If you were to ask Jazzy Soria-Gonzalez ’28 to sum up her first year at Valparaiso University in one word, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear her respond with “eventful.” As a freestyle swimmer for the Valpo women’s swim team and a double major in Spanish and marketing, having an eventful first year of college […]
Category: Admission Ready
A Beacon’s Reflection | Yingxin (Grace) Zhang ’25
When I first arrived in America, I was a forty-year-old college freshman, a military spouse, and an immigrant from Changchun, China. Adjusting to a new culture wasn’t easy. Not being able to work, I found purpose through volunteer work with the American Red Cross and a local church. Every day, I would ride my bike […]
TOP SPOTS TO TAKE A PHOTO ON YOUR CAMPUS TOUR
Visiting Valpo sometime soon? Do you (or your parents!) want to snap photos to show your friends and family which colleges you’ve been touring? Want to post pictures on your feed with cool backgrounds that make you look good? I got you covered! Here are the top photo op spots on Valpo’s campus from a […]
UTILIZING ZEEMEE IN YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH
Hey all! My name is McKenzie and I’m a senior here at Valpo studying environmental engineering. Reflecting back on when I was going through the college search process four years ago (how has it already been that long?!), I had a hard time making personal connections with the schools I was looking at. Tours of […]
A Beacon of Hope: Transfer Student Manny Calleros ’25, ’27 Embraces the Valpo Difference
Every student’s path to Valparaiso University is as unique as they are, and for Manny Calleros ‘25, ‘27, that journey began as a transfer student after serving for over 15 years as a first responder. Continuing his calling to help others, he is currently wrapping up his first year in Valpo’s Physician Assistant Program. Taking […]
A Day in My Life as an Orientation Assistant
My experience as an orientation assistant (OA) is something that I will cherish forever. As a future educator, I strive for opportunities to work with students, and this happened to be the perfect job for that. During FOCUS days, I would wake up at 6 a.m. and be ready to go by 6:30 a.m. We […]
Outcomes in Action: Daniel Owens ’23
When alumnus Daniel Owens ’23 thinks back to his childhood career dreams, there’s quite a few that come to mind: chef, movie star, musician, and professional soccer player (running not included). While Dan cultivated each of those passions during his time at Valpo — and has continued to do so every day since — it […]
A Calling Made Clear in the Capital
From her hometown of Lake Station, Indiana, to the halls of Valparaiso University, to the bustling streets of Washington D.C., Kayla Smith’s ’24 journey is one of discovery, resilience, and unwavering commitment to her dreams. “I’ve always wanted to help people who are in need, so I thought criminal justice would be the perfect route. […]
Valpo Student Shares Faith, Fellowship, and Service in Sweetwine Music Ministry
When Fox Wilmot ’24 first came to Valpo, he already understood faith and service to be the foundation of his journey forward. The oldest brother of four, with youth ministry experience back home in Laurel, Maryland, he was no stranger to responsibility or leadership — two strong qualities that only continued to flourish when he […]
What Current College Students Wish They Knew When Choosing a College
Let’s admit it: deciding what college you want to attend can be very stressful. You have a lot on your mind already during senior year. You are probably about to move away from home and be on your own, celebrating your last year in high school with friends, taking finals and AP exams, and so […]