Calvin-Parents E-Newsletter: May 4, 2010

Tennis champs, track and field rankings

The Calvin women’s tennis team is NCAA III Tournament bound! The Knights earned that right with a 6-3 win over Hope in the MIAA Tournament Championship final on Saturday, clinching their first MIAA title since 1982. At 18-3 overall, Calvin will be making its first trip to the NCAA III Tournament. Junior Kaitlin Spoelhof joins her mom as an MIAA champ.  Spoelhof, who starts at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles, has had family members play tennis at Calvin dating nearly 60 years.

The Calvin women’s track and field team has risen to the number-one spot in the most recent Division III National Rankings released this morning by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Junior Rachel Boerner has become Calvin's first NCAA Division III indoor track and field champion. 

Read more sports-related news...

MIAA tennis tribute

As Calvin junior tennis player Matthew DeVlieger continues his physical rehabilitation in Florida from a December 2009 scuba diving accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down, his former teammates and foes have organized a special fundraising tribute for him that took place at last weekend's MIAA tennis championships. Andrew DeVlieger, Matthew's twin brother and lifelong doubles partner, joined forces with Hope College tennis coach Steve Gorno to create a T-shirt that all seven MIAA teams wore on Friday, April 30, the first day of the MIAA tourney. The text on the back includes the words: "It is not the color of our uniform that defines us because, in the game of life, we are all on the same team. It is only in our capacity to love, the depth of our faith, and the magnitude of our commitment to others that we find the true measure of who we are." The shirt was for sale on Thursday, April 29, at Johnny's, Calvin's on-campus coffee shop and continues to be available via Facebook. All proceeds from the shirt sales will go towards medical expenses that the DeVlieger family is incurring as Matt recovers.

Student treats...deadlines today and next week!

Help your hard-working student jump-start spring exams with confidence. The Spring Exam Treat ($20) features a reusable tote box filled with study snacks and treats (popcorn, candy, granola bars, etc.). The order deadline for this treat is TODAY, Tuesday, May 4, by midnight; the treat will be delivered to students on Monday, May 10. Remember that you can also surprise your student with one or all of the special occasion or "Anytime" treats.  Monday, May 10, is the last day for delivery of an  "Anytime" Student Treat (Birthday Treat, Hugs from Home, Pizza & Movie), so orders need to be in soon. 

Thank you for supporting the treats program this year!

Clean and Pack Day, May 12

In an effort to encourage students to clean their room and start organizing their items for moving out of the residence halls, the residence life staff is setting aside Wednesday, May 12, from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m., as a "Clean and Pack Day."  Front desks will be stocked with cleaning supplies, packing boxes, and packing tape.  RAs will be available to help unstack beds, open the Trunk Room and answer questions about the checkout process.  Students can get a jump on their cleaning and packing, making the exam week a bit calmer and less stressful.  Planning ahead particularly helps students with Wednesday exams, as the residence halls close on Thursday morning at 10 a.m.  For all sorts of helpful information on the check-out process, including information on housing for students who need more time, and other frequently asked questions, visit our check-out information pages.

Colorado family, friends and alumni

Join the Colorado Chapter of the Calvin Alumni Association on May 15 for "A Case Study in Democracy," a talk by Dr. Mark Fackler, Calvin professor of communication ethics and African studies.  We’ll also have fun with a “Calvin Jeopardy” game, and director of alumni, parent and community relations Mike Van Denend will bring us the latest Calvin news. 

Join the Rocky Mountain Calvin College alumni & friends Facebook page to stay connected!

Goldwater scholar

Cheri Ackerman, a 21-year-old junior biochemistry and Spanish major, is the latest Calvin student to earn a Goldwater Scholarship from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. The Holland, Mich., native is working with Calvin chemistry professor Eric Arnoys on Galectin-3,  a protein linked to various cancers and also to cellular processes both inside and outside the nucleus of the cell. She is currently studying in Spain through Calvin's semester program. (You can read a blog from that semester in Spain.) After Calvin, she's planning on graduate school in biochemistry; Ackerman wants to work on interdisciplinary teams researching infectious diseases.

Three other Calvin students landed in the Goldwater Honorable Mention category this year: Junior biology and Spanish major Jacob John Baker, sophomore chemistry major Lauren Elizabeth Manck, and senior mathematics and computer science major Ethan Van Andel.  Read more on this story.

Breakfast for Parents of Graduates tickets

Join President Byker and other Calvin guests for a special Commencement weekend event, the Breakfast for Parents of Graduates, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., on Commencement morning in the Prince Conference Center.  The keynote speaker is professor of communication arts and sciences Judith Vander Woude, recipient of the Presidential Award for Exemplary Teacher in 2008. 

Seating for this event is limited to 300 parents; order your tickets ($15) online today or call the box office at 616-526-6282. Tickets will be on sale until May 14 and will be mailed directly to the parents' home.  See the Commencement site for more information and the full event schedule.

Gifts for Commencement

To make your Commencement celebration as simple and enjoyable as possible, the Campus Store and a number of partnering businesses offer special memorabilia and gifts (photos, flowers, Prism yearbooks, rings, nursing pins...) for Calvin graduates and their parents. Visit the Commencement gifts page for more information about all that is offered. 

We'll see you for Commencement on Saturday, May 22, 2010!

News in brief, photos

Calvin history professor William Katerberg believes that extremism is a normal part of America's cultural fabric. Read the story, which includes his thoughts on the Tea Party movement.

Geology, geography and environmental studies professor Henk Aay has earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study documentary films about the Netherlands in the Netherlands. A native of that country, Aay has been researching Dutch language and culture for 25 years.

Did you see the link above for the "semester in spain 2010" blog? 

Have you seen photos from Sharpie Day or any from the Roving WebCam from this year?  What about photos from the 20th annual Calvin 5k Run/Walk and Karen Muyskens Family Fun Run that was held on campus on April 24?

Check the Parent Calendar for important dates

Bookmark the Parent Calendar page to keep track of important dates throughout the year, including:
Monday, May 10:  Friday class schedule in effect
Wednesday, May 12: Classes end 10 p.m., Clean and Pack Day (see information, above)
Thursday, May 13: Reading Recess (no classes)
Friday, May 14: Exams begin 9 a.m.
Wednesday, May 19: Exams end 10 p.m.
Thursday, May 20: Residence halls close at 10 a.m. (for students with Wednesday exams or special permission only)
Students, other than graduates, must move out of residence halls 24 hours after their last exam. If a resident student has difficulty meeting this requirement she/he should contact their Resident Director to discuss alternate arrangements.
Thursday, May 20 - Saturday, May 22: Commencement activities
Saturday, May 22: Commencement ceremony, 2 p.m.

Apr. 30 - May 8: Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition in the Center Art Gallery (Reception April 30, 6 - 8 p.m.)
May 7 & 8: Capella with Grand Rapids Symphony and Symphony Chorus in Grand Rapids, Mich.
May 8: Engineering Senior Design Projects and Banquet
May 8: Calvin Orchestra concert
May 13-22: Bachelor of Arts Exhibition in the Center Art Gallery (Reception May 21, 6 - 8 p.m.)
May 15: River City Improv performing at Ladies Literary Club in Grand Rapids, Mich.
May 15: Prof. Mark Fackler speaking in Colorado
May 20: Nursing Pinning Ceremony in the Chapel---this link also gives information about buying a pin
May 21 & 22: Commencement weekend