Dr. Palmer’s Update: February 2011

Mother Nature created some opportunities for creative teaching at Principia last week. Several ice/snow days caused teachers to give longer-term assignments or resort to online options to keep their classes moving forward.

Despite some challenging weather, this winter has been an enriching period on both campuses. The College has hosted several excellent speaker events. Herman Boone, the inspiring coach featured in the movie Remember the Titans, spent an evening sharing stories of overcoming adversity as a high school football coach in the racially charged South. Listen on Principia Internet Radio.

Just before the storm hit, we hosted our 10th annual Monitor Night Live at the College. John Yemma, editor of The Christian Science Monitor, and Capitol Hill reporter Gail Russell Chaddock were in Cox Auditorium while three correspondents from around the globe joined the discussion electronically. It was an engaging evening of discussion about current world events. (Listen to the Principia Internet Radio podcast.) The local NPR affiliate featured an interview with Yemma while he was in town. You can hear him on the January 27th “St. Louis on the Air” program.

At the Upper School, several groups recently benefited from experiential education opportunities off campus. A group of students and faculty just returned from the Tetons, where they spent time outdoors writing in journals and learning from nature; another group spent a weekend in Chicago exploring theatre and soaking up culture. Back in Ridgway Auditorium, all Upper School seniors finished delivering their senior speeches to enthusiastic audiences. This annual speaking opportunity always highlights the growth and depth of character within our upcoming graduates. This year’s themes ranged from tributes to Principia mentors to sibling appreciations and summer job sagas.

The College solar car team is preparing to return to Australia next October to compete in the 2011 World Solar Challenge. A devoted group of 23 students are busy modifying and improving their car in preparation for the grueling race through the Australian Outback. A DVD of the documentary tracking the 2009 Principia solar car team racing in Australia is now available from the College bookstore.

On the School campus, we are appreciating the newly renovated, relocated bookstore. It’s just a matter of weeks before the relocated, updated library will be reopening for Pre-, Lower, and Middle School students. Check out the latest video tracking this project. Meanwhile, the College’s Crafton Athletic Center natatorium received a Gold Award in a prestigious national design competition.

We are pleased to note that Principia College was just ranked the fourth most popular liberal arts college by U.S. News & World Report. This ranking is based on a school’s yield—the percentage of accepted applicants who actually enroll.

It’s nice to have a national magazine recognize our “popularity.” And we have a proven track record on this front: Whenever students visit Principia, we see strong interest in applying and attending. Visiting weekends allow prospective students to sit in on classes and get to know current students while staying in a College house or Upper School dorm. Visitors can truly experience the Principia difference. Seeing is believing, as they say.

Do you know someone who should visit Principia College or School? If so, contact the School or College Admissions offices. We are always on the lookout for future Principians who can benefit from what we have to offer.