Four Butler, Two Valpo Seniors Receive Orr Fellowships

Butler University seniors Alyson Ahrns, Brock Benefiel, Kelsey Martin and Brandon Russell, and Valparaiso University seniors Katie Lindahl and Robby Pampel are among 26 students throughout Indiana to receive 2010 Orr Fellowships, which provides them a guaranteed full-time, salaried job at an Indiana company for two years after graduation. The fellows were selected from more than 1,000 applicants who are either Indiana residents or students at an Indiana college or university. Read more: Butler | Orr Fellowship

International News Agency Publishes Drake Student's Article

An article written by Drake University student Nicole Wilke has recently been featured on GlopalPost.com, an online-based international news agency. Wilke's piece, titled "The 'Post-Apocalyptic' Border Town," describes the damaged infrastructure, social unrest and limited resources that have troubled Croatia since the nation's war for independence in the 1990s. Read more.        

Drury Architecture Students Continue Revitalization Efforts

Drury University architecture students are continuing their work to improve urban development throughout Missouri as a part of Drury University’s Center for Community Studies (CCS). This semester, students are working on projects in Appleton City and Warsaw, Mo. Read more.

Samford Students Win Top Regional Broadcast Honors

Three Samford University students won first place awards in 2009 regional student production competition sponsored by the National Broadcasting Society (NBS).  Jordan Gotfredson, Best Radio Sports Story; Jacqueline Long, Best Radio News Wrap; and Lauren Womack, Best Radio Magazine, are all journalism/mass communication majors, whose award-winning productions are now eligible for national competition. Read more.

Evansville Student Earns Prestigious Gilman Scholarship for Study Abroad

University of Evansville's Heather Smyser, a senior majoring in French, has received a prestigious Gilman Scholarship to support her plans to study abroad during the Spring 2010 semester. Smyther was awarded a $5,000 Gilman Scholarship for her program at the Ecole Superieur de Direction et de Gestion in Rabat, Morocco.  Smyther is the second Gilman winner from UE this year. Max Vargas is currently benefiting from Gilman support this semester in Japan at the Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (NUFS). Read more.

Evansville Alum Chosen Among Indiana's Leaders of Tomorrow

University of Evansville alum Stephanie Roberts, a member of UE’s Class of 2008, has been selected as one of a dozen recipients of the Governor’s Award for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Read more.

Valpo Student First to Attend New German Exchange Program

Valparaiso University junior Emily German will soon be embarking on a semester-long journey abroad to study German and music, forging new ground for the University. The German and music major from Fort Wayne will be the first student to take part in a new exchange program between Valpo and the Hochschule fur Kirchenmusik (University for Church Music) in Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany. Read more.

Redlands Students' Work Selected as Best Undergraduate Writing

The literary works of six current University of Redlands students and alumni were selected to be published in Bennington College’s inaugural issue of Plain China: Best Undergraduate Writing 2009. Read more.

Wagner Freshmen Reach out to Community

Thanks to freshmen biology students from Wagner College, upper-grade students at St. Christopher’s School, Grant City, now know what germs really look like. The outreach was part of Wagner’s first-year program of “small learning communities” (LCs), that pairs classroom lessons with community involvement. Read more.

Drake Law Student Elected to Des Moines City Council

Halley Griess, a third-year law student at Drake University, was elected to the Des Moines City Council in the December 1st Ward 1 run-off. Read more.

Evansville Students Return to Dominican Republic to Help Create “Green” Energy

A year after University of Evansville engineering students helped design a church and athletic complex in Santiago, Dominican Republic, the University is again teaming with Louisville-based G.O. Ministries for another project. The multi-disciplinary project involves students from both UE’s mechanical engineering program and the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration. Read more.

Wagner Alum Andrew Bailey '06 named 2009 American League Rookie of the Year

A’s right-hander and Wagner College graduate Andrew Bailey’s rise from Minor League obscurity to Major League limelight turned historic Monday when he was named the 2009 American League Rookie of the Year. Read more.

Valpo Mentoring Program Helps Youth See World of Possibility

Forty Valparaiso University students are paired with local elementary school children through College Mentors for Kids, a program that aims to help youth succeed in school and eventually to pursue a college education. Read more.

North Central’s WONC Adds State Awards to the Trophy Case

WONC-FM 89.1, North Central College's student-run radio station, brought home three first-place awards in statewide competition this fall. WONC was nominated for six awards in five categories at the Illinois Broadcasters Association Student Silver Dome Awards held this year at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. Read more.

North Central SIFE Students Operate Alternative-Trade Store

Naperville-area shoppers can choose from a selection of alternative-trade items this holiday season at a store operated by North Central College students. The store will feature an inventory of organic, certified green, certified fair trade and direct-trade items, including coffee and various crafts produced in Central American and African countries, says Gerald Thalmann, associate professor of accounting and one of the SIFE faculty advisors. Read more.

Elon Law Students Win Pro Bono Award

Forty-three students from Elon University School of Law were recognized Nov. 19 with the Greensboro Bar Association's annual pro bono award for providing free tax return preparation assistance to elderly and low-income residents of Greensboro. Read more.

Elon Engineering Physics Major Wins Best Undergraduate Student Paper

Elon University Engineering physics major, Dan Glass, recently won "Best Undergraduate Paper" at a sectional meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers.  His talk, “Fabrication of Ferroelastomeric Microparticles,” described his nanotechnology research with assistant professor of physics Dr. Ben Evans.  Glass will receive his certificate and cash prize at the next sectional meeting of the AAPT. Read more.

Belmont Students Develop Water Conservation Program for Elementary Students

Belmont University students in Dr. Kim Daus' Honors Analytics class and the University's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter developed a program for elementary students that promotes water conservation. In an effort that originated with the city of Franklin's campaign to encourage ecologically-conscious water consumption, the Belmont students created an in-class program that implements peer-to-peer teaching to reinforce its message. Read more.

Arcadia Student Publishing Her First Book

Arcadia University English major Siobhan Nichols '11 is no longer just a typical college student. In October, Nichols became a first-time published writer with the release of her book The Darling Rebels, which is being put out by Diversion Press. Read more.

Westminster Students Recognized for Top Student-Founded Businesses in Utah

Three Westminster College MBA students, Ryan Kendrick, (Chocolot Artisan Confections); Matt Carlson, (Four Pillar Fitness); and William Hoster, (H&H Medical Corporation), were recognized by the Utah Student 25 program as having the top student-founded businesses in Utah. Utah Student 25 is the first statewide competition that recognizes students who accept the challenges of going to school and running a business. Read more.

Grant to Turn Valparaiso Students into Benefactors

As the United States climbs back from one of the worst recessions in its history, Valparaiso University students will learn first-hand how they can make a difference in people's lives through a course that turns them into philanthropists. Valpo's course "Traditions of Giving and Serving in American Life" will be supported this spring by a $10,000 grant from the Sunshine Lady Foundation's Learning by Giving Program. Students taking the course will be charged with deciding how to give the money to local non-profit agencies. Read more.

University of Scranton Students Earn Service Awards

Hampton Awarded Grant for Student Poll Workers

Hampton University

Are You Talking to Me?

Samford University varsity debaters Dan Bagwell and Logan Gramzinski are ranked 15th in the nation by the National Debate Tournament following a strong showing at a recent Vanderbilt University tournament. Read more.

Drury Uncut Makes the Cut

Drury University’s DU Uncut will debut in the Ozarks on Ozarks Public Television, marking the first time that a student-produced music program will air in major television markets throughout the region. DU Uncut is shot, edited and produced almost entirely by Drury students in a television studio on campus. Read more.

Elon University senior Danny Bell and junior Charley Costa won top honors in the 2009 Eller Ethics Case Competition, a prestigious national contest hosted by the University of Arizona and featuring many of the top-ranked undergraduate business schools in North America. Read more.

International Battle of the Brains Awaits Drake Students

Drake University students will participate in the 34th annual Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest -- the world’s most prestigious international competition in computer programming.
Referred to as 'Battle of the Brains,' the competition is sponsored by IBM and draws participants from 90 countries on six continents. Read more.

Redlands Welcomes Students from Osaka Medical College

This month University of Redlands communicative disorders students found ways to overcome the language barrier to connect with students from the speech pathology department at Osaka Medical College. For the third consecutive year, students from Osaka Medical College traveled to Redlands to take part in a conference organized by Professor and Chair of the Department of Communicative Disorders Michael Groher.
Read more.

Elon University's Multicultural Center will debut a new diversity education program, including screening a student-produced film to foster conversations about topics such as race and sexual orientation while addressing biases and stereotypes. “DEEP Impact” is a multimedia project that includes a film by the same name, a user’s manual and various assessment tools that expose audiences to subtle and overt acts of intolerance. Read more.

Chemistry Major Spends Summer Internship Seeking Cancer Cure

Last summer, Wagner College chemistry major Kathryn M. Chepiga ’10 took part in a summer internship program, funded by Donald and Evelyn Spiro, at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. As an intern, she assisted Dr. Paul Watkins in his ongoing research on lipid metabolism. Read more.

Butler Students Use Fall Break for Service, Not Sleep

Once again Butler University students made the trip over to Neon, Ky. to help refurbish the impoverished community as a part of Fall Alternative Break (FAB). Working with H.O.M.E.S Inc., 38 students spent around eight hours a day putting down flooring, constructing a playground, moving furniture and lumber, and setting up a fundraising auction. Read more.

Westminster’s Lindsy Brickell Awarded Prestigious ASM Fellowship

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has selected Lindsy Brickell from Westminster College as a 2009 award recipient of the ASM Undergraduate Research Fellowship. The fellowship is aimed at highly competitive students who wish to pursue graduate careers (Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D.) in microbiology. Read more.

Senior Takes Meteorologist Post at TV Station

Valparaiso University senior meteorology major Aaron Brackett has taken his first on-air job as a television meteorologist at WREX-TV, the NBC affiliate in Rockford, Ill., months before his graduation date. Read more.

Drury Student Selected as Rising Star of the Association for Women in Communications

Drury University senior Mallory Noelke will receive the 2009 Rising Star Award from the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) on Oct. 17 in Seattle, Wash. Read more.

Arcadia University Graduate #1 on Forensic Science Assessment Test Two More Students Also in Top 5

Arcadia University Forensic Science graduate Amy Casselberry, who graduated in May 2009 with distinction, took first place on the 2009 Forensic Science Assessment Test (FSAT). Zach Messenger also had one of the top five scores on the test after just one year in Arcadia's Forensic Science master's program, and 2009 graduate Jessica Scholl ranked fourth. Read more.  

Valparaiso Students' Work Could Help Protect Environment

Three Valparaiso University students who conducted summer research on an invasive shrub that is crowding out native species of plants and animals across the United States presented their research findings that could help protect the native environment. Read more.

Study Abroad Leads Student Back to Africa for Clinical Rotation

Robert Sullivan, a fifth-year physician’s assistant student at Wagner College, spent five weeks this summer studying in Ghana, West Africa, to complete his infectious-disease rotation. Read more.

Jet-setting Freshmen Begin First Semester Abroad

Twenty-six freshmen from Arcadia University boarded planes for England and Scotland as part of Arcadia's unique First Year Study Abroad Experience (FYSAE). Read more.

Back to School Means Service Projects for New and Returning Students

With bags barely unpacked, students embrace civic engagement with community service projects at Drake University and Westminster College.

Getting to the Bottom of Things Earns Student Top Honors

Lauren Kajiura, a student in Arcadia University's Master of Science in Forensic Science program, is the first Arcadia student to receive the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Scholarship. Read more.

Valparaiso Meteorology Program Among Leaders for NOAA Internships

Three Valparaiso University meteorology students are among winners of prestigious Hollings Scholarships that provide summer research experiences with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Valparaiso is joined by only six other schools in the country with that many undergraduates selected for the program. Read more.

University of Redlands Students Spend May Term in Ecuador

University of Redlands students are spending May serving disadvantaged students at a school in Ecuador, conducting research on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona, and exploring art, culture and capitalism in the Baltic States. Read more.

Valparaiso Students Win Radio Broadcast Awards

The Indiana Association of School Broadcasters has honored the radio broadcasting work of four students at Valparaiso University’s student-operated radio station. Read more.

Elon and Quinnipiac University Broadcast Students Named to UWire 100

Broadcast Journalism majors Mitch Pittman of Elon University, and Jaclyn Hirsch of Quinnipiac University were named to the UWire 100, a selective list of the best and brightest student journalists in the nation. Read more about Mitch on the UWire Web site. Read more about Jaclyn on the UWire Web site.

Ithaca College Student Creates Town’s First Community Garden
         
Thanks to the organizing ability of Ithaca College senior Nick Tessoni, Ithaca, NY has its first community garden. Consisting of plots that can be rented by community members looking for a place to ply their gardening skills, the garden was the result of an assignment in Tessoni’s “Service Learning II: Administration” class. Read more.

Valparaiso Engineering Students Work on Autism Therapy Device

As a result of efforts of Valparaiso University engineering students over the past two years, people suffering from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may find relief. Read more.

Ten New American Colleges and Universities Students Awarded with Goldwater Scholarships, Honorable Mentions

Siva Kasinathan

Melissa Wasilewski

The prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program awarded scholarships or honorable mentions to ten students from institutions in The New American Colleges and Universities for the 2009-10 year. Recipients of scholarships included Butler University junior Kim Phifer, Drake University junior Siva Kasinathan, North Central College junior Emily Albright, University of Redlands junior Cezar Rodarte, and University of Scranton sophomore Melissa Wasilewski, who is Scranton’s seventh Goldwater Scholar in seven years.  Honorable mentions went to Butler University sophomore Laurel Heckman, Elon University sophomore Amanda Leigh Clark, North Central College junior Christina Lorenzo, Samford University junior Daniel Self Childs, and University of Redlands junior Emily Dahlberg. (Click the highlighted school names above to read more about Goldwater Scholarship recipients.)

Valparaiso Students to Demonstrate Engineering Design Work

Tic-tac-toe playing robots, a solar energy reactor and an autism therapy device are among the projects created by Valparaiso University engineering students that they will present during the College of Engineering's 11th annual Design Expo on May 2. Read more.

Wagner Student to Build Orphanage in Kenya

Soon to be Wagner College graduate Jennifer Wright plans to break ground on a 24-acre parcel of fertile land in Kenya and begin the process of building an orphanage that will provide good food, clean living conditions, medical attention and schooling options to children there. Heal the Children Foundation Inc., the not-for-profit agency she started in 2007, has already raised about $10,000 toward the project. Read more.

North Central College student earns prestigious Fulbright Full Research Grant

North Central College senior Claudia Chlebek of Lemont, Ill., has earned a highly prestigious Fulbright Full Research Grant.  Chlebek’s project, Enhancing Global Security through the Visa Waiver Program, is one of only 11 projects selected by the Fulbright Scholarship Board from a nationwide pool of top students to conduct multiple-country research centered in the European Union. Read more.

University of Evansville Students to Present Final Designs for Dominican Republic Construction

Civil Engineering students from the University of Evansville’s College of Engineering & Computer Science will present their final designs Wednesday for two humanitarian structures that will be built in the Dominican Republic. Read more.

Drake Students Collect 4,000 Items for Homeless, Youth Shelters
 
Drake University students gathered in Olmsted Center on Wednesday to celebrate Drake Live Drive's food and clothing drive designed to raise awareness about homeless youth, domestic violence and need for shelter services. Read more.

North Carolina Student Legislature Selects Elon as Best Small University Delegation

Elon University’s delegation to the 72nd Annual Session of the North Carolina Student Legislature received the Best Small University Delegation Award for the 2008-2009 year at the weekend gathering in Raleigh. Read more.

University of Redlands Senior’s Documentary Premieres in L.A.

University of Redlands senior Cody Unser, who was paralyzed from the chest down after being struck with Transverse Myelitis at age 12, premiered her documentary film "CODY" in Los Angeles this week. Watch the Trailer of CODY: The Ground-Breaking Documentary Narrated by Glenn Close.

Two Butler University Students Receive Weidner Altruism Awards

Sophomore Hannah Wysong and junior Kristen Lohe have been awarded scholarships by the Butler University Student Sociology Association and the John Henry Weidner Foundation for Altruism. The awards recognize the students’ efforts to embody the spirit of Weidner, a Dutch citizen who helped more than 1,000 people escape from the Nazis during World War II. Read more.

Drake University Seniors Develop Wildlife Mural at Gray's Lake Park

A group of Drake University seniors hopes to raise environmental awareness in the Des Moines community by creating a wildlife mural along Gray's Lake Park’s Kruidenier Trail. Read more.

Two Hamline Students Awarded Fulbright Scholarships

Hamline University is pleased to announce that Eliana Favell and Tara Stefanson, who are both seniors in the College of Liberal Arts, have each received a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for the 2009-2010 academic year. Both Stefanson and Favell will use their awards to teach English in Germany, beginning in September. Read more.

Samford University Interior Design Students, Professor Win State Awards

Two Samford University interior design majors have won awards in recent student competition sponsored by the Alabama chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Read more.

SIFE Students from Belmont, North Central Head to National Competition

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapters from Belmont University and North Central College won SIFE regional competitions last week, and will now compete at the SIFE national competition in Philadelphia on May 11-12. The team from Belmont returned to Nashville as SIFE USA Regional Champions for the fourth consecutive year after participating in competition in Atlanta on March 30, while the North Central team won its regional competition April 2 in Rosemont, Ill., and earned national finalist recognition in the Market Economics and Financial Independence individual topic competitions. SIFE is an international organization that mobilizes students around the world to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders. Read more at Belmont's site. Visit the SIFE site.

Two Drake University Students Receive Fulbright Grants to Teach Overseas

Drake University graduate Alexa Horwart and senior Amy Benes recently were selected to receive Fulbright Grants for the 2009-10 academic year to teach English to students in Indonesia and South Korea, respectively. Read more.

North Central College Juniors Named Prestigious Goldwater Scholars

The highly prestigious Barry M. Goldwater National Scholarship program honored two Naperville residents and North Central College honor students, juniors Emily Albright and Christina Lorenzo, for the 2009-2010 academic year. Read more.

Westminster Students Launch Sudan Community Empowerment Project

Student activists at Westminster College will hold a series of events in April entitled the Sudan Community Empowerment Project. The project will highlight the need for aid to local refugee populations with schooling needs, education in post-genocidal communities and raise funds to continue construction of a primary school in Duk Padiet, Southern Sudan. Read more.

Three Elon Students Present at the Symposium for Young Neuroscientists and Professors of the SouthEast (SYNAPSE) 2009

Three Elon University students presented their research March 28 at the Symposium for Young Neuroscientists and Professors of the Southeast 2009, held at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. Read more.

Drake University’s SIFE team Honored at Regional Level, Advances to National Competition

The Drake University Students in Free Enterprise team finished as second runner up in the overall SIFE USA Regional Competition on March 20 in Minneapolis. Read more.

Pendulum Newspaper, Elon University Students Win SPJ Region 2 Awards

Editors from The Pendulum, Elon University's student newspaper, were honored with Mark of Excellence awards for their work during the Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 conference in Arlington, Va., March 28. Read more.

Students Claim Elon University's first College TV Award from Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

Elon University students Joey Accordino, Christopher Bunn and Michael Heil were in California March 21 to accept the university's first College Television Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation. Read more.

Valparaiso Students Learn About Giving in Course

In the midst of a worldwide economic downturn placing heavy demands on social service organizations, a class of Valparaiso University students last fall gained first-hand experience in the hard choices people must make in deciding how to spend their talents and treasures to help others. Read more.

Elon University Senior Receives Highly Selective Graduate Fellowship

Elon University senior Victoria “Tori” Davis has been named the recipient of a DACOR Bacon House Foundation fellowship for graduate study in international affairs, a $10,000 award that will assist her this fall as she begins work toward a doctorate in political science en route to a career with the U.S. Foreign Service. Read more.

Elon University Students and Professors Present at Southern Anthropology Society Meetings

Elon University students and professors had a strong showing at the Southern Anthropology Society Meetings in Wilmington, NC this past weekend, leading two panels during the two-day conference. Read more.

Hamline University Students Talk to Legislators

Forty-one Hamline University students made their voices heard at the State Capitol recently, educating their legislators about what they are going through to finance a college education. Read more.

University of Scranton Students Win Nurse Challenge

A team of Nursing Students from The University of Scranton won the sixth annual Jeffery Allan Walp Student Nurse Challenge, becoming the third Scranton team to win in six years. Read more.

Drake Pharmacy Students Work to Reform Health Care Through Legislation

Two Drake University pharmacy students are working to change the face of health care in Iowa through an independent study internship with Drake alumnus and Iowa Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines. Read more.

Valparaiso University engineering students effectively demonstrated their robot design skills and claimed victory in the prestigious Jerry Sanders Creative Design Competition, held March 13 and 14. Read more.

Pacific Lutheran Students Use Math to Build Community

For the students from Pacific Lutheran University and middle schools around the area, the Mathletes Tutor Program is more than just numbers and equations. Read more.

Samford Debaters Qualify For National Debate Tournament

A Samford University debate team won five of six rounds at a recent regional qualifying tournament to earn a bid to the National Debate Tournament, and two squad members brought home debater of the year awards. Read more.

Wagner Partnership Promotes Housing Awareness

At Wagner College, college students are learning the basics of home buying and good credit. NY1 ‘s Monica Brown filed the following report. Read more.

Students From New American Colleges and Universities Named State Finalists for Truman Scholar

Stephanie Guetig and Nathan W. Harter IV of Butler University, Kristine Silvestri of Elon University, and Jonathan Coley of Samford University are all among the 194 national finalists for The 2009 Harry S. Truman Scholarship. They will advance to regional interviews in March, hoping to win up to $30,000 for post-graduate study and leadership training. This year’s scholars will be announced on March 26, 2009.

Truman scholarships recognize college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service, and provide them with financial support for graduate study, leadership training, and fellowship with other students who are committed to making a difference through public service.

Read the Elon story
Read the Butler story

North Central’s Student-Run Chronicle wins 11 Awards for Journalistic Excellence

Staff members of North Central College’s student-run daily newspaper, The Chronicle, garnered 11 awards for journalistic excellence in 2008, including one first place and five second place awards from the Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) at its annual conference in Chicago February 21. Read more.

Butler Student Foundation Receives Three CASE Awards

The Butler University Student Foundation (BUSF), which works to unite current students with alumni and future students, received three awards last weekend at the annual District V Affiliated Student Advancement Programs (ASAP) Conference, the student advancement arm of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Every year, awards are given in five categories. BUSF won awards in the categories of Outstanding Internal Program, Outstanding Student Leader and Outstanding Adviser. Read more.

Elon University Law Students Advise on Housing Policy at Regional Summit

On February 26, Elon University law students presented research on affordable housing strategies before a broad range of government officials and non-profit professionals at a regional housing summit in Greensboro, North Carolina. Read more.

Evansville, Butler, Valparaiso Students Lobby Legislature

Several students from the University of Evansville, Butler University, and Valparaiso University got firsthand experience with the Indiana legislature, when they traveled to Indianapolis to lobby on behalf of private higher education. More than 250 college students participated in the event, which was part of the Independent Colleges of Indiana’s (ICI) Student Lobbying Day.

Read the University of Evansville News Release

Read the Butler University News Release

Drake Law Students Win National Writing Awards

Two third-year Drake University Law School students, Ashley Dose and Lauren Yates, recently received honors in national health law writing competitions for their seminar papers. Read more.

Valparaiso Student's Research Honored at National Medical Conference

Ryan Beck, a Valparaiso University senior chemistry and biology major, received a Research Citation Award during the 38th annual Critical Care Congress, the world's largest organization of critical care professionals, for his research related to an amino acid that could help surgery and trauma patients. Read more.

Students and Teachers Receive Rose Kelly Awards

Students at The University of Scranton and their high school teachers that they credit for contributing to their success were recognized at the Rose Kelly Awards ceremony, held recently on campus.

The Rose Kelly Award was established by a University of Scranton alumnus, Joseph Wineburgh, Ph.D., to link the efforts of educators to the achievements of college students. The award is presented jointly to a student in each of the University of Scranton’s colleges who has completed two years at Scranton and to the teacher whom he or she recognizes as having a great impact on his or her life. Students are selected based on exemplary achievement in both academics and general campus involvement. Read more.

Drake Student Honored for Positive Impact on Iowa Community

Eric Bertram Hall, a first-year student at Drake University, recently received one of three Heritage Legacy Awards from I'll Make Me a World in Iowa for his commitment to making a difference in Iowa.

The Heritage Legacy Awards recognize Iowans, both African-American individuals and organizations, whose creative and civic activities in African-American life and culture have made powerful and positive differences in their communities and country.

"I am honored to have been chosen for the award," Hall said. “I am grateful to the people who made the award possible and I promise to dedicate my life to the education and empowerment of people in the black community." Read more.

Drake Law School Moot Court Team Ranks in Top Eight in National Tourney

The Drake University Law School National Moot Court team recently finished in the top eight out of 28 teams that competed in the national finals of the 59th Annual National Moot Court Competition. The team's brief was judged as Third Best Brief in the national finals.

The competition was held Feb. 2-9 at the headquarters of the New York City Bar Association in New York City. Teams from 127 law schools competed in 14 regional competitions held throughout the United States. The 28 finalists, including Drake, advanced to the national finals after placing first or second in their respective regions. Read more.

Second African Water Project Launched by Students

Valparaiso University's chapter of Engineers Without Borders will return to Africa in May and begin work on its second project on the continent – an initiative that will supply water to a Tanzanian village.

Students will spend approximately a week in Masaera, a remote village in the northern part of Tanzania near Mount Kilimanjaro that lacks running water or electricity. Read more.

Students Receive Study Abroad Scholarships and Grants

Gabrielle Dean, Kristin Hilgartner, and Brian Mackey.

Three Elon University students have been awarded federally funded scholarships to help support their spring 2009 semester study abroad experiences, while a fourth student is the recipient of a scholarship to fund her semester in Denmark.

Junior Brian Mackey, sophomore Gabrielle Dean and senior Nicole Hilgartner were recipients of Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships. The scholarship program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they study. Read more.

North Central College Student Named Semi-Finalist in Singing Competition

North Central College music major Evan Zivin '10 was named a semi-finalist in the annual Chicago National Association of Teachers of Singing Contest at Loyola University on January 31. Singing arias and art songs, Zivin competed with some 175 other college students and older adults in the Chicago area. He's a voice student of Paul Grizzell, instructor of voice.

Belmont Senior Prepares for White House Job

Belmont University senior political science and journalism major Ameshia Cross received an unexpected but extraordinary gift the week before Christmas: an offer to work in the White House.

Cross, a Chicago native, admits her lofty political aspirations started at an early age, but she never anticipated having them realized so soon. In fact, she planned to continue her education in the fall at the University of Chicago Law School, where she was recently accepted. All that changed when David Axelrod, a senior advisor to President Barack Obama and chief strategist for his campaign, called in December to offer Cross a job working in the West Wing as an assistant to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

“At first I didn’t believe it was him,” Cross said with a laugh. “I hadn’t applied for a position at the White House or with the new administration so the call was completely unexpected.”

A scholar who is involved in numerous organizations across campus, Cross caught the attention of Axelrod and others through her experience to date. She first interned for Barack Obama when he ran for Senate in 2004, and she was chosen as one of 35 university fellows to travel the country campaigning for Obama last summer. As president of Belmont’s College Democrats, Cross met briefly with Obama during his campus visit for the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate. The new president and his road to the White House are also the subject of Cross’ senior thesis.

Student to Participate in Clinton Global Initiative University

Kara van Stralen, a University of Redlands student, will attend the Clinton Global Initiative University event Feb. 13-15. The program is patterned after the Clinton Global Initiative, an effort by former President Bill Clinton to bring together world leaders and encourage action on global issues. She will participate in sessions on using technology to ease poverty, the need for visionary leadership and social change in education, and how the environment affects health as part of an event at the University of Texas at Austin.

As part of the program, Stralen also will lead her own volunteer initiative in the Redlands community. She plans to put together a resource guidebook that includes information on area volunteer needs. Ultimately, she said she hopes the guide helps people from a variety of ages and backgrounds to volunteer in the community.

Wagner College President Richard Guarasci will also be attending the event, speaking to a gathering of more than 1,000 students during a session entitled “Human Development as Urban Development in City Slums.”

For more information about the Clinton Global Initiative University program, visit the CGI Web site at clintonglobalinitiative.org.

North Central College Students Study Environment in Ghana

A group of seven North Central College students spent part of December studying environmental is sues in Ghana during a trip to Africa.

The students involved in the three-week study abroad program enrolled in a two-credit-hour course, “Development and the Environment in Ghana,” part of North Central’s year-old environmental studies program. The hands-on course included an introduction to Ghanaian history and culture, an investigation of the tension between development and environmental and social issues through the lens of gold mining and an examination of West Africa’s slave history through a tour of culturally significant landmarks.

The trip and course were conceived by Kimberly Sluis, North Central’s assistant dean for student life, and Martha Bohrer, professor of English and environmental studies. Sluis previously had lived in Ghana for three years with the Peace Corps. Read more.

Former Drake star Pulliam to be inducted into Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame

Former Drake University basketball standout Dolph Pulliam will be among 14 athletes to be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle, Ind., March 25.

"This was a total surprise," said Pulliam, who is director of community relations at Drake, while also serving as a basketball radio analyst for the Bulldogs. "I had never thought about being enshrined. It is the biggest honor I have ever received, especially in light of the other players being inducted. So this is quite an honor for my family."

University's Invisible Children Efforts Recognized Nationally

A campus-wide effort to raise money for Invisible Children, an organization established to aid child soldiers kidnapped and forced to fight in the Uganda conflict, has garnered national recognition for the University of Redlands.

The campus' student chapter of Invisible Children raised almost $78,000, making the group the second most successful fundraising club in the nation during the fall 2008. About 2,000 schools vied for the honor.

Because of the honor, Redlands student and Invisible Children co-president Ashlee Buczek will be traveling to Uganda this summer to see the work of the organization first-hand, visiting schools built and operated by Invisible Children, as well as meeting with volunteers based in Uganda.

About 200 students are involved in the club, and a number of staff and community members also are active in the club. More than 30 students regularly attend meetings. The club works in some way with each residence hall, sorority and fraternity.

Buczek said working with Invisible Children has been a valuable learning experience for her.

"I have learned how to tell the story of these children in a way that can inspire others to get involved and help,” she said. "I have seen changes in many of the people who have become involved. People have told me how this movie has changed their outlook on life – and showed them the importance of school. It is neat to be around a lot of positive and optimistic people that are willing to give it everything they've got.”

As part of the nationwide fundraising competition, Redlands students made a 26-minute film chronicling their fundraising efforts. The film is divided into four segments on the following YouTube links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o384oDeppRs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTnLSoxP3GU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhKxCShCGvM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsRLnCJbjDM

North Central Students to Present Papers

Three North Central College students will present papers at the annual Midwestern Regional Conference of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, April 30 through May 2, 2009, in Chicago. The competitive peer-review undergraduate research conference is sponsored by the Midwestern Psychological Association.

The North Central College students who will present papers at the conference are:

• Jennifer Carlson, a senior who will graduate in spring 2009, presenting: “Rape Allegations in the Military: An Examination of the Effects of Rank and Alcohol on Blame and Accountability”;
• Karen Ocwieja, a senior who will graduate in 2009, presenting: “Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in the Female Athlete”; and
• Jessica O'Brien, a 2008 graduate of North Central College, presenting: “Perceptions of Management Effectiveness as a Function of Gender Congruent Attire.”

Students Witness History at Obama Inauguration

Click here to read a Wagner College senior’s account of the inauguration.

Click here to read a Pacific Lutheran University’s student’s account of the inauguration.

Student-Athletes Receive National Recognition for Service Project

Student-athletes at North Central College were recognized recently by the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators (NADIIIAA) with an honorable mention for their community service project called Wings at Their Feet, a back-to-school supply drive for students in high-need areas.

Wings at Their Feet was conceived to give as many children as possible a fair chance at learning by providing basic school supplies. More than 200 North Central student-athletes collected some 1,700 items during the award-winning 2007-08 academic year. Pencils, pens, notebooks, paper, markers, crayons, folders, glue sticks, rulers, backpacks and more were donated to Olney C. Allen Elementary School in Aurora, Ill., and Emerson Elementary School in Madison, Wis., a school that serves homeless children through a transitional education program. The supplies are collected and delivered during the fall, then schools distribute them to students in winter after the Christmas vacation when students and families are short on supplies and funds.

The program's creator is Kari Kluckhohn, North Central's head women's track and assistant women's cross country coach and assistant professor of health and physical education. Kluckhohn started the project nearly five years ago in memory of her son, Samuel Noah, who passed away at full term before his birth. Shortly after her loss, her home church in Wisconsin held its annual school supply drive for needy families in Africa and area schools, and she decided to donate supplies in honor of Samuel.

The following year she invited members of her track team to join her efforts. Kluckhohn says, "I thought we could impact more children working together than I could alone, and they were very generous and eager to help." After seeing how giving her team was, she expanded the program to include all athletic teams with support from other North Central coaches and staff. Her goal was to introduce student-athletes to service and help them recognize their responsibility to be role models. "It gives our students an opportunity to make a difference by helping children in our area. And it's such a simple, grassroots project that positively affects so many lives."

The name Wings at Their Feet was coined by one of Kluckhohn's students. "After my loss, many of my runners wore ribbons of remembrance on their shoes when competing and one of my students said, ‘Look coach, I have wings on my feet.' I think it's symbolic; we can provide support and tools to kids to help them soar academically."

The program has provided school supplies to Olney C. Allen Elementary School and Oak Park Elementary, both high-need schools in Aurora, and to Kluckhohn's home church, Wiota Lutheran Church in South Wayne, Wis., which, in turn, gives supplies to needy students and schools in their area.

But Kluckhohn has bigger plans for Wings at Their Feet. She wants to invite other athletics teams in North Central's conference, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW), to join the school supply drive. If it keeps growing, she plans to encourage her coaching colleagues around the country to develop similar projects to serve children in need in their own local areas.

Fifteen Westminster Students Make 2009 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association recently announced that 15 Westminster College students made the 2009 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team and will compete throughout the season for places on the podium and World Cup points required to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The FIS Freestyle World Cup is the highest-level competition series in the sport with events around the globe every season. Westminster’s Freestyle Ski Team members include: Jay Bowman-Kirigin, Emily Cook, David DiGravio, Jimmy Discoe, Dylan Ferguson, Landon Gardner, Ani Haas, Holt Haga, Sho Kashima, Jana Lindsey, Heather McPhie, Lacy Schnoor, Juliana Serra, Ryan St. Onge and Byron Wilson.

Undergraduate Seminar Includes Field Trip Abroad

Fifteen undergraduate students from Quinnipiac University will travel to Poland and the Czech Republic this spring as part of their QU 301 seminar on global community.

Students will take part in broad discussions on international human rights throughout the course, which will culminate in an 11-day trip in May to various sites in Poland and the Czech Republic. The course will allow students to explore political, social, cultural, religious, ecological and economic systems that define the global community.

Ewa Callahan, assistant professor of communications and a native of Poland, will lead the seminar and the trip. Callahan says she chose two eastern European countries because they are "a great example of the role the free media and religion played in the process of abolishing the communist regime and the transformation to democracy."

UNITED: FOR CHANGE Holds Kick-off Event at Belmont

Charity organization UNITED: FOR CHANGE held its kickoff event on Jan. 19 at Belmont University. Special musical guests performed and representatives from World Vision spoke at the launch party, which was held on this day to coincide with President Barack Obama’s call for a national day of service.

UNITED: FOR CHANGE, founded by Belmont junior Joshua Maisner, is a movement to raise awareness of impoverished children worldwide and to create a sustainable financial model for college-age students to be part of the solution in helping eradicate children’s poverty. Each Belmont student will be asked to contribute their spare change each week. If each of the university’s 5,000 students donated $1 per week toward the effort, UNITED: FOR CHANGE could raise its goal of $100,000 over the course of the 20-week spring semester. The money raised will benefit four charities that impact children locally, nationally and internationally: Safe Haven Family Shelter, Feed the Children, African Leadership and World Vision.

Belmont University Provost Dr. Dan McAlexander said, “The United for Change initiative is an outstanding example of the ways in which our students bring passion, knowledge and creativity to the core challenge of our mission 'to engage and transform the world through disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage and faith.' We support their work and are working with them to make their efforts as effective as they can possibly be.”

Student to Present Medical Research at Conference

Ryan Beck, a Valparaiso University senior chemistry and biology major, is presenting results of summer research conducted with an award-winning Valparaiso alumnus at the 38th annual Critical Care Congress sponsored by the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Beck was invited to make a presentation after his abstract was named a research citation finalist for the conference. Nearly 6,000 nurses, pharmacists, physicians, respiratory therapists, students and other providers from around the world are scheduled to attend the event.

Beck worked on his research with Dr. Paul Wischmeyer, a 1992 Valpo graduate and associate professor of anesthesia and director of nutrition support at University of Colorado’s Health Sciences Center. Dr. Wischmeyer, an award-winning researcher in the area of intensive care medicine and critical care nutrition, discovered several years ago that critically-ill patients given the amino acid glutamine had lower mortality rates. To assist Dr. Wischmeyer in his ongoing research, Beck investigated why the amino acid threonine - initially hypothesized to inhibit glutamine from working - actually provided cellular protection.

Students from Drake and Elon Universities Devote Martin Luther King Day to Community Service

Fourteen Drake University students ended their winter breaks early to serve the Des Moines community on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Meanwhile, Elon University School of Law students participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service by volunteering at the Welfare Reform Liaison Project (WRLP) in Greensboro, N.C. WRLP provides job training opportunities in product distribution and video production, working with nonprofit and faith-based organizations to provide needed product for the publics they serve.

“There are people all around us who need a helping hand, and I think that the least we can do is take a few hours every now and then to be there to answer the call,” said Parker Moore, one of the Elon students who participated in the project. “Dedicating just a few hours was a truly humbling and incredibly rewarding experience.”

The Drake volunteers were part of a collaborative community service project. They joined college students from Grand View University, Simpson College, AIB College of Business and Des Moines Area Community College, middle school students and participants from organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa, Kids Against Hunger and Shalom Zone.

"The MLK event was a great opportunity to meet new people from other campuses and become active in the community," said sophomore Brittney Miller, student coordinator for volunteer programs at Drake. "The people who attended truly wanted to help," Miller added. "Furthermore, honoring Dr. King with our service work made the event that much more meaningful."

UE Education Seniors Help "Reluctant" Elementary Readers

A group of “reluctant readers” from Fairlawn Elementary School got a little help from their friends at the University of Evansville in their visit to the UE campus for the Reading Aces program.

The 24 Fairlawn 4th graders came to the new Ridgway University Center where a group of UE elementary education seniors worked with them on their reading skills. All of the UE seniors currently are enrolled in a corrective reading course, and worked with the Fairlawn students using a plan they developed specifically for this program.

“Our seniors are incredibly excited about this project, and about having the opportunity to make a difference in these students’ lives,” said Patricia Taylor-Denham, UE assistant professor of education. “We know that some students, especially at the intermediate level, are reluctant readers, and others are struggling readers. The Reading Aces is an effort both to help those students with their reading skills, as well as to encourage them to see reading as an enjoyable activity.”

35 Elon Student-Athletes Earn Fall 2008 Academic All-Conference Honors

Thirty-five Elon University student-athletes received academic all-conference recognition by the Southern Conference during the fall season. Elon ranked #2 among the 12 SoCon schools in the number of athletes earning recognition. To be eligible, a student-athlete must possess at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average entering the fall season and must have competed in at least one-half of their team’s competitions during the recently-concluded fall campaign.

Volleyball player Sarah Schermerhorn was among only six athletes with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Read the names of Elon’s academic all-conference honorees here.

Debaters Claim Hot Wins During January

Outstanding showings during a recent "Texas Two Step" tournament swing have made Samford University debaters the top-ranked collegiate squad in the South East Central region and 35th in the nation.

Samford varsity debaters Dan Bagwell and Logan Gramzinski competed through double octa-finals at a University of North Texas tournament that featured 102 teams from across the nation.

Gramzinski was named 17th speaker out of more than 200 individual debaters, and Bagwell was named 24th speaker at the tournament held Jan. 5-7.

Samford junior varsity debaters Jacob Lewis and Ben Johnson advanced to the semi-finals of their competition at North Texas, with Johnson ranked 7th speaker amongst competing debaters.

In the second leg of the Two Step, at the University of Texas at Dallas, Bagwell and Gramzinski advanced to octa-finals after dominating a more experienced Baylor University team in double octa-finals. Bagwell was named 12th best speaker of the 230 debaters, claiming the title of highest ranked freshman at the tournament, held Jan. 9-11. Gramzinski was named 24th speaker.

Lewis teamed with Jayme Cloninger to defeat the tournament's top-seeded team from the University of Oklahoma in a decisive 3-0 victory in the quarter final round of JV competition. The Oklahoma team had earlier won first place at the North Texas JV tournament.

North Central College Senior Gains Insight at Wingspread Conference

Joseph Gaskill, a North Central College senior majoring in history and political science with a minor in environmental studies, learned about regional approaches to environmental planning during a recent conference at the Wingspread Conference Center.

During “Wingspread Revisited - Expanding Collaborative Regional Planning Around Southern Lake Michigan,” participants focused on concerns like global and regional economic trends, among other issues.

Unlike other academic conferences, where the panel-oriented format revolves around one person reading a paper and then fielding questions, the Wingspread conferences offer a much different experience. Perry Hamalis, North Central College’s director of the Office of Academic Opportunities, said, “The conferences are really in the model of deliberation, and showing the power of conversation to affect social change. It’s not strictly research-focused like some of our other conference opportunities. Students aren’t going and presenting a paper. It’s about getting them involved with the creative process by engaging experts from multiple disciplines and perspectives.”

The Association of New American Colleges was organized as a result of a Wingspread Conference.

As a result of the smaller group planning sessions and large-forum discussions, Gaskill gained many new insights about the practical applications in his field of study. “I realized the importance that state and local governments play in environmental planning. Most of the decisions that have the greatest effect on people’s immediate environment are not made by people in Washington, but rather by towns and regional planning agencies.”

Senior Meghan Speidel Saw History Being Made

Butler University senior Meghan Speidel had a ringside seat this fall to witness an important piece of American economic history.

As part of the University’s Washington Learning Program, Speidel interned for the National Economic Council, which advises the president on U.S. and global economic matters. She attended both the House and Senate hearings where Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified regarding the Troubled Assets Relief Program, and she was at her desk in the Executive Office Building when the $700 billion bailout of the financial sector finally passed.

For a finance major with a concentration in economics, there was no place better to be.

“The day the bailout passed, it was like a huge bubble of tension was released,” the Terre Haute native said. “The days and nights in between the first and second votes were very long. There were times staffers would leave at 3 a.m. only to return at 6 a.m. to begin working again. Finally, when the bill was passed, the office calmed down for a bit, and things returned to a somewhat normal schedule.”

Speidel’s duties included lots of research – reading opinion columns written by Bush administration critics and gathering information to respond. She proofread memos, triple-checked figures and helped pull together a comparison of the current financial bailout with the 1980s savings and loans crisis.

And before NEC Director Keith Hennessey would sit down for interviews with the media, Speidel would be among those who prepared briefings for him about stories the reporters had done and what questions they might ask.

When Speidel signed up for the Washington Internship Program, she initially was assigned to work in the office of Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar. But she’d talked to a previous White House intern she knew and decided to apply there. Despite having no connections, she managed to earn the coveted internship working for the White House.

“The recommendations were a huge part of it,” she said. “I did Officer Candidate School with the Marine Corps, so I had my captain write a recommendation that I think helped a lot.”

The internship also led to a job after she graduates. In May, she’s scheduled to start as an associate in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ federal advisory practice, which oversees government contracts – including the dissemination of TARP funds.

“It worked out really well,” Speidel said. “It all aligned, and I was excited I got to do it.”

Students Provide Tax Assistance

Drury University and Valparaiso School of Law students are providing free tax preparation through an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. The tax preparation service will benefit low-income and senior taxpayers, but it is open to the public.

"I feel very fortunate that we are once again able to provide this service for the hundreds of clients we serve each year," said Andrew Schmuhl, lead site coordinator for Valparaiso’s VITA program and a third-year law student. "Not only do student volunteers have an opportunity to help low income individuals, but hopefully they will come away from this program with a skill they can use in their legal careers and throughout their lifetime."

Westminster Student Receives Prestigious Scholarship to Study Abroad

Dallin VanLeuven, a Westminster College student, was recently awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study in Brussels, Belgium for the spring 2009 semester.

VanLeuven is one of only 600 students from throughout the country selected for the prestigious award. The Gilman Scholarship Program is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world. VanLeuven received $5,000 to defray eligible study abroad costs, such as tuition, room and board, books, etc.

Visual Sociology Class Blogs From India

A group of Belmont University students and faculty studied abroad in India for the first time in university history over the holiday break. The class, "Visual Sociology: Exploring India and the Self," challenged students to use photography to understand themselves and the vibrant country of India.

The group's itinerary was scheduled to include travel to several cities in northern India and possible visits to sites of historical significance such as the Taj Mahal and the Ganges river as well as other cultural heritage sites. Click here to read blog entries from this Study Abroad trip.

Washington Learning Program, a Life Changing Experience

It started in 2000 with just two Butler University students and a vision to provide a unique opportunity to learn and work in one of the most fascinating and intellectually stimulating cities in the world, Washington, D.C. Students participating in the Washington Learning Program earn up to 18 credit hours through coursework and a full-time internship at one of D.C.’s wide variety of international companies, government offices and cultural institutions. In fall 2008, 17 students participated in the Washington Learning Program. Here are a few of their stories.

Student to Serve as Ambassador for International Year of Astronomy

Drake University junior Deanna Berget recently was selected to be one of 52 student ambassadors for NASA's International Year of Astronomy (IYA).

The program is designed to encourage college students to participate in IYA activities and get excited about NASA's discoveries in astrophysics, planetary science and solar physics within their local and global communities.

As a student ambassador, Berget plans to make a special effort to generate an interest in astronomy among children and community members with disabilities. She is an officer in the Drake Best Buddies group, which pairs Drake students with Des Moines students with mental disabilities.

Drake Senior to Conduct Astronomy Research at Observatory in Chile

Drake University senior Jordan Mirocha will travel to Chile on Jan. 10 to participate in the 2009 Research Experience for Undergraduates Program in Astronomy at the mountaintop Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in La Serena.

Mirocha, who is majoring in physics and astronomy, was selected for the 10-week program based on his academic achievements, research interests and experience, as well as his career goals. Mirocha plans to earn a Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics.

Funded through the National Science Foundation, the research program will provide a weekly stipend for Mirocha and cover his travel expenses. He also will have the opportunity to spend two nights up on Cerro-Tololo, operating one of the telescopes. Plus, he will take a three-day trip to another observatory in Chile.

In addition, he will work on a research project to calibrate the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph to the Lick system of spectral indices, which is an important tool for astronomers because it allows them to determine the ages and compositions of unresolved stellar populations.

Hamline CLA Grad Wins International Peace Fellowship

Recent Hamline University graduate Sarah Houghton has received a prestigious Rotary World Peace Fellowship, one of just sixty awarded worldwide, and one of thirteen awarded to students in the United States, which she will use to earn her master’s in international relations from International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan.

Rotary World Peace Fellows are chosen from countries and cultures around the globe, and selection for the master’s degree program is based on the strength of an applicant’s undergraduate degree, the relevance of their post-graduation work experience, and their anticipated ability to have a significant, positive impact on world peace and conflict resolution.

Houghton, who majored in global studies and East Asian studies at Hamline and speaks Chinese and Spanish, hopes to dedicate her career to fostering peace and world understanding by addressing the roots of poverty in struggling countries. Currently, she is serving as director of a water project in Bolivia, also funded by Rotary International. There, she is working with engineers and craftsmen to provide clean water to Bolivian families who have highly contaminated wells.

Houghton graduated summa cum laude from Hamline University in 2007. During her time there, she received an independent research grant to study in China, where she spent time as a grant and publication’s translator for NGO Women’s Legal Aide and as an English teacher for CCTEC Engineering Company, Ltd. She also spent time as a math and reading tutor for elementary school children, was a Model United Nations teaching assistant and president, participated in mediator training, was a student orientation leader, and took a leadership role in several diversity efforts and events on campus. She received a host of awards at Hamline, including the Global Studies Student of Year in 2007.

“My professors at Hamline were instrumental in pushing me academically, mentoring me and helping me to reach my post-graduation goals,” Houghton said. “I chose Hamline because I liked the combination of the small school in a big city. I was impressed by the academic programs, student activism and the access to mentorships, due to the small student-to-staff ratio.”

An active volunteer with a number of nonprofit organizations, Houghton currently serves as ambassador for Etta’s Comedor de Niños, a community center she helped to found in Bolivia. She has also volunteered as a kindergarten teacher at an orphanage in Bolivia, helped out at a Minneapolis food shelf, and spent time as a language camp counselor at Concordia Language Villages.

Many Samford Students Plan Study Abroad in January

Many Samford University students will begin 2009 by pursuing international travel and study during the school's Jan Term. Some will ring in the New Year at Samford's London Study Centre in England.

Jan Term study sites include Peru, for study of the Amazon Rainforest and the nation's politics and economy; the Caribbean, for special topics in geography and scientific methods; and Italy, for an in-depth study of Eternal Rome.

Thirteen Spanish majors will engage in a three-week language and culture immersion at Costa Rica's Centro Linguistico Conversa. In addition to daily Spanish classes, they will live with host families, explore the country's natural wonders and engage in service learning projects at a local school, a retirement center and a nature conservancy agency.

The Daniel House, Samford's residential London Study Centre will be home base for two groups of students in January. Students in Session I will study international business, literary observation, British culture, and love and marriage in Britain.

Those in Session II will study British culture, Winston Churchill and World War II, nursing in the British Isles, and a multi-disciplinary study of London history, politics and media.

Alumnus John Jorgenson Receives Grammy Nomination

A University of Redlands alum has received a Grammy nomination in the country instrumental category for his work with country superstar Brad Paisley.

John Jorgenson, who graduated from Redlands in 1978, received the nomination for his collaboration with Paisley on the song "Cluster Pluck."

The standout musician, who performed at the university in June, credits Redlands with broadening his instrumental horizons. Jorgenson is known in part for his role as one of the pioneers of the American gypsy jazz movement.

"The U of R gave me a place to be able to develop on many different instruments, as I took a degree in bassoon, clarinet and saxophone performance, while also performing on guitar and bass during my years there, as well as some singing and a little acting," said Jorgenson.

Shortly after graduating, Jorgenson gained national attention in the mid-1980s with The Desert Rose Band, a group he co-founded with Chris Hillman. The band had five chart-topping singles, as well as numerous awards. Jorgenson also won the Academy of Country Music's "Guitarist of the Year" award three years in a row.

Jorgenson then joined another award-winning group, the guitar trio The Hellecasters. Initially formed just for fun, the group won both "Album of the Year" and "Country Album of the Year" from readers of Guitar Player magazine for their debut record, "Return of the Hellecasters."

He toured for six years with Elton John and has performed with artists including Billy Joel and Sting. Jorgenson's compositions also have been featured in numerous television and film scores.

Women Engineers Win National Award

Valparaiso University chapter of the Society of Women Engineers was named Outstanding Collegiate Section, Silver Level, at the organization's recent national conference in Baltimore, which drew more than 5,800 women engineers from around the world.

Earlier this year, Valpo's chapter won first place for Best Collegiate Section among institutions of comparable size in the Chicago Regional Section and second place for Best Collegiate Website.

Valparaiso was one of six institutions in Region H (which includes engineering schools in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota) to have its Society of Women Engineers' chapter selected for the national honor.

In addition to professional development, one of the section's priorities last year was organizing outreach activities that gave youth in the community opportunities to learn more about engineering and see it as a fun and exciting career. Those activities included an afterschool program at the Valparaiso Boys and Girls Club, where several SWE members tutor on a weekly basis.

Astronomy Students to Present Research

Four Valparaiso University undergraduate students will present findings of their astronomy research at the semi-annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society in January.

Presenting posters that will describe findings of research projects undertaken in collaboration with Valpo's astronomy faculty are:

• Sam Schaub, a junior physics and chemistry major, presenting "A Photometric Survey to Search for Close Binary Stars in Planetary Nebulae: First Results";

• Erin Lueck, a senior physics and music major, presenting "The Identification of Individual Bullets in the Jets of SS 433 and Relation to the Kinematic Model";

• Ryan McGuire, a senior physics major, and Callista Steele, a senior physics major, presenting "Light and Velocity Variability in Seven Bright Proto-Planetary Nebulae."
  

Butler Senior Commands ROTC Program

Butler University senior Colin Brodmerkel has become the first Butler student to be named Battalion Commander of the Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) Army division of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. Brodmerkel’s rank as first in the battalion of 130 means he is responsible for the success and failure of every aspect of cadet training drills. From making sure each cadet has the correct supplies to get through the day, to overseeing the execution of mock-missions, Brodmerkel says his ROTC responsibilities have made him a leader in all areas of his life.

Hampton Marching Band to Perform in the Inaugural Parade

President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden's Inaugural Committee officially extended an offer to Hampton University Marching Force to participate in the 56th Inaugural Parade on Jan. 20. The Force is one of three Virginia groups to participate in the parade. The other groups are T.C. Williams High School Army JROTC in Alexandria and the Virginia Military Institute Corps of Cadets in Lexington.

"I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the Inaugural Parade," said President-elect Obama. "These organizations embody the best of our nation's history, diversity and commitment to service. Vice President-elect Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade."

The Force is made up of 225 members. There are 10 instrumental sections and a dance group, Ebony Fire. They will perform four songs in the parade: "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite March" by Karl King; "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead; "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang; and Obama's campaign song, "Signed, Sealed and Delivered" by Stevie Wonder.

HU Band Director Alfred Davis said this a wonderful opportunity and the students are extremely excited. “It is a great honor to be picked as the only band from Virginia to perform in the Inaugural Parade,” he said.

“It made us feel good about who we are and what we do, for us to be selected [for the Inaugural Parade],” said HU Assistant Drum Major Curtis Mason, a junior music education major. “Everybody was yelling Obama, Obama ... getting hyped and enthused.”

All participants in the Inaugural Parade are responsible for paying for their own lodging and transportation to and from Washington, D.C. The Inaugural Committee has been working closely with area governments and civic organizations to facilitate access to affordable accommodations and would like to encourage citizens from across the country to reach out and help the Hampton University Marching Force raise the necessary resources to participate in this historic event. To make a contribution in support of Hampton University's Band, please make your check payable to Hampton University and write University Band in memo line and mail to Hampton University, Office of Development, Hampton, VA 23668 by Jan. 9, 2009 or visit their site.

Elon Faculty, Staff and Students Help Relaunch Cummings H.S. Newspaper

Teens at Cummings High School in Burlington, N.C., published a newspaper this week for the first time in four years after meeting every Monday throughout the fall for guidance from Elon University faculty, staff and students.

The first issue of THE VOICE: Not Your Average Outlook was distributed to students on Dec. 10, 2008. No current students at Cummings have memories of the newspaper that was discontinued four years ago due to staffing issues.

The increase in remedial courses made it impossible to offer a journalism class, the class that typically produces the school’s newspaper.

Assistance was provided to Cummings students by Deborah Long, a professor of education and director of the Elon Academy; Colin Donohue, coordinator of student media and an instructor in the School of Communications; and Eric Townsend, director of the Elon University News Bureau. Elon students Myra Garcia, Olivia Hubert-Allen and Alyse Knorr also worked on the issue.

Aeron Sizemore, and Elon alumna, serves at Cummings as faculty advisor for the paper.

Elon Academy scholars led the efforts to relaunch the newspaper. They are: Frank Garcia (Alpha Class), Lorenzo Davis (Beta Class), Yael Peralta (Beta Class), Desmond Harrell (Beta Class), and Gabrielle White (Alpha Class).

“There may be many students at Cummings High School who never imagined a career in journalism who might now realize that this is a possibility and a passion for them,” Long said. “Not only that, the students at Cummings have a voice, and that voice is being heard. The impact of the Elon Academy goes beyond the scholars in the program. Academy scholars are making a significant difference in their high schools.”

Engineering Honor Society Continues Award Streak

The Valparaiso University chapter of engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi has, for the sixth time in the past seven years, won recognition from the national organization for excellence in planning and carrying out projects on campus and in the community.

"Winning Chapter Project Awards six out of the last seven years demonstrates the high quality and driven student leadership in our Indiana Delta chapter," said Dr. Kraig Olejniczak, dean of Valpo's College of Engineering. "This can only happen when you have outstanding faculty advisers who mentor these young men and women leaders. I am very proud of our students, our faculty and what this says about the quality of undergraduate engineering education at Valparaiso University."

During the past year, activities of Valparaiso's chapter included a variety of service projects in the community and organizing an Engineering Olympics and The Engineers Day Banquet during National Engineers Week.

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