Taste of PLC Rocks Glen Miller

December 1, 2010

More than 250 prospective students and their parents, plus current PLC first and second year students filled the Glen Miller Ballroom on the CU Boulder campus last night for the annual “Taste of PLC” event. 

The guests were welcomed by CU Regent (and PLC Alum) Kyle Hybl as well as by Executive Director Steve Grace. Hybl praised CU Boulder as a top academic institution and PLC for its contributions on campus.  He also encouraged students to research all the top scholar opportunities at CU.  In his remarks, Grace cited a recent column in the New York Times that equated success in college with access to faculty and like-minded peers. “This is a strength of PLC and the overall honors environment at CU,” Grace said.

“Taste of PLC” is an interactive and immersive event for prospective students. Following the welcome remarks the high school seniors split into groups and participated in a mock, PLC recitation. After a reception for the prospective students and their parents, guests mingled with current PLC students and staff.  All then gathered for a combined first and second year lecture presented by Professor Angela Thieman Dino, on how to make good decisions, a topic that appeared to strike a chord with the audience.

Thieman Dino focused on two very different decision makers; Ignatius of Loyola, a 16th century priest who founded the Jesuit religious order,  and the United States Air Force. As she put it, "both religion and the military are regularly concerned with decisions on matters of life and death."  Thieman Dino pointed out that ironically, often the hardest decisions to make are the ones between two good choices.   By weaving the two philosophies together, she engaged the audience through a thoughtful and even comedic presentation on decision making that concluded with a reference to “The Flying Nun," religion meets the Air Force!

The key point Professor Thieman Dino wanted the audience to take away was that seeking confirmation was the most important step in the decision making process. By seeking input from people you trust, you give yourself the best chance for success in making the right decision.  She characterized this point as one of the strengths in PLC, the community. Given all the lessons learned and opportunties in PLC, the fact that each student has 49 peers to turn to throughout their college experience may be programs biggest strength. 

In addition to Regent Hybl, other guests Tuesday night included Regents’ Steve Bosley and Monisha Merchant, Dean of Students, Deb Coffin and Mary Steiner, the assistant Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

[byline: Derek Kessinger, PLC 2nd Yr.]