Nov. 8 is National First-Generation Student Day. First-generation college students are an important part of the Drake community—about 14% of our campus community are first-gen students. This week we want to celebrate and recognize the achievements and experiences of first-gen students at Drake.

The University is looking for first-generation students to fill out a short survey to capture their experiences at Drake. The survey results will be used to generate first-gen student profiles and to showcase for other students on campus the first-generation college experience.

Look out for more information to come about how we will celebrate National First Generation Student Day on campus.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is hosting a research-based challenge for undergraduate students. The challenge is for students to develop a website on plastic recycling. Students will research their school’s current process for recycling plastic and then design/create a strategy to make the process more efficient. Thorough submissions will include further research on the plastic recycling process, benefits of current recycling methods, and process improvement ideas. Your website could win you a $5,000 scholarship!

The deadline for this competition is Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, and winners will be announced in late December.

Prizes:

• 1st place: $5,000 scholarship
• 2nd place: $3,000 scholarship
• 3rd place: $1,000 scholarship

For more information on the competition, visit orise.orau.gov/resources/stem/scholarships.html. For questions, contact STEMEd@orau.org.

— Kayla Jenkins, Dean’s Office, College of Arts & Sciences

ITS is holding a phishing quiz, a contest where students can test their knowledge on phishing emails and fraudulent websites through Oct. 18.

Everyone who takes the 10-question quiz will be entered to win one of six prizes, no matter how many answers they get right. Visit drake.edu/its/quiz for full contest rules and quiz link.

The goal of the phishing quiz is to empower students to keep their personal data secure. Learn more about cybersecurity and keep up with Drake ITS by following @DrakeITServices on Twitter.

— Carla Herling, ITS

The Counseling Center is working to adjust and evaluate support groups for the fall and spring semester, and in order to ensure we are meeting your needs, please complete the following survey: Student Counseling Groups . The survey is confidential, unless you choose to provide your information.

The survey will remain open until Oct. 15. For questions, contact amber.wilkins@drake.edu or tyler.lewis@drake.edu.

—Kayla Bell-Consolver, Director of the Student Counseling Center

Sign up for Drake Recreation’s October intramurals. Register by the following deadlines.

Oct. 14: 3 v. 3 basketball tournament deadline

Oct. 20: Co-rec basketball deadline

Oct 20: Water polo deadline

— Emily Madsen, Recreational Services

The Lorentzen Student Hatchery is back for 2022. This unique program is aimed at fostering student startups and is your opportunity to get paid to run your own business. Entrepreneurship Centers staff provide guidance and support, access to mentors and experts, and more to Drake University students accepted to the Hatchery. Students of any major, undergraduate and graduate, are welcome to apply to the Hatchery for the opportunity to get paid up to $6,500 while working on their own startup. Even if you are not chosen to receive a summer grant, Drake University students are welcome to participate in Hatchery coaching and mentoring sessions. This summer program starts the first week of June and wraps up the first week of August but there will be educational training and coaching available in the semesters before and after formal programming.

If you would like more information, download a 2022 Hatchery Fact Sheet. Applications are being accepted online until Friday, Nov. 5. Virtual pitches for a spot in the Hatchery will take place during Drake’s Innovation Week, starting Nov. 8. Questions? Email us at jpec@drake.edu.

 — Stephanie Cardwell, Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Each year, the Adams Leadership Institute hosts the annual Sussman Leadership Conference; bringing together undergraduate student leaders from across campus to share their experiences, exchange ideas, and gain skills that can be applied to their personal lives, student leadership roles, academic projects, and professional goals.

This year’s Sussman Conference, “Leading Back in Action,” will take place on Sunday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Olmsted Center, Parents Hall, featuring keynote speaker Sara Lowery. Conference registration and buffet brunch are provided at no cost to students thanks to alumni giving.

Space is limited. Please visit bit.ly/drakesussman to learn more and reserve your seat by Oct. 31.

— Kristin Economos, Office of Student Involvement and Leadership

First-year students: If you’re interested in traveling this upcoming January, apply for the J-Term first-year abroad experience in Belize. This co-curricular experience abroad will immerse first-year students in a global, reflective, experiential learning program focused on one of the pillars of Drake’s mission statement—responsible global citizenship. The application deadline has been extended to Nov. 1.

Belize experience: Ethical Chocolate: How does that cacao actually get into my chocolate bar?
The Toledo district of Belize produces some of the finest chocolates in the world. In our trip to Belize, we will look at all stages of the production of chocolate. We will go to the forest to see the tree that produces the cacao bean, see (and most importantly, taste) the finished chocolate, and look at all the stages in between. We will talk to people who are involved in the production of chocolate and learn how one organization ethically and sustainably treats both the ecosystem and the workers that produce chocolate. To provide context and contrast, we will visit other food production facilities in Belize including a large-scale banana plantation, an agro-forest, and small-scale farms. We will meet with farmers and managers to learn the benefits and challenges of the different systems. To complement the program focus, we will travel by boat to Payne’s Creek National Park as well as have fun exploring diverse ecosystems and participating in an array of adventure and cultural experiences in Belize.

Apply for the Belize program through Drake’s online application portal for travel experiences, Terra Dotta. Use your Drake ID and password to login.

$1,000 Scholarships are available! To apply for a scholarship, you complete a scholarship form in Terra Dotta as a part of your program application. Scholarship deadline Oct. 22.

For quesitons, contact Nathan Jacobson, education abroad coordinator, at nathan.jacobson@drake.edu.

— Maria Rohach, Director of Education Abroad

Are you new to stock trading? Or, do you want to show how good you are at picking stocks? Or, do you want to simply learn more about the stock market in general? Then, Finance Program at Drake invites you to participate in the Stock Trading Challenge for a chance to earn a cash prize.

The event is open to students and runs from Oct. 4–29. Students can sign up at anytime during the contest.

How to participate:

1. Create a (free) login at www.marketwatch.com:
2. Join the Stock Trading Challenge at: https://www.marketwatch.com/game/drake-stock-trading-challenge or https://tinyurl.com/drakestockchallenge
   Password to join: GoBulldogs
3. You are required to make a minimum of 30 trades during the contest period to be eligible for prizes. Hence, if you fail to make at least 30 trades prior to the end date, you will be disqualified.

Prizes:
1^st Place Winner – $300
2^nd Place Winner – $200
3^rd Place Winner – $100
4^th Place Winner – $100
5^th Place Winner – $100

Best Trader – $200 (This award is for the person who trades the most number of times and beats the S&P 500 index return during the same period.)

Note: These awards are mutually exclusive, and the winners will be announced during Finance Night, which is scheduled on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, 6–8 p.m. You must be present during the award ceremony to claim your prize. If you do not show up for the event, your award will be forfeited and be given to the next best performer.

For questions, contact Professor Inchul Suh, chair, Department of Economics and Finance, CBPA, at isuh@drake.edu.

— Inchul Suh, Finance (CBPA)