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July 26, 2002 Vol. 55, No. 6

RAGBRAI riders 'take a break with Drake'
Many RAGBRAI riders, including nearly 100 Drake alumni, accepted the invitation to "take a break with Drake" on Tuesday just outside of Woden, Iowa.

President David Maxwell joined staff members in giving out 420 bottles of All-Sport to thirsty cyclists. They also distributed "Go Bulldogs" stickers and sold their entire stock of Drake bike jerseys designed by Madeleine Maxwell.

President Maxwell heads the 22-member Team Drake in the annual biking adventure across Iowa. His daily dispatches and photos of Team Drake are posted at www.drake.edu.
Alumna gives $200,000 to endow scholarship fund
Retired school teacher Myrtle Hohl Staley worked her way through Drake with the help of a $100 loan from her sister. Staley wants to make things a little easier for future teachers. So, she's made a $200,000 gift to Campaign Drake that will endow a scholarship fund for students in the School of Education who demonstrate financial need and maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

"I wanted to put my money where it would help education," Staley says. "I believe everybody should learn how to read and we need more good teachers to make that happen."

A native of Donnellson, Iowa, Staley earned her bachelor's degree from Drake in 1943 and her master's degree in 1960. She was having trouble with her master's thesis when the late Jim Duncan, professor of journalism and mass communication, became her faculty adviser. "He offered to help me right away and I reworked the thesis as he suggested," she says. "I'll never forget Jim Duncan."

After completing her master's degree, Staley went to Butzbah, Germany, where she spent a year teaching children of U.S. Army personnel. "I went to see the Berlin Wall, which was new at that time," she recalls. "There were lots of flowers left on the wall and people were standing on top of cars, trying to see over the wall and make contact with their relatives on the other side. It was very sad. I'm glad that the wall has come down."

After returning to Des Moines, Staley taught second grade at Hillis Elementary School and Park Avenue Elementary School before retiring in 1979.
She keeps busy with her hobbies of cooking and quilting. She enjoys trying new recipes and making peanut brittle for her nieces and nephews. She also sews fine quilts. It took her four years to complete a large counted-cross-stitch quilt that features a block depicting the highlights of each of the 50 states.

Staley says she's grateful for the education she received at Drake and hopes the Myrtle Hohl Staley Scholarship will enable many future teachers - and their students - to reap the benefits of the Drake experience.
Student workers needed for tours
Drake's Admission Office needs work-study students to give daily tours at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. during Iowa Private College Week, Aug. 5-9. Offices that employ work-study students who could help with this effort should contact Ahmed Agyeman in the Admission Office at x4002 or ahmed.agyeman@drake.edu.

Hundreds of college-seeking students and their families are expected to visit Drake during Iowa Private College Week.

Throughout the week, each of Iowa's 28 participating private colleges will conduct tours and activities for college-bound students from Iowa and surrounding states.

Information sessions will be held daily at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Old Main. Prospective students and their families can meet current students and faculty and learn about academic programs and financial aid.

Last year Iowa Private College Week generated 340 campus visits at Drake and 3,320 campus visits to Iowa's private colleges and universities. Drake had 156 reservations as of Tuesday. "It's looking good. We have an excellent chance of exceeding last year's visits," said Agyeman, admission counselor.
Torgerson develops course based on seminar in Croatia
Jon Torgerson, professor of philosophy, recently was a fellow at a seminar in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on "The Evolution of Southeastern Europe: The Croatian Perspective." The seminar was intended to increase awareness of the need for international education. As a result, he will teach an honors course in January titled Pursuing Social Justice: Croatia and Bosnia. "We at Drake have an obligation either to make sure students have an experience abroad in such countries or to create courses which give our students some sense of life beyond our borders," he said.

At the seminar, "We met with many government and non-government officials in both Zagreb and Dubrovnik," he said. "Right now they have a sense of powerlessness. They believe the European Union, NATO and the United Nations control their future."

The most interesting meeting, he said, was with UN officials in Mostar, Bosnia. "Much of the city, including its famous bridge, has been bombed and lies in disrepair. I had never before seen bombed buildings. It was a heartbreaking experience."
Stone enjoys coaching USA team to victory in Brazil
Lisa Stone, Drake women's basketball coach, recently returned from a trip to Brazil, where she served as an assistant coach for the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship For Young Women Qualifying Team. The USA team won the gold medal at the inaugural Confederation of Pan American Basketball Associations World Championships, conquering Argentina 107-70, Puerto Rico 123-50 and Brazil 81-50.

"Coaching the USA women's basketball team this summer in Brazil has been one of the great experiences of my life," Stone said. The gold medal game against Brazil was especially memorable. "The environment was hostile and a true championship setting," Stone said. "After a sluggish first quarter, we settled in and dominated with great inside and outside play.

"Following the game was the awards ceremony with medals presented to Argentina (bronze), Brazil (silver), and USA (gold). When they raised the American flag and sang the national anthem it was very moving. To represent the USA on the gold medal stand was a very special feeling. We stood together as a team as they played 'We are the Champions.' It was truly awesome!"
Reservations pour in for IPCW
Drake's Admission Office needs work-study students to give daily tours at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. during Iowa Private College Week, Aug. 5-9. Offices that employ work-study students who could help with this effort should contact Ahmed Agyeman in the Admission Office at x4002 or ahmed.agyeman@drake.edu.

Hundreds of college-seeking students and their families are expected to visit Drake during Iowa Private College Week.

Throughout the week, each of Iowa's 28 participating private colleges will conduct tours and activities for college-bound students from Iowa and surrounding states.

Information sessions will be held daily at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Old Main. Prospective students and their families can meet current students and faculty and learn about academic programs and financial aid.

Last year Iowa Private College Week generated 340 campus visits at Drake and 3,320 campus visits to Iowa's private colleges and universities. Drake had 156 reservations as of Tuesday. "It's looking good. We have an excellent chance of exceeding last year's visits," said Agyeman, admission counselor.
University picnic set for Aug. 7
The All-University Appreciation Picnic will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, in the arcade of the Harmon Fine Arts Center.

In case of rain or extreme heat, the picnic will be held in Terrace Court in Olmsted Center.
41 colleges attend seminar here
Drake hosted a one-day seminar on July 10 about the Immigration and Naturalization Service's new electronic Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System (SEVIS).

It was attended by 76 representatives from 41 colleges in a three-state area. Local arrangements were coordinated by Tom Grouling, assistant director of international programs and services.

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