Peru Stater Spring 2011
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Spring 2011 Vol. 56, No. 1
Distinguished Speaker Series Engages PSC Students and Community Diversity is a fundamental part of the educational mission at Peru State College. Since the college was founded, it has been devoted to promoting accessibility for students of all ages, and providing opportunities for students from all walks of life. With this mission in mind, leaders established the Distinguished Speaker Series in 2010. “The Distinguished Speaker Series was developed last year as part of our systemic plan to encourage discussion about diversity and world events,” said PSC President Dan Hanson. The new series, sponsored by the Student Affairs division and the Center for Achievement and Transition Services, hosts diverse
nationally and internationally recognized speakers with the goal to enrich the educational experience at Peru State College and provide an opportunity to engage members of the local community. Since the series officially began in fall of 2010, it has hosted: reformed skinhead Frank Meeink for a presentation titled “A Former Skinhead’s Fight Against Prejudice”; Civil Rights Activist and Little Rock Nine Member Minnijean BrownTrickey for a presentation titled “Return to Little Rock: A Seminal Movement in American Education and Civil Rights”; and Arun Gandhi, the fifth grandson of Mohandas (Mahatma) K. Gandhi, for a presentation titled “Lessons Learned from Grandfather.”
Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi, gives his presentation titled “Lessons Learned from Grandfather” on March 22. In addition to providing free keynote addresses, each speaker interacts with students and
community members during their visits in a variety of ways, including classroom discussions, guest lectures, Continued on page 5
E-Mentoring Program Participants Meet Mentors and mentees participating in the pilot year of Peru State College’s E-Mentoring Program interacted exclusively via email communication until Feb. 12, 2011. That day, the E-Mentors (PSC alumni) and E-Mentees (PSC students) met at the Al Wheeler Activity Center on the PSC campus for the first time. There, they talked about their work together over the past year, discussed the program’s goals and provided suggestions to program organizers moving forward. The consensus? The pilot year was a success and should be continued. In fact, feedback from participants was so positive that organizers are hoping to double participation among students and alumni for the next program starting in fall of 2011. “The E-Mentoring Program was a win-win for all involved and it was an honor to get to know, even better, this group of outstanding students and alumni,” said Alice Holtz, Coordinator of Cooperative Programs. The pilot year began in fall of 2010, when a group of E-mentors were paired with nine E-mentees according to their vocational interests, which included business, finance and art education. Through weekly emails, the E-mentors
answered questions regarding each student’s career questions and goals, and provided advice on college-related challenges and decisions. Program objectives included providing students with an understanding of the working world, an opportunity to experience accountability and a chance Continued on page 5
E-Mentors, PSC alumni, meet with their E-Mentees, PSC students, on Feb. 12 at the Al Wheeler Activity Center