It might be difficult to believe, but the end of the academic year is just a few short weeks away!

April is always a bit of a whirlwind with special events such as the Student Recognition Awards Ceremony, the Athletics Awards Banquet, Scholars Days, the Senior Soirée, and more that honor the achievements of our students.

These special events culminate in the Sending and Blessing Ceremony on Friday, May 10, and Commencement on Saturday, May 11. Between these events and the fun and revelry that is Courtyard Carni, our campus-wide carnival on the last day of classes, there’s much to celebrate and enjoy on campus.

In addition to the special events, our teams are busy working to ensure meaningful, missional student opportunities and experiences this summer and next academic year. We invite you into these preparations by sharing important dates and information regarding on-campus housing and the federal student aid application (FAFSA). We’re also excited to share inspiring stories about student-faculty-local community collaborations related to climate action and last weekend’s President’s Day of Service. 

We hope you enjoy reading this edition of the newsletter! Thank you as always for entrusting us with your incredible students. It is our joy and privilege to work for and with them as they grow into faithful servants and ethical leaders and make all of us who support them incredibly proud. 

If your student is graduating this May, congratulations (you had a lot to do with their success) and thank you for your partnership! For everyone else, know we’ll be savoring these last few special weeks with your student and spending the summer curating another great year for them and for you, the parents and families who help make it all possible.

In gratitude,



Kirsten Gabriel
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
Murphy Center, Room 226
608-796-3840
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This year, students in one of Viterbo's core curriculum mission seminars have put learning into action.

Students in Cameron Kiersch's Planetary Health Promotion class have twice presented to university leadership to make the case that Viterbo needs a climate action plan aligned with the Vatican's 2015 environmental encyclical.

After conducting a campus climate challenge this month, students will present again to the university cabinet and deans to make a closing argument. Read more about how Kiersch's mission seminar grew out of his longtime concern about the intersection of personal and planetary health.

Athletics Successes

Viterbo's women's volleyball and dance teams both returned to national championship competition this year, with eight members of the dance team and five volleyball players garnering All-America honors.

Meanwhile, the track and field got its outdoor season off to a big start by competing in the Texas Relays, the nation's second largest track and field competition. Jalen Anderson (pictured here with coach Devon Montgomery) and two other V-Hawks qualified for outdoor nationals in Texas. Montgomery also competed in the 110 hurdles in a quest to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team. Catch up on the latest in Viterbo sports news on the V-Hawks website.

A Viterbo alumna with strong family ties to the institution, Polly Pappadopoulos began working for Viterbo while she was still a student, teaching voice lessons. These days, she is the assistant director of liturgical worship, ministries, and chapel programs for Viterbo University campus ministry and the director of the St. Francis Choir at the San Damiano Chapel.

Read Pappadopoulos's Q&A