Eckerd College Parent ConnECtions

Winter/Spring 2012

Dear Eckerd Parent,

We hope you have had a great start to the new year! Spring Semester is here, which means diving right back into classes, trips, Family Weekend and service-learning.

We hope that however your student spent Winter Term, he or she is eager to start anew and make 2012 the best year yet!

We look forward to working with the Parent Council and Eckerd College, and seeing what spring has in store for all of us.

Parent Council members enjoy connecting with fellow Eckerd parents, and we encourage you to contact the Parent Council anytime by sending an email to Parent Council.

Family Weekend is a few short weeks away. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Louie and Laurel Buntin (P '13)

2011-2012 Parent Council Chairs

IN THIS ISSUE

Where on Campus is

Get to know your student's home away from home! Do you know where this picture was taken? If so, email the Parent Council your answer. A winner will be selected at random from all parents who correctly respond by February 20th. The winner will receive a gift from the Eckerd Bookstore!

Internship and Job Opportunities

The Eckerd College Parent Council has worked over the past two years to identify ways that the resources within our group can be used to assist Eckerd students by securing paid and unpaid internships. While partnering with the Center for Career Planning and Applied Learning (formerly known as CALA) and Career Resources, the Parent Council and its Internship Committee continue this important effort. Last year, parents generated leads for 21 internships.

Among the students who have secured internships this year are:

A Senior Human Development major: St. Petersburg Free Clinic

Assist in providing individual and family support, individual assessments, counseling, financial assistance, Medicare, etc.

A Sophomore Marine Science major: St. Petersburg Pier Aquarium

Assist in the expansion and maintenance of the Pier Aquarium's Aquaculture program, including cat sharks, seahorses and clownfish.

As an Eckerd parent, you can help secure internships for students by:

1)Letting us know of available internships and jobs at your organization. Ask your friends, clients, place of worship and local volunteer organizations. Email listings to the Parent Council or John Ingmire, Eckerd College Assistant Director of Career Resources.

2)Serving as a career mentor. Students benefit from speaking with someone whoworks in the field they wish to join. If you would like to make yourself available to students with career questions, please email the Parent Council or Career Resources.

3)Encouraging your student to visit the Office of Career Resources, which hosts career fairs, on-campus interviews, a spring Etiquette Dinner and campus speakers. Students may also schedule appointments to receive help with resumes and cover letters and finding internships and jobs. Please encourage your student to utilize this campus resource!

Internships are great opportunities that open doors for college students and recent graduates. Your assistance with expanding Eckerd's programs will help our students succeed.

Family Weekend 2012 Presents: Hidden Treasures of Eckerd

FEBRUARY 24-26

Family weekend12 The swashbuckling fun of Eckerd College's Family Weekend officially begins at 3 p.m. on Friday and ends by 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Thar's a $65 registration fee per person for the weekend's meals and activities.

See a complete schedule of events and registration materials at

Family Weekend 2012.

Among the activities parents won't want to miss:

Friday 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Family-Faculty Reception - Fox Hall

Meet members of the Eckerd College faculty. Eckerd College Parent Council members also will attend this event.

Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

President's Breakfast - Fox Hall
Please join President Eastman and members of the Executive Staff for a continental breakfast. Q & A with the President will begin about 9:00 am. Please check all eye-patches, parrots, and cutlasses at the door!

Saturday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Career Resources Reception Hosted by the Parent Council - Triton Rooms

Drop by this reception hosted by the Parent Council to learn more about internships and externships at Eckerd College. Council members will share their experiences in securing internships for Eckerd students, and they will discuss how you can help connect students with available placements. Is your student searching for an internship or externship? Bring her or him along to network with professionals in attendance.

Parent Council Career Resources Reception

If you are interested in helping with career development, or with any of the Council's other initiatives, please contact the Parent Council at parentcouncil@eckerd.edu.

Golf for Good
FEBRUARY 27

Golf For Good

Enjoy a great day of golf while providing Eckerd students a learning opportunity of a lifetime!

Every year, Eckerd College's Service-Learning Office sends groups of students to local, national and international locations to provide community service that addresses issues of poverty, the environment or children's issues. This program serves as an opportunity for students to develop a sense of civic responsibility, clarify values and prepare for a lifetime of service.

On-site registration begins at noon on February 27, 2012.

West Orange Country Club

3300 West Orange Country Club Drive, Winter Garden, Florida 34787

407-656-4882

Please call 407-535-7412 with any questions or visit Eckerd Service Learning.

Celebrate Your Graduate's Achievements!
2012 SENIOR PARENT GIVING PROGRAM

Graduate

Each year, parents of graduating Eckerd students make celebratory gifts to the Parent Fund in honor of their children's accomplishment. The Parent Council is leading the charge this year with a goal of achieving 30 percent participation from 2012 parents.

When you make a gift to the Parent Fund in honor of your graduate, the Parent Council will send a card to your student notifying him or her of your gift. For more information about this program or to make a gift, visit www.eckerd.edu/giving or contact Jan Ray '04, Associate Director of Annual Giving, at 727-864-8229 or rayje@eckerd.edu.

Talk to Us!
CONTACT THE ECKERD COLLEGE PARENT COUNCIL

Parent Council members enjoy connecting with fellow Eckerd parents. Would you like to hear about expanding programs, study abroad, sustainability at Eckerd or Eckerd's slated outdoor classroom? Let us know by emailing the Parent Council. Have a question or suggestion about making life at Eckerd better for our students? Just as our sons and daughters have joined the Eckerd community, so have we. We look forward to talking with you!