Category Archives: News & Achievements Archive

News & Achievements Archive

Drake Relays single-session tickets on sale now

Purchase tickets for the 2016 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee and take advantage of discounted pricing. All Drake faculty and staff can purchase tickets at the following discounts:

Thursday Session:                               $5 each
Friday (Day) Session:                        $33 each (Regular $35)
Friday (Night) Session:                     $33 each (Regular $35)
Saturday Session:                               $38 each (Regular $40)

Don’t miss out on any of the action on the blue oval, get your tickets today by calling 515-271-3647 or visiting the Drake Athletics Ticket Office Monday–Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Questions? Please contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or tickets@drake.edu.

—Tom Florian, Assistant Director, Ticket Operations and Donor Management

News & Achievements Archive

Scholarship for non-traditional students available

Executive Women International (EWI) Des Moines Chapter announces that the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) Scholarship Program is now taking applications.

The ASIST Scholarship is a non-discriminatory, educational scholarship program for the benefit of non-traditional students pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. These include persons who are:

  • Past high school age and who are entering a college, university, trade school, and/or the workforce for the first time
  • Non-traditional students already enrolled in a college, university, or trade school program
  • Re-training due to changes in the workplace
  • Otherwise are not the traditional college, university, or trade school student (i.e., has not recently finished high school)

In addition to the Chapter ASIST, there are corporate awards given annually. Corporate candidates are selected from first-place Chapter winners.

Awards are provided for the recipients’ education and related expenses to aid them in obtaining the necessary educational skills to help achieve career goals and objectives. Related expenses include tuition, books, mandatory fees from schools, and child care. Not included are such expenses as rent, utility payments, travel expense, repayment of student loans or remaining balances payable to recipient. Checks for Chapter and Corporate scholarship awards are paid directly to the respective college or university.

Scholarship awards are valid for two years from date granted. Unclaimed awards will be returned to the Chapter or Corporate B/C/DP accounts for redistribution.

Selection criteria may include the following:

  • Financial need
  • Socially, physically, and economically challenged adults
  • Preference is given to those individuals with children residing in the home

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Clearly define career goals and objectives
  • Specify the educational requirements to attain the above goals and objectives
  • Utilize re-entry programs available through colleges/universities/technology centers, community agencies, and service groups or career professionals
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Applicant must reside within boundaries of a participating EWI Chapter—refer to list on ewiconnect.com. EWI of Des Moines boundaries are: Polk, Dallas, Story, & Warren counties.

More information and the application can be found at: http://ewidsm.org/announcements.php?id=45

—Stephanie Cardwell, Administrative Assistant 2

News & Achievements Archive

Donate children’s books March 28–30

LEAD 060 students (Tyler Voss, Layne Davis & Courtney Carr) are holding a book drive for Blank Children’s Hospital. Please donate any new/old children’s books appropriate for ages 2 to 16 for kids to enjoy when they visit the hospital. Bring your books to the Olmsted Center between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 28–30. More information can be found here. Thanks in advance!

—Courtney Carr

News & Achievements Archive

Walk 34 miles in their shoes

Walk for the Horn is an extreme, long-distance charity walk. The event raises funds and awareness for unaccompanied Eritrean refugee minors in Ethiopia.

The walk starts on Sunday morning, April 17, and goes from Drake University to Iowa State University (34 miles), so it’s no walk in the park. Participants can walk any distance they wish.

Sign up today by signing up on our fundraising page: www.razoo.com/team/Walk-For-The-Horn

A $20 donation is required to participate, but that includes an awesome T-shirt, water along the walk, and shuttle rides to and from Drake’s campus. Want to help the cause more? Raise a total of $50 and get all of the above plus a sweet Walk for the Horn bandana.

—Adam Poole

News & Achievements Archive

Bulldogs of DU: Kelly Bruhn

What do you do?
I’m the associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and associate professor of public relations, so I teach undergraduate courses and in the Master of Communication Leadership program. As associate dean, I handle recruitment and student success.

You have three children under the age of four, a demanding job, and other commitments; do you think women can have it all?
Someone told me a long time ago that you can have it all, you just can’t have it all at the same time. Sometimes the job takes over a little bit, like orientation or finals week, but then there are times when I need to focus at home. I’m lucky that I have leaders at Drake who support that life balance and a husband who supports me, as well.

What’s a story you share with prospective students and their families?
In PR writing, I have students write a few pieces for their dream employer—if they could pick any place, no holds barred, where would it be? They craft some communication samples for the employer and put together a packet. I write a cover letter and send the packet to the head of communication for that company, and on several occasions we have those communication folks reach back. This exercise has turned into opportunities with organizations like the Los Angeles Angels and National Geographic. It’s a great example to show how class work can lead them to their dream and that anything is possible.

What do you hope students remember about you after they’ve graduated?
I hope they remember that I cared. My door is always open. I always have chocolate and Kleenex. I think that academics certainly matter and every assignment is very intentional, but at the end of the day I hope they remember me for listening, caring, and helping them to achieve their dreams.

News & Achievements Archive

Run for a cause

Drake Law School’s Public Interest Law Association (PILA) is hosting the 9th Annual Court2Court 5K to raise money for the Poverty Law Internship that provides free and reduced legal assistance to those needing it but unable to afford it. Every $1 raised is matched at $3 by Drake Law School’s federal work study program.

Race day is April 16. Registration at 8 a.m.; Race starts at 9 a.m.

Register at http://secure.GetMeRegistered.com/court2court5K 

Pre-registration is now until March 26: $20
Registration is March 27–April 15: $25
Same-day registration is April 16: $30

—Matt Knipe

News & Achievements Archive

Arts & Sciences news: Week of March 21

Environmental science and policy students present at association meeting
On March 5, the Raccoon River Watershed Association held its annual meeting in Perry, Iowa. Drake environmental science and policy students Andrew Rupiper, Gabrielle Brodek, and Leah Robison as well as Thomas Rosburg, professor of biology and chair of the department, presented.

More information can be found at http://theperrynews.com/large-turnout-for-annual-raccoon-river-watershed-association-conference/

Ann Cravero joins prestigious summer program in Europe
Ann Cravero, associate professor of voice and director of opera theater, was accepted as assistant director to Sherrill Milnes on Mozart’s opera, Don Giovanni with the Prague Summer Nights: Young Artist Music Festival this summer. Ann will participate in performances, master classes, workshops, concerts, and recitals in venues and halls in the Czech Republic, including fully staged performances of Don Giovanni in the Estates Theatre and Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi at Simon & Jude Church (semi-staged) in Prague as well as orchestra concerts in Tabor, Dvorak Hall in Prague.

The opportunity to direct alongside whom many consider the greatest singer to portray the role of Don Giovanni (Sherrill Milnes) at the theater that Mozart premiered Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni is a great honor. It should be noted that Sherrill Milnes received his bachelor of music at Drake University. This festival will provide Ann the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest singers and conductors in the field of professional opera, including conductors James Nardolillo and James Burton, clarinetist Walter Seyfarth, violinist Rodney Friend, and coach Scott Rednour. A complete list of faculty can be found online.

Tamales and foreign language
On Thursday, Feb. 25, professors Eduardo Garcia and Lourdes Gutiérrez-Nájera gave a tamales-making demonstration for Alpha Mu Gamma, the Drake chapter (Xi Kappa) of the international honor society for foreign languages.

The goal of the event was to build community, specifically in relation to foreign languages. Social events such as this that are open to all Drake students give the opportunity to educate others about aspects of other cultures and thereby grow the world languages department.

News & Achievements Archive

SJMC to host summer camp for high school students

The award-winning Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication is partnering with St. Louis-based Media Now to host its first summer camp for high school students. The four-day “boot camp,” which will be held July 6-9 on Drake’s campus, will introduce students to the professional digital media and communications skills they need to be successful not only in high school but beyond. Workshop topics include editorial leadership, design, narrative storytelling, web and social media, and photo/multimedia. Teachers include high school and college instructors and media professionals from around the country.

The camp is available both as a sleep-over camp and as a day camp. Scholarships are available for students in need of financial assistance. Advisers get a discounted registration fee if five students from their school sign up.

For details on curriculum and fees, and to register, visit https://medianowdrake.com/.  Early bird registration deadline is April 1. Regular registration runs through June 1, with a late fee after that.

—Submitted by Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

News & Achievements Archive

Reception for Blake Campbell

Please join alumni and development staff, campus colleagues, and friends as we celebrate Blake’s seven years of service to Drake University as director of alumni relations on Thursday, March 10, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. We will gather at the Alumni House, 2700 University Ave., to wish him well as he takes on new professional opportunities.

—Heather Hendrix, Administrative Assistant 1