萝莉社

Category: News

萝莉社鈥檚 Men鈥檚 Soccer Squad Ranked No.1 in Region

The red-hot North Park Men鈥檚 Soccer team is now the number-one ranked team in the region, thanks to some recent wins, including a 3-0 shutout over division foe North Central College on Wednesday evening.

SATURDAY, October 28鈥�2017

The red-hot North Park Men鈥檚 Soccer team is now the number-one ranked team in the region, thanks to some recent wins, including a 3-0 shutout over division foe North Central College on Wednesday evening.

The Vikings are ranked 8th in the latest NCAA poll of Division III United Soccer Coaches. The team has also broken into D3Soccer.com鈥檚 rankings, notching the 18th spot nationally. North Park is part of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).

鈥淭his is the best team that we鈥檝e had at North Park in my 21 years here,鈥� said Jack Surridge, 萝莉社鈥檚 Director of Athletics. 鈥淭hey have balance in scoring and depth at all positions. They are fit, unselfish, and well-coached.鈥�

This year鈥檚 team boasts a diverse, international roster, with players from as far as Sweden, Norway, Germany, and England, and as close as Chicago, Michigan, and Minnesota. One player hails from the neighboring Von Steuben Metro Science High School.

This week, the NCAA regional committee will rank the region again and seed the national tournament.

But first, the Vikings face a key contest, tonight, against Elmhurst College on the road. The team will then face the #4 ranked CCIW team at home. If they win, they will face the winner of the #2 v #3 CCIW game.

The winner of that game receives an automatic qualifier berth in the tournament. A win would also put the Vikings in a strong position to host the first two rounds of the NCAA National Tournament the following week, according to Surridge.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, Stories

Presidential Search Committee Releases Position Profile

The committee leading the search for the 10th聽president of 萝莉社 has published a guide to the position, describing both the University and the opportunity for prospective candidates.

CHICAGO (October 9, 2017) 鈥� The committee that is leading the search for the 10th聽president of 萝莉社 has published a guide to the position, describing both the University and the opportunity for prospective candidates.聽Anyone interested in reviewing and sharing the 12-page document is invited to download it from the 萝莉社 website here.

 

鈥淥ur committee is pleased to move into the next phase of the search with the publication of this document,鈥� said Owen R. Youngman, chair of the committee and a member of the University Board of Trustees. 鈥淲e have incorporated ideas from a variety of sources in creating it, including the online survey that we conducted over the summer as well as meetings, conversations, letters, and emails.鈥�

 

The committee has been receiving nominations for the position throughout the summer and will continue to do so through Monday, Oct. 16, at its dedicated email address,聽PresidentialSearch@northpark.edu. 鈥淚n addition to many nominations and suggestions, we have been greatly encouraged by the prayer support we have received from the North Park community,鈥� Youngman said.

 

The committee is being assisted by CarterBaldwin Executive Search of Atlanta. A list of the committee members and an explanation of the search process may be found at聽/stories/north-park-university-begins-presidential-search-process/.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Announcement, News, Stories

North Park Choir Members Join 1,000 Voices to Perform “Crowd Out”

On October 1, 2017, members of 萝莉社’s choir ensembles joined 1,000+ volunteers in Chicago’s Millennium Park to perform the American premiere of “crowd out,” by David Lang.

October 1, 2017, in Chicago’s Millennium Park, 1,000+ volunteers gathered, representing all 50 wards of the city, to perform the American premiere of crowd out, by David Lang. Among the volunteers were members of North Park’s University Choir, Women’s Chorale, and Chamber Singers.

Created by Pulitzer-prize winner, , crowd out聽combines “the human voice (spoken, sung, and shouted) with the dynamic movement of people in a public space,” (). The Chicago performance was one of the first events constituting this fall’s .

For weeks leading up to the performance, small groups of volunteers met all over the city to rehearse their portion of the performance, but also to gather in conversation regarding art as a component of community and to advocate for local arts resources. Such an event took place at North Park’s own Anderson Chapel, on September 18, where the volunteers from ward 39 gathered.

On the day of the final performance, the volunteers from all 50 wards assembled on the green of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion for brief instructions before what would be their first time performing as a group and with the city of Chicago as their audience.

The gathered crowd could have been that of any beautiful Sunday afternoon at the Cloud Gate, a mixture of locals chatting and eating lunch, tourists taking selfies in the reflection of “The Bean,” and children and pigeons darting and weaving throughout.

The familiar commotion of the crowd was both reflected and heightened by crowd out. As the performance began, a hush fell over the park, yet the ever-present聽hum of traffic, occasional sirens or pierce of laughter also joined the voices of those who spoke, sang, and shouted Lang’s composition. Standing amidst the performers and onlookers was an experience akin to standing at the convergence of many streams into one rushing river. At times, you could hear distinctly the murmur of one group, like a shallow brook tripping over a rocky bed, and then the voices would swell, the disparate components converge, and the rush of river rapids would fill your ears.

The words spoken聽felt intimate and personal, while the performance clearly embraced a shared, public experience. As individuals whispered or raised their voices to speak to an experience of loneliness, anxiety, or self-doubt, others wove through the crowd, filming or snapping pictures on their phones. When asked if this was at all uncomfortable, performer and North Park choir member Jordan Villas reported that it felt natural that people would treat the performance as they would any other public spectacle, that “it felt right, like a part of everyday life,” and not disrespectful as it might in a concert hall or more formal environment. Similarly, North Park choir member Joy Cappel stated that the whole experience, while overwhelming, also felt like being part of a family or a tight-knit community.

While the full experience of this public performance is impossible to capture, the lyrics below speak to much of its theme.

crowd out

For 1000 or more voices
By David Lang (2013)

I draw deep breaths.
I feel more confident and calm.聽

I lost it all.聽
I do not waste my words.聽

I hate for all eyes to be on me.聽
I start to panic.聽

I feel so alone I could cry.聽
I start to sweat.聽

I can fully submerge myself.聽
I don’t want people to know.聽

I push, I shove, I glare, I mutter.聽

I. Am. Always. Alone.

I. Am. Alone.聽

I. Am. Most. Alone.聽

I. Feel. So. Alone.聽

I feel.聽

I feel like. I feel.

I feel like rushing.聽

I feel like rushing into tears.聽
I feel like rushing into tears.聽

I feel anxiety.聽
I feel awful and I wish to be alone.聽

I feel energy.聽
I feel I want to be alone.聽

I feel like rushing into tears.
I feel like rushing into tears.聽

I feel more confident and calm.聽
I feel no one understands.聽

I feel so alone I could cry.聽
I feel so disrupted. I feel surreal.

I am nourished by the pure spring.聽

I am nowhere to be seen.聽

I am obsessed with being at the center of attention.聽

I am silent, and I keep to myself.聽

I am obsessed with being at the center of attention.聽

I am obsessed with being at the center of attention.聽

I like people. I lost it all. I feel left out.聽
I start to panic.聽

I start to sweat. I think of you.聽
I lose control.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, Stories

Dr. Timothy Johnson, “Healthcare: A Prediction”

Watch video footage of Dr. Timothy Johnson’s talk concerning the future of American healthcare.

September 14, 2017 鈥斅犅芾蛏� welcomed longtime ABC medical editor and North Park grad Dr. Timothy Johnson to discuss the future of American Health Care with 萝莉社 students.

The student-only event was held in the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life, the building named in honor of Dr. Johnson and his wife.聽“We are extraordinarily privileged to benefit from Dr. Johnson’s vast knowledge of healthcare, and his willingness to share his insights, gained over a lifetime of service, with our students who are just starting their life’s work,” said聽North Park聽Interim President聽Carl Balsam. “We hope this will inspire many of our students to follow in his footsteps.”

The event was attended by over 200 students and was live streamed on North Park’s Facebook page.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags , , , , , ,

Honoring the Service of WWII North Parkers

70 years ago, Rev. Eric Hawkinson and North Park College students, family, and friends stood over a bronze plaque on the back side of campus, inscribed: 鈥淒edicated to the Memory of Alumni and Students of North Park College Who Gave Their Lives in the Service of Their Country During World War II.鈥�

70 years ago, Rev. Eric Hawkinson and North Park College students, family, and friends stood over a bronze plaque on the back side of campus, inscribed: 鈥淒edicated to the Memory of Alumni and Students of North Park College Who Gave Their Lives in the Service of Their Country During World War II.鈥� After a number of years, the plaque was removed from its stand and placed into storage.

Names included on the plaque are: John Alfons, Quinton Almquist, Robert A. Anderson, Glenn Asp, Arthur F. Bailey, Louis Ballard, Bruce Birk, Harvey M. Brandriss, Bruce Brink, John Cadwallader, Irving Colburn, Bernard Corman, Thomas Couston, Roger Cross, David Duket, Paul Duncan, Philip A. Erby, Roy W. Erickson, Roger Fischer, William Gibhardt, Walter Goeske, Rolland Gustafson, Robert J. Hensel, Howard Hirsch, Robert Horn, James E. Ireland, James Johnson, Elmer Julius, Socrates Limber, Donald Lindquist, H. Burton Lovgren, Robert J. Margolis, Walter McGaw, Spero Melidones, Allan Peterson, Judson Richter, Glenn Rohden, Robert Schmidt, Roger Schoessling, William Schulze, Robert Stetson, Donald Sundstrom, William Swanson, Charles Taylor, and Robert Whiting.

During Dr. John Laukaitis鈥� research on North Park in the Second World War, he stumbled upon this artifact in the school鈥檚 archives. 鈥淚 came across the World War II memorial plaque in the F.M. Johnson Archives and Special Collections last summer. Removed at some point and stored, the memorial plaque, heavily tarnished, showed its age,鈥� said Dr. Laukaitis in an article he wrote to be published for the Covenant History Newsletter, used by his permission. This research and discovery of the plaque drove Dr. Laukaitis into writing a chapter in a book he is editing, Denominational Higher Education During World War II (Palgrave Macmillan).

鈥淚 shared drafts of the chapter with colleagues and students, including student veteran Nico Canete,鈥� said Dr. Laukaitis. Nicholas Canete, Class of 2018, is a student veteran, who served in the Navy, beginning his school career in 2015 after his enlistment contract expired. 鈥淣ine months before my arrival on campus, I was on an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf as we were launching air strikes against ISIS every day. Suddenly, I was sitting in the comfort of a college classroom where the conversation was mostly theoretical,鈥� Canete wrote for the same article. When he heard of the plaque, Canete jumped on the opportunity and spoke to interim President Carl Balsam to have the plaque restored and reinstalled.

Canete also wrote about his transition from fighting ISIS on an aircraft carrier to sitting in a lecture hall, 鈥渨hat made that first year easier for me was the people at North Park. North Park鈥檚 community has welcomed me to the fullest extent of its hospitality. The reinstallation of the World War II memorial plaque is an example of this generosity. For my fellow student veteran friends and me on campus, some of whom have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the plaque represents the University鈥檚 commitment to honoring and supporting those who have served.鈥�

Dr. John Laukaitis and Nico Canete invite you to join with them and the North Park Community for a rededication on the 70th anniversary of the plaque鈥檚 initial instillation. The ceremony will be held at Isaacson Chapel at 6 pm on September 15 where each of the 45 fallen will be honored by name and any other information available.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags , , , ,

Kids College: Theory into Practice for North Park Students

Covenant Youth Collision partners with North Park for the second summer of Kids College, providing a safe and loving environment for neighborhood youth.

I followed Kids College and its staff throughout its six-week session at North Park this summer. I observed and interviewed North Park students on staff working with Kids College. These are my discoveries and the testimonies of North Park students who experienced working in their fields before they graduated.

By Stephen Nielsen

Kids College is a day camp for 3rd through 8th graders in the community. A program under the Covenant Youth Collision (CYC)鈥攁 non-profit organization of the Evangelical Covenant Church鈥擪ids College is directed by CYC Program Director Jamie Sladkey. This is her second year holding a director鈥檚 role at Kids College, and it is Kids College鈥檚 second consecutive year running. Last year鈥檚 debut program visited North Park鈥檚 campus for one day of each week on a field trip. This year, CYC and Kids College came to a three-day-a-week agreement with North Park to use its facilities for the camp.

鈥淚t is our dream to have the camp on North Park鈥檚 campus for all five days,鈥� said Sladkey in an interview, and recounted the inception of Kids College: 鈥渋n 2016, I was the interim program director of CYC, and within that, the program director for Kids College. We decided this in the spring, and then a week later started marketing for Kids College. There was a month between my appointment and the first week of Kids College. Last year it was four weeks, out of Ravenswood Covenant church; we came to North Park one day a week, and it was for 50 kids.鈥�

This year, numbers have increased to around 75 kids per week during the six-week program. Kids are eligible to participate in the program anywhere from one week to all six weeks, or any combination of weeks. Camp still takes place out of Ravenswood two days out of the week, the remainder out of North Park. 鈥淲e knew that we couldn鈥檛 only provide a three-day-a-week camp for kids, because for some parents they don鈥檛 have anywhere else to put them in the summer,鈥� said Sladkey. In some respects, Kids College is a substitute for day care for many families. The price of camp this year also reflects their demographics at camp. At only $99 per week鈥攚ith breakfast and lunch included鈥攁nd financial aid available, Kids College serves families in need in Albany Park and North Park communities.

The idea of a 鈥渒ids college鈥� stems from what the CYC has observed from kids all around the world:聽 spending their summers in front of the TV, not using nor reminding themselves of the knowledge between years in school. For Sladkey and the Kids College team, one of their goals is to 鈥渂ridge the education gap that kids have over the summer, between years. Kids lose so much of their academic knowledge; they just aren鈥檛 on top of things after spending a whole summer doing nothing, so we are intentional about our education modules.鈥�

How they accomplish this is by hiring North Park students with majors in key subject areas for their roles at camp. These students truly put their skills and knowledge to good use. Sid Smith IV, a music major and football player,聽was hired as the coach, teaching and entertaining the kids in a variety of sports during one of the three daily education modules. He had this to say at the beginning of camp, 鈥淚 have the love and heart to serve where it is needed. This is a good opportunity for me to get into a coaching role, something I hope to pursue as I get older.鈥�

Sid commented also on how his modules were a great time for the restless children; it was a time to release and focus their energy and have fun with their 鈥渃lassmates.鈥�

Like the kids during Sid鈥檚 modules who jumped into their game without instruction, so were the staff working like clockwork from the beginning of the day. They accepted the kids from 8:30 to 9:00am, then transitioned from breakfast into a time of worship. They all sang, maybe danced a little, and then a short message or story was shared by one of the staff members. Their time of worship was a time that the staff witnessed the kids at their most calm throughout the day.

RJ Gonzales worked as a camp counselor and was also the designated nurse. Whether minor or major injury, RJ was able to use his knowledge from his classes as a nursing major at North Park to assist and heal the kids who misstepped or accidentally cut themselves. While RJ felt most fulfilled at camp serving in this role, this summer has also taken a toll on him. 鈥淭his is the longest camp I have been a part of, and so as each day went on, it got more tiring and demanded a lot more from me physically, trying to keep up with the kids who only got more energized.鈥�

The staff regularly met after their long days. On Wednesdays, Sladkey set up a staff worship, 鈥渁 community dinner鈥攖o which people donated meals鈥攁nd we spent time worshiping and talking together.鈥� They also participated in team building activities during their staff training week.

Kids College 2017

Alexis Renko, elementary and special education major, and Amanda Huck, studying secondary education and English literature, were teachers for the duration of Kids College. They each had similar things to say about their experiences in the classroom. This being the first time that they had taken charge of their own classes, Alexis pointed out that they 鈥渟pend so much time learning about teaching in class, in theory, but we don鈥檛 get to put that knowledge into practice until senior year, so it鈥檚 cool that we get to start it a little bit early with this.鈥�

Alexis and Amanda both expressed the long hours of teaching outside of the classroom, realizing that a teaching position is more than just the hours spent in class keeping the children engaged, but also in preparing the lessons and getting the materials ready. The reality of summer classes combined with camp made it hard to find structure in the midst of the organized chaos. 鈥淭here is so much more flying by the seat of your pants and making things up on the spot and things not going according to plan,鈥� commented Alexis. 鈥淵ou can only plan so much because something is always going to change, or you鈥檒l realize that you forgot something, or it鈥檚 just not working, and in those cases, you have to think on the fly.鈥�

Even though Amanda鈥檚 classroom appeared to be in chaos during my initial observation period, she was very much in command of the space and it didn鈥檛 take long before the kids were putting their heads together and planning the construction of their bridge. Amanda attributed this command over the classroom to her commitment to the kids and the lessons, 鈥淚 have to be the most enthusiastic one in the room in order for the kids to like the lesson. If I don鈥檛 own my lesson, the kids aren鈥檛 going to buy into it at all.鈥�

Kids College, is both a time for scholastic deliberation and camp fun, allowing the counselors and teachers the flexibility to keep the environment safe, fun, and loving, without the pressure of having to pass out grades or keep a rigorous schedule. The teachers shared their favorite moments from camp this summer:

Alexis: When kids really enjoy something that I worked really hard on. Sometimes the kids don鈥檛 want to do school because it鈥檚 summer, but when there鈥檚 something that they are actually learning and they鈥檙e having a ton of fun and I get that feedback from them saying 鈥渢his is so fun鈥� or 鈥淚 really enjoyed that activity鈥� makes me so happy.

Amanda: My greatest joy was my blueberries (the 3rd and 4th graders; the blue group). I want to be a high school teacher, but these kids have turned out to be the children I never knew I needed. To see them grow as mini people, make friends, and to just watch them change for the past six weeks has just been the cutest thing that I did not know I needed.

RJ: I have a love for kids, and this camp allotted for religious freedom, so that allowed me to love without boundaries and show the love of Christ; we were able to be the hands and feet of Christ. Whenever a kid would smile or give me a hug, that鈥檚 what brought me joy. Seeing them sing worship songs, that鈥檚 when they were most calm during the day.

Sid: Seeing the kids have fun, being able to see them laugh and smile; that鈥檚 pure joy.

Most of all, Kids College鈥檚 goal is to provide 鈥渁 safe and loving environment for the kids in the summer, and that鈥檚 something we present to the kids at the beginning of the week, that all of our rules are to keep them safe, and to continually love them,鈥� said Sladkey.

Stephen Nielsen, C’19 is an English with Creative Writing and Media Studies double major at North Park. He is also a news and copy writer for North Park at University Marketing and Communications.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags , ,

Summer Science Academy: Q&A with Dr. Yoojin Choi

This is the Academy鈥檚 third year running, and North Park caught up with Dr. Choi to discuss this year鈥檚 program.

North Park’s Summer Science Academy runs for four weeks聽and includes six courses for high school juniors and seniors. Dr. Yoojin Choi, associate professor of biology at North Park, is the program coordinator of Summer Science Academy and regularly teaches classes on anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and cancer biology. This is the Academy’s third year running, and North Park caught up with Dr. Choi to discuss this year’s program.

NP: Why is it important that North Park offer the Summer Science Academy?

Dr. Choi: The first and foremost goal of the program is to serve the local community. North Park is situated in a very diverse neighborhood; diverse in all kinds of measures. A lot of the students don鈥檛 have this kind of high-quality STEM experience. In any public school setting, there is a limited amount of time and resources. Having previously taught at the high school level, I know that with a mandated curriculum, it is sometimes difficult to do 鈥渇un things.鈥� So we want to give these students a high-quality experience in their local neighborhood; that鈥檚 our main goal.

Two students work together in the physics hub.

NP: How many students participated this year?

Dr. Choi: This year we had 36 students, filling 41 seats. This means that multiple students took more than one course. We attracted a few more students than last year, and we are drawing from more schools than last year as well. When I look at where the students live, they鈥檙e mostly from around the neighborhood, but they go to school all over Chicago.

One exciting and interesting case this year is that we had a student from Jamaica. She found us on the internet, and she came from Jamaica to attend a course.

NP: How is STEM at North Park related to the Summer Science Academy?

Dr. Choi: In the big scale, all of STEM fields need more diversity鈥攇ender, ethnic, and socioeconomic. North Park is contributing to increasing the diversity in STEM fields. Exposing our neighbors to STEM early on, they’ll be encouraged to pursue an education in STEM fields. The expectation is that when these students see our facilities and interact with our professors, that they will become excited about STEM.

We do rely on donations year by year to allow the program to financially support those in need. Last year the Provost stepped up, and this year a retired professor funded scholarships. Last year we supported four students, this year five, and they are need-based.

NP: What kind of student would benefit from the Academy?

Dr. Choi: Our acceptance rate has been high because many of the students are so well qualified. The application website states that students who will do well and take the most advantage of the program have received A鈥檚 and B鈥檚 in their science courses. So far, with a couple exceptions, all have been A and B students.

We want to keep our class sizes small. The point of the program is to give students very hands-on, interactive experiences, and we can鈥檛 do that in a class size of 30-40 students. We cap the classes at 16 students; that is our maximum.

NP: The Academy takes place in the Johnson Center; what’s the utility of this building?

Dr. Choi:聽Another goal of ours is to use the state-of-the-art facilities North Park has to serve our community. You know, we built this fabulous new building, and it was underutilized during the summer months, so this gets students into and using the resources here. Utilizing the building during the summer when there aren鈥檛 many classes. It would be a waste not to use these great facilities.

Each course is not intended to be an extensive, in-depth kind of thing. We have a morning and an afternoon course, and each聽is only two and a half hours each day. We have two different types of courses, one that runs for four days, and one that runs for eight days. The schedule was constructed in such a way that if a given student wants to take every course, they can. This way, we also keep the Johnson Center facilities in use all day during the summer time.

NP: Do you incorporate faith into the Summer Science Academy?

Dr. Choi: In a direct way, we do not. However, during our first class this year, taught by Dr. Linda Vick, the first words to come out of her mouth was about God. All of our full-time faculty聽are Christians, and we are active in our faith lives, and I think that just rubs off. Faith is not a primary component of Summer Science Academy, but we rely on these personal interactions anyway.

NP: What is the benefit for North Park student teachers?

Dr. Choi: We have TAs for the programs. We have full-time professors teaching the courses with some help from North Park students working as TAs. It is a goal of mine to get more students involved for each course. The struggle we run into is that it is hard to get students to stay over the summer for just one week to be a TA while receiving minimal compensation. I am hoping to attract more funds so that we can train and mentor our North Park students and they, in turn, can mentor the high school students.

A synergy between this program and secondary education majors who are interested in science would be most ideal. Last year we had one Secondary Education and Biology student who did her NPRESS research on Summer Science Academy students; this is the synergy I want to see more. My hope is that we can groom the program so that it is a learning experience for our North Park students as well. The TAs will gain experience in mentoring, teaching some of the material, preparing and gaining knowledge on how labs and experiments are taught.

NP: What is your favorite Summer Science course?

Dr. Choi: That鈥檚 like asking to pick your favorite child! What our students like the best are the hands-on and inquiry-based classes. Then again, all of our courses are hands-on in one way or another. The biology, chemistry, and physics/engineering classes are by default hands-on. Our psychology and mathematics courses are hands-on in a different way, with lots of discussion and problem-solving. Students love courses in which they can take ownership of the lab, and not scripted activities. The complaint that I received last year was that the students wanted more time in the lab. This is an opportunity for the students to do their own experiments, with the time they need, something that they are unable to do in school.

learn More about summer science academy

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags , , , , ,

NPRESS Presentations Bring Summer to a Close

On Friday July 28, 12 North Park research summer students presented their findings to close out 2017鈥檚 summer NPRESS Program (North Park Research Experience for Summer Students).

On Friday, July 28, 12 North Park summer research students presented their findings to close out 2017鈥檚 summer NPRESS Program (North Park Research Experience for Summer Students). Dr. Boaz Johnson began his opening remarks in the Helwig Boardroom in the Johnson Center: 鈥淭hese students have had the opportunity to work alongside the best professors in the world, and I have been all over the world, so I can say that.鈥�

In this highly competitive program, only 12 students were chosen to participate in summer research. These students are provided with on-campus housing and a $3,500 stipend to accompany their 40-hour work weeks of PhD-level research. 鈥淎s in the past, students have said that this has been their most intense and yet most enjoyable experience at North Park. They get a professor to work with them, all by themselves,鈥� says Dr. Johnson.

 

ABOUT NPRESS

The NPRESS (North Park Research Experience for Summer Students) program provides opportunities for North Park students to conduct research with a North Park faculty mentor for eight weeks over the summer. It was the brainchild of a core group of faculty and funded by a small group of donors, allowing students to dive into a topic in a way that the constraints of an academic year do not always allow. Students received a $3,500 stipend and were given the opportunity to live on campus, making it possible for them to focus solely on research.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Announcement, News, StoriesTags , , , ,

萝莉社 Cadaver Lab Opens Its Doors Bright and Early to All Interested Undergraduates

During the near-dawn hours, North Park鈥檚 Coordinator of Anatomical Resources Dr. Jeff Nelson leads visits to the Cadaver Lab鈥攁s early as 6:30 am.

Students have all different ways of starting their morning. Some with a cup of java or a work-out at Helwig Recreation Center or hitting snooze a couple of times. But for both the science-driven major as well as any student interested in anatomy, the morning starts with access to North Park鈥檚 Cadaver Lab.

Study in cadaver lab with Dr. Jeffrey Nelson

During the near-dawn hours, North Park鈥檚 Coordinator of Anatomical Resources Dr. Jeff Nelson leads visits to the Cadaver Lab鈥攁s early as 6:30 am. 鈥淭his time of day is perfect for students to openly converse which also sets the tone for professionalism,鈥� says Dr. Nelson.

Learning together early in the morning, when all is quiet on campus and classes have not yet started, distils distractions and focuses the learning experience on exploring anatomy. Supervised by Dr. Nelson, students meet two times a week and every three to four weeks where fellow students can see the work to-date and refresh their knowledge of anatomy. Dr. Nelson readily greets the groggy-eyed yet ready-to-learn undergrads from a variety of majors鈥攑sychology to art to health sciences鈥攐pening the doors into the world of anatomy where students learn by conversing, observing, handling, and exploring.

If a student is interested in optometry, they can study the eyes; if there鈥檚 an interest in physical therapy then they can look at the muscles. To keep track of the areas of the body already studied, students maintain their own logs. In the Cadaver Lab, it鈥檚 the students who are actually doing the work with the cadaver. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an element of discovery and mystery that鈥檚 experienced during these wee hours of the morning that gets students to start thinking about their interests and career path,鈥� says Dr. Nelson.

Dr. Nelson encourages students to have their own experience with anatomy. For many, being in the Cadaver Lab is about having their first patient experience and for others, it鈥檚 about what is yet-to-be-discovered. Modeling the peer-teaching style, students prepare to teach to their fellow classmates, a necessary skill developed in medical school.

萝莉社 is unique in having its own cadaver lab for undergraduate students. Located in the basement level of the state-of-the-art Johnson Center, the Cadaver Lab provides students with hands-on learning experiences found right here on campus. Before the Cadaver Lab existed on campus, students traveled to nearby hospitals such as Rush Medical Center to receive this sophisticated level of learning most often found in graduate schools.

鈥淣orth Park is fortunate to have the Cadaver Lab on campus and the students really enjoy expanding their knowledge and skills alongside their peers,鈥� remarks Dr. Nelson.

To participate in a Cadaver Lab session with Dr. Nelson, set your alarm and look for the sign-up sheet outside his office in the Johnson Center, room 020.

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Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags , , , ,

A Message from Board Chair, Dr. Kristine Strand and ECC President Gary Walter

Carl Balsam has been appointed by the Board of Trustees and approved by the Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church to serve as Interim President of the University, with all rights and responsibilities as president.

CHICAGO, June 5, 2017 鈥� As 萝莉社 undertakes a presidential search in the 2017鈥�2018 academic year, Executive Vice President Carl Balsam has been appointed by the Board of Trustees and approved by the Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church, to serve as Interim President of the university, with all rights and responsibilities as president.

鈥淭he Board is grateful to Carl for agreeing to continue his deep dedication to the University by serving as president, beginning July 1. Because Carl has so generously stepped up to serve, we will benefit from his decades of experience and his steadfast commitment to North Park鈥檚 mission.聽 With his leadership, we will continue to move forward with our goals and aspirations during this transition period,鈥� said Dr. Kristine Strand, Chair of the North Park Board of Trustees.

Reverend Gary Walter, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, added, 鈥淐arl is a well-respected and trusted leader in the campus community and beyond.聽 I am grateful for his openness to serve.聽 This provides important continuity for initiatives underway.鈥�

Carl Balsam joined North Park in 1988.聽 As EVP and Chief Financial Officer, he has managed North Park鈥檚 annual budget and finances, and has overseen the University鈥檚 endowment, continuing its strategic growth to a current value of $75 million. Additionally, he directed architectural planning for significant additions to North Park鈥檚 campus, including Anderson Chapel, Brandel Library, Helwig Recreation Center, the Holmgren Athletic Complex, and most recently the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life.

Balsam has committed three-and-a-half decades of professional life to Christian higher education.聽 Prior to coming to North Park, Carl served for six years at Barrington College, Barrington, R.I.聽 He holds a BS in Engineering Science, Pennsylvania State University; Master of Divinity, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; and an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.聽 Carl also serves on the Board of Directors for Covenant Trust Company.

Carl and his wife Barbara are active members of Winnetka Covenant Church.聽 They have two children, Aaron and Ashley, both graduates of 萝莉社, and six grandchildren.

Spring 2018 is the target date for the identification of a permanent president to succeed Dr. David Parkyn, who retires effective June 30.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags , ,