All posts by Sara Heijerman

Campus Announcements Archive

Relays GrubHub Giveaway, Apple Airpods

We’re celebrating the Drake Relays with a giveaway. GrubHub has provided a pair of Apple AirPods and two GrubHub gift cards for interacting with our Bulldog Bucks program this week (thanks GrubHub!).

Enter to win with one or more of the following methods, each will result in an entry to win. Three winners will be selected and contacted by Drake email on May 1.

  • Use your Bulldog Bucks at an off campus location this week (Rico’s, Gursha, or Dough Co.)
  • Place a GrubHub order (make sure your campus card is affiliated on the app, regardless of the payment method you use, so we can see your transaction!)
  • Enter the Drake Relays giveaway in the GrubHub app (no charge, just an entry)

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

Campus Announcements Archive

Celebrate Relays with Wanda E. Woods Everage, LA’72, former Drake Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Academic Excellence

Wanda E. Woods Everage, LA’72 is a Drake legend who was with the university for over 23 years and served as the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Academic Excellence upon her retirement in 2012. For Relays Week 2023, Wanda will return for the Black Alumni Reunion and will host two events on Friday, April 28, 2023 for the Drake community.

Goodbye to Morehouse Hall: Join Dr. Wanda Everage for an interactive Q&A Session about her time spent in Morehouse Hall as an undergraduate student and celebrate the change of Morehouse Hall into the Sammons Intercultural Center.

When: Friday, April 28, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

Where: Lobby of Morehouse Hall

Back to Class with Dr. Wanda E. Woods Everage, LA’72: Come be inspired by Dr. Everage with a throwback session that is influenced by the Orientation sessions that she used to lead. Wanda will ask us to reflect on our Drake experience, the lessons we have learned (good and bad), and how our present and future reflect on what we learned. This session is a part of our 2023 Black Alumni Reunion and will be attended by many of our esteemed alumni.

When: Friday, April 28, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Where: Sussman Theater

— Greg Lin, Alumni Relations

For Students Archive

New TED Talk-style DEIJ Welcome Weekend session

The Office of New Student Programs in collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Welcome Weekend event planning committee is excited to announce a new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice session at Welcome Weekend this fall. The program will take place on Thursday, August 24. The session will feature a variety of speakers sharing about their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice journey with our incoming class in a short TED Talk-style about 5-10 minutes long.

If you are interested in sharing your DEIJ story, we would love to hear from you! Selected speakers will receive a stipend. Please fill out this short application by Friday, June 2.

— Marina Verlengia, Director of New Student and Family Programs

Campus Announcements Archive

Relays alumni events for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities

This week for Drake Relays, Alumni Relations will host two opportunities for our LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities and their allies on campus. These celebrations serve to create community among diverse students, alumni, faculty, and staff as well as all people who consider themselves allies. For all members of the Drake community, this is an opportunity to meet individuals like you who have been where you are.

Black Alumni Reunion Block Party – We are hosting the 2023 Black Alumni Reunion during Drake Relays. Come show all of our alumni how Drake celebrates! All our welcome. There will be food trucks, beer trucks, yard games, and a DJ.

When: Saturday, April 29, 1 pm to 5 pm

Where: 28th & University (outside Multicultural Houses)

LGBTQ+ Alumni Mixer – In between all of the festivities, come and relax at our casual LGBTQ+ Alumni Mixer hosted by the LGBTQ+ Alumni Association. Yes, there will be refreshments and games! We welcome all members of the Drake community, from students to faculty/staff, including allies to the LGBTQ+ community!

When: Saturday, April 29, 3 pm to 5 pm

Where: Alumni House (2700 University)

— Greg Lin, Alumni Relations

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Applause for Sapphire Award winners

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Sapphire Awards hosted by the All Staff Council Recognition Committee and Human Resources. The committee recognized 14 individuals and 3 groups who received True Blue Awards throughout the year. One individual and one group are voted on by All Staff Council members to win the Sapphire Award.

Congratulations to Rob Ebel on winning the individual Sapphire Award!
Here is an excerpt from his nomination: “Managing construction projects also means that you manage change. It is with a servant’s heart that he strives to help our clients (faculty, staff, students) through the changes that construction progress brings.”

Congratulations to Sara Heijerman & Erica McGowan on winning the group Sapphire Award!
Here is an excerpt from their nomination: “Although the book club is not part of their regular responsibilities at Drake, they show their generosity of spirit by joyfully taking on this project, and carefully planning it out to make sure the book selections are diverse, all participants have a say in the selections, and that the social gatherings are varied to accommodate both on campus and remote employees.”

Congratulations to all of the 2022-2023 True Blue Winners!

  • Lilianna Bernstein
  • Dan Burkett
  • Maureen De Armond
  • Rob Ebel
  • Maggie Fiala
  • Alice Fynaardt
  • Karly Good
  • Sheila Goodwin
  • Mary Beth Holtey
  • Terry Janssen
  • Brandi Miller
  • Kevin Moran
  • Jeannie Nielsen
  • Kara Vaughn

Group winners:

  • Helen Frizel & Chanelle Harris – Sodexo
  • Sara Heijerman & Erica McGowan – University Book Club
  • Korrine Jackson & Heather Winslow – Payroll

— All Staff Council Recognition Committee

For Students Archive

Online summer AOI chemistry course

If you are in need of a course to fulfill your AOI physical/biological scientific literacy, consider registering for Chemistry for Informed Citizens, Chemistry 006, which will be offered online during Summer 2023 from July 5–30. The course description is shown below:

Chemistry 006: The main objective of the course is to introduce students to some important chemical concepts in chemistry and to emphasize practical applications of chemistry in real life situations. Students will learn about the important role chemistry plays in their daily lives and the effects of chemistry on society. In this course, we will not focus much on theories or rigorous mathematics to solve chemical problems.

If you have any questions about the course, contact Professor Mirafzal at gholam.mirafzal@drake.edu.

— Aaron Haack, College of Arts & Sciences

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Drake tuition waiver requirements

Students utilizing Drake’s tuition waiver benefit for undergraduate degree programs in the Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 semesters are required to complete the 2023–2024 FAFSA before July 1, 2023. See Drake’s Tuition Waiver Policy for more details.

Employees should complete the Tuition Waiver Application for each semester that the employee or eligible dependent wishes to utilize this benefit.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

April Provost Social and Sapphire Awards

Please join us Tuesday, April 18, in the Cowles Library Reading Room for the Provost’s Social. This month’s Social will follow All Staff Council’s Sapphire Awards, where the Sapphire awards and the Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service award will be presented.

The Sapphire Awards will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Cowles Library Reading Room and will be immediately followed by the regular social at 4 p.m. Please join us to enjoy some refreshments and celebrate our colleagues.

Refreshments will include light snacks, beer, wine, soft drinks, and cake. This is a family-friendly event, so please feel free to bring your children or partner!

— Madison Bemus, Provost’s Office

Campus Announcements Archive

Rec facility closure

All rec facilities will be closed Thursday, April 20, from 5–10 p.m. Regular hours will resume Friday, April 21.

Bell Center squat racks will be closed Wednesday, April 19, through Sunday, April 23.  Faculty and staff may use the Underground Fitness during this time.

— Lisa Murphy, Recreational Services

For Students Archive

Summer screenwriting intensive

Aspiring screenwriters (film & TV) can register for a unique one-week summer experience with Drake alum and Hollywood TV writer (’02) Eric Ziobrowski. ENG 198 is open to all majors who have taken at least one previous writing course. No instructor permission required.

— Carol Spaulding-Kruse, Professor of English