Valpo Receptions in your home town...

What is a Valparaiso University Area Reception?

Every year Valpo typically hosts two types of area receptions: 1 in late summer/early fall for prospective high school seniors and 1 in the spring for the admitted h.s. seniors. The receptions typically consist of food, mingling and sometimes brief information presentations.

What is the purpose of these receptions?

The purpose is to bring a little bit of Valpo to high school students and give them a more personal introduction to Valpo with the help of current Valpo students, alumni, and deans/faculty. This type of visit goes beyond the college fair and high school visit where a "grab-and-go" method is practiced and minimal questions are asked and answered due to limited time and availability. A reception brings all the people, experiences and words seen in our brochures and on our website to life for high school students and their parents. Words and pictures only give you so much information - the people and the experiences are what make it real.

My Indianapolis reception...

I have hosted several receptions for high school students in the Indianapolis area and they have become more popular and highly attended every year. This spring (March 1) I decided to try a new location: Kincaid's in Carmel, IN - just north of Indianapolis. The reception consisted of lunch, mingling with a few current Valpo students and Valpo alumni, and a chance to ask questions about student life at Valpo, the FAFSA, visiting campus, FOCUS (frosh orientation), etc. I had 18 admitted students and their parents attend and everyone seemed to really enjoy it. The location, the restaurant, the service, and reception itself all went extremely well. I hope we can start a tradition of Valpo receptions at Kincaid's.

My Michigan reception...

Michigan was a new territory for me last year. I hosted my most successful admitted student reception thus far in Grand Rapids, MI last spring. The bar was set pretty high last year when all 5 admitted students who attended the lunch decided to deposit and enroll at Valpo. My next admitted student luncheon reception is Saturday, March 14, 2009 in Grand Rapids, MI at Macaroni Grill.

My favorite...

Area receptions are my favorite! I enjoy watching families (essentially strangers) connect with each other and seeing their eyes light up when listening to an alum's story about why they chose Valpo. Overall they are simply fun and informative.