Drake celebrates Maddie Levitt Day John Willey, vice president for institutional advancement, thanked Levitt for "teaching hundreds of people to give" at a breakfast held in her honor in Levitt Hall in Old Main. Levitt, 80, said she never expected Maddie Levitt Day would become an annual event. She also noted that her health is improving and she intends to continue her efforts on behalf of Drake "for at least another 20 years." The stadium upgrades will include new seating for fans, a wider track that meets international competition standards, an outside safety lane for athletes, a state-of-the-art artificial grass field by FieldTurf that will be large enough to accommodate Drake’s NCAA football and men’s and women’s soccer teams and a new scoreboard. To view the construction as it happens, visit the Web cam site set up by David Wright, assistant dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, at Opperman endowed the program, which provides full-tuition merit scholarships, to help the Law School recruit outstanding students from across the country, as part of an overall $50 million gift to Drake University in 1997. The recipients are chosen based on their superior academic records, outstanding law entrance exam scores and other significant academic and life experiences that evidence significant promise as well as achievement. The Law School now has 12 Opperman Scholars and will gain five more when classes start for the fall semester. Opperman, chairman of Key Investments Inc. in Minneapolis, experienced rather Spartan living conditions while he attended Drake Law School following World War II. He and his wife and young son lived in a trailer court the University established on campus to accommodate the flood of war veterans. "Those trailers didn't have running water. You had to go down to a common bathroom," he recalled. "You'd track snow in and if you'd left it there, it would never melt." "The Opperman Scholars at Drake have truly enriched the Law School community," said Law School Dean David Walker. "They fit right in, of course, but they have also been consistently prominent in leadership positions in Law Review, the Journal of Agricultural Law, our National, American Bar Association, Intellectual Property, Moot Court and Mock Trial teams." The Law School has formed an Opperman Scholars Association, which organizes events for current scholars and alumni, including a brunch in the early fall and an annual Opperman Scholars Dinner in the spring. Twenty-four current and former scholars attended this year's dinner. "A highlight of both the fall brunch and spring dinner," Walker said, "is that the Opperman Scholars are joined by Mr. Opperman himself and have the opportunity to meet and renew acquaintance with one of Drake's most distinguished and generous benefactors in its nearly 125-year history."† Here’s your chance once again to have some fun in playing 18 holes of mini golf — the Drake University way. The Special Events Committee of the All Staff Council is looking for offices and departments interested in sponsoring a hole for the second annual Drake mini golf event. You and your colleagues can design and create a hole for this indoor golf tournament, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, on the main floor of Olmsted Center in the comfort of air conditioning and it’s mosquito free. In order to sponsor a hole, you will need to identify one individual who will serve as a primary contact for your office or department. You'll also need to have representatives available for set-up and clean-up on the day of the event. No greens fees will be imposed (other than providing a putter and small prize for your hole). For additional details and to register today, contact Shari Tenney at Leslie Mamoorian, associate director, international and graduate admission, has earned the quarterly True Blue award. Leslie received three nominations for undertaking the role as Interim Director of Admission. One nominator expressed that she exemplified citizenship in her ability to serve others as she challenged the Admission staff to think outside of the box when necessary or stay the tried and true course if that was the best option. The nominator stated she led Admission to complete a Recruitment Plan in less than half the time than most schools and with fewer individuals. She was described as a person of integrity and one of calm leadership. Another nominator indicated she did not take on this role for personal gain, to further her professional reputation, or to add a line on her resume; rather she did it for the Drake community, as it was what needed to be done. Another nominator stated that moving into the interim director's position, particularly for such a long time, called upon Leslie to not only do this job well but to keep a close watch on her regular job to be sure it was completed as well. As a reward, Leslie received the blue caller ID telephone. The department award was given to the support staff of the College of Arts & Sciences. The Budget and Office Manager and Department Chairs submitted this nomination. The nomination listed each staff person and stated the impact each one has on their department, the college and the University. The staff will get a visit from the traveling True Blue bulldog statue and individual staff members will also receive miniature bulldogs for their desk. Twenty-seven students from Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School were among more than 60 people who participated in the recent "Support the Right to Read Walk for Adult Literacy" in downtown Des Moines. The walkers congregated at Nollen Plaza and then proceeded to walk through the skywalks and Kaleidoscope Mall on Friday, May 20. They raised $4,604 to support the operation of Drake University's Adult Literacy Center, which provides free tutoring for 70 clients. Anne Murr, director of the center, said she was delighted with the success of the walk. "It's wonderful," she added. "We are fortunate that the Drake School of Education donates all our overhead expenses, but the center relies solely on donations and grants for daily operating and instructional expenses. We need to continue to raise funds to keep the center going." About one fourth of the funds came from sixth graders at Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School. LuAnn Schlafke, the students' reading teacher, often shared stories of her experiences as a volunteer tutor at the Drake Adult Literacy Center. After hearing these stories, the students decided to raise money for the cause. In one week they raised $1,178. "Volunteering at the center has been a very rewarding experience for me," Schlafke said. "With my students at school, I often share my stories about my work with the student I’m tutoring at Drake. I am so impressed with her commitment and her desire to learn. She has provided me with new perspectives and insights on adult learners and the process of teaching someone to read from the very beginning." During the walk, many students carried signs and showed enthusiasm for helping others learn how to read. "I love to read," said Brad Miller, a student who raised $60, including $20 he contributed from his own money. "That is why I decided to fundraise, because I want other people to have the chance to read." All those involved in the walk carried signs, which supported adults learning to read and ending of adult illiteracy. The walkers also passed out fliers about adult literacy. The walk ended in the Kaleidoscope Mall amphitheater with a rally, which included testimonies, songs and chants. Several clients of the literacy center shared their stories. "More people need to come out of the closet and admit that they don’t know how to read," said Norma Kneyer, a longtime client of the center. "That is what this march is all about. Our brain never shuts down. It is never too late to go back and learn." The Drake Adult Literacy Center will hold another walk to promote awareness and support of the center on Wednesday, June 22. The walk will start at 5 p.m. at the Drake Neighborhood Farmers' Market in the parking lot of First Christian Church at 25th Street and University Avenue in Des Moines. Free books will be distributed to children at the market that day. In addition to funds, the center is seeking additional volunteer tutors to serve the people on its waiting list. For more information about the center or the next awareness walk, contact Anne Murr at x3982 or Thirty guidance counselors from the Missouri Association of College Admission Counseling group will visit Drake on Monday, June 13, as part of a five-day tour of eight colleges and universities. The counselors will attend a welcome session with President David Maxwell and Tom Delahunt, vice president of admission and financial aid. They also will tour the campus and meet with a panel of Drake students who will share their experiences and answer questions. The students and staff members will then join the counselors for dinner. After dinner, the counselors will learn more about Des Moines' attractions by attending an Iowa Cubs game. Faculty and staff are invited to join alumni in volunteering at the Des Moines Arts Festival in downtown Des Moines June 24-26. The volunteers will sell beverages in Pepsi booths. Proceeds from the sales will help fund the Iowa Alumni Chapter Scholarship. Volunteers are needed for the following shifts: Friday, June 24: 7 to 10:30 p.m. To sign up, contact Sarah Hamilton, assistant director of Alumni and Parent Programs, at x3935 or The office of Professional and Career Development Services has relocated to 107 Old Main, with summer office hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office will close over the lunch hour from noon to 1 p.m. Top business leaders from around the globe will join former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, renowned business author Dr. Stephen Covey, and former GE leader Jack Welch for the June Luminary Series Conference, titled "Principles of Leadership: From Effectiveness to Greatness," to be broadcast live on June 15 from Atlanta. Drake's College of Business and Public Administration will bring this live event to Des Moines via satellite from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. The live intensive one-day program will be presented to closed-circuit audiences around the world in 30 countries and throughout the United States on 30 American college and university host locations. Produced by LumaCore, "Principles of Leadership" will have an estimated audience of more than 30,000 conference participants and allows attendees the opportunity to ask Giuliani, Covey and Welch their most pressing business questions. Giuliani's rock-solid leadership during New York City's darkest hours of the September 11th terrorist attacks earned him global praise and admiration. His tireless managing efforts to restore the city and the morale of its residents during the aftermath inspired Time magazine to name him Person of the Year for 2001. With the release of his new book, "The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness," in November, Covey continues to build on the groundbreaking guidance for life and leadership offered in his bestseller"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Time magazine named Covey as one of the 25 most influential people in America for his work as the world's leading authority in personal and professional development. Welch, who started at GE as a $10,000-per-year engineer in 1960, led the phenomenal transformation of his corporation from a bureaucratic behemoth into a dynamic powerhouse. Under his guidance, GE's market value rose from $13 billion to $500 billion, and Welch's initiatives in globalization, service, quality assurance and e-business established General Electric as a strong competitor in the new economy before his retirement in 2001. Luminary Series conferences are designed to help organizations inspire and cultivate leadership at every level through the discussion of crucial and timely business topics with the leading minds in business management. The events attract participants ranging from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 business executives. Registration is $199 per person with group discounts available. For more information and registration, visit A Strawberry Festival will mark the opening of the ninth season of the Drake Neighborhood Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, June 1. The festival will feature free strawberries on shortcake with whipped topping. The market is open from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday from June through September in the parking lot of First Christian Church, 25th Street and University Avenue. More than 20 vendors are scheduled to sell Iowa-grown produce, baked goods, snacks, meals, sandwiches and crafts this year. Free door prizes will be awarded each week. Entertainment will be provided weekly, as well as educational and informative guests. The market includes a health tent, where free blood pressure checks and blood sugar tests are available every week. During June, the market will be collecting old cell phones as part of a recycling and fundraising effort. Proceeds will help fund activities at the market, including the Strawberry Festival, Ice Cream Party and Sweet Corn Festival. "Bring as many cell phones as you can round up, from your neighbors, relatives and friends!" said Ginny Gieseke, director of the market. "The more phones we collect, the more money the Farmers' Market will make." The cell phone collection is being conducted in cooperation with the Ecophones organization. Cell phones that can be reused will be refurbished and used in markets utilizing compatible wireless technologies such as in North and South America. The proceeds from the resale of these used cell phones enable EcoPhones to continually expand its recycling efforts and provide less fortunate people a means of obtaining an inexpensive cellular phone. Older used cell phones that cannot be reused will be recycled in accordance with state and federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. The market is a nonprofit, community project sponsored by the Drake Neighborhood Association, Drake University and First Christian Church. In only its second year, the Global Ambassador Program is quickly expanding and getting rave reviews. The program, which is run through the Center for Global Citizenship, is designed to improve knowledge and perspective on global issues and increase intercultural communications. "We are almost at the end of our second year and the program has really taken off," said Susan Smith, interim director of the Center of Global Citizenship. "We feel this program goes above and beyond the current Drake requirements and really opens the students’ perspectives to serious global issues." The curriculum consists of a variety of requirements including a course in intercultural communication, two semesters of language study, the completion of a study abroad experience (summer, semester, or year-long), 50 hours of service learning, and active participation in events sponsored by the Center for Global Citizenship. There are currently 26 student global ambassadors participating in the program. "I have had the opportunity to hear speakers and have discussion on many global Speakers this semester include financier and philanthropist George Soros, Andrew Natisios, administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development, and a Rwandan refugee. "The Global Ambassador program has given me the opportunity†to interact with different leaders in the international community that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet – ranging from peace advocates to ambassadors," said Lauren Derebey, a senior international relations, political science and French major who was recently awarded a Fulbright grant to teach English as a foreign language in Korea. Another major benefit of the Global Ambassador program is the certificate awarded upon completion. This is not simply an extracurricular activity, but a major course load that comes with recognition during the commencement ceremonies and on the students’ transcript. Emerging from the formation stage, the young program is now looking to grow. "We are now considering further expansion and looking to greater possibilities in the future," Smith said. "We are all very excited about the response and look forward to the future." "This was a problem for me because I am not from Des Moines and do not know many business people in the area," said Sill, a junior from Moline, Ill. "While talking about my dilemma at lunch, one of my friends suggested that I shadow his dad who works for Qwest." Qwest Iowa President Max Phillips quickly agreed to let Sill shadow him on an eventful day that included flying on a charter plane from Des Moines to Sioux City for a news conference announcing that Qwest would soon open a customer sales and service center there and hire 400 new employees to staff it. At the news conference, Sill got to meet and chat with Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Sioux City Mayor Karen Van De Steeg and other political leaders. "I learned from the whole experience," said Sill, who is majoring in marketing and management. "I had never flown before, plus I got an inside look at what a high-ranking businessman does. It really brought a lot of what I have learned in classes together. " Qwest is a unionized company and Phillips was a union member before joining management. "After being around Mr. Phillips and meeting the union leaders that he works with, then seeing them interact with each other, I found these people don't hate each other the way I had been trained to think that union leaders and management would," Sill wrote in his 13-page report. "They were able to make small talk and discuss issues with each other without any arguments or tension that I noticed. They did tell me that there is still disagreement during contract negotiations and such, but it is never bad because the union and Qwest each feel that the other is truly looking out for the employees." Sill talked with several union leaders at the news conference and was impressed with their dedication to improving conditions for workers as well as their high opinion of Phillips. "I cannot stress enough that the relationship between Qwest and its unions was much warmer and less confrontational than I previously thought it would be," Sill concluded in his paper. "Job shadowing gives students an opportunity to really see what a manager does on a daily basis and how what they are studying is applied in the business world," professor Kirk said, explaining Sill said he gained valuable advice from Phillips, who told him "not to change who you are because of a new title, but to be down-to-earth and relate well with co-workers." "After shadowing Mr. Phillips for a day, I feel that this is one of his strongest attributes," Sill said. "He relates well with literally everyone from the governor of the state of Iowa to the custodial workers in the Qwest building. The interactions and humor that he exhibited with everyone throughout the day were impressive and refreshing to me. This is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life as a positive business experience and all around fun time." The next issue of OnCampus will publish Monday, June 13. |
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