At Valpo, fall and the launch of the academic year signify a time of new beginnings, of opportunity and growth, but also of reflection on what came before and what lies ahead.
On this campus, as we stand on the highest vantage point — the hilltop at the Chapel of the Resurrection — we see vast opportunities for innovation and growth. We see the newly dedicated Center for the Sciences, which fosters opportunities for professors and students to pursue learning and interdisciplinary research, utilize state-of-the art laboratories and scientific equipment, and work together to expand the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields at the University. And we see how alumni like Pam Kreeger ’00 use their foundation in science education from Valpo to lead the way in innovative cancer research.
From that same hilltop, we look across campus and onto our fields, tennis courts, and toward the Athletics-Recreation Center, as Valpo Athletics transitions to the Missouri Valley Conference — navigating new rivalries, rekindling old ones, and building upon its legacy in NCAA Division I athletics. In this issue of VALPO Magazine, you’ll see how Luke Gore ’06 M.S. helps men’s basketball lead the way into this new competitive landscape.
You’ll also learn how our view from the hilltop stands on the firm foundation upon which our University was built. From the highest hilltop — the Chapel — we see how God’s hand built this place and how God has called special people here who laid the cornerstones of that firm foundation and built upon it decade after decade. It’s because of Valpo’s servant leaders — students, faculty, and staff who pursue Truth, serve generously, and cultivate hope — that the University continues to distinguish itself as an educational institution where students seek to become their most excellent selves, all to glorify God.
As you read the pages that follow, I hope you are able to reflect on your own Valpo experience and the foundation it helped lay. We are grateful for people like you who add to the Valpo legacy, which provides a strong foundation for Valpo’s vibrant future.
Enjoy this issue of VALPO and all the opportunities this season brings.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D.
President
Valparaiso University