29 October 2012

KOKOMO, Ind.  — Holiday shoppers can choose from the finest offerings of Kokomo-area artisans and crafters, at the 21st annual Indiana University Kokomo Arts and Crafts Show. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, November 3, in the Kelley Student Center.

IMG_4905More than 80 vendors will showcase their products. Popular returning booths include Lori Shreve's Boyd's Fudge and Carol Schwarzkof's Christmas decorations. Also, IU Kokomo students who are going to Italy will sell handmade jewelry as a fundraiser for their trip.

There will be a variety of handmade jewelry, handmade glass beads, silver cutlery, woodcrafts, stained glass, teddy bears, American Girl doll clothing, felted wood and cloth purses, tutus, headbands, handmade soaps, candles, birdhouses, kettle corn, baskets, and many, many other items.

"I think we have just about anything you could want," said Linda Bielewicz, event chairperson.

All vendors complete an application process, and then a committee of the IU Kokomo Staff Council, which sponsors the event, juries the submissions. Proceeds from booth rentals benefit the council's scholarship fund.

The arts and crafts show is free and open to the public. Each attendee will receive a raffle ticket, to win a door prize donated by a vendor. The Cougar Country Café will be open for lunch.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

24 October 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. – Indiana University Theatre at IU Kokomo presents its fall production, "The Giver," a play based on the award-winning novel by Lois Lowry.

The performances take place in Havens Auditorium on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, Nov. 2 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $3.

This play serves as the culmination of the T483 capstone course for 11 students, who are working on publicity, backstage work, assistant directing, and acting.

Emilee Benge, student director of the play, is excited for the performances.

"We have worked really hard on this production and have worked to build up the theatre program here at IU Kokomo," said Emilee Benge, student director of the play. "We are ready to show the campus and community what we are all about."

More than 450 local elementary and middle school students are scheduled to attend the two matinee performances on November 2.

Sarah Ferenc, publicity director for the production, explains "The Giver" is included in the state's curriculum for school-aged children.

"It will be fascinating for the students who've read this novel to see it come alive," Ferenc said.

Reserved seats are available for the matinees by calling ahead. Contact Sarah Ferenc at (765) 419-5049 or sferenc@iuk.edu for more information. Tickets will be held at will call on November 2, and available at the door on November 1.

"The Giver," adapted by Eric Coble, is set in a society of sameness. Everything is under control and safe, there is no war or fear of pain, and there are no choices. Joann Kaiser, lecturer in communication arts and director of the play, chose this production based on the genre, which is becoming increasingly popular due to the best-selling novel, "The Hunger Games."

"I know the novel is well-known, and wanted to do something different within the department. Everyone has done such a great job accepting the challenges and making this a quality production," Kaiser said.

For more information please contact Joann Kaiser at (765) 455-9558 or jskaiser@iuk.edu.

Story written by Mary Olk. Mary is a student writer for the Office of Media and Marketing.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

22 October 2012

Kokomo, Ind. – Lorie Blunk and the Student Union Board (SUB) at Indiana University Kokomo are diligently working to prepare for their signature event of the year, Halloween Open House.

Halloween Open House 2011Children in the community, ages 10 and under, are invited to spend the evening trick-or-treating and participating in activities this Friday, October 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., in Alumni Hall. The cost is one dollar per child; parents are free.

"It's exciting, hectic, and fun all at the same time," said Blunk, SUB director. "I know I speak for all of SUB when I say that we love organizing this event and bringing together the campus and community."

Many campus organizations are preparing for Halloween Open House by creating themed booths for the event. Each booth will pass out candy, some will have a planned game or activity, and there will also be face painting.

A popular children's movie will be shown in Kresge Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. and then again at 7:30 p.m.

Kat Stremiecki, coordinator of programming and applied learning, looks forward to Halloween Open House each year.

"This is a great service project for SUB and the rest of our students. We are always excited to interact with and give back to the community."

Halloween Open House is an award-winning event, named Best Program by the National Association for Campus Activities.

For more information about the movie title or the event, please call the Office of Student Activities at (765) 455-9203.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

22 October 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. — J.R. Pico speaks three languages, has earned multiple advanced degrees, and teaches college-level Spanish at Indiana University Kokomo.

JR Pico with some of the local children. See more photos here.But he finds that because he is Hispanic, some people believe he must be an illegal immigrant who only speaks Spanish, and is illiterate.

As an educator, he sees it as his job to dispel some of those myths about Hispanic people and culture. He accomplishes this both through campus and community activities, and by leading humanitarian trips to his native Colombia. This month he is leading campus activities for Hispanic Heritage Month.

"This is a good way to educate our students and community about the Hispanic world, Hispanic values, and Hispanic culture," Pico said. "There are more than 500 million people in the world who speak Spanish, in many countries. We're unified by our language, but we have different values."

Pico's passion is for humanitarian service. He leads at least three trips each year, taking Americans to give donated school supplies, clothes, and other items to children in Cartagena, Colombia, through Fundacion Cartagena, a non-governmental agency. His trips are not sponsored by any university or college, so they are open to students and families nationwide.

Because Colombia is on a travel-warning list from the U.S. Department of State because of violence in certain areas, Pico said some potential travelers are nervous about going there, but "when they get there, they love every moment."

He's never had any travelers threatened or injured, he said, and they have a positive learning experience.

"For me, it is incredibly good to see students from Kokomo who have never been outside Indiana have this experience. They come back saying, 'I have seen the world from a different perspective, and this has been a life-changing trip,'" Pico said. "They've learned about another culture, another language. They learn the world is not just one way. That is my best motivation to continue leading these trips."

Nida Zia, an IU Kokomo graduate who is now in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program, said going on the trip made "a lifelong impact" on her.

"I was transcended to a very different culture, and it taught me about how we as human beings are so similar," Zia said. "The visit also made me realize how much I want to give back after furthering my education. I want to help and be able to communicate with the people in the village and the hospital we visited."

Zia has started learning Spanish since her trip to Colombia, and plans to go to medical school.

"It's my hope that after completing my education, I can go back and provide medical care to the many who lack access to any health care," she said.

Pico said his humanitarian focus is on children because, "I am an educator, and children are the future. If we educate the children, they will develop into good citizens."

The students volunteer at a cancer hospital for children and schools, providing coloring books, toys, clothes, and supplies they collect year round. The trip is not all work, however. They also visit museums, take cooking classes and dance lessons, and participate in water sports.

"The best of Colombia is its people," he said. "The children steal your hearts away. In our culture, we don't shake hands. We hug."

Seeing Colombia's rich heritage gives them a different perspective on Hispanic culture, he said.

"There are so many misconceptions about Hispanics, and you overcome those when you see it in real life."

Upcoming activities include a presentation about football soccer, the passion of the Hispanic world, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, in the Kelley Center; a talk about the DREAM Act and immigration in the United States by IU Kokomo alumnus Brandon Rush at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 24.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.