Calvin-Parents E-Newsletter: March 23, 2010

Spring break updates

So many students are traveling for and with the college on their spring break. They will be visiting 23 states and one Canadian province.  Please continue to pray for safe travels and welcome them if you see them in your town!  Here's a reminder of what groups are where, with links to any available blogs and photos:

Several Worship Apprentices (WA) are on two different tours to each coast (British Columbia/Washington, New Jersey/Washington DC area) to lead worship and teach workshops in schools and churches.  Worship Apprentices will also be in Ann Arbor, Mich., to lead worship at the University of Michigan Chapel as part of preparation for Holy Week.  See the alumni calendar for the listing of these events taking place from March 21 through March 26.  Here is a link to the WA blog from the road.

The students that signed up to go on service-learning trips will be working around the country (in Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia) as part of a long tradition of service-learning trips sponsored by the Service-Learning Center.   Read a recent News & Stories feature on service-learning trip mentors.

Three music ensembles are on tour.

• The Wind Ensemble will be in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin from March 20-28, 2010.
  
• Capella will be in Florida, Georgia and Indiana from March 20-28, 2010.   [See photos from their trip so far.]
• The Women's Chorale will be in Troy, Michigan on April 24 and 25, 2010.

Many sports teams will be traveling south to train and compete during break. 

• The women's track and field team and the men's track and field team will be going to Gulf Shores, Alabama, competing in Tennessee on the way.  One of the coaches is writing a blog about this trip.
• The softball team will be in Tucson, Arizona, and the baseball team will be in Vero Beach, Florida.
• The men's tennis team and women's tennis team will be in Orlando, Florida, and men's golf is going to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

The schedules of each sport are found on the respective team pages (as linked above).  However, bookmark the sports site which is always the best source of information about all these teams and the latest news from competition.  Speaking of the latest sports news...

Sports news: women's basketball

Calvin College freshman Carissa Verkaik has been named the Division III Freshman of the Year in women’s basketball by d3hoops.com.  A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Verkaik has also been named to the d3hoops.com All-America third team. Also, Verkaik was named the Great Lakes Region Freshman of the Year by d3hoops.com.  She joins Lisa Winkle (2006 honorable mention, 2007 third team) as the only d3hoops.com All-Americans in Calvin women’s basketball history.

And more sports news...

Sports news: softball

It’s safe to say that Shelby Mast won't forget Monday’s season opener against the Cardinals of Otterbein College. The contest not only marked the the collegiate debut for Mast,  who graduated from high school last spring, but also she threw a no-hitter in a 7-2 Calvin victory. In seven innings of work against Otterbein, Mast struck out nine batters and walked one.

In the process of posting this impressive statistic, she handed her coach, Sharon DeKleine, her first victory at Calvin.

Calvin Spring Classic to run again!

Everyone can get in on the fun when the 20th annual Calvin 5k Run/Walk and the Karen Muyskens Family Fun Run hits campus on April 24, 2010.  There will be a new USAT&F-approved course with start and finish lines near the new Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex. The Grand Rapids and Lakeshore area alumni chapters of the Calvin Alumni Association host this race. Because of our generous corporate sponsors, all entry fees go toward student scholarships!  Sign up today [online registration].

Help spread the word!

Alumni who want to ReCommend Calvin College to a high school student can go to www.calvin.edu/go/recommend and fill out a brief form that summarizes the conversation with that student. Those who do so will get a coffee card that gives the alum a free latte the next time they are on campus. They also will be registered for a drawing for Calvin books, tickets and clothing.

Check the Parent Calendar for important dates

Bookmark the Parent Calendar page to keep track of important dates throughout the year, including:

Mar. 29:  Spring break ends 8 a.m.; residence halls open at 12 noon on March 28; Second-half semester courses begin
Apr. 1: Miscellaneous charges payment due (1st of each month)
Apr. 2: Good Friday; no classes
Apr. 5: Last day to add second-half semester courses
Apr. 9: Last day to drop full semester courses; last day to change full semster courses from credit to audit
Apr. 20: Tuition, room & board payment due
Apr. 21: Honors Convocation 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 27-28: Academic Advising (no classes scheduled)
Apr. 29: Registration for Fall 2010 begins
Apr. 30: Last day to drop second-half semester courses; last day to change second-half semester courses from credit to audit

News & Stories from campus

As always, check out a wealth of great stories on the News & Stories site.

Mar. 20-28: Spring break: see the information below on the Calvin-sponsored trips, and where you'll be able to find the students that are traveling on those trips
Mar. 27: Elmer Yazzie at Tucson Museum of Art
Mar. 27: River City Improv in Southern California
Mar. 29 - Apr. 24: Center Art Gallery exhibition: "The Unguarded Moment"
Apr. 1: Noontime Series: "Behold the Lamb of God: Music and Art for Holy Week"
Apr. 10: River City Improv performing at Ladies Literary Club in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Apr. 15-17: Festival of Faith & Writing - see information below about registration deadline!
Apr. 24: Calvin 5k Spring Classic and Karen Muyskens Family Fun Run