2017 ANNUAL REPORT - The Principia · 2019-12-20 · 2 principia 2017 annual report student gender ratios 405principia school 477principia college principia school principia college

2017ANNUAL REPORT

MISSION The Principia shall seek to serve the Cause of Christian Science through appropriate channels open to it as an educational institution.

Principia is a Christian Science community of practice where all members are students, teachers, and healers. Through transformative opportunities, a challenging curriculum, and character education based on the teachings of Christian Science, we examine, test, and strengthen our faith while developing the skills and understanding requisite for excellence. As global, outward-looking, inspired learners, we serve and better the world.

Principia has identified five core goals as priorities in the current strategic plan. We expect to realize our vision for 2020 by focusing in concrete, measurable ways on these goals:

• Strengthen Educational Excellence• Promote Christian Science-Based Character Education• Nurture Success Beyond Principia• Grow Enrollment• Steward Resources Responsibly

VISION

CORE GOALS

1PRINCIPIA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 By the Numbers

4 Academics

8 Experiential Learning

12 The Arts

14 Global Learning

18 Community Service

20 Award Winners

22 Athletics

24 Lifelong Learning

26 Engagement

28 Finances

Dear Friends,

I am delighted to share with you this overview of the achieve-ments and progress that took place across Principia during the 2016–2017 fiscal year (July 1, 2016–June 30, 2017). I hope these pages convey the energy and inspiration that fuel progress on both campuses. I see evidence of that progress every day.

Across all levels, students are deepening their understanding of themselves and their world. This past year, the Bible came alive for Upper School students studying in Israel and the West Bank (p. 15). College students traced the path that students of ancient Greece took to listen to Plato (p. 16). And fourth graders created a wax museum to share their study of famous Missourians (p.6). This is very engaging stuff!

Learning continues to become experiential and more collabora-tive at all levels here. Throughout the School and College, stu-dents work in teams to apply their understanding to real-world problems (pp. 7 and 9). In the process, they cultivate communi-cation and collaboration skills essential to success (p. 11).

As always, this Annual Report shares information and statistics on everything from enrollment to finances. This year, we’ve also included highlights from a survey (conducted in spring 2017) of College alumni who graduated three, five, and 10 years ago (p. 2). The high response rate (58 percent) provided a wealth of insight that will help in future planning.

As each page of this report proves, alumni, donors, and friends are crucial partners in the work propelling Principia forward. Thank you for the many ways you are supporting us in thisimportant work.

Sincerely,

Marshall IngwersonChief Executive

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2 PRINCIPIA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

STUDENT GENDER RATIOS

405PRINCIPIA SCHOOL

477PRINCIPIA COLLEGE

PRINCIPIA SCHOOL

PRINCIPIA COLLEGE

51% Male

50% Male

49% Female

50% Female

NUMBER OF STUDENTS 2017 ALUMNI SURVEY OF GRADS 10 YEARS OUT

2017 ALUMNI SURVEY OF GRADS 5 YEARS OUT

PRINCIPIA HEDS CONSORTIUM OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

100% 97%Most faculty were genuinely interested in students.


94% 85%

Most faculty were genuinely interested in helping students grow in more than just academic areas.


94% 90%

Most faculty were willing to spend time outside of class to discuss issues of interest and importance to students.


86% 74%

I developed a close, personal relationship with at least one faculty member.


80% 72%

My experience at Principia contributed to my knowledge, skills, and personal development with regard to teamwork.

(Stats are based on the alumni survey conducted by theHigher Education Data Sharing (HEDS) Consortium.)

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2017 COLLEGE GRADS WHO AGREE OR STRONGLY AGREE THAT, WHILE AT PRINCIPIA, THEY HAVE GROWN . . .

NUMBER OF FULL-TIME FACULTY

STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO

PRINCIPIA SCHOOL

AT PRINCIPIA SCHOOL AND PRINCIPIA COLLEGE

53 61PRINCIPIA COLLEGE

(Stats are based on Principia’s College Senior Survey.)

68%

67%

OF UPPER SCHOOL FACULTY HOLD ADVANCED DEGREES

OF COLLEGE FACULTY HOLD THE HIGHEST DEGREE IN THEIR FIELD

PRINCIPIA UPPER SCHOOL BOARDERSPRINCIPIA UPPER SCHOOL DAY STUDENTS

59%41%

84%IN THEIR ABILITY TO NAVIGATE

ETHICAL DILEMMAS

88%

86%

IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR MORAL VALUES

2017 COLLEGE GRADS WHO AGREE OR STRONGLY AGREE THAT, UPON GRADUATING . . .

THEY EXPECT TO PRACTICE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE


Scholarships Honor High Achievement

Principia awarded academic scholarships totaling $6,235,500 to 43 Upper School and 342 College students in 2016–2017.


A Sampling of College Acceptances American Musical and Dramatic

AcademyBeloit CollegeBelmont UniversityCal Poly PomonaConcordia University IrvineGeorge Washington UniversityIndiana UniversityKansas City Art InstituteKing’s College LondonMissouri University of Science

and TechnologyPennsylvania State University Pomona College Principia CollegePurdue UniversityQueen Mary University of LondonRhodes CollegeSavannah College of Art and

DesignSt. Olaf CollegeUniversity of California, IrvineUniversity of California, Santa

CruzUniversity of DenverUniversity of Missouri–ColumbiaVirginia TechWorcester Polytechnic Institute

Senior Projects Span a Wide Array

For three weeks each spring, Upper School seniors delve into topics of individ-ual interest, working with a sponsor and an “expert” in his or her field of explo-ration. Students begin considering project ideas in the fall, pitch their plans to a panel of students and community members, and write a detailed proposal. This year’s projects ranged widely—from ocean-mammal research in California to a video documentary on a unique public-private conservation partnership in Mozambique. Campus-based projects included advanced work in ceramics, building solar shutters, and interning in Principia’s Marketing Department.

94%OF THE UPPER SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2017 ENROLLEDIN COLLEGE

5COLLEGE-CREDIT CLASSES

ARE OFFERED AT THE UPPER SCHOOL


91%COLLEGE

FRESHMAN-TO- SOPHOMORE

RETENTION RATEcompared to a 76% national average at private colleges

Fourth Grade Creates a “Wax Museum”

Fourth graders improved their research, writing, artistic, and oral presentation skills during a multiweek, interdisciplinary unit on Missouri history. Each student chose a famous Show-Me State figure and learned about that individual’s life, achievements, and area of focus: politics (President Truman), ragtime music (Scott Joplin), Native American culture(Sacred Sun), aviation (Charles Lindbergh), and even baseball (Yogi Berra, pictured above).

After writing and memorizing scripts about their person, figuring out costumes, and creating visual aids, the students staged their very own wax museum in the Lower School Gym. Springing to life at the tap of a button, the “wax figures” shared well-researched, well-rehearsed speeches about their histories and achievements. “It’s a lot to ask of a 10-year-old—to research, write, memorize, and present to a wide audience,” noted teacher Denise Mouser (US’85, C’89). But her students more than stepped up to the challenge. Museum visitors (parents as well as students and teachers from other grades) were educated, entertained, and very impressed!

74%COLLEGE FIVE-YEARGRADUATION RATE

compared to a 58% nationalaverage at private colleges


Innovation Challenges Put Students’ Business Ideas to the Test

A total of 22 College students pitched business ideas during two Shark Tank-style innovation challenges in the 2016–2017 school year. Both challenges were sponsored by the recently launched Principia College Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which is supported by Don (US’64, C’68) and Christina (C’66) Koch and by the College’s 50th Reunion Classes of 1966 and 1967.

At each challenge event, winners were chosen by a panel of professional entrepreneurs who offered sugges-tions about marketability, cost, potential competition, manufacturing, and other issues related to launching a business. (Earlier in the semester, a series of talks and workshops helped students consider branding, designing a website for their products and services, and legal protections for a new venture.) Among the winning ideas to emerge from the innovation challenges were a mobile app to help high schoolers organize college applications, customized water bottles made from sustainable materials, and a green-roof initiative that tested an urban agriculture business model by building the first green roof on campus.

Prin@thePolls

Approximately 75 students in political science and mass communication classes participated in the Col-lege’s Prin@thePolls live election night broadcasts on Principia Internet Radio and PCTV. New this year was the addition of a livestreamed broadcast on YouTube.

Along with reporting poll results, students in Consti-tutional Law broadcast background on the Supreme Court and its relationship with the executive branch, and those in Pulpit and Politics shared research on the partisan leanings of different religious traditions.

Middle School Evening of Excellence

At the end of both semesters last year, the Middle School Center was transformed into a showcase of learning. Every wall, window, and table—and even the ceiling!—displayed students’ in-depth study and high-quality project work.

The evening started with an exhibition walk-through, with parents, accompanied by their students, visiting the various subject and project stations—science, social studies, lan-guage arts, mathematics, integrated studies, and Spanish. Visitors then watched on-stage student presentations, including slides and videos about projects and classwork. Parents appreciated getting a good look at their students’ learning, and students enjoyed sharing their work. It was a perfect way to conclude productive semesters.


Curiosity Drives Outdoor Learning

Kindergarten and first-grade students put their communication skills into practice on a weekly basis last year as they headed to their particular spot in Principia’s East Woods to note changes to the trees, shrubs, and leaves over time–and to wonder why and how these changes were taking place.

“We encourage the children to draw, label, and note in their journals what they hear, smell, and see and to write down questions,” says first-grade teacher Rissa Arens (US’92, C’95). After discussing what they’d recorded, students headed back to the classroom to research answers to their questions. Opportunities like this to let children guide their instruction foster a lifelong love of learning. EX

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Upper SchoolStudents Get On-Site Research Experience

In January, students taking Field and Natural History found them-selves knee-deep in snow at the renowned Teton Science Schools in Jackson, Wyoming, where they dove into a week of hands-on scientific research, analysis, and reporting.

Working in groups, students col-lected and analyzed data on three field-based research topics: 1) the gait and sinuosity of predators and prey, 2) the thermal index of snow, and 3) fox activity in settled vs. remote areas. For their final presentations, the groups tied their own findings to published research.

Spring Intensives—Connecting People, Place, and Purpose

The School regularly connects students to their local environment and community in order to infuse learning with immediacy, relevance, and an expanded sense of possibilities. Many such opportunities for “place-based learning” across the curriculum took place last year, including experiential learning weeks—or “spring intensives”—that helped freshmen and sopho-mores take advantage of all that the city of St. Louis has to offer.

Freshmen kicked off the week with a day of neighborhood activities near Principia’s original “Page and Belt” campus. After that, mornings began with class and discussion in the city’s midtown area; then groups split off to delve into their topic areas—art, science, government, or homelessness.

Sophomores designed individualized programs exploring higher education, careers, and service opportunities in and around the city—while considering their goals for the future and how best to achieve them.

In the final week of school, all freshmen and sophomores delivered presen-tations about the week’s activities and what they had learned.


College Hosts Science Conference

Principia College hosted the 2016 St. Louis Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Retreat, with Principiascience faculty and a dozen students welcoming over 170 research scientists from area institutions. Dr. Ruth Shaw, from the University of Minnesota, delivered the keynote on the adaptive process in wild plant popula-tions.

Principia professors Dr. Scott Eckert (C’79) and Dr. Greg Bruland (C’97) spoke on the importance of undergradu-ate research, noting that all biology faculty members at the College engage student researchers. In addition, two Principia students presented posters on their research.

College Solar Car Team Places Second and Fifth

In July 2016, Principia finished second in the Formula Sun Grand Prix in Wampum, Pennsylvania, the track event used to qualify cars for the American Solar Challenge (ASC) cross-country race. This was the first time Principia has qualified for the ASC on the opening day of the three-day Grand Prix.

Following the Grand Prix, teams headed into the eight-day 1,975-mile ASC road race, traveling through seven states from Brecksville, Ohio, to Hot Springs, South Dakota. Principia placed fifth, one of only five teams still operating exclusively on solar power on the final day of the race. At the end of that day, however, Ra 9 had to be trailered to the finish.

This year’s challenging route, designed to celebrate the Centennial of the National Park Service, included high- density areas, extensive elevation changes, and days with heavy cloud cover and rain. “Our team did an excellent job and stretched the battery pack as far as it would go,” said one of the student drivers. “We made it over 1,886 miles just on solar power.” Team members also remarked on the camaraderie of the event, not only among the Principia group but with their competitors. “We talked during stage stops and helped teams in need,” one sophomore noted.

Moot Court Team Wins Numerous Awards

In early March, Principians brought back several awards—and valuable public- speaking experience—from the Model Illinois Government Moot Court competi-tion in Springfield, Illinois: First Place, Best Team; Third Place, Best Team; Best Attorney; and Best First-Year Attorney

Patterned after law school moot court competitions, Model Illinois Moot Court is an annual, statewide, intercollegiate simulation of oral arguments before the Illinois State Supreme Court. This year’s case involved a First Amendment issue in both federal and state law concerning an inflammatory citizen post on the Facebook page of a sheriff’s department. Students researched the case prior to the competition, preparing arguments on both sides, which they presented be-fore panels of attorneys and law student “judges,” gaining valuable experience performing under pressure.

Upper Schoolers DemonstrateEntrepreneurial Spirit

Since the introduction of an Entre-preneurship class for freshmen this past year, a spirit of innovation has been flourishing at the Upper School. As students identify and set up both for-profit and social enterprises, they cultivate a range of skills that will benefit them in all areas of life.

As teacher Brian Webster explains, “Writing and developing other com-munication skills are essential parts of the course. Plus, students are provided with plenty of presentation opportunities before audiences and a camera. They learn the importance of planning before executing an idea, and they have to practice teamwork and team management.”

Along with fine-tuning skills, some students met with market success. At a craft fair, two businesses—Amanzi, which produces water-bottle sleeves, and Sweetatious, which creates hand-painted flower pots—sold out and took orders for later.

5THE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WHERE COLLEGE STUDENTS INTERNED, SUPPORTED BY

STIPENDS FROM PRINCIPIA

69%OF THE COLLEGE CLASS OF 2017 COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE INTERNSHIP



Upper School Artists Earn Widespread Recognition

Two Upper School students won special awards at the local Young Artists’ Showcase. In addition, senior Storey Pearson’s digital work (left) won a Gold Key in Missouri’s 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. And one of senior Marlaina Mathisen’s ceramic pieces was se-lected for the 2017 National K–12 Ceramics Exhibition.

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New School Performing Arts Center Opens

The fully renovated Performing Arts Center was completed just in time for final rehearsals of Cinderella, the 2016–2017 Upper School musical. Covering an area of over 12,000 square feet, the new Center includes these fabulous facilities:

• A large symphonic band practice and rehearsal space• Three dance studios• A large choral practice room, with breakout rooms for smaller ensembles• A dedicated percussion section practice area (with extra soundproofing!)• Changing rooms with shower facilities• World-class acoustics


Voney Art Center Undergoes Extensive Renovations

The last school year was a time of eager anticipation for studio art professors and students. While working in temporary quarters, they kept an eye on the progress of the full-scale renovation of Voney Art Center. In serious need of updates, the building was built in the 1960s, when the department offered classes primarily in two and three-dimensional art; the avail-ability of energy-efficient building materials and systems was minimal; and the revolutions in design, graphic, and video technology were a couple of decades away!

Still perched atop the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, the renovated Voney melds with the beauty of the site. It now fea-tures areas for specialized equipment and tools; dedicated work and storage spaces for seniors during their final semes-ter of capstone work; new faculty studio/offices; and a bright, soaring gallery with the lighting, temperature controls, and security required for Principia to host high-caliber traveling exhibits and to effectively showcase student and faculty work. The extensive renovations proceeded according to schedule, and the beautiful new space welcomed students and faculty at the start of the fall 2017 semester.

College’s Godspell a Joyful Success

Healing the deaf, preaching to the poor, teaching by para-ble—the story of Jesus came vividly to life in the Theatre and Dance Department’s springtime production of the classic musical Godspell, based on the Gospel of Mat-thew. Set in 2022, the production made plain the impor-tance now—and in the future—of overcoming dissension by learning from and following Jesus’ example.

Although the play is an ensemble piece, two actors were selected to audition for the Irene Ryan Scholarship, a sig-nificant national award. They will also prepare audition material to present at the regional festival of the Kenne-dy Center American College Theater Festival in January.


Kindergarten Goes Global

Kindergarten teacher Lori Lines (US’73, C’77) and Prin-cipia College Global Studies Director Dr. Sally Steindorf (US’93, C’97, above) co-led a unit that introduced kinder-garteners to cultures, traditions, languages, and symbols from every continent. Students also learned key concepts of global citizenship (in simplified language): 1) being curious and learning about the world; 2) respecting different people and cultures; and 3) doing good for the world. Parents got involved, too, helping their children explore a country significant to their family.

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2016–2017 International School Trips

Costa RicaIsrael and the West BankDominican RepublicSouth Africa

2016–2017 College Study Abroad and Special Programs

Greece and Italy Czech Republic Paris, Vienna, and Prague IrelandSlovenia and CroatiaBerlin ScotlandSwitzerland

63%OF THE COLLEGE CLASS

OF 2017 PARTICIPATED IN A PRINCIPIA-SPONSORED

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE


Israel Trip Unlocks the Scriptures for Students

The 28 Upper School students in the Advanced Bible Seminar prepared diligent-ly for their spring-break trip to Israel and the West Bank. Each student selected a specific location from the route they would travel and researched the history and accompanying biblical events that took place there. They then shared their findings in a written “guide” to the location and its importance. All the guides were compiled into a class travel journal that provided useful background and relevant references for the group’s 10-day trip.

Thanks to this thorough preparation, students were much less intimidated by the Bible’s language and far more comfortable unraveling its symbolism and metaphors by the time they landed in Tel Aviv. Each day of the trip, students immersed themselves in Bible history—re-reading and discussing accounts of spiritual discovery and healing at the very sites where the ancient prophets and Jesus and his disciples lived and worked. In addition, seminar teacher and trip leader Evan MacDonald (US’94, C’06) and Bible Program Coordinator Kathy Merrill (C’72) delivered 20-minute talks at specific locations—such as Mounts Carmel and Tabor, Caesarea Philippi and the Pool of Siloam, Bethany and the pool of Bethesda—that brought alive the events that occurred there.

Once back on campus, each student prepared a written exegesis on his or her selected story, incorporating understanding of the original Hebrew or Greek terms and information from Bible commentaries, dictionaries, Mrs. Eddy’s works, and relevant articles from the Christian Science periodicals. They then connected the story they had researched to a modern-day challenge, transfer-ring their understanding to help metaphysically address a current world need. For their final project, students shared their paper and an oral presentation in-corporating their metaphysical findings, on-site video footage, and trip images.

Summing up the impact of the experience, one student likened it to a “call back to the essence of Christianity . . . [to a] really abundant faith and love for God.”


Ambassador Rick Barton Visits

In fall 2016, Ambassador Rick Barton, visiting the College as an Annenberg Scholar, taught a World Focus Seminar, modeled after a course he teaches at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Barton’s career spans 40 countries and numerous posts, including serving as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, where he built alliances in countries such as Myanmar, Kenya, and Honduras in order to decrease violence. He told students the high-lights of his career are “making a difference, getting to know people and places, and consistently getting to reform and improve how the U.S. solves problems.”

Exploring Art and Philosophy on the Greece and Italy Abroad

During the fall 2016 Greece and Italy Abroad, led by Dan Kistler (C’79), Associate Professor of Studio Art, and Chris Young, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, students visited some of the most notable archaeological sites and art museums in the world, including the Acropolis in Athens, the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, and the Colosse-um in Rome. The abroad also included a component focused on Plato, Aristotle, and pre-Socratic thinkers—a natural fit for traveling in Greece. “Thinking through the ideas of these giants of Western thought in the ancient city of Athens and on the southern coast of Italy allowed students to feel the weight of history around them and not just read it from a book,” Young noted. In fact, the group walked the same path that students of the ancient Academy took to hear Plato!

Throughout the trip, students used drawing, painting, and photography to record their impressions. The following semes-ter, they shared their artwork in an on-campus exhibit. Along with the art they created, students took away life lessons. As one student put it, “The abroad has shown me how to be an intentional learner, and for that I am truly grateful.”

Berlin Field Experience Provides a Firsthand Look at German History and Contemporary Culture

For students taking Jurisprudence, Berlin provided a dynamic backdrop to better understand the enormous sociopolitical upheavals in 20th-century Germany— upheavals that reshaped politics, culture, art, and law.

This spring-break field experience, optional for students enrolled in the class, included visits to notable sights such as the Mauermuseum at Checkpoint Charlie, Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe, German Resistance Memorial Center, and Topography of Terror Museum.

Students met with Suzanne Baer, a judge on the Federal Constitutional Court, and with Vincent-Immanuel Herr (C’13), who shared insights about his work as co-founder of the Institute of Europe, an organization dedicated to youth empowerment.

Dubbing themselves #PrinInBerlin, the group took full responsibility for a slice of the itinerary and planned a student-directed learning day in galleries and museums. Most evenings, they experienced contemporary German culture at a cinema, jazz club, or symphony concert.

Far from a stereotypical spring-break beach bash, this trip enriched students’ learning while still providing a break from routine.

Students Learn On-Site in Switzerland with the Leadership Institute

Host to the highest number of international organizations in the world, Geneva, Switzerland, proved an ideal setting for students on the Principia College Leadership Institute’s Leaders Across Borders trip. During two weeks in early summer, students had extraordinary access to a wide range of high-level leaders—senior executives and officials from the World Trade Organization, World Wildlife Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Caterpillar Corporation, Nestlé, and the International Federation of the Red Cross, among others.

In many cases, students met individuals who are dealing with some of the world’s most pressing issues. “Speakers were quite candid, taking students through not just what things look like on paper, but also how things really work, and how challenging it can be to manage worldwide organizations,” explained David Wold (US’79, C’84), Director of the Institute.

Many students noted that humility, authenticity, and selflessness were common characteristics among the leaders they met—a key takeaway for this group of student leaders. “The lessons we learned were invaluable,” one participant said, “and I hope to take all of the wisdom I gained and apply it to my current and future teams.”



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Y Global Days of Service

Alumni and friends from coast to coast—and students on both campuses—joined in the second annual Principia Global Days of Service. Throughout the month of April, groups (organized primarily by Principia Clubs) made a difference in their communities.

Volunteers included Acorn groups in St. Louis and Dallas who made crafts for their local Christian Science nursing facility; alumni in St. Louis and Chicago who helped at animal shelters; groups in Arizona and Florida who sorted and distributed goods at food banks; and a Seattle-area group that beautified the grounds of their local Christian Science nursing facility. Alto-gether, over 450 people contributed almost 1,000 hours of service!

Congressional Award Winners

Every year, primarily through their participation in the DiscoveryBound Na-tional Leadership Council program, several Principia Upper School students earn Congressional Awards.

In February, Upper School juniors and Illinois residents Kiona-Mei Sperr (on the left) and Maria Thompson, traveled to the College campus (in Elsah, Il-linois) to receive their Congressional Award Bronze Medals from their local Congressional Representative—Rodney Davis (R-Ill.).

“You’ve made a positive impact on others’ lives while earning this award,” Representative Davis noted, referring to the 100 hours apiece of community service contributed by the students. Acknowledging the girls’ hard work and dedication, he added, “Our country needs young leaders like you!”

Serving Others—from Alton to South Africa

In partnership with Pride Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to communi-ty beautification, Howard House sponsored its annual and much- appreciated service trip to paint houses in nearby Alton, Illinois.

Working farther afield, more than 20 Upper School students traveled to South Africa on the Simunye Project service trip. Before leaving, each student raised at least $750 for in-country projects. Once there, they worked with local organizations that provide educational, health, and welfare support to children.

Fall Athletes Begin by Giving Back

From cleaning the Equestrian Center at Beverly Farm, a residential community for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, to doing landscaping work at the branch church in Elsah, fall athletes at the College continued the tradition of returning to campus a week ahead of preseason training to serve in the community.

Other projects included weeding and repair of picnic tables at Pere Marquette State Park (right) and helping at Peace Haven Association, a Christian Science nursing facility in St. Louis, where student-athletes interacted with residents, did yard work, and led a hymn sing.



Marshall Fielding Named Outstanding Student Leader

In fall 2016, Marshall Fielding (C’17) was honored as a St. Louis County Outstanding Student Leader, in recognition of his academic achievements, school participation, and leadership skills. A member of the Upper School robotics team, he often took the lead in problem solving and making presen-tations, as well as in mentoring newer team members. He also played trom-bone in the Upper School Concert and Jazz Bands. As part of this recogni-tion, Marshall participated in a daylong leadership workshop at Washington University in St. Louis. He is now a freshman at Cal Poly Pomona.

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SAnnika Erickson Honored by the Lincoln Academy

A computer science major and business administration minor, Annika Erick-son (C’17) was Principia College’s 2016 Lincoln Academy Student Laureate. Her senior year, Annika served as house president and co-directed the Public Affairs Conference. As a junior, she led a coding team at the Master-Card Masters of Code event in St. Louis, where Principia won first place and advanced to the World Finale in Silicon Valley. Annika also organized the College’s first web-building hackathon (building websites with experts for 24 hours). She is now the New Product Integration Engineer at Digilock.


Dr. Brian Roberts Wins College Teaching Excellence Award

This year’s recipient of the Horace Edwin Harper Jr. and Evelyn Wright Harper Award for Teaching Excellence is Dr. Brian Roberts (C’88). Known for his project-centered learning initiatives, Roberts teaches political science with a focus on American government and politics.

During presidential election years, his students conductexit polls in nearby communities and provide live radio coverage of election results. In January 2016, he led a field program to Iowa and New Hampshire, where stu-dents studied the presidential caucuses and primaries, hearing from most of the candidates running at the time.

Last year, Roberts was chosen by the Council of Inde-pendent Colleges and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to participate in a special summer seminar titled The 20th-Century Presidency, led by Bancroft Prize-winning author and historian Dr. Robert Dallek. The multidisciplinary seminar explored character-istics of 20th-century presidential leadership, including several individual presidents and their presidencies.

Sustainability Class Wins State Award

A food-waste reduction campaign implemented by the Upper School Sustainability class won 2nd place in the statewide Green Schools Quest, run by the Missouri Gateway Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The School Dining Room already composts food waste, which reduces Principia’s overall amount of trash destined for landfills. But the students wanted to take it one step fur-ther and reduce the amount of food going into the compost bin. To establish a baseline, they weighed the compost bins in the fall and calculated that 980 lbs. of food was wasted over a period of 14 days. That spurred them to set the following goals: reduce food waste; raise awareness about how individual choices impact larger issues; and get other students excited about composting.

A combination of peer education, social media updates (including a Clean Plate Club Instagram account) and inter- House competition helped reduce Dining Room waste by 21 lbs. per week, and post-project surveys reported high rates of change in students’ attitudes toward food waste.


Upper Schoolers Win at State

Track and FieldSenior Corey Carter (above left) won his second State championship—completing the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.69 seconds, a new School record. In addition, he took 2nd place in the 200 m dash (the event in which he placed 1st last year). Principians also placed 3rd in the boys’ 4 x 800 m relay and 8th in the boys’ 4 x 400.

Girls’ Varsity SoccerGirls’ soccer took 3rd place at State, finishing the season with a 15–6 record. After losing in semifinals to the eventual State champions in a heartbreaking, last-second corner kick, they scored a decisive 3–0 victory in the 3rd-place playoff.

WrestlingSenior Caleb Kelly (above right) won 3rd place at State in wrestling (120-pound class), adding to his 4th- and 3rd-place wins in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

College Tennis Victories

The men’s and women’s tennis teams won their respective St. Louis Intercol-legiate Athletic Conference Champi-onships—the second straight year for the women and fourth straight year for the men.

Principia also captured the Women’s and Men’s Player of the Year, Men’s Newcomer of the Year, and Men’s Coach of the Year Awards.AT

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Winning Competitions—and Compliments

The Upper School Panthers represented Principia well last year—on the score-board and in sportsmanship. Regarding the latter, a parent/coach from a competing school praised Principia for cultivating student-athletes who set the standard for attitude and sportsmanship.

With regard to scoreboard victories, the girls’ varsity basketball team won 2nd place in Districts. In addition, senior Caitlyn Demaree ended her final season of high school play as the second-highest all-time scorer for Principia with 1,340 points. She ranked 2nd in the Metro League for total points scored (478) and for three-point shooting (34.2 percent).

Boys varsity soccer and varsity baseball both won 2nd place in Districts. It was the baseball’s team first appearance in District finals in 19 years!

NCAA Division IIITop-10 Rankings Nate Richards (C’18, above) finished 5th in the nation in the indoor 5000 m.

Shane Witters Hicks (C’18, below) finished 7th in the nation in the 3000 m steeplechase.

Both men are All-Americans.

Student Athletes Honored for Academic Excellence

At the Upper School, 68 students received scholar-athlete recognition by earn-ing a varsity letter and a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the semester in which theylettered. To be eligible for this honor, students must also demonstrate a high level of citizenship, sportsmanship, and leadership.

At the College, the national sport-specific governing bodies awarded academichonors to the following Principia teams: volleyball, baseball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving. A number of players received individual academic recognition as well.

In addition, these four teams won St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Awards: men’s cross country, men’s soccer, volleyball, and men’s outdoor track and field.

Learning—A Never-Ending Endeavor

With both campus-based and travel options, Principia Lifelong Learning (PLL) makes it easy and enjoyable to explore new interests and deepen existing ones. All PLL faculty have experience in the courses they teach and trips they lead—and they’re all Christian Scientists. So adult learners gain not only knowledge but an inspired perspective on whatever topic they’re exploring.

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2016–2017 Trips

• Scotland• Boston• Alaska• Cuba• Adriatic Countries (Italy,

Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia)

• San Francisco• Nepal• Ireland

Summer Sessioners

Along with the perennial favorites among classes and professors, Summer Ses-sion 2017, which took place June 10–24 on the College campus, included sev-eral new options. Most notable among these was a special Bible Focus program with so many courses that students could fill their day with Bible classes—and many did just that.

In all, 25 faculty offered 41 classes to 155 students, including 30 first-time attendees. As always, the flexibility of Summer Session allowed students to de-sign their days according to the classes and activities that most intrigued them. Some focused primarily on creative endeavors, while others learned about tech-nologies that were new to them. No matter how Summer Sessioners decided to stretch themselves, they found support from teachers and classmates alike.

Our Volunteers Are Essential Partners in All We Do!

Alumni and friends support Principia on a daily basis by volunteering in a wide range of capacities. They organize local events, plan class reunion activities, meet with prospective students, and serve as class agents. This year, over 490 volunteers lent a hand to help Principia, and we’re so grateful they did! Here’s a breakdown of some of the ways they served: 200 Principia Club Board mem-bers, 86 reunion organizers, 196 class agents, and nine Alumni Association Board members.

To learn more about the variety of volunteer opportunities available, visit www.principiaalumni.org/volunteer.EN

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36%THE INCREASE IN CONTRIBUTIONS

OVER LAST YEAR—FOR A TOTAL OF MORE THAN

$12.9M

Progress Propelled by Donor Support

Countless learning opportunities and immeasurable spiritual growth took place at Principia over the last school year. Every gift to Principia—no matter the size—supported this progress.

During the past fiscal year (July 1, 2016–June 30, 2017), 3,955 generous benefactors contributed $12,902,795 to Principia (not including bequests). Donations earmarked for Annual Giving priorities accounted for $2,802,422 of that amount. These priorities include student aid, athletics, sustainability education, experiential learning, and educational trips. In addition, the College’s Institute for the Metaphysics of Physics and Leadership Institute rely on Annual Giving to equip the quantum physics lab, train student leaders, and much more. We are grateful to report that both participation and contribu-tions increased last year, with 25 percent of College alumni contributing and overall donations up by 36 percent. Thirty-six percent of the past fiscal year’s donors were members of Principia’s two leadership-level giving societies, the Clarence and Minnie Morey Howard Society and the 1898 Legacy Society. Howard Society members contribute at least $1,000 annually. Legacy Society members have designated Principia as a beneficiary in their long-term giving plans. This fiscal year, 799 donors qualified for the Howard Society and 744 were members of the Legacy Society.

Connecting Principians around the World

Principians span the globe, with 14,180 alumni around the world. College alumni alone live in 62 countries! And in the U.S., England, and Canada, 55 Principia Clubs, with more than 800 club members, help alums stay connected through a range of activities, including Christmas Sings, picnics, student musical tours, speakers’ events, sports games, networking opportunities, and more.

6,198NUMBER OF ATTENDEES AT CLUB EVENTS IN 2016–2017

116NUMBER OF PRINCIPIA CLUB

EVENTS IN 2016–2017


HOW THE BUDGET IS FUNDEDFigures in millions

HOW THE BUDGET IS SPENTFigures in millions

n $5.6 College TRB* (after financial aid)n $1.1 School TRB* (after financial aid)n $4.4 Other Incomen $10.6 Current Gifts and Unrestricted Fundsn $46.8 Endowment Draw

*Tuition, Room, and Board

n $42.4 Direct Educational Costs n $12 Administrative Costsn $11.4 Capital Projectsn $2.7 Other

Funding Principia

Principia remains committed to providing an exceptional educational experi-ence for qualified students. In 2016–2017, the School and College gave $19.2 million in financial aid through scholarships and grants.

With a 2016–2017 fiscal year budget of $68.5 million, payments from students and their families covered just 18 percent of expenses. The endowment funded 67 percent of the budget. Contributions and other income made up the remain-ing 15 percent.

The endowment’s value as of June 30, 2017, (fiscal year end) was approximately $609.7 million, and it had a net return of 13.29 percent. While Principia’s endow-ment draw is higher than that of most institutions, it reflects our commitment to providing an excellent, spiritually based education—regardless of a family’s economic circumstances. Balancing current needs with proper stewardship for the future undergirds all financial decisions at Principia.

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13201 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63131www.principia.edu

Your gift bolsters the character education and spiritual growth of current and future students. Thank you for your ongoing support!

www.principiagiving.org

INVEST IN PRINCIPIA

Documents

2017 ANNUAL REPORT - The Principia · 2019-12-20 · 2 principia 2017 annual report student gender ratios 405principia school 477principia college principia school principia college