Rockford, Ill., — Rockford University has announced the students named as Dean’s and Distinguished Scholars for the spring 2015 term.
Full-time students named as Distinguished Scholars for the spring 2015 semester earned at least a 3.75 GPA with no grades below a “C” and completed all requirements for the semester.
Full-time students named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2015 semester earned at least a 3.5 GPA with no grades below a “C” and completed all requirements for the semester.
A full list of students receiving these honors can be found at Rockford.Meritpages.com.

Contacts:
Pam Clark Reidenbach, Director, Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford University: 815-226-2833
Rita Elliott, Director of Communications: 815-226-3374
Rockford, Ill., – The Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE) at Rockford University welcomes noted author and non-profit activist Dan Pallotta as the key note speaker on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 for a special luncheon at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Rd, Rockford, 61108. The luncheon will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ticket sales open August 14 and reservations can made by visiting https://nicne-danpallotta.eventbrite.com or by calling 815-394-4384.

Dan Pallotta will address topics covered in his best-selling book Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofit Undermine Their Potential. Uncharitable argues that the paradigm itself is the problem, and calls into question our fundamental canons about charity. His latest book is Charity Case: How the Nonprofit Community Can Stand Up for Itself and Really Change the World from Jossey-Bass. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. described it as “An Apollo program for American philanthropy and the nonprofit sector”.

He is the founder and Chief Humanity Officer of Advertising for Humanity, a full-service brand and inspiration agency for the humanitarian sector. He is also founder and President of the Charity Defense Council, a new national leadership movement dedicated to transforming the way the donating public thinks about charity and change. Pallotta is also a featured weekly contributor to the Harvard Business Review online and his TED Talk has been viewed more than 3.5 million times. It is one of the top 100 most-viewed TED Talks of all time. www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong

Pallotta has been written about in feature and cover stories in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, American Public Media’s Marketplace, and on numerous NPR stations, among others.

Event sponsors include: Presenting Sponsor United Way of Rock River Valley; Presenting Sponsor Community Foundation of Northern Illinois; Wipfli.

Rockford, Ill. – Earlier this week Rockford University Head Baseball Coach Bob Koopmann hit a coaching milestone with his team’s 12-5 win in game two of its doubleheader against the University of Chicago. That win marked the 200th for Coach Koopmann during his tenure as head baseball coach at Rockford University.

In addidtion to this milestone, the team will hold its annual fundraiser this Sunday, April 19 at Aviators Stadium when the Regents host the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders. This year the Regents will be raising money for the Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in Rockford, Ill. In addition to the baseball games, there will be numerous activities and events for everyone to participate in. Admission to the games is just $5 and all proceeds from the day will be donated directly to the Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary.

More details about Coach Koopmann’s achievement and Ark at the Park, visit GoRegents.com.

Rockford, Ill. – The Rockford University Performing Arts Department will conclude its 2014-2015 theatre season with Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” The show opens Thursday, April 30 and runs through Sunday, May 3, in Rockford University’s Maddox Theatre, located in the Clark Arts Center, 5050 East State Street, Rockford.

One of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, “Love’s Labour’s Lost” follows the King of Navarre and three of his companions as they attempt to forgo the company of women for three years of fasting and studying. Their devotion to their plan is tested as they become increasingly infatuated by the Princess of Aquitaine and her ladies.

The play will show Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m, and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 Adult, $9.00 Senior, $9.00 Student. Group rates are available. The Clark Arts Center is accessible. For tickets and more information, call the Box Office at 815.226.4100 or email boxoffice@rockford.edu.

Rockford, Ill., – Alpha Helix, a science club at Rockford University, was awarded the 2015 Hutchcroft Youth Award for Environmental Excellence by

Michael Hoefer, Ashley Brown, Amanda Bonivia, Professor Emeritus Fred Hadley, Richard Louv, Sierra Delahanty, Ashley Rodgers, Professor Deb Breiter, Ph.D., Lori Gummow (Executive Director of Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful)

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful during an April 2 Earth Day Luncheon. The award is bestowed upon an individual or group of youth exhibiting a commitment to improving the environment and is named in recognition of late Rockford University Chemistry Professor Alan Hutchcroft.

More information about the achievements of Alpha Helix can be found in the full press release here: Environmental Awards presented by Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful. ‌

Rockford, Ill., –  The Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement (JACCE) at Rockford University recognized women leaders on the University’s campus with the Young Leader Award and Women’s History Month Recognition Award in a ceremony held March 31. Recipients were honored for their efforts of bringing social change to society.

Hazel Koch Professor of English, Mary Weaks-Baxter, Ph.D., and Director of Center for Learning Strategies, Jeanne Grey received the Women’s History Month Recognition Award.  Professor Weaks-Baxter is among a number of faculty that utilize Community Based Learning in their classroom. She emphasizes that college is not only for learning, but also for developing how to think critically and to challenge the status quo. She encourages her students to learn as much about social issues as they can and to not be afraid to address those issues.

Director of the Center for Learning Strategies, Jeanne Grey provides more than just academic support to Rockford University students. Many students come to her with anxiety related to school or personal life. She offers support by listening, questioning, and if necessary referring those students to professionals who can further help.

The Young Leader Award was given to junior Edina Mesanovic. Edina is a Junior Nursing student, president of the Muslim Student Association, secretary of Multicultural Club, and a member of many other organizations on campus. She empowers her peers through her encouragement, kind nature, and actions. Through her involvement on campus she supports the community and advocates for social justice and change.

Rockford, Ill. – Philip Soosloff, Professor of art at Rockford University, will present the ‘Last Lecture’ on April 23, 7 p.m. in the Rockford University Art Gallery, Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St., Rockford. The lecture is part of the spring Forum series at the University. This opportunity will give Professor Soosloff a chance to reflect on life as if this was going to be his last message before passing.

The Last Lecture is based on a concept developed by Carnegie Mellon University professor Randy Pausch who delivered the talk “The Last Lecture: A Celebration of Life” on facing terminal pancreatic cancer.

Professor Soosloff was chosen based on nominations from students. His talk is titled “Finding the Moments; connecting the dots between life and art making.” For 30 years Professor Soosloff has been creating and exhibiting his art. During this time he has found a way to balance his professional life with his personal. He will be talking about how his everyday life influences and is connected to the art making process.

The Last Lecture is sponsored by the University’s Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement (JACCE) and is free and open to the public, however, tickets are required. Please contact the Rockford University Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu to reserve your tickets or for more information. The Art Gallery is accessible.

*Feature image: From a Distance, 2014

Rockford, Ill., – Rockford University will host its 4th Annual Sport Studies Symposium on April 24, 2015 from 1 – 5 p.m., in the Severson Auditorium, located in Scarborough Hall on the University’s campus, 5050 East State Street. The symposium features guests from across the country. The event is free to attend and light refreshments will be served.

Panel One: The Study of Sport – 1 p.m.
“Breaking Down Binaries: Considering the Possibilities of a Dialogue Between Science Studies and Play Studies” – Matthew Adamson (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
“The Long, Slow, Tortured Death of Sport Studies in American Colleges (And the Possible Path Toward Resurrection)” – Stephen D. Mosher, Ph.D. (Ithaca College)
“Conceptualizing the Nature of Sport” – Synthia Sydnor, Ph.D. (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Panel Two: Sport Studies as Interdisciplinary – 3 p.m.
“Interpreting Interpretivism: A Legal Realist Account of Cheating in Sport” – Aaron Harper, Ph.D. (West Liberty University)
“Then and Now: Sport and Spectacle in Ancient Greece and Rome” – Stephanie Quinn, Ph.D. (Rockford University)
“Theology of Sport: Mapping the Field” – Zach Smith (United States Sports Academy)

The Sports Studies Symposium is hosted by Rockford University professors Shawn Klein, Ph.D., and Michael Perry, Ph.D. For more information please visit www.SportsEthicist.com or contact Dr. Shawn Klein at sklein@rockford.edu or Dr. Michael Perry at mperry@rockford.edu.

Rockford, Ill. – Rockford University’s 161^st Commencement Ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 17, at 2:00 p.m., at the Coronado Performing Arts Center in downtown Rockford. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Management Studies, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Business Administration degrees will be awarded to approximately 350 students.

Founded in 1847, Rockford University is a four-year, co-educational institution that provides undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The University offers approximately 80 majors, minors and concentrations, including the adult accelerated degree completion program for a B.S. in Management Studies. Through its Graduate Studies department, degrees are extended to include the Master in Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). Rockford University is home to one of only 11 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapters in Illinois, the most prestigious honor society in the United States. Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,280 full-and part-time students.

Delivering this year’s keynote address will be Judy Smith, CEO of Smith & Company, a leading strategic and crisis communications firm. Prior to founding Smith & Company, Ms. Smith served as Senior Vice-President of Corporate Communications at NBC. In 1991, Ms. Smith joined the White House with her appointment as Special Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary to President George H. W. Bush. As a result of her groundbreaking career Ms. Smith became the inspiration for the hit ABC television drama, Scandal, and she serves as the show’s Co-Executive Producer. Ms. Smith honed her skills through her experiences with some of the most historic and sensational events of our time, including the General Petraeus scandal, the Iran Contra investigation, the President Clinton scandal involving Monica Lewinsky, the congressional inquiry of Enron, as well as matters involving Senator Larry Craig, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr, NFL quarterback Michael Vick, celebrity chef Paula Deen, and the family of Chandra Levy. Ms. Smith received a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Boston University and graduated from the American University Washington College of Law.

Tickets are required for attendance. Due to space constraints, tickets are limited to degree candidates and their guests. Tickets will not be available at the door of the Coronado Theatre.

Amber Roth, a Michigan Technological University researcher was thrilled to catch this particular bird in Nicaragua, and with good reason. Banded las fall in as part of one of Dr. James Marshall’s classes, the odds of another researcher catching the same bird are very rare. Now tagged with a geo-locater, this Golden-winged Warbler that started its journey at the Severson Dells in Rockford will now help provide valuable information about the importance of migratory stop-over sites for birds of concern.

Michigan Tech immediately reached out to Dr. Marshall and the University to tell this unique story. “Connecting the Dots With a Golden-winged Warbler” will be shared throughout the aviation and research community.

Moises Siles, Amber Roth’s banding assistant from Michigan Tech, holds the Golden-winged Warbler in his hand at Reserva El Jaguar in Nicaragua.