Please join us for a retirement reception in honor of Donna Blunck, director risk and insurance, on April 24 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Old Main, Suite 216. If you are unable to make it, you are invited to stop by at another time prior to April 24 and wish Donna well. We are grateful for Donna’s incredible service to the University.
Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer
On Friday, April 12, the first-grade class at Findley Elementary School will be visiting Drake for a day full of educational activities, an opportunity to see campus and a college classroom, and the chance to engage in physical activity with Drake athletes. We want to help the first-grade students feel welcome and right at home here at Drake from the moment they arrive. All Drake students, faculty, and staff are invited to come to the Olmsted parking lot close to the Olmsted building at 9:40 a.m. on April 12 to form a welcome tunnel for the students. The first-graders will be arriving at 9:45 a.m. Wear your Drake Blue and lend a high five! Contact amanda.martin@drake.edu for more information.
Amanda Martin, Assistant Director of Community Engaged Learning
It’s time to submit your course material requests for the fall semester. The deadline for submitting your materials is April 15. Receiving your list of materials as soon as possible allows us to source the most affordable books for your students and provide top dollar for students selling books back at the end of the term. With our Online Adoption Tool, selecting your course materials is fast and easy.
Access the Online Adoption Tool
1. Visit http://www.drake.bkstr.com
2. Go to Books in the top navigation and under the Information heading, click Online Adoptions.
3. If you need additional training to use the Online Adoption Tool, contact Donna Hallstrom at donna.hallstrom@drake.edu.
Are You a New User?
1. Follow the steps listed above.
2. Click on New? Register Here and complete the required fields.
3. Enter 1623 in the Bookstore Supplied Password field.
Donna Hallstrom, Course Materials Manager, University Book Store
Drake’s Community Action Board (CAB) is hosting a challenge during the month of April to visit Dogtown businesses. To track how many restaurants, coffee shops, juice shops you’ve visited, pick up a punchcard in the Breezeway April 1–3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or from the SLC Office.
At the end of the month, all students are invited to celebrate the neighborhood with raffles and free Papa Keno’s, Lifestyle Juice, Fernando’s, and more. Like the CAB Facebook page for more info and updates.
Morgan Garner, AS’20, Community Action Board President
Please be aware that Drake will not switch from heating to cooling season until overnight temperature are above 40 degrees. As a reminder, the University has a two pipe system that only allows for either heat or air conditioning in campus buildings.
Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management
Drake student Shameka Brown has been selected as a national Newman Civic Fellow for 2019–2020. She joins as one of 262 students from across the U.S. for next year’s cohort.
The Newman Civic Fellowship is a one-year fellowship for community-committed college students from Campus Compact member institutions. The fellowship honors the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education.
Shameka is a third year at Drake University, studying Sociology and African American/African Diaspora Studies. For the last few years, she has worked in the community and with nonprofit organizations to advocate and increase the efforts of educational opportunities for high school and college students. She is currently working with the Iowa Department of Human Rights and local community members to help provide educational resources and opportunities to help students of color succeed academically.
Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities emphasizing personal, professional, and civic growth. The fellowship also provides pathways to apply for scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.
“We are proud to recognize each of these extraordinary student leaders and thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with them,” said Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn. “The stories of this year’s Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are committed to finding solutions to pressing problems in their communities and beyond. That is what Campus Compact is about, and it’s what our country and our world desperately need.”
Amanda Martin, Assistant Director of Community Engaged Learning
University Communications and Marketing is looking to fill three internships for summer: Communications Assistant, Graphic Designer, and Marketing Assistant.
Each position will require roughly 25–35 hours per week, with no Friday afternoons. (The office is closed on Friday afternoons during the summer.)
Applicants should have a sincere passion for the University and a strong commitment to strengthening its brand and reputation. To apply and view the full job descriptions, visit Handshake, the University’s primary job and internship search platform.
— University Communications & Marketing
Thank you to the many members of the Drake community who either submitted or assisted in the creation of a Big Idea.
More than 50 submissions were received and reviewed by the Big Ideas Steering Committee. Next month the proposals will proceed to the Board of Trustees for additional review and discussion. Following the April Board meeting, select Big Ideas will be further developed and tested for external funding feasibility, as the University gears up for its next comprehensive fundraising campaign.
As the process progresses, the Big Ideas Steering Committee and University Advancement will keep the campus informed on what ideas are selected to move forward.
I sincerely want to thank the members of the Steering Committee for their time and diligence in scoring the ideas, and for their strategic leadership throughout this process.
Together, as a campus, these forward-thinking, interdisciplinary ideas will strengthen the University and positively impact the world.
John Smith, Vice President, University Advancement
Advertising and graphic design senior Josie Carrabine has won a gold award and two silvers in the regional American Advertising Awards contest, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation.
The student work was judged by professionals from Chicago, Denver, and Austin, TX. Josie’s work had previously been honored in the local contest. It will now advance to the national competition. Winners will be announced at the ADMERICA Conference in Florida in June.
Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
We are just nine days away from the biggest advancement and fundraising event of the year and the excitement is building online and on campus.
In addition to spreading the word about All In, be sure to RSVP and attend the Des Moines All In Happy Hour on Thursday, April 5, from 5–7 p.m. at Gilroy’s Kitchen + Pub + Patio at 1238 8th Street, West Des Moines. Register to attend here. This event is open to the entire Des Moines Drake community and is a great opportunity to catch up with alumni, parents, and friends of Drake so let your networks know you’re going and you’d love to see them there.
Also, returning for the third year to sweeten the deal is Provost Mattison’s Faculty/Staff Pie drawing. Each faculty or staff member who makes a gift during All In will be entered into a drawing to win a delicious homemade apple pie from Provost Mattison herself.
For more information on All In this year and to follow along with our challenges and sign up as an ambassador, visit drake.edu/allin. If you have any questions about All In please feel free to contact Becca Widmer, director of annual giving, at becca.widmer@drake.edu.
Becca Widmer, director of annual giving
