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MOVING FORWARD IN DIFFICULT TIMES
The Summer 2009 Cornell Report is now online and contains an important message from President Les Garner. In it, the president outlines a few recent changes in response to economic conditions and outlines his outlook for Cornell’s bright future. |
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SCOTT ALUMNI CENTER AT ROOD HOUSE UPDATE
The Paul K. Scott Alumni Center at Rood House is nearing completion, and the Office of College Communications has already moved in! The Alumni and Development departments will move into their offices in mid-July, but the space already looks great. To see the latest photos of the renovations, click here.
The renovation of Rood House has been made possible by a challenge gift from Richard Small ’50 and honorary alumna Norma Small, who will match all gifts dollar-for-dollar up to $1 million. |
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ONE YEAR LATER: HOUSING FLOOD WORKERS AGAIN
One year after housing displaced victims, workers, and Red Cross volunteers during the worst flood in Iowa’s history, Cornell once again provided shelter to men and women working to help the Cedar Valley recover. Several hundred volunteers were housed in Cornell residence halls for a week during the Habitat for Humanity/AmeriCorps Build-A-Thon. |
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FULBRIGHT AWARD
Nic Wondra
’09 received a Fulbright Award for 2009-2010 to study the educational system of the Republic of Georgia. Wondra, a Russian and international relations major who is fluent in Russian, will perform a side-by-side study analyzing two Republic of Georgia high schools in order to determine effective reforms for urban and rural schools. Read more... |
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AWARDS & GRANTS
Several students received major awards at or near the end of the academic year. Audrey Rodriguez Saunders ’09 received the Alliant Energy Erroll B. Davis Jr. Minority Achievement Award for academic achievement and student leadership, which carries a grant of $2,500.
Kelsey Feser, a senior geology major, was awarded an Undergraduate Research Grant from the North Central section of the Geological Society of America and will spend two weeks on San Salvador Island, Bahamas, working with Professor of Geology Ben Greenstein investigating the impact of the development of a Club Med on shallow marine mollusk communities.
Senior Jamie Bernthal, was honored with the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) award and will utilize the nearly $6,000 award to work this summer with a policy researcher from the University of Nevada-Reno evaluating private landowner programs and creating a green business certification program.
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SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND DEAN OF THE COLLEGE
PROFESSORS STAVREVA, MARTIN, AND REED PARTICIPATE IN NEH SUMMER SEMINARS
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HEARD ON CAMPUS
An Evening With Robert Dana on April 28 celebrated Dana’s life and career as a Cornell professor and Poet-in-Residence, as Iowa Poet Laureate, and as a distinguished author. The evening is available online in its entirety.
Economist Richard Thaler, co-author of Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness, delivered a Roe Howard Freedom lecture on May 14. The book’s hypothesis, which has caught the attention of the Obama administration, is that we can design environments that make it easier for people to choose what is best for themselves, their families, and their society. Read more...
Noted social activist Paula Crisostomo spoke on “Walkout: Educational Equity and Chicano Civil Rights” on April 9 as part of the Organization for Latino Awareness’ Chicano Week. |
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ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Senior Chris Handke was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 41st round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Handke, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound pitcher, was taken with the 1,237th overall pick. Handke was also a key player on the Rams’ Iowa Conference championship basketball team.
Rachelle Hawkins ’09 was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII women's track and field/cross country team.
Hawkins recently graduated as one of the most accomplished runners in Cornell history, setting a number of school records and finishing as an All-American in track and field.
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| SOFTBALL SETS SINGLE-SEASON WINS RECORD |
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Campaign News
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CAMPAIGN PROGRESSES
With only six months left, Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell is in the midst of the final push to reach the goal of $92 million to enhance the college's endowment, improve the student experience, and upgrade facilities. With $88.3 million committed already, that goal is confidently within reach. You can help now by giving online, or by supporting the Annual Fund before the end of our fiscal year on June 30. |
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Many others have already taken the challenge and given to support Cornell—like Jim Hughes ’63, who donated $25,000 to support athletic programs and help refurbish the Richard and Normal Small Multi-Sport Center. Read more...
The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation recognized Cornell’s commitment to environmental studies with a grant of $10,000 per year for up to five years, plus an additional stock gift. The gift will fund the environmental studies program.
A class of 1967 alumnus answered the call with an unrestricted gift of $100,000 to be utilized for the college’s greatest needs. |
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Finally, Board of Trustees chair John Smith ’71 and Dyan Smith, in light of the college’s need for cash during this economic crisis, have issued a challenge to other donors to accelerate their pledged gifts. For each dollar given early, the Smiths will match dollar-for-dollar up to $5 million. |
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Cornell in the News |
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CORNELLIAN'S ARTICLE EXPLORES LOVE FOR AUTISTIC BROTHER
A sister’s love for her autistic brother is the narrative that drives junior Brigid Rankowski’s recent article “No Man is an Island: A Sister’s Perspective,” published in Autism Advocate. |
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THOMAS RECEIVES PRESERVATION AWARD
The Rev. Richard Thomas, Cornell College historian and professor of history emeritus, received the 2009 Preservationist Award from the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance (IHPA) for “championing historic preservation.” The award recognizes Thomas’ more than 35 years as a leader in Iowa’s historic preservation. |
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PROFESSOR'S BOOK RETHINKS HIGHER ED
Learning for Meaning’s Sake, a new book by Cornell education professor Stephanie Mackler claims that higher education emphasizes knowledge over meaning, and must be rethought outside of job training and knowledge acquisition. |
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Alumni News |
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GRADUATION PHOTOS AVAILABLE
Photos of the 2009 commencement ceremony are available on Facebook and our online photo gallery. |
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ATTORNEY ATTRIBUTES WIN TO CORNELL EDUCATION
Few traffic ticket cases elicit the kind of attention Clifford Lund
’73 found when he took on “The Nuns Case” in Chicago. And few schools, Lund said, could have prepared him for the case as well as Cornell College. |
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TRUSTEE WRITES ON HEALTH REFORM
Steve Anderson
’75, Cornell trustee and President/CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, co-authored an opinion piece titled “Health reform policy makers need to listen, stay out in the open,” in the June 14 issue of The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. |
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FRANKLIN LITTELL ’37, HOLOCAUST SCHOLAR, DIES
Franklin Littell ’37, scholar and founding member of the Holocaust Museum, died May 24 at his home in Merion Station, Pa. He was 91. |
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YOUR HELP MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Gifts to Cornell College’s Annual Fund make a big difference to our students. With help from alumni, parents, and friends, we can continue to provide scholarships, enhance opportunities for student life and athletics, provide new technology in classrooms and labs, launch student/faculty research, and provide internship programs. Please help us put a capstone on the 2008-2009 year by making your gift to Cornell before June 30. Your gift will help ensure that Cornell continues to provide one extraordinary opportunity after another. Make your secure online gift to the Annual Fund today. Thank you! |
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UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS
June 28 – Madison (Wis.) Alumni Picnic at the home of John Schilling
’69 and Linda Spies Schilling
’69 , 4:30-7 p.m.
Aug. 16 – Chicago Club event at Ravinia
Aug. 23 – Des Moines Area event at Iowa Cubs |
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Coming Up |
HOMECOMING 2009
Mark your calendars now and make plans to return to the Hilltop for Homecoming, October 9-11. The annual Presidents Society Dinner for the members of the Presidents Society will be held at the Cedar Rapids Country Club on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.
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ONE BOOK, ONE CAMPUS, ONE COMMUNITY
During Homecoming, the Saturday, Oct. 10, faculty-led panel topic will be The Zookeeper’s Wife, this year’s chosen One Book, One Campus, One Community read. |
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RED CEDAR CHAMBER MUSIC SUMMER FESTIVAL
The Red Cedar Chamber Music Summer Festival will be held at Cornell July 5-12.
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