Campus News

On Saturday, October 25, students from Rockford University’s Kinesiology Senior Seminar class will host a free youth baseball/softball camp on RU’s new turf baseball and softball fields.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., the camp will focus on skills such as throwing, fielding, hitting, and baserunning–all taught by RU students and baseball players.

Lunch from Buffalo Wild Wings will be provided, and attendees will be sent home not just with a new set of skills, but goody bags as well.

In the case of inclement weather, the camp will be moved indoors.

Register today at using this link.

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Media are invited to attend and should RSVP. For further information and to RSVP, please contact Kayla Eddy, Rockford University Digital Content and Web Marketing Coordinator, at keddy@rockford.edu.

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This press release was created by students in Dr. Cathy Headley’s Senior Seminar course. 

Students from Rockford University are excited to announce their senior seminar project, Surf, Set, Save, a community-driven sports equipment donation event taking place on Friday, October 24th, during the Hawaiian Themed volleyball game.

The initiative encourages community members and RU students, staff, and faculty to donate gently used sports equipment to support athletes and families in need. By repurposing equipment such as shoes, uniforms, bats, rackets, and more, Surf, Set, Save, aims to reduce waste and provide opportunities for others to enjoy the sports they love.

“This event is a great way to clear out unused gear while giving back to those who need it most,” said Kyla Wilkerson, one of the 3 seniors in the project. We hope to inspire the community to come together for a fun and meaningful cause.”

Join us for a day of sport, celebration, and generosity at the Hawaiian Themed volleyball game and help make a difference, one piece of equipment at a time!

The donation drive and volleyball game will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Seaver gym.

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Media are invited to attend and should RSVP. For further information and to RSVP, please contact Kayla Eddy, Rockford University Digital Content and Web Marketing Coordinator, at keddy@rockford.edu.

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This press release was created by students in Dr. Cathy Headley’s Senior Seminar course. 

Rockford University’s Kinesiology Senior Seminar class is proud to announce a month-long Winter Clothing Drive in partnership with the Rockford Rescue Mission, designed to support local individuals and families in need as the cold season approaches. The event will run throughout the month of October, with donation bins located across campus.

The month-long clothing drive will culminate in the Halloween Costume Knockout Tournament. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes, and all proceeds and items collected during the tournament will directly benefit the Rockford Rescue Mission.

Students who participate in the Knockout Tournament will have a chance to win prizes donated by local sponsors and Rockford University departments. The Rockford community is invited to attend, donate, and cheer on participants.

The Kinsiology Senior Seminar course emphasizes civic engagement and community partnership, and this collaboration with Rockford Rescue Mission highlights the university’s ongoing commitment to service learning.

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Donation Period: October 1st- November 3rd, 2025

Event: Costume Knockout Tournament

Date: Sunday, November 2nd, 2025

Time: 4:00 p.m.

Location: Rockford University Seaver Center

Entry Fee: One winter clothing donation (coat, gloves, scarf, hat, or boots)

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Media are invited to attend and should RSVP. For further information and to RSVP, please contact Kayla Eddy, Rockford University Digital Content and Web Marketing Coordinator, at keddy@rockford.edu.

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This press release was created by students in Dr. Cathy Headley’s Senior Seminar course. 

Rockford University proudly congratulates senior Kaden Finnestad on being named a 2025 Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

This prestigious honor is awarded to outstanding seniors who “are honored for their leadership and service in the pursuit of the betterment of humanity and for overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities,” according to the Lincoln Academy.

“Kaden’s impact on the Rockford University campus and the local community through volunteering is tremendous.  He possesses a strong academic focus, and leadership skills as a Resident Assistant for his floor, as well as being a member of the Rockford University Football Team.  Kaden’s role modeling, ability to provide out of the classroom educational activities, and providing guidance with an empathetic response for campus referrals and interventions is important for our students’ development,” said Scott Mitchell, Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residence Life, who nominated Kaden for the honor.

The Lincoln Academy honored top students from colleges and universities across Illinois during a ceremony held on Oct. 18 in Chicago. Each student laureate received the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award certificate, a Lincoln medallion, a challenge coin, and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy.

Congratulations to Kaden for this remarkable achievement!

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For further information, please contact Kayla Eddy, Rockford University Digital Content and Web Marketing Coordinator, at keddy@rockford.edu. Photos can be found here.

On Monday, October 27, Rockford University will host a launch party and reading of The Rockford Anthology, a new book by and for the Rockford community.

The anthology is filled with short pieces about the city, including many written by current and former students and faculty at Rockford University.

Join us in the Howard Colman Library to share light snacks and hear authors read their work, with an opportunity to purchase the book and get it signed. Mingle with students, alumni, and faculty at 4:30 p.m., with the reading beginning at 5:00 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public, with no RSVP required.

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Media should RSVP by Friday, October 24. For further information and to RSVP, please contact Kayla Eddy, Rockford University Digital Content and Web Marketing Coordinator, at keddy@rockford.edu.

On Wednesday, October 22, the Rockford University Forum Series will present “Voices: Men and Women of Africa and America.” Beginning at 7:00 p.m., the event will take place in Maddox Theatre.

African and American playwrights in the 20th and 21st century have shared stories of the black experience on two continents and found the binding connection to all of humanity seeking strength, dignity, and purpose. Under the direction of Dorothy Paige-Turner, the Rockford Reader’s Theatre will present selections from the works of August Wilson, Athol Fugard, Lynn Nottage, Efua Sutherland, and many others. Giving voice to these writers will be George Davis, Richard Meeks, Jacquelyn Rogers, Wendell Thompson, Carl L. Towns, Coleen Martin Williams, and Janet Wright, in addition to Dorothy Paige-Turner.

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Media are invited to attend and should RSVP. For further information and to RSVP, please contact Kayla Eddy, Rockford University Digital Content and Web Marketing Coordinator, at keddy@rockford.edu.

In honor of the 2025 International Day of Peace, the Rockford University Forum Series will host Dr. Danielle Lake, Associate Professor and Director of Design Thinking at Lake University, for a workshop called, “Prototyping Plural Pathways Towards Peace: Situating, Storying, and Slipping.”

Held in conjunction with “In the Spirit of Jane Addams: Global Dialogue, Social Change, and Community Engagement in the 21st Century,” an international conference at the University of Warsaw in Poland, this interactive workshop is an invitation to reimagine plural pathways towards peace. Dr. Lake will share research on effective social systems changemaking, highlighting powerful stories and promising strategies from visionary changemakers like Jane Addams, Grace Lee Boggs, and Arturo Escobar.

Join student participants across the Rockford University campus and around the globe as they come together to frame, explore, generate, prototype, and cultivate situated strategies that transform practices and policies, shift resource flows, reshape unjust structures, build relationships, and generate tipping points.

The workshop will take place on Monday, September 22, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Rockford University’s Fisher Chapel.

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Media are invited to attend and must RSVP by Thursday, September 18. For further information and to RSVP, please contact Kayla Eddy, Rockford University Marketing Coordinator, at keddy@rockford.edu. 

On Wednesday, September 10, students, staff, and faculty of Rockford University will come together for a day of service in the Rockford community.

Held each year in honor of alumna Jane Addams, the day of service seeks to recognize the university’s commitment to community and remember the rich legacy Addams left behind. The day of service is organized each year by Rockford University’s Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement.

This year, students, staff, and faculty will be volunteering at over 25 community sites across the Rockford region, including Carpenter’s Corner, Ethnic Heritage Museum, Noah’s Ark, Winnebago County Forest Preserves, Rockford Public Library, Habitat for Humanity, Northwest Community Center, and Rock River Valley Food Pantry.

After serving out in the community, Rockford University will celebrate with a special birthday celebration for Jane Addams at noon in Regents Hall, Burpee.

Jane Addams Center Director Mary Weaks-Baxter describes the day as “an important opportunity for our campus to come together to give back to the Rockford community.” According to Weaks-Baxter, the day is “all about community building. It’s a chance for our staff, faculty, and students to work together as teams to accomplish tasks together and show RU’s commitment to the Rockford region.”
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For further information, please contact Kayla Eddy, Rockford University Digital Content and Web Marketing Coordinator, at keddy@rockford.edu.