Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff: On that first Christmas night, the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem settled into their normal evening routine, watching over their sheep. Then, unexpectedly, they were overwhelmed and surprised by a host of angels who proclaimed the birth of Christ. In the gospel of Luke, the author writes, “Do not […]
Category: 2017-2018
End of Year — Faculty and Staff
Dear Colleagues, At the end of another successful academic year, let’s take a moment to reflect upon what we have accomplished. This community has accomplished much together. I hope and pray that you have had many opportunities to take pride in the contributions you have made and moments of satisfaction that come working with good […]
End of Year — Students
“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” — Henry David Thoreau Dear Students: It’s nearly here. The culmination of another academic year, marked […]
Spring Break
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” — Martin Luther King Jr. Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff: Spring Break is nearly here: a respite from lectures, presentations, papers, and exams. Time for students to set aside the demands of the semester to relax and recharge, reconnect with family and […]
Veterans Day
“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid, they have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.” — Harry S. Truman Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff: Our nation observes Veterans Day to recognize and celebrate the women and men who have […]
Thanksgiving
“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” — Meister Eckhart For many of us, Thanksgiving is a day set aside for food, family, parades, and football — or maybe the Westminster Dog Show. Many will take a moment before dinner to share what we are thankful […]
Remembering the Reformation
“Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.” — Martin Luther Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff: This weekend and next Tuesday mark an important time in the Christian tradition — a time when we remember 500 years since the first beginnings of the Protestant Reformation. Whether we are Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopal, Catholic, […]
Welcome
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff: Good morning, Valpo! Today marks the beginning of a new academic year at Valparaiso University. We gather in this place because we are called to seek Truth, serve generously, and cultivate hope. This […]
Standing by our brothers and sisters — Sept. 6, 2017
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff: On Tuesday the Trump administration announced plans to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on March 5, 2018. Under the current DACA program, recipients must have been under the age of 31 prior to June 15, 2012; have resided in the United States continuously from June 15, […]