萝莉社

Axelson Center to Honor Nonprofits for Exemplary Managerial Practices

Author tomgabrysiak

University Trustees Hear Positive Recruiting News, Building Progress Report

University Trustees Hear Positive Recruiting News, Building Progress Report

Board of trustees member David Otfinoski, Chester, Conn., joins other board members and signs a steel beam to be used in the construction of the Johnson Center.

Campaign North Park nearing completion, trustees told

CHICAGO (May 29, 2013) — News about student recruiting for the 2013 academic year, progress on the University's newest academic building, election of officers, and recognition of outgoing board members were topics of the 萝莉社 spring meeting. The trustees met here May 9–10, and participated in activities May 11.

In his report, , University president, said recruiting of students through early May for the upcoming academic year "is on a good trajectory," with more work continuing through the summer. New student enrollment for the fall semester is expected to be higher than in 2012. The news follows spring semester enrollment of 1,653 undergraduate students, plus 93 new undergraduate students, the University's second largest mid-year new student enrollment in eight years.

Parkyn also noted that the University's 125^th anniversary is in 2016, and commented on some preliminary ideas related to the anniversary. He said he plans to discuss more information in greater detail with the board and campus community in the coming year.

, a comprehensive $57 million fundraising effort, is nearly complete, Parkyn said. The centerpiece of the campaign is the $44 million , now under construction. Bruce Bickner, University trustee from Sycamore, Ill., told the trustees that about $40 million has been committed to fund the building project, with additional gifts expected this summer. The new building's foundation is complete, and a steel infrastructure is being put into place. The Johnson Center is expected to open in 2014. Other components of the campaign included giving to the , , and .

Annual giving remains a continuing priority for University's fundraising activities, Bickner reported. The number of donors to the University has significantly increased over a year ago, due to the momentum of donor participation in Campaign North Park. Ongoing annual giving efforts will focus on student success, highlighting scholarships for University students, students, and student and faculty enrichment initiatives, he said.

, dean of the Seminary, said the Seminary faculty and staff are working on specific priorities resulting from a strategic planning report. Priorities include establishing metrics for stabilizing and building Seminary finances, adjusting academy time for students, developing a robust plan for lifelong learning, and moving appropriate parts of the curriculum to online learning. He also reported that Hauna Ondrey will join the faculty next January for a two-year teaching fellowship in church history. Ondrey, who brings considerable teaching and writing experience to her new role, holds a bachelor of arts degree in from the University and a from the Seminary. She is completing a doctorate at the in Scotland.

The board of trustees recognized members completing five-year terms: Ann Alvarez, Chicago; Donna Erickson, Minneapolis; Dave Hanson, Granite Bay, Calif.; Karen Tamte, Chanhassen, Minn.; and Louise Wilson, Arden Hills, Minn.

The board elected new officers, including Virgil Applequist, Palatine, Ill., who succeeds Hanson as finance committee chair and treasurer, and Kathryn Edin, Brookline, Mass., who succeeds Tamte as secretary. Continuing as officers are David Helwig, board chair, Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Paul Hawkinson, vice chair, Green Oaks, Ill. Dawn Helwig, Chicago, is the board's liaison to the .

Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

Author tomgabrysiak

North Park Student Awarded Critical Language Scholarship by State Department

North Park Student Awarded Critical Language Scholarship by State Department

Isaac Bauer, Normal, Ill., will study Arabic in Morocco this summer.

Isaac Bauer to study Arabic in Morocco

CHICAGO (May 9, 2013) – Isaac Bauer, a first-year and major, with a minor in , will spend this summer in Morocco, studying the language and learning about Moroccan culture. Bauer, of Normal, Ill., was awarded a (CLS), and will leave for 10 weeks in Morocco in early June.

Bauer is one of about 610 U.S. undergraduate and graduate students awarded CLS scholarships in 2013 by the State Department. Recipients are assigned to one of 13 countries to become more proficient in a specific language.

Bauer, who is interested in the Middle East and Africa, has been learning Arabic only since he entered North Park last fall. He hopes to become proficient in the language and use it in a future career. In particular, Bauer's interest in the Middle East relates to the history of the region, and interactions between governments of that region and the West that have often produced mixed results. "I think that comes from a lack of understanding," Bauer said. "To a certain extent, learning the language, and knowing history and culture goes a long way toward greater understanding."

This will be Bauer's first time in the Arab world. He will live with a host family in , and study at a language institute there, with individualized tutoring and field experiences using Arabic, he said. After his CLS experience, Bauer said he hopes to continue language study by volunteering with neighborhood organizations in need of people with language skills, and study abroad in North Africa or the Middle East through North Park. He also plans to continue participation in the , where he is currently an officer.

Students learn much through participation in a complete language immersion program such as the CLS, said Anis Said, University fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, and Arabic language instructor. In addition to excelling in Arabic class, Bauer is also a talented student athlete, according to Said. "Isaac is an extraordinary student who found the perfect balance between his academic duties and his extracurricular activities," he said. "I am also confident that when Isaac comes back to North Park in the fall, he will bring with him a new perspective on the Middle East and on Morocco."

Bauer's parents are Robert and Shelley Bauer, of Normal. He has three older brothers, Jesse, Matt, and Levi.

The CLS program is part of the U.S. government effort to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical languages, according to the State Department's . It provides fully funded, group-based intensive language instruction and cultural enrichment experiences.  Program participants are expected to continue their language study after the scholarship, and apply their language skills in future professional careers.

Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

Author tomgabrysiak

萝莉社 Plans to Reopen Friday, April 19

萝莉社 Plans to Reopen Friday, April 19

Update: 8:00 am, Friday, April 19

萝莉社 is open and classes have resumed.

Update: 4:30 pm, Thursday, April 18

萝莉社 plans to be open Friday, April 19, for classes and other activities at all locations, and all University offices will be open. The University’s Emergency Management Team said the Chicago campus experienced minor flood damage. Cleanup has begun in buildings that took on water.

The University is advising students and employees of the following area traffic concerns:

• Cars parked on streets along the Chicago River are being towed and relocated to the Salvation Army parking lot, 5040 N. Pulaski Road.
• Sandbags are being placed on streets adjacent to the Chicago River.
• A portion of Foster Avenue has been closed near Pulaski Road.

Please use caution when traveling to and from the University for classes tomorrow.

Update: 11:00 am, Thursday, April 18

The 萝莉社 Emergency Management Team closed the Chicago campus April 18, canceling daytime and evening classes, plus other activities, because of area flooding. Students, faculty, and staff were informed via text and email messages earlier today.

The University community was advised to follow for further updates and information. 

The Emergency Management Team determined that high water around the campus made it advisable to close so students and employees could avoid flood dangers. Students who are on campus should use caution when approaching the North Branch of the Chicago River, and any standing water.

For students at the campus today, please note the following announcements:

• Helwig Recreation Center is open and observing normal hours.
• ARA, Aramark food service, is serving meals in the cafeteria.
• The Library will be open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.

In addition, the University announced all evening classes April 18 at the Grayslake Campus were canceled.

Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

Author tomgabrysiak

University’s Axelson Center Accepting 2013 Nonprofit Awards Applications

University's Axelson Center Accepting 2013 Nonprofit Awards Applications

Modesto Tico Valle accepts the Alford-Axelson Award, which was presented to the Center on Halsted in 2012 at the annual Axelson Symposium in Chicago.

Applications due February 1; two awards to be presented at annual symposium

CHICAGO (January 11, 2013) — The at 萝莉社 is accepting nominations and through February 1 for its prestigious . The Axelson Center will present two awards of $7,500 each, sponsored by —one to a nonprofit with an annual budget under $3 million, and another to a nonprofit with an annual budget exceeding $3 million.

The award honors and continues the legacies of Nils G. Axelson, a devoted community health care leader and visionary, and , a leading contemporary thinker and practitioner in the nonprofit arena.

"For more than 10 years, the Axelson Center has awarded the Alford-Axelson Award to two exceptional Chicago-area nonprofit organizations," said , the center's director. "But this isn’t about the Axelson Center so much as it is about an elite group of 22 past award winners who represent the 'best of the best' in terms of nonprofit management structure and leadership. Without these organizations, Chicago wouldn’t be the same vital city that it is today."

Previous recipients of the award confirm its value for promoting overall organizational excellence and for improving staff. In 2012, , Chicago, was the award winner for large nonprofit organizations. , chief executive officer, said the center's executive team invested several months in the award process by reviewing and improving organizational practices. "Auditing our practices really helped us as an organization," he said. "Whether we won or not, it was good to pause and reflect, and audit our work internally. Organizations should do that on a regular basis."

Center on Halsted has about 70 employees, full- and part-time, and provides social service and public programs. It provides direct services annually to about 35,000 people, Valle said. The organization used its cash award to help senior staff improve a variety of management skills. The recognition has challenged the staff to be innovative and employ best practices regularly. "It was an honor to receive this in our fifth year of service, Valle added. "For me it also means, 'What does the next five years look like?' and 'How do we reflect that behavior and excellence in our work?'"

, Chicago, was the 2011 award recipient for small nonprofits. Two years earlier, the awards committee had given the shelter's application an honorable mention, a catalyst to continue improving administrative practices, said , the shelter's director. Among the changes the organization made when it tried for the award again were refocusing its board on strategic planning and hiring a business manager to help realign administrative duties.  

"The application process is rigorous. It made us think hard and examine our processes," Ryan said. "It's easy for a small organization to assume it is 'too small,' but the application process dispels that myth. We can function as a bigger organization, be good stewards of money we raise and good stewards of the services we provide." The shelter serves about 400 people living with homelessness, and provides assistance to relocate people into permanent housing with support services. It has about 12 full- and part-time employees, plus volunteers. The shelter used its cash award to hire a social work intern for a summer, a helpful step for staff and clients, Ryan said. The award has helped donors trust that the organization is efficient administratively, and that its resources are well-managed, she said. This year, the shelter will enter into its first government contract to provide permanent shelter and temporary services to clients.

A selection committee will determine this year's Alford-Axelson Award recipients. "We established a set of seven hallmarks of nonprofit managerial excellence, and organizations that exhibit strength in all seven areas are recognized by their peers as leaders in our sector. The selection committee is made up of Chicago-area nonprofit and civic community leaders. They have the formidable task of selecting each year’s winners," Rogers added.

To be considered, applicant organizations must be defined as 501(c)3 organizations, with their primary mission focus benefiting Chicago and/or its surrounding communities. The Axelson Center will accept nominations for the award by email or by phone, however organizations do not need to be nominated to apply. Recipients will be recognized at the annual , June 4, 2013, in Chicago.

Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

Author tomgabrysiak

Fifth Annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference Addresses “Achieving Peace by Embracing Diversity”

Fifth Annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference Addresses "Achieving Peace by Embracing Diversity"

Rev. Kanyere Eaton

Rev. Kanyere Eaton challenges students to lead in an "edgy time"

CHICAGO (November 14, 2013) — Nearly 600 students, faculty, staff, and organizational leaders from across the country gathered at 萝莉社 Saturday, November 2, for the . North Park’s , under the leadership of Dr. Terry Lindsay, provides this event to equip college students as effective leaders and agents of change on their campuses. The conference goal is that each student would be equipped to return to their college or university and engage their peers in conversations and activities that create multiethnic cooperation and increase intercultural competency.

Dr. Kevin Kruger, the president and CEO of , brought a message of encouragement for young peoples’ roles in inspiring students of color to see college as a realistic option for their futures. NASPA, a national association of student affairs professionals in higher education, sees that the demographics of American students are changing, bringing new challenges for college preparation and success, especially around issues of diversity and intercultural cooperation.

According to Kruger, research reveals that, in about ten years, more than 50 percent of college graduates will be students of color. He called on the students gathered to see themselves as crucial role models and mentors for these future students. “You are tomorrow’s leaders and will be part of the solution,” he said.

Rev. Kanyere Eaton, pastor of Fellowship Covenant Church in the Bronx, New York, gave Saturday’s keynote address. Speaking on the conference theme, “Achieving Peace by Embracing Diversity,” Eaton said that “we have inherited all kinds of attributes and attitudes” from previous generations that now must be negotiated. “What are we going to do with what they left us?” she asked. In our current, changing culture and demographics, she said, today’s students must transform the reality they’ve inherited into the future they desire. As geographic and demographic boundaries are being moved, attitudes toward diversity have not yet caught up.

Eaton charged the students in attendance to recognize themselves as leaders chosen to help shape the legacy for future generation. “You could have been someone very different,” she said, “but you are who you’re supposed to be. And you’re supposed to lead.”

“You’ve also been privileged,” she added, noting that information, connections, opportunities, and responsibilities are part of the package of a college education. “We live in an edgy time,” Eaton concluded, “and consciousness has not caught up with our condition. We’ve got to work with what we have, and take seriously the responsibility to leave things better than we found them.”

The 萝莉社 ensemble, step teams from North Park and Bethel University, and two African dance troupes gave inspired performances to round out the plenary activities. Following the session, conference attendees spent the afternoon at more than 30 workshops, with topics ranging from leading conversations on diversity, to developing safe, inclusive communities, to understanding the current national atmosphere of race relations.

The next Student Diversity Leadership Conference at 萝莉社 will take place on Saturday, November 1, 2014.
 

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Author tomgabrysiak

萝莉社 Student Earns Fulbright Grant, Headed to Turkey

萝莉社 Student Earns Fulbright Grant, Headed to Turkey

Bailey Schwartz C'12 learned this month she was a granted a Fulbright award and will be working as an English Teaching Assistant in Turkey.

Bailey Schwartz among 11 University Fulbright grantees in five years

CHICAGO (May 30, 2013) — When she was a student at 萝莉社, Bailey Schwartz took a class taught by , professor of , about the history of the from the 15^th century to the end of World War I. That class struck a chord with Schwartz, who developed a strong interest in Turkish history, culture, and the historic city of . With a grant she earned from the , she will now explore the area firsthand as she lives and works in Turkey for nearly a year beginning this fall.

Schwartz learned this month that she was awarded a grant to work as an in Turkey, the precise location yet to be determined. She joins two who were earlier awarded Fulbright student grants earlier this spring. The program has awarded 11 of its prestigious grants to 萝莉社 graduates in the past five years.

For Schwartz, getting a chance to live in Turkey is like reading the sequel to good book. "I'm excited about the prospect that I can actually go to this place, and walk the streets that we had talked about in class," she said. Schwartz, who grew up near Lake Geneva, Wis., transferred to North Park after one year at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse because she wanted to attend college in Chicago. She graduated from the University in December 2012 with a bachelor's degree in history. Schwartz also earned and an . Her mother, Denise, lives in Colorado. She has a brother, Robert, who lives in Wisconsin, and a sister, Samantha, of Chicago.

Rabe, who was a reference for Schwartz's Fulbright application, said she was an exceptional, motivated student, and is a great Fulbright candidate. "In a 30-year teaching career, she is one of the best students I've ever had," Rabe said. "She stands out not just for her intellectual capacity, which is considerable, but because of her motivation, her discipline, and maturity. She's an incredibly mature young woman."

Turkey is an excellent place to study history and learn, Rabe said. "You see whole span of history from ancient to the present, and you see it in a place where there is a rich culture between continents. It's a country that is such mixture of identities in its own right. It's a fascinating study in humanity, a fascinating study in human history. And it's beautiful," she said.

Schwartz wants to return from her Fulbright experience next year and teach history in a Chicago public school, and later, possibly attend graduate school. The Fulbright program attracted her because she will gain some valuable teaching experience, share U.S. history and culture with Turkish students, and learn about their lives, she said. "I'm sure they have an idea of or an assumption of what it means to be an American," she said. "Any interaction I have with anyone there is going to form the basis of their opinion, and hopefully, I can help it be positive."

Two other North Park graduates were informed earlier this spring about their Fulbright student grants, which begin this fall. Sam Auger of Chicago will work as an English Teaching Assistant in a high school in Haskovo, Bulgaria. Timothy Ahlberg, Perrysburg, Ohio, was awarded a Binational Business Exchange Grant, and will work in a business in Mexico City.

Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

Author tomgabrysiak

萝莉社 to be Site of Wheel Gymnastics World Championships

萝莉社 to be Site of Wheel Gymnastics World Championships

Athletes coming to Chicago July 8-14

CHICAGO (July 3, 2013) — The are coming to Chicago July 8–14, with much of the competition happening on the campus of 萝莉社. This unique form of gymnastics originated in Germany, putting athletes inside a large wheel, known as a Rhönrad, to perform exercises in categories that include straight line, spiral, and vault.

Hosted by the  and , the championships feature more than 130 athletes from 17 nations. General admission tickets are available, and can be . Competition will be divided between males and females, and junior and senior competitors. Awards will be given for best all-around, spiral, straight line, vault, and mono wheel competitions. This is the first time the competition has been held outside of Europe.

Prior to the world championships, the 8th USA Wheel Gymnastics Open Championship and first ever qualification trials for TEAM USA Wheel Gymnastics took place March 7–10, 2013. Dubbed the “Chicago Big Wheel Weekend,” the USA Wheel Gymnastics Federation and American Sokol hosted this weekend of training courses and competition trials to qualify for TEAM USA in the July World Championships.

萝莉社 the Wheel Gymnastics World Championships

In 1924 Otto Feick invented and built the Rhönrad (the German Wheel), and began traveling all over Europe and to the United States to promote the newly-created sport of wheel gymnastics. After a surge in popularity following World War II, the (IRV) was formed to oversee all international competitions and training. Seven member countries comprise the IRV and approximately 25 nations participate in the sport, with international training camps and World Championships being hosted in alternate years. The initial World Championship was held in Den Helder, Netherlands, in 1995.

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Author tomgabrysiak

Marketing Transformation Driven by New Tools, New Behaviors, Says Graduate

Marketing Transformation Driven by New Tools, New Behaviors, Says Graduate

Today's marketers face a "paradox of choice," said Renee Borkowski C'90.

Razorfish VP speaks at 萝莉社 Breakfast Series

CHICAGO (May 24, 2013) — There has been an incredible transformation in marketing practices in the past 15 years, much of it driven by dramatic shifts in how consumers use digital devices and experiences to fulfill their information and entertainment needs. The result is that there are many players in the marketing landscape today, creating a "paradox of choice" for many marketers.

"Deciding where to pay attention, where to spend, and how and where to stay connected with consumers is increasingly complex," said Renee (Johnson) Borkowski, Chicago, group vice president of strategic marketing for , a global digital agency. Borkowski, a 1990 North Park graduate in and , spoke to an audience of about 80 people at this spring's event in Chicago, sponsored by the University and the . Her topic was "Marketing Transformation in the Post-Digital Era." Borkowski, a member of the University's , brings 20 years of experience working with top-name brands.

Agencies today are challenged to cover all bases—search engine optimization, web and customer analytics, email marketing, marketing automation, social media, social marketing and multi-channel marketing management—along with many traditional forms of communication. With the growth in marketing, channels, and agencies working in the field, "we as marketers are at the intersection of decision-making, of managing our budgets, of figuring out what is going to get us the most for our money in the midst of a very confusing landscape," Borkowski said.

What has changed for marketers? Borkowski suggested several possibilities:

• Planning is now a continuous and cyclical process. Insights are required to inform annual, quarterly, and daily decision cycles.
• Digital marketing is experiential. As evidence, she pointed to changes in retail marketing, where shopping is mobile-enabled or occurs in "virtual" stores. More consumers are using multiple devices at home at the same time, including televisions, tablets, and smartphones.
• Marketing is happening in real-time more than ever. Social media demands quick, short-term, relevant messaging, but must be done responsibly. "The volume and velocity of social online behaviors requires that break-through brands adopt a real-time mindset, and establish 'always-on' teams," she said.
• New skills and vocations are emerging in marketing. There are growing needs for "data scientists" and "chief marketing technologists."

For nonprofits and mission-driven organizations with smaller budgets, Borkowski suggested an emphasis on social media-fueled experiences, coupled with highly targeted search capabilities to help organizations set themselves apart from others. Digital storytelling can also be more powerful by inviting members and followers to capture video with smartphones and making video blogs highlighting service projects, she said.

Despite the need for real-time marketing, decision-making and communication must be considered carefully and align with business and brand objectives, Borkowski said. "Organizations that take their cues solely from their audiences or cultural happenings without a true brand purpose end up diluting or damaging their brands," she added.

Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

Author tomgabrysiak

North Park Recognizes Minnehaha Academy Centennial

North Park Recognizes Minnehaha Academy Centennial

The Minneahaha Academy Redhawks' varsity basketball team earned the Minnesota Class 2A championship this year, under the leadership of Lance Johnson a 1983 North Park alum.

CHICAGO (May 5, 2013) — 萝莉社 recognized the 100th year of ,Minneapolis, Minn., a school for students in preschool through grade 12. Many graduates enroll at North Park, and University graduatesare among the school’s faculty and staff.

President David Parkyn was among the speakers April 28 at the Academy’s Centennial WorshipCelebration. In addressing the faculty, past and present, he said,“It is because you have been faithful in your calling as teachers thatwe can be here today. May God bless Minnehaha Academy withgreat teachers for the next century just as we have been blessedthrough the century past.”

The convocation was attended by TedAnderson C’37, son of Theodore W. Anderson, the school’s firstpresident and North Park Junior College graduate. The school’scurrent president, Dr. Donna Harris, is a member of the University. Lance Johnson C’83 led the Redhawks’varsity basketball team to the Minnesota Class 2A championshipthis year.

The University and Minnehaha Academy are affiliatedwith the .

Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

Author tomgabrysiak