By Blake Ludwig ’29, staff writer
For many college students, a “Happy birthday!” comes as a text message, a social media post or even a notification on their phone, but here at LVC, students receive something much more personal--a handwritten birthday card from the college’s President, James MacLaren.
Just over a year ago, MacLaren began personally writing birthday cards to students, creating a connection between the college’s president and its student body.
“Everyone has a birthday,” MacLaren said. “I just thought this was a nice way to show the college is thinking of you on this one day of the year.”
The cards that MacLaren writes have a meaning beyond a simple “Happy Birthday!” For MacLaren, the cards are a way to individually recognize students, instead of making them feel as if they are only a number on campus.
“It’s a small gesture that tries to recognize who we are as a campus; that values students as individuals,” MacLaren said.
MacLaren said he chooses to write these cards by hand instead of sending a simple email or text message because it’s more personal. LVC has around 1,600 full-time undergraduate students.
“IT has a report that gives me student names and a list of birthdays,” MacLaren said.
Despite the number of students at the college, MacLaren said writing the cards does not take up a large amount of his time; he said he takes him around 45 minutes a week.
MacLaren hopes students appreciate the gesture and that the cards make their birthday a little more special.
“I hope that they are pleased, and that it makes their day feel special,” MacLaren said. “I hope it brings a little bit of joy to them. That’s the hope.”
MacLaren sends these cards to student mailboxes during the academic year, and to home addresses during breaks. Students should check their mailbox around their birthday to receive a personal card from our president.