Sheree Rogers

Author: Sheree Rogers

Lawrence University Joins the Appleton Compassion Project

What does compassion look like?

The Appleton Compassion Project is a community art project led by inspired by Richard Davidson, PhD — a University of Wisconsin-Madison brain researcher who has studied people who practice compassion. Davidson’s research demonstrates that compassion can be learned and can be practiced as a skill. “A little more joy might be within everyone’s reach,” Davidson said.

Beginning last fall, more than 10 thousand Appleton K-12 art students and hundreds of others in the community received a 6-inch-by-6-inch white panel (tile) on which to portray their idea of compassion. More than five hundred tiles were distributed to Lawrence University student organizations, academic departments and offices at Lawrence. “It is our hope that as many members of the Lawrence community as possible will take a moment to have a conversation about the nature of compassion and to produce a visual image on a panel,” said Jonathan R. Vanko, a sophomore at Lawrence and president of the Lawrence University Community Council. “Through the Appleton Compassion Project, we have a unique opportunity to collaborate with others and to connect Lawrence with the Appleton  community, bringing many of our neighbors to campus.”

The exhibition opens Sunday, May 1, noon – 4 p.m. at Jason Downer Commons. The Trout Museum of Art, 111 W. College Ave., and the Appleton Area School District are sponsors of the Appleton Compassion Project. The Trout Museum’s gallery space will also feature compassion tiles from more than 10,000 Appleton Area School District students.

Gallery Hours:
Jason Downer Art Gallery
Tuesday – Saturday: 1:30 – 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday and Monday

Trout Museum of Art
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed Monday

For more information about the Appleton Compassion Project, visit www.appletoncompassion.org or search for Appleton Compassion Project on Facebook.

LU to Participate in Outagamie Co. Mock Tornado Warning April 14

The National Weather Service  will issue a mock tornado warning for northeastern Wisconsin tomorrow, April 14, testing sirens from 1:10 to 1:15 p.m. In addition, the Outagamie County Emergency Management Office will conduct a second tornado drill at 6:45 p.m. April 14, to allow parents to show their children how to take shelter at home and to allow businesses to practice their tornado plan with employees who work second shift.

To ensure that the Lawrence University community is prepared in the event of a tornado, we ask students, faculty and staff to do the following tomorrow from 1:10 to 1:20 p.m.:

When warning sirens sound, quickly seek inside shelter, preferably in a basement evacuation location. In a multi story building, seek shelter in an interior hallway on the lowest floor possible. STAY AWAY FROM OUTSIDE WALLS, GLASS WINDOWS OR PARTITIONS. Remain in the shelter until 1:20 p.m., then return to your previously scheduled classes and activities.

The Lawrence University Crisis Management Team (CMT) apologizes for the short notice but, given last weekend’s storms, the CMT believes this 10-minute mock tornado warning will help ensure the safety of the Lawrence community.

Jim Richardson ’72 Wins the “Where in the World is LU?” Photo Contest

Jim Richardson, a Lawrence University alumnus from the Class of 1972, is the winner of Lawrence’s first-ever Facebook photo contest titled “Where in the World is LU?”

The contest invited Lawrence students, faculty, alumni, staff and friends to send photos of themselves proudly showing their LU spirit wherever they were — at home, at work, or anywhere in the world.  A team of LU judges narrowed more than 150 entries to 10 finalists. The finalists were posted on a web page where Lawrence’s Facebook friends voted to select the winner.  Richardson’s photo shows him seated in front of his truck as if he were in a sun filled, outdoor living room complete with table, lamp (featuring a vintage Vikings football helmet), letter jacket and Wisconsin license plate that reads LU-4.  He sent the photo to Lawrence with the following caption:

What better caption than “Light More Light”? The photo was taken in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, in an area known as The Underdown. Some would say it’s close to the middle of nowhere, as evidenced by the road that abruptly ends a short distance behind the truck.

“We received photos from nearly every continent, many countries and, yes, even from the middle of nowhere,” said Sheree Rogers, director of communications. “All the photos are a wonderful display of LU spirit and are photographic evidence that Lawrence University is EVERYWHERE. Thanks to everyone who sent or posted a photo.”  In addition to their home on Facebook, the many of the photos will be published in the next issue of Lawrence Today.

Rogers said “Where in the World is LU?” is likely to be the first of many interactive campaigns on Facebook. In the meantime, she tells the Lawrence community to keep those photos coming. “We always want to share photos of proud Lawrentians showing their LU spirit. Please continue to send us pictures that help us tell Lawrence University’s magnificent story.”

Wellness Center grand opening by the numbers

More than 500 Lawrence students, faculty and staff attended the grand opening of the Buchanan Kiewit Wellness Center January 12, touring the renovated facility and participating in a variety of wellness-related activities:

Wellness stations on the self-guided tour

Blood donors

First-time blood donors

Visitors completing a “passport to wellness”

Sport bags distributed to students faculty and staff

Grand opening prizewinners:

  • Julian Delfino (student)—CopperLeaf Hotel overnight stay with dinner and spa package
  • Linda Peeters (Conferences and Summer Programs)—Ladies Fuji bike with accessories and helmet
  • Nathan Groth (student)—Men’s Fuji bike with accessories and helmet
  • Joyce Lambert (student)—4 Personal training sessions with LU Head Athletic Trainer, Erin Buenzli
  • Natasha Pugh (student)— Massage Connection gift certificate
  • Andrew Finley (student)—Massage Connection gift certificate
  • Josh Dukelow (Development)—Bon Appetit healthy treat basket

And the opening is just the beginning!

Lawrence University hopes you will take advantage of all the Wellness Center has to offer, as well as participate in regular wellness events such as:

  • Join the “On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!” eight-week physical activity program.  Pick up your activity log and a yellow WelLU wristband at the Wellness Center main entrance reception desk. Log your physical activity in increments of 10 minutes and when you’ve completed 400 minutes, turn your log in at the reception desk and receive a new log and green WelLU wristband. Record another 400 minutes of activity for a total of 800 minutes by Friday, March 11, and get a blue WelLU wristband. Wear your wristbands on campus to demonstrate your commitment to being physically active!
  • Check out the new Wellness Center website which is easily accessible through a link on the Lawrence University home page and be sure to visit the link to the WelLU website regularly. The WelLU website features:
  1. FROM THE HEART – Share your personal wellness-related story and read success stories shared by other LU faculty, staff and students
  2. SUGGESTION BOX – What type of wellness programs would you like to see on campus?  Share your suggestions and your feedback with one simple online click
  3. WelLU BLOG – Find out about the latest wellness “happenings” on campus
  4. 2011 MONTHLY HEALTH CALENDAR
  5. NEWSLETTERS – featuring information and resources on the many dimensions of wellness (physical, emotional, environmental, etc.)
  6. PRESENTATIONS: View a video of John Shier’s March 2010 presentation to the Lawrence Community on “How To Live Long and Die Healthy”; View a variety of PowerPoint presentations and recorded webinars on topics such as “Getting Active”, “Letting Go Of Stress”, “Self-Care”, and more!
  7. RECIPES
  8. LINKS to Well City Fox Cities, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and many other respected organizations
  9. LINKS to “Student Wellness”, “Health & Counseling Services”, “Athletics”, the “Buchanan Kiewit Wellness Center”, “LU Library Wellness Resources”, “Smoke-Free Campus Map” and more!
  10. Lawrence University’s Healthy Balance Statement
  11. PHA’S – detailed annual aggregate Personal Health Assessment reports

Welcome to Wellness at Lawrence University!

It’s Lawrence University’s 164th birthday and we want you to help us celebrate!

Wednesday, January 12, we’re celebrating Founders Day at Lawrence University – breaking out the Lawrence apparel, taking a commemorative photo and inviting all students, faculty and staff to the grand opening of the newly renovated Buchanan Kiewit Wellness Center!

You may not be here on campus for the party, but we invite you to mark this special occasion in your own way:

  • Wear LU apparel to work, grab your LU coffee mug and let your co-workers, family and friends know you’re proud of Lawrence University.
  • Take a photo of yourself celebrating LU and email it to communications@lawrence.edu as part of the “Where in the World is LU?” photo contest . The deadline for photo submissions is Founders Day! We’ll post the photos on Lawrence’s Facebook page and LU Facebook fans will select a winner. (Prizes will be awarded for the 10 favorite pics.) Here are the official rules and photos that have been submitted so far.
  • Make your LU photo (or another LU icon) your Facebook profile photo on January 12th!

Not on Facebook? It’s a great way to connect with Lawrence, your friends, family and co-workers. Visit our Facebook page and click on
the green “sign up” button.

Happy Founders Day!

Photo courtesy of Matty Wolin ’06

Where in the World is LU? Facebook Photo Contest

As Lawrence prepares to celebrate its 164th anniversary on Founders Day, January 12, 2011, we’re reaching out to students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends to learn “Where in the World is LU?”

E-mail a photo of a friend or loved one wearing Lawrence gear — something with the LU logo or something that says Lawrence University — to communications@lawrence.edu.  Provide a snappy caption and let us know where the photo was taken!  We’ll print as many photos as we can in the March issue of Lawrence Today and prizes will be awarded for the best photos! Judging begins January 12th and you’re the judge. (Check out these early entries.)

Not on Facebook? What are you waiting for? Click on the green “sign up” button to keep up with all the latest LU news and to network with friends, family and fellow Lawrentians.

The deadline for photos is January 10, 2011, so act fast. Here are the official rules.

Visit KK’s Apparel & Gifts Online Store for the latest LU fashions!

Lawrence Receives B+ on College Sustainability Report Card

Lawrence University’s grade for sustainability has improved to a B+, according to the 2011 College Sustainability Report Card, released today (October 22, 2010). GreenReportCard.org provides in-depth sustainability profiles for more than 300 colleges in all 50 U.S. states and eight Canadian provinces.  In contrast to an academic focus on sustainability in research and teaching, the Report Card examines colleges and universities, as institutions, through the lens of sustainability. The focus is on policies and practices in nine main categories:

  • Administration
  • Climate Change & Energy
  • Food & Recycling
  • Green Building
  • Student Involvement
  • Transportation
  • Endowment Transparency
  • Investment Priorities
  • Shareholder Engagement

Click here for the details.

Lawrence University Receives $3.9 Million Gift from Two Former Students

A $3.99 million gift from the charitable trust of two former Lawrence University students who met on campus more than 75 years ago will provide significant investment in campus facilities as well as support for student scholarships and the endowment officials announced today.

One of the largest gifts in Lawrence history, the $3,997,319.72 bequest from the Paul and Katherine Schmidt Trust will be directed toward three main areas: improvements in the campus physical plant, including residence halls; the Paul and Kay Schmidt Endowed Scholarship Fund, which was established in 1989 to support students with interests in economics or business; and Lawrence’s endowment.

“We are deeply grateful to Paul and Kay Schmidt for their loving and generous support of Lawrence University,” said President Jill Beck in announcing the gift.  “They always were faithful donors to the college throughout their lifetimes.  Our alumni as a whole support the college and conservatory in innumerable ways, at different levels of funding but with equal passion for the experiences they had at Lawrence.  We hope the entire community feels affirmed through the recognition and magnanimous support of Paul and Kay Schmidt.”

Both members of Lawrence’s class of 1939, Paul and Kay Schmidt attended the college’s homecoming festivities together in 1935 as a first date.  They eventually married and shared more than 68 years of marriage together.

A native of Park Ridge, Ill., Paul Schmidt participated in an executive program at Harvard University after earning a degree in economics at Lawrence. He spent most of his career with the Harold F. Pitman Company, a printing business, rising to rank of chief executive officer and chairman of the privately-held company based in New Jersey.  He retired in 1982, having helped the company grow into North America’s leading graphic arts supplier. He died in November 2009 at the age of 92.

Kay, a native of Chicago, passed away in February 2009 at the age of 91.

The Schmidts established their charitable trust in 1994 during the five-year, $60 million “Lawrence 150” campaign celebrating the college’s sesquicentennial.

“Just as their initial gift provided momentum for the Lawrence 150 campaign, this latest gift is a great boost to our current More Light campaign,” said Cal Husmann, vice president for alumni, development and communications.  “Deferred gifts like the Schmidts’ are playing an increasingly important role in our campaign and other fund-raising efforts across the country.”

The $150 million “More Light” campaign, publicly launched in October 2008, has raised $137 million to date.  The campaign is expected to conclude in October 2011.

Science Hall is now … Thomas A. Steitz Hall of Science!

Lawrence University’s Science Hall which opened nine years ago, was officially renamed Thomas A. Steitz Hall of Science Friday, June 11, 2010, in honor of the university’s only Nobel Prize winning alumnus. Steitz, who graduated from Lawrence in 1962, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry Oct. 7, 2009. Today Steitz is the Sterling professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry and professor of chemistry at Yale University. The Nobel Prize honored Steitz’s decades of research on the structure and function of the ribosome, which transforms DNA into proteins central to life functions.

Steitz Hall is the largest academic building on the Lawrence University campus. The building’s first two floors house the chemistry department, while the third floor is devoted to the biology department. A bridge through the building’s distinctive 30-foot glass atrium connects the third floor to adjacent Youngchild Hall, providing the biology department with a contiguous space on the top floor of two separate buildings. The lower level features two advanced research laboratories in physics, a radioisotope wet lab for use by both the biology and chemistry departments and a world-class electron microscopy suite.

Steitz, who was unable to attend the formal dedication ceremony, will be Lawrence University’s commencement speaker Sunday, June 13.

Steitz Hall
The new sign on the outside of the building.
Steitz Hall Dedication
Lawrence University President Jill Beck.
Professor Jerry Lokensgard makes a toast to Dr. Thomas Steitz.
Professor Jerry Lokensgard makes a toast to Dr. Thomas Steitz.
The display inside features a replica of the Nobel Prize and a photo of Dr Steitz receiving the Nobel Prize from the King of Sweden.
The display inside features a replica of the Nobel Prize and a photo of Dr Steitz receiving the Nobel Prize from the King of Sweden.