanic Studies and Global Studies HOMETOWN Denver, Colo. INTERESTS I like to play rugby with the Tacoma Women's Rugby team, do yoga and drink really good coffee with friends
I’m sure will last past graduation with not only other students and peers, but staff and faculty members as well. They all have been an integral part of my time at PLU. Conversations with the people I have met have helped me develop my passions, determined my studies, and clarified my perceptions about the world – and these great people that I know aren’t just smart, they’re really fun!
What’s it like living in the Pacific Northwest? I love the Northwest! It’s great having everything from the ocean to the mountains within a few hours drive I also love the rain-or-shine attitude of the Northwest. No matter the weather, you can always find people out and about and looking for something to do.
What do you like best about PLU?
What is ‘J-Term’?
I love the people at PLU. I have developed really strong relationships that
The “J” is for January and it’s a chance to focus on just one class (or
study away!) intensively for the month of January. Classes cover the same material as they would in a semester-long course, but class sessions are longer and usually four times a week – which means you get to know the professor and other students really well.
When can I study away and will my credits transfer? You can study away during J-Term, during the spring or fall semester, or in the summer (basically, year round!) The staff at the Wang Center, the Student Services office and faculty all over campus want students to have a great – and productive – study away experience. I studied away twice (one J-Term and one semester) and transferred 16 credits to be counted toward my majors.
Are the professors easy to access if I have questions? Professors always post their office hours on their doors and write them into the syllabus. Office hours are a part of the professors’ job, so there’s no reason not to go! Professors also check and respond to e-mail regularly, which makes them even more accessible. There are also student tutors available in all academic disciplines, which can help students with tricks and tips about how they U made it through their classes!
GOT A QUESTION? your questions about PLU answered Have by the experts – real students. Send your questions to askalute@plu.edu.
FAQS
5
DIRECT FROM CAMPUS
Survey says: nts In a country-wide survey, stude rated PLU above the national es average in 10 out of 12 categori • instructional effectiveness • academic advising • registration effectiveness
• service excellence • student centeredness
• campus climate • campus life • campus support services • concern for the individual • recruitment and financial aid
Students really like it here Every few years, PLU participates in a national survey to assess the student experience. How effective are student services? Do the students like – or use – facility improvements? What about student programming? According to 1,045 PLU students surveyed this past October, the answers are very positive. And compared to data gathered nationally from 400 four-year private institutions, PLU stands among the best. Students gave high ratings to faculty excellence and academic experience, and to the engaged, positive atmosphere of campus. Also highly ranked were the staff across campus, including those in the admission, financial aid and registrar offices. Also rated above the national average was the university’s commitment to under-represented populations, and to students with disabilities. The Student Satisfaction Inventory is the primary tool used by PLU – and many other universities – to assess the effectiveness of campus services. PLU has administered the survey eight times since 1996.
Save energy! Have fun! PLU students are committed to saving energy. They are also committed to having fun. In a semester-long competition to save energy in residence halls, Pflueger Hall reduced its energy consumption by more than 20 percent. But really, the whole campus won: Efforts by all students saved enough to power 94 homes for a year. To see a student-made energy conservation video that was part of the contest, visit www.choose.plu.edu/unpluggedvideo.
6
DIRECT FROM CAMPUS
VOLUNTEER
Want to volunteer? Start here On the first floor of Ramstad Hall is the Volunteer Center, a small office where big things happen. “A lot of students want to volunteer, but they don’t know how to get started,” said Hannah Reece ’12, co-director of the Volunteer Center. She and co-director Sara Main ’11 love to point students in the right direction. The Volunteer Center connects students with agencies and organizations throughout the area. There are no limits to what students can find through the Volunteer Center, Reece said. Whatever time a student can commit is needed and appreciated, whether it’s just an hour a month – or more. There are opportunities in schools, in hospitals or even environmental projects like creek restoration – Reece’s favorite. Whatever a student’s passion is – Reece and Main will help find a good match.
Sara Main '11, co-director of the Volunteer Center
Volunteering is important at PLU – it is a key component of the Lutheran tradition of service. In fact, many professors incorporate service learning into their courses, allowing students to experience the world through service and connect it to their academic studies. www.plu.edu/ volunteer
Global campus? It must be J-Term This past January, 22 classes took place someplace other than the PLU campus. As part of J-Term, the month-long term between fall and spring semesters, nearly 300 students studied off campus in places like China, Greece or India. PLU students have found that the term is an excellent time to study away and not lose precious credits that can delay graduation. You can read the blog entries from many of the students who studied off campus. It’s unfiltered stuff: You might learn something useful (the challenges of educating poor children in India) or not (camels can pee for a really long time), but no matter what, you’ll know it is straight from the students themselves. http://sojourner.plu.edu/2011/
Bonjour
Hallo
god dag
World Conversations For those students who didn’t get the chance to study away – and even for those who did – PLU brought the world to campus. On February 15-16, PLU hosted a campuswide event that gives students and faculty an opportunity to share with the community what they learned and experienced through study away. www.plu.edu/wangcenter/worldconversations U U DIRECT FROM CAMPUS 7 DIRECT FROM CAMPUS 7
LIFE ON CAMPUS
tough questions
you should ask every university – including us!
I
f you are considering college – and you probably are, or why else would you be reading this? – you’ve probably got some questions about the place you will call home for the next four years. And you should have questions – choosing a university is among the most important, most life-shaping investments you will ever make. We’ve put together a few questions we think are important to ask of every college or university you are considering. Some of the questions are PLU-specific, many are not. So ask away. And make sure the questions are tough. After all, only you can decide if PLU – or any university – is the best investment for you.
What type of equipment is available in the labs for undergraduates? For undergraduate chemists who are looking for a chance to use – and we mean actually use – cutting-edge technology, look no farther than PLU’s nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. The NMR helps chemists analyze chemical compounds through the use of a magnet that is 200,000 times as strong as the Earth’s magnetic field. Acquired through a grant from the National Science Foundation, PLU is the first West Coast undergraduate institution to receive one of these instruments – usually they are locked away at large research universities. Here, students are actually able to gain valuable experience using the NMR, which will not only yield valuable scientific data, but their experience with it will be a great resume builder, as well. NEXT PAGE
8
LIFE ON CAMPUS
10 Taylor Carlisle ’13 Hometown: Happy Valley, Ore. Major: Art
LIFE ON CAMPUS
9
tough questions
I want to be a name, not a number. What opportunities are there to get involved? What do you want to do? Start an organic community garden? Join an investment club? Perfect your Spanish in Oaxaca? Perform at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall? Collect rocks in Antarctica? (See page 26 for that!) We want students to find their passion – and live it. And with more than 70 clubs on campus, an innovative First-Year Experience program to help you discover the unique opportunities here, and countless faculty, staff and students ready to help show you the way, the problem isn’t figuring out how to get involved – it is choosing among them.
What is a ‘Lute,’ anyway? There is an instrument called a Lute, but that would be a pretty uninspiring mascot. Forget that. The truth is, nobody really knows what a Lute is. We do, however, know this: there isn’t anything quite like being a Lute. Once you get here, you’ll be a Lute, just like everyone else at PLU. And that’s original.
8 Jose Medrano ’14 Hometown: Lakewood, Wash. Major: Undecided, leaning business
9 JESSICA SADLER ’14 Hometown: Mesa, Ariz. Major: Theater
Does it really rain all the time in the Pacific Northwest? Yes … and no. It rains a lot more in places like Mobile, Ala. (63 inches), or New York City (47 inches). At 37 inches a year, Tacoma’s not even in the top 25. But we won’t kid you – there are plenty of rainy days here. Our proximity to two mountain ranges and the Pacific Ocean ensures rain – and with it, milder temperatures that enable year-round opportunities to get outside to bike, climb, kayak or hike. For those looking for rain, real wet rain, spend a twilight evening in Forks, Wash. (130 inches). It’s only three hours away.
What kind of financial aid packages are available? And who gets them? Just about everyone. Ninety-five percent of PLU students receive some kind of financial aid. That’s a lot. So is this number: $26,900. That’s the average financial aid package at PLU. All this means there’s a 100 percent chance you can find a way to afford a great education at PLU. 10 LIFE ON CAMPUS
Who will be teaching my classes, profs or teaching assistants? And how big will the classes be? PLU doesn’t have teaching assistants – all classes are taught by professors who are experts in their field. The ratio of students-to-professors here is 15:1, and 77 percent of your classes will have less than 30 students in it. You will get to know your professors. That’s bad news if you want to start a hack circle in the back of a 500- seat auditorium, or sleep through an early morning class. It’s good news, however, if you actually want to learn something.
7 craig chamberlain ’12 Hometown: Salem, Ore. Major: Math and Computer Science
. NEXT PAGE 6 LAURA HENNINGER ‘11 Hometown: Bellingham, Wash. Major: Elementary Education
LIFE ON CAMPUS
11
tough questions
Do you have to be Lutheran to attend PLU?
What is your university doing to encourage sustainability?
No. We’re proud of being Lutheran, but it doesn’t mean you have to be. (Lutheran, that is.) All this might sound funny, given our middle name. PLU reaches out to students of all faiths and all backgrounds – the 24 percent that are Lutheran, and the 76 that aren’t. That would be everybody. Including you. Especially you. And that is exactly what Lutheran education is all about – a commitment to academic freedom and a learning atmosphere where all perspectives on faith and reason are expressed openly. That’s the Lutheran tradition. That’s PLU. And it is something we‘re really proud of.
What aren’t we doing? Each year, we recycle up to 70 percent of our trash – and we’re going for 80 percent. Dining services serves local and sustainably harvested foods whenever possible. Students banished plastic water bottles from campus, and they have campus-wide competitions to reduce energy consumption in the residence halls. We’ve been known to control invasive plant species – with goats. Even our buildings are green: The University Center is the first student center on the West Coast to be recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. Aren’t universities supposed to be leaders when it comes to important things like this? We think so. And so do our students.
I want to be able to study away. I also want to graduate in four years. Can I do both? Students do it all the time. PLU places a premium on global education by making sure opportunities to study away are integrated into the curriculum. PLU has become so good at this, in fact, that the university received in 2009 the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization, an award that honors outstanding efforts on and off campus to engage the world and the international community. (So prestigious, in fact, PLU is one of only two private colleges in the West to receive the honor.) About 40 percent of PLU’s graduates study off-campus at some time in their academic career here. (By contrast, the comparable national average is 3 percent.) Three percent? Who do you think is going to have a better idea of how the world works?
12 LIFE ON CAMPUS
If I eventually want to go to medical school, what can you do to ensure I’ll have the best chance of getting in? PLU’s health sciences program is proven tough, for good reason. The only school in Washington state that sends more students to UW Medicine is the UW itself. So what are your best odds of getting into med school? That’s easy: PLU. Do you think the UW sends 66 percent of its successful pre-med undergrads to med school? Forget it. But we do. PLU offers smaller classes, more lab time, more time with a pre-med advisor. At a big state school? Get in line. Or choose PLU instead. U PHOTOS BY John Froschauer
4 Alyssa Viray ’14 Hometown: Lakewood, Wash. Major: Nursing
I
2 Devonce Irving ’14 Hometown: Lakewood, Wash. Major: “It’s a mystery!”
1 Va‘a Logotala ’14 Hometown: Sacramento, Calif. Major: Music
LIFE ON CAMPUS
13
PREPARED FOR THE WORLD
14 PREPARED FOR THE WORLD
By
Barbara
Cle
nts
me
PREPARED FOR THE WORLD
15
How be comTodd e a She Holl ridan ywoodPe rr y spe ’92 cial ros eff e from ects wi PLU to zard
F
X
Remember the scene in the “The Lord of the Rings – Two Towers,” where outraged forest guardians, called Ents, descend on the tower where the evil wizard lords over his army of evil Orcs? The walking, talking and very large trees tear down a dam, and floodwaters surge into the valley to trap the wizard, put out the fires and drown a few Orcs in the process. Todd Sheridan Perry ’92 remembers it well. After all, he designed it. Director Peter Jackson had just popped into Perry’s New Zealand office and asked, at the last minute, could Perry and his crew put together a flood scene with the Ents? ASAP. “When Peter Jackson asks you to do a flood scene, you do a flood scene.” Reading through Perry’s resume is like browsing through titles of the most popular movies on Netflix. As a computer graphics wiz for feature films and television, he has worked on “2012,” “The Kite Runner,” “Jeepers Creepers” and “The Triangle,” a SyFy Channel miniseries for which he won an Emmy in 2006. More than 55 movies and projects are listed on his resume, some 18 years after he took his PLU fine arts degree to Hollywood. Perry knew that he always wanted a career in digital effects. He just had to figure out how to get there. Since he first saw “Star Wars” in 1977, at age eight, Perry has been fascinated with visual effects. That movie set his career path. He wanted to work in movies. And he wanted a part in creating those cool, blow-you-back-in-your-seat effects that first captured his imagination and took him to a land, far, far away. “I was always drawing stop-motion movies and little drawings and cartoons in the sides of my textbooks and stuff like that,” he said. “And I was always borrowing my Dad’s video camera.” In high school, Perry took every art class he could find. And when he ran out of art classes, he started crafting coursework through independent study. He did the same thing at Pierce College, and then transferred to PLU. It was here his future career got on track. Perry was able to prepare himself for a successful career by teaching himself how to edit while working at PLU’s student-run television station KCNS. He tailored his coursework and his internships to help him reach his goal. To this day, Perry still credits his professors, specifically Bea Geller, associate professor of photography and digital imaging, with helping him craft his coursework.
16 PREPARED FOR THE WORLD
“The coursework from Bea not only gave me a technical foundation, but an eye for the subject matter, composition and color,” he said. “The computer is just a tool to create art work; it’s not any different than pencil or paint. It’s a canvass.” After PLU, Perry headed to Los Angeles – without a single job lined-up. He figured he’d give it a go for three months. If nothing panned out, he’d go back to school for his master’s degree. But as it turned out, it did “pan out.” Quite nicely,
“Stop worrying about how to make money and how to make a living. If you follow what you love, everyone will recognize your talent and you’ll get paid for doing what you love.” —Todd Sheridan Perry ’92
in fact. He first designed the graphics for a game based on the children’s cartoon, “Madeline.” Then Perry found out about a series of movies that were being developed out of the J.R.R. Tolkien trilogy. The rest is history. “The entire experience was fantastic,” said Perry of his time working with Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings creative team. Not only did he help the Ents attack the tower, but he helped the lighting team with Gollum, and he created some of the larger battle scenes. Perry is working for the next six months in Vancouver, B.C., on special computer generated effects on the next “Final Destination” movie.
As good as his work is, Perry stresses that good visual effects can’t cover for a bad script. The story has to come first. Most, if not all, successful movies have a storyline that hits the audience at an emotional level – one that crosses cultures and backgrounds. As for advice to those who want to follow in his very focused footsteps? “You need to follow your bliss and what will make you happy,” he said. “Ultimately, everything else will fall into place. Stop worrying about how to make money and how to make a living. If you follow what you love, everyone will recognize your talent and you’ll get paid for doing what you love.” U
“Make that the final, ‘Final Destination’ movie,” quipped Perry during a break in his work. As wild as some of the scenes in “Two Towers,” or “Final Destination” seem once they reach the screen, Perry notes that all of his work happens in a rather tame office atmosphere in front of a computer. That doesn’t mean he isn’t on the set. “I’ve been on the set making sure they don’t shoot the scene in a way that would screw us up,” he laughed.
Visual effects from “The Triangle,” a miniseries on the Syfy Channel that won Todd Sheridan Perry a 2006 Emmy Award for outstanding special visual effects. Images courtesy of the Syfy Channel.
Image of Gollum from “The Lord of the Rings - Two Towers” is courtesy of Warner Brothers.
PREPARED FOR THE WORLD
17
18 DO THE MATH
3
2
1
Total out of pocket expenses
—
—
Minus your total loans
DECIDE ON YOUR LOANS
Student loans can be useful tools to help you go to the college that fits you best. Now subtract your loan amounts from the total bill.
—
—
$40,200
$9,250
$30,950
Minus your total scholarships
TOTAL
Room and meals
Tuition and fees
Pacific Lutheran University
Choice 2
These include any scholarships and grants you’ve received from each school, federal scholarships and grants, and outside scholarships.
SUBTRACT OUT ALL YOUR SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
Calculate your total tuition, fees, room and meal costs at each of the schools to which you have been admitted.
ADD UP THE COSTS
School name
Choice 1
—
—
Choice 3
USE THIS WORKSHEET TO COMPARE PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS’ FINANCIAL AID OFFERS.
Comparing financial aid offers
Congratulations seniors! You’ve made it to the final stages of the college search and by now most of the pieces are probably falling into place. Now it’s time to work through the financial aid process. Sometimes the financial aid forms, acronyms and deadlines can be confusing. To help you through this process, we suggest the following steps.
BE SURE TO COMPARE - COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID WILL VARY AT EACH SCHOOL
Do the Math!
FOR OPTIMAL READABILITY Rotate head (or magazine) 90 degrees so the arrow on the right is pointing up.
THIS SIDE UP
FINANCIAL AID
DO THE MATH
19
+
+
+
+
+
Grow your mind, body and your spiritual life – at the same time.
Being a part of a community of students who care about their success and the well being of others.
Experience PLU’s nationally recognized global education that helps you understand your place in the world.
Engage in research and creative projects alongside a nationally recognized professor.
Achieve a degree that helps you earn a living, and more im portantly, builds a meaningful life of purpose after graduation.
Now that you know your costs at each school, remember to think about the big picture. Value is more than just a low price. Value is what you get for your money, and in the college setting, there are big differences among schools.
The value and distinction of the PLU experience
4
Once you’ve subtracted your scholarships, grants and loans from your total cost, you’ll know your out-of-pocket costs for the semester. You can decide to pay the entire fall bill at once or you may choose to make monthly payments throughout the year.
MANAGE YOUR COSTS
Graduating in four years versus five – Priceless A freshman chemistry class of 25 versus 250 – Priceless Having a fast track into an internship in your field … as a sophomore – Priceless Studying with veteran professors versus graduate-student teaching assistants – Priceless Having a personal academic advisor versus stumbling through a catalog and registering for classes online by yourself – Priceless
24 66
$180,000+
38
$140,000 - $159,999
$160,000 - $179,999
66
$120,000 - $139,999
72
$80,000 - $99,999
91
88
$60,000 - $79,999
$100,000 - $119,999
73
38
$20,000 - $39,999
$40,000 - $59,999
69
Number of aid recipients
<$20,000
Combined family income for first-year students, Fall 2010
$13,336
$14,995
$16,348
$15,833
$15,902
$16,442
$19,154
$20,372
$23,601
$23,401
Average total scholarships and grants from all sources
What’s the average total PLU scholarships and grants for your family’s combined income?
+ + + + +
What’s the value of PLU versus a big state school?
Ready to reserve your spot at PLU? All you need to do is submit the $200 Advance Tuition Deposit. The easiest way to pay your deposit is online at www.plu.edu/BeALute. You’ll be able to submit your deposit and complete the Residential Life Housing Form. It can’t get much easier than that!
This is exactly why you have to do the math.
Now that you’ve calculated your out-of-pocket expenses for each college, it’s time to compare total costs. After working through this process, you may be surprised that a school you thought was out of your financial reach is, in fact, within reach. For example, while a larger scholarship from one school may seem more prestigious and attractive, after you do the math, you may find out that a lesser scholarship from another college with a lower tuition price may actually be more valuable.
COMPARE YOUR COSTS AND DO THE MATH
ONE-ON-ONE
FACULTY PROFILE
History
Mike Halvorson >>> Associate Professor of History
From Microsoft to Martin Luther, and back again back in the days when they only had two buildings. He was employee #850.
various software programs, from Microsoft Office to Visual Basic. He’s sold more than a million copies. And then, as Halvorson described it, he “pushed the re-set button.”
We can guess how that turned out.
“Why would a liberal arts degree matter?” he asked, musing on the days after his graduation. “It got me a job!”
Halvorson graduated PLU in 1985 with a degree in computer science and a minor in history. That unique combination seemed to help when, soon after graduation, Halvorson found himself working for Microsoft,
The job was at Microsoft Press, the software giant’s in-house book publishing division. He worked there until 1993 and then set off on his own. By 2000, he had authored more than 30 books on how to master
In 1994, Mike Halvorson was the first one to write a book about something nobody else cared about. The book? How to use a little-known software program called Microsoft Office.
20 ONE-ON-ONE
He decided to earn his master’s – then his Ph.D. – in European history. And soon thereafter, he found himself back at his alma mater teaching about Martin Luther and Reformation Germany (and writing books about the subject, of course). He realizes it is an odd combination:
By 2000, he had authored more than 30 books on how to master various software programs, from Microsoft Office to Visual Basic. Not many people are experts in cutting-edge computer programming and 500-year old political and religious history. He’s also aware that some people might suggest that, in studying 16th Century European history, he is again writing books about things nobody cares about. Hardly. He’s currently working on a book that addresses this “why should I care?” question he sometimes confronts. Tentatively titled “Golden Age: Ten Brilliant Leaps of
Imagination,” the book considers some of the ideas that came out of Europe between 1400-1700 that still hold sway today. Inventions like the printing press, discoveries in anatomy and astronomy, and the creation of ideas like humanism and justification by faith. Or, too, the very Lutheran concept of living a life of faith and interjecting it in the world. “It’s the idea of connecting your morality with your citizenship,” he said. This was, after all, what Martin Luther and the German
Reformation was all about. It’s also what PLU is about. Halvorson knows – he’s seen it from both sides, as a student and a history professor. “When I first came here, I thought it was the biggest place in the world,” Halvorson said of his days as an undergraduate student. “Now, I see it as pretty small – a place where one person, one teacher, can make a big difference.” U — S t e v e H ans e n
ONE-ON-ONE
21
GREAT NORTHWEST
1
4
5
Photo courtesy of Tacoma Regional CVB
6
PLU's Backyard A
the Museum of Glass. Luke and Lauren are particularly fond of the latter and, specifically, the Hot Shop, where visitors can see glass artists at work.
Here, the urban and rural intertwine, and make city and outdoor activities really accessible. “You get the best of all worlds,” Luke said.
ccording to Lauren Frerichs ’11 and Luke Stromberg ’12, when it comes to exploring the greater Tacoma area, it’s not so much about finding something to do, but figuring out what to do first.
2
Broadway Center for the Performing Arts (7.9 miles from campus)
Below is just a sample of the types of things Lauren and Luke like to do. You, no doubt, will find your own.
Being involved in PLU music certainly ties students to the Tacoma arts community. Luke’s voice teacher performed at the Broadway Center for Performing Arts – home to the Rialto and Pantages theaters. “I know people in the Tacoma Opera and Symphony,” he said. “It’s pretty cool to check out a show where you know people who are performing.”
Lauren agrees. “I have lived close to Tacoma my whole life, but hadn’t really been to Tacoma until I went to PLU,” she said. “I never realized how much the area had to offer.”
1
The ‘Hot Shop’ at the Museum of Glass (7.6 miles from campus)
Tacoma has three great museums in a row – The Washington State History Museum, the Tacoma Art Museum and
22 GREAT NORTHWEST
3
Northwest Trek (20.7 miles from campus)
Northwest Trek is home to the region’s oldest residents – its indigenous animals. Visitors hop on a tram to ride
2
3 Photo courtesy of Northwest Trek
7 Photo courtesy of Crystal Mountain
“Being involved in PLU music certainly ties students into the Tacoma arts community.” through the area to see bison, moose and other animals. “I like that we’re in the cages and the animals are free,” Lauren said.
or sail on Commencement Bay the next. Luke and Lauren took a sailing course at PLU. “It’s exciting to have the unique opportunity to learn how to sail,” Luke said.
4
Trivia Night at The Harmon (7.6 miles from campus)
Lauren and Luke like to match wits with the Tacoma community on esoteric topics and funky pop culture references. The Harmon in downtown Tacoma is one of several places in the area that offer a free trivia night with prizes. “I really like trivia night,” Lauren said. “I’m very competitive.”
5
Sailing and kayaking on Commencement Bay (16.3 miles from campus)
There’s plenty to do outdoors. It’s a Northwest sort of thing. You can ski and snowboard one day, and paddle
6
Snowboarding at Crystal Mountain (63.7 miles from campus)
PLU is within a few hours of multiple skiing and snowboarding destinations – the closest, and perhaps best, is Crystal Mountain. “I love to snowboard,” Luke said. “I took a class my freshman year and now I’m hooked.”
7
Marzano Restaurant (184 feet from campus)
Literally at the doorstep of campus is Marzano Italian restaurant. Luke says it’s the place to go for a fantastic meal, especially when parents are in town. (And especially when they’re paying!) U
GREAT NORTHWEST
23
SOMETHING I THOUGHT I'D NEVER DO
Courtney Walker ’11
I never thought I’d be designing for a graph Last spring, when Courtney Walker ’11 arrived for her internship at the London-based design firm Abstract Associates, she was fully prepared to be the office go-fer. “I thought I’d be doing coffee and tea runs for people,” Walker said. She never imagined she’d be asked to design work for actual projects – like magazine spreads or invitations to high society events. “I was actually surprised I got to design for them.” This wasn’t the only surprise for the graphic design major from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Just about every part of her time at PLU has been something of a surprise.
24 SOMETHING I THOUGHT I‘D NEVER DO
For starters, when Walker started at PLU, she thought she wanted to major in elementary education and become a high school art teacher. Then she took a course in graphic design and a new world opened up. “I kept getting pulled toward art,” Walker said. “It just fit me.” Interning in London wasn’t something she originally sought, either. In fact, as an athlete on the women’s soccer team, she never thought she’d be able to study away, let alone work internationally. But working with PLU’s Wang Center for Global Education, it was suggested she apply for a semester-long internship at Abstract Associates in London.
Graphic Design
ics firm in London
Before she knew it, she was on her way. She was the first American intern for the company, she said. Being an American designer in London gave her a unique perspective on the trade, For instance, she says the intuitiveness of design in America isn’t the same in London. Magazine layouts in Europe have more of a “funky” feel to them, she said. “There’s just a different style,” Walker said.
when she begins her career as a graphic designer. That’s a big deal for someone who thought she’d be the coffee-and-tea go-fer when she arrived in London. “At the time it was terrifying,” she said of being challenged to design magazine layouts for the London firm. “But looking back, it was just exciting that I even got the opportunity to do what I did.” U — C hr i s A lb e rt
Learning what worked in Europe gave Walker a broader understanding of graphic design. And she knows that type of international work experience will be the type of thing that makes her portfolio stand out from the others
SOMETHING I THOUGHT I‘D NEVER DO
25
ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
Rock on! I
n a lab littered with Hostess snack bars and French fry wrappers, geosciences student Michael Vermeulen ’12, turns to his computer and pops up a map of Antarctica, then points to a grid in the upper part of the frozen continent.
There is where the PLU junior, and his geosciences professor, Claire Todd, spent 40 days, including Christmas, as they studied deglaciations – in other words, how fast ice has been melting – over the last millennia. By way of New Zealand, and McMurdo Station at the tip of the Antarctica, Todd, Vermeulen and four other researchers, pitched camp in the Pensacola Mountains of West Antarctica, a location 500 miles west of McMurdo. There, for six weeks, they lived in a tent with no other living things – except lichen, perhaps – in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. The expedition, funded by a $125,000 National Science Foundation grant secured by Todd, mapped and sampled glacial deposits in the area, thereby tracking the thinning history of the Weddell Sea Sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The goal for Todd and her team is to gain insight into ice sheet dynamics, and the history of sea level contribution from this sector of the ice sheet. After more than a month on the ice, Todd and Vermeulen made it back to McMurdo by mid-January, and to PLU by early February – just in time for Spring Semester. “I really never thought I’d have an opportunity like this,” said Vermeulen. — B arbara C l e m e nts and K ar i P log ’ 1 1
Photo on page 26-27 by Seth Campbell. All other photos by Claire Todd.
26 ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
Below are excerpts from professor Claire Todd’s blog, posted in Antarctica. To see more photos, and to read more about Claire and Michael’s excellent Antarctic adventure, visit choose.plu.edu/rockon.
Food Our basic strategy for calculating the food we needed was as follows. We‘re out for 240 person-days, or 40 days with six people. Breakfasts we determined would be cereal based (oatmeal or muesli) five days a week, and “special” breakfasts (eggs, bacon, or pancakes) two days a week. We also stocked lots of frozen and canned fruit. Lunches would be mostly snack food. For dinner, we’d be eating frozen salmon and halibut steaks, shrimp, tempeh, tofu, lentils and canned beans. Starches included polenta, pasta, rice, couscous and quinoa. We also included lots of canned and frozen vegetables. For emergency reserves, we ordered 84 dehydrated meals. This amount should be enough to feed us two meals a day for seven days in the event our flight back to McMurdo is delayed.
g
PLU student and prof head to Antarctica for global warming research through the study of rocks and ice
C-130s Looking back at our plane from the bus – hard to believe it lands on sea ice! In the coming weeks, the surface melt on the sea ice will make it unsuitable for landing. At that point, the airfield will move inland to the ice shelf surface. The C-130s we are using are also equipped with Jet-Assisted Take-off – basically rocket packs for the plane – which they could use in the event of deep snow!
continued on next page
ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
27
Rock on! Crevasses Crevasses are large cracks that form in an ice surface when it flows. In areas where the snow cover is not very thick and where the crevasse is hidden from our view, it is possible that someone could fall into a crevasse by walking or snowmobiling over the thin layer of snow above it. We call these thin layers “snow bridges.” We knew some travel in somewhat crevassed areas may be necessary. In those situations, we would rope ourselves together. By roping ourselves to each other in a line, we would be able to pull someone from a crevasse if they fall in.
clothing items, three days of food, a tent, a shovel, a snow saw, a small first-aid kit, and typically a cheap romance novel to prevent boredom! We hope we never open these!
Our kitchen The cook tent is HUGE! It is where we cook and enjoy all of our meals, celebrate holidays, and generally hang out. This tent model is known as the Arctic Oven. We‘re hoping it lives up to its name!
Gear All told, we gathered and paletted two tons of cargo. The Mechanical Equipment Center and the Hazardous Cargo folks assembled another four tons worth of snowmobiles and fuel.
Survival bags Survival bags are required for travel in Antarctica. We will carry these on sleds any time we are traveling by snowmobile. Each survival bag contains a stove, one-to-two sleeping bags, extra warm
Traveling on the ice Our two climbing ropes are each 60 meters long, or nearly 200 feet. We will travel with three people on each rope. Each person will be separated by 50 feet, and the two people on each end will carry extra rope length.
A typical day in the field A typical day begins at 7:30 a.m. when we check in with McMurdo via radio. We all come together for breakfast. We then pack lunches, thermoses of hot water, and our field gear and head out for the day. We typically work in two groups of three. One group working on the radar on the ice surface
From Left to right: Michael Vermeulen ’12 (PLU), Greg Balco (Berkeley Geochronology Center), Kat Huybers (University of Washington), Chris Simmons (Mountaineer), Professor Claire Todd (PLU) and Seth Campbell (University of Maine).
28 ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
and another group working on sampling glacial deposits above the ice surface. Our days end with dinner together in the cook tent. The time will range. Our earliest days end at approximately 6 p.m.
open field landing They call our type of camp put-in an “open field landing,” which indicates that there is no groomed runway for the C-130. Apparently the New York Air National Guard doesn’t get many requests for these anymore! Once the plane landed on the snow, the tail of the plane opened up behind our cargo. The loadmaster releases the cargo pallets which then roll out of the back of the plane, as the plane continues to taxi through the snow. Once the ramp is clear the passengers disembark.
WHAT WE WERE LOOKNG FOR Previous studies in Antarctica have shown that the ice sheet used to be thicker and more extensive. This thicker ice sheet would have flowed over the top of most of the mountains in our research area. When glacier ice flows across the earth’s surface, it erodes the rock beneath the ice, breaking off portions of this rock and transporting
it within the ice. When the ice thins and retreats, these glacially transported pieces of rock are left behind on rock surfaces. We use these rocks to track past ice thinning and retreat. Thus, most days, Michael and myself would climb above the current ice surface looking for rocks that are glacially transported. These rocks will have rounded edges, and flat smooth faces that formed as the rock was transported in flowing ice. We are also looking for rocks that are “erratic,” or a different composition than the rock surface beneath it or nearby.
GLACIAL ERRATICS This photograph is a great example of “glacial erratics.” They are distinct from the rock surface beneath them and they have rounded edges that are typical of rocks that have been transported by ice. When we find these scratches on mountainsides and mountaintops, it tells us that ice used to be much thicker than it is today. U
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When the ice thins and retreats, glacially transported pieces of rock are left behind on rock surfaces. We use these rocks to track past ice thinning and retreat.
ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
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YOUR NEW HOME I like the fact that with just 200 residents, it’s easy to get to know everyone quickly. The turnout to the hall events, like holiday dinners, can easily bring out half of the hall. —Malia Rutherford ’12
30 YOUR NEW HOME
HARSTAD HALL The heart and soul of PLU
HARSTAD by the numbers n
0 buildings older than Harstad
n
1 study room
n
3 resident kitchens
n 4
recycle rooms
n 4
triple rooms
n
5 lounges
n 5
hallway water fountains
n 7
washers
n 8
resident assistants
n 8
dryers
n 13
Residence Hall Council members
n 13
women‘s restrooms (and 1 men‘s)
n 14
lounge couches
n 14
front steps
n 23
showers
n 26
comfy lounge chairs
Cozy and quiet. But the women here know how to have fun. Ask anyone about PLU’s oldest hall – and the only all-women hall – and those three ideas will inevitably pop up. Cozy. Quiet. Fun. “I definitely chose this place,” said Loni Grinnell ’12, who is currently majoring in psychology. “It’s quiet and it’s close to everything.” Some of the rooms on the first floor boast soaring ceilings and stunning views. Speaking of views, walk up to the fourth-floor lounge and treat yourself to a working fireplace and windows that face south toward Mount Rainier.
Named after Bjug Harstad, PLU founder and president, the hall housed the entire university from 1894 to 1912. It became a residence hall in 1960, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. n 220
recycling bins
Malia Rutherford ’12, a transfer student from Kent, Wash., said she likes the fact that with just 200 residents, it’s easy to get to know everyone quickly. The turnout to the hall events, like holiday dinners, can easily bring out half of the hall. “You’re here because you want to be here,” Rutherford said. Just because it’s an all-women hall, doesn’t mean men can’t visit, they just have to be out of resident rooms when visitation hours end. The rooms are spacious and vary in size – adding character to the hall. Rutherford’s room boasts wood trim, cathedral ceilings and windows that brighten up the corner room. At five stories tall, Harstad Hall is conveniently located in between the library and University Center, and just off Garfield Street which is home to numerous stores and restaurants. U —B ar B A R A C L E M E N ts
Photos by Karolyn VanVolkenburg ‘13
YOUR NEW HOME
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Visiting PLU
le
Profi
is one of the most important things you will do during your college search. For that reason, we hope you visit campus to become better acquainted with the special atmosphere at PLU. Hundreds of students visit each year. To schedule your visit go to www.plu.edu/visit.
Charlie Herrmann ’14
Major
Undecided
Things to do during a PLU visit. Talk one-on-one with an admission counselor. Ask everything that’s on your mind. Counselors in the Office of Admission are ready to answer your questions about admission, academic programs, financial aid, cost, campus activities, residence halls and much more.
Hometown
New Prague, Minn.
Interests
Play guitar, sing with HERmonic, dance, ski, get outside, hang with friends
Take a tour of campus. It’s a great introduction to PLU. Tours are guided by students like Charlie who know all the essential information about our university. Tours are available by appointment Monday through Saturday during the academic year.
Gettin g at the some lunc h Tahom with a Bake Katie, ry Cleo, and N Victor ick i
a
Late n ig break ht study at the with my ro market omie
Friday night in the Cave listening to some great music with the girls
VISIT US
32 VISIT
Dorot h walkin y and I g arou campu nd Squar s near Red e
Attend a class. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for the academic atmosphere at PLU. You can also request to meet with an athletic coach, music director or professor. Stay overnight. You can stay with a friend on campus, or we can arrange for you to stay with one of our Red Carpet Club student hosts. You will be given meal passes and a guest pass to athletic facilities and campus activities. Available Monday through Thursday during the academic year only. Give us a call. Reach us at 253-535-7151 or 800-274-6758 so we can make the necessary arrangements for your visit. You are still welcome to drop by anytime â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even if you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to plan ahead. For a list of preferred hotels, directions to and from campus, please visit www.plu.edu/visit.
U
The H a geeks rry Potter u releas nite before e of t he new the movie, in Xav ier
-training Music ear BR with class in M Dr. Gillie
Want to see more? VISIT THE PLU VIRTUAL TOUR www.choose.plu.edu/virtualtour
d
PLU Admission on the Web
Good times in Writing 101 - great class and great friends!
http://www.plu.edu/admission/first-year/ or download the free QR code reader application at: http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-software/ and take a camera phone photo of the image on the left.
VISIT
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THE ARTS
SING
If the coffee won’t perk you up, $25,000 certainly will
”Music is a huge passion of mine, but so is helping people”
“Oh, why not?”
That was the general idea when Jenny Snipstead and her friends from Montana decided to enter the Folgers Jingle Contest. The grand prize was $25,000 and the winner would get a chance to record their jingle and see it played on national TV. Snipstead ’11 said she never really thought they had a chance. Six months later, Snipstead is still pinching herself. The Hispanic studies major and her bandmates – called “the Ethan Thompson Band” – spent a whirlwind week in Los Angles recording the jingle and shooting a “behind the scenes” video. “Ethan is a friend of mine, and we all grew up performing and singing
together,” Snipstead said of her friends with whom she performed at Flathead High School in Kalispell, Mont. Thompson heard about the contest, and he asked Snipstead if she wanted to collaborate with him. The group submitted their jingle in the spring, and when the contest was opened up to video voting, it was picked as one of the top 10 out of 1,000 submissions. Soon, they were off to the Big Apple, as their video became one of the top five. And much to the group’s amazement, the lark transformed itself into a contract and the $25,000 top prize. Snipstead plans to use her part of the winnings to help pay for college. When she graduates, she plans to find a job that will put her bilingual skills to use. ”Music is a huge passion of mine, but so is helping people, so we’ll see,” she laughed, while strumming her guitar in The Cave, PLU’s student-run hangout. Oh, and does she even like coffee? Do you have to ask? It’s the best part of waking up. U
— B arbara C l e m e nts
To see Jenny and her band perform the award-winning jingle, visit www.choose.plu.edu/coffee
ARTS AID FINANCIAL 34 THE
U
APPLY
PLU IN F O
www.choose.plu.edu 800-274-6758
CHOICE
How has the investment in PLU paid off for you?
Courtney Shoe ’12 Major: History Hometown: Enumclaw, Wash.
Chris McKnight ’12 Major: Psychology Hometown: La Conner, Wash.
Jason Sipe ’11 Major: Religion Hometown: Twin Falls, Idaho
“Because of the small class sizes, professors know who I am. That, in turn, helps me gain a better understanding of the course material. I also know that when I graduate, I will have many opportunities awaiting me. Most of the students who graduate PLU already have a job lined up after college – another reason why PLU was the right choice for me.”
“I have developed close relationships with multiple professors who have helped shape me into who I am today. I can not thank PLU enough for the extra steps they take in guiding each student toward their passion.”
“I came to PLU set on pursuing a very specific career, but my horizons were broadened by the classes I took, both in and outside of my major. I have found interest in subjects I never expected. I have been presented with opportunities to learn from worldclass scholars and lecturers, and I’ve been able to study in countries where I never would have otherwise been able to go to.”
Victor Bull ’11 Major: Business, with marketing Hometown: San Francisco “This spring, I will be graduating with one job offer secured and possibly a second. The support and networking that PLU has through alumni is amazing and has really been an advantage of choosing this university. In most places my story would be unique, but at PLU it is just the norm; PLU does a great job preparing its students for after college while insuring a great college experience.”
Joni Johnson ’12 Major: Physical Education with a pre-physical therapy focus Hometown: Enumclaw, Wash. “Choosing PLU was one of the best decisions of my life. PLU is more than just a place to grow intellectually – it’s a community where the staff and alumni care about the students and have pride in what we have accomplished. I can't stress this enough: PLU is not just another college campus. The professors, staff and alumni all work extremely hard to create a successful and rewarding college experience.”
We think you might find that PLU is a great investment too. If you haven’t yet applied for the 2011-12 school year, it is not too late. Call a counselor in the Office of Admission at 800-2746758, or visit www.choose.plu.edu for more information. U
“Choosing PLU was one of the best decisions of my life.” APPLY
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U, PLU Office of Admission, Tacoma, Washington, 98447-0003 Address change: If you do not wish to receive U, or wish to change your mailing address, please notify PLU Office of Admission. You can reach us by phone at 800-274-6758, by fax at 253-536-5136, or by e-mail at admission@plu.edu. PLU.UMG.0211
ON CAMPUS
Ape crazy Josh Kaiser ‘12 gets his ape on while longboarding through PLU‘s lower campus.