Knox in the News

From Denver Business Journal:

Jim Martin has been named the new executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.

Martin currently is head of the Department of Public Health and Environment. His appointment is effective Nov. 16.

He will succeed Harris Sherman, who has been appointed as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s undersecretary for natural resources and environment, overseeing the Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service…..

Martin was executive director of Western Resource Advocates from 2004 to 2006, and previously was director of the Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado Law School.

He was senior attorney and director of the energy program for Environmental Defense, and from 1986 to 1992 worked for former U.S. Rep. and Sen. Tim Wirth, including four years as state director and counsel.

Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Knox College in Illinois and a law degree from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in Oregon.

From WGIL radio:

An administrator at Knox College says enrollment at the school continues an upward trend, and there are a lot of factors that help make that happen.

Knox Dean of Admissions Paul Steenis says 1,407 students are currently enrolled in classes at the school — the highest level since 1971. 1,384 of those are degree-seeking students, which Steenis says is well above college targets.

Steenis tells WGIL students spreading the word about the school, recruitment efforts, and quality faculty all help, but there’s one other factor that’s just as important.

“Each year, the Admission Office brings in more than 5,000 visitors — just prospective students and parents — and their first impression of Knox is that of Galesburg, and their interactions with the folks in Galesburg, in the shops in the hotels, other businesses — even the gas station attendants. It’s their interactions with the folks in Galesburg that all contribute to the positive experience that they’re considering when they’re considering spending four years of their lives here in the community,” Steenis said.

Steenis says the college is also very proud of its student population. He cites statistics that indicate a great cultural diversity, and ones that indicate that a third of students attending were at the top of their high school classes.

From the Register-Mail:

Knox College’s campus felt like the scene of a big family reunion Saturday, as alumni from around the nation returned for Homecoming to swap tales of the past and hopes for the future.

Chicago attorney Paul Raya, class of ’95, watched the homecoming game at the Knosher Bowl with his buddy Trey Morrison, a chemical engineer in North Aurora from the class of ’96.

They both said that Knox’s relatively small size made for a tight-knit atmosphere of camaraderie that stays with people long after they leave Galesburg to begin the rest of their lives.

“One thing about Knox that’s different is that when you see an alum you’ll always say ‘hi’ and talk to them and catch up and that’s different if you’re from a big school. Knox is just more personal,” Raya said.

Morrison gets back to Knox almost every year for Homecoming. This year, he arrived in Galesburg on Thursday and met with students to give them career tips. But he noticed that students are more interested in giving back to the community than they were in the past. “There’s really a tremendous sense of volunteerism that wasn’t here when we were here,” he said. “There’s a lot more altruism about.”

Off-campus, Raya said Galesburg had changed quite a bit since his graduation. “When we were here there were no coffeehouses and there wasn’t as many boutiques and Cherry Street was still open,” he said.

From WGIL radio:

Events that took a team of individuals months to schedule and prepare for will be on display this weekend at a local college.

Knox College celebrates its homecoming beginning Friday running through the weekend, and there’s plenty for both alumni and current students to attend that will make the weekends events worthwhile.

Director of Alumni Programs at Knox, Carol Brown, who is also a Knox grad, says she began preparing for homecoming celebrations earlier this year in order to get the word out to the schools 14,000 alumni all around the country.

Brown tells WGIL in addition to many programs being offered this weekend, one provides alumni with the opportunity to head back to class and interact with current students.

“It’s very popular. Alumni are given the opportunity to return to the classroom on Friday morning, and there are a selection of classes for them to choose from,” Brown said. “The feedback I receive both from faculty and alumni, is that it’s a very good experience, and there is some interaction that happens between the alumni and current students.”

From the Register-Mail:

Knox College alumni from near and far are expected to flock here this weekend for the college’s 2009 Homecoming.

An estimated 1,000 alumni are expected to attend events on the Knox campus and in Galesburg during homecoming, today through Sunday. Events for alumni include reunions organized for class years, clubs, athletic teams, fraternities, sororities and academic majors; inductions into the Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame; and presentation of Knox Services Awards by the Knox Alumni Association and Scrolls of Honor awarded by the Knox-Lombard Fifty Year Club. Alumni have also been invited to attend selected course sessions Friday.

From the Peoria Journal Star:

Knox College on Thursday announced enrollment levels are at their highest since 1971 and the fourth-highest in the college’s history.

Knox saw 394 new students this fall in a total enrollment of 1,407. This year’s total is 2 percent above last year and more than 25 percent higher than Knox’s total enrollment in 2002, the college said in a news release.

Of the students who entered Knox for the first time last year, 90 percent returned for their sophomore year this fall.

“The figures reflect students choosing Knox for several reasons - an outstanding faculty that has created a compelling and challenging educational program, dedicated and skilled admissions and student development staffs, and a campus community that pulls together to recruit new students and provide a great experience once they arrive,” Knox President Roger Taylor said. “Even during a recession, a community effort works wonders.”