Valparaiso University's liturgical drama troupe Soul Purpose will perform and lead workshops at Lutheran churches in the northeastern United States during a spring break tour. The seven-day tour begins March 4 and includes performances and workshops for Lutheran congregations in Ellicott City, MD; St. James, NY; Gales Ferry and Glastonbury, CT; and Wilmington, DE. Founded in 1987 by VU's Dr. John Steven Paul, the goals of the 25-member troupe are to serve as a demonstration for people interested in drama as a vehicle for the proclamation of the Gospel, to be appreciated as a form of art and to act as an aid to worship. More information about Soul Purpose can be found at http://www.valpo.edu/theatre/soul.htm .
Valpo's Kantorei choir will help introduce new Lutheran worship materials during a spring tour that will take it to several cities in Florida and Georgia . The Kantorei will launch its spring tour with a March 2 performance at Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Haines City, FL, followed by concerts at Lutheran churches in Orlando, Venice, Fort Myers, Weston, and Winter Park, FL, and in Atlanta. During its tour, the Kantorei will perform songs from new hymnals published in the fall by both the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The choir has presented numerous training and education events for Lutheran audiences over the past two years and recorded hymns from both new worship books. In addition to singing music from the new hymnals, the Kantorei will perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, Antonio Vivaldi and other composers.
Several events for Valparaiso University's alumni and fans will be held during the Mid-Continent Conference basketball tournament March 3-6 at Tulsa's John Q. Hammons Arena. Valparaiso alumni and friends are invited to join players, coaches, cheerleaders, Crusaderettes, pep band members and parents for a worship service and reception March 3 or 4 at the Tulsa Marriott Southern Hills, 1902 E. 71st St. Times for the worship service and fan reception will be set following tournament scheduling. Call VU's Office of Alumni Relations at (800) 833-6792 ext. 23 to find out the times or visit the Web site . Tickets to the men's and women's games may be ordered by calling the Tulsa Sports Commission at (918) 560-0205. Tickets for admission to all 14 men's and women's tournament games are $55. Valpo fans should ask to be seated in the Valparaiso section.
The 2005 Cohort Federal Loan Default Rate was released this month and we're pleased to be able to share with you that, for the fourth consecutive year, Valpo's default rate is only 1.6%. The national average has been 5.2% for the past year. The 1.6% reflects the fact that, of the 856 Direct Loan borrowers who entered repayment in 2005, only 14 are in default. This continues to indicate that a Valpo education enables our students to obtain positions that allow them to successfully repay the loans they needed to finance their education.
Beginning Fall 2007 VU will offer a new French House language immersion experience within the Compass Pointe Apartments. La maison française will house students who express a commitment to living in an intentional French immersion environment in an off-campus, apartment-style residence. Students will make a commitment to speak French in communal areas of the apartment complex as well as share communal evening meals Sunday through Thursday. Participation in additional cultural activities in conjunction with the Cercle français will also be a component of the experience. Upper-class students (sophomore and above) who have completed French 204 are eligible to apply. For more details go to: http://www.valpo.edu/foreignlang/frenchhouse/index.html