Drake University Theatre’s upcoming repertory showcase features two full-length, mainstage productions that vary significantly in style and message. The showcase begins Thursday, Feb. 22, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 25, in the William S.E. Coleman Studio Theatre in the Harmon Fine Arts Center.
Category Archives: News & Achievements Archive
Drake is a top producer of Fulbright Scholars for 2017-2018
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs today announced that Drake is included on the list of U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most 2017-2018 Fulbright U.S. Students. Drake has consistently been a top producer of Fulbright Scholars among schools of its size and type, most recently earning the distinction in 2015-2016.
Drake senior named Fulbright semi-finalist
Drake University senior Meghan Walters of West Bend, Wis., has been named a semi-finalist for the 2018-2019 Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The program received nearly 10,000 applications this year, and Walters is part of a more exclusive pool of applicants to have been selected for further consideration.
Walters is an international relations and public relations double-major who applied for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Program in Bulgaria. As a semi-finalist, Walters has been recognized by the U.S. National Screening Committee as having the outstanding academic record, personal qualities, and educational experiences Fulbright seeks in potential award recipients.
Walters’ application is now in the hands of the Bulgarian commission, which will conduct further screening and make the final decision. She credits international opportunities during her time at Drake for preparing her for the Fulbright program.
“I received an AmeriCorps grant to work at a refugee center where I taught citizenship classes, English phonetics to seniors and a kindergarten preparedness class for young kids,” Walters said. “Additionally, while studying abroad in Morocco in spring of 2017, I worked at a school for children with physical and mental disabilities.”
According to the Fulbright website, “the Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.”
Finalists are chosen and notified in spring 2018; if chosen as a Fulbright finalist, Walters will receive a federally funded grant and spend one year in Bulgaria teaching English starting in August.
The university has consistently been a top producer of undergraduate Fulbright recipients, having had four in 2017-2018 and a total of 31 since 2000–2001.
Visit the Fulbright website to learn more about the selection process and scholarship.
Urban Plains sweeps BEA category
Student work published on the senior capstone website Urban Plains swept the “small team” category at this year’s Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts. The winners were:
1st Place: Matthew Gogerty, Adam Rogan, and Autumn Meyer; “500 Miles on 500 Dollars”
2nd Place: Autumn Meyer and Daniela Buvat; “Save the Bees, Seriously”
3rd Place: Anne Marie Matte, Nate Sohn, and Autumn Meyer; “Abandoned Midwest”
—Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
SJMC J-Term class makes the news
A J-Term class co-taught by Tobi Parks, adjunct, and Tom Swartwood, entrepreneurship professor, was featured on a local TV newscast. The class focuses on the recorded music industry: Students learn about the business, and then produce a show. Parks is a former Sony Music executive from New York City who is the founder of Station One Records, which is opening a Drake neighborhood studio for recording, promoting and providing performance space for local bands. If you are interested in connecting with Parks and Station One, contact Carlyn Crowe, SJMC internship coordinator, at carlyn.crowe@drake.edu.
—Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Professor featured in L.A. Times article
Professor Sandy Henry, who has conducted research into Super Bowl advertising, was a featured expert in a recent story in the Los Angeles Times about the state of advertising for the iconic sports event. Henry also is scheduled to give a lecture on Super Bowl advertising for Drake alumni on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m. in Levitt Hall of Old Main.
Drake wins 13 awards at Iowa College Media Association contest
Drake students brought home 13 awards at the recent Iowa College Media Association awards.
- First place, Adam Rogan, Times-Delphic, sports story
- First place, Parker Klyn, Times-Delphic, review
- Second place, Jessie Spangler and Jess Lynk, Times-Delphic, editorial leadership
- Second place, Michael Lopez, Times-Delphic, infographic
- Second place, Anna Jensen, Times-Delphic, feature story
- Second place, Times-Delphic staff, use of social media
- Third place, Adam Heater, Times-Delphic, feature story
- Third place, Gerry Tetzlaff, AJ Thiede, Adam Heater, KDRA, radio commercial
- Honorable mention, Times-Delphic, online edition
- Honorable mention, Molly Adamson, Times-Delphic, feature story
- Honorable mention, Jake Bullington, Times-Delphic, news story
- Honorable mention, Jake Bullington, Times-Delphic, investigative story
- Honorable mention, Matt Gogerty, sports story
—Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Drake student wins prestigious science fellowship
Katrina Sletten, a public relations, astronomy, and physics triple major, has received a summer internship designed to mentor undergraduate women in aerospace.
The 36 Brooke Owens Fellows are selected for “their talent, their experience, their commitment to service and their creativity.”
Fellows are matched by industry leaders to intern positions based on their area of interest and expertise. Katrina will intern next summer at the National Museum of Flight in Seattle, working with the museum’s executive director.
—Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Drake recognized as a member by Home Base Iowa’s prestigious CHAMPS program
This month, the State of Iowa formally recognized Drake as a member of its Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMPs) program, which helps promote Iowa as an attractive place for veterans and their family members who choose to pursue their higher education. To become a member, Drake demonstrated that it met stringent requirements in three major areas that help U.S. military veterans: (i) transition to an institution of higher education, (ii) access on-campus support resources, and (iii) obtain scholarships and veterans benefits.
As part of the CHAMPS certification, Drake University recently expanded financial aid opportunities and educational resources for military veterans and their families. A new scholarship, dedicated study space, and access to academic and career advisors are among Drake’s resources for student-veterans.
Beginning in fall 2018, service members and their dependents who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Drake may apply for a renewable scholarship of $3,000 per academic year. The University also partners with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on the Yellow Ribbon Program; the partnership covers 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying veterans.
Student-veterans have access to dedicated study space in a University-owned facility that is used for Drake ROTC programming and other veterans’ activities.
In addition to the CHAMPS recognition, U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 ranking of Best Colleges for Veterans placed Drake No. 2 among private universities in the Midwest.
Welcome Gesine Gerhard, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Provost Mattison announced yesterday that Gesine Gerhard, PhD, has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1, 2018. Gerhard has demonstrated strong leadership skills, clear vision, and passionate advocacy for liberal arts education during a career as an administrator, scholar, and teacher. She has served since 2012 as associate dean of the College of the Pacific, the largest and oldest academic unit of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., where she also served as the University’s director of general education.