Monday, January 7, 2008 12:21 AM CST
Parents keep closer tabs on college students
By NATHANIEL WEST, Staff Writer
nwest@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — When Anna Saylor, now a senior at Eastern Illinois University, first learned her father would be keeping tabs on her via quarterly meetings of the EIU Parents Club, she surprisingly voiced no objections.
She simply replied, “That’s four times a year you can buy me dinner,” said her father, Jeff Saylor, a Georgetown resident and president of the Parents Club.
Such increased involvement in their children’s college experience motivates most of the 2,000 or so members of the EIU Parents Club, according to officials, who would like to see even more participation by parents — especially those living near the Charleston university.
Any parent of an EIU student can join the Parents Club, which has the primary function of awarding $20,000 in annual scholarships through an endowment and yearly dues of $20 per member.
To date, the organization has funded almost $400,000 in scholarships.
The club also helps at various events like commencement and homecoming, in addition to meeting four times per year.
The group provides “survival kits” for parents of freshmen; offers assistance during move-in day; and even makes donations to various campus organizations.
A board of up to 19 members oversees the Parents Club. The longest-serving board members are Jerry and Gayle Kistler of Arthur, who joined the club six years ago when their daughter, Sarah, became a student at EIU. The Kistlers’ son, Michael, is now a junior.
“We enjoy it,” said Gayle. “The meetings are fun; you meet people you have things in common with. And you learn more about the university, what your kids are doing.
“You just stay more in touch.”
Vice President Sheri Paul of Charleston — whose son, Chris Richardson, is an EIU senior — said it is a misconception that belonging to the Parents Club is time consuming.
“It’s an opportunity to visit campus, and contribute,” said Ron Kruzic, a newcomer to the club.
He and his wife Nancy are parents of EIU freshman Katy Kruzic.
Nancy said she is grateful knowing that local club members like Paul are available to help her daughter in an emergency.
For more information about the EIU Parents Club, visit www.eiu.edu/~eiupclub.
Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.
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