Academics | North Central College

Two students showcase their art April 6-May 9

Artwork by Patrick Tyler Buchenot (left), Melissa Massey (right)

Seniors Melissa Massey and Patrick Tyler Buchenot present their art in “Phantasm,” an exhibit featuring two-dimensional work, drawings and mixed media.

April 5, 2011—North Central College seniors Melissa J. Massey and Patrick Tyler Buchenot will showcase their artwork in a two-person exhibit titled “Phantasm,” featuring two-dimensional work, drawings and mixed media.

The free exhibit runs April 6 through May 9 at the College’s Oesterle Library Gallery, 320 E. School St., Naperville. The artists will greet visitors during an opening reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 12. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Filmmaker Spike Lee to speak during Martin Luther King Week

North Central College presents filmmaker Spike Lee as the keynote speaker during its 2011 Martin Luther King Week celebration.

Contact: Ted Slowik, director of PR and media relations, 630-637-5307, tjslowik@noctrl.edu

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Jan. 4, 2011)—In one of the first major public events during its Sesquicentennial year, North Central College presents filmmaker Spike Lee as the keynote speaker during its 2011 Martin Luther King Week celebration.

Summer Grants Encourage Scholarship

Wendy Koenig, associate professor of art, has long been interested in Holocaust studies and found a new dimension to research as she visits museums: the atmosphere created by sound and sound design. "I realized I'd never read anything about sound in this field," she says. That inspired her to spend the past two summers experiencing and evaluating the use of sound in Holocaust museums in Skokie, IL, Washington, D.C., Augusta, ME, Detroit and at the Holocaust Tower at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany.

Faculty volunteer to improve student safety in public school district

Renard Jackson, assistant professor of education, and Keith Avery, lecturer in psychology, are working to address bullying in middle school.

North Central faculty volunteer to improve student safety in public school district

Two North Central College faculty members are working to improve safety for students and staff at Rosa L. Parks Middle School in the West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 in Harvey, Ill., south of Chicago. They are Renard Jackson, assistant professor of education, and Keith Avery, lecturer in psychology.

The legacy of Paul Warren Allen

The North Central College community remembers music professor, Paul Warren Allen

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Dec. 15, 2010)—Music professor Paul Warren Allen could be moved to tears by the beautiful sounds created by students in his choir at North Central College.

“I remember one Christmas he was conducting the choir singing Handel’s ‘Messiah.’ The truth of the words gripped him and he had crocodile tears running down his cheeks,” recalls his daughter, Paula Billingsley.

Communications professor presents at national conference

John Stanley,assistant professor of speech communication, presents at the 96th annual National Communication Association convention

John Stanley—assistant professor of speech communication, assistant director of forensics and director of individual events—gave two presentations at the 96th annual National Communication Association convention in San Francisco Nov. 14-17.

First-year students experience life in New Orleans

First-year student Gail Oesterle reflects on her experiences learning and serving in New Orleans.

A group of North Central students spent a week in New Orleans this December as part of the First-Year Experience program. Over the summer, all incoming first-year students read the Dave Eggers book “Zeitoun” about a family’s struggles in the Crescent City following Hurricane Katrina’s devastation in 2005. The theme of “Building an Ideal City” was explored during the seven-week FYE 100 course in the fall.

Mock Trial team members recognized

North Central's Mock Trial team of new members competes in Midwest tournament. Two students earn awards for Outstanding Attorney and Outstanding Witnesses.

Two members of North Central’s Mock Trial team were recognized at the University of St. Francis Mock Trial Midwest Challenge Part V Tournament Dec. 4-5. Joshua Bailey ’11, majoring in political science and English writing, earned awards for Outstanding Attorney and Outstanding Witness—a notable achievement because students are rarely recognized for exceptional performance in both roles.

Alternative gift fair, Guatemala trip teach students ethics of business practices

In the rugged highlands of Guatemala, 10 North Central College students are learning about fair and direct trade, the coffee business—and themselves.

In the rugged highlands of Guatemala this December, 10 North Central College students are learning about fair and direct trade, the coffee business—and themselves.

Kirk performs, presents at music conference

Jonathon Kirk, assistant professor of music, performed and presented his custom interactive sound processing software at a conference on improvisation.

Jonathon Kirk, assistant professor of music, performed and presented his custom interactive sound processing software at the International Society for Improvised Music (ISIM) conference, titled Improvisation and Cross-Cultural Creativity: Fostering Connections Through Spontaneous Musical Art. The conference was held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor Dec. 2-5.