Christmas Break Book Club

Last Christmas, we experimented with a Christmas Break Book Club for Scholars.  We all got copies of The Last Lecture, read the book over break, and then got together a couple of times in the Winter Term.  Things that worked well were the book and the initial discussions, but as the term progressed, we found it harder and harder to meet.  So ...

Christmas Break Book Club V 2.0

A Scholars Alumnus sent me the buzzfeed post, 26 books That Will Change The Way You See The World.  Since I am impressed with the ones I have read and the previous book was on the list, we will choose one of these books to read.  Somehow.  Then, students will sign up for the book club and the program will purchase copies of the book for you.  We will read the book over break and have either a Facebook group or a group blog to discuss the book as we read (this is going to depend on if everyone is on Facebook).  We will meet once during the first two weeks of Winter Term and then pass on our books to someone else who we think should read it with the instructions to do likewise.  Alumni are welcome to join us, but they will need to get their own copy of the book and we can't pay to bring you to campus in January.

So, how do you get involved?  Please help us choose a book.  Go to this link or, if it works for you, fill out the form below (they are the same).

2013 Scholars Dinner with President Colson

Every year the students in the program are invited to dinner with the Wartburg College President and his wife at their house.  We all get dressed nicely and walk up the hill.  This year the weather was truly wonderful, the food was great, and the conversation delightful.  We also hope that if you were not able to make it this year, you try to make it in future years.

All Work and No Play?

All Work and No Play is not our Motto

While a bunch of you were at Band Bonding, another group of Scholars participated in a rousing game of Messy Twister.  Thanks to the Scholars Council and Aditi in particular for organizing the fun.

Orange Exceleration - Day 5

We spent this morning's class reviewing computer details and learning a little bit about the Scholars Program, Committees, and something called Scholars Culture Points, which then the students were told they really didn't have to start worrying about until Winter.  We took a picture in front of Old Main and then made sure everyone was ready for class tomorrow.  SCH 101 tomorrow is in Old Main 100(?) at 1:15 PM.  Hope to see you all there.

It is nearly time to start

Faculty workshops start Tuesday, First year students (who aren't here already) move in Friday and the first two classes of SCH 101 are Saturday and Labor Day.  It is once again time for a new school year and I, for one, am excited to get started.

There is a lunch at the Director's house on Friday, partly to give you something to do between hauling your stuff up to the third floor of Clinton and the ceremonial start of Orange Exceleration.  Please RSVP at this page so that we know how many people to plan for.  Everyone who RSVP's will be emailed a map and directions.

The annual President's dinner is Wednesday, September 11, 2013.  Please dress at least business casual.  You are welcome to RSVP either by the Google calendar invitation you were sent or at this page.

News and Information for August 2013

It is almost time for everyone to move back to campus.  This year we have an incoming class of 29 Scholars students.  Dr. Earl and I are teaching the first-year course with a focus on Social Justice.

Scholars Student Council

• Ben Bogard
• Alexia Brewster
• Levi Endelman
• Bob King
• Aditi Patel
• Andra Peeler
• Plus two first year students to be elected in September

Scholars Student Assistant - This is a paid position to assist the first year students with their adjustment to the Wartburg Scholars Program

• Sarah Mullinax

Important Dates

• August 30 - First year students move in
• September 11 - Scholars Dinner with the College President (Please RSVP when you receive your invitation)

Questions for our new First Year Students

We are starting to get ready for students to arrive on campus.  The official day that students move to campus is August 30, 2013, but because of athletics, students will start moving to campus in just a few days.  We ask our new class of first year students to do a couple of things:

• Subscribe to this blog using your favorite feed reader.
• Go to this google form to answer a few questions about your summer.

Finally, if you have suggestions, hints, or advice for the new first year students, reply or add a comment to this post.

2013 Wartburg College Graduates from the Wartburg Scholars

• Jordan Achilles graduated with Scholars Thesis “Wartburg Carbon Footprint”
• Kristine Arnold graduated Cum Laude
• Kaitlyn Baldrige graduated
• Kaylee Benning graduated Cum Laude
• Amanda Burt graduated
• Erica Bush graduated Magna Cum Laude
• Alex Ciota graduated Suma Cum Laude
• Susannah Gafkjen graduated Magna Cum Laude
• Hollis Hanson-Pollock graduated Suma Cum Laude with Departmental Honors in Accounting
• Torie Jochims graduated Suma Cum Laude with Departmental Honors in Writing
• Jon Juett graduated Suma Cum Laude with Departmental Honors in Computer Science and Scholars Thesis “John Deere Driving Simulation”
• Shea Kruger graduated Suma Cum Laude
• Sydney Marsh graduated Suma Cum Laude with Departmental Honors in Biochemistry
• Mary O'Loughlin graduated Magna Cum Laude with Scholars Thesis “Effects of fructose consumption on hypothalamic SOCS3 and POMC protein expression in mice.”
• Jamie Peterson graduated Magna Cum Laude with Departmental Honors in Mathematics Education and Scholars Thesis “A More Modern Teaching Portfolio”
• Amy Reicks graduated Cum Laude
• Chelsea Reisner graduated Suma Cum Laude with Departmental Honors in Music Perfomance and Scholars Thesis “New Music at Wartburg: Composers' Recital”
• Gordon Roedel graduated Suma Cum Laude with Scholars Thesis “Preliminary Analysis of Saccharomyces and Brettanomyces in Farmhouse Ales”
• Erin Seymour graduated Cum Laude
• David Wedeking graduated Magna Cum Laude
• Sarah Wilkin graduated Cum Laude