Knox College

Knox College McNair Scholars recently gave their proposal presentations in the Ferris Lounge. Students have worked all term on researching and developing project proposals. The presentations are a continuation of the students' preparation for their McNair Summer Research Internship.

A number of Knox students participated in a four-week summer program that explored early Chinese immigration to the United States through a visit to and study of Angel Island, an immigration station in San Francisco Bay that was in operation from 1910-1940. Weihong Du, associate professor of Asian studies, led a group of seven students on a two-week trip to the San Francisco area this past summer with the support of a National Endowment for the Humanities-sponsored program, "Local Contexts, Global Connections: Revitalizing Immersive Cultural and Language Study at Home."

Knox College has once again been selected as the winning proposal for the 150 Media Stream/ACI Contest for Digital Art in Chicago. Knox College graduate Ingrid Wasmer '21 and James Adamson '25 were notified of the acceptance after submitting their proposal earlier this year. This is Knox College's second time being chosen as the winning proposal, following the work submitted by Odessa Sagli '20 and Patrick Steppan '20. Tim Stedman, assistant professor of art, worked as an advisor on both projects. Knox was selected out of a pool of over 25 applicants. The pair will continue work on the project over the course of the next few months with guidance from Stedman and Zhou. Once final edits are complete, Zhou says she wants to schedule a debut for May 2023. The piece will be available on display for two months.

Asylum seekers from Venezuela who arrived in Texas and were sent to Martha's Vineyard seem far removed from Knox College's Galesburg campus. But students minoring in Spanish translation and interpretation became part of the recent top news story. Robin Ragan, professor of Spanish, has certifications in medical and legal interpretation and has worked on numerous projects in the United States and in Mexico, often accompanied by Knox students. In 2020, she was doing pro bono work for asylum seekers and met Cynthia Griggins, a psychologist from Ohio, who volunteers through the Physicians for Human Rights Asylum Network to help asylum seekers; receiving a psychological examination helps migrants with the visa process. Griggins decided to work with the Venezuelans who were transferred to Martha's Vineyard and asked Ragan to accompany her. Ragan was unable to go, but she recruited past and present students from her translation and interpretation classes to act as interpreters from afar.

Eight-week summer collaborative research projects at Knox College were sponsored by the Gerald & Carol Vovis Center and the Office of the Dean of the College.

Greg Gilbert, professor of art and director of the art history program, led students on an immersive museum trip to Chicago, where they also met with Meg Duguid, a prominent feminist curator and director of the art gallery at Columbia College. The project was supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, "Local Contexts, Global Connections: Revitalizing Immersive Cultural and Language Study at Home." The Stellyes Center for Global Study and other sources also provided funding for the projects that provided students with experiences typically associated with study abroad. Such trips are opportunities for students to get on-the-ground cultural and linguistic skills that they may not learn in a classroom. In recent years, however, many students were unable to participate in study abroad; the pandemic limited overseas travel.

Weihong Du, associate professor of Asian studies (Chinese), led a group of seven students on a two-week trip to the San Francisco area to examine early Chinese immigration, particularly through Angel Island, a historical entry point for Asian Americans. The project was supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, "Local Contexts, Global Connections: Revitalizing Immersive Cultural and Language Study at Home." The Stellyes Center for Global Study and other sources also provided funding for the projects that provided students with experiences typically associated with study abroad. Such trips are opportunities for students to get on-the-ground cultural and linguistic skills that they may not learn in a classroom. In recent years, however, many students were unable to participate in study abroad; the pandemic limited overseas travel.

The Archaeological Survey at Green Oaks, a four-week summer research project, introduced a group of eight students to the hands-on skills of marking a site, digging and analyzing the soil, and sifting through dirt to see what might turn up. Using lab equipment, they also learned how to identify and date the objects they found. The project was supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, "Local Contexts, Global Connections: Revitalizing Immersive Cultural and Language Study at Home." The Stellyes Center for Global Study and other sources also provided funding for the projects that provided students with experiences typically associated with study abroad. Such trips are opportunities for students to get on-the-ground cultural and linguistic skills that they may not learn in a classroom. In recent years, however, many students were unable to participate in study abroad; the pandemic limited overseas travel.

Robin Ragan, professor of modern languages (Spanish), took five students to the U.S.-Mexico border to work as advocates for asylum seekers. The students helped the asylum seekers in various ways, including providing food and basic necessities, helping them understand transportation, translating supporting documents for asylum cases, and providing logistical support to a variety of volunteer agencies. The project was supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, "Local Contexts, Global Connections: Revitalizing Immersive Cultural and Language Study at Home." The Stellyes Center for Global Study and other sources also provided funding for the projects that provided students with experiences typically associated with study abroad. Such trips are opportunities for students to get on-the-ground cultural and linguistic skills that they may not learn in a classroom. In recent years, however, many students were unable to participate in study abroad; the pandemic limited overseas travel.

Since 2017, Knox has offered pre-medicine students the opportunity to participate in a two-week summer immersive program hosted by the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria, and JUMP Trading Simulation Center. The program is designed to introduce them to the realities of medical school and life as healthcare professionals. This year, six distinguished students participated.

This spring, eight Knox students took the virtual stage at the Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University and held online April 24-25, 2021.

Knox has a longstanding commitment to supporting advanced student research and creative work-intensive, long-term projects that go beyond typical coursework. This year's HORIZONS Celebration 2021 virtual event showcases student inquiry and imagination across all disciplines. Students of all class years who completed advanced studies were invited to participate, and many were also nominated by their supporting faculty.

Since 1995, the Richter Memorial Trusts have provided more than $1.3 million to support Knox College students pursuing projects that foster independence of thought and expression beyond the classic classroom setting. Funds have supported travel to conduct research, research internships, and the purchase of materials, supplies, or equipment to pursue ambitious independent and creative projects. Any student in any discipline is eligible to apply for funds from the Richter program.

The Artists, Scholars, Scientists, and Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (ASSET) program recruits a student cohort with a wide range of career and academic aspirations during the fall of the students' junior year. Students propose a summer research project that will take place the following summer, and engage in interdisciplinary dialogue and mentorship experiences throughout the year. Each year, 10-15 students are selected to participate in the program. This year, the cohort includes 14 students, studying everything from philosophy to economics to neuroscience.

"Dracula! The Radio Play," written by Philip Grecian, is being presented remotely by Knox College's Theatre Department on area radio stations and online October 29-31. The Knox Theatre Department offers many openings for students--whether studying theatre or another subject area--to be involved in the production of shows, events, and specialty workshops all four years on campus. The involvement of students in theatre at Knox is profound, as all of the studio theatre shows and even the mainstage auditions are completely student-run.

"The Deer Blind," a play written by Knox College graduate Phoebe Billups '19, was presented by Knox College's student-run Studio Theatre. Directed by Kaitlyn Pepper, "The Deer Blind" starred Isaiah Simon, John Harden, Jo Hill, and Trevon Tyler. The Knox Theatre Department offers many openings for students--whether studying theatre or another subject area--to be involved in the production of shows, events, and specialty workshops all four years on campus. The involvement of students in theatre at Knox is profound, as all of the studio theatre shows and even the mainstage auditions are completely student-run.

Winter term is picking up at Knox College, and with it comes the New Plays Festival, a presentation of plays that are written, directed, performed, and produced by Knox students. More than 30 students participated in the 2020 winter term New Plays Festival, which took place on January 31 & February 1. The Knox Theatre Department offers many openings for students -- whether studying theatre or another subject area -- to be involved in the production of shows, events, and specialty workshops all four years on campus. The involvement of students in theatre at Knox is profound, as all of the studio theatre shows and even the mainstage auditions are completely student-run. The Theatre Advisory Board is a student organization that oversees details of Knox theatre.

Winter term theatre is picking up at Knox College, and with it come the first productions of the term, which were presented by Knox's student-run studio theatre company on January 24 & 25. "All on Her Own" by Terrence Rattigan was directed by Rose Stout and starred Helen Zguri and Abby Spengler. The show follows the struggle of newly widowed Rosemary, who is determined to figure out the cause of her husband's death. The Knox Theatre Department offers many openings for students -- whether studying theatre or another subject area -- to be involved in the production of shows, events, and specialty workshops all four years on campus.

Winter term theatre is picking up at Knox College, and with it come the first productions of the term, presented by Knox's student-run studio theatre company on January 24 & 25. Directed by Olive Colangelo, "Smokefall" (Act II) by Noah Haidle starred Amanda Espinosa and Hannah Hamlin. The play follows two fetuses who have a heart-to-heart about family, their future, and original sin. The Knox Theatre Department offers many openings for students--whether studying theatre or another subject area--to be involved in the production of shows, events, and specialty workshops all four years on campus. The involvement of students in theatre at Knox is profound, as all of the studio theatre shows and even the mainstage auditions are completely student-run. The Theatre Advisory Board is a student organization that oversees details of Knox theatre.

Several Knox College students were featured when Knox Theatre presented "A Doll's House, Part 2", at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, through Saturday, November 9, in Harbach Theatre, Ford Center for the Arts. The play, written by Lucas Hnath, reopens the narrative of Henrik Ibsen's infamous 1879 play "A Doll's House," imagining a story in which character Nora Helmer visits her husband 15 years after she famously slammed the door on him in "A Doll's House." With humor and truth, Hnath's play examines the complexities of family and love by following Nora as she struggles to enter a life that she left behind.

The Knox College Choir had its first concert of the academic year on November 3, 2019. The Knox College Choir is the premier choral ensemble of the College. The choir, under the direction of professor of music and director of choral activities Laura Lane, performed a unique selection of music in various styles, from Renaissance to Romantic.

College students and the community played a major role in the original Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Knox College in 1858, cheering the politicians in the historic national argument over slavery. And students and the community were engaged again this year, in the creation of a film that condenses the years-long struggle and a months-long campaign into the words and actions that occurred in the crucial moments just before Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas stepped onto the platform outside Knox's Old Main, the only original site that remains from the series of seven debates throughout Illinois. Leading the project, which is now in a year-long post-production phase, is 2019 Knox graduate Eric Newnham, the writer, director, and executive producer. Newnham first came to Knox in the 1980s as a theatre major, but his college career was interrupted by three decades in business, including work as an actor and producer in the entertainment business. He most recently appeared as Sylvester Stallone's nemesis in "Escape Plan 2." He's also worked in a touring theatre company and as a theatrical producer, managing dinner theatre productions for a hotel chain.

Max Jones '20 conducted an original research project as a McNair Scholar, under the tutelage of Dr. Esther Penick. He put marketing claims to the test by studying the effects of popular health supplements on rats' memory.

Jonathan helped children with developmental disabilities at a neurobehavioral clinic internship.

As a McNair Scholar, Katana Smith '20 studied the literary voices of underrepresented groups. She presented her work at the McNair Conference in New York, and her paper on the subject will be published in the 2019 Knox College McNair Journal.

Each year, another round of Knox McNair Scholars spends a summer conducting original research projects. They work together and with the program coordinators to hone their research, presentation, and writing skills so that by July they can present their research at the National McNair Conference in Buffalo, NY. In Spring 2019, each student will have a paper published in the Knox McNair Journal.

One of eleven McNair scholars this year to conduct an original research project, Duke created and statistically validated a psychological measure. The project culminated in a presentation at a national conference in Buffalo, New York, and Tricia's paper on her research will appear in the 2019 Knox McNair Journal.

The McNair Scholar spoke with Salvadoran Americans about the continuing, violent effects of Cold War politics. She compiled her research into a presentation, which she gave at the McNair Conference in New York, and a paper, which will be published in the 2019 edition of the Knox McNair Journal.

Salvador Solis '18 used his Mellon Fellowship to work on Minecraft MODs, or software that interacts with the popular game Minecraft to expand the player's abilities.

Naja Woods '18 worked with Professor James Dyer on an oral history project about Knox College from the 1920s to 2000s, all while serving as a captain of the Women's Basketball team and president of A.B.L.E.