The first 1,000 Drake faculty, staff, students, alumni, and family members who sign up for the Grand Blue Mile (GBM) are eligible for a free entry using the discount code DUGRIFF16. Recognized as one of the top road miles in the country, the GBM is a local favorite for walkers, joggers, and competitive runners alike. The 2016 GBM is Tuesday, April 26, at 6 p.m. Sign up NOW at www.grandbluemile.com
—Carolyn Hill, Assistant Director, Drake Relays Operations
Bill! Bill! Bill!
Bill Nye, renowned scientist, inventor, and host of Bill Nye the Science Guy, will deliver the 36th installment of the Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture Series at Drake University. “An Evening with Bill Nye the Science Guy” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in Drake’s Knapp Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. All seating is general admission and no tickets are required. For more information, click here.
Drake to host Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for Young African Leaders
Drake University will host 25 of Africa’s brightest emerging leaders this summer for a six-week academic and leadership institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Beginning in June, Drake will host young professionals between the ages 25 to 35 who were selected to participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. Learn more about this exciting opportunity in the Drake Newsroom.
National Alumni Association announces 2016 Alumni Award winners
The Drake University National Alumni Association Board of Directors will recognize seven alumni with an award reception Thursday, April 28. The 2016 Alumni Award recipients represent six graduating classes and four colleges. The reception begins at 4:30 p.m., and program begins at 5:30 p.m., in the Cowles Library Reading Room.
“We are proud to honor these alumni for their loyalty, service and achievement” said Blake Campbell, director of alumni relations. “Their dedicated commitment of their time, talents and resources to Drake University and its students ensures the continued success of this great institution. See the full list of recipients here.
Forty Under 40
Thirteen Drake University degree-holders were named to the Des Moines Business Record’s “Forty Under 40” class for 2016.
The Business Record issues its annual list to honor Greater Des Moines area professionals under the age of 40 who have “demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement,” according to the publication.
“We are tremendously proud of the accomplishments of these young professionals,” said John Smith, vice president of alumni and development. “Drake alumni have a meaningful impact across the globe, but perhaps nowhere more so than in our hometown. The accomplishments of this year’s Forty Under 40 class speaks volumes about Drake’s contribution to Des Moines.”
To see the full list of alumni, visit the Drake Newsroom.
Join us for a youth sports clinic prior to the women’s basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 28, 12–1:30 p.m. All clinic participants will receive complimentary admission to the women’s basketball game vs. Bradley at 2 p.m. Additional tickets can be purchased at $10 for adults and $5 for youth (age 3–18). Information on how to purchase additional tickets will be provided via email within 24 hours of registration.
To register, visit www.draketix.com/clinic
Questions? Please contact Jackson Dahlquist, assistant director of athletics marketing, at 515-271-1946 or jackson.dahlquist@drake.edu.
—Tom Florian, Assistant Director of Ticket Operations
Keep up your language fluency! Japanese Language Table offers the opportunity for students, faculty, and administrators to practice speaking Japanese on Fridays in Lower Olmsted starting at 3 p.m. Drop-in attendance and all levels of speakers are welcome. For further information, contact Samantha Dao at samantha.dao@drake.edu.
—Drake International
Drake University Counseling Center is thrilled to bring Tom and Doris Smeltzer, authors of Andrea’s Voice: Silenced by Bulimia, to Drake for NEDAW 2016. Tom and Doris lost their daughter, Andrea, to bulimia at the age of 19, and have since dedicated their lives to eating disorder prevention. The Smeltzers will speak on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium. Faculty and coaches can consider swapping a class, assignment, or practice to encourage students to attend the event, and the event is free and open to the public.
In addition to hosting the speakers, the Counseling Center will lead other events the week of Feb. 22–26. These events include a resource table in Olmsted, online eating disorder screenings, a mindful eating experience, and a yoga exercise. Eating Disorder Coalition of Iowa is also hosting community events in Des Moines on Feb. 26–27 as well.
In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life. Out of all mental health struggles, including schizophrenia, eating disorders continue to have the highest mortality rate. The goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAW) is to put the spotlight on the seriousness of eating disorders and to improve public understanding of their causes, triggers, and treatments. By increasing awareness and access to resources, we can encourage early detection and intervention, which can improve the likelihood of full recovery for millions. Help is available and recovery is possible.
Please let me know if you have any questions about these events.
—Melissa Nord, Counseling Center
School of Journalism and Mass Communication students won 25 awards Feb. 4 from the Iowa College Media Association. Highlights included first and second place in online edition for Urban Plains and Drake Magazine, respectively; a sweep in interactive design; a first place in investigative reporting; and awards representing photography, writing, design, social, and multimedia. The awards represented material published in The Times-Delphic; the senior capstone website Urban Plains, and Drake Magazine. Details are on the SJMC website.
—Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
So you were born in Canada—do you have dual citizenship?
“I’m on my third green card, I can’t quite pull the trigger on taking out American citizenship. I travel so much to different countries, I just find it amusing that information, money, and merchandise can cross borders with a mouse click, and you and I have to stand in lines and convince people to let us in.”
What are the biggest differences between Canada and the U.S.?
“I think that the concept of a compact is probably more in tune with Canadian mentality than American mentality. You know this is still a place where independence and taking responsibility for your own issues is so ingrained in the culture. And it’s not that Canadians think other people should solve their problems, but it’s more like a ‘we’re in this together’ kind of mindset rather than ‘my problems are my problems and your problems are your problems.’ You almost have to live in both places to get a sense for how that works.”
You’ve been at Drake for more than 20 years—what’s made you stay?
“The relationship Drake faculty have with students—I’ve not seen that in other places. I’ll say it this way: We have a fundraiser every year where faculty will donate things to be auctioned off for charity. My donation is that I’ll come to your house and cook for four; people have paid up to $200 to have me come and cook. When I was student, I would have paid $200 to never have to look at my professor again. I just haven’t seen that faculty-student relationship anywhere else.”
After 40 years on the faculty—including two terms as dean of the Law School—David S. Walker, the Dwight D. Opperman Distinguished Professor of Law, is retiring. Join us for a celebration of his service and accomplishments. Refreshments will be served. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 at 3 p.m. in Kern Commons, Cartwright Hall. RSVP to theresa.howard@drake.edu
Twelve Drake students traveled to Brussels during J-term to participate in the Model European Union (EU). Students learned about the EU’s institutions and participated in dialogues and a press corps with students from other American and European Universities. Students represented country delegations from the various EU member states. The discussions simulated ministerial-level conferences on issues of migration and improving the European economy, among other topics. Student came away from the conference with a better understanding of the institutions and issues facing the EU.
—Submitted by Eleanor Zeff, Associate Professor of Political Science
Enjoy an evening with music, dance, story telling and more! Come to Parents Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. for a cultural night! Drake students’ experiences in Uganda are featured in this cultural exhibition alongside their counterparts from Uganda’s Makerere University Business School and members of Drake’s African Student Association.
—Submitted by Stephanie Cardwell, Administrative Assistant, CBPA
