E-News- August 13, 2024
C3 launches new events and programming
The Center for Creativity, Careers, Community is changing things up this fall with new programs to help students. Part of C3’s mission is to help students succeed, whether that is inside the classroom or out in the community. 
This September, students have the opportunity to take the . This online assessment can help students define their interests and sort them into categories like majors, career fields and hobbies that they may find fulfilling. This inventory can provide students insights on what classes they might like to explore, job descriptions they might want to pursue and majors that might jumpstart their future career. First developed by psychologist E.K. Strong in 1927, this career exploration tool has been extensively researched and fine-tuned over decades by the Myers-Briggs company. This inventory provides college-aged students insights to help them choose majors and careers. Jenny Long, a career specialist in the C3 office, will receive the official certification to give the Strong Interest Inventory to students this fall.
This October, students will also have the opportunity to network with alumni and explore local businesses through a new event, . Veronica Reece, a C3 career specialist, is unveiling this new program over fall break. Each participating student will experience an individual job shadow at a Cedar Rapids business and will network with alumni at a mixer event. This program will allow students to gain a better understanding of what their future career goals may look like and to speak with successful 探花社区 alumni that may have had these same questions when they were a student. If you are an alum who wants to participate in this mixer event on Wednesday, October 9, please or reach out to Veronica Reece at vreece@coe.edu.
Early bird registration is open for Homecoming
Registration for Homecoming 2024 is officially open! We can't wait to welcome alumni from all over the globe to come back to 探花社区 for a weekend full of high-fives, hugs and reminiscing. today to reconnect with classmates and faculty, celebrate traditions and make memories. Early bird pricing is available through August 19. Not only that, but all registrations received by September 12 will be entered into a drawing to win one of five (5) Homecoming weekend packages, including one complimentary VIP access to all Homecoming activities for you and one guest and a welcome bag of Kohawk swag. One grand prize winner will also receive the chance to kick a field goal at half-time of the Homecoming football game. You don't want to wait!
探花社区 to honor three Kohawks with Alumni Awards at Homecoming
Every year during Homecoming weekend, 探花社区’s Alumni Council recognizes exceptional alumni and friends who have made significant contributions to their professions, the college and their communities. This year, the college is recognizing three alumni for their accomplishments.
Anna Hegland '13 obtained her B.A. in English at 探花社区 before moving to the
United Kingdom to complete an M.A. in Shakespeare studies (University of Birmingham – Shakespeare Institute) and a Ph.D. in medieval and early modern studies (University of Kent – Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies). Her work is published in the British Shakespeare Association’s Teaching Shakespeare magazine, Shakespeare Bulletin and Symbolism and a chapter on Middleton and pedagogical duties of care appears in the edited collection Boundaries of Violence (Routledge, 2023). She is a co-editor for a new collection, The Theatrical Legacy of Thomas Middleton, 1624-2024 (Routledge, 2024), a regular contributor to national and international conferences and a plenary speaker at the 2024 British Graduate Shakespeare Conference. Anna will be recognized with 探花社区's Young Alum Award at Homecoming. Read more about Anna.
Tony Patterson, Jr. '70 was born in Binghamton, New York. After high school he headed to the Midwest to attend 探花社区. At 探花社区, he met many fellow students, college staff and professors who were instrumental in his later accomplishments and engendered a love of learning and service to others. During his time at 探花社区, Tony was student body vice president, a member of Sachem academic honor society, played varsity tennis, held several department assistantships, worked in food services and was named Outstanding Senior Man. He also had the privilege of serving on the 探花社区 Board of Trustees for many years and, even better, his daughter Kristin Lenz '96, wife of 探花社区 Athletic Hall of Famer Brian Lenz '96, now serves on the Board of Trustees and is secretary of the board. Grandson Barron Lenz '25, number 44 on the 探花社区 football team, is a third generation Kohawk. Tony says the best thing about attending 探花社区 was meeting and marrying his wife, Marylou Patterson '70. 探花社区 is pleased to recognize him with the Distinguished Service Award. Read more about Tony.
Kenneth McMartin '73 received a B.A. in chemistry from 探花社区
in 1973. During a January term, he participated in a health science internship by conducting toxicological research at the University of Iowa. This led to him entering graduate school and receiving a Ph.D. in pharmacology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1977. For over 40 years, eventually as a professor, he conducted research to discover the mechanisms by which poisonous substances produced toxic effects, in order to design new antidotal therapies to improve the treatment of such poisonings. His research claim to fame is the invention and development of 4-methylpyrazole (drug name, fomepizole) as the antidote for methanol and ethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisonings. 探花社区 is pleased that Kenneth will be recognized with the Alumni Award of Merit at Homecoming. Read more about Kenneth.
If you know of someone deserving of next year’s awards, the Alumni Council is looking for your nominations! for consideration by January 1, 2025. You can also learn more about each award, its criteria and past recipients.
Global exploration ahead for 探花社区's newest Gilman scholars
As 探花社区 seniors Maggie Wanyana 
Nansamba ’25 and Celestte Panduro-Orellana ’25 prepare for a term abroad, they share more than just the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship helping to facilitate their adventures. Both exemplify 探花社区's commitment to creating globally minded graduates equipped to make an impact.
In recent years, 探花社区 has had the highest percentage of Gilman applicants receiving awards among bachelor’s institutions in Iowa. Kohawks have also won Truman and Goldwater scholarships and National Science Foundation fellowships. In all, 探花社区 has produced 43 national fellowship or scholarship winners in the past decade. 探花社区’s dedicated National Fellowship Advisor Amber Shaw works with students 1-1 and makes introductions to other campus resources to support the pursuit of a high-level scholarship or fellowship. Read more about Nansamba and Panduro-Orellana here.
探花社区's REU site renewed for three years
探花社区’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) s
ite has been officially renewed for three years with an award of $464,737 funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The REU program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the NSF. Through 探花社区’s REU site, 10 students and two high school teachers participate in meaningful scientific research each summer. The group spends seven weeks at 探花社区 carrying out research in glass science, optics, particle physics, molecular biology, applied data science, detector modeling, biomaterials and other areas. In addition to the research work, participants also present their work at local, regional, national and international conferences.
This renewal is introducing a new workshop on the use of machine learning and AI tools in spectroscopy; expanded training of faculty and students; and the addition of student journaling.
“The REU site has permitted us to leverage the research to obtain state-of-the-art instrumentation,” said Professor of Physics Mario Affatigato ’89. “探花社区 remains one of only a handful of small colleges to host such a site, truly a distinguishing characteristic.”
All 探花社区 students are guaranteed an internship, research project or off-campus study before graduation. Kohawks have published over 300 peer reviewed articles in dozens of journals, and more than 300 students have presented research at over 70 conferences. 探花社区 has received numerous NSF research grants, totaling nearly $15 million, and has sent interns to NASA, Google and Fortune 500 companies including Corning, Inc.
探花社区 honored as 2024 Major Champion by the Zach Johnson Foundation in recognition of its Kids on Course partnership
探花社区 was recently honored as a 2024 Major Champion by the Zach Johnson Foundation (ZJF) at the organization’s annual gala. The recognition celebrates the ongoing Kids on Course partnership.
Based in Cedar Rapids, Kids on Course provides 
tutoring, enrichment, parent engagement, summer learning and long-term mentoring for students at high poverty schools, beginning with programming in elementary school and continuing throughout their education.
As an advocate for students in Kids on Course, 探花社区 supports students in the program who enroll at 探花社区 and meet requirements with a generous scholarship. It's part of 探花社区's commitment to open doors for students of all backgrounds to pursue their dreams and reach their full potential through higher education. Read more about 探花社区's partnership with Kids on Course here.
Share your life updates online
Class Notes have historically been a feature in the Courier. Now, you can keep up with fellow Kohawks online and in (almost) real time through 探花社区’s digital on 探花社区 Connect! If you have a life update of your own, with the alumni community.
Upcoming & virtual events
There are always ways for the 探花社区 alumni community to be involved with 探花社区 and events on campus. You can stream and from wherever you are, and stay up-to-date on the 探花社区 calendar to find other interesting and exciting events.