Quotes:
From Parents of Students:
Hello,
I just wanted to send a quick note to say thank you!
I spoke with my daughter last night following her first visit with the Home Plate program.
She thoroughly enjoyed the evening and commented first on how nice it was to be in a home. She had not realized how much she missed that.
She also went into great detail about the food, and said that the meal included all her favorites, most importantly-- mashed potatoes!
It warms my heart to know that she is able to participate in programs such as this one at Wash U and I thank you and all the St. Louis area families for supporting this program!
-A parent of a first-year student
From Students:
Hello,
I would just like to say how much I have enjoyed being a Home Plate student this year. It is such a great program and I am so appreciative to you for creating it. Thank you very much for inviting us into your home to celebrate Home Plate in its true spirit. I would love to continue as a Home Plate student with my wonderful Home Plate family this upcoming year. Please sign me up!
Many thanks,
A Home Plate Student
Dear Risa,
I'm back from my lunch and wonderful afternoon that I've spent with Carl, Sylvia and their daughters.
I really had a good time with them, and I would like to thank you so much, because without you, I wouldn't have met them.
We spoke French all day long, but decided that next time, we would spend the day speaking in English, because that's my priority here.
Thank you again, and have a nice week.
-A WU Student
"Dear Risa,
Thank you so much for the opportunity to meet Jim and Joan. The dinner tonight was extraordinary. We really enjoyed their paintings, stories and food. We stayed until 9:30 and we had a lot of fun telling stories about each other’s past and future.
I really appreciate your support and coordination. I hope that we will be able to meet so that I can thank you in person." -Two Home Plate students
"Dear Mrs. Wrighton,
Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness in not only getting someone who once practiced law, but also someone who speaks Portuguese! I don't think that a better match could have possibly existed. Again, thank you very much and I look forward to my dinner!" -WU 1st year student
" I will miss home plate this year! Tell everyone hi for me! P.S. My mom was so inspired by how much I loved home plate at Wash U that she is trying to start a similar program at Wichita State University! I'll keep you posted on that..." -A WU student studying abroad in Italy
"Dear Mrs. Wrighton,
I had a great time tonight with my host family. They were kind enough to make us Brazilian food which made me feel right at home! The whole family was very nice and we all had a fun time. Although I brought my camera, the family had a nicer one and so their camera was used to take pictures; I'm sure they'll send them to you soon. Again, thank you very much for organizing this program and for matching us all so appropriately! " -WU 1st year student
"Dear Ms. Risa Zwerling Wrighton,
Our son participated in Home Plate this past school year. He had an outstanding experience and a fabulous family. My husband and I thank you for establishing this program at Washington University. When we saw that you were personally involved with Home Plate, we felt confident to encourage him to sign up. It turned out to be an excellent opportunity. His host family is truly wonderful. He loved going to their home and it was a real comfort during his Freshman year. It made such a positive difference for him. He loves WU, as do his father and I. He really enjoyed the Home Plate reception you and the Chancellor hosted in your home this past May. Thank you again so much for caring about the students and for taking an active role in this wonderful program." -Parents of a WU 1st year student
"Hi Mrs. Zwerling-Wrighton: I just wanted to tell you that we had a fabulous time at our Home Plate dinner last weekend. Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful program! We felt right at home; it was a great way to get away from dorm life for a few hours and interact with members of the St. Louis community. They even gave us some tips on where to go during our stay in St. Louis. We were wondering if you could e-mail us their address so we may send them a thank you note. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you. " -WU 2nd-year student
"When Adrianne and I were getting ready to go to our people's house, we were a little bit nervous and not sure what to expect. But we figured, whatever, it would be a free dinner and some conversation. The conclusion: it was the best time-excellent! We got there and they made us feel right at home. I think this program is such an excellent idea, and would encourage anyone and everyone that I know to get involved with it. The dinner was fabulous! They invited my best friend Lauren, as well, and we've been in touch to set up another meeting soon. They are the most hospitable people."
“Dear Mrs. Wrighton, I wanted to thank you for having given me this wonderful opportunity of having dinner with the host family. I really enjoyed the conversation with the family and the other students present. Listening to the varying perspectives on so many different issues was an enlightening experience. As I am getting to know American family life and culture better, I am beginning to feel more comfortable in the United States, which is extremely important for me as an international student. And the evening with the family has certainly added a lot to this exciting cross-cultural experience I am having at Washington University. Thank you once again for having given me this excellent opportunity of interacting with the family. Hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving. Sincerely, -- WU Student”
From host families:
Risa,
I'm forwarding pictures from our Home Plate dinner with our students. We served "American Fare" - BBQ ribs, baked potato, etc. and everyone had a wonderful time.
Our students mentioned several times that Home Plate was one of the most memorable experiences they had at Washington University, which I think is a nice endorsement for the program.
Regards,
A Home Plate Host Family
Hi Risa,
I just wanted to let you know how much Larry and I are enjoying the Homeplate club. The three young men you sent us could NOT be nicer, or more polite. What a good representation of your students! We've only had them to dinner twice, and I drove two of them to a concert last fall. Larry and I didn't want them to feel obligated to keep coming, but our daughter, who is a sophmore at WU, and who does NOT come to dinner with "our" students, insists that the kids really like to come to their homeplate houses. To be honest with you, I think these boys like seeing our dog as much as anything - I'm pretty sure it's not my cooking!
Thanks again for organizing this.
A Home Plate Family
Hi Risa,
We had a great time. I wish I had thought of taking pictures. We were all so impressed with how articulate, accomplished and interesting these students were. Let me share with you one funny anecdote:
One of my sons is unfortunately not that much of a reader. When we are talking about books he just tunes out of the conversation, viewing it as something uncool. Well, as we were talking with the 3 Wash U boys I mentioned that I was interviewing applicants for my university as an alumni interviewer and one of the guys asked what some of my questions were. I said one was, "If I gave you $300 and let you loose in Borders, what books would you buy?" The 3 Wash U guys all said "Great Question" and then we proceeded to talk about books for 15 minutes, exchanging current favorites. Our uninterested-in-books son and his friend, who thought these guys were the coolest, sat there like 2 bumps on a log. Even our 10 year old daughter participated. When the guys left that evening and it was time to turn in, our son asked if we had some books and magazines at home that he could take up to read.... I loved it, of course. We're at that stage where when we say something it seems to be filed under "clueless parents who have no ideas what's going on in the world", but if someone young and hip says something it's like THE PROPHET HAS SPOKEN!
We loved the experience and look forward to more dinners.
--A Home Plate Host Family
Hi Risa,
We enjoyed dinner with Charlie, Matt, and Skylar. Since they all live in Danforth, they knew each other and had some similar interests. We kept the evening casual by eating outdoors with BBQ, guacamole, and some fun desserts.
We had some great discussions about St. Louis architecture and history, their interests in engineering, cars (not my favorite topic), and some opportunities they might consider pursuing this year. And of course, they shared some great family stories. All in all, it was a relaxing and fun evening.
We’re looking forward to having them at the house again soon.
-Home Plate Host Family
Hi Risa,
We hosted three lovely young ladies for dinner last night. What was perhaps most surprising was how much they enjoyed the home cooking. David was sure that I had "made way too much" yet we had very little left over. It's been a long time since I've had such a gratifying experience as an amatuer chef. I enjoyed hearing about how each one of them had decided to attend Washington University. They universally agreed that Wash U. was the right choice, and their positive comments ranged from their professors to the dorms to the food to the weekend social activities---Everything you might hope for if you're a member of the Wash. U. staff.
I'm looking forward to the next get together with my students. Hope everyone else on the Hope Plate roster had an equally pleasurable experience.
-A Home Plate Host Family
Dear Risa,
The kids just left and I wanted to let you know that it was fantastic!!! They were such a pleasure to be with and they even helped each other in terms of joining an organization on campus. Thank you for coordinating this and for allowing us to be a part of it!
Risa,
I just met 3 of the most AMAZING students last night. Elliot, Walker and Sarah are respectful, kind, articulate, bright, funny, engaging, driven, candid, sincere, and a joy to be with. We had a delightful time and are looking forward to when we can get together again. They are outstanding representatives of your school. I hope my 11 and 13 year old boys can use them as role models as every parent would be proud to have kids grow up like them. I really liked that they could play video games with my kids and discuss their career goals/aspirations and views with us in the same night.
This is an outstanding program and we're so happy to be a part of it.
Dear Risa,
Thank you for including Linda and me in the Home Plate program.
We enjoyed having our three students with us for a home cooked dinner last night…and they enjoyed the evening as well. It was lots of fun.
Thanks for creating this special program for the enjoyment of Washington University’s students and as well, for the participating families.
"Just wanted to tell you what a great time John and I had on Fri. night. We ate lots and laughed lots. But we also got a measure of the effect of Sept. 11 on them - very touching for us. We can't wait to have them back in Dec. when we return from grandparenting."
"Joe and I had a very nice dinner 'party.' Turned out the five all had mutual friends in their various classes and sports. We ended the meal/evening with treats at Ted Drewes before we took them back to their respective housing."
" Dear Ms. Wrighton,
I got a call Sunday evening from my daughter, a freshman, unlike any we'd had so far. Most of our conversations have revolved around things she needed from home but hadn't brought, but this one started with her saying she was thinking about home and just wanted to call. I was a little concerned since we hadn't had anything like this before, although the tone of her voice didn't indicate that there was a problem. Well, it turns out she'd just returned to campus from her Home Plate dinner and had had such a fabulous time and had enjoyed the home cooking, the family and the rest of the group and the home atmosphere so much that she just wanted to connect with home and to tell us all about her evening!
I'd read about Home Plate in the information that was sent to parents but I didn't stop by your table at the activity fair for parents during Orientation, partly because there were several people there at the time, but also because I didn't think there was a chance that my daughter would participate. Well, all I can say is whatever you/the students do at the student activity fair, keep it up! My daughter said she hadn't been inclined to sign up, but somehow was persuaded to do so. Whether it was due to those working the fair or the friend she was there with I don't know, but I'm thrilled she did this. She proceeded to tell me that she went with a friend (and of course having read about the program I knew students weren't sent to a family alone) and as they were waiting to be picked up they were wondering to each other why they had ever signed up to do this, what were they thinking. By the time she called me she was raving about the family, the homey atmosphere, the group who was there and who ever thought there would be other 'dancing doctors' out there (the couple is involved in medicine and had a daughter who had danced at the studio nearby where our daughter has started taking classes)! Apparently there were among others 2 seniors who had started in their freshman year with this family and not only were they nice and interesting in their own right, but they were a wonderful resource because they apparently are both in the process of applying to medical school.
But even more telling about the success of the evening was her comment that she and her friend would be those seniors in another 3 years, sitting at this table with 2 new freshmen! They returned to their dorms with scrumptious leftovers and an invitation to return in early October. What an incredible experience, not to mention an incredible match for my daughter and her friend! Thanks to you and to our daughters host family as well as all the others who open their homes to these kids." -Parent of a 1st-year student
