Audiences at prestigious film festivals across the globe are learning more about the harvest of sea turtle eggs in the small coastal community of Ostional in Costa Rica. An artful documentary called “Between the Harvest” depicts the controversial practice of gathering and selling eggs, the livelihood for the community.

An interview with Naomi Roots ’05 at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium includes her favorite penguin sidekick, “405.” The curious bird seems to enjoy exploring the shoes of her visitors and a camera lens by pecking with her beak. Later she tries to arrange a towel—her “security blanket”—into a nest and settles on Roots’ lap. After about 30 minutes, Roots knows that 405 would rather be swimming in her environment with her penguin friends.

By hosting the 2011 Summer Institute of The New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U), North Central faculty and staff enjoyed a rare opportunity to hear the latest findings by preeminent higher education researchers Alexander and Helen Astin (pictured right), who presented the keynote address. The couple shared their eight-year study on spirituality among undergraduate students, which resulted in the publication of “Cultivating the Spirit: How College Can Enhance Students’ Inner Lives.”