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CU at BU
Volume 1, Issue 11
 Dear Alumni and Friends of Benedictine University,
Another school year is well underway, and we have much to be thankful for at Benedictine. These are challenging times in higher education. Colleges and universities were far from being immune to the impact of the current economic downturn. A recent survey of private college and university presidents finds that fundraising, endowments, the availability of student aid and student enrollment lead the list of campus concerns as we approach a new academic year.
Benedictine University has weathered the storm and continues to thrive and grow as a comprehensive institution. We have a new strategic plan "Benedictine 2015: Roadmap to Excellence" which has been embraced by the campus community from trustees, faculty, staff and students.
At the Opening Convocation for the campus community in August, we welcomed 15 new faculty members with excellent credentials, filled with passion about their disciplines and eager to work with our students in developing vibrant learning communities. We continue with our efforts to internationalize the campus and engage in conversations concerning globalizing our curriculum. Once again, we are fortunate this year to have the presence of multiple Fulbright Fellows, both teaching in the critical languages of Arabic and Chinese and collaborating with the College of Business in scholarship and teaching.
Read more from Don Taylor, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs |
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Coming Events
Developing Your Employment Toolbox
Wednesday, September 30
5:00 p.m.
Krasa Student Center, Second Floor
Please R.S.V.P. to Lindsey Fritz
at (630) 829-6040 or pre-register at www.ben.edu/EmploymentToolbox.
Kansas City Alumni Event
Saturday, October 3
7:00 p.m.
Home of Harold, C66 and Terri Nicholson
10704 West 121st Street,
Overland Park, Kansas
Please R.S.V.P. to Julie Nelligan at jnelligan@ben.edu
2009 Greater Chicago Women's Leadership Summit
Presented by the Benedictine University College of Business
Friday, October 9, 2009
8:30 a.m.
Krasa Student Center, Second Floor
For tickets or more information, call
(630) 829-6080 or e-mail wls@ben.edu.
Washington, D.D. Alumni Event
Saturday, November 7
If you live in or around the D.C. area, please contact Julie Nelligan at
(630) 829-6077 for the exact time and place.
Chicago Blackhawks game
Sunday, December 13
6:00 p.m.
To purchase tickets, contact Eric Guthrie, alumni relations coordinator, at
(630) 829-6081 or e-mail eguthrie@ben.edu.
Eagle Pride!
Cheer on the Eagles at upcoming sporting events! |
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Remembering Father Michael Komechak
 As many of you know, the University recently experienced a sad loss in the passing of Father Michael Komechak. Fr. Michael spent 63 years as a member of the Benedictine community as a student, monk, priest, educator and art curator.
"Michael was a unique individual who was fully dedicated to his priestly vocation and his love of the world of art and architecture," said Abbot Hugh Anderson, O.S.B., former chancellor of Benedictine University. "Whatever he did, he did with flair, with enthusiasm and with depth of knowledge. Michael singlehandedly beautified the Benedictine campus by displaying throughout campus the art he had collected. The art collection is a source of beauty and a source of education for all who pass by."
He had an energy and passion for art and he used the halls, offices and classrooms of the University to display the art he so loved. Fr. Michael's long time wish was to create a designated art gallery on campus – a central place where knowledge and understanding of artists from around the world could be nurtured. Because the creation of an art gallery was so important to Fr. Michael, he began raising money to fund his vision. Although he solicited a considerable amount of financial support, much remained to be done at the time of his death. The Fr. Michael Komechak, O.S.B. Art Gallery Fund will help create a place, named in his honor and memory, where the art he collected can be appreciated and enjoyed.
If you would like help make Fr. Michael's dream a reality, please contact:
Jason Leppin
123 Scholl Hall
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532
Please call or e-mail with any questions at (630) 829-1814 or jleppin@ben.edu. |
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Homecoming 2009 Recap
Homecoming 2009 is now a memory and a good one at that! The weather was fantastic and the spirits were high. Many Benedictine University alumni crowded the Krasa Center parking lot for tailgating. There were barbecues galore and several bags games going on all day and into the evening. Each of our academic colleges as well as Athletics, Alumni Relations and the Enrollment Center hosted tents loaded with different types of food and drink. Here alumni and students were able to mingle with faculty and staff, catching up on what was new and different in each area. The children of our alumni enjoyed a great time in the Children’s Area that featured an exotic petting zoo, Cloe the Clown, moon jump and crafts. Two bands entertained the crowd throughout the day – Hear You Me and Hi Infidelity. Putting the exclamation point on the day, our Benedictine University Eagles defeated the North Park Vikings 27-17. If you missed all the fun this year, make plans now to attend Homecoming 2010! Watch the Homecoming Web site for details.
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Updates from University Development
- The Department of Nursing received a $600,000 gift for endowed scholarships from the Evelyn R. Simmers Charitable Trust.
- The Development Office and Alumni Relations are working with alumni in Kansas City to host an alumni chapter event on October 3. More details can be found below in the Alumni Relations update.
- The Development Office and Alumni Relations are working with alumni in the Washington D.C. area to host an alumni chapter event in November.
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| Updates from Alumni Relations
- 2009 Alumni Award Winners — the Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2009 Alumni Award Winners honored at this year’s Homecoming festivities.
- The first of four Career Development/Alumni Relations workshops, titled "Developing Your Employment Toolbox," is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30 in the Krasa Student Center, Second Floor. A panel of human resource professionals along with job seekers will answer questions regarding today’s economic marketplace, job opportunities and what employers are seeking. Please R.S.V.P. to Lindsey Fritz at (630) 829-6040 for this informative workshop. You may also pre-register at www.ben.edu/EmploymentToolbox.
- Kansas City area alumni are invited to our first chapter event scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3. The event is being hosted by Harold, C66 and Terri Nicholson at their home, 10704 West 121st Street, Overland Park, Kansas. Please bring your family for appetizers and a chance to meet fellow alumni in your area. Please R.S.V.P. to Julie Nelligan at jnelligan@ben.edu by September 28, 2009.
- We are in the planning stages of hosting an alumni event in the Washington, D.C. area on Saturday, November 7. If you live in or around the D.C. area, please contact Julie Nelligan at (630) 829-6077 for the exact time and place.
- The Alumni Relations office has secured 30 tickets for the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 13. Tickets are $25. Transportation to the event will not be provided. To purchase tickets, contact Eric Guthrie, alumni relations coordinator, at (630) 829-6081 or e-mail eguthrie@ben.edu.
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Women's Leadership Summit
Benedictine University's College of Business will host the Women's Leadership Summit, a regional conference addressing the issues of working women, on October 9, 2009. The event will include nationally-recognized women leaders addressing the issues of financial literacy, work/life balance, culture and innovative leadership.
Please e-mail wls@ben.edu for more information or register online to attend.
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EXTENDED! The Charitable IRA Rollover provision has been extended through 2009!
 The legislation that allows individuals to give directly from their IRA to non-profit institutions has been extended. Please refer to the specifics below to see if you can take advantage of this provision to meet your philanthropic goals. If you have any questions as to how this could impact your individual situation, please feel free to contact Jason Leppin at (630) 829-1814 or jleppin@ben.edu.
- Age Requirement: 70½ years old and older
- Donation Limit: Cannot exceed $100,000
- Eligible Charities: Must go directly to a public charity. Contributions to supporting organizations, donor-advised funds and private foundations, except in narrow circumstances, do not qualify for the tax-free treatment.
- Eligible Retirement Accounts: Distributions can only be made from traditional Individual Retirement Accounts or Roth IRAs. Charitable donations from 403(b) plans, 401(k) plans, pension plans and other retirement plans are ineligible for the tax-free treatment.
- Do charitable contributions from IRAs count toward your annual IRA distribution requirement? Yes, you can give your required distribution to a qualified charitable organization without having to include it in your taxable income.
- Directly to the Charity: Distributions must be made directly from the IRA trustee payable to the public charity.
- No Gifts in Return: You cannot receive any goods or services in return for the charitable IRA rollover.
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Report on Local Alumni Participation
Universities depend on financial support and participation from their alumni. The national average for alumni participation fluctuates around 11 percent. Alumni participation is defined as financial contributions made in support of the University. There are currently 21,344 Benedictine University alumni. Of that number, 1,367 alumni made a donation to the University last fiscal year, setting our alumni participation rate at 6.4 percent. Benedictine University hopes to meet the 11 percent national alumni participation rate average. Below you will find a chart that shows how our alumni participation is growing or declining each month in comparison to the previous fiscal year.
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The Simmers Trust makes generous donation to Benedictine University
The Evelyn R. Simmers Charitable Trust has donated $600,000 to the Department of Nursing at Benedictine University to endow scholarships for students pursuing either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing. "This generous gift will make a tremendous difference in the lives of our students who are working adults juggling multiple priorities," said Ethel C. Ragland, Ed.D., M.N., R.N., professor and chair of the Department of Nursing and Health at Benedictine University. "By furthering the education of nurses, the Simmers Trust is endowing the health of our community." Prior to their deaths, Evelyn Simmers and her husband, Wallace, who owned a small manufacturing company in Chicago, were well-known for their support of hospital activities and programs. Both succumbed to cancer. "Evelyn Simmers was a woman who truly believed in the philosophy of teaching one person and having them pass their education on to many more people," said Meagan Daniel, associate director for development and institutional grants at Benedictine University. "She had a passion for education, and especially for nurses, who have the opportunity to touch so many lives each and every day." |
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Please join us for Sunday Brunch at The View!
Tell your server that you want to help Benedictine University and the restaurant will donate $2 for every adult, child under 10* and senior citizen that purchases a regular Sunday Brunch!** Tell your friends and visit again because this program is valid all year long!
*No donation will be made for children under 5
/ **Does not include special holiday brunches
The View Restaurant & Bar
5900 S. Route 53
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 968-1920 |
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 Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (S.T.A.T.) is a student group dedicated to establishing and promoting a closer bond among alumni, current students, faculty and staff. S.T.A.T. members work to foster a stronger alumni culture at Benedictine University by planning events and programs that get alumni involved with current students. There are several events and opportunities for alumni to become involved with S.T.A.T. Look for upcoming events and volunteer opportunities listed in "CU at BU." For more information, please contact Jessica Stillo at jstillo@ben.edu or
(630) 829-1811.
Visit the S.T.A.T. Web site for more information |
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Alumni Online Directory
The Alumni Online Directory, a free service to alumni, is live. The directory will assist you in finding fellow classmates and networking with alumni in your occupation or field of interest. You should have received a postcard in the mail with your temporary password. You will need this temporary password to log in. Once you have logged in, you may change your password, set up your homepage and begin looking for friends and long lost classmates.
Join today at alumniconnections.ben.edu. |
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Where in the World is Ernie the Eagle?
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Ernie checks out the
glaciers in Alaska. |
Help us show all the places in the world our alumni live and visit. Have a photo taken of yourself with Ernie the
Eagle in front of a landmark in your hometown or on your travels.
Download Ernie at www.ben.edu/Ernie and print, cut and attach him to a tongue depressor for his close up.
E-mail your Ernie photos to Julie Nelligan at jnelligan@ben.edu, or
send via postal mail to Julie Nelligan, Benedictine University, 5700 College Road, Lisle, IL 60532. |
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Keep in Touch!
Married? Have children? Moved? Promoted? Let Benedictine know the exciting life changes that have occurred since graduation by updating your information online! |
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Connect with old friends and classmates on our social networking pages!
 MySpace is a great way to reunite with old friends!
Ernie also has his own MySpace page, so check him out!
 Get linked professionally to the Benedictine network of your peers. LinkedIn is a great way to advance your career and make beneficial contacts with faculty, staff, alumni and classmates! Link your page to Ernie Eagle's!
 Facebook is a great way to reunite with old friends and form new contacts and networks. Become a fan of Ernie the Eagle and join the Benedictine Alumni group. Or you can become a Fan of the Benedictine University page. Click the link to check us out!
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Check out the University Development Blog!
 Do you want updates on current projects undertaken by the University Development Office? Check out our Blog! Also learn about upcoming events and view recaps of past events.
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Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions bring free practice tests to Benedictine University Students (past and present)!
The date for MCAT, PCAT, DAT and OAT tests is Thursday, October 1. LSAT and GRE will be held on Friday, October 2. GMAT is a 'live online' computer format. Advance registration is required for all practice tests, and some tests will fill-up so be sure to register early. Students may go online at www.kaptest.com to find out more information and to register for the practice tests and other free upcoming events. |
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Campus Trivia!
Two winners will be selected in a random drawing of all who respond correctly. Each lucky winner will win a Benedictine prize!
Submit your information in the form below:
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The correct answer to last month’s trivia contest, "What is the name of the Benedictine University Alumni Magazine?" is Voices.
Winners are:
Marc Davidson, C08
Steve Glennan, C71 |
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