Health & Fitness
On Campus: Harper College News Roundup
This week's Harper College news roundup previews public events on campus -- including a punk rocker visit and an inspirational event for adults -- and highlights student achievements.
Punk Rocker to Visit Classroom, Offer Public Lecture: For a class on the American punk rock movement of the 1970s, Harper College students have been reading portions of a recently published autobiography by Richard Hell, one of the genre’s originators. They’re saving their questions to ask him firsthand, when the punk rocker – who’s secured a significant place in the 20thcentury American underground music and literature scene – visits the class Wednesday, May 1 to discuss his career and his book. “One of the things we emphasize in our class is the way that the counterculture and underground scenes of the past were capable of producing really great art, and Richard Hell’s work is a great example of that,” Cremins says. “It’s an extraordinary opportunity any time we can bring our students face to face to learn directly from those whose work they’re reading.” The classroom visit will be followed by a public Harper appearance at 7 p.m. May 1 in the J Theatre, Room J143 in Building J on the main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. Tickets are $8. The front man of Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Hell was part of the same New York music scene that produced The Ramones, The Talking Heads, and Blondie. Since retiring from music in 1984, he has written two novels and published numerous poems, essays and articles. For tickets, 847.925.6100 or visit the Box Office online.
First-Time Event Designed to Inspire Local Adults: In her book, Career Coach Terri Lee Ryan defines life after age 40 as one big to-do list. Harper College will offer an escape from that daily grind with a free event aimed at inspiring adults through massages, performances and seminars from a variety of experts – including Ryan herself. The first-ever “Inspire U” runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4 in the Wojcik Conference Center on Harper’s main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. The event will include a keynote address from author and entrepreneur Sam Glenn, a feature presentation from Ryan, culinary demonstrations, a financial management session with an expert financial coach, free chair massages, a host of performances from Harper’s Continuing Education students and instructors – from fencing and comedy to magic, ukuleles and jazz – and mini-seminars on everything from harnessing LinkedIn to building a resume. “We do a lot of events that are focused on helping adults go back to school or boost their career," says Phil Mortenson of Harper's admissions office. "This can accomplish that, too, but it can also just be fun.” Inspire U attendees can focus on their career (with sessions on getting hired, going back to school and finding career direction), or themselves (with sessions on financial management and meditation and a mini-Spanish class). The event will include raffle drawings for a wine-and-cheese tasting with a top sommelier and an iPad. Call 847.925.6081.
Nominations Sought for Distinguished Alumni Award: Harper College is accepting nominations for its 2013 Distinguished Alumni Awards – annual honors saluting former Harper students for outstanding career and community achievements. The nomination deadline is Wednesday, May 15. Recipients will be lauded at a fall reception; they must also agree to return to campus at least once more within the year to be a guest speaker or participate in an activity designed to engage students. “Recipients of this award have the opportunity to inspire others, including our current students,” Alumni Relations Director Fredia Martin says. Previous honorees have included a National Geographic-honored geoarchaeologist, a songwriter who penned Madonna’s hit “La Isla Bonita,” an Emmy-winning TV producer, a local mayor, a fire chief, businessmen and women and a renowned event planner whose work has included the White House Halloween Party. To be eligible, nominees must have completed at least two Harper credit courses, achieved success in their chosen field and had a positive impact on the community through leadership or volunteering. Forms are available at Harper’s Alumni Relations Office on the third floor of the Wojcik Conference Center on the main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine, or online.For more information, call 847.925.6701.
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Speech Team Takes Fourth in Nation: The Harper College Speech Team finished fourth in the nation at the recent Phi Rho Pi National community college speech and debate tournament, besting dozens of fellow community colleges and boasting two individual champions. Elisa Galvan of Schaumburg and Brianna Bitout of Arlington Heights netted gold medals for extemporaneous and impromptu speaking, respectively. More than 60 community colleges competed at the event, held in Woodland Hills, Calif., over the weekend. “We are proud of this team’s competitive accomplishments at this tournament, and also of their development throughout the season,” says Professor Jeff Przybylo, who coaches the team along with Professor Josh Sunderbruch and Assistant Professor Margaret Bilos. Eight of the team’s 30 speeches made it to the final rounds at the nationals meet, and the team – in addition to its two national champions – yielded six silver and bronze medalists: Andy Robinson of Palatine, (Silver, Speech to Entertain), Jackie Van Lysebettens of Hoffman Estates (Silver, Speech to Entertain and Bronze, Program Oral Interpretation), Kate Fundarek of Hoffman Estates (Bronze, Persuasion), Galvan (Bronze, Impromptu Speaking) and Anthony Suchala of Schaumburg (Bronze, Dramatic Interpretation). For more than 15 years, Harper’s squad has been among the most competitive in the country, landing in the top 10 nationally for the past 12 years and collecting more than 30 national gold medals.