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Parent Newsletter

President Ryken headshot 950 x 1425
January 2026

From the President

Dear Parents, 

Midway through my freshman year, I invested part of my Christmas break to attend Urbana, InterVarsity’s triennial missions conference for college students across the United States. I was not alone: among the thousands of attendees were more than a hundred of my Wheaton classmates. We came back to campus in January 1985 with a stronger commitment to prayer, a greater passion for worship, a larger vision for the Holy Spirit’s work around the world, and a clearer calling to kingdom work.  

I’m excited to see the same thing happen this month as more than 160 Wheaties return to campus with their own Urbana stories to tell. Due in part to the generosity of Wheaton’s friends and families—as well as their own costly investment of their vacation time—these students traveled to Phoenix right after Christmas to worship with thousands of their peers and meet with global mission leaders. Our prayer is that their experiences will expand our vision and enrich our worship this semester.  

Please join us in praying that all our students will become world Christians, with a lifelong commitment to advance the Great Commission.  

 

 

In Christ’s service,

Philip Ryken
Philip Ryken
President 

Urbana 2025 825 x 300Wheaton students at Urbana 2025

Collegiate Day of Prayer

The Collegiate Day of Prayer is a day set apart to pray for college campuses across the nation and our Wheaton parents are invited to join a Zoom call to pray with fellow Wheaton parents. 

Zoom Parent Prayer Calls are scheduled for Thursday, February 26 at 7 p.m. in all U.S. time zones, with one exception, there is a 7 a.m. EST option. Each prayer call will be led by a current parent, and parents will be invited to pray silently or out loud. 

Registration is required and will close on Tuesday, February 24 at midnight CST. When registering, please select the time zone that works best with your schedule, regardless of which time zone you reside in. Login information will be sent the day before the calls. 

Register Now 

This year, Wheaton will travel to several cities around the country, sharing the vision of Wheaton’s new chapter through the Faithfully Forward campaign. These family-friendly events will feature live worship performances by acclaimed Christian artists, along with food, fun, and the chance to reconnect with Wheaton friends. Learn more about these upcoming events.  

Save the date! Registration will open soon.  

Wheaton College IL Center for Vocation and Career

Center for Vocation and Career

The Center for Vocation and Career (CVC) is eager to kick off another semester of helping your students discover, prepare for, and launch into their next steps! From first-years to seniors, the CVC has designed programming for every student, no matter where they are in their journey. 

This semester begins with the launch of their annual Senior Series. Every month of spring semester, the CVC will host a new event designed to equip your seniors with tools and resources for life after Wheaton. January’s event is Career Catalyst, where seniors can get everything they need for the job hunt in one place. On January 22, seniors can come to the CVC anytime between 3:00-5:00 p.m. and get their free headshot taken, resume reviewed, LinkedIn profile edited, and more. Encourage your senior to sign up for Career Catalyst here! 

Visit the Senior Series page for more information about other events in the series, and visit the CVC’s Events calendar to explore our upcoming workshops, events for other grades, and more. 

Stethoscope and laptop 825 x 300 Student Health Services  

The winter season and holiday travel inevitably bring along a variety of upper respiratory tract infections. It is not too late for students to get a flu vaccine at Student Health Services for $30 billed to the student account. Our nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians are available Monday through Friday for appointments to be seen for any medical need. These visits are included in the Health and Wellness fee paid each semester. Students can request an appointment by calling 630.752.5072, emailing student.health.services@wheaton.edu, or online through their MyChart. Please visit the SHS website for a list of available services. 

All medical paperwork for new or returning spring semester students is due on January 12. Please reach out to Student Health Services if there are any questions about this requirement and an SHS staff member will assist with the process. 

The Student Wellness Team is looking forward to planning the annual “De-Stress” Fest again this spring, providing students with a break from studies with relaxing activities and healthy snacks.  

 

The Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic at Wheaton College (MFT Clinic) 

As students return to campus they may need extra support with navigating relationships. The MFT Clinic provides affordable counseling with a focus on strengthening and restoring relationships.  

Services include: 

The MFT Clinic is conveniently located on campus at 209 N. Washington Street next to the Billy Graham Hall. Counseling is available for anyone in the state of Illinois and beyond, in person or telehealth, and is not limited to students.  

For more information, go to www.mftclinic.com, call 630.733.8161, email at info@mftclinic.com or visit our social media @mftclinic. 

Note: While the Wheaton College Counseling Center (WCCC) is the primary resource for students to receive short-term individual therapy, the MFT Clinic is an affordable option if longer term individual care is needed, or if the focus of therapy is more relational in nature. 

From Mentorship to Mission-Minded  

A Summer of Purpose at HoneyRock 

Is your student looking for a summer that’s more than just a paycheck? At HoneyRock, summer employment is an opportunity to grow in leadership, faith, and community—while making a lasting impact on the lives of campers. 

As a member of HoneyRock’s summer staff, students step into meaningful roles where they are trusted, mentored, and challenged. They can earn up to $2,200 while serving as cabin leaders, capturing stories on the media team, preparing meals in the kitchen, welcoming guests in the camp store, contributing to construction projects, or leading activities like ceramics, crafts, waterskiing, and more. 

Students can begin their summer at HoneyRock by completing some of their Christ at the Core requirements through Wheaton in the Northwoods (WIN), a two or four-week immersive May-term intensive. Through focused coursework, pre- and post-class work, intentional community, immersion in creation, and 1:1 interactions with exceptional Wheaton faculty, WIN provides a strong academic and spiritual foundation. It’s the perfect way to launch into a meaningful summer of service, growth, and leadership at HoneyRock. 

Encourage your student to spend their summer in a place set apart.  

Learn more and apply today!  

How to Pray for Wheaton in January

  • Pray for new students (first-years and transfers) as they adjust to campus, classes, and new people. Pray that they find community quickly and that they sense God’s presence daily. 
  • Pray that all students will keep their hearts soft and open to the new relationships, learnings, and experiences God wants to bless and stretch them with during the spring semester. 
  • Pray that faculty, staff, and administrators will have God’s wisdom and discernment as they begin a new semester of teaching, meetings, planning, and caring for students in multiple ways. 
Blanchard Tower Wheaton College IL

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