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On Campus
- Stories
May
16, 2003 Vol. 55, No. 43
More than 1,000 students graduated from Drake at commencement ceremonies last weekend. While her classmates were attending Drake's undergraduate commencement, Alisa Koester was receiving her degree from Drake at the University of Dubuque commencement ceremony, where her mother, Nancy Koester, also received a degree. Drake made arrangements for Alisa to graduate at the University of Dubuque so that her family could be together. "It's not very often that a mother and daughter get to share a special moment like this," Nancy said. "I can't believe it actually worked out," Alisa added. "It's great to be able to sit next to each other and get our diplomas together.
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| Iowa Chief Justice Louis Lavorato says a good education is something no one can take from you. | President David Maxwell urges graduates to read extensively. |
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| A bagpipe player leads the procession of Drake Law School faculty and graduates from Opperman Hall through Wifvat Plaza to the Drake Knapp Center for the Law School Commencement Ceremony. | Oreon E. Scott Award-winner Amber Clapp tells her classmates she doesn't have a job yet, either. |
The Iowa Certified
Public Manager (ICPM) program has been recognized and accredited by the National
Certified Public Manager Consortium.
Accreditation is awarded to select programs that successfully endorse dynamic
leadership, high ethical standards and demonstrated excellence and quality principles
in public management. Only one Certified Public Manager program per state is recognized
and requires a partnership between the sponsoring state agency and a local university.
On Thursday, May 22, the first ICPM class, made up of 18 participants from the
state of Iowa and Polk County, will graduate from the 17-month program. Graduation
ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium.
ICPM graduates provide a positive impact to their organizations and the citizens
of Iowa by applying professional skills when managing public offices and performing
public duties, said Connie Sanderson, director of Drake's Center for Professional
Studies.
According to a current participant, "The ICPM program uses fun and innovative
approaches to equip participants with valuable leadership and management skills.
The principles and techniques taught during the ICPM have been very useful in
my work."
The Center for Professional Studies, Drake University, is one of the few professional
development experiences to combine an innovative learning model with the skills
of respected faculty members. Participants gain the skills and credentials today's
rofessionals need with the flexibility that demanding lifestyles
require.
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| Mark Vitha accepts accolades from Provost Ron Troyer and President David Maxwell. |
Drake University's
most prestigious awards for faculty and staff recently were presented to Carol
Spaulding, associate professor of English, and Mark Vitha, assistant professor
of chemistry.
The Madelyn M. Levitt Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award and Madelyn M. Levitt
Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award were established in 1994 by Madelyn M. Levitt,
a member of the Drake Board of Trustees and special assistant to President Maxwell.
Spaulding received the Madelyn M. Levitt Mentor of the Year Award, which recognizes
the faculty or staff member who best demonstrates excellence in advising and outstanding
commitment to student success, and integrity in personal relationships. Vitha
was honored with the Madelyn M. Levitt Teacher of the Year Award, which recognizes
the faculty member who best demonstrates excellence in teaching, inspirational
leadership and intellectual rigor.
Spaulding, who joined the Drake faculty in 1996, teaches fiction writing and American
ethnic literature. As chair of the Drake Writers and Critics series, she has organized
lectures and readings by esteemed authors and critics. In this past year, she
launched the Drake Writers' Seminar and served as faculty adviser for Periphery,
Drake's art and literary journal.
"In my experience," Spaulding said, "mentoring involves an interesting
dynamic in which I perform simultaneously the tasks of being both colleague and
teacher as the student moves from the status of apprentice to professional."
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| Carol Spaulding receives congratulations from President David Maxwell and Provost Ron Troyer. |
"Carol has
challenged and inspired me not only in the classroom, but also in personal aspects
of my life, as she's shared her kind ear and insightful advice innumerable times
over the course of my college career, strengthening me as a student, a writer
and a person," wrote a student nominating Spaulding for the award.
Vitha, who joined the Drake faculty in 1998, teaches chemistry as well as quantitative
and instrumental analysis. He serves on the Faculty Senate and is the Barry M.
Goldwater Science Scholarship campus coordinator. He has obtained research grants
from organizations such as the National Science Foundation.
"Early in my education," Vitha said, "I became a keen observer
of my teachers, comparing their different philosophies and approaches. . . . The
distillation of those years of observation and analysis, combined with the lessons
I am learning from my own teaching experience, yields the overriding principle
that guides my teaching: clarity - clarity in presenting material, clarity in
detailing expectations and clarity in expressing educational goals."
A student who nominated Vitha wrote that "Sometimes I see how much Dr. Vitha
undertakes on a daily and yearly basis and am completely amazed. He is able to
juggle so many things in his career. Then if I take a closer look and notice how
much he enjoys everything that he does, I realize why the juggling is so easy
for him. He wants to be a great teacher; he wants students to learn; he wants
to do excellent research; and he wants to learn himself."
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| Molenburg's Road Kill Cafe served more than 300 meals this year. |
As Drake's real
estate manager for 34 years, Larry Molenburg, LA'68, GR'77, has educated thousands
of students on how to be good tenants, mediated tenants' squabbles and worked
diligently to acquire property the University needs for its own development.
One of his biggest challenges was assembling the land for the construction of
the Harmon Fine Arts Center, which had to be designed around the home of Madelaine
Lowe at 1320 24th St. because Lowe refused to sell her property to Drake at any
price. So, the University went ahead and built the U-shaped structure around her
house.
One hot summer day Molenburg got a call from someone working in the Fine Arts
Center who had noticed smoking wires leading into Lowe's house. Molenburg immediately
called Lowe, but she hung up as soon as he identified himself. He called back,
but she hung up again. "I called her a third time and just said, -Miss Lowe,
your house is on fire!' " Molenburg recalled. "She responded by saying,
-When I want help from Drake, I'll ask for it.' "
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| Larry Molenburg poses with 8-year-old Adam Green during a recent neighborhood scrub day. |
Thanks to Molenburg's
persistent warning, Lowe's house didn't burn down. Drake eventually acquired the
property and demolished it after Lowe moved to a nursing home. The courtyard where
her house once stood is now used for Drake's annual Jazz in July concerts.
Molenburg, who plans to retire May 31, manages 67 single-family homes, 33 apartment
buildings and several commercial properties owned by the University. Since he
started working for Drake on Aug. 1, 1969, Molenburg has never taken a single
sick day. "I've been blessed with good health," he said.
Molenburg is active in neighborhood improvement programs, organizing hundreds
of Drake students to help with clean-up days and to paint the houses of elderly
residents on national Make a Difference Day. He's also served on the board of
the Drake Area Business Association for more than 20 years. His efforts earned
him the 2000 Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service Award.
Molenburg, 70, also is noted for his sense of humor. When he decided to set up
a free hot lunch for police and physical plant workers on duty during the Friday
Relays, he dubbed it the Road Kill Cafe and displayed a sign that says "You
catch it, we'll cook it."
Drake hosted a farewell picnic for Molenburg on Wednesday and presented him with
a plaque that said, "Thank you for all the great years of service and humor."
Following the picnic, Molenburg summed up his career this way: "It's been
a great experience and a great privilege."