First lesson at Drake focused on community service On Saturday, Aug. 20, approximately 68 percent of the entering class volunteered to help with various community service projects, which garnered media coverage on KCCI-TV and WHO-TV. The projects included sprucing up Drake Park and the Drake Neighborhood, sorting bricks to be used in neighborhood gardens and walkways, playing Bingo with residents of Ramsey Village, painting equipment and walking dogs at the Animal Rescue League and making informational cards for patients at Broadlawns Medical Center. "All in all, students seemed to appreciate the opportunity to help out in the neighborhood and the city," said Wanda Everage, vice provost for student affairs and academic excellence. Everage gave an inspirational talk to the students Saturday morning before they headed out to work on their projects. Student Body President Bryan Klopack, a senior, joined in the litter collection effort that spanned a 94-block section of the Drake Neighborhood. He, too, deemed the projects a success. "It's important to stress to students right away how important the community is to Drake and how important Drake is to the community," he said. Drake ranks eighth in the "Great Schools, Great Prices" category with 59 percent of Drake students receiving grants based on financial need. The University also provides tens of millions of dollars in scholarships based on academic merit, which are not calculated in this category. "Our continued high ranking as a best value demonstrates Drake's commitment to offer the highest quality in educational opportunity that is more affordable than many students and families realize," said Drake University President David Maxwell. "People know that we're one of the very best; it's also important for them to know that we're financially accessible." Drake continues to be ranked No. 2 (missing No. 1 by 2/10ths of a point) in reputation for academic quality (peer assessment). It has the highest ranking in its category of any Iowa college or university. U.S. News' annual "America's Best Colleges" special issue and complete guidebook will be on newsstands and in bookstores today (Monday, Aug. 22). All of the latest U.S. News rankings are available at Lined up on a cool, sunny afternoon at the Iowa State Fair, hundreds of Drake friends, fans and alumni gathered outside the Drake tent for free cupcakes and celebration of their University's 125th anniversary. As volunteers distributed the 3,000 cupcakes to mark the event, a mummer of the "Happy Birthday to You" song started quietly - and quite unprompted by Drake volunteers. Soon, many joined in and the moment evolved into a touching display of affection for Iowa's largest private university. Drake Day at the Iowa State Fair was an overwhelming success. On a rainy morning, volunteers enticed visitors to the booth by tossing brains - the squeezable stress reliever kind, not the gooey gray matter type - into the crowd. John Burney, dean of the College Arts and Sciences, was widely reported to have the best arm among the volunteers, though Janet McMahill, dean of the School of Education, was not far behind. Dorothy Pisarski, assistant professor of advertising, started the practice tracking down John Deere-driven trolleys and loading up passengers with brains. Throughout the day, people stopped by the tent saying, "I'm told I have got to get a Drake brain." Frivolity erupted in the booth when Paul Morrison, JO'39, Drake Athletics historian and volunteer extraordinaire, got a temporary tattoo on the back of his head. All of athletics made a mighty showing at the fair. Members of the volleyball, women's soccer, women's basketball and men's soccer teams signed autographs, gave temporary tattoos to children and enthusiastically handed out posters and other goodies to passersby. Many tent visitors wanted a taste of Drake's other cake: a 6-foot-tall display cake designed by south-side Des Moines baker Star Chandler. The cake, beautiful in blue beaded trim, flowers and the special 125th Anniversary logo, alas, was made of foam, plastic and cardboard and the frosting was a special, inedible variety that dries very hard but looks no less appetizing. Look for the cake to turn up at a number of Drake-related events this year. The whole scene kicked into high gear when mascot Spike showed up around 3:30 p.m. and worked the crowd, earning hugs from children and high fives from Iowa State Patrol officers. Shortly after 4 p.m., volunteers began handing out the first of 3,000 cupcakes - for free - in celebration of Drake's 125th birthday. Drake Student Body President Bryan Klopack, also a Drake marketing intern, and Daniel Finney, public relations specialist, are known to have consumed at least nine of the cupcakes, however. The remaining 2,991 were given to the crowd. Despite the better judgment of organizers, cupcakes were given to people wearing University of Iowa and Iowa State University apparel, though much chiding was given as well. Sally Corcoran, program assistant for the Drake Relays, handed out so many cupcakes, her fingers had turned blue from handling that much frosting. Finney and Klopack, who organized the event, issued the following statement: "We can only offer our most tremendous thank-you to the many volunteers who helped Drake Day at the Fair be such a wonderful success. Every department on campus was represented. The Athletics Department was particularly wonderful and all coaches and directors should be proud of how well our teams were represented. The affection and warmth the State Fair crowd showed us is a direct reflection of the passion and dedication in which all of you do your work. Thank you, thank you, thank you." The Drake University Business Link offers an interactive workshop on "Presenting to Win: A Practical Approach to Business Presentations" from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 9, in room 112 of Aliber Hall. Delaney Kirk, professor of management, will facilitate the workshop. "Presenting To Win" aims to raise awareness of the critical importance of professional presentations in today's business world. The workshop will cover skills and secrets that can make any public presentation a unique opportunity with multiple benefits. "It takes only seven seconds for you to make an impression on other people," Kirk said. "That seven seconds is crucial in the making and breaking of impressions, relationships, sales and decisions that affect the direction of our lives. Whether we like it or not, society's views of people and ideas are shaped and influenced by the images they see in formal and informal presentations." The workshop, which is limited to 35 participants, costs $40 and includes a continental breakfast and handouts. For more information and registration, visit www.cbpa.drake.edu/businesslink or contact Kirk, director of the Drake Business Link, at x3724 or The Drake Business Link was established in 2000 to foster discussions about issues of interest to local business people. Additional Drake Business Link workshops, taught by Drake faculty, on timely business topics will be offered throughout the 2005-06 academic year. Mary Andringa, co-chief executive officer of Vermeer Manufacturing, a company in Pella specializing in machines and products used to build and maintain the world's infrastructure, will open Drake University's fall "Let's DU Lunch" speaker series on Wednesday, Sept. 7. Andringa's speech is titled "The Vermeer Story." The Drake University Central Iowa Alumni Chapter and the Greater Des Moines Partnership sponsor the luncheon series, which is open to the public. The series will continue on Oct. 5 with David Stark, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Iowa Methodist Medical Center, discussing "The Health Care Environment: The Perfect Storm." The fall series will conclude Nov. 2 with a speech by Jeff Chelesvig, president and chief executive officer of the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. His speech is titled "From Backstage to Center Stage: Creating the Magic of Broadway in Iowa." All of the luncheons will start at 11:30 a.m. at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines. The cost is $15 per luncheon or $36 in advance for all three events. Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended. For reservations, contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs at x3848 or Drake University extends a warm welcome to the following new faculty members: College of Arts and Sciences The Anderson Gallery at Drake University will open the fall season with "Terrain," an exhibition featuring three design collaboratives offering architectural solutions to economic and health challenges worldwide. The models, material samples, drawings and graphic narratives by MOD-ECO Architecture, Studio Luz and Thurlow Small Atelier demonstrate how design can have a positive impact on those in need. The three design groups were chosen because of their innovative and aesthetic architectural response to the plight of developing nations afflicted by health care challenges and shortages of care facilities. The design studios use simple solutions to address the situations directly, and to allow for the developing nations to make use of the resources at their own disposal to greatly improve their conditions. The exhibition will open Friday, Sept. 2, with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. and an informal gallery talk at 5:30 p.m. in the Anderson Gallery in the Harmon Fine Arts Center. Representatives of the design firms will participate in a roundtable discussion titled "Terrain: Degrees of Innovation" at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, in Levitt Hall in Old Main. All events and the exhibition, which continues through Sept. 30, are free and open to the public. The exploration of the design process and how it can be proactive to address numerous issues, such as humanitarian needs, is a key part of "Terrain." "Exhibition has long been a necessary step toward seeing ambitious visions realized. During the roundtable discussion, Kevin Lair of MOD-ECO will discuss his firm's work on an Epidemic Prevention Vehicle designed to address the lack of infrastructure and tools to resolve health issues in Ghana. The project is a partnership effort with the Ghana Education Project. Anthony Piermarini of Studio Luz will talk about his firm's project: HFC School, Orphanage & Medical Clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The design objectives included creating a self-sufficient, sustainable and vibrant community environment. Maia Small of Thurlow Small Atelier will share her firm's approach to a HIV/AIDS Mobile Clinic Proposal in which a mobile architectural icon is created as a tool to combat AIDS in Africa. The clinic is intended to operate as a center for multiple levels of activity, to engage anyone affected by HIV, to form new memories and to spread information. The exhibit also includes the firm's Gabion Field: National AIDS Memorial Finalist Entry. |
|
