Valparaiso University in 2007 (College Prowler)

Introduction from the Author About 10 years ago, if I were to tell you that I go to Valpo, you might look at me, cock your head to the side, and maybe try to act like you’ve heard of it. For us Valpo kids, it got much easier to explain where we go to school after Bryce Drew made “the shot” in the 1998 Sweet Sixteen. Basketball may have put Valpo on the map, but it was a great school long before basketball ever became popular. Being a small school, it’s often hard to become nationally recognized. Valpo has made great strides in the past few years, and has been ranked as a top school in the Midwest. But, choosing a college is about more than crunching the numbers, it is about more than the technology found in labs and libraries, and it is about more than prestige. While these things may matter, none of them can truly incorporate the value of a Valpo education. Valpo has made great strides toward turning a great thing into an even better thing. The University has built a new library, updated several dorms, and built a new geography and meteorology center. More than this, it continues to foster an environment of community and a commitment to learning. Valpo is home to awesome professors who are committed to teaching every student they have in their classes. Valpo is also a place where spirituality and individuality are encouraged. It has first-rate academic and pre-professional programs that will prepare you for an active role in whatever field you choose. But you won’t just be prepared to work; a Valpo education will prepare you to be an active participant in society. It will prepare you to be a person who thinks, analyzes, and is committed to service, and a person who wants to give something back. If you’ve checked into Valpo enough to check out this book, chances are you already know a bit about it. If you want to know more, you’ve come to the right place. You’ve taken the first step in equipping yourself to make one of the most important decisions in life—where to go to college. Congratulations, and I hope this book helps you to see why Valpo just might be the place for you. Matthew Stevens, Author
Valparaiso University