Caitlyn Babcock ’25 wins first place in 2024 Angela Meade Vocal Competition
For the fourth year in a row, Pacific Lutheran University hosted the Angela Meade Vocal Competition , an event that has become a key opportunity for student performers to hone their skills and gain real-world experience in a competitive setting. This year’s competition saw Caitlyn…
Lutes celebrate another impactful Bjug Day of Giving: a PLU tradition in support of students
The PLU campus community is grateful to the nearly 2,000 Lutes who came together to celebrate and support what they love at PLU during Bjug Day of Giving on October 17-18. Together, $1.2 million was raised in support of student success and experiences. Through the…
Angela Meade ’01 Vocal Competition Returns to PLU for Fourth Year
Pacific Lutheran University will host the fourth annual Angela Meade Vocal Competition on Nov. 3, 2024, offering students the chance to experience the atmosphere of professional vocal auditions. Internationally acclaimed soprano and PLU alumna Angela Meade ’01 founded the competition in 2018 to provide students…
2024 Powell-Heller Conference to Spotlight Sephardic Jewish Experiences in the Holocaust
PLU will host the 16th Annual Powell-Heller Conference for Holocaust Education from November 6-8, 2024. This year’s conference, titled Sephardic Jewish Voices and Experiences in the Holocaust, focuses on the lesser-known stories of Sephardic Jews during World War II. The conference brings together scholars and…
A family with a “Bjug” legacy of giving and service
“Our place in this world is to be of service to other people,” notes Eric Watness, a descendant of PLU’s founder and first President, Rev. Bjug Harstad. Bjug is also the namesake of Bjug Day , PLU’s day of giving, which started in 2013 and…
PLU Welcomes the Class of 2028: Trailblazers
As Pacific Lutheran University welcomes the Class of 2028, the university celebrates not just a new academic year but a new generation of students defined by the spirit of innovation, resilience, and transformation. The Admission staff has dubbed this cohort “Trailblazers” due to their distinctive…
Big Questions, Complex Answers: Lorelei Juntunen ’97 drives public policy across the West Coast
Growing up in a small town in Idaho, Lorelei Juntunen ’97 had not spent much time in cities. But when she moved to Parkland to attend PLU, she suddenly had access not only to local cities like Tacoma and Seattle, but also to cities across…
Spiritual Care: Professor Erik Hammerstrom listens and learns during a sabbatical year spent as a hospital chaplain
Global studies and religion professor Erik Hammerstrom has spent his career researching and teaching about the history of Chinese Buddhism. He’s a quintessential teacher, beloved by students for leading engaging discussions, his imaginative project assignments, and planning field trips to nearby temples. It’s hard to…
All flourishing is mutual
Merriam-Webster defines “flourishing” as marked by vigorous and healthy growth. Sounds lovely! Who doesn’t like vigorous and healthy growth? There is a lot to like in this definition, but I think the way we often think about flourishing misses something essential. Flourishing is a significant…
Modernizing Mental Health
PLU professor and psychology department chair Tiffany Artime and her collaborator from Wellesley College Centers for Women are leading a team of researchers and stakeholders who envision a future where evidence-based trauma treatments are integrated into university counseling services, empowering students to thrive. Artime and…
A Will to Lead: Sue Loiland and Jennie Griek ’02 join PLU’s planned giving team
While not new to PLU, Sue Loiland (parent of a 2012 graduate) and Jennie Griek have recently joined the planned giving team, bringing with them extensive experience in major gifts. Planned giving allows donors to make impactful contributions through their estate plans or financial strategies,…
Three students share how scholarships support them in their pursuit to make the world better than how they found it
During the 2023-2024 academic year, 2,345 students received PLU-funded aid, with the average PLU student receiving $37,036 in scholarships. Through scholarship support, donors are part of a network of care that supports students in pursuing their educational goals, unlocking their full potential, and becoming leaders…