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For many, summer at St. Olaf as busy as ever

By Cate Grochala '06
June 1, 2006

Summer at St. Olaf is a time for many students to conduct research, work at Internships and welcome visiting prospective students to campus. From science to church and service events, students have no problems keeping busy until the fall.

Although regular classes are not in session, summer at St. Olaf is still a busy time of year. Many students use the interval to conduct academic research or to get ahead on class requirements. Six internships exist for students on campus through the Lilly Program Grant. Still other students will assist admissions and give tours to the prospective students who visit campus during the summer.

A significant amount of science research will take place this summer, involving nearly 60 students and 30 professors. Projects go on in both laboratory and outdoor field settings. Students will present their research plans and results at two science symposia, to be held in June and August.

Church and service internships also take place during the summer. As part of its mission to encourage Lives of Worth and Service, the Lilly Program at St. Olaf provides internships and stipends for students and staff involved in service-related projects over the summer.

"This program is a very successful part of the college's long-term collaboration with Luther Seminary and ministries in the Twin Cities," Janet Kringen Thompson '70, interim director of college relations, says of the program. "Relationships between students and congregations often go on far beyond the life of the internship."

Six Lilly Summer Vocational Interns will spend the summer living at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and working in Twin Cities congregations: Emmy Kegler '07, Theresa Nolan '07 and Jennifer Tulman '07 in Minneapolis, and Glen Rebman '07, Christina Shults '07 and Jonathan Swanson '07 in St. Paul.

In addition to the vocational internships, the Lilly Program has awarded stipends to 13 students working at Bible camps throughout the country. The Lilly Program also provides stipends for students interning this summer at the annual Conference For Worship, Theology and the Arts that will be held on campus July 17-21. The theme for this summer's conference is "For the Fruit of All Creation."

Thompson says that while the interns provide needed assistance in supporting the logistics of the conference, they also have the opportunity to "sit at the feet of some of the greatest theologians and church musicians in the country."

Also this summer, International Student Advisor and Assistant Director of Admissions Luyen Phan '92 will lead a group of St. Olaf students to Thailand as part of the Lilly Program's International Service Learning project. In Thailand, Phan and his students will work with the McKean Rehabilitation Center to assist disabled elderly residents of Buraphaniwet Village.

On campus, two sessions of summer school will take place, offering a total of 62 classes. The first term will be held June 5 to July 13 and the second from July 17 to Aug. 23. More than 175 students are registered for the first term of summer school. Registrar Mary Cisar -- who will teach a women's studies class this summer -- and her staff will prepare academic advising and registration for first-year students and continue with the implementation of the new student information system.

The admissions office is preparing for the annual Minnesota Private College Week that will be held June 26 to 30. Every year hundreds of prospective students come to campus for this event to see what St. Olaf has to offer.

July and August tend to see an increase in prospective students visiting campus for interviews. In addition to explaining the admissions process to visiting prospective students, the admissions staff also will work with the summer camps and conferences at St. Olaf and travel to college fairs across the country to inform prospective students about St. Olaf.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.