Fall Semester Wraps Up with Major Successes
Next week brings final exams and the end of another progressive semester. Students at all levels are preparing to share the joy of Christmas through musical performances of all kinds. Our youngest students will be participating in Sugar Plum, a Principia tradition for more than 100 years. The program celebrates the season with a blending of Bible verses and songs that tell the Christmas story through our preschoolers’ voices. It never fails to inspire and draw oohs and aahs from the audience.
The past month has brought significant travel opportunities for me. It began with a quick trip to visit Principia friends in Southern California. We were able to see the work of two Principia College summer interns who implemented significant sustainability initiatives at The Willows, a Christian Science residential community in Laguna Hills.
Later that week, more than 100 alumni and friends—including representatives from 30 organizations—gathered in the Denver area for a networking event. The event featured several breakout sessions focusing on soft skills and career marketing and preparation. The panel of speakers represented sectors as diverse as tourism, information technology, corporate housing, entrepreneurship, and nonprofits.
This was our fifth Principia networking event, and we have enjoyed great turnout at all of them. The sessions have been successful in identifying internships and full-time work opportunities for current students while also supporting alumni of all ages in networking to advance their own careers and companies.
Mid-month I traveled to Minnesota to host a Principia Today event at the Women’s Club in Minneapolis, providing an update on both campuses to a wonderful group of alumni and friends. The audience included prospective Principians, alumni, parents, and friends, and I was joined by a current Upper School senior and a College senior who shared their own inspiring Principia stories.
November was full of visiting weekends on both campuses. Two fully subscribed weekends at the College hosted more than 60 prospective students from around the world (as far away as Australia and Russia). Students enjoyed athletic events, House Olympics, and the College musical, Guys and Dolls. School visiting weekends gave prospective students the opportunity to visit classes, cheer athletic teams, and enjoy the Advanced Theatre Arts variety show and the dance show.
November was also a big month for Principia successes—the boys’ soccer team at the School won the Missouri Class 1 State Championship! This was the first state championship for the soccer program.
In an impressive performance at Drake University, the College's mediation team took top honors in Team Advocacy and placed fifth in Team Mediation at the International Intercollegiate Mediation Championship Tournament. (This is a back-to-back championship performance when combined with last year’s first place in Team Advocacy and second in Team Mediation.) In addition, two of our students joined the ranks of All-American competitors with their showing at the tournament.
The College solar car team was recently ranked sixth on the International Solarcar Federation’s “Global Championship Table.” Not bad for a small, liberal arts school on the bluffs of the Mississippi. In fact, the chart shows us well above the University of Minnesota, the Stanford Solar Car Project, and Oregon State.
Last weekend kicked off the season of Principia Sings around the country. For the next two weeks, this much-loved tradition continues in more than 50 locations from coast to coast. Check the schedule to find an event near you. We’d love to have you join in the singing and celebrations of the season.
Last but not least, my colleagues and I want to thank each and every friend of Principia, alum and non-alum, who so willingly contributed to the great success of this week’s Giving Tuesday campaign. #PrinGivingTuesday marked the first time our institution has participated in this global day of giving—and we were overwhelmed by your generosity. Through individual donations and a generous matching grant, this campaign exceeded its target of $190,000!
I wish each of you a blessed and joyous Christmas season.