Author and alumnus Bill Bryson lifts spirits by sharing his wit and wisdom; Alumnus selected as Obama's next assistant secretary of state for Africa; Drake to honor five outstanding alumni May 16; Drake alumnus plays out rivalry with University of Iowa alumnus on "Lost"; Alumni organize fundraising walk to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

Joe Lenz named dean of College of Arts and Sciences; Drake's Lon Larson to receive Weaver Medal of Honor; and Mahon.

A stone from the Mauthausen Concentration Camp -- where Nazis forced prisoners to extract rocks from a quarry with their bare hands -- is on display as Drake musicians rehearse a Holocaust memorial oratorio to be performed on April 19.

Roger K. Brooks, retired CEO and chairman of AmerUs Group, recently received a Community Leadership Award.

The Iowa Board of Regents has awarded a $60,000 grant from the Grow Iowa Values Fund to Pramod Mahajan, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Drake, for a new laboratory for training and research in pharmacogenomics.

Just three days after winning the award for best oralist in the annual Iowa Supreme Court Competition on Saturday, Drake law student Erin Grundy again found herself standing before the seven justices of the state's highest court.

An exhibit of art and essays created by troubled adolescents from the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo, Iowa, has a permanent home in Drake's School of Education, thanks to the generous support of several donors.

Drake recent 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.

Johnson, Torrence named overall Athletes of the Century; Drake Relays tickets now on sale; Entries available for Drake Relays 8-K, half-marathon races.