Tag Archives: community

News & Achievements Archive

Volunteer with the Adult Literacy Center

The Adult Literacy Center at Drake University is seeking volunteers eager to change the lives of local adults by helping them achieve basic literacy (reading, writing, and/or speaking) skills. A tutor training will be held Friday, April 22, 5–8 p.m., and Saturday, April 23, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m., at the School of Education.

Volunteers will learn about characteristics of adults who lack literacy skills, the potential causes for adult illiteracy, and skills for delivering multisensory reading instruction. Registration is required and can be completed by contacting Anne Murr at anne.murr@drake.edu or 515-271-3982.

Learn more about the Adult Literacy Center in the Drake Newsroom.

Featured Events Archive

“Finding Happiness” art exhibit

A new art exhibit at Drake University features the diverse works of more than 20 adults with intellectual disabilities. The result of a partnership between the Drake University Department of Art and Design and Mosaic of Central Iowa, “Finding Happiness” is open to the public now through April 7 in the Weeks Art Gallery of the Harmon Fine Arts Center.

Senior Katelyn Canepa, a psychology major with a minor in studio drawing, created the project after working with Mosaic at a group home teaching art skills to an adult with an intellectual disability. Mosaic is a non-profit organization that serves adults with intellectual disabilities throughout central Iowa. Read more about this unique exhibit in the Drake Newsroom.

Featured Events Archive

Science rules at Drake on April 14

Hundreds of Des Moines-area high school and college students will dive into science through a series of fun and educational activities that culminate in a free lecture by Bill Nye the Science Guy at Drake on Thursday, April 14.

The series of activities, all of which are free and open to the public, include the Drake University Conference on Undergraduate Research in the Sciences (DUCURS), featuring a keynote speech by an expert in baseball statistics; an interactive STEM festival for K-8 youth; and an art gallery inspired by the sciences. Nye’s evening lecture is the 36th installment in the Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture Series.

  • 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. DUCURS; Olmsted Center
  • 4:30–6:30 p.m. Drake/Metro Area STEM Fesival; Bell Center
  • 7 p.m. Bucksbaum Lecture—An Evening with Bill Nye the Science Guy; Knapp Center
  • All day: “Planet(s)” art exhibit; Weeks Gallery

For more information, visit the Drake Newsroom.

News & Achievements Archive

Findley Elementary first grade to visit Drake

This past year Drake University teamed up with “I Have a Dream” Foundation to adopt the first grade class at Findley Elementary’s Dreamer Academy. “It’s never too early to start thinking about college” is the name of the game, and we hope you can join us in supporting this partnership!

Our adopted first grade classes will make their visit to campus this coming Tuesday, March 29. The 55 kiddos will arrive at Olmsted around 9:45 a.m., have lunch at the Field House at noon, and depart campus around 1 p.m. We have a host of events planned for them thanks to the organizing committee (Catherine Gillespie, Shelley Hurst, Amanda Martin, Laurel Haxton, and Jasmine Barr).

Volunteers are still needed for the day, please visit our website to see what’s available and share this with other students, faculty, and staff!

—Renee Sedlacek, Interim Director of Community Engagement & Service-Learning

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

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

For Students Archive

7th Annual HOPE waLKS presented by Lambda Kappa Sigma

Lambda Kappa Sigma professional pharmacy fraternity is hosting our annual 5K run/walk to support Project Hope. Project Hope’s mission is to provide health opportunities for people everywhere by delivering health education, supplies, medications, and volunteers where needed.

The 5K run/walk will be held at Raccoon River Park, 2500 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, on April 23 at 8:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m.

The registration fee is $25 until April 1 ($30 for any registration after this date). If you register by April 1, you are guaranteed a race day T-shirt!

The biggest team of 10 or more participants will receive $100 toward the charity of its choice.

To register or donate, visit http://getmeregistered.com/HOPEWalks 

Please email katelin.hardisty@drake.edu or erin.engbring@drake.edu if you have any questions.

We encourage you to register to support our cause and hope to see you there!

—Submitted by Katelin Hardisty

News & Achievements Archive

Contribute a used bike to the Drake Bike Initiative

LEAD 100 students will conduct a Bike Drive the week of March 21–25 in the Olmsted Breezeway each day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where students, faculty, and staff can drop off their bikes. The bikes are being collected to create a bike library on Drake’s campus, available to students, faculty, and staff for their biking needs throughout the year and throughout the city. This initiative is part of the Drake Bike Friendly program with assistance from a grant from Wellmark.

—Submitted by Art Sanders, Associate Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Seeking former Peace Corps volunteers

Following the recent announcement that Drake is a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers, Drake International wishes to reach out to former Peace Corps volunteers who are Drake employees. You may be a valuable resource for current students considering volunteering. Any staff or faculty who have served in the Peace Corps, please contact Karen Leroux, associate professor of history and coordinator, post-graduate scholarships, at karen.leroux@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Drake International