We had our first visit to St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin. My son Oliver will be starting there next month and we were excited to see the school. The staff at SNC gave us first-class treatment and we felt welcome. Oliver made the right choice of school! SNC is a private, Catholic, liberal arts college of approximately 1,800 students located on a beautiful campus on the banks of the Fox River.
The big trees, the flowing river, and the brick buildings of the campus create a feeling of serenity. The city of DePere is cute and has beautiful neighborhoods across the river and near the school. DePere is a suburb of Green Bay, home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. The metro area has a population of over 300,000 people, so it is not too big and offers many of the amenities of a city. We have many friends and families in Green Bay and close by, so Oliver will have support if needed.
The school is also special because my father graduated from SNC in 1954. He fondly recalled his time there and would be delighted for his grandson to attend his alma mater. The school and DePere have changed in the 70 years since he graduated. The staff gave us a great day and we met with the volleyball coach, ROTC officials, and the admissions team. Both Nadia and I feel Oliver will be taken care of with a personal touch and am glad he is attending a smaller university. We would like to thank Eric Wagner, from admissions for his care and attention in the application process.
Visiting the beautiful St. Joseph Church in the center of campus sparked my curiosity about the Norbertine Order of the Catholic Church. Nadia and I were raised in strongly Catholic families and felt at home in the church. I was inspired by my father’s commitment to the service of others, which was probably partly instilled in him during his time at St. Norbert. The world needs people thinking of others and I hope Oliver will be inspired by the spirit of Saint Norbert College to serve humanity.
We are planning to go back to set up Oliver’s dorm room before we leave. It is heartbreaking to see another one of our children leave the family home. He is ready to forge his own path to adulthood and experience the ups and downs of adult life. We love you, Oliver!
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