Undergraduate and pharmacy (P1-P3) students who want to borrow federal student loans for the summer semester must complete the Summer Financial Aid Application.

Graduate and law students who are registered at least half-time (5+ credits) for summer and who have completed the 2025–2026 FAFSA will automatically be offered their federal student loan eligibility for the summer semester. These students should only complete this form if they receive a financial aid offer that does not include financial aid for the summer semester.

— Ryan Zantingh, Financial Aid Office

If you missed the priority application deadline for J-Term 2026 travel seminars, don’t worry. There are still many programs accepting applications. See the links below for more details on each program and/or to start an application:

• Australia: Comparative Equity & Access
• Austria: Comprehensive Patient Assessment and Interprofessional Collaboration
• Belize: Conservation, Development, and Indigenous Rights
• Florida: Zoo Design and Operations
• France: From Debussy to Ravel: French Composers and the Paris Conservatoire
• Ghana: Drake Experience Ghana (DrakeX GH)
• India: International Health Topics
• Malaysia & Singapore: Crossroads of Globalization
• New York City: Auditions
• Uganda: Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

There is no fee to apply, and applications submitted now are considered on a rolling basis. Students can contact Chelsea Funk (chelsea.funk@drake.edu) with any questions.

— Chelsea Funk, Global Engagement

Staying in Des Moines over the summer? Interested in gardening or working with youth? The Sprout Garden needs you. Find more information about our Maintenance Coordinator and Youth Program positions on Handshake (links below). Both positions are also open for the 2025–2026 school year. Apply by April 25 by sending your resume and cover letter to mallary.allen@drake.edu.

Summer Sprout Garden Maintenance Coordinator:
https://app.joinhandshake.com/emp/jobs/9782821

Summer Sprout Garden Youth Education Coordinator:
https://app.joinhandshake.com/emp/jobs/9782952

— Mallary Allen, Community Engaged Learning

Are you part of a student organization looking to bring exciting, community-focused events to campus? The Holistic Wellness fund, in collaboration with Campus Recreation, Counseling, Student Life, and Access & Success, is launching a brand-new initiative—Second Saturday Social.

We are inviting student organizations to apply for funding to host a social event on the second Saturday of select months: September, October, November, and February. Each event will take place between 7–11 p.m. at either Johansen or Olmsted and will receive $500 in event support from the Holistic Wellness fund.

This is a great opportunity to create fun, engaging, and inclusive experiences for students while fostering wellness, connection, and campus spirit. Whether you envision a game night, open mic, cultural celebration, wellness workshop, or something completely unique—your organization can help shape these dynamic Saturday nights!

Proposal Details:

• Who Can Apply? Any registered student organization
• Funding Available: $500 per event
• Event Timing: Second Saturday of September, October, November, and February (7:00 – 11:00 PM)
• Location: Johansen or Olmsted
• Application Deadline: Friday, May 9

Interested in hosting? Submit your proposal today and bring your vision to life!

For more information and to apply by May 9 at  https://forms.office.com/r/QGpMZr4L2f. Don’t miss this chance to make your mark on campus.

— Laura Shell, Academic Success & Retention

Drake students can now claim their free tickets to all four sessions of the 115th Drake Relays taking place April 24–27 at Drake Stadium by clicking here. Be sure to log in using your Drake email to claim your tickets. Once claimed, tickets can be added to your Apple or Google Wallet for easy access. Don’t wait—secure your spot today as we push toward our 59th consecutive Saturday sellout! View the full schedule of events.

— Greg Kay, Athletics

If you’ve been thinking about applying to a travel seminar for J-Term 2026, be sure to submit an application by the end of today (April 1) to get priority access. Some programs are competitive, so it’s important that you apply now. There is NO application fee, and no financial commitment until you are offered a spot and accept it.

Start your program application at https://drake.via-trm.com/authV2/welcome.

Today is also the scholarship deadline! Scholarship applications appear in your Via portal after you start the program application.

Any questions about travel seminars can be directed to chelsea.funk@drake.edu.

— Chelsea Funk, Global Engagement

The Menace have advanced to the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup and will be hosting the next match Wednesday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines. Their roster has former Drake soccer player, Leroy Enzugusi, including former MLS All-Stars and Olympians and has garnered nationwide attention from the likes of ESPN, the New York Times, USA Today, and Apple TV.

Drake University students are invited to join us for this historic night. To make this match as accessible as possible to our local soccer community, our friends at Kick It Forward are covering $10 OFF each ticket purchased to the match. Thanks to this support, General Admission tickets for this match will only be $3 and Midfield Comfort seats will be $8.

The Menace would love to see as many Bulldogs as possible!

Ticket Link: https://www.gofevo.com/event/OpenCupRound2

Discount Code: DRAKEOPENCUP (applies $10 off per ticket)

— Jerry Parker, Vice President & Dean of Students

Undergraduate and pharmacy (P1-P3) students who want to borrow federal student loans for the summer semester must complete the Summer Financial Aid Application.

Graduate and law students who are registered at least half-time (5+ credits) for summer and who have completed the 2025–2026 FAFSA will automatically be offered their federal student loan eligibility for the summer semester. These students should only complete this form if they receive a financial aid offer that does not include financial aid for the summer semester.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Dogtown After Hours is a student led, alcohol alternative event held every spring. Stop by the Olmsted center April 11 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. for a night of fun! Alongside collaborations with Your Life Iowa, Drake Dance Marathon, and a guest appearance from Griff II, come climb a rock wall, play on giant inflatables, eat comfort food, help out with our service activity, watch Drake performance groups, win prizes, and more at our 2000’s-2010’s nostalgia themed event.

Want to do more than just attend? We also need volunteers! This event is huge, and we need many hands to make sure this event runs smooth. We are looking for volunteers to cover one-hour shifts throughout the night. The tasks you will be asked to do will vary depending on which room or activity you are stationed at. Tasks are typically keeping an eye on lines, helping our vendors in maintaining their activity, keeping the floors clean from any major obstacles, etc. Volunteers also receive an extra prize ticket for a chance to win one of our awesome prizes.

Find more information

— Paityne Gehring, ED, AS