Knox in the News

From The Register-Mail:

Knox College will honor four graduates — a prominent ecologist, a leader in the field of public health care, a medical researcher with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the head of an orphanage in Africa — with 2011 Alumni Achievement Awards.

The awards will be presented at Knox’s annual Founders Day Convocation, free and open to the public at 4 p.m., Feb. 11, in the Muelder Reading Room, Seymour Library, on the Knox campus.

Recipients of 2011 Alumni Achievement Awards are William Reiners, a 1959 Knox graduate, professor of botany at the University of Wyoming and noted researcher on ecological change; Valerie Cwik, a 1977 Knox graduate, physician and executive vice president of research and medical director at the Muscular Dystrophy Association; and Peter Leibig, a 1973 Knox graduate, president and CEO of Clinica Family Health Services of Colorado. Due to a schedule conflict, Leibig is unable to attend the ceremony and will receive his award in 2012.

Recipient of the 2011 Young Alumni Achievement Award is 2003 Knox graduate Ross Kelly, who most recently served as co-director of Cornerstone Children’s Home for orphaned, abandoned and neglected children in Sudan.

From Galesburg.com Blogs:
Good day, everyone. Today’s Jay Talking topics include Galesburg surging up rankings in the Reader’s Digest “We hear you America” contest, a television newscast with no commercials, a pat on the back for the owners of KarmelKorn, a touching story about a fallen basketball coach and a Super Bowl with no cheerleaders.

Keep voting, Galesburg!
(UPDATE) Galesburg has moved up to 52th overall in the Reader’s Digest “We hear you America” contest. When I first blogged about the contest on Monday morning, Galesburg ranked 98th with 4,812 votes. As of 9:30 a.m. Friday, Galesburg has 22,856 votes and rising.

Galesburg was a little late in getting organized, but we’re rising fast. Carl Sandburg College President Lori Sundberg and Landmark Cafe owner Phil Dickinson are among the leading local “cheerleaders” who are trying to inspire people to vote. Knox College, District 205, the Chamber of Commerce and the tourism bureau also are getting in the act.

As much as the cash prizes that cities are eligible for, it seems civic pride is one of the biggest things at stake with the “We hear you America” contest. The contest closes Feb. 7, and voters are allowed to vote 10 times per day, per e-mail address.

From The Register-Mail:

President Barack Obama incorporated several education-related items into his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, and while many area educators applauded the attention, they had much to add.

Barry Swanson, lecturer in Knox College’s educational studies department, especially agreed that teacher respect is “long overdue,” calling for wider support of educators.

“Too many times good teaching is ignored and we only focus on poor teaching and the contentious issue of tenure,” said Swanson. “It is the responsibility of all to eliminate those teachers who are not performing up to standards. However, basing those judgments merely on a high-stakes test is not only unfair, but unreasonable.”

As he has taught in both wealthy and poor school districts, Swanson urged more focus on the issue of poverty as it relates to education.

“Race to the Top has provided some funds to remedy this in certain states that have met certain criteria, but it is not a panacea. We need to do more,” said Swanson. “The voters of this community have done just that, and I believe that our educational system will benefit immensely from their generosity and sense of purpose.”

He also responded to Obama’s call to students aspiring to become teachers, saying that more would do so if salaries and benefits were more competitive.

“At least that is what students tell me,” said Swanson.

Knox educational studies professor Diana Beck said she appreciated Obama’s reference to parents’ roles, specifically to turn off the TV and see that homework gets finished.

From The Register-Mail:

As Knox College’s international student population continues to grow, so does its annual International Fair.

The fair will be Saturday in the Ford Center for the Fine Arts, three decades after its inception.

Sponsored by the International Club, the theme of the 30th annual Knox College International Fair is “Culture Shock,” illustrating the challenges faced by people moving between cultures as they travel.

As in past years, Saturday’s fair will feature educational displays representing various student organizations, as well as fan favorites, the International buffet lunch, Parade of Flags and International student talent show.

“This year we have more performances and better performances,” said I-Club Co-president Sara Ahmed, a junior from the Philippines.

The talent show will feature dancers, singers and comedic short skits, as well as a magic show to end it.

Knox draws students from 48 countries, compared to an average of 15 countries prior to 1980. According to a Knox news release, the college also has  increased international study options with programs in 16 countries this year, up from 11 in 1982.

 From The Register-Mail:
There likely will be a bunch of smack talk taking place at the first Jive Turkey Throwdown on Saturday.

The event — a dodgeball tournament — will pit teams of Monmouth college students against Knox College students for the right to call the Jive Turkey trophy their own.

John White, intercultural outreach coordinator for AmeriCorps VISTA at the 1st Street Armoury in Monmouth, said the Jive Turkey trophy is a take-off on the Bronze Turkey trophy the schools compete for in football.

The idea for the tournament came out of the need to raise funds to create a Spanish language version of a community website that explains the various services available in Warren County, White said.

“We thought this would be a great way to get these two communities together in a fun, competitive activity,” he said. “And, it’s a good way to raise community support.”

The tournament takes place at 3 p.m. Saturday at the 1st Street Armoury, 215 S. 1st St. The cost is $3.

 From Chicagoist:
Chances are good that you don’t remember who spoke at your college commencement. Most graduates sit through mind-numbing speeches as they patiently await their new degrees and boatloads of debt, save the few schools each year that manage to pull down a big name (like a past president, popular celebrity or Big Bird).

This year’s graduating seniors at Northwestern University are among the lucky in the class of 2011: Yesterday, comedian, satirist and NU alumnus Stephen Colbert was announced as the speaker for the school’s 153rd commencement. Top that, U of C!

In addition to his laurels of best-selling author, host and producer of a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning show and 2006 grand marshal of NU’s homecoming parade, Colbert will receive another feather in his cap at the June 17th commencement when he picks up an honorary degree from his alma mater (Colbert graduated with the class of ‘86). After graduating from Northwestern, Colbert spent time in Second City’s touring company before getting his break at Comedy Central.

Colbert is no stranger to delivering commencement speeches, having spoken previously at Knox College and Princeton. Though Colbert tried to burn his honorary degree from Knox in mock-protest to Bill Clinton receiving the same honor (the school awarded him a fire-proof one just to be safe) his greatest feather-ruffling speech remains his 2006 “oh SNAP!”-worthy roast of President Bush, the press — actually, everyone who wasn’t Helen Thomas — at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. No word as to whether Colbert plans a searing take down of his old school, though our guess is that he’ll play nice for Wildcat crowd.