Corbett is a vice president at CRST, a Cedar Rapids trucking company owned by fellow Cornellian John Smith ’71. He was elected to the Iowa House in 1986 and served seven terms before stepping down to take the job of president/CEO of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. While serving in the House he was speaker for five years. Corbett has never lost an election for public office.

Corbett defeated City Council incumbent Brian Fagan. With 90 percent of precincts reporting as of Tuesday night, Corbett had 13,418 votes to Fagan’s 7,742.

Gazette election coverage

Gazette profile on Corbett

Gazette story on football careers of the three mayoral candidates

Now an attorney living in Seattle, Weston alerted the college in an understated e-mail that said, “I graduated from Cornell in 1978. During my life there, I shot a lot of photographs. Over the past several years, I have scanned and digitized those negatives. Over the past month, I’ve been building a Web site for those and other photos. You might be interested in taking a look at the Cornell College set.”

Communications Director Dee Ann Rexroat ’82 received the e-mail and claims not to have completed work for a chunk of that afternoon while viewing the images online. She contacted college historian the Rev. Richard Thomas, who had interviewed Weston while researching and writing Cornell’s scholarly history book.

“It’s a very valuable collection. It has the integrity of a defined period and reflects that time in a fascinating way,” Thomas said. “It’s a documentation of student life at Cornell and perhaps of the larger world of student life in that period. I was enthusiastic about his art while he was making it. He has a gift for composition.”

To view the photos, go to www.ericwestonphoto.net/cornellgallery.html. But first, set aside plenty of time.

By motorcycle.

Winokur, who has been a motorcycle safety instructor for almost 20 years, drove over 17 hours from his home in Bethesda, Md., to Mount Vernon by way of Iowa City in just two days.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I was afraid if I waited for my next reunion, it wouldn’t happen,” said Winokur.

He also said he’s traveled quite a bit on his motorcycle – a BMW R1200RT –  lately, passing through nearly every state between New York and Georgia and as far west as Iowa. He said this drive was particularly nippy, as temperatures dropped as low as the 40s through river valleys in the Appalachian Mountains. Nothing a full set of heated gloves, a heated jacket, and heated seats couldn’t take care of.

Winokur is in town for the 2009 Cornell College Homecoming: Welcome to the Hilltop.

Cornell’s homecoming celebrates the reunion classes of 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, and 2004. Events begin Friday, Oct. 9, and include a pep rally and fireworks in Ash Park, starting at 9 p.m.

Three alumni will be honored at convocation in King Chapel at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Stephen Grummon, a 1969 graduate, will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award for his notable career  in foreign affairs. Jerry Ringer, class of 1959 and trustee, and Elizabeth Hoyer Beeman, class agent for the class of 1969, will receive the Leadership and Service Award for their many years of service to the college.

Also being recognized during Homecoming is Dyan Smith, wife of John Smith, Class of 1971 and chair of the Cornell Board of Trustees, who will receive Honorary Alumni status Friday during the Alumni Board Luncheon.

New to the slate of events this year is a 5k run Saturday morning beginning at Ash Park at 8 a.m. Registration starts at 7 a.m.

Following the convocation, there will be an open house at the Paul K. Scott Alumni Center at Rood House from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Also on Saturday, Cornell Professor Emeritus of English and Poet-in-Residence Robert Dana will hold a book signing on the Orange Carpet in The Commons from 11 a.m.-noon.  There will be a Homecoming Studio Art Faculty Show reception from 3-5 p.m. in Peter Paul Luce Gallery, McWethy Hall on Saturday. At 2:30 p.m. on Saturday the Faculty Blockbuster Lecture for the One Book, One Campus, One Community Book The Zookeeper’s Wife will be held in Hedges Lounge in the Commons.

Other special activities include the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame  Induction Ceremony Saturday at 8 a.m.; a memorial for Ed Rogers Saturday at 9 a.m. in Allee Chapel; historic campus tours with student re-enactors at 3:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and the homecoming football game against Luther, kicking off at 1 p.m. in Ash Park.

Miller and the three other contest winners will read their poems on Sept. 29 at the “Crossroads of the World” together with readings by other poets and literary luminaries.

The prize-winning pieces, selected from nearly 500 entries, represent different Times Square experiences and impressions – from a family of sparrows nesting in an unlikely urban environment to a meditation on intimacy and estrangement inspired by the famous photo of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square at the end of World War II.

Miller’s writing has appeared in outlets such as Best American Essays, The Yale Review, The Kenyon Review, Salmagundi, Raritan, AGNI, One Story and An Introduction to the Prose Poem. He is also the recipient of a creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Miller, a native of Davenport who has lived in New York since graduating from Cornell, has remained close to his mentor, Cornell Professor Emeritus of English and Poet-in-Residence Robert Dana.

As part of his prize, Miller received $750 and accommodations at the Millennium Broadway Hotel.

For more information, visit timessquarenyc.org/about_us/brightpoetry.html.

Read the L.A. Times story on the event.

Pipe Birds

Sparrows fly in and out a cove atop the corner pole.
Feather ruffle unscrolled, beaks chirping, stitching…

The family stuck like a burr on 43rd and Broadway.
No home-style fantasy like my restaurant. Each week

an at-risk heritage–Moldavian, Iowan, Senegalese–
invited to bake and cook in the kitchen of 35 stoves.

The reality of where a nest can fit, what lineage abide
without falling apart into old recipes needing saving.

Curl of metal curtains. Hidden weave of twigs, wire.
Truck traffic–how does it resound in their little hole?

More vibration than noise? A massage or a message?
Pipe birds exit like bumbling bullets, enter like moles.

Cornell closed out the 2008-2009 year strongly, raising $9.8 million in gifts, pledges, and grants, including nearly $1 million for the environmental studies program and $2.2 million for the annual fund. Nearly 4,000 donors contributed to funds that allowed students to study overseas, renovated dormitories, created new classes and programs, brought in lecturers and provided student scholarships.

“Once again I am humbled by the tremendous generosity from friends and alumni of Cornell College. In a difficult financial year when less than 50 percent of non-profits reported an increase in donations our generous supporters propelled the Hilltop to an increase of nearly $1 million.” said Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement Peter Wilch. “There are many charities our alumni and friends choose to support and I am grateful so many count Cornell as a top priority for their philanthropy.”

These funds are creating opportunities for students that make the Cornell experience exceptional. Over 20 classes were held overseas this year, nearly 30 students had funded Cornell Fellowships all around the country, and renovations were completed that created or upgraded residential living spaces, improved offices and services, and created classroom and study spaces.

“I’m especially grateful to those who supported us in a very challenging year,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “These gifts strengthen us in many ways, most importantly by allowing our students to pursue a truly distinctive liberal arts education.”

Many of these opportunities were made possible by donations to the Annual Fund, the yearly trust that creates an immediate and profound impact, enriching the lives of every student and faculty member, every day, in all corners of the college, through scholarships, improved teaching environments, and classroom improvements.

“We had an incredible response to the Annual Fund this year,” said Annual Fund Director Trish Kohl. “That so many stepped up and contributed in such a difficult year shows how much people care about Cornell and our students.”

This was also a banner year for the environmental studies program. The program, one of the first in the nation when it was formed in 1975 by geology professor and alumnus Herb Hendriks, received nearly $1 million in support this year from the Cornell College Class of 1958, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

“Environmental studies at Cornell is a program with extraordinary potential,” said Garner. “It typifies what a liberal arts education should look like.”

This year also marked the completion of renovations to Pfeiffer Residence Hall, The Paul K. Scott Alumni Center at Rood House, and The Peter Paul Luce Admission Center at Wade House. All of these renovations were made possible by generous gifts from Cornell donors.

Cornell is distinctive in U.S. higher education in offering the combination of liberal arts and science study within the One Course At A Time framework in an active residential community. Cornell is featured as one of 40 institutions in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives,” was cited by the New York Times as one of 20 “stealth powerhouses,”  and has consistently ranked among the best liberal arts schools in the country according to the U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Magazine, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.

On Cornell’s One Course At A Time calendar, students study a single subject for a 3 1/2-week term. The average class size is 16. Nine terms are offered each year, enabling students to pursue multiple internships and international domestic off-campus programs during the year.

The Smiths, who have donated millions to Cornell over the years, are at the forefront of “Block by Block,” a program aimed squarely at speeding up neighborhood recovery in flood-damaged areas of the Cedar Valley. The program was recently featured in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

According to the article: “By Christmas, Block by Block will have mobilized most homeowners on eight flood-damaged city blocks to agree to finishing work on their houses. Heavy lifting will come from $1.9 million in cash donations, $100,000 or more in donated materials, and countless hours of volunteer help.”

The heavy lifting on the $1.9 million is being done by the Smiths, who are contributing $1 million to the effort that came about when the couple approached Jim Ernst, president/CEO of Four Oaks about doing more the hasten the recovery.

The Block by Block program, despite its name evoking the Cornell Block Plan, is not actually affiliated with John Smith’s alma mater. Like Cornell, however, the program has Methodist ties, as it was largely founded by The Rev. Clint Twedt-Ball, a Methodist minister who runs a non-profit neighborhood effort called Matthew 25.

More information on Block by Block can be found at www.blockbyblockcr.org or by calling (319) 350-2252.

Stoll and her husband William have donated $200,000 to Cornell in support of the Pre-Law Program she helped create and to help fund The Commons renovation project.

“I believe completely that I would not be the person I am and have had the success that I have if not for my experiences at Cornell College,” said Stoll, an attorney for Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease LLC in Columbus, Ohio.

The bulk of the gift will go toward renovations of the campus’ central hub, The Commons. Renovations to The Commons will increase the building size by 28 percent to accommodate enrollment growth and modern student life activities. The plans call for sweeping changes to the building’s upper-level entryway, along with a two-story addition on the back. The Orange Carpet, Cornell’s popular epicenter, will remain the focus of The Commons.

Stoll, a Waterloo native, was the first in her family to graduate from college and found herself right at home at Cornell. She had an early interest in law, but went into elementary education upon graduation. While she loved teaching, she decided she wanted more, and went on to earn a law degree from the University of Iowa. Still, she credits Cornell and the many people who touched her life there with giving her the confidence to challenge herself to reach beyond what she might have otherwise achieved.

Renderings of The Commons project from the north (left) and south (right). Click either photo to view a larger image.

“I think that opening one’s mind to infinite possibilities is what liberal arts is all about,” said Stoll. “I didn’t understand that for several years, even after graduating. It takes some time to look back and really appreciate your liberal arts education.”

Stoll’s gift will also fund, in part, the current Pre-Law Program she helped launch in 2005. The Cornell College Pre-Law Program guides and prepares students in all major fields for successful admission to law school and careers in the legal profession.  The program also supports Cornell’s Mock Trial team, which, in only its third year, qualified for the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament this past spring.

“The Pre-Law Program would not be what it is today without Sheryl’s initiative, leadership and guidance,” said President Les Garner.  “This gift exemplifies Sheryl and Bill’s commitment to the college.  We are fortunate to have their support.”

The Stolls’ gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

The Nuns case, as it was known in Chicago, involved an accident in which a nun was accused of causing a fatal car crash by running a red light. The nun, Marie Marot, a 24-year-old member of LaFraternite Notre Dame, was defended by Lund and his partner.

The case garnered national attention when Lund’s team successfully argued to allow Marot and her sisters to wear their habits while in court, and when Marot was acquitted despite all other witnesses insisting she was responsible.

Lund said the case turned on the successful cross examination of the State’s witness, a cross examination he said was made possible by his time at Cornell.

“I attribute my ability to cross examine anyone on any subject to the education I received at Cornell College as a philosophy and political science major learning to think from the general to the specific, while mastering the facts, and attending to the details,” said Lund.

The case, which was originally a “slam dunk for the prosecution,” according to Lund, turned into a 30-minute jury deliberation and an acquittal after his cross examination.

“Professors Debbins, Gray , Crossett, Berry, and Allin taught me how to stand toe to toe with the greatest thinkers,” said Lund. “So having faced down Aristotle and Plato I was ready to stand up and grind towards the truth in the courtroom.

“People always ask at the end of a trial how I learned to ask such questions,” added Lund. “I smile. Sometimes I say one of my professors’ names, but most of the time I proudly say: I went to Cornell College and the place is still making me think.”

Read about it in the Chicago Sun-Times.

The article cited Congressman David Loebsack, former Cornell professor of politics and an honorary alumnus, as a positive in the fight to keep health reform proceedings open and smart.

“On June 9, 2nd District Congressman Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, attended a congressional briefing that has the potential to help Congress pass both the hearing test and the IQ test on health reform,” wrote the authors. “He opened the House of Representatives’ doors to experts on the topic of medication therapy management (MTM).

“For that he gets credit for listening, and for highlighting an opportunity to help make health care work better for less.”

Anderson co-authored the article with Bruce Roberts, executive vice president and CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and Thomas Temple, executive vice president and CEO of the Iowa Pharmacy Association.

Anderson is a Cornell trustee, a regular supporter of the Cornell Fellows program, and a member of the Berry Center Advisory Board.

The full article was not yet available online.

David Kugler ‘09

Five years ago, I started the college search process never having heard of Cornell College until I received a letter in the mail. Being intrigued by the One Course At A Time Calendar and wanting to learn more about this mysterious school, I decided to send back the information card. The summer before my senior year in high school, my family decided to go on a road trip to tour colleges. My dad thought that since we were visiting schools in eastern Nebraska we could travel to that “little school in Iowa” and just look at it. After this road trip, I had made up my mind about where I was going to attend college…and it was not Cornell because the residence halls did not have air conditioning. My mom was mortified that I was going to make my college decision based on air conditioning in the dorms, but after receiving multiple phone calls from persistent Cornell students, Cornell was looking more like a place I wanted to attend. (I later learned by working as a telecounselor that Cornell calls all prospective students even students who are not at all interested, but at the time I felt like Cornell was reaching out to me personally.) Once I got back to the dry heat of western Nebraska and out of the Iowa humidity, I came to my senses and realized that Cornell was everything I had ever wanted in a school: It was out of Nebraska, I knew no one, and it had a high quality academic reputation.

Fast forward one year later, I had arrived on campus and went to the New Student Orientation Convocation where Student Body President Steve Wieland said, “Enjoy the next four years because they will go incredibly fast.” At the time I just laughed to myself thinking “Yeah right,” but Steve was absolutely correct. I cannot believe that our four years at Cornell have ended so quickly. Love it or hate it, Cornell has become our home for four years, and we have all been greatly shaped by our Cornell experiences (or as I like to call them “Extraordinary Opportunities”…Okay so maybe I’m not the only person who calls them that).

Cornell is kind of like the television show Cheers because it seems that everyone knows your name (or at least a tidbit of gossip about you), and I would not have it any other way. I have made lasting friendships and had incredible faculty. The interactions that I have had with staff have also been wonderful. It may sound silly, but every where I look at Cornell I see extraordinary people engaged in “extraordinary opportunities.” I cannot believe how much I have learned about myself, other people, and the world by attending a small liberal arts college in a small Iowa town. I would like to share some of the lessons that I have learned by being at Cornell with all of you.

Lessons I Have Learned By Attending Cornell:

• Be yourself even if it is scary at first…That way you can live life without regrets.
• You cannot love others until you learn to love yourself.
• I tried to fight my sociology professors on this one because as much as I want to believe that I have agency and free will, I have learned that I am constrained by our larger societal structure. If I want to have agency within this structure, I need to organize it in a way where I can exercise my free will.
• Be open to new experiences (I had no idea that applying to be an RA three years ago would lead to a future career in student affairs—Sorry if I ever wrote you up.)
• It’s okay to give something up when it stops being enjoyable and move onto something new. This way, you can discover new passions and have new experiences. Sometimes these experiences will be positive and other times they will be negative, but try to learn something from every single one of these occasions.
• Good friends come and go, but they will always have a special place in your heart.
• Judging others only causes others to judge you. We also tend to judge others when we are insecure about something within ourselves. Accept others’ imperfections, differences of opinions, and flaws. We all have flaws. Embrace them. I have probably learned more about my own beliefs from the people with whom I disagree, but disagree respectfully.
• Be willing to change your first impressions. They are not always right.
• Honesty truly is the best policy. Sometimes the truth hurts, but we eventually pull ourselves together and get over it. People can take bad news, but deliver the bad news gently.
• Sodexo cooks better than I do.
• Be proud of your accomplishments (We all have many), but try to remain grounded and in touch with reality. Modesty and humility are qualities that I genuinely admire in people.
• I’ve discovered new passions and things that I enjoy such as discussing sociological issues, painting, making art, veggie corn dogs, and eating sushi while keeping some of the things that I have always enjoyed like laughing with friends until my stomach hurts, increasing my cultural capital by visiting museums and watching theatre performances, quoting Nicole Richie, applying Chapstick, and washing my hands with foam soap.
• Meeting new people can be scary but also incredibly rewarding. Putting yourself in potentially uncomfortable situations and making yourself somewhat vulnerable can truly allow you to connect with a variety of people. I have made wonderful connections by attending Cornell, a school where I knew no one coming in.
• Everything happens for a reason even if you do not immediately know the reason.
• I believe that everyone has a personal ongoing struggle that helps them discover their true identity. Do not avoid this struggle…It is what makes you unique.
• Tell people frequently how much you care about them.
• Sometimes letting go is really a good thing. Remember all of your memories from Cornell, but accept and embrace new challenges that will face you very soon.

Cornell is who I am. I have learned to grow from my experiences here whether they have been positive or negative, and whether or not you believe it, Cornell is who you are too. Each of my classmates has somehow shaped my four years here, and I am forever grateful. I am incredibly impressed by the internships, fellowships, service to the community, and campus programs that have been done by all of you. I have no doubts that wherever we go, we will each be successful. I am proud to say that I graduated from Cornell College, and I am even prouder to be a member of the Class of 2009. Congratulations!

Phil Lucas

Jesus make the blind to see

Jesus make the deaf to hear

Jesus make the cripple walk

Walk in, dear Jesus,

No man can hinder me.

No man can hinder me.

They wanted that education because their instincts told them there was more to life than money, and with the right education they and their families could lead more satisfying lives and they could advance society too.

What we can learn from Abraham Lincoln and the freed people is the confirmation of what we know. Your instincts brought you to Cornell College, and my colleagues and I applaud your success. The instincts that led you here, to this education, are undeniable and invaluable. But as Lincoln and the freedmen and women knew, that was but the first step. They followed their instincts to apply that knowledge to the unprecedented challenges that faced them, and to make difficult decisions to attain justice in its many dimensions. History shows such instincts serve well whether one is surrounded by a horrible war, emerging from 200 years of bondage, or in the midst of a crippled economy.

Embrace the new world beyond Cornell with confidence in your own instincts, and with the optimism that your contributions will make it better.

All I ask is that you occasionally reflect on what was, what is, and what will be.

Thank you.

Thomas, who also formerly served as the Cornell College chaplain, received the 2007 Petersen/Harlan Award from the State Historical Society of Iowa in recognition of his services to historical preservation. He has chaired or served on Mount Vernon’s Historic Preservation Commission for 29 years.

”I was very surprised,” said Thomas of the award. “It’s a special honor when it comes from an organization of your peers and colleagues. That’s one of the nicest things about it. It comes from people who have an appreciation for the field.”

Among his many efforts at preserving Cornell’s history is the Sesquicentennial History he wrote along with Professor William Heywood and a variety of essays on a number of topics concerning Cornell’s history. Thomas also wrote the nomination of the campus for the National Register of Historic Places, and Cornell’s entire campus is now listed on that registry, one of only two in the nation. He’s still an intellectual presence on campus, teaches a course annually, and regularly contributes historical information to anyone who asks.

Thomas started at Cornell in 1967 and officially retired in 1996, but has continued to teach every year since.

In addition to his work at Cornell, he was the first chairman of the Iowa State Historical Department in 1974. In 1977 Gov. Robert Ray appointed him chairman of the Terrace Hill Authority, which transformed the Governor’s mansion into one of the nation’s best examples of adaptive reuse of a historic building. He was also a member of the Iowa review committee for the National Register of Historic Places.

View the story in the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun. 

Hughes has been a longtime supporter of Cornell, giving steadily for years. He said he had always planned to give back to Cornell in a big way.

“Cornell’s always had a special meaning to me for what it gave me and for my start on my life after school,” said Hughes. “I gave so that others can enjoy the same experience that I enjoyed.”

Hughes, a former basketball player under Paul Maaske, added that he felt it was important to give now, when the needs of the college were the greatest.

“We really cannot thank Jim enough for his generosity. He’s always been a strong supporter of Cornell and of the Rams,” said Director of Athletics John Cochrane, who added that Hughes’ gift is responsible for the recent aesthetic enhancements to the downstairs arena and to the Main Gym in the Sport Center.

Hughes, who grew up on a farm near Iowa City, retired recently from Equitable Life Insurance Society of the United States, where he spent his entire career after being recruited on Cornell’s campus.

Hughes’ gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

Read the New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer obituaries here.

The eldest son of Clair “Judge” Littell, legendary Cornell professor of history and political science and an ordained Methodist minister, Franklin Littell was prominent in ecumenical and interfaith activities for more than 50 years. His life’s work is the advancement of religious liberty and the exposure of persecution.

He served 10 years in the American occupation of post-war Germany  and was a founding member of the U.S. Holocaust Museum. He held advanced degrees from Union Theological Seminary and Yale University and was once president of Iowa Wesleyan College, a Methodist-affiliated institution. He was the author of more than two dozen books and nearly 300 major articles.

The donor wished the gift to remain anonymous, but encourages other alumni and friends to step forward during this crucial juncture in the college’s history. As an unrestricted gift, the $100,000 will be utilized for the greatest needs of the college.

“Given the effect the nation’s economy has had on so many friends and alumni of the Hilltop the significance of this gift cannot be stated enough,” said Peter Wilch, vice president for alumni and college advancement. “This is a very generous response to the current crisis and will help to ensure that Cornell will continue to offer our students an exceptional education.”

This gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

The Durhams are both Cornell graduates of the late 1970s, just over 10 years after The Commons opened. Now, 30 years later, the couple saw a need to upgrade the center that not only serves as a student hang out and dining hall, but as a gathering place for events, visitors, and education.

“In visiting potential colleges with our youngest son, we realized the unique role that a student center plays in the life of a college. The student center serves as the ‘front-door’ of a college,” said Durham. “While The Commons continues to serve Cornell in this role, we are pleased that our contribution will enable Cornell to restore and renew The Commons.”

Tom Durham has been a Chicago-area lawyer for almost 29 years, and is a partner at Mayer Brown LLP. His wife Martha was ordained a Deacon in 2008 and serves St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Park Ridge, Ill.

“We are truly thankful to have friends like Tom and Martha Durham,” said Cornell President Les Garner. “Their generous gift will help us strengthen The Commons’ role as a campus and community center.”

The Durham’s gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

Watkins’ work for the Sierra Club’s ‘Cool Cities’ clean energy campaign is highlighted in the story, which includes photos taken of the group in New York City’s Central Park.

Other Glamour eco-achievers include actress Alicia Silverstone, chef Alice Waters, model Christine Brinkley, new Director of the U.S. EPA Lisa Jackson, and olympic gold medalist Hope Solo.

Click here to view the online version of the article.

“I hope that Glamour magazine’s feature will encourage everyday women and men that they too can be Green Heroes,” said Watkins. “It was such an honor to be selected to participate in the photo shoot.”

Watkins began working on the Cool Cities campaign in Omaha in 2006. The Cool Cities campaign mission is to work with local governments to implement the goals of the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. Watkins was instrumental in getting the cities of Omaha and Lincoln signed onto the Mayor’s Agreement. She currently heads up the Sierra Club’s campaign work for stronger energy-efficient building codes. Last year, the Cool Cities program was instrumental in bringing about the largest increase in residential energy efficiency in decades. For more information about the Cool Cities campaign visit www.coolcities.us.

The new Cornell eReport is easier to read and matches the look and feel of the print publication (now in the mail and arriving at your doorsteps soon!) better than ever. With full photo galleries and easier navigation, the Cornell eReport has never looked better.

Featuring Dimensions:  The Center for the Science and Culture of Health Care, the Winter 2009 Cornell Report explores the health-science program from top to bottom, including Operation Walk, internships, off-campus study, and Cornellian success in medical school.

The issue also includes the “One Day” photo essay, a “slice of life” at Cornell College taken over a two-day period in the fall. 

Finally, the issue also highlights the English Department and its proclivity for The Little Mermaid. You’ll just have to read on to figure that one out.

And of course you’ll find Class News, the Campus Digest, Obituaries, the Cornelliana, and Faculty/Staff News that are featured in every issue of the Cornell Report. 

Visit and bookmark www.cornellcollege.edu/cornell-report to check out the latest issue and browse the archives.

Mikelson, a 1958 graduate of Cornell College, is visiting as part of the Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program. His first talk “Black Liberation Theology in the USA: Martin Luther King Jr. to James Cone,” will be at 11:15 a.m. The second, “Celam, Pope John 23, Gustavo Gutierrez, and Monsenor Oscar Romero: The Beginnings of Latin American Liberation Theology,” will start at 3:30 p.m.

Both lectures will be in Hedges Conference room, and are free and open to the public.

Mikelson was the parish minister at First Parish and First Church in Cambridge, Mass., from 1989 to 2006, and he continues on as minister emeritus. He was also a visiting lecturer at Harvard Divinity School, where he earned his Doctorate of Theology, and at the University of Iowa. Mikelson has also been awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award, granted by the Progressive National Baptist Convention and was the Minns Lecturer in 1993-94, where he delivered six lectures on King Jr.

Mikelson will also visit with students in class and over meals. The Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program brings a number of accomplished Cornell College alumni to the campus each year. While on campus, distinguished alumni share their expertise with Cornell students in courses, receptions, meals in the dining halls, and during individual visits. Additionally, alumni visitors present public lectures about their professional experiences in life beyond the Cornell hilltop.

“The corridor is like six degrees of RJ. Need to meet someone? Start with him,” offers the article in the January 21 issues of Hoopla.

To view the entire article, visit hooplanow.com.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

Ed Rogers was born March 19, 1917, in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, the son of Glenn H. and Martha (Conrad) Rogers. He graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1935 and from Cornell College in 1939. He continued his studies as a graduate assistant in Zoology at the University of Oklahoma, receiving his M.S. in 1941. This was followed by a year spent at Princeton University on a Fellowship.

In December of 1941, he married Mary Elizabeth Trent of Waco, Texas. During World War II Ed was drafted in the Army Medical Corps where he served at the Amarillo Air Base, Winter General Hospital and the Fitzsimmons General Hospital until his discharge. He returned to the University of Oklahoma as an instructor in Zoology as he completed his Ph.D. He and his family then moved to Waco, Texas where he became an assistant professor at Baylor University. In 1955, Ed and his family returned to Mt. Vernon where he became Professor and Chairman of the Biology Department at Cornell. During his time at Cornell he enjoyed summer appointments at University of Tennessee Medical School, and at the University of Iowa in the Zoology Dept. He spent two years in Cali, Colombia as a special field staff member of the Rockefeller Foundation, and as a consultant to the Biology Department of the Universidad de Valle. In 1982, Ed retired from Cornell.

Ed’s first wife, Elizabeth, was killed in an airplane accident in Venezuela. In 1970, he married Dorothy Deal Ware in 1970 and they remained in Mt. Vernon until 1994 when they moved to Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City. During his years in Mt. Vernon he was involved with the Methodist Church, Lions Club, and Mt. Vernon- Lisbon Area Ambulance Service. He also served on the Board of Directors of St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids and was past president and former editor of the Iowa Academy of Science. Since moving to Iowa City he has been active in the New Horizons Band and the “Speak Up” program for fifth graders in the Iowa City Schools. At Oaknoll, he served on the Resident’s Council, including one term as president.

In 2007, Ed was surprised and honored when former Cornell student and renowned scientist, Professor Jack Roberts ‘65  of Vanderbilt University was awarded an endowed chair and chose to name it the “T. Edwin Rogers Chair in Pharmacology and Medicine.”

Surviving Ed is his wife, Dorothy; sisters, Martha McNabb and Dorothy Narro, daughter, Jane Rogers Gray, son, Richard Glenn Rogers (Patti), step-children, J. Scott Ware (”Wan”), Douglas R. Ware , R. Dwight Ware (Judy), David H. Ware (Lucia) and Jessie Ware (”Stacie”) and by 13 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Mary Elizabeth (Trent); and his brother, William C. Rogers.

Ed’s dry humor, quick wit and tall tales endeared him to friends, family, colleagues, and students alike.

Memorial donations can be made in his memory to Cornell College, Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Ambulance Service, Iowa City-Johnson County Senior Center (New Horizon’s Band), the Oaknoll Foundation or any charity of your choice.

The McGranes both graduated from Cornell in 1973. John is a partner with the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in Washington, D.C., where he specializes in energy law. John has been a member of the Cornell College Board of Trustees for seven years and is vice chair of the business affairs committee. Marty was a member of the Cornell College Alumni Board for five years in the 1990s. More recently she was a member of the Campaign Committee that helped plan Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell.

“We are very happy to be able to contribute to Cornell, and particularly to these worthwhile efforts,” said John McGrane. “Les and Katrina Garner have graciously opened the President’s House to students, faculty, and alumni and have made it a focal point of the Cornell community. The house needs renovation and expansion to continue the Garners’ efforts. Cornell must also grow if it is to thrive, and the acquisition of property adjacent to the campus will assist Cornell in meeting future needs.”

The McGranes’ gift will fund $250,000 worth of improvements and renovations to the Cornell College President’s House. The remainder is directed to the Extraordinary Opportunities Campaign, the prelaw program, and the purchase of property adjacent to the Cornell campus.

“John and Marty McGrane have been generous with both their time and resources in support of Cornell,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “This latest gift is an example of that generosity. We are grateful for their longstanding service and commitment to Cornell.”

The McGranes’ gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

Professor Emeritus and honorary alumni David Loebsack won his second term as Democratic congressman out of Iowa’s 2nd district, which includes Mount Vernon and Cornell. With about 70 percent of precincts reporting, Loebsack was safely ahead of Mariannette Miller-Meeks, 59 percent to 38 percent.

For more visit:

The Iowa City Press Citizen
The Cedar Rapids Gazette

Elsewhere, Christopher Carney ’81 was re-elected in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. Carney was an associate professor of political science at Penn State Worthington-Scranton, where he taught since 1992. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their five children in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, in Pennsylvania.

For more visit Carney for Congress.

Another alum, Deborah Mell ’90 was elected as an Illinois state representative from the 40^th district. She lives in Chicago.

Finally, Nancy Kleihauer Adams ’64 was voted mayor of Pequot Lakes, Minn., and will take office on Jan. 1.

Barack Obama’s historic ascention to the presidency was spurred on by his early victory in the Iowa caucuses, which included a visit to Cornell College almost exactly 11 months ago. Then, in a speech that recalled John F. Kennedy and the creation of the Peace Corps, Obama called students to national service in a speech at the Small Multi-Sport Center in front of over 1,000 students and community members, one of the largest events Cornell College has held.

Meanwhile, back on campus, Cornellians turned out in droves to vote, spurred on by a Get Out the Vote campaign sponsored by Project Vote ’08 and The Civic Engagement Office. Vans carried students to and from polling places all day. Reports from voters noted a visibly excited student population, many registering for the first time.

Even Cornellians not able to be on campus got into the act. A theatre class in New York City with Scott Olinger fournd themselves celebrating election night in Times Square. “The students were very excited to be part of the energy,” said Olinger.

The gift honors long-time geology professor Herb Hendriks, who started one of the first environmental studies programs in the country at Cornell in 1975. The gift is being coordinated by lead donors Gib Drendel and John Mark Dean.

“There is a very great need for people who are informed about all aspects of the environment—political, social, economic, and environmental—and that’s why we set up this program,” said Hendriks. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the Class of 1958 gift. That gift is going to go a long, long way toward ensuring the program continues.”

“We need to ensure that, in the future, there will be people to look at the problem from all angles. Our environmental problems won’t go away, they’ll only increase, so it’s essential to keep student research and this program strong,” he added.

The bulk of the gift will endow the Cornell College Environmental Studies Program, a course of study that stresses sustainability across multiple disciplines—from politics to chemistry to geology and sociology. The other portion will fund a scholarship open to any junior or senior engaged in environmental studies, regardless of major.

Herb Hendriks, himself a 1940 graduate of Cornell, taught geology at Cornell from 1947 to 1983. He became interested in the sustainability of natural resources as early as the 1940s, and was finally able to offer that course in the 1960s. In 1975, he founded and directed the Cornell College Environmental Studies program—one of the first in the country and the first in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. He currently lives in the Methwick Community in Cedar Rapids

“It is extremely important that we have students who can examine environmental issues carefully and look at them from different angles, perhaps even more important than when Herb founded the program in 1975,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “The Class of 1958 gift is an enduring way for Cornell to strengthen an already distinct program.”

The Class of 1958 gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit www.cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

Cornell’s homecoming celebrates the reunion classes of 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2003. Events begin Friday, Oct. 10, and include a pep rally and fireworks in Ash Park, starting at 9 p.m.

Three alumni and two emeriti professors will be honored at convocation in King Chapel at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Congressman David Loebsack, professor emeritus of politics, will receive the Honorary Alumni Award for his longstanding service to the college. Aleta Grillos Trauger, a federal court judge and 1968 graduate, will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award. An honorary doctoral degree will be bestowed upon Herbert Hendriks, professor emeritus of geology and 1940 graduate of Cornell.

The Young Alumni Achievement Award will be presented to Jason Kolowski, a 1998 graduate. After an outstanding academic and athletic career at Cornell, Kolowski became a forensics researcher in New York and was on the front-line of post-9/11 recovery efforts. The Alumni Leadership and Service Awards will be presented to Trustee Gilbert Drendel Jr., the long-serving 1958 class agent.

Following the convocation, a historic campus tour with re-enactors will leave from the Commons at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Also on Saturday, there will be an artist’s reception for Carolyn Brown’s photography show in the Commons at 12:30 p.m., as well as a faculty/alumni panel on “The Environment: Science & Policy” in Ringer Recital Studio at 1:30 p.m. There will be a Homecoming Alumni Art Show reception from 3-5 p.m. with artists talk at 3:30 p.m. in Peter Paul Luce Gallery, McWethy Hall on Saturday.

Other special activities include the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony Friday at 6 p.m.; an open house for the new Peter Paul Luce Admission Center Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; a seminar on “Cornell’s Extraordinary Experiences-Student Perspectives,” Friday from 1:30-2:30 p.m.; and the homecoming football game against Simpson, kicking off at 1 p.m. in Ash Park.

For more information, click here.