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Ring in the Season with the Campus Book Store
Ring in the Season - and be part of the Tradition at Washington University
Purchase your official Washington University
class Ring.
Visit the new page on the University Commencement website at
Classring.wustl.edu or see all of your options at www.wubookstore.com.
Check out the new Guest Deposit feature.
Go to card.wustl.edu
Click on the Guest Deposit link and add money to your son's or daughter's account.
Parents, grandparents, or even aunts and uncles can use a debit or credit card and give spending money to their favorite Washington University student. |
Catholic Student Center
The Catholic Student Center will offer Christmas Eve Mass in Graham Chapel at 4:00 p.m. on December 24 and a second Mass that evening at the Catholic Student Center beginning at 10:30 p.m.
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Shabbat at St. Louis Hillel
St. Louis Hillel will be hosting a FREE Shabbat for freshmen on December 10 in College Hall at 7:15 p.m. It will be a great way for students to come together and unwind from classes and finals prep! Visit our website for more information, www.stlouishillel.org
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Undergraduate Admissions
Do you know high school students who
might benefit from a closer look at Washington University? Refer them to
Undergraduate Admissions.
Would you like to visit Washington University with your current high school
student(s)? Schedule your Admissions visit online.
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Parents Annual Fund
Your gift to the Parents Annual Fund directly supports the school in which your student is enrolled or any other area of the University you wish to support. Each dean selects a priority use for parents' gifts to that school or college. For more information on how to make your gift, please click here.
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Please continue to share any comments and ideas with us about content for upcoming issues by contacting us at FamilyTies@wustl.edu
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| Greetings!
The fall semester is quickly coming to an end. Students are preparing for exams and their winter break activities. It has been an active and fun semester and we are looking forward to seeing the students back in January!
During this special time of year, the Office of Parent Programs and the First Year Center wish you and your family a very happy Holiday Season!
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 Connecting Parents and Students
Jim Beirne takes WUSTL to the Community
 In July 2008, Jim Beirne joined the Career Center as Director of External Relations. Working closely with parents, alumni and global recruiting organizations, Beirne works to create new job and internship opportunities for students at Washington University in St. Louis.
In addition to seeking opportunities for students after graduation, Beirne has been instrumental in pushing for high quality internships.
"Internships are a great way for students to gain real experience," said Beirne. "From a recruiting standpoint, many premier organizations are finding 50 to 100 percent of their entry-level talent from the previous internship pool. To succeed after graduation, a meaningful summer internship experience has become a necessity."
The Career Center works to educate students about the value of internships though one-on-one career advising, handouts and the website, as well as publishing an annual Internship Book. A team of specialists within the Career Center work to bring in opportunities from top tier organizations. Beirne ties these pieces together and relies on the community of parents and alumni to share information and identify opportunities for Washington University students within their organizations' internship and entry-level needs.
Working closely with the Office of Alumni and Development, the Career Center has created two mentoring programs connecting students to alumni, parents, and friends of the university.
Through the Ambassador Program, students can sign-up to be connected to a parent or alumnus within their field of interest. Ambassadors provide students with practical advice and professional experience about careers. The Ambassador Program began in 2008 in New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. This year, the program expands to Hong Kong.
The other program, the Alumni Career Externship (ACE) Shadowing Program, connects students and alumni for two to three days of shadowing during spring break. In addition to career exploration, externs leave with newly formed relationships and a network of contacts in their target industry.
"The programs give students invaluable experience," said Beirne. "Parents and alumni get to help and connect with a student through one-on-one mentoring and career coaching."
Beirne brings his prior experience as former director of career services at the The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, associate dean and director of career services at the Olin Business School, as well as corporate experience leading recruitment for General Mills and Hewlett-Packard.
"Creating additional career opportunities and advancing the reputation of our institution is a key initiative," said Beirne. "Parents and alumni directly contribute to the quality of the Washington University experience."
To get involved, visit careercenter.wustl.edu/share.
Katie Dobscha gains experience in nonprofit marketing
Sophomore Katie Dobscha gained invaluable experience in nonprofit marketing while working for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in New York last summer.
Dobscha found the internship posted on CAREERlink, the Career Center's online database of jobs and internships. Dobscha credits the Career Center and CAREERlink for the opportunity.
"The Career Center has really helped me find out about internships in areas I am interested in - through CAREERlink I was able to obtain an internship with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation," said Dobscha.
Behind the scenes, the Career Center works to build connections with alumni and parents with at various organizations. The internship with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was created through the initiative of Robbie Finke Franklin, a class of 2011 parent and director of marketing for the foundation.
The internship allowed Dobscha an opportunity to learn more about nonprofit marketing. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation received help and gained insight from a Washington University student.
"As an intern, I developed social media strategy, designed brochures, edited the website with HTML and Photoshop, compiled press kits and books, and used The Raisers Edge database software," said Dobscha.
Though the internship was unpaid, Dobscha was awarded a stipend through the Career Center. Stipends allow students to gain valuable career experience through unpaid internships. Last summer, the Career Center awarded 150 stipends to students working in health care, education, government, visual and performing arts, and nonprofits.
The Career Center hopes to continue to build connections through parents and alumni through position postings, mentoring, and special events. Internships like Dobscha's help students gain work experience and "try on" a career.
"While I am not yet sure what career to pursue, I know that I want to share my love for education with communities around the world, wherever that may be," said Dobscha. Her career tip for students? "Find a mentor at work to help you settle in." |
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There is Still Time to Get Involved
Someday, very soon, your Washington University undergraduate student will arrive home after a fall semester filled with challenging classes and academic demands. After a few days of sleeping in his or her own bed and eating food not purchased with meal points, your undergrad may be ready to share with you stories of the first semester at WU.
Your student may talk at length of a club or team he or she has joined or a community service experience that has been especially meaningful. However, he or she may also share with you that the right co-curricular activity has not quite been found on campus. Rest assured there is still plenty of time and plenty of ways to get involved.
Recognizing that many students, especially freshman, are overwhelmed navigating their academic experiences first semester, Student Union and Student Involvement and Leadership will host an Activities Fair at the start of the second semester. Over 150 student organizations, teams, community service programs, etc. will gather on the afternoon of January 26, 2011 looking for new members.
To learn more about the abundance of co-curricular opportunities on campus check out Student Union's list of student groups and contact information at su.wustl.edu/directory.
Students are also encouraged to visit the Student Involvement and Leadership Offices on the second floor of the Danforth University Center to sign up for a meeting with an Advisor of the Day to explore co-curricular interests and opportunities on campus. Information on Student Involvement and Leadership can be found at getinvolved.wustl.edu.
Undergraduate students spend approximately 80 percent of their time outside the class room. Encourage your student find the way to make the most of it!
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Sorority Formal Recruitmen Begins in January
How to Make the Most of the Experience
On January 10, 2011 the campus, quiet for winter break, will be replaced by the echoes of chants and cheers as Formal Recruitment for Greek women begins. The week that follows will be filled with a variety of programs and events, supervised by the Women's Panhellenic Association (with the support of Student Involvement Leadership) geared to making interested students aware of the many opportunities available to them to "go Greek."
Students registered for recruitment, have already been assigned two recruitment counselors who will serve as guides for the entire process. These recruitment counselors, known as Gamma Chis, are active sorority women who have disaffiliated from their chapter for the process to serve as an unbiased sounding board to prospective new members. They will be with their assigned students everyday throughout the week to answer questions, provide advice when solicited, and make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
Throughout the week prospective members attend events hosted by each of the seven chapters on campus. As the week progresses there are occasions when women are asked to rank the chapters based on their interest in joining. Chapters rank the new members they are most interested in as well in a mutual selection process.
Formal Recruitment is designed to reward women who maximize all of their options throughout the process. With seven amazing organizations to choose from, women should enter the week with an open mind about all chapters. When women enter into the process with their hearts set on only one or two chapters, it is more likely that they will be disappointed if they don't receive a bid to that chapter.
While there are no guarantees that all women who enter the Formal Recruitment process will receive a bid, most do and happily end up in the chapter that is the best fit for them.
Any questions prior to recruitment, during the week of recruitment, or afterwards can be directed to Lucy Morlan, Coordinator of Student Involvement and Leadership for Greek Life at lucy.morlan@wustl.edu. |
Thursday, May 12, 2011* 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
SAVE THE DATE for important programming designed to help juniors get started on the road to their future!
Junior Jumpstart is a one-day conference designed to help students begin their transition out of Washington University. It is perfect for students who have planned that next stage of their life as well as for those who are completely undecided.
At Junior Jumpstart, students will:
- speak with professionals in a wide range of fields
- listen to panelists discuss their real-world experiences
- learn about transitional programs and international fellowships
- appropriately plan out their senior year
- participate in art portfolio reviews with top professionals in the field
- interact with representatives from various professional and graduate schools
- hear the charismatic Don Asher (author of How to Get Any Job with Any Major)
- choose from over 60 sessions designed to ask both philosophical questions as well as practical ones
All this in addition to breakfast and lunch! Please visit
juniorjumpstart.wustl.edu, to register and learn more about the event.
Early-bird registration is available until March 31, 2011 for $40.00±; regular registration is from April 1 - 30, 2011 for $65.00±; and walk-in registration on May 12, 2011 for $80.00.
This program is sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences in partnership with the Career Center, School of Engineering & Applied Science, the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, and the Class of 2012. Junior Jumpstart is open to ALL Washington University students.
*Arts & Sciences pre-medical students registered for Junior Jumpstart will participate in mock-interviews on Friday, May 13, 2011.
± This fee includes on-campus housing (which includes Washington University-owned apartments) until Friday, May 14, 2011 at 5 p.m. and can be billed to a student's account. Students must register by April 30, 2011 to extend housing until May 13, 2011. Students requesting kosher meals should email juniorjumpstart@wustl.edu.
If you have any questions about any of our Junior programming, please contact Dean Diallo, toliver-diallo@wustl.edu or (314) 935-7879, to register and learn more about the event. |
Social Change Grants Available for Innovative Summer Projects
Six Grants totaling $32,000
The Community Service Office invites Washington University students to build proposals for full-time summer work in the development and implementation of an innovative community project in St. Louis or around the globe. Six grants are available, totaling $32,000. The grants are $5,000 or $6,000, and projects may be led by individuals or teams.
Please visit www.communityservice.wustl.edu/grants to learn more about these unique opportunities, and download proposal guidelines & details about available grants. The website also features information about past grant recipients, including Jay Swoboda '02, who founded the non-profit Whats Up Magazine following his Social Change Grant project, and Priya Sury '10, who recently earned a Rhodes Scholarship.
Intent to Apply notifications are due January 24, 2011, and proposals are due February 11, 2011. For more information or to discuss your idea, please visit the Community Service Office in DUC 250 during Social Change Grant Drop-In hours (Fridays 1-3 p.m.), or contact Shiloh Venable at shiloh.venable@wustl.edu or (314) 935-3943. |
| News from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
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Happy Holidays from the Washington University Bookstore
The Washington University Campus Store has the perfect holiday gifts for your student. See our apparel and gift collection online at www.wubookstore.com. You can choose from a wide variety of apparel for men, women and children as well as a gift assortment from key chains to engraved captain's chairs. Gift cards are also available which are always the right fit! Contact the Campus Store today.
Holiday Shipping Schedule
If you are placing an order for the holidays please make a note of our shipping deadlines. In order to guarantee SHIPPING (not actual delivery) before Christmas, please note the following important dates:
Standard shipping orders must be placed by 12/17/2010
2nd Day orders must be placed by 2 p.m. on 12/22/2010
Overnight orders must be placed by 2pm on 12/23/2010
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at (877) 771-9996.
Happy Holidays to you and your family from the Washington University Campus Store! |
St. Louis Hillel Provides a Variety of Shabbat Experience for Jewish Students
The poet Chaim Bialik famously argued whether Shabbat, the Sabbath, culminates the end of the week, or serves to mark the beginning of the next week. Regardless, Bialik knew that Shabbat, a time of rest and community for the Jewish people, has the power to be a time to reflect, restore, and recharge.
Over the course of the fall semester, St. Louis Hillel at Washington University has sought to foster creative Shabbat experiences that feed the body and soul. Supplementing its regular weekly Shabbat program, St. Louis Hillel has hosted four different Shabbat dinners, in particular, that have helped to engage an increasing number of students in meaningful Shabbat experiences.
 First, St. Louis Hillel helped to kick off Parent & Family Weekend on October 12, 2010 by hosting its first Shabbat event in the newly opened Washington University College Hall, located on the South Forty. The event, titled "A Taste of Home," brought together over 125 students, family members and Washington University administrators and staff for a family-style dinner, celebrating some of our students' favorite Shabbat family recipes. The event was chaired by Washington University students Josh Arbit ('14), Bradley Baskir ('14), Sophie Jacobson ('14), Brett Kopin ('13) & Sara Winograd ('14). Additionally, Mama's Pot Roast, Washington University's improv group provided entertainment during the evening.
On November 5, 2010, Aviva, a Washington University student group advised by St. Louis Hillel that seeks to facilitate meaningful experiences for Jewish Greek women at the University, hosted a Shabbat dinner on campus. The dinner brought together Jewish women involved in the various sororities on campus for a free meal and Shabbat celebration. With 40 women in attendance, the dinner was also a kickoff for Aviva's collaboration with the St. Louis Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women's Kid's Community Closet initiative. The Aviva group is sponsoring a drive with NCJW to benefit the Closet initiative that is housed at various schools throughout the City of St. Louis.
November 12, 2010 also marked the return of "Green Shabbat," now in its third year at Washington University. The Jewish Student Union, the primary Jewish student organization on campus, also advised by St. Louis Hillel. The free event was held in College Hall and drew 100 students interested in sharing a Shabbat experience that was designed to highlight ways students could be "green" and environmentally responsible on campus. The evening featured foods, decorations, and educational material that affirmed the importance of environmental sustainability. The keynote presentation at the dinner was delivered by two representatives from the Washington University student group, Green Action, who shared environmental advocacy opportunities in which students could engage, as well as the importance that traditional Jewish teachings place on stewardship and communal responsibility.
Finally, on November 19, St. Louis Hillel engagement intern, Elana Abraham ('13), hosted a Shabbat dinner for students affiliated with Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. Elana, a long-time camper and current summer staffer of Camp Ramah, coordinated with several other Washington University students connected with the camp to have a dinner that would bring them together for a Shabbat experience mimicking those had over the summer. The group shared a meal catered by a Mediterranean restaurant specializing in Israeli cuisine. Washington University has a large contingency of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin alumni in addition to students affiliated with the many other Ramah camps across North America. Programs such as St. Louis Hillel's Peer Network Engagement Internship, allow networks of students, like the "Ramah-niks," to come together for meaningful Jewish experiences.
The St. Louis Hillel staff and leadership have been thrilled with the creative ideas the students have implemented in crafting the above Shabbat experiences during the Fall semester. More exciting Shabbat programs are underway for this Spring! For more information about St. Louis Hillel, visit www.stlouishillel.org. |
Former Volunteers Share Experience during Peace Corps Forum
The most important questions parents ask about Peace Corps service include "will my child be safe in a foreign country?" and "why should he or she give up 27 months to service after graduation?" At a Peace Corps information meeting in the Career Center on November 16, 2010, three former Peace Corps volunteers addressed those concerns to participants in a crowded lecture room.
Shanti Parikh, Ph.D., went to Kenya with an undergraduate business degree. After working as a Peace Corps business development trainer for three and a half years, learning Swahili, and being exposed to the richness and diversity of Kenyan cultures, she changed her academic focus to anthropology. Now the first Washington University tenured African American professor of anthropology, she continues her HIV/AIDS research among African women. "Peace Corp service looked great on my application to Yale," she said "Except for my husband and children, it's the best thing I've ever done in my life."
Heidi Sandige, M.D., pediatric nutritionist at Washington University's School of Medicine, spends six months in St. Louis working with the Peanut Butter Project and six months in field studies in Malawi. With undergraduate and graduate degrees in literature, she learned Arabic and taught English as a Peace Corps volunteer in Yemen for a year until volunteers were evacuated when revolution broke out. All Yemen volunteers were out of the country before her parents heard about the fighting on the news. She loved teaching, but after service, left a doctorate in philosophy program in literature to prepare for Harvard medical school. "As a non-traditional applicant to med school, Peace Corps made me very competitive," she said.
Bjorn Loftis, an Internet Technology professional with a WU graduate degree in computer engineering, and undergraduate degree in physics and African Studies, learned French to teach university physics and chemistry in Benin for two years. "My IT skills were two years out of date when I returned from service, but I caught up. Peace Corps is a unique resume builder. It helped me stand out in a competitive market," said Loftis.
This semester, eleven WU undergraduates from the class of 2011 have been nominated to Peace Corps service, intent on using their educations and volunteer experience to help people all over the world have better lives. They will build their careers on their Washington University educational foundation, and like the outstanding professionals quoted above, on international service. For more information on the WU Peace Corps, please contact Sharon Pedersen at peace@wustl.edu or (314) 935-4166. |
ResCollege News
For more information on Residential Life, the ResColleges, and information on Winter Break, please visit http://reslife.wustl.edu/. Shanedling, Dauten and Rutledge: The Shanedling/Dauten/Rutledge (JKL) Residential College has been busy during fall semester. Some highlights of the semester include: hosting a pancake breakfast during Parent and Family Weekend and raising $168 for Dance Marathon and the Children's Miracle Network; defeating the Hitzeman/Hurd/Myers (HIG) Residential College by a score of 9-2 in the annual Alphabet Bowl flag football game; and winning the inaugural College Hall Spirit Week Tournament (Harry Potter Week) hosted by the Congress of the South 40. The team of Rutledge residents Steven Ammerman, Dan Johnson and Aziza Moolla won the trivia night contest hosted by Faculty Associate Rob Patterson. Additionally, the Congress of the South 40 recognized Rutledge resident Aziza Moolla, director of public relations for college council, with the Student Leader of the Month award for November. Liggett Koenig:
Liggett and Koenig Residential Hall has been busy in the month of November. Faculty Fellow Dr. Parvulescu took students to two performances at the Edison Theatre. Professor Glenn MacDonald took his floor ice skating to show off his awesome moves. Liggett and Koenig also had a strong finishing in the Harry Potter Week Tri-Wizard Tournament where there we games of Quidditch, cups of Butter Beer, and a Harry Potter Trivia evening in College Hall. On Saturday, December 4, 2010, Liggett and Koenig had its annual 100 Days Dance where students danced it up with the "Under the Sea" theme. Make sure your student is on the lookout for the Liggett and Koenig scarves being sold for $5! |
From Greeks to Grads, Chabad to Celebrate Chanukah in Grand Fashion
Jewish holiday to close-out a semester of "achievement and growth" It's not every year that Chanukah occurs during the academic semester, which is reason enough to "go all out," says Rabbi Hershey Novack, director of Chabad on Campus at Washington University. "Young people who are away from home during Chanukah may experience a sense of isolation. But they can enjoy our holiday activities, and at the same time, increase their knowledge and pride in their Jewish heritage." These Chanukah celebrations cap-off a semester of achievement and growth. This fall included a record-breaking Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, a plethora of classes and social events, and preparation for a winter-break Birthright Israel trip. Early in the semester, Chabad's activities were featured in the St. Louis Jewish Light. Looking forward to next semester, the organization plans to formally move in to its newly expanded center, located close to campus.  Common threads that bind all Chabad activities together - whether during Chanukah or throughout the year - are their excitement, diversity, accessibility, and meaningful content. Here are some of the Chanukah activities scheduled for 2010: · A giant public menorah will be displayed in the heart of the Delmar Loop district and on Big Bend and Forsyth at the Chabad House to remind everyone of the holiday. It will be lit each night of Chanukah. · Menorah kits will be available at Chabad, and at several on-campus locations. These ready-to-go kits include a Menorah, candles, dreidel and holiday "how-to" guide. Students living in Residential Life must check with their RA's and RCD's prior to kindling the Menorah. Students are welcome to light at Chabad any night of the holiday. · Chabad staff will broadcast "Eight Ideas of Light" on the Facebook and Twitter online social media platforms. These short messages will convey Jewish ideas associated with Chanukah, and more broadly, the notion of light, in an exciting and fresh interactive venue. · "Shmoozing Chefs" cooking club of the Chabad Student Association will gather to make Latkes and Doughnuts in an on-campus kitchen. · "HannuKasino" in partnership with Jewish Student Union, Chabad Student Association, and the First Year Students of Hillel (FYSH) will present casino games, including poker, blackjack, and roulette. And of course there will be dreidels, latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). · "Shabbat+Chanukah" includes all the Shabbat favorites along with Chanukah treats. This Shabbat dinner will feature faculty guest Prof. Todd Braver of WU's Psychology department, who will talk about his preliminary ideas on cognitive distraction and technology, and perhaps touch on the concept of Shabbat. (Dr. Braver's work on this topic was featured in a lengthy New York Times article in August 2010.) · "A Chanukah Celebration for Greeks: Ohhh the Irony" an event for students in fraternities and sororities. The irony in the title reflects the defeat of the Greek Hellenists by the Jewish Maccabees over 2000 years ago, part of the history of Chanukah. For more information about Chabad on Campus serving Washington University, please visit www.chabadoncampus.org |
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