Dr. Robert Wallace, who writes a syndicated column for teens, is a Knox graduate. This week, he shares his favorite Galesburg area eateries in the Register Mail’s Dining Out feature.
Excerpt:
Where do local people go to eat? Check here each week to see who’s eating where, and what’s on their plate. This week, we feature Dr. Robert Wallace, a graduate of Knox College and writer of the nationally syndicated column “‘Tween 12 and 20.” As a columnist and former high school administrator, he speaks to audiences nationwide on the challenges and successes of teenagers. He is a former trustee of Knox College and serves on the board of directors of the Galesburg Youth Athletic Association.
Favorite breakfast spot: At home for whole wheat toast with black currant preserves (made in Ireland), orange juice and coffee. When traveling, the Original Pancake House makes my favorite apple pancake.
Favorite lunch spot: Rooster’s. I love the homemade soups and daily specials made from scratch and their pies are the very best. The friendliest cooks and bakers in town!
Best place for a casual dinner: El Rancherito. I learned to eat Mexican food while teaching and coaching in Phoenix and enjoying being a high school principal in southern California. Now Mexican food is my favorite and I especially enjoy a beef enchilada, beans and rice, with chips and salsa. Miguel and his staff are efficient and friendly.
Knox scientists played host to area teachers — finding the common threads in math and science and ways to teach in more a more interdisciplinary fashion.
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What does math have to do with chemistry?
Any high school teacher can tell you - or anyone who’s taken a chemistry class lately - a lot. And 17 high school math and chemistry teachers attended a workshop at Knox College this week to discuss that very question.
“Not many workshops are interdisciplinary,” said Diana Cermak, assistant professor of chemistry at Knox and co-leader of the teacher’s workshop. “This gives teachers a chance to get together to talk about issues both subjects face.”
The workshop was funded by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Knox was awarded the grant in 2004, and has used the money the past two years for a summer science camp for junior high girls. Cermak, who’s leading the workshop with Associate Professor of Mathematics Mary Armon, said the college plans to have another teacher’s workshop next year, possibly in biology and physics.
The aim of this year’s workshop is for teachers to discuss how math and chemistry can be taught together. To do that, the teachers are focusing on one concept that is used by both disciplines - geometry. Through grant money Knox provided teachers with Zome kits, 3-D models used in classrooms that will allow students to incorporate abstract reasoning through tactile and visual learning, that they can take back to their schools.
Read the full feature in the Register-Mail.
Rep. Phil Hare attended a signing ceremony at which Knox College and the Peace Corps agreed to establish a Peace Corps Preparatory Program on the Knox campus.
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In a one-of-a-kind arrangement, Knox College signed an agreement Wednesday with the Peace Corps to resurrect a program to prepare students for service in the 46-year-old organization.
Knox College President Roger Taylor signed the pact with Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody Olsen in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
Officials with the college and the Peace Corps say the venture will help train students at the Galesburg, Ill., college in the skills and traits needed for the Corps.
Read the full story in the Quad City Times.
The story also appears in the Peoria Journal Star.
Excerpt:
Christine Torres, spokeswoman at the Peace Corps Chicago Regional Office, said Knox’s commitment to community service and diverse student population made it a good place to implement the preparatory program.
“It’s a program designed for smaller colleges, and Knox is ideal with its emphasis on service and social issues and liberal arts course studies,” Torres said.
The program will allow students to structure their curriculum to prepare them for international development programs like the Peace Corps.
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Knox College named Patrick Irwin and Dan Zierfuss as co-head coaches for track and field on Monday.
Irwin was also given the head coaching position of the cross country team and Zierfuss will be an assistant for the Knox football team.
Their duties are effective July 1 and the two will replace previous coach Chris Pio.
Assistant football coach Cory Bonstead will also assist the track and field teams in the jumping events.
Read the full story in the Register-Mail.
Excerpt:
Knox College this week unveiled a revamped College4Kids program after taking a hiatus last summer….
….In order to get the program going again College4Kids has been integrated into the educational studies department. Two new professors, Assistant Professor of Educational Studies Jason Helfer and Visiting Assistant Professor of Educational Studies Stephen Schroth, have taken the program under their wings.
“Jason Helfer and Stephen Schroth have provided the leadership, energy and imagination to revitalize the program as its new co-directors,” said Lawrence Breitborde, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college. “(They) have repositioned the program in a way that will ensure Knox’s continuing contributions to the local community while involving and benefiting our own students.”
Both Helfer and Schroth have extensive experience working with gifted students from diverse backgrounds and enrichment programs for students outside of public schools.
The duo said 2007’s College4Kids is modeled after the program Knox has offered since 1975. The aim of College4Kids is to provide accelerating opportunities for gifted local students.
“We’ve crafted it on the model in place before,” Schroth said. “The program integrates elements of the humanities, math, science and language.”
Read the feature in the Register-Mail.
Excerpt:
Knox College is expected to receive a $278,938 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help refine and improve its curriculum.
Knox College spokeswoman Karrie Heartlein said Thursday the college applied for the grant in March but has not received official confirmation the money will be released.
“We certainly do have our fingers crossed,” she said.
A news release issued Thursday by the Department of Education says Knox will receive the money and is one of 20 colleges and universities receiving a total of $7.4 million this year under the department’s Strengthening Institutions program.
Heartlein said the money would be used to create an office of institutional research, which will examine how the college is operating and if any changes need to be made to the curriculum.
Read the full story in the Register-Mail.
On Wednesday, June 20, 2007, Congressman Phil Hare provided official confirmation of the grant from Washington.
Excerpt:
Also today, Hare announced that Knox College has received a Strengthening Institutions grant in the amount of $1.5 million over 5 years. According to the Department of Education, these awards can be used in a variety of ways, such as helping students with special academic and financial needs stay in school or strengthening the school’s information technology infrastructure.
Read the full release.
