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North Park Theological Seminary Announces Urban Ministry Certificate
Applications for first cohort accepted through March 31
CHICAGO (February 10, 2012) – is accepting applications for a new, two-year graduate educational program leading to a . The 15-credit certificate program is intended for Christian ministers and lay leaders who want to learn more about engaging in effective ministry in urban settings.
The Seminary is part of 萝莉社, a higher education institution with a . Those core values, combined with the cultural and Christian diversity represented in Chicago, position the Seminary to offer a rich educational experience to students, said , program director. Rah is Milton B. Engebretson Associate Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism for the Seminary, and a former urban pastor himself.
"Chicago is part of the classroom we're offering," he said in an interview. "Being in Chicago is a tremendous advantage. It is a center for community development, community organizing, for ethnic diversity, and with diverse neighborhoods."
Offering a certificate program in urban ministry is part of a larger trend of urbanization and the growing influences of urban culture, Rah said. Both the University and Seminary are affiliated with the (ECC), which is planting new congregations in urban areas, Rah said. Urban pastors and urban lay workers could benefit greatly from the certificate program, Rah said. "We hope it will strengthen and undergird their urban ministry," he said. The program can also introduce people to urban ministry who want to learn more.
The urban environment is complex, constantly changing, and always challenging, Rah said. The certificate program will emphasize deeper theological and spiritual engagement, as well as practical ideas for enhancing urban ministry. "We do this ministry as followers of Jesus. Anytime we can deepen the theology, it is a good thing. Also important are spiritual formation and discipleship. All of these serve to strengthen our work in the city," he said.
Students who complete the program will earn 15 credit hours in just over two years. Plans call for the first cohort to meet Aug. 13–17 in Chicago, followed by online coursework beginning in October. The cohort will meet in Chicago for another week in August 2013, followed by online coursework. A final week-long gathering in Chicago is planned for August 2014. Rah said an ideal size for the urban ministry cohort is about 15 to 20 people.
"There is great enthusiasm in this Seminary and in this denomination for this certificate program," said Rah. "It represents a wonderful convergence of what 萝莉社 is all about, and what the Evangelical Covenant Church is excited about."
Applications and supporting materials must be submitted to North Park Theological Seminary by March 31, said E. Kirsten Burdick, director of Seminary . All applications will be considered at the same time in April, she said.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
Learn about all the offered by North Park Theological Seminary
Check out the , an upcoming urban youth and justice event
萝莉社 Group Visits China, Meets Business and Education Leaders
During their visit, the 萝莉社 group toured an equipment assembly building at Baiyun Power Group, Guangzhou. (Photo provided by Jimmie Alford)
Spring break trip promotes 2011 agreements with Chinese universities
CHICAGO (March 30, 2012) – A group representing 萝莉社's School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM) visited China this month to observe its rapidly growing economy, and to further the University's with one of five Chinese universities. The 15 University students, faculty, and alumni who made the 10-day trip learned first-hand about the country's emerging nonprofit sector, rapid business growth in the country, and China's culture.
The trip provided some surprises for the University group. Fran Caan, Evanston, Ill., said she was surprised by "the incredible wealth in major cities." Hong Kong was "gi-normous," said MBA student Gerardo Soto. "There were high rises all over the place. I didn't see one single-family home. There's a great deal of wealth. High-fashion was available there more than in Paris," he said, noting that most signs were in English as well as Mandarin.
An eye-opener for Caan, executive director of an educational foundation, was the realization that the United States is not the "center of the universe," and that U.S. global power has a strong competitor in China. Both she and Soto were impressed by the friendliness and kindness of the Chinese people.
"I wanted to see first-hand what it was all about. It was an eye-opening experience and it puts everything else in perspective," said Soto, who will graduate this year with a double degree, human resource management and a master of business administration.
Dr. Wesley E. Lindahl, SBNM professor and dean, and Dr. Chris Nicholson, director of graduate admissions and SBNM adjunct instructor, led the North Park delegation. The China trip was significant because the country represents a huge part of the world economy, Lindahl said. "Here are 1.3 billion people in China and the gross domestic product has grown at around 10 percent annually over the past decade. The economy may surpass the U.S. economy in the coming years. Further, the emergence of the voluntary (non-government) sector is something that our nonprofit students and faculty are very interested in. We may be at the start of great change in China’s civil society."
"Getting off the plane and seeing a huge billboard indicating 'The 21st Century is the Asian Century' helps put into perspective the growing prominence of Asia as the center for global business," said Nicholson. Another take-away from the China trip was "learning how Hong Kong markets itself to attract business and investment, and the keen competition among cities/regions in Asia to attract economic investment," Nicholson added.
The group visited Hong Kong for the first five days and then went to Guangzhou for the remainder of the visit. Visits in Hong Kong included sessions with the Bank of Montreal (BMO) branch office, InvestHK, HarbourVest Partners Ltd., and United Airlines branch office. The visits in Guangzhou included Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Guangxin Holdings Group, Ltd., Healthy Household Limited, Baiyun Power Group, and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Lindahl said.
At the , Li Cheng, board chair, spoke about the firm's business strategy, Lindahl said. The group was listed 146th among China’s Fortune 500 in 2011 and ranked 12th of Top 500 Enterprise of Guangdong Province.
The visit included a factory tour of the equipment assembly building. Baiyun’s history started in 1960 as the Hu family blacksmith business. Today it is an example of a private firm that has grown to be in the Top 500 in the China manufacturing sector. Xie Xiao Hua, vice president, spoke to the group and answered questions about what it is like to be in business in China.
At a lunch provided by Jainjun Sun, dean of the MBA program at , the North Park delegation met with MBA students from the school.
In 2011, the 萝莉社 leaders signed bilateral cooperation agreements with leaders of five Chinese universities. The agreements are with (College of Arts and Sciences), Beijing; Jianwen University, Yantai; , Bengbu City; Guangdong University of Foreign Studies; and , Leshan. The agreements established cross-cultural learning and research opportunities for students and faculty of the universities. They also promote student and faculty exchange. Lindahl said he would like to have further exchange of faculty with the Chinese schools, and to have Chinese students study at 萝莉社.
Dr. Wesley E. Lindahl contributed to this report.
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萝莉社 Names New Faculty, Staff for 2012–2013 Academic Year
Employees welcomed at 'Gathering Day'
CHICAGO (August 22, 2012) — 萝莉社 welcomed new full-time faculty and staff to the University as the 2012–2013 academic year began. The new employees were introduced to the University community August 21 at North Park's annual Gathering Day activities, held in .
New Faculty
Cheri Coakley, visiting assistant professor of
Dr. Daniel White Hodge, assistant professor of youth ministry, and director,
Dr. John J. Laukaitis, assistant professor of
Dr. Kezia Shirkey, assistant professor of
Sarah Thorngate, instructor of bibliography/reference and electronic resources librarian,
New Staff
Cordell Henry, assistant men's basketball coach
Tom Slyder, head men's basketball coach
Paul Thomas, head women's soccer coach
Roby Geevarghese, major gift officer
Carissa Gomez, stewardship coordinator
Sarah Snow, major gift officer
Catherine Howorth, support services coordinator
Tracy Churchill, recruitment associate
Jennifer Lundeen Dixon, director of undergraduate recruitment
Andrew Johnson, technology coordinator
Andre Lodree, technology coordinator
Dr. Sumie Song, assistant director
Anna-Kajsa Anderson, director of
Physical Plant
Jim Needleman, groundskeeper
Residence Life
Cat Fillmore, resident director, Anderson Hall
Candice Johnson, resident director, apartments and houses
Belford Williams, Jr., resident director, Ohlson House and Sohlberg Hall
Charisma Eaglin, chemical hygiene and lab safety officer
Rev. David Kersten, dean
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萝莉社 Graduate to Begin Two-Year Journey Across Africa
Amy Russell leads the 'Africa Walk" beginning Jan. 18.
Amy Russell and team to call for clean water, project fundraising
CHICAGO (January 12, 2012) – A 2010 萝莉社 graduate, along with two companions, will leave the United States next week to start a two-year, 7,000-mile journey from southern Africa to its northern coast. Amy Russell is leading the journey to call attention to the need for clean water to help reduce extreme poverty, and to work toward a fundraising goal of $8 million to raise funds for water projects worldwide.
Russell, 23, who earned a bachelor's degree in business with a concentration in nonprofit management, said the decision to begin the "" is a calling inspired by God. The journey culminates some learnings about poverty while she was a North Park student. Russell was president of the University's chapter of , a Washington-based human rights agency, and took a class to learn more about human trafficking.
"I wrote some papers on this subject, and it became abundantly clear to me that one of the root causes of human trafficking and human suffering in the world is poverty," Russell said in an interview. Among other things, she also learned that "clean water is a first step in ending extreme poverty." Russell founded "" while she was a University student, an organization that calls attention to clean water needs, and raises funds for water projects. Walk4Water provides the funds to , New York, which sends 100 percent of its funds for water projects in developing nations.
Russell has walked in the United States, raising attention and funds for clean water. Last summer, she walked through her home state of Connecticut, and she walked 500 miles through California to raise attention for clean water. Walk4Water encourages groups and individuals to arrange similar fundraising experiences.
Russell will leave Newark, N.J., Jan. 18 and fly to Cape Town, South Africa. Two colleagues, Aaron Tharp, and Marty Yoder, will join her. The three will secure a support vehicle and collect supplies for their journey. They are expected to follow some of the eastern coastline of Africa, then travel north along the Nile River through Cairo, Egypt, and to their goal, the Mediterranean Sea. Others from Walk4Water will travel with the trio for selected portions of the trip. Though she has never been to Africa before, Russell and her colleagues have consulted people who have spent time there. Sub-Saharan Africa, she said, is one of the places where clean water needs are greatest. The three expect to "connect with many people, organizations, missionaries and orphanages along the way," she said. They will camp or stay with people during the journey, and volunteer with organizations already working in Africa.
Helping the trio is a . Matt Vickers, Chicago, support team coordinator, led a team which developed a marketing and fundraising plan for the trip. Vickers got to know Russell on mission trips while they were both University students. He earned a bachelor's degree in and in 2011. Vickers and Russell have talked about the idea of walking through Africa since 2009, he said. His team is also providing prayer support for Russell and the trio in Africa.
Russell, seen here as she began a walk across Connecticut in 2011, has done many long walks in the United States to call attention to the need for clean water.
Marketing and advertising will be aimed primarily at college students, church groups and others with an interest in the topic, Vickers said. They'll use the Web, social media tools, email, letter-writing and other tactics to spread their messages, raise funds and offer prayer support. At the end of the trip, the Walk4Water team plans to produce materials from the journey, and members will go on a speaking tour in the United States and United Kingdom.
"(This is) a huge goal I know Amy is capable of upholding," said Vickers. "She has a heart for it and strength for it. We've talked about the risks. She's done tons of research and will put herself into it. She's talked with many people who've been missionaries there."
Some 萝莉社 faculty and staff are aware of Russell's dream to do something tangible to bring clean water to people in need. One is , Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies, a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. When Russell told him of the Africa journey, McKnight said he was concerned initially about the group's safety during such a trip.
"I had just returned from South Africa and a few had regaled me with stories of violence, and so her decision concerned me. She said they thought God would protect them (Theology 101 in my face)," he said.
"I have watched Amy and her friends grow and become solidified in this noble pursuit of justice for the poorest of the poor in our world," said McKnight, echoing the of preparing students for lives of significance and service through education. "I consider it a great privilege to say I was one of Amy's teachers," he added.
Also supporting Russell and her colleagues are members of , an congregation in Manchester, Conn., the congregation where Russell grew up. She has spoken there about her clean water work, and the congregation's youth group is providing offerings for the Africa Walk. 萝莉社 is affiliated with the ECC.
The most difficult part of preparing for the Africa Walk has been assuring family and friends, Russell said. "My parents are supportive, though it took them a while to adjust to this idea," she said. Russell has one sibling, a sister, 19.
"This is definitely about God telling me to do this. I believe in the cause of clean water. I hope this inspires people to think bigger about the world, and believe in bigger things," she said.
Walk4Water's nonprofit partner organization is Global Outreach, Bramwell, W.V.
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With Help, 萝莉社 Moms Persevere, Balance School, Home Lives
Adina Kaplan will graduate May 12, and hopes to be working as a labor and delivery nurse this fall.
Keys are support systems, focus and organization, they say
CHICAGO (May 11, 2012) – The end of the academic year for two 萝莉社 women means graduation and a degree for one, while the other sets her sights on graduation in May 2013. Adina Kaplan and Felicia Patton are also mothers of young children, experiencing the full-time challenges of balancing family and student responsibilities at the same time. Focusing on their goals has kept them going.
This Mother's Day, May 14, Kaplan said she plans to sleep in, relax and enjoy the day — without studying in the library for the first time in a while. Patton said she plans to spend time with her mother and her mother-in law. Both will be out of school and at home with family for the summer, before resuming busy work and school schedules this fall.
Kaplan will graduate from the University May 12 with a Bachelor of Science in . She is the mother of three children – a girl, aged six; a three-year-old boy and a boy aged five months, born while she was in school full-time last fall. Some urged her to take the fall semester off, but for Kaplan, that was not an option. "I wanted to be in it 100 percent. I knew I had to go full-time. When I'm in school mode, it helps me to keep going," she said. Meanwhile, Kaplan's daughter started first grade, her older son is in a pre-school program, and a babysitter cared for the youngest at home.
With the help of her husband, Aaron, a commercial real estate broker, her in-laws, and a focus on keeping organized, Kaplan balanced school and family while completing her degree. The family support system was significant, she said.
Earning her nursing degree fulfills a dream Kaplan has had since she was very young. Before she came to North Park to be a full-time student in 2010, she attended Hebrew Theological College, Skokie, Ill., for three years as a part-time student, where she had started work on a bachelor's degree in education.
"I think anybody can do anything they put their mind to – if it's a passion of yours, I think you can do it," Kaplan said. "I'm a big believer in that. It's also a good thing for kids to see their parents in school, working hard and learning just as they are."
Kaplan plans to seek work this fall as a labor and delivery nurse, and said she is thinking about an eventual return to school to be a midwife.
Felicia Patton expects to earn a bachelor's degree in music in worship in 2013.
Patton is working toward a Bachelor's Degree in . She is the mother of two 8-year-old daughters, one of whom is adopted. Her husband, Marcus, is an office worker in a downtown Chicago firm. She came to North Park as a full-time student in 2009 after two years at a Chicago-area community college, and a brief stint in the U.S. Army after high school.
"As a musician, I'm always overloaded," she said. Her typical day begins at 5:30 a.m., getting her daughters up and ready for school. After she drops them off, Patton attends University classes, reads and does assignments during breaks in rehearsals or while she's having lunch, and picks up her daughters from school in the afternoon. She takes her daughters to an after-school sitter, cooks dinner for the family when she can, and often returns to school to attend night classes or attend choir practice. Marcus picks up the children from the sitter when he comes home. "By the time I get home the girls are asleep," she said. It's not unusual for Patton to get to bed at 1 a.m.
Beside classes, Patton participates in several music ensembles, including the University's gospel and jazz choirs. She is learning multiple instruments, and is a member of a student worship team. With so much happening in her life, Patton said staying focused is her motivation. "You have to know what the purpose is," she said. "The whole reason for being in school is that you achieve your goals. It's a gift to be a parent, but you have to grow up. It's fun, and it's rough at the same time. You have to focus. If you lean on your family, you'll be fine."
"Nobody in my family has gone to college. My husband is very supportive of me going to school, and he doesn't want me to drop out," she said. Marcus and the children attend Patton's concerts, and the children come to some rehearsals, she said. After college, Patton wants to work in a church setting as a choir director and worship leader. She sings now in various congregations, and substitutes for choir and worship leaders.
In addition to their families, Kaplan and Patton both say that faculty and friends at 萝莉社 have been supportive. "Faculty were so accommodating, Kaplan said. "They worked with me on finding clinical sites, and tried to place me closer to my house so I could pick up my kids up from school. When I had my baby, they were super-accommodating, and so were my classmates."
"The faculty at North Park has been so supportive," Patton said. "They have helped me when I have family emergencies, or if my kids are sick. Most of the (music) faculty know my kids."
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
萝莉社 Alumna to Appear March 13 on Food Network Show
Shanna Horner O’Hea ’94, will appear on the Food Network this month on its popular show, Chopped.
Academe chef Shanna O’Hea '94, to compete on Chopped
CHICAGO (March 12, 2012) – A 萝莉社 alumna will appear on a popular show, , March 13 at 10:00 p.m. EDT/9:00 p.m. CDT. , is a 1994 graduate of the University and co-owner of the , with her husband, Brian.
Last summer, O’Hea headed to New York City to film the episode of Chopped. Titled "," the episode features such unexpected items as an Indian gourd, lutefisk and for dessert, Chinese sausage and baby eggplant. The format for the show includes four chefs competing in round one to create an appetizer featuring ingredients unveiled just before they begin to cook. Three chefs move on to round two to prepare an entrée with a new basket of ingredients, and the final round, the dessert round, reveals a winner.
"Plenty of Fish" will be repeated on the Food Network on March 14 at 1:00 a.m. EDT/12:00 a.m., CDT, and on March 22 at 9:00 p.m. EDT/8:00 p.m. CDT. Hosted by , Chopped is in its 11th season.
O’Hea won’t reveal the outcome but said, "I agreed to participate for the challenge; putting yourself out there in uncomfortable, hard situations helps in personal and professional growth, which is so important when owning your own business."
The O'Heas' restaurant was made famous by their , which was featured on the Food Network’s program, The Best Thing I Ever Ate. In recent months, the O’Heas cooked at the , and this month, they will be guest chefs on a in the Caribbean.
The couple also contributed their culinary talents to the University’s at a 2011 national campaign event in Salem, Mass., preparing hors d’oeurves for friends of the University — including mini lobster potpies.
Academe is the restaurant of The Kennebunk Inn. The O'Heas draw on their culinary and artistic backgrounds to create enticing soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and entrees served in an informal, brasserie-style setting. The original building of what is now The Kennebunk Inn was built as a private residence in 1799, less than 30 years after the founding of the Republic. The Inn has 18 guest rooms and eight family suites, and the O'Heas frequently host 萝莉社 alumni and friends.
Information for the story was provided by Gillian Britt, gBritt PR, South Portland, Maine
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Microwave System to Enhance 萝莉社's Chemistry Program
University chemistry students will be using the Discover SP system, funded by a grant and the University (CEM Corporation image).
Grant award enables equipment purchase, benefits 80 students
CHICAGO (March 14, 2012) – 萝莉社 is adding a microwave synthesis system to its curriculum thanks to a $10,000 award from the 2012 Pittsburgh Conference Memorial National College Grants (PCMNCG) Program and other University funds. The new microwave system, to be used primarily in organic chemistry courses, will allow students to heat chemical compounds more efficiently, and significantly shorten the time required for laboratory experiments.
"Experiments done in hours are now going to be done in minutes, and it will widen the types of experiments the students can do in the lab," said Dr. Isabel Larraza, 萝莉社 associate professor of chemistry. "The microwave reactor is now being considered a staple of modern organic labs. Our students will have a more in-depth learning experience, with efficient and current experiments that adhere to the principles of '.'"
Larraza's successful grant application was one of 13 chosen from 59 submitted to PCMNCG. She said about 80 chemistry students per year will use the , manufactured by , Matthews, N.C. The reactor just arrived and will be installed this week. The instrument has wider uses in other chemistry courses and in other disciplines, such as biology, Larraza said.
With the new microwave system, chemistry students will no longer heat flasks in the lab using older, less efficient methods such as or . Instead they will insert tubes with chemicals into the microwave system. The heat generated by the instrument will produce chemical reactions much quicker than before, with the added benefit of minimizing the production of byproducts and chemical waste. Students will also learn about modern microwave syntheses, and "use an emerging technology that is being adopted by industry and by the academy," Larraza said.
The University Chemistry Department has put considerable effort into modernizing its general chemistry laboratories by adding digital instrumentation and other resources, said Dr. Jonathan Rienstra-Kiracofe, professor of chemistry and department chair. "With Dr. Larraza's arrival at North Park this year, we have begun a similar effort to modernize our organic chemistry laboratory by adding new instrumentation and making our experiments 'greener.' The new microwave reactor is going to be the highlight of the laboratory – allowing our students to experience modern, green organic chemistry."
Dr. Isabel Larraza, in the University's organic chemistry lab, says the new microwave synthesis system is part of the Chemistry Department's 'green chemistry' practices.
Larraza does research in and is an advocate for green chemistry practices. The new microwave synthesis system is part of that effort. Green practices include such things as waste prevention, use of methods to minimize toxicity, using safer solvents, energy efficiency, and preventing accidents. This month, Larraza will present her research on microwave synthesis at the in San Diego, and in July, she will attend a green chemistry workshop at the University of Oregon, Eugene.
University chemistry students are aware the microwave system will soon be available in their labs. "They're very eager. They will be doing hands-on types of experiments," Larraza said.
Earlier this year, the 萝莉社 Chemistry Department won a grant award from the , Chicago. Funds from that grant, combined with other University funds, were used to purchase a miniature , manufactured by picoSpin, LLC, Boulder, Colo. The University will be one of the first in the nation to have a miniature spectrometer for teaching and research purposes.
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CHICAGO (November 13, 2012) — The 萝莉社 participated in groundbreaking ceremonies for the , and heard updates on other University projects and initiatives during its fall meeting here October 26–27. , University president, also welcomed seven new trustees, each of whom will serve five-year terms:
Thomas Bagley, Chicago, founder and senior managing director, Pfingsten Partners, LLC
Grant Clay, Clay Center, Kan., lead pastor, Clay Center Covenant Church
Gail Dahlstrom, Etna, N.H., vice president for facilities management, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, N.H.
Dawn Helwig, Chicago, actuary, Milliman, Inc.
Stephen Johnson, Warrenville, Ill., executive vice president, field operations, Imagine Solutions, Dallas
Michael L. Jordan, Kerman, Calif., pastor, La Viña Covenant Church
Albert Tizon, Upper Darby, Pa., associate professor of evangelical and holistic ministry, Palmer Theological Seminary, King of Prussia, Pa.
Johnson Center highlighted
The Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life is expected to be completed for the start of the 2014 academic year. Board members and University leaders thanked , board chair, for their leadership of , which is raising funds for the Johnson Center and other University initiatives. The building project is essential for student learning and growth, Johnson told the trustees, adding that he and Nancy were "deeply honored" to have the building named in their honor. are North Park alumni, and both have served the institution in a variety of ways over several years.
Undergraduate enrollment efforts enhanced
The University is enhancing efforts to increase undergraduate enrollment for 2013 in response to changes in enrollment and in the market for higher education, President Parkyn said in his report to the board.
North Park's board of trustees met at the Chicago campus October 26–27.
He cited several market conditions that have affected enrollment at North Park: a greater reluctance to borrow funds to pay tuition costs; a need for great convenience in academic program delivery; the competitive Chicagoland market; and increases in competition from schools in other regions of the country.
The 萝莉社 president and , vice president for enrollment and marketing, told the trustees the University conducted an external and internal review of admissions procedures with representatives of , a higher education consulting firm. In addition, University faculty and staff participated in community gatherings, discussing enrollment data, recruiting of students, and ideas to address student recruitment in future years. As a result of these discussions, the University is instituting several steps to increase undergraduate enrollment, they reported:
Adopt more personal connections with prospective students
Increase the size of special events to attract students
Increase the number of prospective student visits to the campus
Target increased financial aid
Expand communication flow to students, particularly for applicants and admitted students
Reinstate the University’s brand awareness campaign with focus on the Chicagoland region
Set priorities so recruiters focus personal attention on those students most likely to enroll
The next meeting of the 萝莉社 board of trustees is February 8–9, 2013.
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University leaders celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Johnson Center October 26. With them are the two people for whom the building is named: Nancy, center, and G. Timothy Johnson, fourth from the right.
Hundreds attend groundbreaking ceremony to honor Nancy and Tim Johnson
CHICAGO (October 29, 2012) — With hundreds of 萝莉社 supporters looking on in person and via webcast, the University marked the start of construction October 26 for a significant, new University building — the , expected to be completed for the start of the 2014 academic year.
The 101,000-square-foot Johnson Center will house academic departments in , , , , and ; plus it will have technology-enhanced classrooms and state-of-the-art laboratories. It will also house student services such as , , , , , as well as a café, study lounge, prayer room, a two-story atrium, and lobby gathering area.
Science students will benefit the most academically from the new Johnson Center, which will house state-of-the-art science laboratories, and research space and classrooms. The new facility, however, will benefit all in the University community, said , 萝莉社 president. "By combining classrooms and laboratories with student-life offices, and gathering spaces and a food venue — by gathering those things together, this building will create a central campus core. It will do so for all of our students — residential and commuting, undergraduate, graduate, seminarians — everyone who studies at 萝莉社 into the future will benefit from this wonderful building."
The Johnson Center will be a "transformational" facility, said , vice president for development and alumni relations. "It is the deep and broad generosity of North Park alumni and friends that has brought this dream to reality. Our alumni and friends knew that our students were depending on them, and they have responded in a very generous manner," she said.
Alumni , for whom the building is named, were honored at the groundbreaking ceremony. "Obviously, Nancy and I are deeply honored to be recognized by the naming of this building," said Tim Johnson, ABC News' longtime medical editor, and now, the network's senior medical contributor. "This honor goes way beyond the two of us, and as I look over the wonderful gathering and see so many familiar faces, I'm reminded of how much North Park has meant in my life, Nancy's life, and our life together. Truly this is an honor, and we're so thrilled to have our family and my grand-kids here for this day. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this very great honor," he told the crowd assembled for the groundbreaking.
Johnson holds degrees from North Park College and . Nancy Johnson was trained as a nurse at the School of Nursing, Chicago, including study in the sciences at North Park. Both have served the University in many ways, including Tim Johnson's recent role as co-chair of , which led fundraising for the new building and other University initiatives over the past three years. Construction of the Johnson Center is supported by a $42 million component of the campaign. David Helwig, campaign co-chair and chair of the University , thanked Johnson for his "tireless" work to make the building project a reality.
Following the groundbreaking ceremony, supporters of Campaign North Park attended a reception in Hamming Hall and viewed a video about the building project. A concert in Anderson Chapel concluded the day's events.
萝莉社 is providing a live, continuous of the Johnson Center construction.
Faculty, students comment on historic building project
"It's awesome," said , chair of the University's Chemistry Department. "Over the past three weekends, I've had a chance to visit three different college campuses, and I was able to be in each of their science buildings. I'm convinced that what we're putting together here is as good, and actually a step ahead of, what they have in each of theirs. So, I'm very excited about it."
At least seven Chicago-area high school students who expressed an interest in science study at North Park accepted the University's invitation to attend the groundbreaking. Their visit included a personal meeting with Tim Johnson.
Current North Park students in other disciplines expressed excitement about the Johnson Center. Emily Rueping, a junior and major from Chicago, noted that the Johnson Center will provide "a common area" for students and faculty to interact. "That's something we really need. It will be very beneficial to students, faculty and others who will get to use it," she said.
"It was cool to see everyone come together and get excited about the new things going on at North Park. I love North Park, and I always think it's great when we're doing something to make the school better," said Kim Hanson, Sacramento, Calif., a junior major.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
萝莉社 Hosts 54 International Students in American Studies Program
Four participants in the University's Summer ESL American Studies Program are, from left to right, Yoa Jung Cho, Hyun Jung Park and Jong Pil Park, all from Seoul, South Korea, and Chien Chih Kao, Taipei, Taiwan.
Program combines ESL classes with cultural learning, field trips
CHICAGO (July 3, 2012) — On July 4, nearly all of the international students in an English language immersion program this summer at 萝莉社, Chicago, will experience for the first time what an American is about. That is one piece of their immersion as participants in the University's Summer ESL American Studies program, combining English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, cultural exploration and field trips throughout the Chicago area.
"We're studying English through the vehicle of Chicago," said Dr. Kristin Lems, the program's director. "It's an academic program, and it's built on the cultural piece of Chicago — what the city offers in the summer, Chicago's history, and how the values and lifestyle of Chicago reflect American values and lifestyle."
The 54 students, mostly college-age, are from seven countries, plus three immigrant students who live in the Chicago area. Becoming more proficient in speaking English and learning about U.S. culture are the reasons why they are in the University's ESL American Studies program.
"People in Korea think English is very important, and I thought I wanted to study English in Chicago," said Jong Pil Park, Seoul, South Korea, one of 24 South Korean students in the program. Jong is an oriental philosophy major at , Seoul, which maintains a with 萝莉社.
"I came here because I want to learn 'live' English," said Hyun Jung Park, also a student in oriental philosophy at SKKU. "Koreans tend to learn English only by reading." Hyun said she is interested in Chicago's diverse culture, and learning about the differences between Eastern and Western philosophy. She added that she is grateful for the education offered through the 萝莉社 program.
Chien Chih Kao, Taipiei, Taiwan, wants to improve his English speaking ability and make friends from different countries. He's a fan of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) system and its convenience. "This city is like a 'small America.' You can feel the diverse culture here, and see the beautiful scenery and the modern buildings," he said. "Everybody's kind, and they say hello, even if we have not met before." Chien is a physics major at , Taichung, Taiwan.
萝莉社 students Saada Hilts, left, and Brian Gatheru are program assistants with the Summer ESL program.
During the intensive five-week program, the students will take 12 field trips, all on CTA transportation, and visit Chicago cultural attractions, such as museums, ethnic festivals and neighborhoods, and a Fourth of July parade. New to the program this year are community service projects, and spending time with Chicago-area host families. One service project was at the , where the students cleaned up classrooms and planted a garden.
Lems explained that the community service projects are significant grassroots experiences, in which the international students witness a community working together for the common good. The host families home visit idea came about through Lems' own international experiences. "I remember that when I lived abroad, and when other people talk about living abroad, the most precious experiences are the ones when you're inside the home of someone from that country, not just shopping or being at a restaurant or being in a museum -— it's being in someone's home," she said. At least 35 萝莉社 faculty and staff families are hosting students for Sunday meals, Lems said.
Working with Lems are two 萝莉社 students, Saada Hilts and Brian Gatheru, and Kennan Daoudi, a student at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn. Hilts was born in Ethiopia, and Gatheru comes from Kenya. Both are resident advisors at the University.
The University's ESL American Studies program was founded by Dr. Dennis Bricault, professor of Spanish and director of the University's ESL program. This summer, students in the American Studies program are from South Korea, Mexico, China, Spain, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and the United States.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
of these students experiencing their first Fourth of July parade.
Author tomgabrysiakPosted on Categories Stories
Dr. Isabel Larraza, in the University's organic chemistry lab, says the new microwave synthesis system is part of the Chemistry Department's 'green chemistry' practices.
