March 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Junior Emily Akins, sophomore Jeremy Henle and senior Lucas Loury are the winners of The Ames Library/Internet Technology (IT) computer security awareness video contest.

Akins, an orchestral instruments major and English-writing minor, Henle, a biology major, and Loury, a history major and Greek and Roman studies minor, created their 30-second video based on the song “Internet Relationships” by MC Lars.

They plan to enter the video in a national contest sponsored by Educause, a not-for-profit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Alissa Sherman, a 2008 nursing graduate, was invited to join a council at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., which will be working toward encouraging nurses to use practices that have been proven effective, known as “evidence-based practice.”

“Evidence-based practice is a way of thinking,” said Marianne E. Olson, a registered nurse with a doctorate in nursing research, who is a member of the Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Division at Mayo Clinic. “It is a commitment by all members of health care to incorporate the latest medical practices.”

Mayo Clinic has 10,000 nurses in its facilities reaching across five states, yet when it came time to create a council that would be dedicated to ensuring an efficient manner of sharing best-practices ideas, Olson thought of Sherman, who had only joined the clinic a year ago. “We tell all of our new nurses that your number one role is to keep asking us the question why – why are you doing what you are doing?” said Olson. “Alissa embodies that. She is exactly the type of nurse we are seeking at Mayo.”

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Evelyn Chapel (1301 N. Park St., Bloomington) with a series of commemorative events on Saturday, March 28. The celebration, which requires reservations, is free and open to the public.

Alumni organ recitals will begin at 3 p.m. A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and a celebratory concert by Marilyn Keiser, 1963 Illinois Wesleyan alumna and retired Indiana University music professor, at 7:30 p.m. After Keiser’s performance, the central Illinois chapter of American Guild Organist will host a reception in the chapel.

Named after Evelyn Sheean, benefactor and friend of the University, the Evelyn Chapel was built in 1984 and houses several campus religious activities, as well as the office of University Chaplain Hope Luckie. In 1985, the chapel received an Interior Architecture Award from the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - At 3:30 a.m. on March 14, 30 students and three members of the faculty and staff will embark on a week-long trip to provide disaster relief to a local community. These students are part of Illinois Wesleyan University’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB), an organization created through the Student Volunteer Center to give students the opportunity for a non-traditional spring break vacation.

This year, through both ASB and the IWU/ISU chapter of Habitat for Humanity, over 90 students, accompanied by select members of faculty and staff, will volunteer their time and efforts. The members of ASB will travel to Galveston, and Crossville, Tenn., and the members of Habitat for Humanity will travel to Henderson, Texas.

In Galveston, ASB students will assist with the process of disaster relief, as the town is still recovering from Hurricane Ike. However, the 15 volunteers assigned to Crossville will focus on environmental cleanup, as well as restoring a local nature trail.

IWU Habitat for Humanity volunteers in Henderson will be pair with other Habitat for Humanity volunteers from all over the country as part of the alternative break program, Collegiate Challenge. This program supports making connections with their peers, while providing safe housing for those in need. The students spend eight to nine hours a day building houses and then will have the evenings off to relax and explore the surrounding areas of Henderson.

“The opportunity provides students the chance to take their classroom experiences and apply them to the real world in an enriching and meaningful way. The ultimate goal is that upon returning from ASB programs students will continue a life dedicated, at least in a small way, to service. It is amazing the positive impact that one week of service can have on an individual’s life,” said Kevin Clark, director of the Student Volunteer Center.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University chapter of Habitat for Humanity has received a $2,000 grant from State Farm Insurance Companies.

The Illinois Wesleyan University chapter applied for and received the grant in competition with numerous other campus chapters across the United States. State Farm, the national sponsor for all Habitat for Humanity youth programs, gave out a total of 28 matching grants to various campus chapters. The matching grants required the chapters to raise an amount equal to the grant before receiving the funds. The IWU chapter raised the amount through a number of fundraisers including Trick-or-Treat for Change and the Power of a Dollar, where each student asks friends and family to contribute a single dollar.

“State Farm has been a sponsor of Habitat for Humanity for many years, encouraging employees and community members to become involved with the program,” says Heather Paul, a specialist in public affairs for State Farm. “As a company, State Farm also holds a commitment toward young adults and youth involvement in the community.” Paul presented the grant to the chapter on Feb. 10 at an IWU Board of Trustees meeting.

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