MyPLU

“I am a nursing student and struggle with test anxiety which has impeded some of my success within the program. After having a heart-to-heart with my lab instructor and discussing effective test-taking strategies, I passed an exam that allowed me to stay in the nursing program. We cried tears of joy together, and it was truly an interaction I will always remember!”

“One experience that sticks out to me from my time at PLU was the choir trip to New York when we performed at the Avery Fisher Hall. Dr. Galante gave me the opportunity to go on the trip and was also one of my favorite professors.”

“PLU is great because I still communicate with my professors regularly. They genuinely care about what you’re doing post-graduation #golutes.”

Tyler is grateful for the support he received from his professors during and after his time at PLU. In particular, his connection with his political science professor Peter Grovener stayed strong even after graduation. Because of their great connection, Grovener wrote a referral that helped Tyler get his current job in the Washington State Department of Revenue.

“My PLU experience shaped my outlook and way of understanding the world. Through caring professors, I learned to think critically, to appreciate the diversity of people and ideas, to notice the beauty around me, and to celebrate the gift of each day. I remain grateful for the generations before me who helped make my education possible through their gifts of support.”

“My PLU experience definitely made me who I am today. I had class with Dr. Shore in the psychology department, and without her mentorship I wouldn’t have the job I have today, nor would I be in graduate school.”

“PLU has been a lifelong experience for me.”

“My time at PLU opened my eyes to  be able to see the world with acceptance and love and has fueled my passion for people. Through a program I was recently sent to spend a summer in Africa, which made me realize that through PLU, I had developed a skill set of being open to new experiences, being curious to find new adventures, and caring for others. I really appreciate the global education that PLU provides and enjoyed my time there very much.”

“I was so fortunate to go to a school that had small class sizes and was able to connect with so many people.”

Dr. James Haaland was a man that grew up in the Lutheran church and was expected to, and looked forward to, going to a Lutheran university. In his first two years at PLU he just drifted by, but soon realized that he would need to kick it in gear in order to achieve his dreams. James truly did, and through the guidance of his professors he went on to become a pre-med student and was accepted into medical school. During his time at PLU he was able to begin a road to success serving in the air force and eventually becoming an orthopedic surgeon. When James sees his successes today, he links it back to his time at PLU and could not be more appreciative of his time spent here.

Stemming from a long line of Lutes, Kyle Nowadnick ‘07 pretty much always knew he wanted to attend Pacific Lutheran University. As a child, Kyle fondly remembers the days when he would ride his bike around the pond on lower campus. “PLU has always been part of the family,” Kyle said about his decision to become a Lute following two generations of his family before him. Kyle has chosen to give back to that PLU family by taking out a life-insurance policy benefiting the university. “I would like to make a difference on an organization that left such a lasting impact on my life and this is my way to give back and ensure others can experience similar memories.” Reminiscing on some of his own memories, Kyle said he hopes that when the school finally tears down Foss Hall, he can keep a brick.

“After my first visit on the PLU campus, I immediately felt welcomed. I received a very generous financial aid package before hearing back from any other schools that I applied to. I thought, “this institution does care about me.” Education is expensive, and because of the generosity of others, a college education became a reality. If I had to give advice to a future Lute, I would say, “be ready to challenge the things you think you know. Your views will be deconstructed. It’s a tough and humbling process.” My experiences at PLU have taught me that PLU is a safe place to screw up! After I graduate I know I will sustain connections with my professors and those I have worked with through the Center for Community Engagement and Service.”

“During my junior year at PLU my mom passed away from breast cancer. All the professors at school really helped me through this difficult time. Dr. Young even started a campaign called “F*ck Cancer” to help support victims of cancer. That memory sticks out as something that really touched me.”

At 28 years old Corey chose to attend PLU because of the great curriculum and immediately felt out of place being surrounded by 19 year olds. She quickly found her place when she became an English Major. She knew from the moment that she heard her professor say she “loved the smell of books” that she had found her people and that the English department would be a perfect fit for her passion for books.

“Being involved in clubs was a great way to meet others, exchange experiences, and share beliefs.”

“Through PLU I was able to study abroad in Norway. I feel like I became more cultured than most individuals who only attend one university during their college experience. I was able to extend my knowledge of the culture and language of Norway and it really helped me in my Norwegian language minor.”

PLU’s liberal arts education helped Kimberly think outside of her major and broadened her perspective about the world.

“The highlight of my PLU experience was embracing it’s diversity and meeting so many people of different cultures.”

As a non-traditional student veteran at PLU, Alyssa loved connecting with the diverse community PLU provides. She really appreciated the beautiful campus, and friendly faculty whom she still keeps in touch with.

Betty went to PLU at a time when the country was going through a lot. There was a small number of students as a result of all the boys being sent off  for WWII. Regardless of this hard time, Betty truly enjoyed her time at PLU playing baseball against teams at Fort Lewis and getting a great education. She loved her time at PLU.

“PLU has given me a framework to think deeply about the world in ways I never thought possible.”

“Our first date was at the Cave…30 years ago!”

“I have had a unique journey that has brought me full circle. I actually started out in elementary education at PLU and student-taught in fourth grade at Arlington Elementary in Tacoma. On one end, I competed in Track and Cross Country for PLU. This experience taught me how to endure and essentially compete day in and day out for results. Our work as educators is not done at the end of the day; you often don’t get long-term results until years down the road — it is a relentless process. When I ran for PLU it was no different. I would run a 70-mile week to race 3 miles as fast as I could. Sometimes you would set a personal record, other days you fainted from exhaustion. On the other end of my PLU experiences, I remember asking the School of Education to place me in a diverse school that would make me a better person and teacher. That happened, and it was one of the toughest experiences of my teaching career. My class was challenging, and they taught me how to survive and fight for what is right. This would have never happened if PLU had not listened to my dreams as an educator. Another memorable experience was learning about PLU’s commitment to service. I think this was really the capstone of my education at PLU. I remember coming out of my undergrad and having a clear sense of purpose for social justice and serving others.”

“I had the opportunity to study abroad three times while I was at PLU; Cuba, the United Kingdom, and Australia. My study abroad experiences defined who I am today. I feel that studying abroad helped strengthen my communication skills as well as allowing me to have a better understanding of how different parts of the world operate. I would not be who I am today without my time at PLU.”

“My uncle Robert Minns was an alumnus of PLU and graduated with a degree in both math and music. Unfortunately, he passed away last year much too soon. I am very honored to be able to attend the school my uncle held so dear, and every day when I walk the campus, I love that I am able to walk on the same paths he walked 1,000 times over. By attending PLU, I was able to connect with my uncle and for that I will never regret coming to this university and having the chance to honor him everyday as I go to class.”

“Dr. Gregory Youtz in the music program had a very positive impact on my PLU experience. He is so knowledgeable in music, and I was fortunate enough to have him as my advisor in my specified major. I feel my major was an extremely important part of finding what I wanted to do and Dr. Youtz helped me with that.”

During her freshman year, Mamie took a Sociology 101 course and really enjoyed it! Professor Joanna Gregson from the Sociology department eventually led her to major in sociology and pursue her vocation in teaching. Mamie will always remember the support her professors provided to her and how helpful they were when she needed assistance.

LaVonne has a long history with PLU beginning as a student in 1952. She has many fond memories of singing with the Three Dots and meeting lifelong friends. After a long career of teaching, she returned to PLU as a professor in the Education Department for two years.

“I was fortunate to be involved in on-campus sustainability efforts, residential life, and I also co-organized the Parkland community mural. My PLU experience was a joy thanks to all the encouragement I received from staff and other students. The people I met really shaped my experience at PLU.”

The nurturing environment of PLU allowed her to grow both spiritually and creatively.

Courtney was a student that was very involved in the ROTC program here at PLU and did not originally plan to join the Army. Thankfully the leaders of the ROTC program were able to convince her to join the Army, which has lead her to 7 years of service and now a job taking her to work for the Pentagon. All in all she truly enjoyed her experience at PLU, taking advantage of the study away programs and building friendships through ROTC.

“I felt like the education that PLU gave me was great and set me up to be the best teacher I could be. Other than academics what stood out to me the most about PLU was the lifelong friends I was able to make and all the great times that we had. Still even after all these years we still meet for lunch. I loved my time at PLU.”

“I chose PLU because of its nationally-recognized music program and the generous financial aid package that was provided. And although at first I was hesitant to leave Hawai‘i, I can confidently say that I made the right decision. PLU—a university that values academic excellence in a highly personalized setting and fosters critical thinking and personal growth—offered me a sanctuary to learn from the brightest scholars and to figure out, as author Mary Oliver wrote, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” While I started off in the music program, I soon began to realize that my passion centered around giving voice to those marginalized and oppressed in our community, particularly our Native Hawaiian community. Honing in on that passion, I pursued a degree in political science and economics, which well prepared me for my subsequent work in law school, graduate school, and my current career. Indeed, PLU challenged me, and I believe all alumni, to think of the world beyond this campus and encouraged us to reach out locally and globally and serve. Some chose to tutor Somali refugees in Tacoma, travel three hours round-trip to educate children in a low-income neighborhood, explore service learning opportunities in Honduras and Tobago, engage in peace journalism in Geneva, and even travel to the end of the earth in Antarctica. I chose to return to Hawai‘i and pursue a career in law to help our community. I am proud to say that PLU set the foundation and paved the way for me to become a successful attorney and advocate for Hawai‘i’s indigenous people. PLU has certainly changed my life, as I know it has for many in our PLU Hawai‘i ‘ohana. I know that I would not be where I am today had it not been for the education and support I received at PLU.”