The Valpo Core Reader collects and honors excellent writing from Valparaiso University students who have been through the Valpo Core Program the previous year. These essays address a wide variety of texts and topics and include many genres of writing, including argumentative papers, personal narratives, and more. Main themes are drawn from the curriculum of the Core Program, which is arranged according to important aspects of human experience: origins, education, love, leadership and service, work and vocation, and matters of "life and death."
We welcome submissions from Valpo Core faculty and students. Submissions may be sent to core@valpo.edu.
Leadership and Service Essays
The Journey of the Damned (2011), Nick Goodman
There Is No Commandment Greater Than These (2012), David Rutkowski
Family Honor (2012), Taylor Ward
Pilgrimage to Nonviolence: Part 2 (2012), Erin Watkins
Education Essays
Don’t Bank on Today’s Education (2012), Donny Scheffler
Defining the Purpose of Education (2012), Emily Steinbacher
The Best Education Lies in the Middle (2011), Chuandi Zhao
Film Review Essays
Billy Elliot Film Review (2012), Louise Conces
Life and Death Essays
The Beauty of Death (2011), Mohammad Albalooshi
The Human Experience in Regards to Self-Sacrifice (2012), Louise Conces
Between Truth and Service (2011), Anthony Dary
The Experience of a Life Time (2012), Christina Healy
The Significance of Stories (2011), Megan Marimen
There and Now (2012), Nathaniel Shields
Living, Working, and Learning Together: A Study of the Human Experience (2012), Vicky Zaplatosch
Love Essays
The Tales of Two Love Stories (2011), Rachel Gilman
Love Takes Action (2011), Sara Meeter
Love Has No Boundaries (2012), Stefan Mukoski
Can't Buy Her Love (2011), Justin Phillips
Love Manifested in Hospitality (2012), Christy Warner
Origins Essays
A Picture “Perfect” Life (2012), Avery Blackburn
Grenade in Grenada (2012), Sean Hatfield
Airborne (2012), Darren Lo
My Origins (2012), Danny Mosco
Jason and Amanda vs. the World (2012), Amanda Riley
Me, Myself, I, and Alex (2011), Andrew Vande Guchte
First Lesson—To Be Modest (2011), Yang Wu
Pangu and Ancient China (2011), Weiwei Yao
Portfolio Introduction Essays
Experience (2011), Anthony Dary
Work and Vocation Essays
Connections: Inside and Out (2011), Heather Albertson
Answering the Call (2012), Andy Alessio
A Profession of the Mind, Soul, and Body (2012), Louise Conces
Behind the Badge (2012), Nicole Maenza
Wearing Blue (2011), Brooke Vail
Jeanne Wittmann, PTA: Patient, Temperate, Admirable (2011), Travis Wittmann