(Left to right) Terry ’75 and Martha (Simpson ’75) Teigen with daughters Rachel ’02 and Lara ’05.

Parents Council helps alumni renew connection to PLU

In the fall of 1972 we were PLU sophomores, absorbed in dorm living...having dated for a year... ambling toward our eventual majors... thriving in college life. There is no way we could have imagined ourselves now, 30 years later, back on campus, parents of not one, but two PLU students, and official members of the university’s Parents Council. (Old friends reading this may have a hard time imagining this even now!) But, it’s true. We married, raised two terrific daughters who, each in her own way, came to the decision to attend PLU, leading us to a renewed connection with our alma mater and our past, while also vicariously experiencing what the community offers to this generation of students.

PLU has changed. Our children are definitely experiencing a college education rooted in the 21st century. At the same time, they are finding on this campus the same deep-seated connection to people and purpose that goes far beyond career preparation. Our oldest, Rachel ’02, graduates this December with a degree in music education, after four enriching years participating in choirs, theater, campus ministry and relationships with faculty and friends that will last a lifetime. Lara ’05 is now a sophomore nursing major, loving life in Pflueger, serving on the dorm council, working several on-campus jobs and finding PLU to be the right fit.

As we serve on the Parents Council, it is our pleasure to work with other parents and, when the opportunity arises, to do our best to answer the questions of those considering PLU for their son or daughter. Finding the right college can be a daunting task. For those for whom PLU is that place, we hope they can find their way here.

By Terry ’75 and Martha (Simpson ’75) Teigen

Parents Council 2002-2003

Tom and Kathryn Baerwald,
Alexandria, Va.

Dan and Susan Berentson,
Burlington, Wash.

William and Anne Buck, chairs,
Portland, Ore.

Randy and Jeanne Castello,
Honolulu, Hawaii

Jan and Ann Hockert,
Vancouver, Wash.

Becki Greetan,
Bremerton, Wash.

Peter (’76) and Mary Ellen (Ezell ’77) Gulsrud,
Spokane, Wash.

Dan (’77) and Linda (Alexander ’77) Jamieson,
Omak, Wash.

Mary Lou Knudsen and Jim Berg,
Eagle River, Alaska

John ’68 and Shirley (Craft ’69) Oakley, .
Billings, Mont

Paul and Lynn (Nestby ’77) Olson,
Port Orchard, Wash.

Tom and Mary Renne,
West Linn, Ore.

Sharon Schauss,
Fircrest, Wash.

Chuck and Linda Spiedel,
Boise, Idaho

Bill and Rosemary Stewart,
Spokane, Wash.

Terry ’75 and Martha (Simpson ‘75) Teigen,
Seattle, Wash.

Bill and Yvonne Van Nostran,
Vancouver, Wash.

Tom and Wendey Weathers,
Spanaway, Wash.

Tim and Sue Wolbrecht,
Redmond, Wash.

To reach a Parents Council member, call Alumni and Parent Relations at 253-535-7415 or e-mail alumni@ plu.edu.

Spring Family Weekend 2003

Mark your calendars for this spring’s Family Weekend, Feb. 28-March 2. Family Weekend provides a special opportunity for you and your student to spend the weekend together meeting other PLU families and experiencing university life. Whether you are parents of a first-year student or soon-to-be graduate, or have a family of your own, as part of our extended PLU family, we invite you to campus! For more information, call 253-535-7415.