In the mid 1960s, Ken Ogren used to walk by a storefront in downtown Newport News that had a sign that read “Christopher Newport College.” In the years since then, Mr. Ogren and his wife, Deborah, have marveled at Christopher Newport University’s phenomenal growth. Now they’re playing an active role as parents.

“I have seen it come from very humble beginnings,” said Mr. Ogren, a retired senior vice president for Riverside Health System and owner of York Point Consulting. “I think CNU has transformed the face of midtown Newport News.”

The Ogrens have contributed to CNU’s success through the Alumni Society. Mrs. Ogren graduated from CNU in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in gerontology. She earned the Kim Roeder Volunteer Award for 2004-05. This new award, given to the volunteer who works tirelessly for CNU, was presented to Mrs. Ogren for her work soliciting donations for the Alumni Society’s Vacation Home Scholarship Auction, a live and silent auction to raise money for scholarships. She owns Family Centered Resources, a home care business in Newport News.

Now with two sons attending CNU – seniors Matthew Brookman, a history major, and Blake Brookman, an art major – the Ogrens, who live in Seaford, have found a new way to support CNU. In 2004, they became founding members of the CNU Parents Council – a group of parents of CNU students that provides advice, assistance and financial support to admissions, student life, career development and university advancement.

“We’re very proud of CNU because we’ve been involved with its growth, and we’d like to see the success continue,” Mrs. Ogren said.

The couple attends the Parents Council’s meetings during Family Weekend in the fall and in April. They also have volunteered to help with first-year orientation and fund-raisers. In addition, the Ogrens are hosting an event for current members and potential new members this spring. Each Parents Council member is asked to serve on one advisory committee and to make a commitment to The President’s Club of $1,000 or more per year.

“This gives us a fund-raising arm,” said Patty Martin, an original co-chair of the Parents Council along with her husband, Mike. “CNU doesn’t have a long legacy of giving because the Alumni base is very young. Some colleges have students who have great-grandparents who’ve gone there. The Parents Council gives a venue for those who want to be longtime givers to the University.”

The 27 current members of the Parents Council support the University in other ways, as well. They share interests and concerns related to student life and student affairs with the dean of students, and they help connect students with companies that offer internships.

Members also recommend names and addresses of prospective students and talk to prospective parents during open houses and at off-campus recruiting events.

“Who better to tell another parent to send their kids here?” said Jenn Wenzel Austin, a development associate with University Advancement who helps facilitate and organize events for the Parents Council. “No one can tell a better story than a parent.

“They’re constantly working for CNU, selling it and talking about it,” Ms. Austin said. “They’re super-involved and provide support for every event.”

Parents Council members and their children benefit from their involvement, as well. Members receive invitations to special events for President's Club donors, and they have opportunities to meet with President Paul Trible, deans and other campus officials.

“They’re always willing to talk about the college — the good and what we need to work on,” said Mr. Martin, owner and dealer/operator of Dudley Martin Chevrolet in Manassas and a member of the CNU Board of Visitors. “It’s immeasurable to know the vision of the school.”

The exchange of information and ideas goes both ways. Mr. Martin sees the role of the Parents Council as a voice for all parents and a liaison between parents and the University. “Parents bring ideas from other parents to the meetings,” he said. “It opens a lot of doors.”

Mrs. Ogren said that her knowledge of campus events, staff and the “so many things they do for students” from Parents Council presentations gives her sons extra motivation to do well because they know their parents are informed.

“So many parents are interested in being involved in their students’ lives like they were when they were younger in PTA and other activities,” said Mrs. Martin. And the Parents Council gives them an opportunity to be involved and to feel like they are part of campus and their children’s lives.

“Children of this generation have witnessed so much tragedy and turmoil that family connections are very important to them and to their parents,” said Ms. Austin.

As a result, Ms. Austin said, parents councils have become a growing trend over the last four or five years on college campuses across the country and now have become universities’ largest support groups. CNU officials hope to increase the number of Parents Council members and to offer more opportunities for involvement, Ms. Austin said. A Parents Council website recently has been developed and is available at www.cnu.edu/parentscouncil/.

Any parent who wants to become involved is welcome. For more information, contact Jenn Wenzel Austin in the Office of University Advancement at (757) 594-7871.