Workshops on web trends and the latest technology tools offered on the UIS campus

The University of Illinois Springfield’s Information Technology Services Department will offer five workshops for any U of I alumni in April. The public is also welcome. Topics and dates include: Facebook (April 12), Online Safety (April 16), iPhone/iPod touch (April 19), Google Docs (April 23) and Digital Photography (April 30). Each class will be from 12 noon – 1:30 p.m. on the UIS campus in the Brookens Library lower level class room 141 A.

Workshops offered in January on the UIS campus created demand for a spring series. The cost is $10 per session and each is free-standing. Space is limited and reservations are required. To learn more about each workshop visit www.uiaa.org/uis and look for the technology banner.

To register, contact Kara McElwrath at kmcel2@uis.edu or 217/206-8237. These classes are sponsored by the University of Illinois Alumni Association/UIS Alumni SAGE Society, CEHS Alumni Council and UIS Information Technology Services.

UIS to hold inaugural symposium for the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will hold its inaugural symposium for the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The event, which will feature student and faculty oral presentations and poster exhibits, is free and open to the public to attend.

WHEN: Friday, April 9, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Presentations will be held in Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library and in the Public Affairs Center (PAC) lower level conference rooms C and D on the UIS Campus.

DETAILS: The keynote presenter will be Dr. Michael Burlingame, holder of the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies. He will be speaking on "The Joys of Conducting Original Research, or What New Can Be Said about Abraham Lincoln?" Burlingame’s presentation will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium, with a reception following.

This event showcases research and writing projects of UIS undergraduate and graduate students across disciplinary lines in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Presentations will cover a variety of topics, such as the rhetorical meaning of comedic humor, the history of the Civil War, and the interpretation of a 19th century diary through song. The intent is to share the rewards of original research with students and faculty, as well as with Springfield and surrounding area communities. The public is invited to attend and refreshments will be served.

For more information visit www.uis.edu/clas/students/symposium.html or contact Deborah McGregor at 217/206-7439 or email mcgregor.deborah@uis.edu.

UIS Health Awareness Week April 5-9

The University of Illinois Springfield Campus Health Service and the Master of Public Health Student Association will host the annual UIS Health Awareness Week from April 5-9. A health fair featuring vendors will take place on Wednesday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center (PAC) lobby and conference rooms on the concourse level. Health Awareness Week at UIS is designed to educate the university community and others in the surrounding area about good health practices.

In 1995, former President William Jefferson Clinton proclaimed the first full week of April as National Public Health Week (NPHW). Each year since then the public health community has focused on issues that are important to improving the public’s health. The American Public Health Association (APHA) serves as the organizer of NPHW and develops an annual national campaign to help educate the public. This year’s theme is: “A Healthier America: One Community at a Time”.

UIS has added various activities this year and speakers throughout the week. On Tuesday, April 6 the Center for First Year Students and the Department of Recreational Sports are teaming up to hold a Wii Sports/Play tournament from 5 to 8 p.m. in the PAC room G.

Wednesday, April 7 attendees are encouraged to bring items to donate for Haiti relief efforts. “Fitness testing” will also be done by the Recreational Sports Department. At the end of the fitness testing, you will receive a detailed analysis about your general health. Testicular and prostate exams will be performed by Dr. William Severino from Springfield Clinic and dietitians will be available to consult offering bone density, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol screenings and more. Those who complete an evaluation form will be entered in a drawing and eligible to win prizes donated by the Springfield community and individual departments in the Division of Student Affairs.

The luncheon speaker on Wednesday, April 7 will be Linda McCall, MS, FNPBC, CDE of Springfield Diabetes and Endocrine Center. The topic of discussion will be: “Metabolic Syndrome.” This discussion will take place in PAC G from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Healthy hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served to those attending the discussion.

Gene Taylor, CEO of Sangamon Schools Credit Union will discuss “Financial Wellness” in PAC F from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on April 7. Next, Diana Weyhenmeyer, RN, MA, OCN of St. John’s Hospital, will discuss: “The Spectrum of Wellness” in PAC G from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The final speaker of the day is John Starman, MA Practitioner in PAC F at 5:30 p.m. who will talk about “Chronic Brain Distress.”

Health Awareness Week will conclude on Thursday, April 8, with Jenna Hogan, MPH, RD Extension Educator in Nutrition and Wellness of the University of Illinois who will discuss “Metabolic Syndrome” in PAC C from 10 to 11 a.m. with individual appointments from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Exercise Demonstrations by the Department of Recreational Sports will take place in PAC D from 11 to 12 p.m.

For more information on Health Awareness Week contact Linda Tait, UIS Campus Health Service at 217/206-6676 or email ltait2@uis.edu. Information is also available online at www.uis.edu/healthservices.

Speakers Series presents the Reality of the Improbable: Science Fiction as Social Commentary

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents The Reality of the Improbable: Science Fiction as Social Commentary. Author Edward Beekman-Myers will be the featured speaker for this presentation.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Conference Room G, located on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center (PAC) on the University of Illinois Springfield campus.

(The event will be available via video on demand at http://www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html)

DETAILS: Within most works of science fiction and fantasy there exists a basis in present day and/or historical reality. A number of authors have used the genre to comment on particular social problems and injustices by placing them in an otherworldly setting and exaggerating them in order to raise awareness. Looking at various works of sci-fi and fantasy in literature, film, and television, we can see how something that seems improbable can often be all-too real.

Beekman-Myers is the author of several short stories, plays, and novels, including the first volume in a sci-fi/comedy series, The Totally Gnarly Adventures of the Galactically Bitchin’ Comet Sweat!, which was recently published through CreateSpace. He serves as an instructor for UIS’s Speaker Series and as an English instructor for various other colleges in the Springfield area. www.beekmanmyers.com

A book signing will follow the discussion.

For more information and a list of other speakers series events visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries or contact Kimberly Craig at 217/206-6245 or craig.kimberly@uis.edu.

UIS chorus to perform at Vachel Lindsay Home

The University of Illinois Springfield Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Sharon Graf, will perform at the historic Vachel Lindsay Home in Springfield at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2010. The Vachel Lindsay Home is located at 603 S. 5th Street in downtown Springfield. This will be the vocal group’s first performance of the semester and its second performance at the historic home of poet Nicholas Vachel Lindsay.

The event will feature songs from a variety of cultures and eras, including “Ahe Lau Makani (There is a Breath)” by Queen Liliuokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii; “Fire, Fire,” a polyphonic English madrigal by Thomas Morley; “The Erie Canal,” an American folk song accompanied by piano and fiddle; “Oleana,” an American folk song accompanied by violin; and “Blackbird,” a classic Beatles song. Todd Cranson will add to the chorus’ performance of “Blackbird” with a solo tuba rendition of the classic tune.

In addition, Dr. Graf will lead a brief discussion of the songs and will provide information on the UIS Music program and upcoming events.

The current UIS chorus program began in 2001 and is comprised of students, faculty, staff and alumni as well as Springfield community members, all with a variety of skill levels. After the Vachel Lindsay event, the next Chorus performance will be at the UIS Showcase Concert, which features the Chorus, Chamber Orchestra and Concert Band and will be held in Sangamon Auditorium at the University of Illinois at Springfield campus on April 9, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. Information about these and other events is available at uis.edu/music.

Anyone who is interested in joining the UIS Chorus may contact Dr. Sharon Graf by emailing music@uis.edu or calling (217) 206-6240.

"Expanding Your Horizons" teaches girls about science, technology, engineering and math

Hundreds of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade girls from central Illinois got a hands-on lesson about careers involving science, technology, engineering and math during a conference on the University of Illinois Springfield campus.

The American Association of University Women - Springfield Branch coordinated and sponsored the March 20 "Expanding Your Horizons" event, which was also sponsored by UIS and The Children's Center, a Memorial Health System affiliate.

“This conference is going to show them that because the sessions are being taught by women, that they have every opportunity that a man has,” said event co-chair Carol Kerins.

Girls were able to participate in more than 20 hands-on workshops involving computers, animation, robots, medical technology, television production and much more.

“I think it’s pretty cool because you get to do lots of different things,” said Collen, a 7th grader who took part in the event.

“Expanding Horizons” has been taking place in the Springfield community for 23 years and experts say it’s more important now than ever.

“The research in the field shows that the number of women in the field is falling dramatically and if we don’t start doing things like this to engage girls in technology we’re going to wind-up with a field that is completely male dominated,” said Mary Sheila Tracy, UIS Computer Science Instructor.

For more information on the event and how to get involved next year visit www.aauw-il.org/springfield.

UIS to host Dining for Success Dinner event

WHAT: The Office of UIS Alumni Relations will host a fun and informative dinner featuring instruction in business and social etiquette.

WHEN: Friday, April 9, 2010 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center restaurant (lower level PAC) on the campus of University of Illinois Springfield

DETAILS: The four-course dinner will provide participants with the opportunity to brush up on their table manners and provide other dining tips to enhance business and social interactions over a meal. Beth Reutter, coordinator of the Hospitality Management Program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will be the instructor. A corporate etiquette consultant certified by the Protocol School of Washington, D.C., Reutter has presented this program to college students and other college groups as well as to business and Chamber of Commerce groups in Central Illinois as well as Chicago.

The cost of the event (including dinner) is $10 for current UIS students and $25 for all others. The program is open to the public, however space is limited and advance registration is required. Make reservations no later than April 2 online at www.uiaa.org/uis/dining or by contacting the Office of UIS Alumni Relations by phone at 217/206-7395 or by e-mail at alumni@uis.edu.

The event is presented by the Office of UIS Alumni Relations/U of I Alumni Association, and co-sponsored by the UIS Career Development Center, Office of Student Life and Graduate Public Service Internship Program.

"Under the Dome" gives high school students an insider look at state government

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will host its second annual “Under the Dome” event, giving central Illinois high school students a behind the scenes look at the statehouse during the spring 2010 legislative session.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Illinois State Capitol Building - Springfield, Illinois

DETAILS: “Under the Dome” is the state’s premier immersion event for high school juniors interested in government, politics, and public service.

Students and teachers will spend the day behind the scenes at the Illinois Statehouse on one of the busiest days of the legislative session. They’ll talk with lawmakers and lobbyists, analysts and journalists, and see up close how policy is made in Illinois.

UIS has been preparing leaders in government and public service since its founding 40 years ago. UIS government-related majors include Communication, Criminal Justice, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, Global Studies, Legal Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Affairs Reporting and Public Health.

Enrollment is limited to 40 high school juniors in order to provide a quality in-depth experience. There is no cost for students to attend and lunch is provided, along with snacks and beverages.

View our Under the Dome webpage for more information.

Women Candidates for the American Presidency: from Victoria Woodhull to Hillary Clinton

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents Women Candidates for the American Presidency: from Victoria Woodhull to Hillary Clinton. The featured speaker for this event is Sara Evans, a pioneer in the field of women’s history, who taught at the University of Minnesota from 1976-2008.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library

(The event will be available via live webcast and video on demand at http://www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html)

DETAILS: In celebration of 2010 marking the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting voting privilege to all American women and in honor of Women’s History Month, this event examines women and the presidency.

Hillary Clinton may have been the first truly viable female candidate for the presidency, but she was far from the first to run. In fact, she is part of a very long line of women who have challenged cultural assumptions about gender and political power. Understanding the importance of her accomplishment – and the more than two centuries of linked struggles for gender and racial equality — requires a look back at the many women who broke the path and began to make the unthinkable, thinkable.

Sara Evans has been an active feminist since 1967 and chronicled the feminist movement in the late 20th century in several books including Personal Politics, Wage Justice, Born for Liberty, and Tidal Wave.

This event is produced by ECCE and the UIS Women’s Center, with financial support from the Student Government Association (SGA).

For more information and a list of other speakers series events visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries or contact Kimberly Craig at 217/206-6245 or craig.kimberly@uis.edu.

Speakers Series presents American Indian Traditions: Black Elk's Legacy

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents American Indian Traditions: Black Elk's Legacy. The featured speaker for this event is Aaron Black Elk DeSersa, a member of the Lakota Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, living on Pine Ridge Reservation.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS

(The event will be available via live webcast and video on demand at http://www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html)

DETAILS: DeSersa is the great-grandson of Nicholas Black Elk and holder of the Black Elk family pipe, signifying him as the religious leader or spiritual conscience of the family.

He will describe for us the unique contribution his great-grandfather and family have made to our culture. In carrying on their traditional way of life, and in educating others about "walking in a sacred manner", or continuously honoring your beliefs in your life and your work, the Black Elk DeSersa family embody a unique world view. The American Indian perspective of the connectedness of all people, and indeed all living things, means that their orientation to life is different from that of most Americans.

Aaron will share some family, tribal and American history, and will describe some of the ongoing results of his great-grandfather's teachings. Such an authentic voice from one of the best known, historic American Indian families is a rare opportunity for the Springfield community.

For more information and a list of other speakers series events visit http://illinois.edu/goto/speakerseries or contact Kimberly Craig at 217/206-6245 or craig.kimberly@uis.edu.

Lecture at Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon: "Historic Indian Tribes of Emiquon"

WHAT: A public lecture entitled “Historic Indian Tribes of Emiquon” will be presented by Dr. Michael Wiant, Director of the Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown, Illinois.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Alfred O. and Barbara Cordwell Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon (formerly the Emiquon Field Station) near Lewistown, Illinois

DETAILS: Wiant will present an overview of the history and way of life for Native American tribes that resided along the central Illinois River between the mid 17th and early 19th centuries. The tribes included the Illiniwek, Kickapoo, and Potawatomi, among other Native American tribes.

UIS’ Therkildsen Field Station is at The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve, located between Havana, IL and Lewistown, IL near the Dickson Mounds Museum. The program is free and open to the public; reservations are not required. Entrance to the field station is on Prairie Road, located off Illinois Rts. 97/78, approximately one-and-a-half miles north of the Dickson Mounds turnoff. A sign will be posted at the turnoff and a map is also available online at www.uis.edu/emiquon/.

For more information, contact Hua Chen, Interim Director of the Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, at hchen40@uis.edu or (217) 206-8339.

Cyber Defense and Disaster Recovery Conference brings national experts to UIS

The University of Illinois Springfield hosted the 7th annual Cyber Defense and Disaster Recovery Conference on Friday, March 12 in the Public Affairs Center.

“Protecting yourself and your business from international threats” was the focus of the conference organized by UIS' Computer Science department, in conjunction with InfraGard Springfield, an initiative of the FBI, and CSSIA, a regional center for cyber security. The event was open to businesses, schools and others who wanted to learn more about cyber security.

“We are really trying to bring something unique to the area. We don’t get too many speakers of that great quality in the central Illinois area,” said Janis Rose, UIS Computer Science Instructor and coordinator of the event.

Presentations covered topics on the present and growing risk to businesses and individuals from international threats, both by cyber and physical means.

“I’m liking the hands on experience because I can now take that back to my employer and use those skills,” said Derek Murray, a UIS graduate student.

Murray earned his undergraduate degree from UIS in Computer Science and is now working on his master’s degree, while working for a major insurance company. He has been looking forward to the conference as a means of professional development.

“It’s a way to get and exchange new ideas from some experts in the field both known nationally and internationally,” said Murray.

For more information on the Cyber Defense and Disaster Recovery Conference visit http://csc.uis.edu/center/conferences/cddr2010.html

PAPS Series presents Trouble the Water

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield’s Political Art and the Public Sphere series presents a screening of the film Trouble the Water. The film will be followed by an open discussion about Hurricane Katrina and the significance of race and class on what happened to the residents of New Orleans.

WHEN: Monday, March 29, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library on the UIS campus

DETAILS: During the spring semester, all three installments of PAPS will provide a forum for focusing on particular political issues under the general heading “Water and Politics.”

On the day before Hurricane Katrina - just blocks from the French Quarter but far from the New Orleans that most tourists knew - Kimberly Rivers Roberts, an aspiring rap artist, turned her new video camera on herself and her 9th Ward neighbors trapped in the city. Kim and her husband Scott continued to film their harrowing retreat to higher ground and the dramatic rescues of friends and neighbors. When the couple finally returns to the devastation of their neighborhood, they’re met with the appalling and repeated failures of government. Relegated to the role of refugees in their own country the moment the levees broke, these two New Orleans residents document their struggle against the forces of nature, poverty, and politics, as they attempt to rebuild their lives amidst one of the greatest natural disasters ever to befall the United States.

Each semester, Political Art and the Public Sphere features a showing or performance of some kind of “political art,” followed by a group discussion of the issues it raises. The basic idea behind PAPS is to consider how ‘art’ raises provocative social and political questions.

For more information, contact Dr. Richard Gilman-Opalsky at rgilm3@uis.edu or 217/206-8328.

UIS Star Parties to resume during spring

The University of Illinois Springfield’s popular Star Parties this spring will be held on the following Fridays, weather permitting: March 26, April 2, April 16, April 23 and April 30. Note that those dates EXCLUDE April 9. There will be no star party on that date. On the other dates, Star Parties are held from 8 to 10 p.m. in the UIS observatory, located on the roof of Brookens Library.

The Star Parties will be hosted by John Martin, assistant professor of Astronomy/Physics. The observatory’s telescopes will be used to view a number of celestial objects, including Mars, the red planet, Saturn, the ringed planet; the Great Orion Nebula, a nearby cradle of new stars; and the Moon, when visible. Other double stars and star clusters will also be viewed.

At a typical Star Party, visitors learn about galaxies, the sun, stars and stellar evolution, as well as star and constellation identification, prior to using the telescopes. These discussions take place in the stairway gallery of astronomical pictures on the way to the observation deck.

Star Parties are free and open to the public. Reservations are not required, and groups are encouraged to attend. The entrance to the campus observatory is located outside Brookens Library on the southeast corner.

Questions about whether the weather is suitable for viewing should be directed to 217/206-8342 at 7 p.m. on the evening of the Star Party. More information about Star Parties can be found online at http://www.uis.edu/astronomy/about/starparties.html.

For more information or if you have questions about Star Parties, contact John Martin at 217/206-8342 or email jmart5@uis.edu.

"Expanding Your Horizons" gives girls hands-on lessons in math, science and technology

WHAT: "Expanding Your Horizons in Math, Science and Technology" – a hands-on conference designed for girls in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.

WHEN: Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) on the UIS campus

DETAILS: Many cutting-edge careers will involve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and will be wide open to well-prepared young women. Girls who attend this conference can choose three sessions from more than 20 hands-on, experiential workshops in these STEM areas. Separate workshops for parents and teachers will be held concurrently.

Girls’ workshops will allow participants to interact with successful women who are scientists, physicians, engineers, architects and professionals in many other careers traditionally held by men. They will meet other girls with similar interests and learn about career opportunities for women in these fields.

A partial list of topics includes The Fantastic Voyage... Inside our Bodies, Medical Laboratory Investigators Solve a Mystery, Women of the Web – Create a Personal Photo Web Page, Come Fly with us, and Are you Superhero Material?

The workshops for adults are designed to provide information on how to help girls cope with issues common to their age group, keep them on track for success in math, science and technology, and provide links to the resources to help access higher education and career information.

Adult workshop topics include Bridging the Gaps during Middle and High School, Unraveling the Mystery of the ACT and SAT, and “Green” Your Daughter’s Career for More “Green” in Her Wallet.

The event is presented by the American Association of University Women - Springfield Branch, and is sponsored by UIS and The Children's Center, a Memorial Health System affiliate.

Advance registration is required and space is limited for this event. For a brochure and registration information, call 217/787-8078 or go to www.aauw-il.org/springfield.

UIS Alumni Peoria Chapter event to focus on gangs

WHAT: “Circle of Violence” will be the focus of A Taste of UIS Peoria program sponsored by the Peoria Chapter of the Office of UIS Alumni Relations.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 from 5-7 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Peoria Center, ICC Perley Bldg, Room 203, 115 SW Adams, Peoria

DETAILS: Two UIS Peoria Center alumni will share information about the growing challenge of gangs in the Peoria area. Learn what is being done to combat this problem on the street and in the correctional system. Panelists will include Detective Elizabeth A. Blair ’93 MA ‘03, Peoria Police Department, and Lt. Jason Haynes ‘05, Federal Bureau of Prisons. Ronda Guyton ’04 Deputy Sheriff, Peoria County Sheriff’s Department will moderate.

From 5-6 p.m., enjoy refreshments and a demonstration by Dennis Scheibe ‘88, IT Service Coordinator/AV Integrator, of high end video conferencing equipment used in the delivery of courses between Peoria and Springfield. The panel presentation and discussion will be from 6-7 p.m.

The program is open to the public, however reservations are requested.

For more information and to make a reservation e-mail alumni@uis.edu, or call the UIS Peoria Center at 309-999-4250.

Annual UIS Faculty & Staff Campaign kicks off

Employees at the University of Illinois Springfield are giving back during the 5th annual Faculty & Staff Campaign. The month-long fundraising drive kicked off with a celebration on Tuesday, March 2 in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby.

The theme for this year’s campaign is "When the Going Gets Tough", recognizing the financial strain many employees face in a tough economy.

“I love the theme for this year, with the little engine that could. We are the little engine that not only could, did, and shall keep on doing,” said Chancellor Richard Ringeisen.

Through the campaign, staff and faculty are able to give a gift to the university, choosing how their funds will impact UIS' quality academics, athletics or other important areas. Gifts made to UIS assist with scholarships, enhance research, improve programs and much more.

"It’s the opportunity for all of us here at UIS to support each other and what we want to accomplish," said Vicki Megginson, Associate Chancellor for Development and vice president of the University of Illinois Foundation.

The “When the Going Gets Tough” theme focused on a 1930’s feel with live music and a soup kitchen like food line, which also included sandwiches.

“It’s a can do spirit. If you recall in the 1930’s people got together, they pitched in, they raised barns, they helped each other,” said Megginson.

Good as Gold Ceremony to honor community volunteers

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) and the Junior League of Springfield (JLS) are excited to announce the second annual Springfield Good as Gold Ceremony, a volunteer recognition event to acknowledge local community members and organizations.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 5:15 p.m. (Registration starts at 4:30 p.m.)

WHERE: Public Affairs Center (PAC) Lobby

DETAILS: This will be an upscale event emceed by Jessica McGee of WICS-TV 20 and Dave Daniels from WDBR 103.7 FM to recognize volunteers who use their time and talent to help improve the lives of others in the Springfield area.

There are several categories for which an individual can be nominated, including an award for Heart of Gold, Distinguished Volunteer, Youth Volunteer, and Organization Agent of Service Award. In addition, at the ceremony the Junior League of Springfield will feature the winner of its Outstanding Graduate Award, recognizing a local female high school junior for her leadership and volunteerism. UIS will also honor one staff or faculty member and one student who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to service and volunteerism.

Nomination forms can be filled out or downloaded online at either www.jlsil.org or www.uis.edu/volunteer. Only volunteers living and/or volunteering within Sangamon County will be considered to receive an award.

The deadline to nominate an individual or organization is Friday, March 19, 2010. For more information, contact the UIS Volunteer Center at volunteer@uis.edu or 217-206-7716.

UIS Lunch and Learn Series resumes for Spring 2010

The University of Illinois Springfield’s “Central Illinois: Patchwork of Creative Minds,” a three-part educational series examining creative expression that has flourished in the heartland of Illinois, will resume this spring beginning in March.

The presentations will be held in the Public Affairs Center (PAC) Conference Rooms C/D. Over the lunch hour, attendees will hear presentations by two experts and enjoy a delicious hot buffet luncheon available at 11:30 a.m. The presentations are from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. There is a charge for lunch, but the presentations are free and open to the public. The moderator for the series is William Furry, director of the Illinois State Historical Society, and sponsors are the UIS Alumni SAGE Society, the Illinois State Historical Society and the Office of UIS Chancellor.

The first presentation will be held on March 24 and is a program titled “Song and Dance Along the Sangamon” by Todd Cranson, UIS assistant director of Co-Curricular Music and director of the Vintage Brass Band. Cranson will speak about music and social dancing in early Springfield. Tom Irwin, a song writer, national performer and music editor and writer for Illinois Times weekly newspaper, will then discuss and perform songs of place in the Sangamon River Valley.

On April 21, “Literature, Prairie Visions, Prairie Voices” will be the topic addressed by Dr. Barbara Burkhardt, associate professor of English at UIS and a leading expert on the life and work of Lincoln, Ill. native William Maxwell, who is a former literary editor of The New Yorker magazine. She will be joined by Dr. Dennis Camp, UIS faculty emeritus of English, Vachel Lindsay scholar and author of a new Lindsay biography, who will discuss why Lindsay is an important literary figure.

The series will end on May 19 with the topic “Architecture: Backyard Barns and Prairie Cathedrals.” Presenters include Larry Kanfer, award -winning Champaign, Ill. photographic artist and journalist, whose recent book is Barns of Illinois. Floyd Mansberger, director of Fever River Research, which specializes in cultural resource management projects associated with historic properties, will report on recent archeological discoveries in the Lincoln Home neighborhood that provide a retrospective on this 150th anniversary of the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency.

Paid reservations are required for the luncheon at least one week before each session. The cost is $20 per person for lunch or $50 per person for all three lunches if paid reservations are received by March 17. Pre-registration is also requested from those not purchasing the lunch who wish to attend the free presentations.

For more information or to register, visit www.uiaa.org/uis/patchwork or contact the Office of UIS Alumni Relations at 217/206-7395 or alumni@uis.edu.