Newsletter
MAY 2024
Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends,
April is perhaps one of the busiest months on campus because it is filled with celebrations, banquets, and moments spent with friends before summer departure, culminating in the May Commencement Ceremony. Watching and participating in those moments and remembering all the feelings associated with these life transitions is truly a joy.
We had a glorious Valpo Day, during which our students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends came together to celebrate our Valpo Family. Thank you to all of you who watched our events from afar, participated on social media, and gave to one of the various funds or campus organizations to continue to ensure Valpo's legacy for generations to come.
Have a great summer,
Lori Miltenberger ’92, ’95 M.A.
Director | Career and Alumni Network
Follow the Beacon
A Great Teammate
Chip Pettit '96
Chip began his career as a teacher and coach before becoming a principal and now superintendent at Duneland School Corporation. He says, “I enjoy supporting kids, both directly with teaching and coaching and indirectly as a principal and superintendent. Pettit says he lives by the quote, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
read more
Student Spotlight
Click the photos below to read the student spotlights from Valpo Stories!
Kayla Smith ’24
Kayla’s dreams began to take shape in the nation's capital as she interned with the United States Marshals Service, delving into the complexities of asset forfeiture and cryptocurrency. The experience was not only professionally enriching but personally transformative.
Engineering Students work with NASA
Valparaiso University was selected as one of eight university teams to work with NASA and the U.S. military to improve their small satellite proposals, providing students with systems engineering training for spacecraft development.
CONHP Studies Abroad
This year, the College of Nursing and Health Professions offered trips to Thailand, Costa Rica, and Morocco to allow students to experience different cultures, learn from those educational systems, and understand the importance of empathy in health care.
Campus Connection
look at what you made
possible!
2,587
total donors
$1,180,365
total raised
437
First-time donors
Get To Know
the
CLASS OF 2024
569 undergraduate studies
300 graduate studies
110 first-generation students
869 NEW ALUMNI!
Words of Encouragement
For the incoming class
Send well wishes and advice to the incoming class of Valpo students, parents, and loved ones! Whether you were a student-athlete, participated in Fraternity/Sorority Life, held other leadership roles on campus, participated in the arts, or just loved your time at Valpo -- sharing your thoughts with others following in your footsteps will make them feel right at home. We'll share your words of wisdom with the incoming class in the fall!
Submit words of encouragement
Views from Valpo
Valpo hosted 150 engineering students from the University of Notre Dame, Ohio Northern University, Calvin University, the United States Naval Academy, Catholic University of America, and Trine University for the Robotic Football Conference National Championship on Saturday, April 13, 2024, where Valpo Robotics placed third overall.
Kim Wagner '84 Barnett and Thomas Barnett '84 met at the freshman mixer their first night on campus. That weekend, Kim asked Thomas to accompany her to the Indiana Dunes outing - she knew right then that she would marry this man.
Click here to Uncover Kim & Thomas’ 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!
Upcoming Events
2024 Valpo Athletics Coaches Bus Tour
June 5, 2024 | 8:45 a.m CDT
Aberdeen Manor | 216 Ballantrae St. | Valparaiso, IN 46385
Valpo Athletics will host its second annual “Coaches Bus Tour” on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Please join us at any of the three public stops for access to our head coaches for Q&A, live radio interviews, autographs, and prizes!
Valpo in D.M.V. | Washington Nationals Game
June 8, 2024 | 2:50 P.M. EDT
Nationals Park | Washington, DC
Join Valpo President José Padilla, 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. This area will be all Valpo's to socialize. Space is limited, so register today!
Valpo in Milwaukee | Brewers v. Cubs
June 29, 2024 | 1:40 p.m CDT
American Family Field | Aurora Health Care Bullpen | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Join us in Milwaukee for an exciting day at the ballpark as the Milwaukee Brewers take on their northside rivals, the Chicago Cubs, in a mid-season match-up! Each ticket includes unlimited food service, one alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) drink ticket, and a cash bar. Click here to check out Valpo’s exclusive seating for the game! Register today!
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 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.
I’m Linda, the human component of “Team Tess.” We've earned our PAX 2 and PACH and are so excited that we're going to Westminster on May 11 to compete in the Annual Masters Agility Championship. Tessie just turned nine and loves playing the Game of Agility! It truly is our Happy Place!
- Linda Feldmann '79 Valente
Staff Feature
Get to know...
Luke Whiteman
Assistant Director of Career Services
Q: How long have you worked at Valpo?
A: Currently, I’m in my third year.
Q: What did you want to be when you were little?
A: A paleontologist!
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
A: Meeting with students and alumni about their career journey, learning about their interests, and helping them find an internship or job or to feel prepared for a big interview!
Q: What do you love about Valpo?
A: The students - they are genuinely great human beings and want to form meaningful and lasting relationships with you.
Q: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
A: Ben & Jerry's “The Tonight Dough"
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or favorite book?
A: Game of Thrones
Q: Tell us a fun fact about yourself that people don't know!
A: I studied creative writing as an undergrad and wanted to become an author of fantasy and science fiction novels.
Q: Tell us about your pets!
A: I have two cats named Dillon and Pickles - a fun play on Dill Pickles - but those were their shelter names, so it was a perfect happenstance.
Q: Tell us more about your job! What are some things you do every day?
A: My day-to-day can look drastically different depending on what's going on! Some of the things I frequently do are meet with students and alumni on a variety of career-related topics (resume and/or cover letter review and writing, LinkedIn creation and/or review, major and minor exploration, mock interviews, job and internship search, or even just "what do I want to do with my life?" advising).
I assist many across campus by speaking in classrooms, to student organizations, or student staffs on many of the topics listed previously. I hire, train, and supervise four student employees throughout the academic year. I also assist with the planning and execution of major career events, including the various career fairs, the etiquette dinner, mock interview weeks, semesterly workshops, and much more.
I have launched a pilot program called Valpo GROW (Guided Reflection On Work), which is new this year and acts as a professional development tool for student employees and their supervisors. I am also assisting with the launch of our new resource, Valpo CareerHub, which will be a great tool for our students and alumni. I am co-teaching General Studies 150 this semester with VUCAN director Lori Miltenberger, for the Access College. I also pivot to wherever my team needs me!
Quick Links
Valparaiso University Career & Alumni Network
1509 Chapel Drive | Valparaiso, IN 46383 United States
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