Classics professor Ken Bratt captures Calvin's top accolades
 After 30 years in the classroom, teaching is still a thrill for Calvin College classics professor Ken Bratt, the 2006 winner of the college's Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching. "Seeing the lights go on for a student is an amazing thing," says Bratt, who is the 14th winner of Calvin's top teaching honor -- dating back to the award's inception in 1993 -- and will receive a one-of-a-kind medallion and a significant financial stipend from the George B. and Margaret K. Tinholt Endowment Fund.
Calvin Board sets budget for 2006-2007 academic year
At its February 2006 meeting, the Calvin Board of Trustees approved the 2006-2007 budget, including new rates for tuition, fees and room & board. The overall Calvin budget for 2006-2007 is $86 million, 86.5% of which is received from tuition, fees and room & board. Tuition and fees for 2006-2007 will be $20,470, while room & board will be $7,040, for a total of $27,510. These costs represent an overall increase of 6.9 percent. Calvin's tuition and fees remain very competitive when compared to many peer institutions, such as leading members of the CCCU, MIAA, and other noted liberal arts colleges with whom Calvin is compared. The pattern of cost increases at these institutions is also very similar. Calvin's tuition, fees and room & board charges continue to be lower than the national average for four-year private colleges. Presently these expenses at Calvin are $2,000 below the national average for four-year, private colleges.
Two Calvin seniors selected for Teach America
 Two Calvin seniors have been accepted to join the elite cadre of students recruited by Teach for America to teach for two years in classrooms in the urban and rural U.S. Following their May graduations, Teressa Ribbens and Matt Bloem will join the 3,500 Teach for America corps members teaching in 1,000 schools in 22 regions of the country. The students recruited by the organization have an average grade point average of 3.5 and that that 93% of them have held leadership positions on campus. In addition only 17% of Teach America applicants were accepted in 2005.Teach for America places its recruits in the nation's lowest income communities, both urban and rural, in an effort to close the achievement gap between economically advantaged and disadvantaged children. Read more in the media release on the Media Relations Web site.
Professor Dave Warners receives award from Michigan Campus Compact
 Calvin biology professor Dave Warners is being honored by the Michigan Campus Compact with a Faculty/Staff Community Service-Learning Award, the highest MCC honor. In recent years Professor Warners has led a number of interesting projects at Calvin that connect the natural environment of the campus to various courses in the sciences. In 2004 he organized a group of Calvin students who explored the possible options for processing organic wastes at Calvin. Read more about this award at the Media Relations Web site.
Service-Learning Center (formerly KIDS, SVS) celebrates 40 years
 The Service-Learning Center is celebrating its 40 year anniversary. The Service-Learning Center began in 1965 as a student run organization called KIDS (Kindling Intellectual Desire in Students) and then became SVS (Student Volunteer Services).  Today the Service-Learning Center has two full-time directors, one administrative assistant, 13 student staff members, and maintains many relationships with local agencies and helps faculty incorporate service-learning in academic classes. Alumni and friends are invited to help us celebrate with dinner, dessert and a program at the Prince Conference Center on March 9, 2006 at 6:00 pm. Cost for this event is $15. Contact Janelle at slc@calvin.edu to register.
Calvin Women's Chorale in Ohio: March 4-5
 The Calvin Women's Chorale and baritone soloist Dr. Keith Brautigam will present a concert in downtown Cleveland on Saturday, March 4 and lead worship at Willard (OH) Christian Reformed Church on Sunday morning, March 5. For more information visit the Music Department Web site.
Spring break trips and tours planned: March 17-26
 Calvin's spring break is scheduled for March 17-26. The Capella, Calvin's concert choir, will be on a spring tour with concerts in Chicago, IL, Milwaukee, WI, Minneapolis, MN and Prinsburg, MN. Visit the Music Department Web site for more details about Capella's spring tour itinerary. Additionally, student service-learning trips are being planned for March to Houma, LA; Jackson, MS; Chicago, IL; Rehoboth, NM; Kansas City, MO; Port Gibson, MS; Knoxville, TN; and Boston, MA.
Conference: Festival of Faith and Writing - April 20-22
 Calvin's Festival of Faith and Writing is a biennial conference that brings together writers, editors, publishers, musicians, artists, and readers for three days of discussing and celebrating insightful writing that explores, in some significant way, issues of faith. The upcoming Festival features Marilynne Robinson, Salman Rushdie, Alice McDermott, Mary Gordon, Don Miller, Lauren Winner, Michael Card, and many more. No matter what your literary interests, the 2006 Festival has a track for you, featuring writers in every imaginable genre. If you are intrigued by how faith informs art, or if you simply need a few days to celebrate the joy of words, then you should consider attending! Online registration is available; the deadline is Monday, March 20. For information visit the Festival Web site.
Calvin Distinctive #4: Promising Futures
 A Calvin education is the foundation for a successful life calling. Through the development of essential character, knowledge and skills, Calvin helps students understand God's world, discover their unique gifts and excel in vocations of meaning and purpose. Calvin provides an excellent foundation for students to pursue graduate studies. A study of the number of scholars earning doctoral degrees reveals that Calvin ranks first in the nation among master's degree-granting institutions for total amount of graduates receiving doctoral degrees, and 22nd when compared with over 1,000 similar private colleges.
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The Calvin men's and women's basketball teams both received at-large bids to the NCAA III Tournament this past Sunday night. The Calvin men will participate in a four-team regional hosted by Hope at the DeVos Fieldhouse on Friday and Saturday, March 3 and 4. Calvin (22-6) will face Wisconsin-LaCrosse in a first round game at 6:00 pm (EST) Friday night with Hope (26-2) taking on Wisconsin-Lutheran (14-14) in the game to follow (approximately 8:00 pm). Friday's winners will meet in regional final Saturday at 7:00 pm at the DeVos Fieldhouse. Official brackets with dates and pairings are available on the NCAAsports.com and D3hoops.com web sites. 
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