Knox in the News

From the Register-Mail:

Knox College men’s basketball has struck it big. Or, more specifically, the Prairie Fire have struck a big.

David Jones, long the top recruiting priority for Knox, informed Prairie Fire head coach Rob Purlee this week that he will attend Knox in the fall and play for his program. Jones will figure into the Knox rotation.

A highly athletic 6-foot-6 post, Jones had planned to play at Division I Air Force after attending the academy’s prep school last year, but he decided to go a different direction.

“Going to Air Force was a great experience but I just wanted a normal college experience,” Jones said. “I remember Knox being a great place and thought I would reapply.”

Jones was one of the top players in the Denver area as a high school senior two years ago out of Colorado Academy, earning spots on various all-state and all-metro teams. Jones, who averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds as a senior and shined defensively, was also selected as a McDonald’s All-American game nominee in 2009. He finished as Colorado Academy’s single-season and all-time leader in blocks and rebounds.

From WGIL radio:

Kevwe Akpore, of Galesburg, Illinois has been selected as Knox College’s head men’s soccer coach for the upcoming 2010 soccer season. “My core beliefs are that optimism, physical and intellectual hard work foster success,” Akpore said. “My aim is to bring these into the program.”

Akpore returns to Knox after eight years. He served as the assistant women’s soccer coach in 1997, 1998 and 2000 before becoming the head women’s coach for the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

“Kevwe’s knowledge of soccer and proven leadership abilities make him a good candidate to lead our men’s soccer program,” said Knox College Athletic Director Chad Eisele. “I feel he will be able to provide the discipline needed for our men�s team to advance to the next level.” Akpore completed his intercollegiate career at Auchi Polytechnic in Nigeria and has played for multiple years as a midfielder in the F.C. Galesburg soccer club.

From WGIL radio:

Knox College’s Sam Magnuson has been selected by the Midwest Conference as the male recipient of the NCAA Division III Conference Sportsmanship Award.

Magnuson, a native of Altona, was a four-year letter winner for the Prairie Fire baseball team, graduating magna cum-laude in June. Magnuson majored in economics with a double minor in business and management and Spanish.

Magnuson is the fourth Prairie Fire athlete to receive the NCAA Division III Conference Sportsmanship award in the past five years. Monyca Fisher ‘08 was the MWC female recipient in 2006, Katie Schneider ‘08 was the MWC female recipient in 2008 and most recently Maurice McDavid ‘10 was the MWC male recipient in 2009.

Magnuson, a three-time Academic All-Midwest Conference athlete, is described by those who know him as the ultimate team player. While starting 10 games and appearing in 15 his senior season he was always ready to do whatever was best for his team. He always brought a positive attitude and demanded one from his teammates.

At the conclusion of the 2008-2009 season, Magnuson was voted Most Improved Player by his teammates. Following the 2006-2007 season he was awarded the Arvid P. Zetterberg Award, which is given to the student-athlete who, during his first year, exemplified the highest quality of character, scholarship and interest in sports.

From WGIL radio:

A Knox College track and field coach will have some additional duties for the upcoming season.

The college on Monday named Dan Zierfuss the head cross country and head track and field coach. Zierfuss has served as the Prairie Fire co-head track and field coach for the past three seasons alongside Patrick Irwin. Zierfuss also served as an assistant coach for the Prairie Fire football team for three seasons.

Zierfuss will take over the cross country and the track and field programs and Jason Haynes will serve as his main assistant for both teams. Haynes was the assistant cross country coach in 2009 and the assistant sprints and high jump coach for the track team for the 2009-2010 season.

Athletic Director Chad Eisele believes Zierfuss will do well in his dual role. “I am excited to have Dan taking over both programs and I am confident that he will be able to build on the successes each program has seen over the past few years,” Eisele said. “As an integral part of our track and field programs for the past three seasons, (Ziierfus) will be able to continue to provide stability and leadership for our athletes while taking them to the next level.”

Zierfuss has seen a good deal of success since his start in 2007. He has led his track and field athletes to 13 school records, 12 All-Midwest Conference performances and he’s coached three MWC champions (Indoor: men’s 35lb weight throw, Outdoor: men’s 800m and women’s long jump).

Zierfuss has had 21 athletes named to the Winter Academic All-Midwest Conference team and 18 athletes named to the Spring Academic All-Midwest Conference team.

“I am tremendously excited about the opportunity to take charge of both programs and to help lead and guide them to continued success,” Zierfuss said. “Both programs have a lot of potential and if the student-athletes keep working hard, we can continue to achieve even greater results. I look forward to working with all event groups in both sports and am extremely excited for the upcoming seasons.”

From the New York Times:

He was born to a drug-addicted mother, struggled in school and as a child was bounced among the homes of several relatives. Yet doors began to open for Shantell Hopkins four years ago after he entered a new charter public high school in Chicago. Now he is preparing for his freshman year at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., on a full-tuition scholarship from the school.

Shantell received his opportunities because of the Renaissance Schools Fund, a Chicago philanthropy started by business leaders through the Commercial Club of Chicago. Since 2005, the group has raised $50 million for 67 new charter and contract public schools in Chicago. Six of its high schools graduated their first class this spring, and more than 90 percent of the graduates have been accepted to a two- or four-year college. By contrast, the most recent data from the Chicago Public Schools, from 2008, shows that 52 percent of all graduating seniors had enrolled in college for the following fall.

From the Register-Mail:

The heavens opened over Knox College on Saturday but nothing could dampen the spirit of the Class of 2010 who gathered to celebrate their graduation.

Hundreds of students, parents, family, friends and faculty gathered inside the T. Fleming Fieldhouse at Knox on a day soaked in rain and emotion.

College staff made the decision to move the ceremony indoors to the fieldhouse early Saturday, instead of the traditional location on the lawn adjacent to Old Main.

Tina Tchen, director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, made the commencement address at the 165th Knox College Commencement.

Tchen poked some fun at herself when she joked that her presence may have been a letdown for the Class of 2010, given that recent commencement speakers have included President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, comedian Stephen Colbert and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

“I confess I have the same sense of bewilderment as you,” the rookie commencement speaker said.

A distinguished lawyer before being taking up her position in President Obama’s administration, Tchen spoke to the audience of the difficulty of change, as witnessed through her new job, on a day when the graduating class was preparing to embark on a big shift in their lives.

“No matter how much we want it or how many people voted for it, change is hard,” she said. “Change takes us out of our comfort zone but that’s the essence of change.”

Despite the difficulty of change, she urged the Class of 2010 to strive for it.