News Release Archive

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership is hosting its first Farm Crawl in the Cedar Valley area on Sunday, Sept. 11 from 1 to 5 p.m. The event is free and for all ages.

Participants will learn how 10 local farmers grow their food and manage their farms on this self-guided tour. Expect to experience everything from produce that is grown free from pesticides and herbicides and free-range chickens to hand-feeding a buffalo and tasting award-winning apples.

"This is an exciting opportunity for people to spend an afternoon with their families - reconnecting with the countryside, learning where and how their food is grown, and making friends along the way,” said Andrea Geary, local food program manager at the Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) at the University of Northern Iowa.

There will be fun activities for children and local food will be available to buy and cook for dinner. The family or individual that visits the most farms will win a coveted gift basket of local foods. In the event of a tie, a drawing will be held. Checklists and collecting bins for the drawing will be available at each farm.

For a map and details about each farm, visit the CEEE home page, at www.ceee.uni.edu.

State Senator Rob Hogg and Raki Giannakourus to discuss cleaner energy

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- State senator Rob Hogg and Raki Giannakourus of the Green Dubuque organization will be speaking about cleaner and more efficient energy at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) auditorium.

Rob Hogg has been Iowa's leading voice for energy policies that will move Iowa towards conservation, efficiency and renewable energy. Hogg currently serves on the Iowa Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee. Giannakourus is on the board of directors for the non-profit Green Dubuque organization, which works to protect Dubuque's local ecosystems by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting smarter development. Giannakourus will share with the audience his "50% by 2030" in greenhouse gas reduction plan which passed unanimously through the Dubuque City Council.

Kamyar Enshayan, director of the CEEE says the center is "committed to helping Iowans understand the nature of climate disruptions due to our dependency to fossil energy, and ways of creating resilience in our communities and state to deal with that reality."

The event is sponsored by the CEEE. For additional information, contact Enshayan at 319-273-7575 or kamyar.enshayan@uni.edu.

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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Green Iowa AmeriCorps, based at the University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE), is seeking individuals with an interest in facilitating energy conservation efforts for residents of northeastern Iowa.

Ten-month member positions are available in Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Decorah and Dubuque beginning Oct. 3.  Members will build management skills through specific team leader roles.  Duties include home weatherization, facilitating energy education programs and participating in community outreach projects.  Team members will also plan and oversee a Volunteer Generating Project (VGP) throughout their service terms and have the opportunity to attend several trainings applicable to today's green job market.  

Green Iowa AmeriCorps is operated through UNI's CEEE. Support for the program comes from the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, Iowa Power Fund and the Iowa Office of Energy Independence. 

For more information and to apply, visit www.americorps.gov.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host Kindergym, an informal learning program focusing on the development and refinement of motor skills. The program will be offered Saturday mornings from 9 to 9:50 a.m. for 4- and 5-year-olds and from 10 to 10:50 a.m. for 2- and 3-year-olds. Kindergym will be held Sept. 10 through Oct. 22, in the Wellness & Recreation Center main gym on the UNI campus.

Physical activity stations will focus on age appropriate movement skills that encourage success in a fun atmosphere. Because Kindergym is a parent/child program, parents are requested to attend the sessions with their child.

The registration fee is $32, which includes an official Kindergym T-shirt. The program is directed by Katie Farwell, program assistant in the Department of Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services. For more information about Kindergym or to register, contact Rip Marston, professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services, at 319-273-6882 or ripley.marston@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's MyEntre.Net program recently added its 10,000th online member, and continues to draw new members, adding more than 75 entrepreneurs and service providers each week. 

MyEntre.Net, administered by UNI's Regional Business Center, is an entrepreneurship support system dedicated to serving entrepreneurs, and the public organizations who serve entrepreneurs, in the state of Iowa. By utilizing the online community and cutting-edge business resources that are available on MyEntre.Net, entrepreneurs can access capital, technical assistance, business networks and their peers.

To celebrate its 10,000th member, MyEntre.Net gave away a flip camcorder to one of the attendees of its Aug. 4 business webinar. Steven Wilson, with Wilson Consulting and Training Services (WCTS, Inc.) in Robins, Iowa, won the camcorder.

Wilson is representative of the many small business owners on MyEntre.Net, according to Maureen Collins-Williams, director of the UNI Regional Business Center/MyEntre.Net. WCTS Inc. was founded in 2003 as an operational excellence training and consulting firm, specializing in the areas of Lean and Six Sigma. Recognizing that human dynamics play a large role in any continuous improvement effort, the company assists organizations with the overall development of their leadership teams and workforce and provides customized training services for large and small firms.

"I appreciate the resources provided for small businesses through MyEntre.Net," Wilson said. "There are a lot of great features that business owners can access to help increase their skills and profitability."

Register for and get more information about MyEntre.Net at www.myentre.net, or by emailing info@myentre.net.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Seven businesses have been selected as finalists in the 2011 John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition. The businesses continuing in the competition are CQM Systems, M&S FlowMatics, FxRedux, Pathovacs, Radiology Protocols, Responsible Transportation and VSI Aerospace Inc.

"Now that we have selected seven finalists, each business plan competitor will interview with a panel of judges on Sept. 8," said Randy Pilkington, director of the University of Northern Iowa's John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and competition judge. "Based on those presentations, we will choose the top three finalists for a special awards ceremony in October."

This is the third round of competition. In the first round, businesses submitted brief information about their business plans. Based on those entries, judges chose 20 entrepreneurs to submit full business plans. Those 20 business plans were narrowed down to these final seven.

The John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is designed to stimulate business development and provide support for outstanding business plans. This year a total of $50,000 will be awarded to the top three submitted business plans: $25,000 for first prize, $15,000 for second and $10,000 for third.

For more information, visit the competition website, www.iowabusinessplancompetition.com, or contact one of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers located at UNI, Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College and the University of Iowa.

The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers provide entrepreneurial education and business support, partnering with agencies like the Small Business Development Center, the Iowa Department of Economic Development,  Entrepreneurial Development Centers and local entrepreneurs to assist with funding and other business needs.

2011 finalists in alphabetical order

CQM Systems, LLC

CQM Systems has developed a chemical-free proprietary technology to ensure water quality to enhance heat exchanger system efficiency and reduce safety, health and environmental concerns. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Coralville.

Contact:  Charles Dirks

319-471-5958

cdirks@cqmsystems.com

www.cqmsystems.com

FxRedux Solutions LLC

FxRedux Solutions uses proprietary technology to automate the virtual alignment of bone fragments leading to better results and reduced costs. The company was formed in 2011 and is located in Iowa City.

Contact: Joe Provorse

608-358-7061

Robert-provorse@uiowa.edu

www.energycontroltechnologies.com

M&S FlowMatics

M&S FlowMatics has developed a unique flow meter for real-time measurement of granular materials though a pipe, such as gravel, grain, sugar or sand. The company was formed in 2009 and is located in Ames.

Contact: Manjit Misra

515-290-5292

mkmisra@iastate.edu

Radiology Protocols

Radiology Protocols has developed an on-line medical imaging process to make radiologic imaging efficient and accurate, thus lowering imaging costs. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in Iowa City.

Contact:  Steve Baker

319-430-4300

sbakerr@radiologyprotocols.com

www.RadiologyProtocols.com

Responsible Transportation

Responsible Transportation will become the only horse processing plant in the United States and create value from unwanted horses. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Iowa City.

Contact: Keaton Walker

319-461-4580

Keaton@responsible-transportation.com

www.responsble-transportation.com

Pathovacs

Pathovacs speeds the development of proprietary vaccines and is working to commercialize an antigen discovery technology. Pathovacs was founded in 2009 and is based in Ames.

Contact: Monohar John

781-244-4505

mjohn@pathovacs.com

www.pathovacs.com

VSI Aerospace, Inc.

VSI Aerospace combines software and air pressure sensors to alert pilots of trajectory changes to enhance safety and fuel savings. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in Ames.

Contact: Jerald Vogel

515-292-3578

vsiaero@gmail.com

www.vsiaerospace.com

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The 3^rd Annual North End Arts and Music Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27 and 28, on the grounds of Jubilee United Methodist Church, 1621 E. 4^th St. in Waterloo. The purpose of this festival is to showcase the rich cultural history of Waterloo's northeast side and to celebrate the talents of its visual and performing artists.

The headline artist for this event will be Tony Brown, a native of Waterloo and a regionally and nationally recognized artist whose performances reflect blues, reggae, funk and other musical traditions. He will appear at 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug 27 at the Jubilee United Methodist Church. Other artists include Tatum Talbert, ShayFresh, the North End Blues All Stars, Original Man, Shy Illa and LyRikal. Sunday's program will be headlined by gospel singer John Mark and will feature many local gospel ensembles.

Sponsors include the University of Northern Iowa College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, UNI's Public Policy Program, the City of Waterloo, the Waterloo Convention and Visitor's Bureau and many local businesses.

A detailed schedule of events is at www.northendfest.org. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The first University of Northern Iowa art exhibition for fall 2011 is "Turning Point: New Acquisitions from the UNI Permanent Art Collection." The exhibit features recent donations from Lois E. Iseminger of Chicago, Ill., Lois and Norman Jones of Davis, Calif. and recent donations by UNI alumni.

A lecture titled "UNI Accounting Blends with Art" by UNI alumna and art collector Lois E. Iseminger will be presented at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31 in Kamerick Art Building- Room 111. A reception will follow. All events are sponsored in part by the UNI College of Business Administration and the UNI Foundation.

Represented in this exhibit are contemporary works of art by Robert Arneson, David Bolduc, Michael Boyd, William Conger, Hanne Darboven, John Dilg, David Driesbach, Ruth Duckworth, Marianne Lipschitz Jorgensen, Sarah Krepp, Ken Little, Danny Mansmith, Gladys Nilsson, Jay Phillips, Kay Rosen, Barry Tinsley, and the entire New Art Examiner edition box containing the works of 25 Chicago artists, which the collector acquired at the 1999 New Art Examiner 25^th Anniversary Surrealist Cabaret Ball.

The exhibit will run from Aug. 22 to Sept. 18. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday; and noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.  The gallery is located at the northeast corner of Hudson Road and West 27th Street, Cedar Falls, on the main floor of Kamerick Art Building South.  

For more information, call 319-273-3095 or visit www.uni.edu/artdept/gallery/Home.html.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa-- The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) will offer a second workshop to prepare leaders to help their audiences make their holidays more environmentally friendly and more meaningful. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Immanuel United Methodist Church in Des Moines.

This Reclaim Your Holidays workshop is intended for naturalists, teachers, religious leaders, extension and local food specialists, sustainability coordinators, librarians, wellness professionals, solid waste educators and other formal and non-formal educators interested in helping Iowans flourish at the holidays and reduce their environmental footprints. 

Participants will receive tools and information to help their audiences have greener, more meaningful holidays.  Using website resources, they will explore their favorite parts of holidays, as well as what doesn't always go well. Information on how to save energy, use local food and place the holiday focus on relationships rather than materialism will be provided.

A free Reclaim Your Holidays poster and a hardcover book about meaningful giving will be given. "This will be a fun, inspirational and interactive workshop loaded with practical information," said Susan Salterberg, CEEE program manager.

The Reclaim Your Holidays initiative is offered in partnership with the Iowa Association of Naturalists, Cool Congregations, Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, the Iowa Recycling Association and the Iowa State University Extension. Support is provided by the REAP Conservation Education Program and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Alternatives Program.

The cost of the workshop is $20 per person and continuing education credits are available for an additional $10 or $30 total.  Registration deadline is Sept. 1. Register online at reclaimyourholidays/workshops.aspx.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa-- The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) will offer a third workshop to prepare leaders to help their audiences make their holidays more environmentally friendly and more meaningful. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, Sept. 9, at the Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center in Toddville.

This Reclaim Your Holidays workshop is intended for naturalists, teachers, religious leaders, extension and local food specialists, sustainability coordinators, librarians, wellness professionals, solid waste educators and other formal and non-formal educators interested in helping Iowans flourish at the holidays and reduce their environmental footprints. 

Participants will receive tools and information to help their audiences have greener, more meaningful holidays.  Using website resources, they will explore their favorite parts of holidays, as well as what doesn't always go well. Information on how to save energy, use local food and place the holiday focus on relationships rather than materialism will be provided.

A free Reclaim Your Holidays poster and a hardcover book about meaningful giving will be given. "This will be a fun, inspirational and interactive workshop loaded with practical information," said Susan Salterberg, CEEE program manager.

The Reclaim Your Holidays initiative is offered in partnership with the Iowa Association of Naturalists, Cool Congregations, Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, the Iowa Recycling Association and the Iowa State University Extension. Support is provided by the REAP Conservation Education Program and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Alternatives Program.

The cost of the workshop is $20 per person and continuing educaiton credits are available for an additional $10 or $30 total.  Registration deadline is Sept. 1. Register online at reclaimyourholidays/workshops.aspx.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Iowa Farm Energy Working Group (FEWG) has awarded $4,000 in demonstration grants to two Iowa farmers to demonstrate how they will meet their energy needs through energy efficiency or the use of renewable energy sources on their farms.

The University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) facilitates the working group with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). The working group is funded by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University.

"Two Iowa farmers with small to mid-sized operations will receive grants to investigate options that we hope other farmers will want to learn about," said Carole Yates, working group coordinator and CEEE program manager. This is the working group's third round of demonstration grants. 

Harn Soper of Emmetsburg and a consultant will design, build and monitor a second-generation prototype 500-gallon biogas generator at Soper Farm to determine the feasibility of larger production levels. This 100 percent-sustainable energy system will convert farm waste (primarily cattle manure) into usable compost for plant fertilizer. It will also recover biogas energy, which will be used to heat water to warm the floor of a farm greenhouse. The goal is accomplish these two objectives in a cost effective manner that other farms could replicate.

Soper Farm is a 1,000-acre operation transitioning from conventional farming of corn and soybeans to an organic operation, according to Soper's proposal.

Rob and Tammy Faux, owners of Genuine Faux Farm near Tripoli, want to reduce their farm's reliance on fossil fuels by using renewable energy if possible. To find out if renewable energy is the best choice for their 14-acre diversified vegetable/chicken/turkey/duck farm, they will hire a solar site assessor to research their farms' current and projected future energy needs.

"We hope the answer is yes," says Rob Faux, "because we would like to install a photovoltaic solar array to provide electricity for a building housing a walk-in cooler, another array to provide supplemental heat for chicks and hens in the winter and light for a lean-to greenhouse where we'll start seeds in early spring. But we understand the first step is to get the site assessment done."

Most farmers who have received Farm Energy Working Group mini-grants show their results through presentations to the group, a field day, or provide information for a farmer success story on the FEWG web site, www.ceee.uni.edu/farmenergy.aspx

For more information, visit www.ceee.uni.edu/farmenergy.aspx or contact carole.yates@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Registration for the UNI Suzuki School 2011-2012 academic year will be held on Aug. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Russell Hall at the University of Northern Iowa. Current students are asked to submit registration forms prior to that date.

The UNI Suzuki School will be holding its fall open house for prospective students on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the lobby of Russell Hall. Interested students and their families are invited to attend. Visitors can meet the teachers and staff, watch student demonstrations and get information about the upcoming year. 

The UNI Suzuki School offers music instruction for students of all ages in violin, viola, cello, guitar and flute. Adult students of any level are also welcome. In addition the school sponsors several orchestras, offers coached music ensembles, unique music-related classes, and numerous performance opportunities including solo and group performances. 

For more information about the Suzuki School, contact Suzuki coordinator, Cathy Craig at 319-273-2508 or visit www.uni.edu/music/suzuki. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Registration is now open for the 2011 Professional Development Certificate program, hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Executive Development Center. The program consists of 10 full-day sessions, beginning Aug. 25 and ending Dec. 8. Each session is held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Business and Community Services Building, Room 30, on the UNI campus.

Based on an abridged MBA, this business certificate program provides a strong foundation of critical business skills needed to succeed in today's competitive business world. Sessions cover a variety of business topics, such as managing conflict, maximizing team performance and best practices of successful managers.

At the program's completion, participants will receive a business certificate from UNI's College of Business Administration and a comprehensive, practical toolkit of critical business skills and knowledge. Four hours of graduate or undergraduate credit is available upon completion of the program. A complete class list and descriptions are available at www.bcs.uni.edu/execdev.

According to Kim Recker, program manager for UNI's Executive Development Center, "More than 95 percent of the participants who completed last year's certificate program noted that the program improved their job performance, and 90 percent stated that it increased their managerial abilities and confidence."

The enrollment deadline for the program is Aug. 19. Early enrollment is encouraged, as class size is limited to 20 participants.

Tuition is $3,150, and includes all training materials, meals, refreshments and parking. If a business purchases an enrollment for one person, a second person from that business can enroll for half price. UNI Alumni Association members receive a 10-percent discount. Tuition for non-profit employees is $1,575.  This program also qualifies for most tuition reimbursement programs and Iowa Jobs Training Programs 260E and 260F. A college degree or post-secondary education experience is not required to attend.

To enroll or schedule a personal consultation, contact UNI's Executive Development Center at 319-273-5851 or execdev@uni.edu, or visit www.bcs.uni.edu/execdev.

UNI's Executive Development Center is a program of Business and Community Services, a division of the UNI College of Business Administration.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's MyEntre.Net program now has two new resources for small business owners and those interested in starting a business:  Connections and the Business Concierge. Both are accessible with free MyEntre.Net membership.

Connections, http://connections.myentre.net, is Iowa's only searchable database of more than 2,700 public sector programs, organizations and people that can assist entrepreneurs. Connections gives entrepreneurs an easy-to-navigate portal to financing programs, technical and marketing assistance, networking opportunities and research services. Users can select from a number of criteria to broaden or narrow a search, and in a few clicks get information on the organizations and programs that fit their needs.

The Business Concierge brings a personal touch to online entrepreneurial assistance by answering Iowans’ most pressing business questions via e-mail, online chat and over the phone. Specific services that small business owners can access include consumer mailing lists, expenditure data, demographic and psychographic profiles, in addition to competitor’s sales figures, industry trends and national financial benchmarking metrics. Individuals can find out more information and access the services of the Business Concierge online at http://bizhelp.myentre.net or by calling 319-273-4333. 

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and it's important to open as many doors as possible for those innovative individuals," said Amy Kuhlers, program manager for MyEntre.Net. "These two free resources will help Iowa businesses obtain reliable answers to the questions they have more quickly and easier than ever before." 

Register for and get more information about MyEntre.Net at www.myentre.net, or by emailing info@myentre.net.

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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa –  The Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) at the University of Northern Iowa will offer three workshops to prepare leaders to help individuals make their holidays more environmentally friendly and more meaningful. The first workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the Lost Island Nature Center in Ruthven, Iowa.

This Reclaim Your Holidays workshop is intended for naturalists, teachers, religious leaders, extension and local food specialists, sustainability coordinators, wellness professionals, solid waste educators and other formal and non-formal educators interested in helping Iowans reduce their environmental footprints during the holidays. 

The cost is $20 per person and CEU credits are available for an additional $10 or $30 total. Registration deadline is Monday, July 25. Register at visit reclaimyourholidays/workshops.aspx. 

Participants will receive tools and information to create greener, more meaningful holidays. Using website resources, they will explore the joys and stress of the holidays. Information on how to save energy, use local food and place the holiday focus on relationships rather than materialism will be provided. 

A free Reclaim Your Holidays poster and a hardcover book about meaningful giving will be given. "This will be a fun, inspirational and interactive workshop loaded with practical information," said Susan Salterberg, CEEE program manager.

The Reclaim Your Holidays initiative is offered in partnership with the Iowa Association of Naturalists, Cool Congregations, Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, the Iowa Recycling Association and Iowa State University Extension. Support is provided by REAP Conservation Education Program and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Alternatives Program.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Lifelong University will offer five noncredit courses this fall.

"Campus Art Tour" will be led by Darrell Taylor, director of the UNI art gallery, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 6. A rain date is set for Sept. 13. Participants will take a two-hour walking tour of indoor/outdoor campus artworks, focusing primarily on centrally located campus artworks.

"Capturing 9/11 on Film: Three Powerful Visions on the Tenth Anniversary" will be taught by Scott Cawelti, emeritus professor of English language and literature, from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 8, 15 and 22. This course will examine how the film medium can offer both information and catharsis, particularly about national traumas.

"Religious Doubt and the Western Secular Tradition" will be taught by Hal Wohl, emeritus professor of history, from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25. This course will trace the history and legacy of religious doubt from ancient times to the present day.

"Crash Course in Croissants and Culture -- Travel Tips for France" will be taught by Elizabeth Zwanziger, instructor at Malcolm Price Laboratory School - Iowa's Research and Development School, from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Oct. 27, Nov. 3 and 10. Find out why France is one of the most visited countries in the world and why the French language sounds like music to our ears.

"Iowa Caucuses: Past, Present and Future" will be taught by Christopher Larimer, assistant professor of political science, from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Nov. 2, 9 and 16. This course will explore the history of the Iowa Caucus, from its dubious beginnings to the ever-growing prominence in national politics today.

Course fees range from $15 to $40, which cover parking passes and course handouts. To register for a class or view a course description, call University Events Coordination at 319-273-5141 or visit www.uni.edu/llu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The UNI New Horizons Band will present a summer concert at Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls on Thursday, July 21 at 10 a.m. The band will perform standard concert band literature including selections from "Oklahoma." Tom Burchers, retired band director at Tripoli, will perform an alto saxophone solo on the piece "Embraceable You" by George Gershwin. A social time with refreshments will follow the Prairie Lakes concert. Admission to the concert is free.

The UNI New Horizons Band members are ages 50 and older and come from a variety of musical backgrounds. They enjoy coming together twice a week for rehearsals and preparing for concert performances. Members travel from Grundy Center, Waverly, Floyd, Tripoli, Oelwein, Hudson, Denver, Charles City, Waterloo and Cedar Falls to participate in the Band's scheduled rehearsals and concerts. Diana Blake, retired music educator, is the conductor. The Prairie Lakes concert is part of the band's summer concert series.

For more information about the UNI New Horizons Band contact Diana Blake, director, at 352-3007, or Cindi Mason, administrative Aasistant, at 273-2142 or mason@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Registration is now open for the management workshop "Building Win-Win Relationships" hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Executive Development Center. The workshop is scheduled 8:30 a.m. to noon, Aug. 2, in the Business and Community Services Building on the UNI campus. The registration deadline is July 26.

Instructor Patrick Langan will teach participants the importance of building relationships that benefit both parties. Workshop participants will explore the skills necessary for building those relationships, including respect and appreciation for people with differing backgrounds and viewpoints, and will learn to blend persuasion, assertiveness and negotiating skills to produce win-win results.

The workshop cost is $249 per person. UNI Alumni Association members receive a 10-percent discount. Businesses can purchase a consortium membership for $995, which entitles the business to five seats to any of the 2011 management training workshops. Half-day workshops count as a half seat. After the five seats are used, additional seats can be purchased at a discounted rate of $175 per person.

For more information or to register, contact the UNI Executive Development Center at 319-273-5851 or execdev@uni.edu.

The Executive Development Center is a program of Business and Community Services, a division of the UNI College of Business Administration.    

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa received the Governor's Environmental Excellence Award for its dedication to water quality and its work to minimize pollution from entering Dry Run Creek, an impaired water body that flows directly through campus.

In order to ensure that UNI was yielding positive benefits to the environment and residents living downstream, a series of best management practices was put in place throughout campus. The primary focus has been to reduce pollution runoff during rainfall events from campus rooftops, parking lots and turf grasses. UNI has achieved these runoff reductions by installing controlled drainage systems, rain gardens and reintroducing native plant species. In some cases, these watershed improvements have resulted in a more than 90 percent reduction in the pollution load entering Dry Run Creek.

In addition to small-scale management practices, UNI partnered with the local community in the creation of a performance wetland. The wetland demonstration area serves many purposes, including education, recreation, flood migration and water-quality improvement. To date, this area has served as a living laboratory for UNI students as well as more than 1,000 students from local high schools.

Eric O'Brien, UNI sustainability coordinator, said the results of the project have been immense. "UNI has taken an active role in practicing sustainable stewardship of our primarily urban campus grounds," said O'Brien. "Improvements in water quality around campus are a direct result of dedicated and visionary employees who have forged partnerships with both public and private entities here in the Cedar Valley and throughout the state of Iowa."

Primary funding for the project came from UNI. Additional funding came from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources' Water Quality Monitoring, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Watershed Improvement Review Board, and the City of Cedar Falls.

The Environmental Excellence awards are sponsored by the Governor's Office, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Sturgis Youth Theatre, a program of the University of Northern Iowa Department of Theatre, is offering a production of "Aladdin." Fifty student actors and staff are part of this classic story about a boy, a princess, a lamp and the Genie who makes them all live happily ever after. "Aladdin" plays July 21-24 in the Bertha Martin Theatre, at the Strayer-Wood Theatre, at UNI. 

Students in fourth grade and higher are participating in a four-week theatre camp that will culminate in six public performances of "Aladdin."

Per­formances will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 21 through Saturday, July 23; 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 22; and 2 p.m., Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24. Tickets are $7 and may be purchased by calling the Strayer-Wood Theatre box office at 319-273-6381 or online at http://www.vpaf.uni.edu/unitix/.

The production is directed by Gretta Berghammer, Sturgis Youth Theatre artistic director and professor and head of drama and theatre for youth at UNI. The production features scenic and lighting designs by Mark A. Parrott.  UNI theatre major Bailey Otto serves as costume designer.  UNI theatre major and Sturgis Youth Theatre alum Matthew Vichlach of Cedar Falls is the stage manager.

Sturgis Youth Theatre was founded in 1999 by Berghammer, as part of the UNI Department of Theatre’s Theatre for Youth program.  Its mission is to provide quality productions, meaningful production experiences and varied theatre study opportunities for youth in Cedar Falls and the surrounding communities.

For more information, contact Berghammer, at 319-273-2149 or 319-231-1700, or by email at gretta.berghammer@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa has released the first in a series of electronic math games aimed at helping elementary students in the classroom. The iTunes game, titled "Tapatan," is similar to tic-tac-toe and requires students to use spatial reasoning and logic. The application was developed by the Regents' Center for Early Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CEESTEM), which is based at UNI.

Betty Zan, interim director at CEESTEM, said "Tapatan," is just the beginning of what the center hopes will be a long line of iTune apps. "There are more than 100 math games on our website right now that we are gradually turning into apps," said Zan. "We've also worked this past school year with a Cedar Falls first grade, four second-grade teachers and two math coaches to help them use math games as a supplement to the math curriculum."

Beth Van Meeteren, instructor with UNI's Department of Curriculum and Instruction, worked closely with teachers at Southdale Elementary School. "They told me students wanted to stay in from recess to play the math games and when they had indoor recess because of rain or cold weather, the games were often what [the students] ran to get," said Van Meeteren. "What is so wonderful about the games, is that [the students] are doing so many mathematical operations at once in interesting and engaging ways. It's much more challenging than a worksheet."

According to Van Meeteren, Southdale teachers met with UNI faculty every other week to discuss new games and how the games related to their curriculum. "We are so grateful for their time and feedback," said Van Meeteren.

The CEESTEM works to create hands-on, interactive classroom activities that encourage young children to develop and use scientific inquiry processes to explore and better understand their environments. The goal is to not only increase the number of students who choose to pursue careers in STEM fields, but also raise the scientific literacy of all students.

To access the CEESTEM games currently available, visit www.uni.edu/coe/special-programs/regents-center-early-developmental-educ....

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- More than 40 graduate students in the University of Northern Iowa principalship program will become principals for a day during a role playing exercise on June 21. The simulation, titled "Day in the Office" places students in a mock office where they will encounter real- life issues that school principals face on a daily basis.

Throughout the day, former principalship students, as well as UNI faculty and staff, will play the roles of students, parents and other principal-office visitors to present scenarios for the graduate students to work through. Once the issue is resolved, students will debrief with professors to discuss what went well and other possible solutions.

Nick Pace, UNI associate professor of educational leadership and postsecondary education, developed the exercise five years ago to better prepare students for their careers as principals. "This simulation allows students to think on their feet and apply what they have learned in class," said Pace. "The hands- on experience is much more beneficial then simply writing a final paper."

Victoria Robinson, interim department head of educational leadership and postsecondary education at UNI, calls the exercise a unique, authentic learning opportunity. "In a five-hour timeframe, students will get 20 snapshots of real-life scenarios," said Robinson.

The simulation was the inspiration for a book and DVD being released this fall, titled "The Principal's Hot Seat: Observing Real-World Dilemmas." Pace says that 15 of the most popular scenarios used in the simulation will be featured in the book and on the DVD.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Malcolm Price Laboratory School-Iowa's Research and Development School (MPLS) at the University of Northern Iowa has received a bronze Healthy Schools Program National Recognition Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The alliance's Healthy Schools Program supports more than 10,000 schools across the U.S. in their efforts to create environments where physical activity and healthy eating are accessible and encouraged. 

MPLS has implemented several healthy changes at the school since 2009, including a revamp of its meal service, new physical activity programs and the creation of a wellness committee composed of teachers, nurses, administrators, parents and students. The school's Grassroots Café has a record number of students and faculty eating school lunches made from foods that are both healthy and locally grown.

Shelley McCumber, physical education instructor at MPLS, says that joining the Healthy Schools Program has encouraged MPLS to take a look at its overall school wellness, not just one or two specific programs. "We are teaching and modeling for students the importance of a balanced and healthy lifestyle," said McCumber. "We want our students, parents and community members to recognize the value of educating the whole child."

McCumber says that one of the most extensive implementations was the School Employee Wellness Program. Faculty received weekly emails providing information on wellness, including nutrition and healthy recipes, mental/emotional health topics, and physical activity. Additionally, staff members tracked their total steps taken each week and displayed the total on the "Walk Across America" school bulletin board. "We realized that teaching our students about wellness is not enough," said McCumber. "We need to model these healthy active lifestyles."

Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to positively affect the places that can make a difference in a child's health: homes, schools, doctors' offices and communities. The goal of the alliance is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015 and to empower kids nationwide to make healthy lifestyle choices.

For more information, contact Shelley McCumber at 319-273-7872.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa hosted the 2011 Solar Splash World Championship of Intercollegiate Solar Boat Racing for the first time, June 8 through June 12, at George Wyth State Park. This year's event was one of the largest, with 21 teams from four countries participating. 

After the four-day event, Cedarville University in Ohio was declared the new Collegiate World Champion of Solar Boat Racing. The University of New Orleans placed second, Istanbul Technical University of Turkey placed third and UNI placed fourth.

Reg Pecen, UNI professor of industrial technology and adviser to UNI's solar boat team, was pleased with this year's event. "Visiting team members as well as Solar Splash officials were very happy to have the competition in Iowa," said Pecan. "They were very impressed with the well-organized preparations."

Additional UNI awards include third place in the Solar Endurance category and Best Visual Display.

For more information, visit www.cns.uni.edu/eboat or contact Pecen at 319-230-9331.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- With today's high fuel prices, cash rents and land costs, there has never been a better time to explore reduced tillage options. Farmers are invited to a No-till Field Day at the Terry Elsbernd farm near Decorah on Tuesday, June 28, to see energy- and money-saving practices firsthand.

Attendees will visit the Elsbernd farm to see how no-tillage works and learn from an Iowa farmer who is experienced with this practice. Additional farmers and other resource professionals will discuss the benefits of a no-till cropping system, including changes in soil tilth, moisture, fuel costs and profitability. They will also discuss what farmers are doing to decrease nitrogen-management costs and look at energy breakdown in the field, where it's going, the saving potential, energy audits and incentives. A complimentary lunch will be provided by the Winneshiek Soil and Water Conservation District, the Winneshiek Cooperative and the Iowa Farm Energy Working Group (IFEWG) at the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy and Environmental Education. (CEEE)

The field day, which will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Winneshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District, Iowa State University Extension, the Winneshiek Energy District and the IFEWG within UNI's CEEE.

For more information, contact Carole Yates at 319-273-7599.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Registration is now open for the management workshop "Teaching Your Direct Reports to Solve Problems" hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Executive Development Center. The workshop is 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 28, in the Business and Community Services Building on the UNI campus. The registration deadline is Tuesday, June 21.

Workshop participants will learn techniques to teach direct reports how to improve their thinking and problem-solving skills. Participants will practice how to build direct reports' confidence and how to coach them to handle a variety of problems. Vickie Robinson, workshop instructor and UNI associate professor of educational leadership & postsecondary education, will also review ways to reinforce the person's progress and determine when the person can take on more responsibilities and perhaps even mentor others.

The workshop cost is $249 per person. UNI Alumni Association members receive a 10-percent discount. Businesses can purchase a consortium membership for $995, which entitles the business to five seats to any of the 2011 management training workshops. Half-day workshops count as a half seat. After the five seats are used, additional seats can be purchased at a discounted rate of $175 per person.

For more information or to register, contact the UNI Executive Development Center at 319-273-5851 or execdev@uni.edu.

The Executive Development Center is a program of Business and Community Services, a division of the UNI College of Business Administration.     

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Last year 565,000 new businesses were started each month in the United States. This figure represents the highest level of entrepreneurship over the past decade and a half and looks to be a continuing trend. Individuals interested in being a part of this upward start are invited to attend a free, one-hour webinar offered by UNI's MyEntre.Net entrepreneurship program.

The webinar, "I know I Can Do It! (I Just Don't Know What 'IT' is Yet!), will be presented by Maureen Collins-Williams, director of the UNI Regional Business Center, at noon on Thursday, June 9. According to Collins-Williams, many aspiring entrepreneurs have heard about the daunting things associated with being their own boss, such as the long hours and high risk, but there are also many positives. Taking that leap into business ownership begins with figuring out the right business to start and moving on from there.

Interested individuals can attend this webinar to learn about current entrepreneurial trends and how to help identify the business best suited to their success. MyEntre.Net webinars are free, interactive, online seminars on topics of interest to small business owners. To attend this webinar, participants must create a free MyEntre.Net account.

MyEntre.Net, administered by UNI's Regional Business Center, is a publicly funded online community for Iowa entrepreneurs that brings small business owners, service providers and capital together in one simple, single gateway.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --The University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center/Small Business Development Center will once again offer the popular QuickBooks training workshop.  The workshop will focus on QuickBooks Pro basics, such as setting preferences, establishing account charts, entering invoices and bills and creating basic financial statements.   

The three-day, hands-on workshop will move at a comfortable pace for new users. The workshop will be held at the UNI Regional Business Center/SBDC, 212 East 4^th St., Waterloo from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, June 22, Friday, June 24 and Wednesday, June 29.  The workshop will be taught by Judy Schindel of Grant & Schindel CPA. Schindel is a CPA and certified QuickBooks trainer. 

The cost is $189 per person and includes an instruction manual. Contact the UNI Regional Business Center/SBDC at 319-236-8123 for more information or to pre-register.              

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- For years, faculty at the University of Northern Iowa have researched issues facing the Arctic. Additional funding will allow students and faculty to take that research to the next level. The newly established Arctic Social and Environmental Systems Research Lab (ARCSES), housed in the UNI geography department, will focus its efforts on issues the Arctic faces in regard to climate, culture, economics and politics. 

The ARCSES is directed by Andrey Petrov, assistant professor of geography at UNI. Petrov is a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, and has an extensive background in Arctic studies. Petrov says ARCSES is currently involved in several research projects concerning social, economic and environmental changes in the Arctic. The projects include the study of Arctic social indicators, Arctic wildfires, and reindeer migration and their connection to climate change.

Additionally, Petrov says the ARCSES is working on a project, entitled "Creative Arctic," that aims to find and measure creative human capital in the Arctic communities and estimate its impact on economic growth. Creative capital refers to people with high levels of education and/or people who are engaged in creative (scientific, artistic, entrepreneurial or technological) types of activities in this region.

"One of the main goals of this project is to assist Arctic communities in their ability to benefit from globalization while still preserving traditional cultures and activities," said Petrov. "Right now, countries such as Russia, the United States and Canada are using the Arctic's natural resources to export elsewhere, but local economies are often left severely underdeveloped. The 'Creative Arctic' project works with northern communities to help them keep and utilize their local creative capital in order to develop the area economically. It is also interesting that Arctic communities share some profound similarities with rural places in the Midwest, so this project may be helpful to folks who try to foster creative capital here in Iowa or neighboring states."

The ARCSES is funded through the National Science Foundation, the NASA Iowa Space Grant and the UNI College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Additional funding comes from PROGRUS, a privately funded program designed to foster collaboration in geographic research and education between Russia and the United States.

For more information, visit www.uni.edu/apetrov/arcses. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Registration is now open for the management workshop "Discover the Power of Accountability That Works!^©" hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Executive Development Center. The workshop is 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 21, in the Business and Community Services Building on the UNI campus. The registration deadline is Tuesday, June 14.

Workshop participants will learn to end the "blame game" in their organizations and how to focus on agreement management rather than conflict management. Instructor Melanie Hoffner will give insight and teach strategies to improve responsibility, empowerment, accountability and the use of "clear agreements."

The workshop cost is $249 per person. UNI Alumni Association members receive a 10-percent discount. Businesses can purchase a consortium membership for $995, which entitles the business to five seats to any of the 2011 management training workshops. Half-day workshops count as a half seat. After the five seats are used, additional seats can be purchased at a discounted rate of $175 per person.

For more information or to register, contact the UNI Executive Development Center at 319-273-5851 or execdev@uni.edu.

The Executive Development Center is a program of Business and Community Services, a division of the UNI College of Business Administration.     

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The seventh annual Iowa Mentoring and Induction Institute conference will take place Monday, June 20, and Tuesday, June 21, at the Park Place Event Centre on the Lake, 1521 Technology Parkway, in Cedar Falls. The conference, sponsored in part by the University of Northern Iowa, will address effective mentoring practices to support beginning teachers from pre-service experience to the classroom.

Keynote speakers for this year's conference include Linda Darling-Hammond, co-director of the School Redesign Network; Sarah Brown-Wessling, 2010 National Teacher of the Year; Jason Glass, director of the Iowa Department of Education; and Taylor Mali, author and poet.

There is no registration fee, and a $500 expense stipend will be available for those who attend the full two-day event. Attendance is limited to 250, and the deadline to register is May 31 to be eligible for the stipend. Additionally, graduate credit is available for those interested.

In addition to UNI, event sponsors are the Iowa Department of Education; Mildred Middleton, educator emeritus; and the Iowa State Education Association.

For the institute schedule and other information, visit www.vpaf.uni.edu/events/mentor/index.shtml.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host the 2011 Solar Splash World Championship of Intercollegiate Solar Boat Racing for the first time, June 8 through June 12, at George Wyth State Park. This year's event will be one of the largest, with 21 teams from four countries and more than 250 spectators.

According to Reg Pecen, UNI professor of industrial technology, Solar Splash began in Milwaukee in 1994 and is a hands-on educational experience that develops teamwork and interdisciplinary skills. "This competition allows undergraduates to be involved in applied engineering and technology research and to develop confidence in their abilities."

Pecen says UNI's team is honored to be hosting an international event of this magnitude. "Solar Splash is dedicated to spotlighting sustainable and clean boating technologies, and this is something Iowa's lakes and rivers could clearly benefit from."

During the five-day event, Solar Splash teams earn points in seven categories, including technical inspections and reports, engineering design, visual displays, workmanship, and on-the-water sprint, endurance and slalom competitions. 

At the 2009 Solar Splash, UNI's team, the Solar Panthers, placed third overall, the team's best showing to date.  Their success involved year-long design, implementation, construction, testing and troubleshooting, Pecen said. 

This year's event is sponsored by IEEE-PELS including partial sponsors from IMSEP, Waterloo Tent, CFU, Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau, Cedar Valley Sports Commission, Iowa DNR, Solar Creations by Waterloo, Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber. The UNI Solar Electric Boat project is sponsored by the Iowa Energy Center, with additional support provided by the UNI Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, and the UNI CHFANS SOAR grants.

For more information, visit www.cns.uni.edu/eboat or contact Pecen at 319-230-9331.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- From the 50 executive summaries submitted to the John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition, 20 have been selected to submit full business plans for the judges' review.

"Each year the quality of the businesses competing improves," said Randy Pilkington, director of the University of Northern Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. "We were pleased to have a wide range of business types with broad geographic representation competing this year."

From this round of competition, seven to 10 business plans will be chosen as finalists and invited to present to a panel of judges. Based on the presentations, the judges will select three businesses to present at the Iowa Entrepreneurs Conference and Venture Forum on Oct. 25. The winner will be announced at that time.

The John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is designed to stimulate business development and provide support for outstanding business plans. This year a total of $50,000 will be awarded to the top three submitted business plans ($25,000 for first prize, $15,000 for second and $10,000 for third). Honorable mention and $1,000 will be awarded to additional companies.

For more information, visit the competition website, www.iowabusinessplancompetition.com, or contact one of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers located at Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.

The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers provide entrepreneurial education and business support, partnering with agencies like the Small Business Development Center, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Entrepreneurial Development Centers and local entrepreneurs to assist with funding and other business needs.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa will feature artifact and research findings uncovered by the UNI Archaeology Field School excavations at Harman Reserve Nature Center this summer through an exhibit at the UNI Museum. The exhibit, entitled "Beneath Our Feet: Cedar Valley Archaeology," will be on display June 6 through Aug. 20.

Visitors can view pieces of pottery and projectile points found by the field school excavations at Hartman Reserve and learn how professional archaeologists excavate sites, what they look for in the lab and how they interpret artifacts to better understand the culture of prehistoric Iowans.

In addition to artifacts uncovered by the field school, there will be items on display from the Office of the State Archaeologist, artifacts and research from John Hartman, a life-size wigwam and hands-on activities.

"Beneath Our Feet: Cedar Valley Archaeology" was created by UNI Museums in collaboration with Donald Gaff, assistant professor of anthropology at UNI. An opening reception, featuring Gaff and Chris Anderson of Hartman Reserve, will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7, at the UNI Museum.

The UNI Museum is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. The museum is located at 3219 Hudson Rd. For more information, visit www.uni.edu/museum. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Community Music School will offer Camp Musicmania, June 13 through 18. Daily activities will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Russell Hall on the UNI campus.

Participants in grades four through nine will enjoy a fun-filled week of activities that will include singing, dancing, drama, playing small percussion instruments and using music to tell a story. Campers will be divided into age-appropriate groups and will work toward the production of a camp musical for parents and friends on the last day.

The deadline for registration is Wednesday, June 1. The cost is $75 per camper, with limited scholarships available.

For more information, visit www.uni.edu/communitymusicschool/specialevents.html or contact Cindi Mason at 319-273-2142.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa is one of 11 colleges and universities, and the only college in Iowa, to be recognized as a finalist for the Presidential Award in the 2010 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. This is the third year UNI has made the Honor Roll and the first year it has been named a finalist.

"This is a great honor for UNI and a strong example of our commitment to community engagement as outlined in our university strategic plan," said Ben Allen, UNI president. "Our faculty, staff and students perform a variety of community service activities related to education, business and community causes, especially those that serve high-need communities."

UNI has been named to the honor roll since 2008. Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors including the scope and innovation of service projects, the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses and measurable community outcomes.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) admitted a total of 641 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. Of that total, 511 were named to the Honor Roll; 114 received the recognition of Honor Roll with distinction; 11 were identified as finalists; and six received the Presidential Award.

College students make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector; in 2009, 3.2 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service, service valued at more than $6.4 billion.

Special projects for which UNI has been recognized as a finalist include:- Community and Economic Development Support in Northeast Waterloo, Iowa - northeast Waterloo has the highest concentration of poverty, unemployment and minority population in the metro area. UNI served approximately 500 individuals with community and economic development initiatives through neighborhood outreach and business development services. UNI actively leads community and economic development initiatives through the Waterloo Neighborhood Coalition, the Waterloo Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation, the MyEntre.Net system and an east side Waterloo business incubator. MyEntre.Net is an online community that includes 175 northeast Waterloo entrepreneurs. The program has added 23 jobs in the past year. UNI's incubator opened in 2001, and 42 businesses have graduated into the downtown area, filling18,000 square feet of space and creating 157 FTE jobs.

- UNI Center for Urban Education (UNI-CUE) - the center serves as an education vehicle for students in Waterloo, Iowa, in kindergarten through 12^th grade, their families and community residents to realize educational and professional goals. The center is open to youth and adults wishing to receive education, career counseling and college courses. A few examples of UNI-CUE programs include a free tutoring center for students in grades three through 12; UNI-CUE's annual Back-to-School Supplies Project, which provided 1,200 low-income families with school supplies; and UNI-CUE's Classic Upward Bound Program, which serves 99 low-income, first-generation college students with after-school and summer programs. Eighty-seven faculty, staff and students work and volunteer with UNI-CUE. More than 15,200 people utilize the center annually.

-Rites of Passage: Empowering African American Youth - was a two-year program developed and led by a UNI faculty member who met with African-American girls and boys, grades three through eight, who were considered at-risk. UNI undergraduate students helped plan the weekly lessons. The sessions included activities to build self-esteem and self-concept as well as cultural, social and emotional experiences. Every student in the Rites of Passage program showed measurable academic and behavioral growth. Examples include improved grades and significantly decreased behavior referrals and suspensions.

The Honor Roll is a program of the CNCS, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education. For a complete list of Honor Roll recipients, visit www.NationalService.gov/HonorRoll.

The CNCS is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs. The agency leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov/.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has continued the University of Northern Iowa's accreditation for a 10-year period that runs through 2020. The commission's action follows a comprehensive self-study by the university and a three-day site visit by a 10-member review team last November.

Colleges and universities use an accreditation process to evaluate their educational programs for continuous quality. Once accreditation is granted, or in UNI's case, reaffirmed, it assures students and prospective students that an institution's academic programs meet nationally recognized standards. Accreditation also offers the following advantages:

• An accredited institution can apply for federal grants, loans and other federal funds, including research funds.
• Students at an accredited institution are eligible for federal (and in some instances, state) grants and loans.
• Students at an accredited institution can transfer credits to other accredited universities.
• Employers and graduate school admissions committees may look more favorably upon students who earn a degree from an accredited institution. 
• Employers that offer tuition assistance are more likely to reimburse employees for courses taken at an accredited institution.

"Reaccreditation is the most important endorsement a university can receive," said UNI President Ben Allen. "I want to thank all of the faculty, staff, students and community members who participated in the process. We owe this successful outcome to everyone's hard work and commitment to providing a quality educational experience that makes UNI a leading academic institution."

Every 10 years, UNI conducts a self-study in preparation for reaccreditation by the HLC, an arm of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The university first received NCA accreditation in 1913 as a teacher training institution and has been continuously accredited as a four-year institution since 1930.  

The HLC is one of six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The commission is responsible for the accreditation of colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning in the North Central region, which includes 19 states. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will partner with the University of Iowa, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Martin Brothers Distributing to host "Healthy Creations: A Culinary Workshop" from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14. The workshop will be held on the UNI campus and will have a number of interactive sessions that focus on ways to make foods healthier while still maintaining flavor.

The morning speaker will be Jud Flynn, certified executive chef, who will discuss "Healthy Cooking Made Flavorful." Attendees will have the opportunity to taste products made by Flynn.

During the afternoon, participants will break into three groups and rotate through all three afternoon presentations, which include "Flavors of the World" by Flynn; "Fresh Herbs in Baking" by Elena Clement, certified executive pastry chef; and "Beyond Sodium" by Don Hensley, corporate chef at Martin Brothers Distributing.

Healthy Creations is a subregional National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) educational program offered for culinary staff, front-line production staff and other staff of institutions interested in preparing healthy foods that customers will enjoy.

Registration for the workshop is $75 per person prior to June 1 and $85 after. Lunch and a tour of UNI's dining facilities are included in the cost. To register, visit www.regonline.com/healthycreations. Hotel accommodations are available at the Country Inns & Suites by calling 319-268-1800 and referencing NACUFS.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Dorothea Dean received the Howard V. Jones Leadership and Philanthropy in the Arts award during the recent Crème de la Crème concert at the University of Northern Iowa's Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center (GBPAC).

Ed Gallagher, on behalf of the UNI Foundation, presented the award to Dean for her leadership and philanthropy in the arts and the many ways in which she supports the arts. After her husband's death, she established the Robert Dean Memorial Endowed Scholarship and the Dorothea and Robert Dean Endowed Visiting Artist/Scholars Series for the UNI School of Music.

The endowments provide scholarships for music students and support the School of Music residency program, which has provided residencies for 67 world-class professional artists.

"A strong basic education, coupled with music education, produces a child who is a winner in life," said Dean.

The Howard V. Jones Leadership and Philanthropy in the Arts award was established in honor of Howard V. Jones, a UNI emeritus professor of history, outstanding supporter of the arts and longtime director of the UNI Artists and Chamber Music Series.

For more information, contact Diane Curtis at 319-273-6078

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa and the College of Education will offer a free webinar as part of the "Hot Topics in Education" professional development webinar series. "Using Social Networking to Enhance Your Personal/Professional Development" is scheduled for 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.,Thursday, May 26. The webinar will be presented by Leigh Zeitz, associate professor of curriculum & instruction, and Robin Galloway, instructor, curriculum & instruction. 

The session will explore how to use social media tools like Skype, podcasts, wikis and blogs to share what you are doing in your classroom and learn from fellow educators.   

The webinars allow educators to learn from UNI experts in the comfort of their classroom, office or home. This year's webinars have featured topics such as classroom management; core standards; closing the achievement gap; technology in the classroom; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education; and more.

To learn more about the "Hot Topics in Education" series or to register for this free webinar, visit www.uni.edu/coe/webinars.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa School of Music's Suzuki School will present its spring concert at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 15, in the Great Hall in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on the UNI campus.

The concert will feature group performances of the students on violin, viola, cello, flute and guitar. Students as young as age three from numerous Northeast Iowa communities will perform alongside adults. The Suzuki School is celebrating its 35th anniversary with some special musical selections. The concert will honor UNI Suzuki School founder Martha Holvik.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information about the Suzuki School or the spring concert, contact Cathy Craig, coordinator of the Suzuki School, at 319-273-2508 or cathy.craig@uni.edu. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa School of Music's Suzuki School is taking applications from new and current students for the upcoming summer session. Registration forms can be downloaded from www.uni.edu/music/Suzuki. Forms should be submitted as soon as possible. The deadline for registration is May 15, but late requests will be considered.

The school offers Suzuki method music instruction with trained teachers for students of all ages, including adults, and all levels in violin, viola, cello, flute and guitar. The school provides theory instruction, performance opportunities and ensemble participation in the Northern Iowa Junior Orchestra.

For more information about the Suzuki School, contact Cathy Craig, coordinator of the Suzuki School, at 319-273-2508 or cathy.craig@uni.edu. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Department of Computer Science will offer two workshops this summer for middle and high school teachers. Each workshop will focus on different computer-based tools, which can be used by teachers from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines.

Participants who attend each three-day summer workshop and complete a fall follow-up activity will receive 1 hour of graduate credit and free tuition, thanks to a donation from Google. Teachers may participate in both workshops.

The first workshop, entitled Scratch in Education, will help prepare teachers to have their students use graphical programming software in their classrooms. The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 20 through 22, plus one follow-up Saturday in November.

The second workshop, Simulation Tools for Education, will help prepare teachers to teach students about various simulation tools. The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 27 through 29, plus one follow-up Saturday in November.

For more information, contact Ben Schafer at 319-273-2187

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Farmers with small to mid-size operations are encouraged to apply for demonstration grants using energy efficiency/conservation and renewable energy resources from the farm to meet the energy needs of Iowa's small to mid-size farms. The opportunity is offered through the Farm Energy Working Group of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, which is facilitated by the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).

"Adopting technologies using on-farm resources for small and mid-size farms offers many ways for farmers to reduce their energy use," said Carole Yates, coordinator for the Iowa Farm Energy Working Group.

Grant proposals for up to $2,000 will be considered to pay for the farmer's time for installation, administration, report writing and some materials. The grants cannot cover any equipment purchases and no matching dollars are required. The proposal deadline is June 15, 2011.

For more information, contact Yates at 319-273-7599 or visit www.ceee.uni.edu/farmenergy.aspx.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Summer will be here before we know it and students will have a break from the classroom, but many parents and caregivers are looking for opportunities to keep children busy and learning in the summer months. 

The University of Northern Iowa is offering a variety of summer camps for students in kindergarten through 12^th grade.  Students can choose interest areas in the sciences, arts -- design, literature, music -- business and much more. 

Is your child interested in astronomy and gazing at the stars, obsessed with robotics or fascinated with crime scene investigation (CSI)? Is he or she a talented musician or an aspiring filmmaker? These are just some of the camp topics offered this summer by UNI faculty and students.

"One of my priorities for the year is to ensure that UNI's campus is full of elementary, middle and high school students in the summer," said Gloria Gibson, executive vice president and provost at UNI. "We have exemplary programs and faculty. I want school-age students to be able to participate in interactive learning environments that will stimulate their minds and interests in various subjects." 

For more information about the camps and to register, visit www.uni.edu/camps.  

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Edra Bogle of Denton, Texas, has made a nearly half million dollar gift to her alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), to create the Agathon Fellowship Endowment for graduate assistantships for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and others supportive of LGBT issues.

The gift, made through Bogle's estate, is part of UNI's Imagine the Impact campaign, which supports scholarships, faculty and programs. Bogle has also provided an immediate $17,500 cash gift to UNI to provide funding for the fellowship over the next five years. 

"In the time since I first met Dr. Bogle, I have grown to understand and highly respect her long and tireless work as an LGBT activist," said Phyllis Baker, director of UNI's Women and Gender Studies program. "Her passion is palpable. It seems so very fitting that her hard work will be carried forward in perpetuity in her generous gift to UNI's LGBT students and to LGBT issues on campus." 

Bogle attended Iowa State Teacher's College, now UNI, receiving her B.A. in 1956. She went on to receive her M.S. at Columbia University and Ph.D. at the University of Southern California. Bogle served as a faculty member in the Department of English at the University of North Texas where she taught for 34 years. Supplementing her abundance of activity in local and state politics in Texas, Bogle has also been a longtime gay and lesbian rights activist. 

Bogle has served as a Democratic precinct chair intermittently since the late 1980s. Since 1982, she has served as a delegate to the State Democratic Convention repeatedly and as the Denton County Democratic chair from February 2003 to May 2006.  She was the interim founding president of the Denton chapter of Texas Democratic Women. Today, she is active in the Denton County Party, Denton County Democracy for America and the Stonewall Democrats chapter. 

As a gay and lesbian rights activist, Bogle was the newsletter editor for the Gay Caucus for the Modern Languages and served on the delegate assembly of the Modern Language Association. She was also a founding member of the Gay Academic Union of North Texas, serving as president and on the national board of the GAU; a member of the Gay/Lesbian Association of Denton; and a member of Queer Faculty and Staff of UNT. Bogle was newsletter editor for the Texas Gay/Lesbian Task Force, and chaired a local Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays committee to include LGBT persons in the Denton Independent School District anti-harassment policy.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A University of Northern Iowa student team won second place and $4,000 in the Sam's Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge held in Bentonville, Ark., on April 22.

Adam O'Leary, a senior economics major from Garner, and Tony Patterson, a senior economics major from Cedar Falls, represented the UNI Entrepreneurs/Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team at the national competition for the Sam's Club challenge. The team, working with local Sam's Club associate Jeff Martin, helped Cottonwood Canyon in downtown Waterloo become more environmentally sustainable by replacing paper towels with hand dryers, switching to 100-percent biodegradable to-go cups, and installing a commercial dishwasher.

"We were able to help Cottonwood Canyon save 336 gallons of water per month, eliminate 6 tons of cardboard recycling from that city block, and reduce expenses by $150 per month," said Patterson.

O'Leary said, "We enjoyed being part of the Sam's Club challenge and making a positive impact on the community and the environment."

The Sam's Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge provides the opportunity for SIFE teams and Sam's Club associates to work together to implement environmentally sustainable practices in the facilities and operations of Sam's Business Members' businesses. The SIFE teams must address two of three areas of sustainability: waste and recycling, energy and water, or people and community. Judges for the competition were Sam's Club president and vice presidents.

 "The UNI Entrepreneurs/SIFE team applied business, economic and entrepreneurial concepts to this project and created a sustainable approach for a local business," said Sam Walton Fellow and UNI Entrepreneurs/SIFE adviser Laurie Watje. "We are pleased with the national second-place win and have enjoyed working with Sam's Club."

UNI Entrepreneurs/SIFE is a student organization in the UNI College of Business Administration and a program of the UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. UNI JPEC, a division of UNI's Business and Community Services, provides a range of innovative educational programs and support services designed for student entrepreneurs. For more information about JPEC at UNI, visit www.jpec.org, call 319-273-JPEC (5732) or e-mail jpec@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- University of Northern Iowa student Darion Watson, a senior communications major from Gary, Ind., was named the UNI Student Employee of the Year at the annual Student Employee Week reception on April 13. Watson's nomination was also submitted for state, regional and national consideration and the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators selected Watson as the State of Iowa Student Employee of the Year.

Watson is a resident assistant in Dancer Hall where he has been responsible for building community in houses of about 50 men in all stages of their college experience. According to his supervisor and nominator, Amanda Mesirow, Watson "works to develop members of his house by arranging speakers, activities and resources that meet the needs of his house. He is always careful to respect the opinions of others and respond with respect." Watson was one of only six winners of the Prepared Case Study competition at the 21^st annual UNI Resident Assistant Conference, during which UNI hosted RAs from across the region. Watson's presentation was recognized out of more than 100 entries from across the region.

Watson is the first student from UNI to be selected as the State of Iowa Student Employee of the Year. This honor was accompanied by a congratulatory letter and certificate from the National Student Employment Association, as well as a monetary award.

For more information, contact Jennifer Bell, counselor in the UNI Office of Student Financial Aid, at 319-273-2700 or jennifer.bell@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- More international and professional preparation opportunities will be available to students enrolled in the University of Northern Iowa College of Business Administration (UNIBusiness) thanks to a $300,000 endowment from the AEGON Transamerica Foundation.

The gift, part of the university's $150 million Imagine the Impact campaign, will support students preparing to take the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) exam and students who want to study abroad and participate in international internships.

"Professional certifications and overseas experiences help our students become more valuable employees for international businesses like AEGON," said UNIBusiness Dean Farzad Moussavi."Gifts such as this remove the financial barriers that can deter students from pursuing these opportunities. Our students are willing to put in the time and effort to prepare for their careers, and we're grateful to the AEGON Transamerica Foundation for making it possible for them to do so."

In the U.S. the AEGON/Transamerica companies, employ nearly 200 UNI graduates in accounting, real estate, finance and information technology.

"We're honored and excited to be a part of making meaningful opportunities like this possible," said AEGON Transamerica Foundation President David Blankenship.  

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- With an ever-increasing interest in purchasing locally produced food, the Northern Iowa Food & Farm Partnership (NIFFP) at the University of Northern Iowa is launching a new project aimed at increasing the number of food producers in Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Buchanan, Grundy and Tama counties.

The NIFFP is looking for participants interested in piloting a farming project with support from various community partnering institutions. Black Hawk County has committed to providing publicly owned, vacant lots for the pilot project. Participants will be provided temporary use of land, horticultural assistance, business plan development and marketing assistance, as well as opportunities to connect with local food buyers.

Additionally, the NIFFP is seeking landowners who are interested in providing small segments of unused land to the participants. Yards around uninhabited farmhouses with existing access to water would be ideal.

The project is supported by Black Hawk County, Cedar Valley Resource Conservation and Development, ISU Extension, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education, and the UNI Regional Business Center.

For more information, contact Andrea Geary at 319-273-7883.