Alumni
SHERIDAN ROAD | What's New at Lake Forest College
Construction Begins on Sports Center
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After delaying construction of the long-planned $17 million renovation and expansion of the Recreation, Sports, and Fitness Center, Lake Forest College broke ground on May 8 with expected completion in spring 2010.
The College had raised all but $2 million of the required funds when Life Trustee Wes Dixon offered to match each dollar raised up to $1 million needed to begin the project, which is a key priority of the 150th Anniversary Campaign that kicked off in 2007.
The new Center will add 63,000 square feet of recreational space and offer three multi-purpose courts; a tenth-of-a-mile elevated jogging track; nearly 12,000 square feet of cardio, strength, and conditioning space; a dance and aerobics studio; a golf and batting cage; a welcoming lobby and café; and new locker rooms and restrooms. It will also make the current Sports Center, as well as the new spaces, fully accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"We are excited to start construction of this wonderful and much-needed addition to the Sports Center," says Athletic Director Jackie Slaats. "Providing ample recreation space and increased fitness opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff is an important priority for the College. I am confident that this project will embody our commitment to the health and wellness of our current campus community and also serve as a strong recruiting draw for future generations of Foresters."
To learn more about the Wes Dixon Challenge, contact Pam Gerard at 847-735-6003 or gerard@lakeforest.edu. Follow along the construction with updates and photos at www.lakeforest.edu/alumni/150campaign/sportscenter.asp.
Hire a Forester! Program Launches
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| Dennis Nyren '72 advises Eric Wingo '09 at Speed Networking, which brought together nearly 200 students and alumni in February. Students were computer matched with professionals based on their skills and industry preferences resulting in over 1,100 five-minute meetings. (Photo by Will Pittinos) |
When attorney Franco La Marca '00 approached his trial law firm about hiring three Lake Forest College interns last year, they expressed reservations about non-law students taking over responsibilities like filing cases at courthouses, conducting legal research, and drafting basic motions.
Although La Marca now runs a private wealth management practice at the investment banking firm Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett, his old law firm still calls him to get names of students. "The three Lake Forest interns were the hardest working, brightest students they have ever had at the firm," he says. "To this day the firm calls me for names. That is the impact that they had. They were very impressive and professional."
With the U.S. Department of Labor estimating that over 70 percent of jobs are obtained through networking contacts, efforts made by alumni like La Marca greatly contribute to the competitive edge Foresters have in the job market. To enhance networking between students and alumni, the Career Advancement Center (CAC) recently launched the Hire a Forester! program.
The program encourages alumni to share job and internship leads with students and recent alumni. "Our alumni network is the lifeblood of the College," President Stephen D. Schutt says. "Alumni remember the connections they made with fellow Foresters as students Ñ connections that were crucial to their professional success. The new Hire a Forester! program will help to facilitate and continue these important connections."
Through the program, alumni who are seeking interns or job candidates can post information about openings at www.lakeforest.edu/careers. The service is free and the best way to connect with student candidates. The site also features enrollment statistics and tips on how to start an internship program. Alumni who are not in the position to post, but may be able to refer candidates to openings, can contact the CAC for ways to help. Recent alumni currently seeking positions may also contact the CAC to activate a job seeker account. (Please note job/internship postings are often targeted towards current students and recent graduates; industry guides and directories may be usefulfor more experienced alumni.)
Hire a Forester! is the first phase of the Foresters Helping Foresters program being developed by the CAC and the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations. Foresters Helping Foresters will include long-standing programs such as the Mentor Program and Mock Interviews. New programs such as Speed Networking and the Job Shadowing pilot program were added this year, and the departments plan to offer new opportunities for alumni to strengthen career-related skills and professional networks.
For more information about how alumni can get involved with the Career Advancement Center, contact Alina Allen at dallen@lakeforest.edu or 847-735-5235.
Rob Flot Named Dean of Students
"Open, thoughtful, and insightful," "impressive," "loyal and devoted," "outstanding," and "excellent fit." These were some of the words used by faculty, staff, and students to describe the new Dean of Students Rob Flot, who replaced Beth Tyler on June 1.
Flot has served as Director of Intercultural Relations and Senior Associate Dean of Students since 2004. Looking ahead to his future role, Flot plans to be active, engaged, and visible.
"One of my biggest priorities, and one of the issues I am most passionate about, will be community building and student engagement here on campus," he says. "I will be a visible presence with as many students as possible, and I will work with them to create and sustain a vibrant academic and social community."
Flot holds BA and MA degrees from Eastern Illinois University and has completed work toward a PhD in counseling psychology at Indiana State University.
Alumni Veterans Memorial Unveiled
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| (Photo by Will Pittinos) |
Throughout Lake Forest College's history, many alumni have served in the nation's armed forces. Union soldiers ran drills at the beginning of the Civil War. Students and alumni served in the Spanish-American War and World War I. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the College was a site for the Army Special Training Program, in which more than 400 soldiers took academic and military classes on campus before they shipped out to the Pacific and Europe. Alumni went to the Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf Wars, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Although it is unknown how many alumni have served in the military, this history prompted Patrick Casten '09 to spearhead an effort to install a campus memorial that honors alumni veterans. The memorial, designed by Cameron Buchanan '09, was dedicated on May 7 and stands next to the flag pole on Middle Campus.
"As someone who has grown up in a military family with a lot of military service, I think it's important to recognize and appreciate our alumni veterans," Casten, who is pictured above, said at the dedication. "Also, the College is over 150 years old and it has got such a great connection to the U.S. military, I think this is something that is long overdue."
Several alumni veterans, College trustees and friends, the College's student government, and the Lake Forest Post of the American Legion cumulatively donated more than $5,000 to pay for the memorial, which was endorsed by the Lake Forest College Alumni Association.
The granite stone memorial features a plaque that is etched with an American flag; the symbols of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Merchant Marines, and Coast Guard; and a quote from Abraham Lincoln.
As Casten wrapped up the dedication with a moment of silence, he said, "The monument is meant to serve as a permanent remembrance for alumni, friends, family, and supporters of the College and our veterans."
Social Networking
Since you received the last issue of Spectrum in December, the College has sent more than 100 messages through Facebook, posted more than 100 photos on its Flickr feed, seen about 100 alumni join its LinkedIn network, and received more than 170 views on its YouTube Channel. Faculty and staff have Twittered more than 70 times.
There's no doubt the world of social media is changing the way people and institutions communicate with each other. Considering the explosive growth of sites like Facebook and Twitter, the College uses social networking to reach prospective and current students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
- Facebook allows the Office of Admissions to connect with prospective students, who can "friend" each other even before they meet in person. Several departments promote College events and post photos, while the Office of Development and Alumni Relations recently launched Facebook Connect, in which alumni can log in to the Gateway with their Facebook user name and password and share events, class notes, and donations in their live feed.
- Lake Forest's LinkedIn network enables alumni to make professional contacts, share career-related news, and start discussion threads with each other.
- Photos that appear on the Daily Click, which are slice-of-life images posted to the home page, show up in the College's Flickr feed where Internet surfers can see more of campus.
- Several faculty and staff have begun to share news and views in 140 characters or less on Twitter.
- The College's YouTube channel features videos that the public can watch and share.
Learn more at www.lakeforest.edu/socialmedia.
Faculty on Twitter
"I find myself pondering honor. How integral is a sense of honor to identity? What does it cost us if our honor is challenged?" — @ProfSwyers (a.k.a. Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Sociology Holly Swyers) on Twitter, April 17.
Bula Fiji!
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| (Photo by Ashleigh Martinez '09) |
Ashleigh Martinez '09 received Honorable Mention in the ACM Chicago Photo Contest for this photo from Fiji while studying abroad in New Zealand.
She explains: "'Bula' is a term that is used by the local Fijian people to greet and welcome friends and visitors. While visiting the Yasawa islands, I participated in a village's traditional welcome ceremony. The village leaders encouraged us to join the locals in a dance as they sang beautiful melodies. I snapped this picture as I was being pulled into the dancing group by a local woman. The children were having so much fun imitating their visitors. While the village did not have the amenities that the Western world has become accustomed to, I saw true happiness, independent of unnecessary 'extras.'"
Students Receive Prestigious Grants
Maria Jose Norero '09 was awarded a Fulbright grant to pursue research on Afro-Ecuadorian communities in coastal Ecuador this fall. She plans "to study how documentary filmmaking can positively affect the identity formation of marginalized groups like the Afro-Ecuadorian community," she wrote in her project proposal, and work in conjunction with FLACSO, a research institute, and CineMemoria, a film organization.
Norero will produce an hour-long documentary film that compares interviews with Afro-Ecuadorian subjects of films produced by outsiders with those produced by community members. She hopes to screen the film at festivals in the United States and Ecuador and pursue a career as a documentary filmmaker.
Four students from the College have received Fulbright awards since 2006.
Michael Fiske '10 received a 2009-2010 Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) undergraduate research grant for $3,000 to support his current senior thesis research and travel to national conferences. This summer he will travel independently to the Gordon Research Conference in Andover, New Hampshire, where he has been invited to present his work, including some done in collaboration with Ray Choi '09 and Alexandra Ayala '09. In addition to presenting at this selective, biannual conference that addresses the topic, "Stress Proteins in Growth, Development, and Disease," he will attend another national conference in the fall.
Fiske was also awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2009 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. The biology major plans to seek a PhD in molecular neuroscience and pursue a career in academic medicine with a focus on neural stem cells and their medical applications.
Henry Salas Lazo '10 and Antti Isoaho '11 received a $10,000 grant from the Davis Projects for Peace program to assist young mothers in Peru. Their proposal titled, "Madres Fuertes," or "Strong Mothers," has several components.
They will hold workshops to give young mothers the tools to be confident and proactive members of Peruvian society. The women will also participate in a business venture. Finally they will hold a Christmas celebration, providing an opportunity for mothers and their children who would not otherwise be able to experience the holiday.
Lake Forest College students have received grants all three years of the program's existence.
David Esturain '09, Ryan Glowacz '10, Caitlin Smith '12, Ian Tinley '10, Kylie Trotman '09, and Associate Professor of History Shiwei Chen, received a $31,000 grant by the ASIANetwork Freeman Student-Faculty Fellows Program to conduct field research in China about the nation's rapidly changing economy and society.
The group's proposal titled, "China Through Student's Eyes: Three Case Studies of China's Economic and Educational Development," will have the team conduct interviews, observe business activities, collect materials, and hold roundtable discussions at three different sites: an auto-parts manufacturer, a rural commune that embodies collectivization, and one of the country's top private higher-education institutions. The grant will cover expenses for the three-week trip.
Chen's team aims "to understand not only the unique pattern of development that China is pursuing, but also to recognize the challenges of income inequality, diminishing state capacity, uneasy relations with the U.S., the global business revolution, and the future role of the Chinese Communist Party with which China's leadership is faced in the 21st century."
Speakers Sound Off
CATHERINE BERTINI, former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, senior fellow in agriculture development for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and professor of public administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University delivered a presentation titled, "Making a
Difference in Global Hunger" on March 17.
Conservationist George ArchiBald delivered the Ruth Winter Community Lecture titled, "Helping Cranes in Challenging Places Ñ North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and Cuba" on January 29.
ERIC FONER, DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, delivered the lecture, "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and Slavery" on February 5.
As part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Program on January 19, Professor of Politics, Emeritus, PAUL FISCHER delivered a lecture titled, "Does the Obama Election Mean The End of Black Politics as We Know It?"
Minnesota Congressman KEITH ELLISON, the first Muslim American to be elected to U.S. Congress, spoke about civil rights on January 30.
Canadian sound poet CHRISTIAN B…K served as an Artist-in-Residence this February. Bšk visited classes to discuss his varied interests in avant-garde art and performance, European and North American literature, conceptual art, and pop culture. IFA BAYEZA, an award-winning playwright, producer, and conceptual theater artist, was the other Artist-in-Residence.
SAMANTHA ENGLAND '04, a PhD candidate at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, delivered the talk, "Can We Make Blood outside Our Body?" on March 23.
On March 26, Lake Forest College's Urban Studies Program and the Center for Chicago Programs held the program, "Greening the City, Greening the Campus." Speakers included Chicago Commissioner for the Environment SUZANNE MALEC-McKENNA, architect DOUG FARR, and sustainability director for the University of Chicago ILSA FLANAGAN. The event was hosted by Highland Park Mayor MICHAEL BELSKY '83.
Chicago Bears employees JOHN BOSTROM '87, senior director of administration, and CAROLINE GUIP SCHRENKER '88, director of community relations, presented the talk, "Breaking out of the Huddle: How to Find a Career in Sports" on Thursday, April 16.
TOM CARR '70, professor of psychology at Michigan State University, and SIAN BEILOCK, associate professor of psychology at University of Chicago, delivered the 41st annual Sigma Xi lecture about research related to performing under pressure on April 19.
By the Numbers
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| (Courtesy of Jason Cody) |
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place for Emily Pospiech '09, Danielle Clark '09, and Ali Vetter '10 in the Chemvention national competition (pictured with chemistry professor Jason Cody). Their project introduced color chromatography Ñ a process that separates colors of water-based markers so all colors are visible Ñ to an elementary school class with a $20 budget. Elizabeth Fischer, chemistry professor and advisor of Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society, advised the group.
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volumes published of Eukaryon, the online undergraduate biology journal, which featured student-written articles on scientific issues. Read online at www.lakeforest.edu/eukaryon.
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flags flown on the stage at Commencement representing the countries of graduating seniors.
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teams signed up for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life event, in which participants ran continuously from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and raised more than $41,000 for cancer research.
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days since a book was stolen from Washington and Lee University's library by a Union soldier during the Civil War and returned by handball coach Mike Dau '58, who had inherited the 145-year-old book and considers himself lucky for not having to pay any fines. The story was chronicled in several media outlets, including Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Associated Press, Christian Science Monitor, CBS Radio, and Chicago Public Radio.
In the News
A. B. Dick Professor of Economics ROBERT BAADE, who conducts research about the economic impact of large-scale events, was interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio about Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid on April 13. His research was cited in a Forbes article on January 15 regarding the inauguration of President Obama.
SUZANNE BLOCK '09 was featured in a March 16 Chicago Tribune article and on a March 19 Fox News segment about the tough job market for soon-to-be college graduates.
The Lake Forester covered the College's Speed Networking event and quoted Director of Career Advancement Center LISA HINKLEY, JEFFREY RAFFAELLI '09, and ISABELLA BURRAGE '09.
The Lake Forester featured a January 21 article about how Lake Forest College students celebrated the inauguration.
Gorter Professor of Sociology and Anthropology and Director of the Islamic World Studies Program AHMAD SADRI was quoted in an article in the Boston Globe on December 22 about the upcoming Iranian presidential election. He spoke on Chicago Public Radio's Worldview about President Obama and Iran.
President STEPHEN D. SCHUTT's announcement that the College would create a financial-aid reserve fund for students was referenced in a December 15 Chicago Tribune article and an October 28 Lake County News-Sun piece.
The Chicago Tribune referenced Professor of Physics, Emeritus, TUNG JEONG in a November 16 article about holographic images used during the presidential results.
Q & A with Financial Aid Director JERRY CEBRZYNSKI
Gerard "Jerry" Cebrzynski has worked in financial aid for 26 years, including 16 of those as Lake Forest College's director of financial aid. With the cost of college increasing and the economic downtown causing many families to wonder how they will pay for it, Spectrum sat down with him to learn more about the issue and Lake Forest's own efforts.
Spectrum: Have you seen the world of financial aid change a lot since you started working in the field?
Cebrzynski: I have. I've seen things change and come back to the way they were. But it's been pretty consistent in terms of families' concerns about affording education. It's a big chunk.
Spectrum: Is it harder or easier for students to get financial aid now?
Cebrzynski: It's funny, but it hasn't changed. Programs are as accessible as they always were. In fact more colleges now, because of the recession, are saying, "We're earmarking more funds for those families who are being affected negatively."
The only exception to that would be in terms of some student loans. Federal loans are still plentiful and absolutely guaranteed. Some of the private loans are more difficult to get because, like the consumer loans now, they're increasing the required credit scores and the financial
background of the family.
Spectrum: Is Lake Forest College providing more scholarships or increasing our financial aid pot?
Cebrzynski: We aren't decreasing any financial aid resources to families. We're still going ahead as we normally have been.
This year we were blessed by a couple of big donations, so we were able to offer an additional $100,000 in financial aid to about 40 students who were experiencing some "I can't come back" type problems. As we build our freshman class next year we're still awarding as much as we have been, and in some cases, even more.
Spectrum: Let's talk about what the government is doing.
Cebrzynski: There is an increase in the Pell Grant, which is the basic federal grant that students with certain financial need levels receive. It's a $600 jump from last year to next year, which is huge and very welcomed. We have about 25 percent who receive federal Pell Grants, which is a good indicator that we serve a very diverse student body.
The stimulus bill also increased work-study funding, which is really nice and many of our students take advantage of it.
President Obama's proposed budget looks at the whole student loan program and wants to revamp the whole thing. Currently there are two ways a student can get a student loan Ñ through a lender or directly through the government. But what Obama wants to do is to combine the two, which could be interesting. It's nice to reinvent every once in a while.
Spectrum: What trends do you see in the future of financial aid?
Cebrznski: I see financial aid becoming simplified with the consolidation of some of the programs and the process itself, which will soon become very easy to do for some families. There will be more scholarships for different types of students, more teaching scholarships, and more loan forgiveness for students going into public service.
Spectrum: Any advice for families as they embark on this process?
Cebrzynski: Remain proactive, ask questions, seek out help, and be mindful of deadlines.
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| Photo by Suzanne Tennant |
"Stay Loyal to Yourselves"
Novelist and Attorney Scott Turow Addresses Class of 2009 at 131st Commencement.
Best selling novelist and lawyer Scott Turow described a pivotal moment that he had as a 25-year-old writing teacher living in San Francisco to nearly 350 graduates and their families at Commencement on Saturday, May 9. Despite his lifelong dream to write and publish a book, Turow felt called to the law. But he feared that going to law school would mean the end of his budding writing career.
Emotionally distraught, he finally made a decision about the direction of his life, promising himself that he could accomplish both and, he says, "rejected the idea of having to choose one road or another." Turow became a successful attorney, prosecuting white-collar criminal cases and representing the poor in several pro bono cases.
His legal career and knowledge of the criminal justice system also provided inspiration for his writing, and he has gone on to publish seven best-sellers, two works of nonfiction, and a novella.
Turow says he was able to achieve because he stayed loyal to the person he was and the values he had in San Francisco. He advised graduates that as they make their way to keep in mind the advice that they would give themselves and to remember what they want out of life. "Stay loyal to yourselves," he said.
The College's 131st Commencement also featured Maria Jose Norero '09, an international relations major who will move to Ecuador on a Fulbright award, as the senior class speaker, and the announcement of the class gift of a $5,000 fund toward a statue for the new Sports Center.
George Speros, who retired in June after 45 years at the College, received an ovation for his longtime work as the organizer of Commencement. He has recently served as Associate Provost, Associate Dean of the Faculty, and Director of International Studies.
The College awarded honorary degrees to Barbara Gaines, founder and artistic director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Peter G. Schiff '74, Chairman of the Lake Forest College Board of Trustees, and founder and CEO of Northwood Ventures LLC, a New York-based venture capital firm.
View photos at alumni.lakeforest.edu.