Knox College

Three students created a new sorority focused on Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color (BIPOC) at Knox College. Madison Sparks says the idea developed from conversations involving about a half-dozen Knox students. All of them are first-generation college students, and all are BIPOC. The group decided that by founding a new Black-centered sorority at Knox, they could do more to promote Black culture and connection. The sorority plans to engage in different forms of outreach, both on and off-campus, and expects to develop relationships with other organizations, such as Allied Blacks for Liberty & Equality (A.B.L.E.), the Knox Black Alumni Network (BAN), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Twenty-seven Knox College educational studies students are fulfilling their student teaching requirements during the 2020-21 academic year -- an especially stressful time for many schoolchildren, families, and teachers because of COVID-19. The pandemic has forced school districts to change and continually revise their plans on how to provide students with an education. As a result, student teachers have needed to prepare to work in environments that can run the gamut from all-online to all-in-person learning, with some schools operating under a hybrid model that includes elements of both.

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.

Knox's annual Business Intensive Seminar is designed to introduce students to the business world, help them recognize that business has an impact on a wide range of careers, and gain a better understanding of themselves and how they relate to others, says Jim Foley '78. Foley, director of the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship at Bradley University, has led the seminar since 2017. With a focus on two broad themes, leadership and innovation, the 19 students in this year's cohort engaged in sessions covering such topics as marketing, emotional intelligence, ethical business decisions, and entrepreneurship. The seminar took place November 30-December 3, 2020.

High-achieving students were named to the Knox College Dean's List for the 2020 Fall Term. To be named to the Dean's List, a student must have earned at least 2.5 credits in the term, with a grade point average of 3.6 or better (on a 4.0 scale).

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.

Approximately 300 new students joined the Knox College community by enrolling for the 2020 fall term.

"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.

Isaac Hughes '21 has been recognized as a top college senior by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, which named him as one of its student laureates this year. Hughes, from Vashon Island, Washington, is double-majoring in environmental studies and philosophy at Knox. Every year, the Lincoln Academy of Illinois honors one outstanding senior from each of Illinois' four-year colleges and universities, plus one student representing all Illinois community colleges. These students are selected for the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, which makes them Student Laureates of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. The academy's website notes that student laureates "are honored for their leadership and service in the pursuit of the betterment of humanity and for overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities."

Deja was recently named a winner of the 2020 Governor's Volunteer Service Award. The award recognizes volunteers and volunteer programs that have made a difference in Illinois and highlights the importance of volunteerism and community service.

Luis Mateo Liendo completed an internship during the summer of 2020 with the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, continuing work he started earlier in the year for a Knox College arts administration class.

Hailey Nguyen '21 completed a 2020 summer internship with the regulatory affairs team at the global biopharmaceutical company AbbVie.

Two Knox College students were inducted as juniors last spring into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's most prestigious academic honor society. Their achievement was recognized at Knox's Opening Convocation for the 2020-21 academic year.

The Elbridge Pierce Prize was awarded to Frances Alexia Santiago, who is majoring in business and management, during the Knox College Opening Convocation for 2020-21. This prize recognizes the senior who has made the greatest scholastic improvement since the end of the first year at Knox.

Joey Dorgan Jr. '21 spent the summer of 2020 working at the Center for Disabilities and Development at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, which focuses on improving the mental health of individuals with disabilities. After graduating from Knox, he plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in sports medicine.

Daniel Bien '22, who recently completed his second year at Knox, took on community-based projects in an internship with the Lake County (Illinois) State's Attorney's Office during the summer of 2020. A year earlier, Daniel spent part of the summer at the IIT Chicago-Kent Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program. He majors in political science and environmental studies, is a saxophonist for the Knox Jazz Ensemble, a member of the Student Senate, a member of Phi Gamma Delta, a TRIO student, and a member of the Pre-Law Club.

Knox College student Charles Broomfield '22 interned remotely during the summer of 2020 with the Argonne National Laboratory in the Strategic Security Sciences Division.

Alex Davis spent the summer of 2020 as an intern studying Chinese Mahayana Buddhism. He chose to pursue this path out of a desire to better understand the meditative practice and way of life from an exclusively Buddhist point of view.

The Faculty Scholarship Prize was awarded to Bhumika Gupta, a physics major, at the beginning of the 2020-21 academic year. The Faculty Scholarship Prize, which is the highest honor that Knox faculty members give to a student, recognizes seniors who have exhibited exceptional academic ability while participating significantly in extracurricular activities.

A proposal by Odessa Sagli '20 and Patrick Steppan '20 for a video installation exploring the relationship among humans, the environment, and natural disaster was selected as the top submission to a digital art competition sponsored by 150 Media Stream and organized by the Associated Colleges of Illinois. As the winners, they are receiving $3,000 to complete the piece, titled "Shrouded in Smoke." It will be featured on the 150 Media Stream art installation in the fall.

Raph Adeyemi, who plays on the Prairie Fire men's soccer team, interned with Verraki Partners, a Nigeria-based business solutions company during the summer of 2020.

The selective Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program recently selected five Knox students for grants to study abroad.

High-achieving students were named to the Knox College Dean's List for the 2020 Spring Term. To be named to the Dean's List, a student must have earned at least 2.5 credits in the term, with a grade point average of 3.6 or better (on a 4.0 scale).

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Theatre Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in performance, writing, and knowledge of theatre.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Psychology Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in research, writing, and knowledge of psychology.

Neha Motwani was awarded a prize from the Knox College Pre-Professional & Cooperative Program in Medicine at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The Sylvia and Irwin Jaffe Memorial Prize in Medical Sciences is awarded to an outstanding female student majoring in the sciences and who demonstrates an intention to pursue a career in medicine. Selection is based on academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, leadership, and service to others. It was established by Kent and Theresa Jaffe to honor Sylvia and Irwin Jaffe, grandparents of Erica A. Jaffe, class of 2008.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate scholarly and classroom excellence and community leadership.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Physics Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in physics research, problem-solving, and performance in the classroom and laboratory.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Music Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in musical composition, performance, and scholarly writing.

About 300 Knox College seniors received their bachelor's degrees on June 7, 2020, in Knox College's Virtual Conferring of Degrees ceremony.