North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School鈥檚 global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we鈥檝e learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don鈥檛 see what you鈥檙e looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university鈥檚 mission and alumni needs.
萝莉社’s School of Adult Learning Celebrates Student Excellence
Sixteen students and over 80 guests attended the Honors Celebration, held annually at the University Center of Lake County.
Honors Celebration held Saturday, December 5, in Grayslake
CHICAGO (December 18, 2015) — Faculty, staff, and students from gathered on Saturday, December 5, at the University Center of Lake County in Grayslake to celebrate graduating students for their leadership, service, and academic excellence. The School of Adult Learning recognized students who are earning their bachelor’s degree this month with honors, many of whom were also inducted into the North Park chapters of two honor societies: , the International Honor Society for Psychology, and , the oldest national honor society for non-traditional undergraduate students.
Additionally, six students were honored as School of Adult Learning Outstanding Students for Fall 2015: Steve Christian, Charles Culotta, Angela Mazzacano, Connie Serbia, Charles Tayona, and Denise Walsh. These students embody not only academic excellence, but also perseverance, leadership, and commitment to lives of significance and service.
Sixteen students and over 80 guests attended the Honors Celebration, held at the . 萝莉社 Provost Michael Emerson and School of Adult Learning Dean Lori Scrementi addressed the students and families. In addition, Dr. Gary Grace and Dr. Hilary Ward Schnadt, dean and associate dean of the University Center, also participated in the ceremony.
“It takes tremendous courage and perseverance to return to school and complete a degree,” said "Our students must balance the demands of work, family, and other interests. Doing so with honors, while embodying the values of North Park, can inspire us all. I have no doubt the next phase of their journey into the careers and lives they desire will be equally as inspiring.”
The School of Adult Learning (SAL) at 萝莉社 is dedicated to helping students finish their degree and succeed in a competitive job market. With , and courses available and at , in addition to a , the School of Adult Learning offers a fast, convenient, and affordable path to completing a degree. SAL's welcoming campus community and supportive learning environment is shaped by North Park’s Christian identity, urban location, and intercultural community, and prepares students for lives of significance and service.
Students graduating from the School of Adult this semester, including those recognized at the Honors Celebration, will participate in a University-wide commencement this Friday, December 18, at 7:30 pm. For more information on commencement, please visit .
Literature Students Share the Books that Shaped Them
The Senior Seminar in Literature created the exhibit “Reading for a Lifetime,” currently on display in Brandel Library.
Senior Seminar students create the exhibition 鈥淩eading for a Lifetime鈥�
CHICAGO (December 15, 2015) 鈥� Why do we read literature? How does literary study serve the common good? What is of value in our reading of literary texts? These are among the questions that 萝莉社鈥檚 Senior Seminar in Literature students grappled with this semester as they created the exhibit 鈥淩eading for a Lifetime,鈥� currently on display at .
The exhibit, a collaborative project for senior students, gave majors鈥攁long with Arnesen, University President David L. Parkyn, and Provost Michael O. Emerson鈥攖he opportunity to define themselves using the 10 to 12 books that have mattered the most to them.
Inspired by My Ideal Bookshelf by Thessaly La Force, the exhibit featured personal 鈥渂ookshelves鈥� representing the ways in which identities are formed through literature. Along with Bookshelf, seminar students read Audrey Niffenegger鈥檚 graphic novel The Night Bookmobile, in which the Chicago author imagines a mysterious Winnebago filled with every book the narrator has ever read.
At the exhibition鈥檚 opening, each student told the story of their bookshelf, explaining the enjoyable but challenging task of choosing the books that had most shaped them. 鈥淚t was great to hear lively conversations at the opening reception as people talked about their own books, as we hoped they would,鈥� said Arnesen.
鈥淭hrough their work on this project, these students have asked some of life鈥檚 big questions, which we actively encourage everyone here at North Park to do,鈥� said Parkyn. 鈥淏y sharing the books that have had the most impact on their lives, our students have drawn upon their personal histories, reflected on the ways in which their experiences at North Park have changed them, and pointed toward the lives they will lead after graduating.鈥�
The library鈥檚 first floor featured physical bookshelves that represented the past, present, and future works of literature that seminar students had read, are reading, and hope to read, while the second floor displays photos of the bookshelves (shown below, with highlights of the curators鈥� statements).
鈥淢y students and I really appreciated working with Annie Wilkinson, Brandel Library鈥檚 head of circulation and communication, on this project,鈥� Arnesen said. 鈥淗er enthusiasm, as well as the library’s generosity in making the gallery space available, helped us imagine a wider audience for our bookshelves. It was inspiring to have this gorgeous public stage on which to present our very personal ideas about how literature matters.鈥�
Photos by Brittani Worley
Click on any image to get a closer look.
Katie Bast
鈥淢any of the titles on my bookshelf reflect works from various stages and places in my life; these are the books that I think of and have some form of emotional reaction to. Some of these works are fresh in my mind and some I haven鈥檛 read in years, but I know that at one point in time, every work was incredibly important to me.
“This is the beauty of literature. It provides a snapshot into who I am thus far; I look forward to the ways it will expand and evolve.鈥�
Jireh Kruse
鈥淚 always hear people making comments like, ‘Reading is just so boring.’ Reading is a new part of my life. Truthfully, I do not have a lot of experience with reading鈥擨 was one of the people making those comments.
“Today, I believe that if absolutely any person picks up the right book, they too will become a book lover. I encourage you to find yours!鈥�
Edith Martinez
鈥淔or me, it was not until middle school that I really enjoyed reading, and the first types of books I truly liked were Japanese manga. Most of the books on this bookshelf are my absolute favorites.
“The rest are books that have taught me much about literature and teaching literature. All have shaped me in some way and mark different stages in my life; each have wonderful memories attached to them, and each book has been a joy to read.鈥�
Stephanie Wirkus
鈥淭he process of curating my 鈥業deal Bookshelf鈥� was a practice in honesty and self-reflection. As I prepared to share something rather personal with the North Park community, it was important that my choices were an authentic representation of the literature that formed the basis of my understanding of and reverence for the written word. In doing so, I leaned toward texts that were intellectually and creatively impactful.
Underpinning it all is The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, the ideal companion text for readers seeking technical input.鈥�
Brittani Worley
鈥淏etween school and my free time, I read a generous number of books, some of which have left a lasting impression. Classics introduced me to a world of complex themes, drama, and characters. Poets captivate me with their ability to use words and form to convey such powerful, and sometimes silly, sentiments.
“The remainder of the books are some of my favorites because they use a form or style that is unique from most popular books. I am enthralled with inventive writing, regardless of time or genre, because it encompasses the freedom and power writers have.”
Professor Nancy Arnesen
鈥淎mong others, my bookshelf includes:
-the book my parents gave me when I turned six
-the book I have read every year since 1979
-the book in which the antagonist turns to butter
-the book which includes the line ‘Reader, I married him.’
-the book I named my daughter after
-the book which portrays gender politics better than any I know
-the best book I鈥檝e read this year
-a book that I loved, though I don鈥檛 remember why.鈥�
President David L. Parkyn
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 have a bookshelf if you can鈥檛 find the books. Amazon is easiest, of course, but not most pleasurable of book-hunting experiences. I prefer holding a book before I buy it, so The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop anchors my bookshelf.
“In addition to poetry, memoirs, books that explore vocation, guides to prayer, and books on past and present in Chicago, I have a couple of aids for cooking my favorite meals.
“On top of it all, in honor of North Park鈥檚 approaching 125th birthday, is A History of North Park College.鈥�
Provost Michael O. Emerson
鈥淭he Bible is my life鈥檚 most influential book, but that seems too obvious. So I selected books that have shaped my research. They range across three main areas: religion, race/ethnicity, and urban issues.
“Within and across these areas, the books I selected fundamentally altered my thinking when I read them. They were all 鈥榓h-ha,鈥� light-bulb moments.鈥�
The North Park Combined Women鈥檚 Ensemble was one of several to participate in the Festival of Lessons and Carols.
Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols emphasizes hope in a time of global unrest
CHICAGO (December 8, 2015) 鈥� Sunday was a night of reflection and joy for those who filled the pews of St. Hilary Catholic Church at 萝莉社鈥檚 eighth annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.
As children鈥檚 voices opened the concert softly singing, 鈥淥nce in royal David鈥檚 city / Stood a lowly cattle shed / Where a mother laid her baby / In a manger for his bed,鈥� the audience of approximately 1,000 could begin to see that the event was about more than seasonal cheer. This year鈥檚听 theme, 鈥淕athering at the Manger,鈥� was intended to recognize and respond to a time of global turmoil with the hope of a humble nativity.
鈥淭here is so much homelessness in Chicago and the world鈥攕o many people displaced from their countries,鈥� said Dr. Julia Davids, associate professor of music. 鈥淲e can draw a comparison to Mary and Joseph as they tried in vain to find a place for her to have her child, eventually gathering in the humblest of spots鈥攁round a manger.鈥�
The Gospel Choir performs “Have You Heard about the Baby,” featuring soloist Quincy Cochran.
President David L. Parkyn echoed this intention in his opening prayer: 鈥淏ecause this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in Jesus鈥檚 name, the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed.鈥�
The service structure of alternating lessons (Scripture readings) and carols originated in the Anglican church and tells the story of Christ, from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus. 鈥淭he music performed changes from year to year, while the readings stay the same,鈥� said Davids. 鈥淎 number of the musical pieces for the service express the humility of Christ鈥檚 nativity鈥攅specially 听that the first beings on earth to see the son of God were the animals in the stable. Such a humble beginning.鈥�
The service included more than 20 compositions in English, Latin, Polish, Spanish, and Russian. 萝莉社鈥檚 six student ensembles, composed of about 150 students, performed throughout the service. Music education student JiaYi Liang stepped up to the podium to conduct the choir and congregation in 鈥淪ilent Night,鈥� and the audience couldn鈥檛 hold their applause after the University Gospel Choir, featuring music in worship student soloist Quincy Cochran, finished 鈥淗ave You Heard about the Baby.鈥�
Thomas Tropp conducts the Combined Women’s Ensemble.
The joined North Park鈥檚 ensembles, offering a pre-service recital as well as selections throughout the program. This year marked the beginning of a new collaboration for North Park with St. Hilary Catholic Church. 鈥淲e especially rejoice tonight in the hospitality of the Church of St. Hilary,鈥� Dr. Parkyn said in his opening remarks.
In addition to North Park community members, the service鈥檚 readers included a St. Hilary parishioner and the music directors from the children鈥檚 choir and the church.
鈥淲e hope the effect will be one of great comfort and joy in a time of global unrest and darkness,鈥� said Davids before the concert. 鈥淭his is a special event for all of us鈥攁 bringing together of the North Park community.鈥�
Faith and Justice Group to Hold Community Organizing Training
North Park students at the 2014 "People are Not Illegal" march, organized by the Faith and Justice group. Their community organizing training will be held on Wednesday, December 2, at 5:00 pm in Johnson Center 13.
“Our hope in this event is that North Park students learn that they can make a difference in society no matter their age, race, gender, political, or social standing.”
CHICAGO (December 2, 2015) — This evening, 萝莉社 students will gather in the Johnson Center to learn concrete ways they can make a difference in their city and the world. Faith and Justice, a , along with , a grassroots community organization, will be leading a basic community organizing training that provides students tools to build campaigns and develop plans of action in their communities.
“This organizing training is important at this pivotal point in society because many people feel disenfranchised,” said Nyisha Haney, a current student and Faith and Justice Intern with North Park’s . “Our hope in this event is that North Park students learn that they can make a difference in society no matter their age, race, gender, political, or social standing.
The event will consist of activities and dialogue led by professionally trained community organizers from Communities United. Formed in 2000, Communities United seeks to address the root causes of social, racial, and economic injustice at neighborhood, citywide, statewide, and national levels. They unite diverse youth and adults from the areas of Albany Park, Belmont Cragin, Irving Park, North Park, and West Ridge—all within close proximity to North Park’s campus—and through the development of coalitions, build powerful and broad-based alliances across the city and state.
The campus Faith and Justice group has a history of uniting students around local and national causes. They participate in citywide protests, organize town hall discussions, and hold trainings for students, among other activities that promote growth and action.
Haney, who is working towards at , with a , says she is passionate about walking alongside and mentoring youth.
“I am a devout advocate for fairness and equality for all, and that is certainly not what I see today,” Haney said. “My hope is that our students see the value in the Faith and Justice organization and join us in this collective fight against injustice and pain in Chicago and nationwide.”
The Faith and Justice community organizing training will be held on Wednesday, December 2, at 5:00 pm in Johnson Center 13. For more information, please contact nvhaney@northpark.edu.
Dr. Jon Peterson, assistant professor of politics and government
Faculty aim to engage civically active student body in political science studies
CHICAGO (November 25, 2015) 鈥� 鈥淣orth Park students are politically engaged in all kinds of fields,鈥� says Jon Peterson, assistant professor of politics and government at 萝莉社. Surveys conducted by students in Peterson鈥檚 research methods class find that North Park students of various majors are 鈥渇ar more involved in political activities than their peers,鈥� he says, attributing the University鈥檚 location for cultivating their political engagement. Students regularly head downtown and across Chicago to demonstrate, march, sign petitions, and volunteer with organizations.
One of two faculty members teaching the University鈥檚 politics and government majors, Peterson is proud to watch many of his current students working in political offices across Chicago. 鈥淚n the last six years, we鈥檝e had 17 students in political internships, working for both of our U.S. senators, four congressional offices, and two Chicago aldermen,鈥� Peterson says. 鈥淣orth Park students are doing political work.鈥�
Peterson has watched his students go on to careers with nonprofits, ministries, and businesses. He鈥檚 seen some go on to law school. Over the last few years, in line with a campus-wide push to emphasize academic and research writing in all North Park curriculum, the department has been intentionally nurturing scholarly engagement among its students through a writing intensive and writing research courses.
On Saturday, November 7, 2015, the school had a unique opportunity to host the annual Illinois Political Science Association conference, 鈥淧romoting Scholarship in the Social Sciences and Humanities.鈥� This event regularly draws political science professors from across Illinois schools, as well as graduate and undergraduate students, and North Park was honored to be chosen among three Chicago campuses as an ideal location. Lectures and panels at this year鈥檚 event covered topics from Middle East dynamics to corruption in Chicago politics.
But what excites Peterson about the University hosting a conference like this is developing student interest in scholarship. The department hopes to host again next year, as the size of the conference makes it an ideal place for undergraduate students to step out and practice writing and presenting research to professionals in the field. Peterson says, 鈥淭his is the kind of opportunity that would allow us to show students what research science in this field looks like, to get them thinking about teaching and graduate school.鈥�
Five Viking Student-Athletes Earn CCIW All-Conference Honors
Junior midfielder Pedram Tahmi-Masoleh of Stockholm, Sweden
CHICAGO (November 23, 2015) — Five 萝莉社 student-athletes were named to the 2015–2016 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference team this fall, across three different sports. The honors cap off a strong season for Viking athletics.
‘The most prolific goal-scorer in North Park history'
As the Vikings’ strongest midfielder in 2015, junior of Stockholm, Sweden, not only led the men’s soccer team in every offensive category, but also broke the team record for goals scored in a season.
“Pedram has proven to be the most prolific goal-scorer in North Park history,” said Head Coach . “He was continually targeted by the opposing defense, yet still managed to find the back of the net. His stellar play this season certainly deserves to be honored and celebrated.”
Tahmi-Masoleh was a unanimous All-CCIW First Team honoree, his second straight selection. He finished 2015 ranked in the top 10 nationally in four categories, including goals per game (1.8, second), shots per game (5.29, fourth), goals scored (20, fifth), and points per game (2.47, ninth) in all of NCAA Division III.
“I love to score goals, and I think when you have that mindset that you want to score and you know you can, the goals come,” Tahmi-Masoleh said. “I just tried to be a good teammate to everyone else because they set me up.”
One season, nine shutouts
Freshman defender Ricky Pimentel of Franklin Park, Ill.
Tahmi-Masoleh’s teammates and also received recognition for their work on the field. Pimentel, of Franklin Park, Ill., became the first Viking freshman to earn All-CCIW First Team honors since 2011, while senior Lashlee, of Denver, earned Second Team honors in his third consecutive selection.
As one of the Vikings’ premier defenders this year, Pimentel was a key player in the team’s nine recorded shutouts. On October 6, he was named CCIW Defensive Player of the Week after helping lead the Vikings to a 1-0 win over nationally ranked University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and a 2-0 triumph over Millikin University in the conference season opener. Pimentel put away his first collegiate goal in a 6-2 victory over Illinois Wesleyan University October 14.
Senior midfielder Diego Lashlee of Denver
Despite an injury that sidelined him for six matches, Lashlee recorded eight shots, one goal, and an assist in the last five games of the campaign. He assisted on the second goal in the Vikings’ 3-0 Homecoming win over the University of California, Santa Cruz, on October 16, then earned his first goal of the season against Carthage College five days later. Lashlee finished 2015 with seven shots on goal and three points.
The team ended the year with an overall record of 12-4-2 and 3-2-2 within the CCIW.
A premier hitter
Although only in her freshman year, has become one of the premier women’s volleyball hitters in the CCIW. Wiltsie was named an All-CCIW Third Team selection after helping lead the Vikings to one of their most successful seasons in recent memory.
Freshman outside hitter Lauren Wiltsie of Elgin, Ill.
As the team’s top outside hitter, Wiltsie led the team with 363 kills, averaging just under four per set at 3.36. She finished the season with a team-best 26 serving aces and was second on the team in digs with 376, averaging 3.48 per set. She also totaled a team-best 16 double-doubles in kills and digs. Wiltsie, of Elgin, Ill., ranked among the conference elite, ranking in the top three for total kills and kills per set, and in the top 10 for total digs and digs per set.
The team ended with a 13-17 record, its best overall since 2011. The Vikings earned their best CCIW finish in the last nine years under first-year Head Coach .
Momentum continues
Sophomore earned CCIW All-Conference Second Team honors for the women’s tennis team, her second straight All-CCIW honor after being recognized as the CCIW Newcomer of the Year last season. Daniels, of Cape Town, South Africa, finished the year with a 5-4 overall record at No. 1 singles.
Sophomore Lisa Daniels of Cape Town, South Africa
“We are very proud of Lisa’s inclusion in the all-conference team,” said Head Coach . “From her start here last year, she has had an impressive career as our number one singles player. It’s a tough position to be in, because in every match, you are playing one-on-one against the best singles player at each school. This year, the CCIW was much tougher at their top positions. Lisa had a solid year against the new level of competition, and will only become a better player because of it.”
As part of the No. 1 doubles duo with , Daniels earned three victories, including two straight wins over Olivet Nazarene University and conference foe Illinois Wesleyan. “The team momentum continues, and we look for more great things to come from Lisa and her teammates,” said Clifton-Soderstrom.
The team finished with a 5-5 overall record, a three-match improvement from its inaugural season last year. They earned a fifth-place finish in the CCIW postseason tournament, which the team entered with a number six seed.
萝莉社 Unveils Kathy J. Holmgren Nursing Simulation Lab
Simulation Lab named in honor of Class of 鈥�69 graduate and longtime supporter of University
CHICAGO (November 20, 2015) 鈥�听In a special ceremony held the morning of Friday, November 20, 萝莉社 unveiled a new name for its state-of-the-art nursing facilities, the Kathy J. Holmgren Nursing Simulation Lab. Holmgren, who graduated from North Park with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing in 1969, has been a longtime supporter of the University, including the recently opened Johnson Center for Science and Community Life.
Before a small group of friends and faculty of the , Holmgren expressed her gratitude for the and its long history of benevolent care, as well as what she called the 鈥渇orward-thinking faculty鈥� at North Park.
After Holmgren earned her degree from North Park, she went on to receive a master鈥檚 degree in oncology nursing from Brigham Young University, and a master鈥檚 degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin鈥揗ilwaukee.
Dr. Linda Duncan, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and a classmate of Holmgren鈥檚, reminisced in remarks to the audience about how far North Park had come in terms of nursing education. Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Mary Surridge, in welcoming the crowd, praised Holmgren for a life of service and devotion to faith, family, nursing education, and healthcare.
Holmgren鈥檚 interest in medical mission work in Africa twice led her to work and serve in Congo, first in 1969 and again in 2006, alongside her daughter, Dr. Calla Holmgren. Additionally, Kathy has provided volunteer medical care in Rwanda, Romania, Mexico, Uganda, and every U.S. city in which she has lived, while supporting her husband, Mike, and his work in the National Football League.
The 3,000-square-foot nursing lab at 萝莉社 opened in 2011 along Foster Avenue.
鈥淲e proclaim here at North Park that how we live as individuals arises from the commitment to serve for God鈥檚 glory and neighbor鈥檚 good,鈥� said University President David Parkyn. 鈥淲e are delighted to name this sacred space of learning after Kathy, a woman who has dedicated her entire life to God鈥檚 glory and neighbor鈥檚 good. Nursing students today as well as generations to come will know the name Kathy Holmgren. Through knowing her name, they will know her life story. And through knowing her life story, they will be inspired to identify their own journey into a life of significance and service.鈥�
Holmgren also served as a member of the North Park Board of Trustees for two terms between 1992 and 2004, and in 2006 received the 萝莉社 She and Mike are the parents of four daughters, Calla, Jenny, Emily, and Gretchen, all of whom attended North Park.
The high-tech in a 3,000-square-foot, ground-level space on Foster Avenue. It includes four simulation rooms, two control rooms, and a conference room where students debrief their class experiences.
Holmgren鈥檚 ties to North Park go back generations. Her grandmother earned a nursing degree at nearby Swedish Covenant Hospital in 1903, which for many years collaborated on the education of nursing students. Her grandfather, Arthur Bowman, was pastor of nearby North Park Covenant Church, a congregation that many generations of North Parkers have called home.
鈥淚 am the most fortunate of people,” Holmgren said. “I feel so honored today.” In closing her remarks, she laughed, “All four of my children have gone to North Park. And it is Mike鈥檚 and my hope to have all nine grandchildren attend North Park as well.鈥�
Herrera read from his latest collection, Notes on the Assemblage, during a November 13 lecture in Anderson Chapel.
Juan Felipe Herrera calls North Park students to be 鈥渧isible and visibilizers鈥�
CHICAGO (November 16, 2015) 鈥� The story of our nation鈥檚 first Mexican-American poet laureate is one of humble beginnings. Juan Felipe Herrera was born into a family of migrant farm laborers, but often heard his mother recite poetry. He was captivated by it, though too nervous to try his hand. The words that catalyzed him came from his third grade teacher: 鈥淵ou have a beautiful voice.”
Recalling this story to 萝莉社 students last week, Herrera said, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 here, actually. I鈥檓 here to tell you that. You have a beautiful voice.鈥�
Wearing his signature fedora (this time a royal blue) and turquoise rings, Herrera read poems and shared the stories behind them. It was a blustery Thursday evening in Chicago when students, faculty, and community members gathered in North Park鈥檚 Isaacson Chapel. Herrera was there for a series of on-campus events connected to this year鈥檚 Campus Theme program, which asks the question, 鈥�What Is Truth?鈥�
Earlier in the day, Herrera lead a private writing workshop with creative writing students. Participant Ashley McDonald (a double major in philosophy and English, with a creative writing emphasis) was surprised by Herrera鈥檚 approachability. 鈥淗ere’s the poet laureate of the United States鈥攖he officialness of it made us think it was going to be a serious, academic, deep, demanding workshop, I think,鈥� McDonald said. 鈥淎fter he told us a bit of his story about how he became a poet鈥攈e decided he wanted to start telling the truth about who he was, which prompted him to join the school choir and eventually begin writing鈥攈e had us brainstorm words related to submarines. The poem that came out of that was hilarious.鈥�
McDonald also walked away with a sense of the power of community in writing. 鈥淲orking in a group on a poem added levity to the endeavor that isn’t always there when you write alone,鈥� she said. This was a central theme for Herrera, who, throughout the events, explained that his development as a writer happened within a community of writers, and for the sake of the Latino community: 鈥淚 was a poet for the community, in the community, by the community.鈥� Herrera opened his comments Thursday with a bilingual poem, 鈥�,鈥� which demonstrates his passion to tell the truth about a community while also calling it to action.
Herrera turned the conversation to global citizenship, sharing poems from his most recent collection, Notes on the Assemblage. 鈥淎yotzinapa,鈥� told from the perspective of the 43 victims of the 2014 Iguala mass kidnapping in Mexico, closes, 鈥渨e are/not disposable.鈥� 鈥渋 am Kenji Goto鈥� honors Japanese journalists Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa, murdered by ISIS. Multiple students in attendance described these works as 鈥渞eally inspiring.鈥�
Justice also shaped Herrera鈥檚 remarks to the student body gathered at Anderson Chapel on Friday morning for a lecture titled 鈥淭ruth-Telling and the Role of the Artist in Society.鈥� Herrera urged the students to 鈥渉ave a fire for truth,鈥� to look beyond the messages of consumerism and ask, 鈥淲hat is my truth?鈥�
鈥淚t takes a long time to find your truth,鈥� Herrera said, remembering a college experience that shaped him. As an Anthropology student, Herrera learned about a people group in Mexico that had dwindled to a population of 250, and he was charged for their cause. 鈥淚t all came together when I learned [that]. I wasn鈥檛 just going to accept that and let it go.鈥� Frustrated by the apathy of other students, Herrera recalled saying, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to talk about it. I want to do something about it. I want to go face-to-face, not face-to-book.鈥�
Looking at North Park鈥檚 students, Herrera asked, 鈥淗ow can truth be truth if it鈥檚 just for you or me?鈥� He called the students to work that makes them both 鈥渧isible and visibilizers.鈥� This is at the heart of Herrera鈥檚 project as poet laureate, , which he invited students to participate in by submitting 200 characters or less of poetic lines. Herrera said that the project is intended to 鈥渇eed the hearth and the heart of our communities with creativity and imagination.鈥�
Herrera closed his time on campus by sharing 鈥�30 Steps I Took Towards Truth-Telling,鈥� written for the event, prefacing his list with this remark: 鈥淏efore I recite these to you, let me just say that it has become all about kindness. I think kindness is the direct path to truth . . . kindness is the way.鈥�
The University will host Juan Felipe Herrera November 12–13 for a lecture, a reading, and a class.
Juan Felipe Herrera on campus November 12–13 for event series
CHICAGO (November 9, 2015) — Juan Felipe Herrera spent his early childhood living in the tents and trailers that dotted the fields of Southern California’s farmland. The son of Mexican migrant farmworkers, Herrera would move with his family as the seasons and crops changed. Those years instilled in him a passion for fairness and justice, and a desire to tell the story of the migrant and indigenous experiences. Herrera was honored for how he has told that story when he was inaugurated as the first Mexican-American U.S. poet laureate on September 15.
萝莉社 will host Herrera on November 12 and 13 for a series of on-campus events, connected to this year’s program, “It is an honor to have the poet laureate here,” said , associate professor of and the director of the Campus Theme program. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for our students to encounter a preeminent artist of our time. Mr. Herrera also shares with our campus a commitment to social justice, which shows up both through his artistic voice and in his own advocacy work.”
Prior to his inauguration, Herrera served as California State poet laureate, from 2012 to 2014. He is the author of many collections of poetry, novels, and children’s books, and the recipient of several prestigious literary awards and fellowships. Although Herrera recently retired as a professor of creative writing at the University of California, Riverside, his work as an artist and activist continues.
“Poetry is a call to action and it also is action,” Herrera told NPR just before his inauguration. “Sometimes we say, ‘This tragedy, it happened far away. I don't know what to do. I'm concerned but I'm just dangling in space.’ A poem can lead you through that, and it is made of action because you're giving your whole life to it in that moment. And then the poem—you give it to everyone. Not that we're going to change somebody's mind—no, we're going to change that small, three-minute moment. And someone will listen. That's the best we can do.”
On Thursday evening, Herrera will give a reading, followed by a discussion and book signing, in Isaacson Chapel at 7:00 pm. On Friday morning, he will deliver a lecture, “Truth-Telling and the Role of the Artist in Society,” in Anderson Chapel at 10:30 am. Herrera will also lead a private writing workshop for students on Friday afternoon.
“We have designed two events that each serves a different purpose,” said Clifton-Soderstrom. “Together, they allow us to interact with both aspects of his work. Both should be wonderful.”
The University’s Campus Theme program offers a yearlong series of events, lectures, and discussions across campus around a central question of the human experience. When the program committee decided on the theme of What Is Truth?, members felt that Herrera was an obvious fit. “There are a host of truths that Mr. Herrera’s work confronts us with,” Clifton-Soderstrom said.
The Campus Theme program, which hosted events throughout fall, will continue to explore the question "What Is Truth?" in the spring semester.
Throughout human history, he offered, debates have raged about whether art reveals or distorts the truth. But alongside the skepticism and scorn that artists have often historically faced, “there is also a tradition that claims the artists in society are the prophets, the seers, the diviners of the truths that reason, logic, and science cannot see,” Clifton-Soderstrom said. “Most notably, we might say that Mr. Herrera’s work confronts us with the truth, lies, revelations, and deceptions around the topics of cultural identity, geographical migration, and our own relationship to the land.”
Herrera plans to use his role as poet laureate as a platform for examining truth through storytelling. “I’m here to encourage others to speak,” he earlier this year. “To speak out and speak up and write with their voices and their family stories and their sense of humor and their deep concerns and their way of speaking their own languages. I want to encourage people to do that with this amazing medium called poetry.”
Herrera’s two campus events are free and open to the public. Location details are .
City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Cheryl Hyman, a 2004 North Park Unviersity graduate in the master of arts in community development program, joined Mayor Rahm Emanuel and representatives from universities to announce the expansion of the Chicago Star Partnership initiative. Twelve Chicagoland schools have committed to providing scholarships for Star students to earn four-year degrees.
Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and City Colleges Chancellor Cheryl Hyman announce more universities providing scholarships for Star students to earn four-year degrees
CHICAGO (November 6, 2015) — Mayor Rahm Emanuel and City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) Chancellor Cheryl Hyman announced on Thursday that five additional colleges have joined the Chicago Star Partnership, a group of four-year colleges and universities who have committed to providing scholarships to Chicago Star Scholars following their graduation from CCC.
University of Chicago, Columbia College, Northeastern Illinois University, 萝莉社, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago have joined seven other Chicago colleges and universities signing on to offer Star Scholars—high-achieving Chicago Public Schools (CPS) graduates who earn associate degrees and other certifications at City Colleges—with financial support to continue their education.
“By breaking down financial barriers to a college education, the Chicago Star Scholarship is opening up more pathways to the middle class for hardworking Chicago students and by expanding this partnership, we are taking our city’s commitment to making college more affordable to the next level,” said Mayor Emanuel. “I want to thank these 12 university partners for helping Chicago’s Star Scholars gain access to a four-year degree. We must continue working to ensure that a college education is within the reach of every hardworking Chicago student, regardless of their ability to pay.”
These institutions join DePaul University, Governors State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University, National Louis University, Roosevelt University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Chicago Star Partnership.
In its inaugural year, the Chicago Star Scholarship has enabled nearly 1,000 CPS graduates to pursue their degrees from City Colleges free-of-charge. This expansion of the Chicago Star Partnership ensures Star Scholars will have further opportunities to pursue a four-year degree at a significantly reduced cost after successfully completing associate degrees at one of the City Colleges of Chicago.
“Most of the time, a high school diploma simply doesn’t cut it anymore,” said City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Cheryl Hyman. “Not only can City Colleges of Chicago equip these high-achieving students with an associate degree at an affordable price, but these partnerships will significantly reduce the cost of attaining a bachelor degree that employers in many industries increasingly want to see on an applicant’s resume.”
Each of the 12 university partners have committed to creating an opportunity that will allow Star Scholars to continue their college education following a successful completion at CCC. These packages range in monetary value between $2,500 and $25,000 each year. Some of these awards are merit-based and some are needs-based, but all are “last dollar” scholarships that may be applied in addition to other financial aid awards earned. Furthermore, each of the partners has committed to providing Star students transferring in with advising and transition supports.
The Star Scholarship for Chicago Public School (CPS) graduates was established in 2014 to ensure that all hard-working students would have an opportunity to pursue college coursework at the City Colleges, despite any financial barriers they might face.
Mayor Emanuel and CCC launched the Star Scholarship in 2014 to ensure that all hard-working students would have an opportunity to pursue college coursework, despite any financial barriers they might face. To qualify, CPS students must meet specific criteria to be chosen as Star Scholars at City Colleges of Chicago. These students must graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, demonstrate “completion ready” ability with an ACT math and English score of 17, and enroll in one of CCC’s structured, relevant pathways.
Students meeting these criteria will be offered waivers for all tuition and books for up to three years at City Colleges of Chicago. For students who did not meet the completion-ready criteria but have achieved a 3.0 GPA, they may participate in remedial coursework until they demonstrate college-readiness, and will then receive the scholarship and tuition waiver.
The Star Scholarship program is one of many reforms created under the City College’s Reinvention effort. Since the Reinvention began in 2010, CCC has made significant investments in all seven colleges to ensure that all degrees and certificates are made relevant to the demands of the workplace and four-year institutions, and to deliver enhanced academic supports for students to ensure that they have the tools and support they need to be successful in their pathway of choice. This year, CCC realized its highest graduation rate on record—17 percent—which is more than double the rate since the launch of the Reinvention effort.
For more information about the Chicago Star Scholarship at City Colleges of Chicago visit .
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Dr. Jon Peterson, assistant professor of politics and government
