‘Strong link of three’: PLU graduate’s life — suddenly cut short — is remembered through legacy scholarship
TACOMA, WASH. (Feb. 26, 2018) — Panayotis (Panago) Horton ’12 tattooed a three-link chain on his forearm: one link each for himself, his mother and his brother. The family emigrated from Greece when he was just 2 years old. They were his rock. And although…
PLU honors retirement of 53-year archivist, longest-serving employee with well deserved ‘hullabaloo’
TACOMA, WASH. (Feb. 20, 2018)- The last time Pacific Lutheran University welcomed a new president, Kerstin “Kris” Ringdahl was one of the first people to meet him on Day One. “I was there at 9 o’clock in the morning and talked to him about PLU’s…
MediaLab explores issues of diversity with premiere of documentary series, ‘A World of Difference’
TACOMA, WASH. (Jan. 29, 2018) — Two episodes of a new four-part MediaLab documentary project are set to premiere next month in Seattle. The series, titled “A World of Difference,” explores issues of diversity, including gender, race, immigration and social class. The first two segments,…
PLU alumnus, longtime educational partner of the university named superintendent of the year
TACOMA, WASH. (Dec. 11, 2017)- A Pacific Lutheran University alumnus and a strong partner in the extended Lute family recently earned an exceptional honor from the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA). Frank Hewins ’86, superintendent of Franklin Pierce Schools located in PLU’s backyard, is…
Lutes, local inmates share storytelling experience
TACOMA, WASH. (Oct. 13, 2017)- “We made a magazine!” Taryn Collis exclaimed to a group of Pacific Lutheran University students and several inmates at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. “It’s impressive,” continued Collis, an actor and educator with Seattle-based Freehold Theatre Lab Studio. “Everybody…
Local and international film critics lose their marbles — in a good way — over Lute’s live-action short film
TACOMA, WASH. (Oct. 11, 2017)- In a lively yet ominous steampunk world, a boy and a bully clash in the classic struggle of good and evil. The stakes: bravery and freedom. The battle: a simple game of marbles. Such is the world depicted in a…
Endowment helps Lutes pursue science internships
TACOMA, WASH. (Oct. 6, 2017)- When George and Helen Long reached out to Pacific Lutheran University 10 years ago, all they knew was that they wanted to support the sciences. “George sort of felt like he owed his success and his career to PLU,” said…
Professor to serve as featured speaker at statewide conference aimed at addressing opportunity gap
TACOMA, WASH. (Sept. 27, 2017)- Maria Chavez leads with her own experience when she addresses academic opportunity and achievement. Specifically, she empathizes with students who come from marginalized populations. Chavez, chair and associate professor of politics and government, identifies as Latina. She’s a native Spanish…
Faculty members approach difficult budget cuts in a ‘very PLU way,’ with care and inquiry
TACOMA, WASH. (Sept. 11, 2017)- Kevin O’Brien, dean of the Division of Humanities, acknowledges that programs in his department could be hit hard when Pacific Lutheran University approves final cutbacks in the coming months. Still, he’s as committed as ever to the institution’s mission. On…
PLU debuts inclusive space for prayer, meditation
TACOMA, WASH. (Aug. 31, 2017)- The Rev. Jen Rude, campus pastor, says interfaith work lies at the heart of what it means to be a Lutheran institution of learning. The new Multifaith Meditation and Prayer Space is one in a series of efforts to acknowledge…
Lute reflects on his Japanese-American identity through pilgrimage, community event
TACOMA, WASH. (Aug. 29, 2017)- The names of 7,500 Japanese Americans will soon be displayed at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, just 9 miles from Pacific Lutheran University. The banners bearing the names of those interned at the Puyallup Assembly Center during World War…
Lute lands at Johns Hopkins University for NASA internship
TACOMA, WASH. (Aug. 10, 2016)- When Justin DeMattos ’19 enters his junior year at Pacific Lutheran University in a few weeks, he will be coming off an internship experience that’s out of this world (quite literally). DeMattos, a physics major and computer science minor, traveled…