Peter Levi, assistant professor of environmental science, and Drake’s Stream Ecosystem Ecology Lab (SEEL) were awarded a 3-year, $200,000 grant to collaborate with two local Watershed Management Authorities (WMAs) to research the impacts of current and future restoration work in Fourmile Creek and Walnut Creek. These streams flow through farmland and suburbs before reaching Des Moines—and they have impaired water quality as a result. The work by Levi and students in Drake’s Department of Environmental Science and Sustainability will track changes to the hydrology, chemistry, and biology of the ecosystems while the WMAs implement infrastructure and restoration activities in the watersheds. The study will provide a holistic assessment on the ecological value of watershed improvement investments and will offer guidance for watershed management efforts.

Tricia Atterberg, Sponsored Programs Administration and Research Compliance

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

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

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will award its highest honor, the 2019 Lawrence C. and Delores M. Weaver Medal of Honor, to Drake graduates and national pharmacy leaders Eugene (Gene), PH’66, and Susan, PH’68, Lutz of Altoona, Iowa. They will receive the Weaver Medal of Honor and deliver a lecture at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in Sheslow Auditorium. The lecture is open to all faculty, staff, and students.

The Weaver Medal of Honor is awarded annually to an individual who has advanced the college’s education, research or outreach mission for the benefit of human health; has made a substantial impact on the profession of pharmacy; or has provided financial support that has led to strategic change and progress in the College.

Eugene and Susan Lutz have a long-standing record of serving the pharmacy profession and their community. They owned and operated Lutz Pharmacy and Lutz Long Term Care Pharmacy in Altoona for 38 years, and now co-own Lutz Pharmacist Services, a consulting and relief pharmacist firm. The Lutzes are both past presidents of the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) and have been inducted as APhA (American Pharmacists Association) Fellows. They have both received the IPA Bowl of Hygeia, the College’s Alumni Achievement Award, and the Altoona Chamber of Commerce’s Bill Newell Award. 

View the full news release

Maryah Klapprodt, M.S.T. graduate (ED), Jordan Holub, doctoral candidate (ED), and Kysha Van Buskirk, M.S.T. graduate (ED) co-authored a manuscript with Jesse Wilcox that was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Science & Children. View the article.

Jerrid Kruse, Associate Professor, School of Education

Jordan Holub, doctoral candidate in the School of Education; Lucas Menke, secondary science education major; and Jerrid Kruse, associate professor, School of Education recently published a manuscript titled: “Just Roll with It: Incorporating engineering into third-grade science” in the peer-reviewed journal Science & Children. View the full article.

Drake student work has reached the finals of the Society of Professional Journalists Region 7 Mark of Excellence contest. Winners will be announced at the region’s annual conference at the University of Central Missouri on April 5–6. The Drake finalists are:

• Best Independent Online Student Publication: Urban Plains
• Best Podcast: Hold Up, Jessica Spangler and Mitch Kedzior
• Best Online Sports Reporting: Jessica Spangler
• Best Online Feature: Samantha Ohlson
• Best Student Magazine: Drake Magazine
• Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper: Times-Delphic
• General News Reporting: Rachel James and Phong Ly
• Breaking News Reporting: Marie Nalan
• Best Online Sports Reporting: Andrew Beall
• General News Photography: Grace Hulin
• Breaking News Photography: Lorien MacEnulty
• Best Sports Photography: J.D. Pelegrino

Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Senior Josie Carrabine won four gold awards, including Student Best of Show, and Spanish exchange student Paula Aguirre won a silver award in the local American Advertising Federation of America Des Moines contest, presented at the annual banquet. Josie also won awards for direct marketing, art direction (campaign) and integrated brand identity campaign. Paula won in the print advertising category. Josie’s work will move on to the regional contest.

Kathleen Richardson, dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Two Drake advertising students have won awards in the annual American Advertising Federation of Des Moines contest. Josie Carrabine and Paula Aguirre Gurruchaga will find out which awards they won at the AAF banquet on Feb. 23. Carrabine is a senior advertising and graphic design major. Aguirre is an international student from Universidad Nebrija in Spain.

Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Drake University doctoral candidate in the School of Education Kean Roberts and Jerrid Kruse, associate professor of education, recently published an article exploring ideas and strategies educators might use to help students develop more robust ideas about nature and strengthen their relationship with nature. Many of the ideas were pilot tested by Roberts in his work with middle and high school students as well as during Kruse’s honors course that engaged students in experiences and philosophical dialogue about nature. View the article.

Jerrid Kruse, School of Education