A letter from Griff
Category Archives: News & Achievements Archive
Only a Griffopotamus Will Do
Did you know that the original songwriter for “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” attended Drake? An Iowa native, John Rox (born John Herring) graduated from Winterset High School before jumping into student life at Drake, where he was a brother in the now inexistent Tau Psi fraternity in the early 1920s.
After leaving Drake he married Emmy-winning actress Alice Pearce, best known for her role as Gladys Kravitz in “Bewitched.” Rox mostly penned show tunes for Broadway, such as the classic “It’s a Big, Wide, Wonderful World,” until inspiration struck in the form of a hippopotamus. In 1953, he wrote the immortal lyrics to one of the catchiest and most enduring Christmas songs. Ten-year-old Gayla Peevey provided vocals, and, yes, she did get a hippopotamus for Christmas. With almost $3,000 in donations, she got a baby hippo named Matilda, which she promptly gifted to her hometown zoo.
Rox died of a heart attack in 1957, a few years after “Hippopotamus” made it onto Billboard’s pop chart. Peevey recorded a few more songs–but is best known for Rox’s song. She even sent Griff a signed headshot as a gift (right).
Mori recipient of Immigrant Entrepreneur Leadership Award
Associate Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies Akira Mori received the Immigrant Entrepreneur Leadership Award during the 10th annual Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit (IES) in Des Moines on Nov. 18.
The Immigrant Leadership Award is awarded to a first-generation immigrant who has demonstrated leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit in his/her professional and family life and on behalf of the immigrant and larger community.
Summit organizers honored Mori “for his commitment to infuse high expectations of rigor, respect, and care in his relationships with musicians as a teacher, mentor, and conductor, along with his distinctive ability to both challenge and support their aspirations and performances.”
Born and raised in Japan and educated in the United States, Mori has professionally conducted in countries such as Japan, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Argentina, and has taught at multiple universities across the United States and Asia including Indiana University, University of Minnesota, Louisiana State University, and Tokyo College of Music. He has taught on the faculty at Drake since 2008.
Drake celebrated its 143rd commencement Saturday
Drake held its 143rd commencement ceremony Saturday in The Knapp Center to celebrate the accomplishments of 325 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students who completed their degree requirements as of the conclusion of the fall semester.
More than 65 degree recipients were Des Moines public school teachers. They were the first group of teachers to earn Drake’s new Master of Science in Education degree in Culturally Responsive Leadership and Instruction, which is specially designed in partnership with Des Moines Public Schools to meet the needs of educators in urban school environments. The innovative program has helped the school district to attract highly-qualified new teachers, boosted teacher retention, and improved cultural competency among program participants.
The commencement included remarks by:
- Two-time Drake alumnus Jim Verlengia, director of leadership supports at Heartland Area Education Agency in Johnston. He holds an education specialist and doctoral degrees from the School of Education (SOE) and is a recipient of the SOE’s Outstanding Alumni Award. He has served the University in numerous roles, including as chair of the Parents Advisory Board, chair of the SOE’s National Advisory Board, and adjunct faculty member for the SOE.
- Abigail (Dierks) Grassmeyer, who graduated with a Master of Public Administration degree. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Drake in August 2010. A granddaughter of the late Paul F. Morrison, Grassmeyer is one of 15 members of the Morrison family to have received Drake degrees.
The fall 2017 graduates join a network of more than 75,000 Drake alumni around the world.
SJMC classes present work to community clients
Students in SJMC courses have presented their work to class clients in recent weeks.
The Master of Communication Leadership students in the Applied Theory and Research class presented their assessment of the organization, brand recognition, and community needs to Best Buddies of Iowa, a nonprofit that serves children and adults with developmental disabilities. The MCL students will also conduct work for Best Buddies in courses in the spring and summer.
The advertising research class presented their report to the capstone client Des Moines Menace soccer organization, as did the public relations seniors to their client, Creative Visions, which serves low-income residents in the Drake neighborhood and beyond. Those courses will work with their clients in the spring as well.
The PR Planning class presented work to their clients, Tutus & Tennis Shoes and The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand. Students in PR Writing and FYS-The Real Hunger Games presented their collaborative work to five representatives of the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) food pantry network for their new initiative, Food Pantry 2.0.
—Kathleen Richardson, SJMC
SJMC students win national honors
Two Drake public relations seniors were recognized at the recent PR News annual awards luncheon in Washington, D.C.
Maddy Gildersleeve was named PR News Student of the Year. The award recognizes “an outstanding student who has demonstrated leadership, talent and passion” for public relations and communications.
Sarah Mondello received honorable mention for PR News Intern of the Year for her work with Drake Community Press. The award recognizes a student who “established herself or himself quickly as a self-starting member and idea generator for a communications team and exhibited strong writing skills, professional demeanor [and] smart use of digital tactics.”
—Kathleen Richardson, SJMC
Martin Roth publishes book on Neurolaw
Martin Roth, Drake professor of philosophy, will release his book, Philosophical Foundations of Neurolaw, this month. It is a scholarly monograph published by Lexington Books. Neurolaw is a rapidly growing field that addresses several important issues at the intersection of neuroscience, law, and philosophy. The book addresses a number of public policy matters, such as criminal law, and showcases cross-disciplinary research.
—Martin Roth, Department of Philosophy and Religion
PR students selected as international award finalists
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication has nominated two public relations seniors for the annual PR News international PR People Awards, who have become finalists. Maddy Gildersleeve has been selected as a finalist for PR Student of the Year and Sarah Mondello has been selected as a finalist for PR Intern of the Year.
PR News‘ PR People Awards is an international competition that recognizes the top talent whose work is making an impact in the communications field. The recipients of this award represent the professionals who are responsible for outstanding PR achievements made in the past year. PR News wants to meet the best in PR and introduce them to the thousands of readers of PR News and their key stakeholders.
The winners of the PR People Awards will be profiled online and at an awards luncheon on Dec. 5 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Mondello wins PRSA scholarship
Drake public relations major Sarah Mondello won the Ferne Bonomi and Dr. Henry Milam Scholarship, awarded by the Central Iowa chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Bonomi is a longtime Iowa public relations professional and Milam is a beloved retired SJMC PR professor.
Annually, the Central Iowa PRSA chapter offers the scholarship to assist a student in the pursuit of public relations education. The winning student is selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement in addition to commitment to the public relations profession.
Kristin Sunde, PRSA Central Iowa past president, selected Mondello as this year’s winner. Sunde said Mondello’s “application, resume, and transcript were incredibly impressive. [She’s] got a bright future.”
SJMC faculty participate in Fulbright event
School of Journalism and Mass Communication faculty participated in the annual program for the Iowa Chapter of the Fulbright Alumni Association, which included current Fulbright scholars at Iowa institutions and past Fulbright scholars who live in Iowa. The theme of this year’s program was freedom of speech and press. Professor David Wright conducted a two-hour morning session on the basics of the First Amendment and the foundations of mass communication in the United States. The afternoon panel discussion focused on current issues facing the journalism profession. Participants included Dean Kathleen Richardson and Drake alumnus Lynn Hicks, JO’91, who is the opinion editor for the Des Moines Register. Leslie Mamoorian, who retired as associate director of international admission at Drake, coordinated the event.
Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication