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During the weekend retreat, the group used Sylvania National Forest as a setting for a discussion on framing. Photo by Karl Clifton-Soderstrom
North Parkers sought the peace of nature to hone writing techniques and find inspiration.
By Keir Quackenbush Student Reporter for the North Park Press
CHICAGO (November 21, 2013) — On Friday, October 25, a group of 14 North Park students and four professors interested in nature, , and allowed themselves to retreat. No, not from an argument, the prose of Heidegger, or writer’s block, but from the realm of exhaust, excitement, and excess: they retreated from the city.
Their destination was Covenant Point, a bible camp located in the North Woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Located beside Hagerman Lake, the camp is idyllic, cozy, and accommodating, providing a perfect fit for their escapist purposes.
For two days they lived quite like Thoreau, simply, deliberately, and with home-cooked meals just a stone’s throw from their living quarters. These meals provided the skeleton structure of their schedule, which they planned out collaboratively to include frequent ‘sessions’ of learning and discussion, intermittent immersion in the forest, and lengthy periods of time spent by the fire.
The focus of the retreat was writing, particularly nature writing. Each of the accompanying North Park professors led sessions about various aspects of nature and writing, from nature journaling and the diverse meanings of ‘wonder,’ to the Native American Trickster folklore and how Arctic landscape mirrors the human soul.
After breakfast on Saturday morning, Covenant Point staffer and North Park alum Dustin Johnson led the first session by recounting how, as a young teenager growing up in the Upper Peninsula, he had stolen an egg from a crow’s nest and raised the bird to maturity. Dustin explained how the crow would cause mischief, pestering the dog for attention and burying his toys, pecking at the window when it felt ignored. He named the bird ‘Homer.’
Through stories like this and a collective intention to be attentive to their environment, the group established a sense of place in the forest. Together they weaved a new, rural weekend narrative, set apart from the urban one that had engrossed them just the day prior.
With the city’s grasp carefully peeled away, junior Anna Sardar enjoyed the calming and wild aura of the North Woods. “I felt dislocated from the glorified world of busyness and felt comfortable to fully rest,” she said. “It was a gift to get away from the man-made and revel in the world that exists without man's permission.”
Freshman Caleb McCoy expressed a similar, more succinct sentiment: “It was a nice break from the city. The total solitude was really refreshing.”
This retreat represents North Park's practice of experiential learning, a teaching technique that , professor of philosophy, has been employing in classes such as Zen and Archery, Intentional Christian Communities, and Philosophy of Nature. These courses instill knowledge that is learned outside of the classroom. Clark also helped organize the Covenant Point retreat.
English professor was impressed by how well the retreat went. “This is the kind of high impact learning experience that sticks with you well beyond the classroom. Such experiences make my profession both meaningful and joyful, not just because of the contact with nature, but because I can better appreciate the quality of students at ºÚÁϳԹÏ.”
Adding to the voices of praise for experiential learning, , associate professor of English, considers this writing retreat as “a highlight of [her] nine years of teaching at ºÚÁϳԹÏ,” adding, “I was so impressed by the students—to see them thinking, dwelling, and growing together incited gratitude and wonder in all of us.”
This retreat was made possible by a grant given to the philosophy and English departments by the , a Christian organization that operates mainly in the Chicago area and central and eastern Europe. Clark and others hope that the retreat can become an annual event. He emphasizes that there is a "mutual desire to strengthen the connections between North Park and Covenant Point," adding, "[Covenant Point offers] us a setting where we can reflect on the ways [that] our city lives affect and are affected by the human and non-human lives in rural areas."
During the final evening of the retreat, both students and professors sat around the warming hearth, taking turns reading their own pieces of writing and reflecting upon the weekend. Each expressed a strong sense of gratitude and renewal, and that the fruits of the experience would last far longer than the two days spent in the North Woods.
This article first appeared in the November 15, 2013, print edition of the , the University's student newspaper.
Author Aleksandar Hemon will present the first Campus Theme lecture on Tues., Sept. 24, at 7:00 pm.
North Park community welcomes authors, teachers, ministers, and activists to campus this year
CHICAGO (September 16, 2013) — Each year ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï designates a question for the campus community to consider together throughout the year. This year brings the Campus Theme “What Is Peace?” to the forefront of discussion, activity, and events for students, faculty, and staff.
Starting with the question, “Who Is God?” the campus has considered themes of faith, justice, service, nature, community, significance, and more. This year’s question stems from a desire to think carefully and critically about what’s going on around the world. “Somewhat in response to what’s been going on in Chicago—and all the press about violence in the city, the murder rates, neighborhoods that are experiencing tremendous upheaval—“What is peace?” seemed like a fitting question for right now,” said , associate professor of and director of the general education program of which the Campus Theme is a part. “Obviously it’s a perennial question, as well.”
In addition, Clifton-Soderstrom said, the University hopes to build off the great energy and work being done in its program. “Asking this question is a different way to reflect on our of Christian, urban, and multicultural,” he added.
for the year will start with a visit from Aleksandar Hemon on Tuesday, September 24. Hemon is a Bosnian author who has lived in Chicago since 1992. After visiting the United States as a journalist, he was unable to return to his country as Sarajevo was under siege in the Bosnian War. All first-year students have been reading his newly published set of autobiographical stories, The Book of My Lives, and discussing it together in small groups. He will be present on campus that day to meet with small groups of students, and then give a public lecture at 7:00 pm.
Clifton-Soderstrom said that Hemon will offer “a unique perspective of the problems of war and peace, because he experienced firsthand the turmoil that led up to war in Bosnia, and then had to endure watching as an immigrant in Chicago his native Sarajevo destroyed by the conflict.” He hopes that this will help students begin to build connections between international and local experiences of conflict and peace, as well as what peace means for individuals, for communities, and for relationships.
, University provost, agreed that the Campus Theme this year is inviting students, faculty, and staff to reflect on broader issues, but also on their own personal peace and how that impacts relationships and communities. Jones, whose background includes significant work in restorative justice, suggested “how we treat others is often a reflection of how we feel about ourselves. Strife grows out of how people see themselves, in their homes and in their communities,” he said.
Jones said that, as an institution with a Christian worldview, North Park has to consider how to look at the world through the lens of Christ as the ‘prince of peace,’ and include in the larger conversation what it means to have peace with ourselves, with God, and with one another. “If we look at the broader questions of peace without reflection on these personal issues, I think we’ll miss something,” he said.
The answer to “What is peace?” is also about more than just the absence of war and conflict, Clifton-Soderstrom added. “It’s so easy, I think, when I hear the word ‘peace’ to think in terms of a utopian state of being. The idea of peace evokes in our imagination a static place of contentment or tranquility, as if it were only about the end goal. What we come to understand from those who spend their lives working for peace is that peace involves a living, active, and evolving constellation of relationships over time. Appreciating how we work for peace is as important as understanding the final result we hope to realize."
Both Jones and Clifton-Soderstrom hope that students will be inspired—by Hemon and other speakers and events throughout the year—to consider how peace might be more than a place or state of being.
“You don’t just "arrive" at peace,” Clifton-Soderstrom said. “If peace is about relationships, relationships take place over time, they change and evolve. Peace has to have that same type of imperative to see the work through and not leapfrog ahead to whatever an imagined utopia is.”
“I hope that, by the end of this year, students will be able to grab hold of a paradigm of peace through which they can view the world,” Jones said. Our mission here is to prepare students for lives of significance and service, he added, and part of that is to challenge them to consider how they might be “mature models of peace for the world.”
Other Campus Theme events will broaden the conversation to include perspectives from around the world and from challenging chapters in America’s past and present.
“For the fall, we’ve got a real mix of local, international, and very American,” Clifton-Soderstrom said. “With this year as the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, we thought it was essential to bring in the American experience and reconciliation between African Americans and other Americans.”
Public lectures for the fall semester include Dr. R. B. Lal, the leader of a Christian fellowship in India who is working to seek justice and empowerment for members of the lowest social caste; Allan Boesak and Curtiss P. DeYoung, authors of Radical Reconciliation: Beyond Political Pietism and Christian Quietism; and Eboo Patel, founder and president of . A full schedule for these public events is .
“Each year, the Campus Theme begins as a kind of big question in the fall and we try to bring in some big perspectives on it to expand our imagination,” Clifton-Soderstrom said. “Our hope is that classes and groups will take up projects and continue the conversation in the spring semester.”
Plans are in the works for a conference on peace and reconciliation in the spring semester, led by the Conflict Transformation Studies program. “That will be a kind of culminating event,” Clifton-Soderstrom said. “We hope it will inspire students to ask, ‘How do we go out and realize this now? How do we work for it?’”
ºÚÁϳԹÏ's dining hall in Magnuson Campus Center now offers a variety of seating options and bright decor.
New Flex Dollars Program Also Available for Students, Faculty, Staff
CHICAGO (August 19, 2013) — ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï students will step into a new dining experience on campus this fall. Over the summer, major renovations have , located on the second floor of Magnuson Campus Center.
When entering the facility, diners will now be greeted by a refurbished meal-service area with non-slip floors and upgraded service windows and equipment. According to food service director Joshua Davis, ARAMARK Food Services is working on new menus it will serve the University to reflect its new capacity while also keeping favorite student items. Available at every meal will be a variety of hot protein, vegetable, starch, and vegetarian options, along with a partially self-serve deli station, pizza, grill, salad bar, and made-to-order station. Nutrition fact cards will accompany menu items so individuals can easily identify options that fit their dietary requirements.
More extensive renovations were completed in the seating area of the dining hall. Along with traditional tables, diners can choose from restaurant-style booths, bar stools at higher counters, lounge chairs, and even a fireplace lounge at one end. Electrical outlets are accessible from nearly every seat, making it easier for students to plug in laptops or phones while eating. The south end of the room may be partitioned off for private events or meetings.
Throughout the facility, the walls have been repainted, ceilings have been dropped, new flooring installed, and windows replaced. New lighting allows for brightening and dimming in response to the external environment, and both motion sensors and automatic programming control lights. Together, these upgrades all contribute to a more energy-efficient room that is also welcoming and encourages a wide variety of community interactions.
“A vibrant dining experience is vital to create an environment where all members of the campus community are eager to gather around the same table,” said Elizabeth Snezek, dean of students, of the renovation project. “Dining services plays and important role in fostering a sense of community and encouraging conversation.”
ARAMARK Food Services, which manages the dining hall and provides all food services on North Park’s campus, is also rolling out a new option this fall, allowing students, faculty, and staff to pay for purchases at the dining hall and Viking Café with their University ID card instead of carrying cash or using a bank debit or credit card. Flex Dollars accounts will be managed individually online through the ARAMARK website. Diners, or other authorized users they designate, can add funds to accounts at any time during the year, and Flex Dollars will carry over between semesters.
All students, both commuter and resident and regardless of whether they purchase a meal plan or not, can purchase Flex Dollars that will be tied to their student IDs. Faculty and staff can also enroll in the Flex Dollars program. The University hopes this new program will encourage all members of the community to take advantage of the excellent food service available in the dining hall and Viking Café, and also use that time to build relationships and experience a rich community life. “Students, both resident and commuter, faculty, and staff can meet at mealtimes in friendly and enriching conversation, and not have to worry about having cash or a meal plan,” Snezek said.
Flex Dollars are being rolled out this year in anticipation of increased options on North Park’s campus when the opens in Fall 2014. At that time, Flex Dollars will be able to be used in the dining hall, Viking Café, and any additional food venues that are part of the ARAMARK campus food services. As part of the launch of the program, students on some meal plans will receive a complimentary bank of Flex Dollars on their accounts, and anyone who adds $200 or more to their Flex Dollars account by Sept. 10, 2013, will receive a bonus $20 in Flex Dollars.
ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï to Offer Undergraduate Major in Nonprofit Management
ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï will become the only college or university in Chicago offering nonprofit management degree programs for undergraduates.
Nonprofit management bachelor's degrees to be offered beginning in fall 2013
CHICAGO (March 11, 2013) – This fall, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï undergraduate students can pursue a new academic program leading to either a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science . The new degrees replace the current academic concentration in nonprofit management offered by the University's School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM), said Dr. Wesley E. Lindahl, the school's dean.
When the major is initiated, the University will be the only higher education institution in the Chicago area offering a nonprofit major for undergraduates. "The change was mainly driven by student feedback, but also driven by our school's strategic plan to be a fully engaged educational institution in the nonprofit area," Lindahl said. Students currently interested in nonprofit management are business and economics majors, and take extra courses in the nonprofit area.
A nonprofit management major, with expanded coursework, enables the University to take advantage of a growing area of interest for incoming students, and is expected to bring about 15 new students per year to North Park, Lindahl explained. Undergraduate students can also declare a minor in nonprofit management.
Students majoring in nonprofit management will learn about fundraising, building relationships with donors, working with boards, managing volunteers, understanding nonprofit budgets and accounting, and marketing in nonprofit organizations, Lindahl said. They will also take classes in sociology, and develop leadership and management skills.
Evan Woods, a sophomore from Overland Park, Kan., is excited about the new nonprofit management major, and plans to switch from his current . "This goes back to the reason why I came to North Park. The (University's) is 'preparing students for lives of significance and service.' With nonprofits, the theme is the same." Woods is an intern with a Chicago-based nonprofit, , where he works in development.
"I'm working directly with something for a cause and for a purpose," he said. "It's not just to make money. It's to help the neighborhoods in Chicago, and to help kids." Woods has worked with the University's , and is also a member of the University's Nonprofit Leadership Club. He hopes to make a career in nonprofit management working in "green" business initiatives.
The new bachelor of science degree program requires 52 semester hours in nonprofit management courses, said Christa Beall Diefenbach, a member of SBNM's teaching faculty and Axelson Center associate director. Bachelor of science students will also complete requirements for the certificate, she said.
"Every student who graduates with this certificate will be a (CNP), which makes students more competitive when they start their career searches," Diefenbach said. Bachelor of science students will also participate in the University's Nonprofit Leadership Club and attend one , an annual nonprofit management educational symposium, she said. Students who opt for the new bachelor of arts program will take 40 semester hours in nonprofit management and other relevant courses, and could combine the program with another major.
Like the nonprofit sector in general, a growing field in the nonprofit arena is "social entrepreneurship," which employs innovative approaches to address the world’s most pressing social and environmental issues. "This is a hot field right now in the nonprofit sector. Organizations are looking for alternative, sustainable revenue streams. We're going to be offering a class that will focus on just that," Diefenbach said.
Among the new undergraduate degree programs, the University also offers programs leading to a professional , and a master's degree in nonprofit administration.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
Learn some important facts about the School of Business and Nonprofit Management.
ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Invites You to Celebrate Advent with Lessons and Carols
The Lessons and Carols service will include performances by ºÚÁϳԹÏ's University Choir, Chamber Singers, Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble, Women's Chorale, and Lessons and Carols Orchestra.
School of Music ensembles joined by community youth musicians
CHICAGO (November 27, 2013) — ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï will present its popular Festival of Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 8, at in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. The event, themed “O Holy Night!” will feature more than 200 musicians from the University, the People’s Music School , and the .
Drawing from an Advent tradition that originated in 19th-Century England, services of lessons and carols pair Scripture readings with Advent and Christmas music and carols. “The annual Festival of Lessons and Carols is a highlight for the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï community, and the School of Music looks forward each year to bringing together our ensembles in such a joyous way to celebrate this special season,” said , dean of the University’s .
This year’s festival theme is one of reverence and awe, said , the Stephen J. Hendrickson Assistant Professor of Music. “From the prophecy, to the birth of Jesus, through the arrival of the Wise Men, people who attend can expect a musical journey through Christmas,” she said.
ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï students, faculty, and staff, along with members of Our Lady of Mercy Church, will present Scripture readings. Performers will include University Organist Margaret Martin and University musicians in five : the University Choir, Chamber Singers, Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble, Women’s Chorale, and the North Park Lessons and Carols Orchestra.
In addition, student musicians from the People’s Music School YOURS Orchestra at Hibbard Elementary School and the Chicago Children’s Choir – Albany Park Division, will join University musicians for the service. “We are honored to be able to collaborate with the Chicago Children’s Choir and the People’s Music School Youth Orchestras the for the event,” Johnson said.
“This is a wonderful event that brings the community of Albany Park together,” said Youth Orchestra Albany Park Director Carolyn Sybesma. “It is an enriching experience for our YOURS Orchestra students to work together with North Park and to engage in their community through music. In addition, the event gives our students the opportunity to get to know college students that live in their neighborhood, which raises personal aspirations and goals for their futures.”
Musical selections will include well-known songs, as well as pieces by contemporary composers. Vocal pieces will be sung in English, Latin, and Spanish. Among the program’s highlights will be the Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble’s collaboration with the Chicago Children’s Choir on “Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child,” and a combined performance of “O Holy Night” featuring all of the ensembles and orchestra together.
The Festival of Lessons and Carols is presented by the University as a free event open to the community. However, because of limited seating, attendees are asked to reserve general admission tickets online. More than 800 people attended in 2012.
The event will begin at 4:00 pm. The Chicago Children’s Choir and People’s Music School YOURS String Quartet from Hibbard Elementary School will perform a recital at 3:30 pm, prior to the festival service. Our Lady of Mercy Church is located at 4432 North Troy Street, Chicago, approximately one mile from the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï campus. Parking is available in the two church lots and on the street.
University Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble to Visit California Congregations
Spring break tour, March 10-17, features 51 student singers
CHICAGO (February 18, 2013) — The ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Touring Ensemble will visit seven California congregations of the (ECC) during its 2013 spring tour, singing in worship and in longer choral performances. The theme of the tour is "Lifting the Highest Praise."
The March 10–17 choir tour schedule includes visits to congregations in Fremont, Modesto, Turlock, Hilmar, Santa Rosa, and Oakland. Of the approximately 130 students in the popular Gospel Choir, 51 students make up the touring ensemble. The choir is directed by , worship coordinator, , and co-directed by , associate professor, . Instrumentalists will accompany the touring ensemble.
Students have committed their entire spring break to be part of the California tour. "It inspires me over and over again to see God at work in the church, and to see these students become the body of Christ, love one another and care for one another, and sing so passionately about the goodness of God. I wouldn't miss it for the world," Kelly said.
About 10 students in the touring ensemble are international students from Scandinavia, South America, and Asia, said Kelly. "I love that. Gospel music is an authentic glimpse of God, and anyone from any culture can connect to the words and to the meaning behind the music, because it's God revealed in a unique art form," he said.
The choir tour will feature diverse compositions by well-known and award-winning composers. Among the songs the Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble will sing is "High and Lifted Up," by ; "Faithful," Hold Out," and "Grateful" by ; "Jesus Be a Fence," written by , the legendary American pop and soul singer, and arranged by Fred Hammond; "Total Praise" by Richard Smallwood, a gospel music icon; "More than Anything" by ; "I Will Run" by ; and others. Two favorites are "Awesome God Medley" and "Brighter Day" written by , a seven-time Grammy Award winner. The choir will sing about five songs in regularly scheduled worship services and about 15 compositions during choral performances.
The Gospel Choir, seen here in 2011, is a popular ensemble in the University's School of Music.
Gospel music, rooted in the black church experience, is joyful, filled with praise, and uplifting. Choir members clap their hands and are frequently in "step motion" while singing. Choirs and instrumentalists improvise at times. Audiences participate. There's also a story that goes with every choral piece, Hudgens said. "What attracted me to gospel music is the fact that it comes from a long tradition of a community in a struggle," she said. "It is music that has a history and a certain weight of experience to it. There's an authenticity of having to deal with adversity and struggle, and finding Jesus at the center. It's very Christ-centered music."
School of Music touring ensembles visit parts of the country where there are concentrations of University alumni and ECC congregations, said Rev. Mark Olson, director of church relations.
"This ensemble will give friends of North Park, members of Covenant churches, and prospective students and parents a sense of the quality of our students and faculty, as well as a glimpse into the spiritual life of the North Park student experience, which the Gospel Choir represents," he said. The performed in California in 2008, the most recent University ensemble to tour in the state, he said.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
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Learn about and offerings in the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï School of Music.
'The Engagement Effect' Theme of Axelson Center Nonprofit Symposium June 3-4
The annual Axelson Symposium in downtown Chicago is a significant networking and learning event for leaders of nonprofit organizations.
University symposium key learning, networking event for nonprofit leaders
CHICAGO (May 14, 2013) – As many as 550 nonprofit leaders are expected to attend the , June 3-4 in Chicago. The event is a growing and significant annual networking and professional development conference for nonprofit leaders in Chicago and the Midwest. This year's theme is "The Engagement Effect."
ºÚÁϳԹÏ's is hosting the symposium at the . The center provides resources and learning opportunities to enhance the performance and effectiveness of individuals and organizations in the nonprofit sector through education, service, and resources. A "Pre-Conference Revenue Institute" is planned for June 3, followed by the symposium the next day.
The conference theme relates directly to constituent groups that nonprofit organizations work with regularly. "This includes policymakers, donors, the boards, the staffs, and other volunteers," said , director of the Axelson Center. "All of these groups need to be cultivated to strengthen relationships." Participants will be able to choose workshop sessions arranged in categories by constituent groups, she said.
One of the two-day event's primary strengths is the variety of organizational perspectives and experiences that are represented in a diverse lineup of speakers. Another strength is the idea-sharing and conversation that takes place throughout the day, said Christa Beall Diefenbach, associate director of the Axelson Center. "Networking is an appeal of this event, and people come here because of it," she said. "Attendees make connections that will benefit their organizations for years to come."
The June 3 Revenue Institute is focused on trends and strategies related to revenue streams. Speakers are , director, Center on Nonprofits and Philanthrophy, the Urban Institute, and , principal, Spectrum Nonprofit Services. In addition, panelists from Chicago-area nonprofits will address alternative revenue streams and changes in foundations in separate sessions.
The symposium's opening keynote address, "Founders Fired Up" will feature leaders of local nonprofits. "Six founding executive directors are going to talk about the ideas they had to start their nonprofits," Rogers said. "They'll discuss the strategies they used to build momentum, and the extent to which it is important to keep that community engaged." The six are , Twist Out Cancer; , Silk Road Rising; , Imerman Angels, and also a ";" , Inspiration Corporation; , Backbones; and , Jimmy Insulin.
Following the keynote, symposium participants will attend concurrent workshops and forums led by nearly 50 experts. Subjects include board engagement, communication, fundraising, staffing and volunteers, engaging young leaders, management strategies, strategic partnerships, and government funding. At the symposium's conclusion, , co-founder, Sagawa/Jospin Consulting Firm, will address "The Charismatic Organization." Some organizations believe a charismatic individual is needed to lead an organization to be successful, Rogers explained. "She really believes the notion that charisma can be infused into the organization itself," Rogers said.
At the June 4 symposium luncheon program, the will be presented to two nonprofit organizations that embody exemplary management practices. This year, there were a record 55 nominations. The Axelson Center will be presented to one young organization with potential for growth and greater effectiveness. Twelve organizations were nominated.
The late , a North Park alumnus who died unexpectedly last December at his Chicago home, will be honored at the luncheon. For 50 years, he devoted his life to the betterment of nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. Alford was founder and chair of , and executive-in-residence at the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM), where he taught graduate courses and workshops.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
Learn more about the University's nonprofit academic programs for and graduate students, plus certificate programs.
Senior Gwen Munoz-Arroyo is leading the University's Summer Writing Camp, helping Chicago high school students prepare for the college application process.
Next year's high school seniors work on essays for college applications
CHICAGO (July 25, 2013) — This summer, ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï has been partnering with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to help next year’s high school seniors with their college application process. For four weeks, students have gathered in the University’s Brandel Library to work on writing skills for personal statements and essays, cover letters, and resumes needed for school and scholarship applications. They’ve also had the opportunity to meet and learn from current ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï students, faculty, and staff, getting a firsthand look at the college experience.
ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï senior Gwen Munoz-Arroyo is heading up the program, having designed it alongside Carol Martin, the University’s director, and , director of outreach programs and international admission, who works closely with Chicago Public Schools’ college and career specialists. “Through collaborations like this we’re trying to answer the question, ‘What do high school students need to get ready for college?’” Moy said.
“One of our biggest goals is that students will end the program with something complete—a solid essay or personal statement that they can use as a framework or example for other applications and essays,” Munoz-Arroyo said. “We want to help students in the community and local high schools with their goal of getting into college.”
Juniors from the high schools in CPS’s north/northwest network were invited to participate in the Summer Writing Camp, two hours a day, three days a week. This voluntary, free program drew 15 to 20 students each week. They followed a syllabus that moved through the process of researching schools and scholarships; developing a personal life timeline to help tell their own unique stories; goal-setting; understanding college applications; and writing personal statements, essays, resumes, and cover letters.
Jolene Del Rosario will be a senior at Lane Tech High School in the fall, and wants to be a nurse. She chose to attend the Summer Writing Camp to improve her writing skills and work on her applications for colleges and scholarships. Del Rosario plans to stay in the Chicago area for school, and has spent much of the summer getting organized for her college search.
“I’ve been visiting colleges and doing more research this summer, paying attention to deadlines so I don’t miss opportunities,” she said. She said the Summer Writing Camp fit right in with these plans. “Participating in this program gives me a great advantage. I get a head start on application and scholarship essays,” she said.
The Summer Writing Camp has been a “great collaboration,” according to Moy. “Students are getting ready for their college searches during their senior years, meeting other students, and getting in touch with North Parkers,” she said. “Not only are we exposing future college students to North Park, we’re giving back to the community in an area where our resources meet a real need.”
Munoz-Arroyo is a major (minoring in ) and has worked as a writing advisor in the Writing Center for the past two years. She is also one of the student co-coordinators for the Center and working with the Summer Writing Camp has been a natural progression from these activities, giving her valuable leadership experience and internship credit. Munoz-Arroyo said she wasn’t looking for a “typical” psychology internship; after volunteering with a nonprofit organization tutoring individuals going through the process of applying for U.S. citizenship, she knew she wanted to work directly with people in an educational setting again.
As she is developing daily lesson plans, teaching skills and concepts, and working one-on-one with students completing writing exercises, Munoz-Arroyo is reminded of being in their shoes not too long ago. “It takes me back to how intimidating writing essays for college applications was for me, as well,” she said.
Working alongside Munoz-Arroyo and the students are a team of Writing Advisors, University faculty and staff that lead focused workshops, and career and college coaches from Chicago Public Schools.
Patrick Phelan, the college and career coach at Foreman High School, spent a week at the Writing Camp providing feedback and guidance to students. “As college and career coaches, we try to give students knowledge through exploration and experiences so they’re ready to apply for college,” he said, adding that programs like the Summer Writing Camp support these efforts by providing extra enrichment in focused areas. “I love that these things are available for our kids,” Phelan said. “It really is a worthwhile experience for everyone who comes.”
Antonio Samaniego is a rising senior at Kelvyn Park High School. He is anticipating studying physics and math in college—even looking far enough ahead to think about earning a doctoral degree and a career in research. He chose to attend the Summer Writing Camp to work on his writing style, grammar, and development. “Reading and writing have not been my strongest points in high school,” he said, “and I know colleges are interested in seeing these skills on applications.”
“The writing camp has helped me to develop writing skills. I’ve written a lot more here than I’ve ever written before!” Samaniego added.
As the program wraps up, Munoz-Arroyo reflected that it was a challenging internship, but absolutely worth it. “It’s been really rewarding to work with students and to see them coming back each week,” she said. “One of the best things is finding out what they’re passionate about and interested in, and then to help them write about those things in their essays.”
TIME Cover Story Focuses on North Park Theological Seminary Graduate
Rev. Wilfredo De Jesús is a 2006 graduate of North Park Theological Seminary.
Rev. Wilfredo De Jesús, pictured, quoted in April 15 issue
CHICAGO (April 9, 2013) — , who earned a in 2006 from , the graduate theological school of ºÚÁϳԹÏ, is prominently featured in the April 15, 2013, cover story in , "¡Evangélicos!" De Jesús is senior pastor, , Chicago, the country's largest Assemblies of God congregation.
The article notes that large numbers of people who are Latino are joining evangelical Protestant churches. Similarly, the numbers of enrolled at ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï are increasing, comprising more than 16 percent of the diverse undergraduate student body, according to University figures. North Park is affiliated with a growing and diverse Protestant church, the , based in Chicago.
New Life Covenant Ministries has grown from a congregation of 100 members in 2000—when the congregation first called de Jesús and his wife, Elizabeth—to more than 17,000 members who attend one of the congregation's four campuses each Sunday, according to TIME. New Life offers 11 weekly services, nine in English and two in Spanish, the magazine said. "If one Evangélico church has made the leap from immigrant barrio to booming American megachurch, it is New Life Covenant Church in Chicago," the magazine reported.
De Jesús grew up in Chicago's neighborhood. When he began his ministry at New Life, the congregation bought a farm and converted it into a home for recovering addicts and prostitutes, and purchased a nearby liquor store, converting it into a café. The congregation started English services to reach third-generation Latinos, added services in Spanish for first-generation Latinos, and began streaming services online. "New Life didn't just grow—it exploded," the TIME article noted.
New Life has "over 135 ministries that reaches the poor in every place in the city of Chicago," De Jesús said in an . The congregation also has a number of international ministries in India, Africa, Peru, Haiti, and Santo Domingo, he added.
The article states that more than two-thirds of the 52 million Latinos in the United States are Catholic, and the percentage is expected to grow considerably by 2030. Many are now joining evangelical Protestant churches, created a "Latino Protestant boom (that) is transforming American religious practices and politics," TIME reported.
De Jesús is at least the second North Park graduate to be featured in a TIME cover story. Another North Parker featured by the magazine was , who earned an associate's degree from North Park in 1949. Carlson later became a medical missionary with the , and was killed in 1964 by rebel insurgents in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Carlson was featured on the of TIME in December 1964 as part of its report, "The Congo Massacre."
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
University students to perform in first-ever festival concert in Chicago
CHICAGO (April 16, 2013) — ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï will host a at 2:30 pm, May 5, at the University's Anderson Chapel, the first time a festival performance will be held in the city of Chicago. The North Park concert—featuring works by the renowned German Baroque composer —will include performances by University musicians as well as professionals from the and .
The is an annual event held in the Chicago area in spring. Now in its 40th year, the festival is a signature blend of solo, concerto, orchestral, and choral performances in concerts, according to a Bach Week news release.
"The North Park School of Music is honored to collaborate with the Bach Week Festival to present this concert," said , dean of the University's and professor of music. "This event is a wonderful example of the advantages that ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï music students have to experience the artistic excellence so prevalent in Chicago—right on the campus." Johnson added that all undergraduate School of Music students will be able to attend and hear the musical excellence offered by the Bach Week performers.
The North Park concert features Margaret Martin, University organist. Making her Bach Week Festival debut, she will open the concert with Bach’s Toccata in F Major, BWV 540. Her spouse, Christopher Martin, principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, will perform in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, BWV 1047. Cellist Katinka Kleijn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform Bach’s Suite No. 3 for solo cello, BWV 1009.
The finale will be Bach’s Magnificat in D, BWV 243, a 12-movement work for vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra. Among the soloists is , who will make her debut with the Bach Week Festival. Davids directs the University's choral activities and holds the Stephen J. Hendrickson Endowed Chair in Music. The ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï , directed by Davids, will perform with the festival chorus and orchestra, directed by , director of music and organist at Boston's historic , and the festival's music director since 1975. This will be only the second time in Bach Week history that a guest ensemble has sung with the festival’s own chorus, and the first time for a student group, according to festival organizers.
The Chamber Singers' participation "adds a touch of historic resonance" to the festival’s first Chicago concert, Webster said. "Bach himself conducted ensembles of local university students, professionals, and guest artists at weekly public performances at Zimmermann’s Coffee House in Leipzig, Germany. This collaboration honors that tradition and will be a wonderful experience for performers and audience alike," he added.
The 2013 Bach Week Festival also features concerts April 19 and April 21 at , Evanston, Ill.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
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