Friday's Top Five

We have a lot to be thankful for at Shepherds College, and we want to share those blessings with you. So, every Friday, we plan to produce a list of our top accomplishments, moments, memories, and of course, blessings. Every list will be a little different, but they’ll all communicate the amazing things that are going on at Shepherds College.

Today, we want to share with you the top five most exciting things that have recently happened at Shepherds College:

1. The start-up of our blog!

Shepherds College blog, Time to Fly, went live on June 15. We are eager to see this blog reach more potential students, their parents, and education professionals. This blog will be used to share the stories of the students and faculty at Shepherds College because after all, they are the true face of the college. We hope to introduce you to our teachers through Teacher Tuesdays and the college’s main office staff through the weekly segment, The Office. So, if you haven’t taken the time to peruse the previous posts on our blog, read them and spread the word about Time to Fly.

2. The Class of 2012 has graduated!

June 9 was a bright and beautiful day, the perfect day for seven Shepherds College students to become graduates. After spending three years at Shepherds College, the second graduating class completed their program and received their certificates. Family, friends, and Shepherds College students and staff were there to celebrate with the graduates. It was an emotional day for everyone in attendance as it was easy to see the excitement and sense of accomplishment on the students’ faces. Congratulations, Class of 2012, on a job well done!

3. Photos from the 2012 Commencement Celebration are in!

On the night before graduation, Shepherds College graduates gathered with their families and college staff to celebrate their accomplishments. It was a special time for students and faculty to share their experiences from the last three years. Jim and Cathi Leibforth of Leibforth Photography volunteered their time and services to provide beautiful, professional photography for the students and their families. The Leibforths delivered the disk of original photos to Shepherds yesterday! The photos look wonderful, and we can’t wait to share all of them with you.

4. Shepherds College has been approved for Federal Student Aid!

Shepherds College students are now able to file for federal funding. Just like other college students, families can fill out FAFSA forms and apply for grants and loans to help them offset the cost of tuition. This new accomplishment is huge for the college. It took about 15 months for Shepherds College to receive the federal aid approval. We can’t wait to see how this exciting event will impact our current and future students.

5. Shepherds College is getting some attention!

Between the 2012 graduation and the recent approval for Federal Student Aid, Shepherds College has been generating some attention from various media sources. Check out this article at My Racine County.com to read about the graduation. Read this article in the Racine Journal Times or this article at My Racine County.com to learn more about the FSA approval. Also, check back with us as we plan to see some articles about Shepherds College in other publications in the near future.

As you can see, God has blessed us in several incredible ways in the last few weeks. Join us again soon to see what else we have to be thankful for.

Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.org.

The Office: Opportunity for Prayer

Variety – it’s the spice of life.

We want to make this blog fun and exciting to read. It should be fresh and interesting. So what better way to do that than by incorporating some variety?

We’ve said before that Shepherds College is all about the stories. But these stories cannot be told by just one person. That would be boring and pointless. Think about it. One person couldn’t possibly witness all there is to see and do around Shepherds College campus. And even if he could, people see things differently, and the various ways we view things result in new and different stories. Variety!

With this in mind, we would like to introduce “The Office.” This weekly segment will feature a post from someone in the main college office on campus. Whoever writes the post for the week is sure to have the inside story of what’s going on at Shepherds College.

Today, you will hear from Cathy Harvey, the Administrative Assistant to the Dean. So, enjoy her story of how she’s preparing for the upcoming school year in a very special way.

Posted by Cathy Harvey

I love the stories that come through the Dean’s and the Director’s offices—amazing details of how God provided or opened doors for students and staff to be a part of this miraculous venture.

Cathy Harvey with Jocelyn and Melissa

But now, the students are at home for the summer, so what exactly are we doing?  Parents often ask me if we get a break for the summer.  Well, yes, a little.  We like everyone to take some time off—it’s a much needed rest after a year of challenges.  Most are surprised to hear the office is open all summer, but we need the time to prepare for the next semester and train new employees: teachers, advisors, after-school Residential Life staff, and weekend staff.

Today is particularly quiet, so as the Administrative Assistant, besides responding to parental emails, I am making all the new students’ files and praying for each one as I apply the labels with each of their names.  I am praying that we can do a good work for God and for them while they are here for three short years.  I am praying they will be open and teachable, and most of all, I pray for those who may not know God and how much He loves them and has a plan for their lives.

Every day, I think about what great things I can do for God in my little station.  It’s a big deal to God, and it’s a big deal to me. What can I do TODAY, right where I am in my little corner of Shepherds College, to honor God, use my gifts, lift a load for someone, and bring someone closer to Jesus?  Today, I am praying as I go for all the new students making the first big transition from home to school in Union Grove, Wisconsin.

Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.org.