On the Road for Principia Today Tour
It’s been terrific to be out on the road for the Principia Today Tour this past month. School Principal Travis Brantingham, College Dean of Academics Joe Ritter, and I spent three weekends connecting with Principia friends and alumni in Southern and Northern California and Denver, Colorado, sharing updates about all levels of Principia and giving a glimpse of all the good happening. We look forward to continuing the tour in Connecticut and Boston the weekend of April 25.
At one of the California events, the attendees spanned from a one-and-half-year-old future Principian to a 90-something alum who was recruited to attend Principia in the 1930s by founder Mary Kimball Morgan and Mr. Freddie, her son. The alum recalled the Morgans visiting her church in Ohio and speaking to her family. At the end of the conversation, she said, “I want to go.” And she did!
I’m not sure the 18-month-old was quite ready (or able) to say, “I want to go,” but you never know when a future Principian will decide to grab hold of the limitless opportunities available on our campuses. We are always eager to welcome new students ready for the transformative learning experiences offered at Principia.
I’m grateful that I was able to be back on the College campus last week when educator and human-rights campaigner Ziauddin Yousafzai visited as our Ernie and Lucha Vogel Moral Courage Speaker. Mr. Yousafzai described his time at Principia College as “one of my most unforgettable days.” He spoke to students in classes and joined a group of students and faculty for dinner, noting that our campus reminded him of his home in the Swat Valley of his native Pakistan, where he can no longer live safely after peacefully resisting the Taliban’s efforts to shut down schools there.
“Principia College is like a paradise,” Yousafzai said in his talk. “If you don’t learn here, I don’t think you’ll ever be able to learn anywhere else.” He closed his talk with a dramatic statement of the importance of education. “If you don’t learn, we will perish,” he said earnestly.
In return, our students asked Yousafzai to pass along their genuine love and appreciation for his daughter, Malala, the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner who has raised her voice to promote educational rights for girls worldwide.
The School starts spring break at the end of this week. And the Upper School Jazz Band will be heading west for this year’s Arts on Tour, taking place this weekend in Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. If you are in the area, you won’t want to miss the impressive instrumental and vocal performances as well as an exhibit of artwork by current Upper School students.
It’s been terrific to have playwright Russell Davis on the College campus this semester as this year’s Annenberg Visiting Scholar. He is teaching a writing course and giving workshops. After spring break, the 66th annual student-run Public Affairs Conference will take place at the College March 26–28, focusing on social entrepreneurship.
The first weekend in April brings the Upper School production of Bye Bye Birdie to Ridgway Auditorium. Tickets are on sale now. Join us, if you can.
My wife, Sue, and I are looking forward to traveling with 14 Upper School juniors and seniors on a spring break trip to Israel. We will be learning Bible lessons while taking in the sights spanning from the three Mideast seas—the Dead Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea. I look forward to the insights and inspiration.
It’s hiring season in the education world. The School and College each have faculty and staff positions available. Please check out our current job postings and encourage qualified candidates to apply. Principia depends on the extraordinary Christian Scientists who help our students embrace lifelong learning and character unfoldment. We always appreciate your help in spreading the word about current opportunities to join in the remarkable work of Principia.