Newsletter
march 2024
Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends,
Spring is in the air, and flowers have started to appear all over campus. It’s a beautiful time of year here at Valpo, one I look forward to each year. I hope you have time to enjoy all that Spring has to offer!
March celebrates Women’s History Month, and we bring you a remarkable new Follow the Beacon, which is filled with inspiration and motivation. I am surrounded by exceptional women mentors, teachers, and friends who have inspired me throughout my life. I am thankful every day for their wisdom!
Lori Miltenberger ’92, ’95 M.A.
Director | Career and Alumni Network
Follow the Beacon
The Trailblazer
Jeanette Gray ‘03, ’09 M.Ed.
If you spend any amount of time with Jeanette Gray ’03, ’09 M.Ed., you’ll walk away feeling inspired to dream bigger than you thought imaginable and ready to chase after your lifelong goals. Life after Valpo has been nothing short of remarkable for Gray, who was a student-athlete and mechanical engineering major, and helped lead her team to the first NCAA tournament in Valpo Women’s Basketball history.
Upcoming Events
2024 Institute of Liturgical Studies
April 9 through April 11, 2024
Various Locations on Campus | Valparaiso University
We will seek to better understand how consumer culture impacts liturgical life. How might that impact be countered through careful curating of the church’s liturgical theology? We will also seek practical guidance for what we, as church practitioners, might learn positively from those who work to drive consumer desires in the marketplace.
Valpo in the D.M.V.
June 8, 2024 | Social 2:50 p.m., Game time 4:05 p.m. EDT
Nationals Park | Washington D.C.
Cheer on the home team, but wear your brown & gold! Join Valpo alumni, students, and friends at Washington Nationals Ballpark! Prior to the game, we are excited to offer private access to the ballpark’s Left Field Lodge. Space is limited.
Upcoming Episodes
April 9, 2024 | 7:00 p.m.
Special Edition of Hilda’s Kitchen | Virtual
Valpo Day edition with special Guild guests Lindsay Roettger ‘16 and Sylvia Luekens ’62!
April 30, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
Hilda’s Kitchen | Virtual via Zoom
Cookies for Finals
Click here for
recipe cards
and photos!
Caroline and David met on the first day of classes in their Christ College freshman program discussion class. They began to spend time together outside of classes and started dating six weeks into that first semester. The rest is history!
Click here to Uncover caroline & David’s Full Love Story!
Your tale of love may have begun on our picturesque campus, or perhaps you reconnected after graduation – no matter how your journey began, we want to hear about it!
Campus Connection
Become a Torchbearer on Valpo Day!
As we gear up for Valpo Day on April 9th, we're excited to invite you to become a part of something truly special.
Keep an eye on the action by visiting our event page and keeping updated on the day's festivities.
Click the button below to keep up with all the fun!
Together, let's light the way for future generations of Beacons and make Valpo Day one to remember!
11th Annual Collegiate Robotic Football Conference (CRFC) National Championship Tournament
April 13, 2024 | 9:30 a.m. CDT
Athletics Recreation Center (ARC) | Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University invites the community to watch a football game like no other as it hosts the 11th annual Collegiate Robotic Football Conference (CRFC) National Championship Tournament on Friday, April 13, 2024 at the Athletic Recreation Center. This event is free and open to the public.
Valpo is proud to give students ways to succeed through alternate paths, and finding football victory through robotics is one of those ways. As the winners of the 2022 and 2023 tournaments, Valpo will defend their streak against schools such as University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, Penn State York, Ohio Northern University and more.
Rising from the Ashes
On the afternoon of Friday, April 29, 2022, the Valparaiso University campus suffered a tragic fire that destroyed the Art-Psychology Building and caused extensive damage to both Dickmeyer and Heidbrink Hall. These buildings were a significant piece of the Valpo campus landscape and held deep significance for those who studied, created, and learned within their walls. For the safety of all, these buildings are set for demolition this spring. In memory and recognition of these significant buildings, we want to acknowledge their meaningful place in Valparaiso University's history.
Class Notes
We heard you! Many of you told us you'd love to have a place to read the submitted class notes we receive. We're pleased to let you know that we have now added this to our website! Now, you can submit your own notes about your announcements and accomplishments AND read all about those of your fellow Beacons as well.
Check it out at alumni.valpo.edu/classnotes. We can’t wait to hear from you!
As a student in the Civil Engineering Department, I became active in the Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. I was president of the Chapter and spent time organizing Chapter Programs. I arranged for the General Counsel of the Perini Corporation to lecture the chapter members on the relationship of Engineering and the Law. This program led to my attending Brooklyn Law School after graduation from Valpo and to my career as an Attorney specializing in Construction Contract Law. As a PE and Lawyer, I also spent twenty-five years as the Director of Construction Contract Administration for the State of New York.
- Victor Arthur Huggard '62
Athletics
Whether at home or away, join us at an upcoming athletics event and cheer on our Beacons!
Click Here for the All Sports Calendar
Cooper Schwieger Named MVC Freshman of the Year
Valparaiso University men’s basketball freshman Cooper Schwieger's stellar season earned him well-deserved recognition at the Missouri Valley Conference’s awards night. The Valpo rookie was presented with the league’s Freshman of the Year Award, as announced at the Missouri Valley Conference Awards Banquet in St. Louis during the Arch Madness men’s basketball conference tournament.
Staff Feature
Welcome Christine Radtke!
Last week, the Office of Advancement welcomed a brand-new team member! Christine Radtke joins Valparaiso University as the newly appointed Assistant Vice President of Development.
Radtke comes to Valpo with a deep fundraising and higher education background and explains how the mission inspired her to pursue a career here. “Being from the southwest suburbs of Chicago, I always knew about Valpo,” Radtke says. “The mission and vision of the University really drew me here. There is an opportunity here to take a phenomenal organization and really move it to an irresistible destination, which is very exciting.”
Favorite Ice cream
Vanilla with caramel sauce and crunch topping!
Favorite Movie
Serendipity
fun fact
I was an all-state softball pitcher in high school!
Furry Friends
We have one little dog named Fluffy!
Views from Valpo
Love was in the air at the ARC! At the pregame Senior Day Ceremony, Jerome Palm, Valpo men’s basketball player, proposed to his girlfriend, Chloe. She said YES!
Return to Valpo within three
years of graduation to earn your
GRADUATE DEGREE
and receive a 30% tuition scholarship*!
Accelerate Your Career: A graduate degree will equip you with advanced skills and knowledge that set you apart in the competitive job market
Financial Advantage: When you return to Valpo to complete your graduate degree within three years of graduation, you will *receive 30% off of your tuition on all non-doctoral, on-campus programs.
Customize Your Path: Choose from a diverse range of graduate programs tailored to meet your specific career goals. Valpo has 30+ grad programs to choose from.
Quick Links
Valparaiso University Career & Alumni Network
1509 Chapel Drive | Valparaiso, IN 46383 United States
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