U magazine - Winter 11 by University Communications

REALLY

COOL INTERNSHIPS

Student Andrew Whitney knows PLU’s internship program doesn’t just help him apply the knowledge he’s acquired in class, he’s honing the career skills he needs. Page 8

CHALLENGE How one student forever

changed the landscape of PLU Page 16

SUPPORT What does PLU’s class

of 2015 look like? It

SUCCESS Why you’ll be glad you

looks like you

filled out the FAFSA on January 1

Page 22

Page 34

ASK A LUTE

ON FULL TUITI to up Earn ent’s ts’ & Presid

Regen . 15 dline is DEC a e d ip h rs Schola r_and_p

lu.edu/ www.choose.p

Upcoming

Dates

Hinderlie Hall: Where art is at the heart Page 30

for First-year Students December 15 APPLICATION REVIEW DATE Completed applications will receive a decision within four weeks January 1 Start the FAFSA January 15 APPLICATION REVIEW DATE Completed applications will receive a decision within four weeks January 16 Application and FAFSA Workshop, PLU campus January 17 Conditional Nursing Admission Application Deadline January 28 Backyard BBQ, PLU campus February 1 Music Scholarship Application Deadline >> choose.plu.edu/music February 15 APPLICATION REVIEW DATE Completed applications will receive a decision within four weeks February 24-26 Music Scholarship Audition Weekend Theater Scholarship Audition Weekend March 1 International Honors Program Application Deadline >> choose.plu.edu/honors

To find these and other events, visit www.choose.plu.edu. 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

>>> www.choose.plu.edu A few reasons why Bernice Monkah ’13 thinks you should visit PLU Page 32

On the cover: Andrew Whitney ’12 walks through downtown Tacoma to get to his internship at Bank of New York Mellon. Photo by John Froschauer

Table of Contents

Really Cool Internships Meet five students who have taken part in internships while at PLU – and learn why they believe it is a great way to hone the career skills they need

New Roots Not only did Reed Ojala-Barbour ’11 turn his passion into a degree, but his passion changed the landscape of PLU

Sign Me! Page 7

Photo by Duong Huynh

Who is the Class of 2015? This fall, PLU welcomed its largest ever incoming first-year class. They’re smart, passionate and ready to engage the world – just like you

Hello There

The Arts

FAQS

Your New Home

Direct from Campus

Visit

One-on-One

Financial Aid

Great Northwest

Apply

Something I Thought I’d Never Do TABLE OF CONTENTS

REAL

HELLO THERE

Greetings from Pacific Lutheran University

STORIES Welcome to the Winter issue of U magazine. By now you are well into the college search process, and we encourage you to continue researching, visiting and applying to schools you think will fit you best. We hope PLU is still on your list, and we look forward to reviewing your application.

Staff

Executive Editor Greg Brewis Editor Steve Hansen Writers Barbara Clements Chris Albert Art Director Simon Sung Photographer John Froschauer Ted Charles ’12 Alex Peterson ’12 Vice President for Admission and Enrollment Services Karl Stumo Director of Admission Jennifer Olsen Krengel Admission Communication Coordinator Emily McCann ’06 Online Manager Toby Beal

Winter break is a great time to start thinking about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be submitted beginning January 1 at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Completing the FAFSA is important no matter which schools you apply to. At PLU we use the FAFSA to build a comprehensive financial aid package for each student, and if you complete the form by January 31, it is likely your PLU financial aid offer will be in your hands before March 1. We know that affordability is an important factor in your college choice, so we encourage you to contact your PLU admission counselor with any questions you might have about financial aid. As admission counselors, experience tells us that the best way to know if a school is right for you is to spend time on campus living like a student. When you visit campus, there are many opportunities to experience life as a Lute: take a campus tour, eat lunch with a current student, sit in on a class, meet individually with your admission counselor, chat with a professor about your academic interests, even stay overnight in a residence hall. Visiting schools and seeing how you will fit into a campus community can help make the college decision a little bit easier. We hope you decide to come experience PLU and learn firsthand what makes this an extraordinary place. Best wishes,

Volume 4, Issue 2 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 55% Recycled paper, 30% Post Consumer Waste (PCW), TEXT 100% Recycled paper, 50% (PCW), REPLY CARD - 100% PCW Printed at a Forest Stewardship CouncilTM certified plant.

Emily McCann and Rose Gonzales, Admission counselors

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE n

>> SPRING ’12

Ten great reasons (and maybe a few more) why students say PLU is a great fit for them

n What is it like when everyone on your residence

hall floor speaks Norwegian? Or Spanish? Or Mandarin? n

Get to know Tacoma through the eyes of two PLU students – there’s a lot to do here!

and much, much more...

HELLO THERE

PLU ONLINE

For more detailed information visit www.choose.plu.edu

FAQS

ANSWERS

ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS

Your questions answered by real PLU students Do I need to know my major before coming to PLU?

Definitely not! I had no idea what I wanted to major in when I first came to PLU. I declared my economics major at the end of my sophomore year after taking a lot of classes in many different subjects. I eventually decided on economics after taking classes two semesters in a row from a professor who encouraged me every day I had her class.

What are classes like? I love that you get to choose all your classes! Whether it’s a class for your major, a general university requirement, or just for fun, you’ll be able to find classes that interest you. Classes are also small. I had an economics class last year with only eight students. One of my favorite things about classes is that many of them are discussion oriented. I like being able to share my opinion and hear what other students have to say.

What is J-Term? J-Term happens during January. It is a four-week term between fall and spring semesters, where you take one class that counts as a semester-long class. J-Term is also a great opportunity to study away. I’m going to Greece for J-Term 2012!

How’s the food? There is a huge variety. There are the “usuals,” like a burger and fries, or a sandwich, but some of the more “out there” food is really good. A campuswide favorite is peanut noodles – students often post Facebook statuses

FEATURED

PLU GUEST EXPERT Kaitlyn Berg-Dibley ’13 MAJOR Economics HOMETOWN Maple Grove, Minn. INTERESTS I love playing intramural volleyball, taking trips to Seattle, and it’s always fun to walk down Garfield Street to Farrelli's Pizza.

about how amazing they are. No joke.

What sorts of clubs can I join? PLU has more than 80 clubs, so you can join pretty much any club you want. From biology club to laughter yoga, you’re sure to find something that interests you. And if the club you’re looking for isn’t here, it’s easy to start one yourself.

What do students do for fun on campus? A lot of students like to hang out with each other in the lounges of the residence halls. Playing ‘Apples to Apples’ is a favorite in my residence hall, as well as watching movies on the big screen TV. Each hall has a Residence Hall Council that usually puts on about one event per month within the hall, and an all-campus event once per year, like Pflueger Pfright Night or Ordal Beach Party. I also love to play intramural volleyball and bake with my friends.

I’m from out-of-state. What is it like to live in the Pacific Northwest?

I’m also an out-of-stater – I’m from Minnesota. The Pacific Northwest definitely has four seasons, but the temperatures are usually pretty mild (at least compared to what I’m used to). The rumors you hear about the rain are probably true (although perhaps a bit exaggerated). It can rain a lot, but if you bring a rain jacket and rain boots you’ll be just fine.

Is it possible to work on campus? Where could I work? Many students work on campus. A few common places are Dining Services, the library and the residence halls. Every residence hall has front desk workers to greet students as they come in, which is a great way to meet a lot of people while making money. I know a lot of prospective students are worried about being able to manage a job while going to class, but it is definitely possible – you just have to use your time wisely. My planner is my life!

What is your favorite thing about PLU? The amazing sense of community. I think everyone really feels like they have a place where they belong. Plus, it is impossible to get through a day without someone opening a door for you! U

GOT A QUESTION? your questions about PLU answered  Have by the experts – real students. Send your questions to askalute@plu.edu.

FAQS

DIRECT FROM CAMPUS

PLU’s new big, empty ‘Black Box’ Sure, the brand new Studio Theater at the center of campus looks empty. It’s supposed to be that way – it’s a “black box” theater.

Welcome

U. t o PouL tta here!

Now get

On the Saturday before classes start, PLU tells its first-year students to take a hike. (Well, only some take a hike, like those who go to Mt. Rainier. Others do things like volunteering at Northwest Harvest, kayaking Puget Sound, and touring the Theo Chocolate factory in Seattle.)

It wasn’t empty for long – students have already begun mounting performances in the intimate, stateof-the-art theater space. And, not surprisingly, audiences are filling the seats. The new Studio Theater is only the first phase of a larger arts center under construction. When complete, theater, dance and other performing arts groups will have a larger main stage in the Karen Hille Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, in addition to the Studio Theater.

But you get the point. More than 25 groups went “On the Road” this September, a cool part of PLU’s orientation program. It is a great way for students to meet other students while experiencing an outdoor adventure, serving in the community, or enjoying local arts.

Others do things like volunteering at Northwest Harvest, kayaking Puget Sound, and touring the Theo Chocolate factory in Seattle. 6

DIRECT FROM CAMPUS

According to Jeff Clapp, associate professor of theater, it is facilities like this that will enable PLU to become a premier theater venue in the South Sound. “Because of this space becoming stronger, the students will have a lot more opportunity and they’ll have a home,” Clapp added.

Should we call you ‘professor’ – or ‘governor’? When Alaska governor Sean Parnell ’84 came to the Seattle-Tacoma area to talk about trade opportunities between Washington state and Alaska, he made a quick stop at PLU’s School of Business to sit down with some of the region’s future business leaders. Parnell spoke to Assistant Professor Kevin Boeh’s financing and entrepreneurship class, urging students to figure out what questions and problems their future employers will face, and then offer solutions to their bosses without being asked. “It doesn’t take an eBay to fulfill all your dreams,” he said. “But it does take determination, creativity and the willingness to take calculated risks in whatever job or venture one decides to undertake.” U

10 great years for the Diversity Center Looking back on the early days of PLU’s Diversity Center, Eva Johnson, dean of student development and director of Student Involvement and Leadership, called the programs offered at that time “Diversity 101.” In other words: Basic stuff. Ten years later, a lot has changed – just like the students it serves. The “dCenter” serves students by offering programs, retreats, one-on-one mentoring, and partnerships with other offices and departments on campus. Plus, it is a great place to hang out – no matter who you are. “It’s a vibrant and thriving community,” Johnson said. “It has a mission to serve whoever walks in the door wherever they are at. This place will be welcoming and inclusive to you.”

! E M SIGN Once again, PLU students gave up their bodies for a good cause – raising money for Tacoma’s Mary Bridge Hospital. For a donation, people could ink their fellow students, raising more than $1,500 in one day.

DIRECT FROM CAMPUS 7 DIRECT FROM CAMPUS 7

PREPARED FOR THE WORLD

REALLY

COOL INTERNSHIPS

Learning at PLU means much more than class participation alone. It also means venturing outside the classroom and actively engaging in the world – we believe there’s no better way to prepare yourself for success – no matter where your passion takes you. Meet five students who have recently taken part in internships while at PLU – and see why they believe it is a great way to build a resume, develop contacts and hone the career skills they need. Annkia Carow is a busy person. She has a full class load of 17 credits, and is the assistant general manager of MediaLab, PLU’s student-run media organization. But when she locked-down a coveted 40-hour-a-week internship in the public relations department of the Puyallup Fair – the largest fair west of the Mississippi – she couldn’t pass that up. “I didn’t plan on getting a lot of sleep,” she laughed. Carow was responsible for the official program at the fair, writing copy and overseeing its layout. She also organized the “Healthy Fare” proAnnika Carow ’12 gram – working with vendors to put MAJOR: together a menu of healthy options. Business with marketing She also organized “Jock Talk,” a emphasis daily newsletter sent to radio stations INTERNSHIP: that promoted specific events. The Puyallup Fair

Only three public relations interns are chosen each year – one of which is often held for a PLU student. Those kinds of relationships make a real difference. “Rob Wells, my adviser, really knows the people to talk to, so we can get the experience we need as students.” PLU students have a reputation, too. Employers know they’ll get good work from their interns, which in Carow’s case, gives her much-needed flexibility. “My boss knows I’m a student first,” Carow said. “So I can work my job around my classes.” That helps when you are as busy as Carow.

BY STEVE HANSEN

“It is a really great experience,” said Carow. “You’re doing hands-on work, and it’s absolutely a great portfolio builder.” >> PREPARED FOR THE WORLD

REALLY

Aaron Hushagen is a sociology major. He’s also an audiophile.

COOL INTERNSHIPS

So, during his senior year when he was taking an audio production class, he found himself thinking that he'd like to learn more about it. It didn’t matter that it didn't have anything to do with his major. He asked his professor, Bob Holden, if he knew of any opportunities where he could continue to learn about the subject. Soon, Hushagen found Aaron Hushagen ’11 himself meeting with Joey Cohn, the MAJOR: assistant general manager of the Sociology National Public Radio affiliate 88.5 KPLU-FM. Soon thereafter, he was INTERNSHIP: 88.5 KPLU-FM interning at the studio.

“This is an experience I didn't expect to have, and when I started doing it, I thought, ‘yeah, this is exactly what I want to do.’”

10 PREPARED FOR THE WORLD

Hushagen started producing the on-air “comedy drops” – the little breaks between songs – and helping with the in-studio sessions when jazz performers would come to the studio. All in all, it was a great way for him to find a passion for something – even though it was outside his major. “This is an experience I didn't expect to have,” he said. “And when I started doing it, I thought, ‘yeah, this is exactly what I want to do.’”

Every student who participates in PLU’s Gateway study-away program in Oaxaca, Mexico, has to participate in a four-week internship. Based on the students’ interests, there are many internship options during the semester-long program, including working with healthcare providers or at women’s shelters, working on migrant issues or even student teaching. In Paris Cochran’s case, she was able to find something that matched perfectly with her two majors and interest area: She worked with Paris Cochran ’13 HELPS International, a non-profit that helps indigenous communities MAJOR: Environmental Studies install sustainable wood-burning and Hispanic Studies stoves in kitchens. The stoves, which INTERNSHIP: burn fuel more efficiently than Internship: HELPS traditional stoves, not only mitigate International (Oaxaca, deforestation in the area, but they Mexico) improve the health of the users by keeping smoke and particulates out of the kitchen. Cochran was the first American, and female student, to go into rural Oaxaca with HELPS. That was a big deal. Cochran had to earn the trust and respect of the people she was working with. “I was able to change their opinion about what Americans, and students, are capable of,” she said.

stoves, was invaluable to her – and not just because it improved her Spanish markedly. “I learned how important relationships between people and the environment are,” she said. “I learned how to use resources efficiently and I learned that by watching people – these people have used these technologies for hundreds of years.” That will come in handy when Paris graduates – she plans to return to her native Alaska to work with the indigenous communities on land-rights issues.

“I learned how important relationships between people and the environment are. I learned how to use resources efficiently and I learned that by watching people – these people have used these technologies for hundreds of years.”

The opportunity Cochran had to talk directly with the women in these communities and see, firsthand, the cultural importance of these wood-burning PREPARED FOR THE WORLD

REALLY

COOL INTERNSHIPS

Of the many numbers Andrew Whitney recalls from his finance class, this one stuck out to him: 70.

Whitney sees his internship as a practical application of what he’s learning in business school.

“I remember my prof telling us that 70 percent of interns get offered a position," Whitney recalls. “He always said ‘numbers like that you just don't get anywhere else.’”

He does a lot of number-crunching and reviews a lot of raw financial data. He also checks financial portfolios to make sure they are compliant – for example, if a client doesn’t want a stock portfolio that includes tobacco companies, he makes sure they are out.

His prof, Assistant Professor of Business Kevin Boeh, would know. Boeh is a former Wall Street investment banker whose accounts totaled in Andrew Whitney ’12 the billions of dollars. MAJOR:

Like he does for all of his students, Boeh helped Whitney INTERNSHIP: identify a good match for his Bank of New York Mellon skills, and helped him prepare for the interview. The result? Whitney took a summer internship with Bank of New York Mellon, working 40 hours a week. Business

After the summer, Whitney was given the opportunity to stay on as long he, and the bank, felt like he was contributing. Whitney plans to stay through graduation – after that, maybe it'll turn into a job.

12 PREPARED FOR THE WORLD

Are there things he learned in his business classes that have been backed-up by his time at Bank of New York Mellon? Whitney’s response is simple: “Everything. Everything has popped up once or twice while I've been here.”

“I remember my prof telling us that 70 percent of interns get offered a position. He always said ‘numbers like that you just don’t get anywhere else.’”

Over the summer, he helped inventory the archaeological sites in the national park, and he worked with other archaeologists as part of the Nisqually-toParadise National Historic Landmark Project. When the director of cultural anthropological services at Mt. Rainier National Park came to PLU to speak to his anthropology class last fall, Ted Charles had an idea: He loves anthropology and he loves the outdoors. Maybe he could combine the two? After class, he asked the speaker if there were any summer internships available. There were. So Charles kept in contact. So did his professor, Ted Charles ’12 Bradford Andrews, who had worked MAJOR: with that day’s speaker on other Anthropology projects. INTERNSHIP:

And by spring, Charles had an internship secured. The following summer he was working four days a week based out of the park headquarters – the other days he spent hiking in the backcountry.

Mt. Rainier National Park

“This was the ideal situation,” he smiled. Over the summer, he helped inventory the archaeological sites in the national park, and he worked with other archaeologists as part of the Nisqually-to-Paradise National Historic Landmark Project. In essence, Charles and others were attempting to survey and recover an old government road built in the park in its earliest days. Charles considered the internship the perfect opportunity to take those “real anthropological tools” he learned in class and use them in the field. “It’s something I’d never had the opportunity to use before this internship,” he said.

The internship had other benefits, too. For Charles’ senior thesis, he had been planning to write about the Civilian Conservation Corps within the context of the National Park Service. His work over the summer gave him access to numerous resources – and personal contacts! – that he would never had otherwise. All in all, it was the perfect way to spend a summer. And, in Charles’ view, a perfect way to preview the next steps in his life. “It was a unique chance to preview my future,” he said. U

Career Connections From entering first-year and sophomore students who need to choose a major; to sophomores and juniors who need to connect to experiences outside the classroom; to juniors and seniors who need to polish their job search skills including resume writing, interviewing, and networking skills, Career Connections is there to guide them along the way. Career Connections focuses existing programs on campus around the single goal to guide students through their years here and help them refine their passion and career goals. Career Connections is a new hub of already existing services, including the offices of Career Development and Academic Internships, or the opportunities made available through academic departments or the Alumni office. “One of our major goals is to help students have a seamless transition into the next phase of life," said Bobbi Hughes ’00, director of employer relations at PLU. “We’re going to be doing, and have been doing, a great job in helping students discover what they are passionate about and what they are really meant to do in this world,” Hughes said. www.plu.edu/career-connections/ PREPARED FOR THE WORLD

ONE-ON-ONE

FACULTY PROFILE

Chemistry

The Right Recipe

>>> Justin Lytle, assistant professor of chemistry The recipe for how Assistant Professor of Chemistry Justin Lytle teaches looks a little like this: Add two-parts enthusiasm and a love of teaching, one-part knowledge of the sciences, and a heaping scoop of passion for the chemistry of food. Then sprinkle in a little dry humor, and mix slowly. Lytle is not a chef – at least professionally. In fact, at one point in his life, Lytle pursued a path toward becoming a Lutheran pastor before he discovered that teaching chemistry was his true calling. Like the sermons he once envisioned, his lectures reveal an evangelistic zeal for helping others learn chemistry. After receiving his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Lytle spent three years at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory assembling nanomaterials – materials that are less than one thousandth of the diameter of a human hair – into powerful stateof-the-art lithium ion batteries. Here at PLU, he continues to use nanoma-

14 ONE-ON-ONE

terials to store energy in flexible and lightweight paper electrodes.

results. Constructing and deconstructing food is chemistry.

Lytle’s true calling is sharing his passion for the sciences with students. His teaching philosophy is that chemistry doesn’t have to be intimidating. It can and should be fun and engaging.

“It is a way to tone down the science and make it accessible.”

And tasty. “Chemistry is so scary for a lot of college students,” Lytle said. “I want my students to say ‘I enjoy what I’m learning and I can do anything that I put my mind to.’” In food, he sees a way for his students to relate cooking to its most basic level – the chemical makeup of food. Chemistry is, after all, how the building blocks of nature go together to form, well, everything. Lytle deliberately emphasizes that students know more about chemistry than they think. Like cooks, chemists choose and measure ingredients, modify recipes, adjust cooking times and temperatures, and test the end

This type of instruction doesn’t just happen in the chemistry classrooms of Rieke Science Center. It is also happening in PLU’s dining commons. Four years ago, Lytle started the “Chemistry of Food” series with Erica Fickeisen, lead baker with PLU’s Dining and Culinary Services. Lytle, Fickeisen, and Dining and Culinary Services have joined together to create fun, informative sessions – open to the entire campus – that look at the chemistry of different foods, like cheese, chocolate, spices and bread. Take chocolate, for instance. Lytle and Fickeisen deconstruct chocolate into its many components – one of which is a key ingredient in nail polish remover – and they demonstrate how slight differences in the origin of the cacao beans, or even the processing

temperature, change the flavor of the chocolate. Students aren’t the only ones who learn during these demonstrations. Lytle found he enjoyed chocolate even more after learning about how subtly complex it is. “It’s so much more rich than I thought,” he said. “One more reason I love chocolate.” The sessions can be quite a challenge to put on, but Lytle and Fickeisen really enjoy how the enjoyment of food makes chemistry more palatable. Lytle credits Fickeisen and PLU’s Dining Services with coming up with some delicious foods as culinary examples for the talks. “Erica and Dining Services are my partners in crime,” Lytle said. “It’s a real labor of love. It’s absolutely a lot of work, but when we pull it off, it’s really something special.” He’s not sure what’s next on the menu, but that’s the fun of it. The recipe is always changing.

—CHRIS ALBERT

Erica Fickeisen, lead baker with PLU’s Dining and Culinary Services, and Justin Lytle, assistant professor of chemistry

ONE-ON-ONE

ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

16 ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

BY CHRIS ALBERT

New Roots Not only did Reed Ojala-Barbour â&#x20AC;&#x2122;11 turn his passion into a degree, but his passion changed the landscape of PLU.

ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

New Roots Standing under the branches of a Garry oak tree on the hill behind the University Center, Reed Ojala-Barbour ’11 takes stock of the open space in front of him. He’s imagining what it must have been like more than 100 years ago – before the basketball court, sand volleyball court, and the well-manicured lawn bordered by a dry creek bed and residence halls. He thinks about how the dry creek bed once flourished as Clover Creek, with the surrounding vegetation part of a large prairie. The tree that he stands under today was there back then; it is nearly 400 years old. It is native to the area, one of more than 100 Garry oaks on campus, making PLU a preserve of a species native to Pierce County. The open space is an indication of what the entire area once was, Ojala-Barbour, an environmental studies major, said of the Clover Creek watershed. “That’s a little piece of evidence that it used to be prairie,” he said. It’s something he could have learned in a book – and he certainly did – but his experience at PLU extends well beyond the classroom. His experience here led him to work with professors who have long been retired, community groups who offer funding and volunteers, as well as PLU staff who help manage the campus. Not only did Ojala-Barbour turn this passion into a degree, but his passion changed the landscape of PLU. That passion was celebrated during Earth Week, when about 60 students, faculty, staff and community joined Ojala-Barbour, PLU President Loren J. Anderson and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Fred Tobiason to dedicate the Fred L. Tobiason Outdoor Learning Center. The native space behind the University Center has become a symbol of what one student, with a lot of on-campus support, can do when he follows his passion. It all started when Ojala-Barbour was looking for a summer job upon returning to campus his sophomore year from Spain. It was suggested he apply for one of PLU’s Sustainability Fellowships. The fellowship had great appeal – he’d have a job, and the chance to make a positive impact on the campus of his university. He dived into researching PLU’s footprint, and he proposed studying the impact of invasive species to native plants on campus. It wasn’t long before he’d learn about the Garry oak and its unique place as a native species of the area. Even though the university long has embraced sustainable practices, such as setting a goal of being carbon neutral by 2020 or investing in green building and renovation practices, Ojala-Barbour knew there was always more to do. “I realized PLU wasn’t doing all it could for the native area, but there was a network of people who could,” he said. But he also learned about many people who have been 18 ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Reed Ojala-Barbour’s experience at PLU extends well beyond the classroom. His experience here led him to work with professors who have long been retired, community groups who offer funding and volunteers, as well as PLU staff who help manage the campus.

”

active in preserving green spaces in the area. One of those people was Fred L. Tobiason, a former chemistry professor at PLU. Tobiason, back in the 1970s, saved the space behind the UC from becoming a parking lot. Taking inspiration from Tobiason, Ojala-Barbour targeted that same space. The site had been inaccessible for years, thanks to dense thickets of Himalayan blackberries, an invasive species that negatively affects the Garry oak tree. He began going to conservation group meetings and learning all he could. It was at a Pierce County Conservation District meeting that he first heard about grants that were available to help promote preservation. In writing those grant proposals, Ojala-Barbour got support from people on campus including Professor of Biology William Teska and Sustainability Coordinator Chrissy Cooley. They made learning how to write a grant proposal a lot less daunting. Soon, Ojala-Barbour learned the grants had been awarded to his project. And through working with the Native Plants Salvage Alliance, he was able to secure native seeds and native species for replanting on campus. Plants like snowberry, Oregon grape and beaked hazelnut. All in all, there were 25 plant types for replanting. The money was there, and he had the seeds. Now he needed people. With the help of PLU staff, he reached out to a network of people passionate about the Clover Park watershed. Soon, he had more than 100 people involved – from seniors from nearby Washington High School, volunteers from the PLU sustainability club, Girl Scout troops, Boys and Girls Club members, and many more. There were people ready to get their hands dirty, but they needed a voice to organize them. They needed someone to lead them and focus on making a difference in their environment. Once again, Ojala-Barbour stepped in. “I just realized it was an opportunity for me to be a leader,” Ojala-Barbour said. He did lead. And now, the evidence of that stewardship is taking root at PLU, with the Fred Tobiason Outdoor Learning Center and below the Garry oak where Ojala-Barbour first took notice of the prairie at PLU. “It’s been a lot of time and energy, but it’s also been really rewarding,” Ojala-Barbour said. Someday, he hopes to combine the land management skills he’s learned outside of the classroom, with what he’s learned inside the classroom, and work to better preserve what native land remains. The Clover Creek watershed is a unique environment, OjalaBarbour said, just like PLU. “PLU has a unique climate of getting students involved in the institution.” U ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

GREAT NORTHWEST

Sculpins

‘No one has ever looked at species in this way’ It was a slippery ballet choreographed with rushing water, waders and a cumbersome net. This summer saw Jacob Egge, assistant professor of biology at PLU, and two student researchers trying to flush out sculpins hiding beneath rocks in the Green River near Auburn, Wash. The threesome managed to nail down a system where one would kick at the rocks, while the other two would wield the net to trap the small, spiny fish.

“We’re trying to discover the origin of freshwater fishes in the Puget Sound area,” said Egge. About 15,000 years ago, he explained, the entire region was covered by glaciers, when the ice receded, the fish populated the new streams, coming either from the Columbia or Chehalis rivers. Just how the fish migrated from one system to another is still a mystery. Egge and his student-researchers aim to find out. “No one has ever looked at species in this way before,” he said of the research. U

At the end of the summer, Egge and his two studentresearchers, Brianne Ankenman ’13 and Evan Shields ’13, had visited almost a dozen rivers around Washington to capture and analyze several sculpin subspecies that inhabit the freshwater streams in the state.

— B arbara C lements

Once Egge and his team captured hundreds of sculpins, they took the inch-long striped fish back to the PLU lab and tested their DNA.

To hear and see Egge and his team track-down the elusive sculpins, or to learn about some of the more than 50 student-faculty research projects that take place at PLU each summer, visit choose.plu.edu/student-research

20 GREAT NORTHWEST

AROUND THE SOUND

Climb a

Ride a

Visit the

Mt. Rainier

PUGET SOUND

Seattle

Merely 90 minutes from campus, Mt. Rainier has long been a destination for PLU students. As early as 1896 – three years before it became a national park – students and faculty would organize excursions to take in its beautiful vistas.

An inland extension of the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound stretches more than 100 miles, from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the state capital, Olympia. This enormous body of water is one of the reasons why the region experiences comparatively mild – albeit sometimes rainy – winters.

The city of Seattle, the unofficial capital of the Pacific Rim, is 45 minutes north of PLU. It is everything you might expect from a great cosmopolitan city – home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, incredible hole-in-the-wall ethnic eats, and great concert and sporting venues.

mountain

ferry

city

GREAT NORTHWEST

LIFE ON CAMPUS

22 LIFE ON CAMPUS

This fall, PLU welcomed its largest ever incoming first-year class to campus. We thought you’d like to meet them. So here they are – all 731 of them. They’re smart, passionate and ready to engage the world – they’re just like you. >> LIFE ON CAMPUS

This is easy. Nearly everyone received some kind of financial aid. So, chances are, you will too. For instance, in 2010, the average financial aid offer was $26,000. That makes PLU more affordable than you might think. And given that PLU is known for offering more classes, more majors and more opportunities than most liberal arts colleges – and more personal attention than a large public school – we think PLU is as good as any university, large or small. Amy Lessig > Major: Nursing > Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.

We’re proud of being Lutheran, but it doesn’t mean you have to be. (Lutheran, that is.) PLU reaches out to students of all faiths and all backgrounds – the 22 percent that are Lutheran, and the 78 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.

24 LIFE ON CAMPUS

Terrell Hawkins > Major: Religion > Hometown: Spokane, Wash.

It’s true that a large portion of PLU students come from Washington and Oregon. It’s also true that once you come to campus, you’ll find yourself at a globally focused university, where two-thirds of the faculty have international expertise and experience, and nearly 50 percent of all students participate in at least one study-away experience while at PLU. The national average? Three percent. bryan gillespie > Major: physics > Hometown: Puyallup, wash.

With well over 20 percent students of color, it’s clear that PLU strives to be a community where people of different cultures, intellectual positions and life-goals can reach their full potential – and you can see that in the class of 2015. Such an environment develops respect for differences while fostering caring relationships, cross-cultural understanding, and common educational commitments.HI miki yamamoto > Major: music education > Hometown: honolulu, HI.

LIFE ON CAMPUS

SOMETHING I THOUGHT I'D NEVER DO ALYSSA HENRY ’12

I never thought I’d spend my summer biking Alyssa Henry ’12 was already doing something different. The environmental studies major from Kent, Wash., had already spent her spring term in Denmark as a part of a study-away program through PLU’s Wang Center for Global Education. But when someone suggested she apply for an internship where she would ride her bike 800 miles through Massachusetts, she said to herself: “I have to do this.” Never mind that Alyssa didn’t own a bike. In fact, she hadn’t really ridden much since her junior-high days. But after a completed application and visit to the “bikes for sale” section of Craigslist, Henry found herself pedal-

26 SOMETHING I THOUGHT I‘D NEVER DO

ing across Massachusetts for what she later called the most amazing summer she’s ever had. The internship was with a nonprofit called New England Climate Summer. Their project was to travel in groups of six or seven, meeting with individuals, community groups or government officials in hopes of finding ways to lessen their dependency on fossil fuels. Henry’s group would travel 30 to 50 miles a day, sleeping in churches or – when they were lucky – in the homes of well-wishers, where they would sometimes get a warm meal, do laundry or take a shower. “Showing up in a community and having to rely on the

Biking

800 miles across Massachusetts kindness of the people living in that community – it re-affirmed my faith in humanity,” she said. More than simply a character-building exercise, Henry found the summer to be a great skill-building exercise, too. She really developed her ability to speak before large groups, and she built her community-organizing skills, too. She was made the new media coordinator for her group, organizing meetings and generating publicity to newspapers, community groups and others. She was even sometimes her group’s resident bike mechanic.

newfound friends talking with others about issues she deeply cares about. And it made her think about the endless possibilities for her future. Peace Corps? Environmental work? Community organizing? Henry doesn’t know what’s next. But she does know not to be afraid of the uncertainty. “This summer inspired me to get busy and not be afraid to fail,” Henry said. “It was one of those summers I don’t know if I'll ever get again.” U — S teve hansen

Perhaps most importantly, Henry discovered her passion. She loved being outdoors, on her bike, travelling with

SOMETHING I THOUGHT I‘D NEVER DO

THE ARTS

Seattle Opera’s ‘Porgy and Bess’ – five Lutes The recent Seattle Opera production of “Porgy and Bess” turned into something of a Lute reunion this summer, as five Lutes showed up for rehearsals and, after looking around, realized they were all fellow alums. Amy Van Mechelen ’08 had just finished up her master’s degree in music at Colorado State when she moved back to the Tacoma area. She auditioned for the chorus of “Porgy and Bess,” and didn’t think she’d get a part. But she did. Amy V

Van Mechelen was surprised by how much a part the chorus plays on stage. “The chorus is on the stage almost all the time and is an integral part of the opera,” she said. V

Van Mechelen ‘08

After a taste of this, Van Mechelen knows that singing is what she wants to do with her life. She arrived at PLU as a transfer student. “I went to audition for the music program and the faculty was so warm and inviting…it just felt like home,” she said. Marlette Buchannan Hall, a vocal studies lecturer at PLU,

Five Lutes found themselves together on the Seattle Opera stage this summer, all part of the production of “Porgy and Bess.” Photo by Elise Bakketun, courtesy of Seattle Opera.

28 THE ARTS

said she showed up for the first day of rehearsals this last summer and realized a few of her students were right along side her. Hall played the role of “Lily” in the opera, which follows the tragic story of Porgy, a disabled black beggar living in the slums of Charleston, South Carolina. The opera, first performed in 1935 with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin, deals V Marlette V with Porgy’s attempts to rescue Bess from Buchannan Hall the clutches of Crown, her violent and possessive lover, and Sportin’ Life, the drug dealer. Hall recalls the rehearsals as grueling. “I don’t think people realize all the work that goes into it,” she said. Having a built-in support group of Lutes helped. Along with Hall and Van Mechelen, there was Novalee Richard, ’09, Stephanie Johnson ’11 and leisha McIntyre ’97. Johnson said that she has received huge support from her fellow Lutes, from Choir of the West members who helped her put together audition videos, and her current voice

on one stage instructor (and PLU professor) Barry Johnson, who encouraged her to audition. “PLU has given me amazing connections,” she said. As for advice for other students seeking a career in singing or opera? “Life isn’t a dress rehearsal,” she said. “Do your best work every time. Be accountable. Be flexible. Be able, ready and fierce with your art.” Like Van Mechelen, McIntyre arrived at PLU as a transfer student. She graduated with an English literature major, and a vocal and religion minor. McIntyre’s mother, Nancy McIntyre ’74, also graduated with a degree in education from PLU. After V leisha V teaching in various places around the McIntyre ‘07 country, McIntyre now teaches theater arts in the Seattle Public School District to middle school and elementary age children.

many talented people of color,” she said. “It’s just like being at summer camp. Everyone is there with the same interest, and you’re not the odd duck anymore.” Before coming to PLU, McIntyre, 36, characterized herself as shy. But the voice lessons and the support here brought her out of her shell. Once she started teaching, she found it difficult to continue to find the cash to pay for voice lessons. But after the “Porgy and Bess” experience, she intends to find the time, and the money to groom her talent. “I’m going to do whatever I need to do to make this work,” she said. “I’d never had the courage to audition before now, but I’ve awakened this talent, and I’m going to keep going.” U — B arbara C lements

McIntyre auditioned on a whim. “I figured, why not?,” she laughed. And she was glad she did. “It was such an awesome experience, working with so

THE ARTS

YOUR NEW HOME

“It is a healthy and fun community – and it is so great to be in a community that is so passionate about something.” —Tyler Capellaro ’14

30 YOUR NEW HOME

HINDERLIE HALL Where art is at the heart

HINDERLIE by the numbers n

130 students

n Home

to the Hinderlie Community of Creative Expression (HCCE) with 6 faculty partners n

4 floors, 8 wings. Wings are gender-specific.

4 washers and 4 dryers

6 Resident Assistants and 6 Residence Hall Council executives, not including wing representatives and the Arts Ambassador

3 kitchens with composting bins

n 2

lounges including the main lounge shared with Commuter Connections, 1 Practice/Study Room, 1 Imagination Room n 1

large balcony overlooking lower campus/Foss field

Host of annual Hinderlie Toga Party, featuring fantastic music, dancing, and food n

Earlier this year, Taylor Capellaro ’14 was walking on the lower level of Hinderlie Hall when he heard music coming from a room – it was some of the most beautiful music he had heard. He didn’t know the people who lived in the room, but he stuck his head in anyway. There, he saw four first-year students – one was playing a viola, and another was singing and playing a guitar, and the other two were singing harmonies. Capellaro enjoyed the music so much, he came in, sat down, and listened. “This kind of thing happens all the time,” said Capellaro, a music and theater major from Enumclaw, Wash. “You can always find someone playing a guitar or something around here – everyone is doing their art.”

This isn’t surprising, as Hinderlie Hall is a “community of creative expression” – a n 12' x 14' 8" room size. Rooms designation specifically chosen by those feature built-in closets and who live there. Students of all majors loftable beds. who have a passion for creativity in any form are members of the Hinderlie community, from music and arts, to nursing, anthropology, business and biology. After all, what makes Hinderlie Hall so unique is the people. “I feel like this is my second home,” Capellaro said. “It is a healthy and fun community – and it is so great to be in a community that is so passionate about something.” U — S teve H ansen

Photos by Ted Charles ’12 and Alex Peterson ’12

YOUR NEW HOME

Profi

Visiting PLU

Major

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.choose.plu.edu/visit.

Hometown

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.

Bernice Monkah ’13 Mathematical Economics and Political Science

SeaTac, Wash.

Interests

Going to the fitness center, attending Cave dances, climbing at Edgeworks

Take a tour of campus. It’s a great introduction to PLU. Tours are guided by students like Bernice who know all the essential information about our university. Tours are available by appointment Monday through Saturday during the academic year.

A Day in of a P the life LU st udent

Beaut i Foss ful day on Field p game of Fr laying a isbee

Grabbing some ma snacks at Taho hing Bakery and catc up with Alexis

Gettin g som e deals at the great Garfie ld Boo Comp k any

VISIT US

32 VISIT

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.choose.plu.edu/visit.

ays The weekend alw means there are activities on campus, so why not a Toga Party?

Dinne r with in the U C some frien ds

Presentation on Ethiopian Art in IHON class

Want to see more? VISIT THE PLU VIRTUAL TOUR www.choose.plu.edu/virtualtour PLU Admission on the web 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

FINANCIAL AID

Help

How the FAFSA can help you finance your first-choice college or university

Now is the time to begin actively applying for financial aid. This means two things: first, you need to apply for admission to the schools on your shortlist. Second, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a.k.a. the FAFSA. When it comes to financial aid, the FAFSA is one of the most important components. Without a FAFSA on file, we are unable to provide you with a comprehensive financial aid package which could include state and federal grants or scholarships, work study, or loan opportunities. Use the information below to help understand how the FAFSA, and other forms of financial aid, can bring your first-choice school within financial reach.

What is the FAFSA and when is it due? The FAFSA is used by many schools as a standard to evaluate your eligibility for need-based financial aid. You can complete the FAFSA as early as January 1, 2012, if you are planning on beginning college the following fall. The easiest way to complete the FAFSA is online, at www.fafsa.ed.gov. While you wait for January 1, you can request your PIN, which serves as your electronic signature, at www.pin.ed.gov.

I filled out the FAFSA, now what?

2011-12 COSTS

Once your FAFSA results are available, the schools where you have been admitted will put together a comprehensive financial aid offer for you. Most colleges will send you a financial aid package in March or April, giving you time to look at your options and “do the math” before the National Candidate Reply Date on May 1. At PLU, we encourage you to submit the FAFSA by January 31, as we typically start sending our financial aid packages by March 1.

$30,950 tuition $9,250 room and meals $40,200 total

Links & Info www.choose.plu.edu www.plu.edu/financial-aid n 800-274-6758 n 253-535-7151

FAFSA on the Web, www.fafsa.ed.gov

Does PLU offer merit aid? Yes, PLU offers merit-based financial aid consisting of scholarships that are based upon your academic, leadership or artistic talent. Remember, your application for admission is also your application for PLU academic merit scholarships. Because these are merit-based scholarships, you do not need to complete the FAFSA to be considered. However, merit scholarships at other schools may require a separate application, so it’s important to find out from each college what their requirements are for merit scholarships. At PLU, our combined merit scholarships range from $5,000 to $17,000 per year.

How much money should I expect to receive? Because each financial aid package is tailored to a specific student, it is hard to say how much you may qualify for. To help give you an idea, the Office of Financial Aid put together the chart below to show the average PLU gift aid based on a family’s combined income. In general, more than 97 percent of PLU students receive some type of financial aid, and the average financial aid package is $24,167. U

What’s the average total PLU scholarships and grants for your family’s combined income? Combined family income for first-year students, Fall 2010

Number of aid recipients

Average total scholarships and grants from all sources

<$20,000

$23,401

$20,000 - $39,999

$23,601

$40,000 - $59,999

$20,372

$60,000 - $79,999

$19,154

$80,000 - $99,999

$16,442

$100,000 +

285

$15,272

34 FINANCIAL AID

APPLY

EASY

Applying to college is easy

You can find everything you need to know about applying to PLU online at www.choose.plu.edu. Once you’re there, check out our upcoming events, learn more about financial aid, set up a campus visit, and take our virtual tour. You can always give us a call at 800274-6758, and an admission counselor will be happy to answer your questions, or send you information that will be helpful in your college search. “The best advice for you while you’re comparing colleges and universities is to surf the Web, ask lots of questions, and be sure to visit campus,” said Karl Stumo, vice president of admission and enrollment services. “After all, universities are as unique as you are, and finding the best one will take time and research. The rewards, however, are life changing.” Holistic Review Your application will be read by your admission counselor who is looking for students who will bring their special talents and abilities to PLU. Test scores and GPA are part of that – admission to PLU is selective and competitive – but we also take the time to look at the courses you’ve taken, the activities you’ve been involved in, and your essay and recommendations. A personal visit with an admission counselor during a visit to campus can be part of the process, too. When you get down to it, the application process at PLU is simply about you getting to know us and us getting to know you. We take the time to get to know you as a person, not just a student, and we hope you’ll do the same by getting to know our community.

Apply Online! PLU accepts the Common Application as well as the PLU application. Apply online and it is free. If you apply by the 15th of the month, we guarantee you’ll get a response – including if you qualify for academic merit scholarships – within four weeks. Applications received after February 15 will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

www.choose.plu.edu/apply

We’ll also let you know if you qualify for an academic merit scholarship. Learn More Check out www.choose.plu.edu to learn more about the SAT and ACT, required and recommended prep courses, AP, IB, and Running Start credit, transfer admission,

and international admission. You’re bound to have questions during your college search, so don’t hesitate to contact us. Look us up online, give us a call, and come visit! We believe it’s the best way to get a real feel for life on campus. We think you’ll like what you discover. U

APPLY

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.0711

ON CAMPUS

Sign me up! Zorba, the unofficial mascot of the Biology Club, does some recruiting at PLUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Involvement Fair. More than 40 clubs and organizations took part in the annual September event that helps students discover new opportunities in college life. All told, there are more than 80 clubs and organizations on campus.