Calvin-Parents E-Newsletter: November 24, 2009

Sports recap

The Calvin men's soccer team is headed to the Final Four for the first time in school history. The Knights advanced to the national semifinal with a 4-3 shootout victory over Transylvania Saturday night in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The game finished in a 1-1 double-overtime tie with Transylvania scoring a late second half goal to tie the game at one. In the shootout, Calvin junior goalkeeper Ryan Bratt came up with three clutch saves with freshman Chris Nance scoring the clinching goal in the shootout.

The top-ranked Calvin women’s cross country team could not overcome an uphill final half-mile in its bid for a national championship on Saturday and took third place.

Calvin College sophomore Rebecca Kamp has added another prestigious honor to her growing mantel of awards as she has been named a first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American in women’s volleyball in the college division.

Happy Thanksgiving from Calvin

The News & Stories pages are currently featuring many Thanksgiving-related news stories and a video.  You can read an essay by communication arts and sciences professor Brian Fuller about hospitality as pedagogy.  In other words, he likes to invite students over to share a meal.  You can watch a video that features folks across campus and what they are giving thanks for Thanksgiving 2009. There are also Thanksgiving memories and recipes available, too.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (KJV)
"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."

About Calvin

The About Calvin Web site, located off the main Calvin Web site, highlights important information about Calvin College including:

• Facts and a college profile
• John Calvin's biographical information
• Calvin's mission and promise
• What makes Calvin unique...
• Location and community
• Majors and programs
• Calvin's history and church connections
• Featured student profiles

Alumni Association scholarships

The Calvin Alumni Association offers eight $1200 Service Scholarships to students who have been active in volunteer work on and off campus where payment for services has been minimal or non-existent and no course credit has been earned.  Current sophomores and juniors with minimum 2.5 GPA are encouraged to apply.  Applications and references are due on Tuesday, January 12.  Complete award description and application form are available.  You may also contact the alumni office directly (alumni@calvin.edu).

Student treat for winter exams

The end of the semester is just over a month away, and the next student treat offered will help your student get through exams.  The Winter Exam Treat features a reusable storage box filled with tasty goodies and supplies. The order deadline is Wednesday, December 2; the treat will be delivered to on-campus students on Tuesday, December 8. (This treat is included in the "Year of Treats" packages.  Parents, please remember that these treats are delivered to the residence hall reception desk and not to the dorm room.  Students need to retrieve the treat card from their dorm mailbox and pick up their treat from their dorm reception desk). 

Remember, you can surprise your student with the popular Pizza and a Movie treat ($25), which can be ordered anytime and often. This treat features a certificate for a large two-topping pizza, a bag of popcorn, and a Blockbuster® gift card!  If you have any questions, you can contact Sue in parent relations (parents@calvin.edu or 616-526-6142).

Prince Conference Center

The Prince Conference Center (PCC) at Calvin, with 69 guests rooms and suites, features deluxe hotel accommodations for Calvin parents and guests, including a free continental breakfast.  The PCC also provides facilities and service for conferences, meetings, wedding receptions, and other special events.  Calvin parents receive a special rate on guest rooms; be sure to identify yourself as a Calvin parent when making a room reservation and checking in.  Also, during the holiday season, the PCC is providing a special holiday rate to Calvin parents (amount soon to be determined).  Be sure to mention the holiday rate when making a reservation (866-526-7200).

Photo galleries

A bake sale, the installation of Mary Hulst as the new chaplain, a geology lab trip to the gypsum mines.  You can see photos from these events on the Roving WebCam photo gallery from November 22, 2009.  There are many more galleries from sports, alumni events and random student activities, like the Dance Guild event (at right), all found on the gallery pages.

If you ever want to check on the weather on campus, or see who's on the climbing wall,  visit the WebCams which feature live pictures from various spots around campus.

Events for alumni, friends and families

Bookmark the alumni events calendar to keep track of important dates throughout the year, to which you are warmly invited, as a parent, alumni and/or friend of the college.  More information is found there for each of the following events:

December 5: Christmas at the Campus Store
December 10: Judy Collins concert on campus

Check the Parent Calendar for important dates

Bookmark the Parent Calendar page to keep track of important dates throughout the year, including:
 
Nov. 25: Last day to drop second-half semester courses; Last day to change second-half semester courses from credit to audit.  Thanksgiving recess begins 5 p.m; residence halls remain open during break.
Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Day (U.S.)
Nov. 30: Classes resume 8 a.m.
Dec. 1: Miscellaneous charges payment due (1st of each month)
Dec. 11: Classes end 10 p.m.
Dec. 12: Reading Recess
Dec. 14: Exams begin 9 a.m.
Dec. 18: Exams end & Christmas break begins 10 p.m.
Dec. 19: On-campus housing closes at 10 a.m.