WOMEN’S TENNIS
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES Dress up this year with costumes that won’t scare the money out of your wallet Page 7
Catch up on the latest results from the conference tournament Page 10
Valder Award recipients work for social change October 13, 2016 — Vol. 95, Issue 5
by ANNEMARIE ELSINGER | staff writer
The Valder Award is a scholarship open to any junior at Loras College. Mike Valder, a Loras graduate, experienced a life-changing social justice trip the summer of his junior year. He was a shy, introverted medical student, but after that summer he found his voice and became passionate about making systemic change. Every year Mr. Valder offers $3,000 to four juniors who want to go anywhere in the United States for eight to 10 weeks to work for social change. Extra funds are given for traveling and living expenses. In the past years, recipients have gone to San Francisco, Washington D.C., Massachusetts and Colorado. The scholarship is a
unique opportunity to explore new areas of the U.S., meet new people, immerse into a new culture, and help an organization make social change. “The Valder experience was nothing that I could imagine or make up,” said Celeste Espinoza, who volunteered at Posada in Pueblo, CO. “It was a unique experience made special by the clients I have met and the staff I worked with. I could not have asked to learn from better people.” “I see myself as a new person,” Celeste explained about her self-transformation. “I am more confident in myself, and not in just one area. My life has been changed forever because before, I would hide behind others for their answers. Now, I want people to see
what I am capable of and know that I can be a difference in someone’s life.” Louisa Pavlik, another recipient, traveled to Massachusetts to serve on an organic farm. “Through the Valder Award, I was able to get out of my normal realm and daily life for eight weeks,” Pavlik said. “Farming helped me put the way I live in perspective. The differences in how I nourish myself, serve others and spend my time outdoors have helped me to see how out of balance my life has been with the earth.” “I am now more in sync with my body and the rhythm of the earth because of the Valder experience,” Pavlik believes. Experiences of past recipients exem-
plify the unique experience possible for a student. Students receive an opportunity unlike traditional internships. From business to social work, students will get paid to explore new cities, experiences and cultures. They can even get college credit for their experience. All of the recipients highly recommend the program and suggest everyone apply for it. Take advantage of this opportunity and live a new experience for a summer. Applications become available on Monday, Oct. 24. They can be accessed through the Inside Loras “Spiritual Life” page or by requesting an application from Anastacia McDermott at Anastacia.mcdermott@loras. edu. Applications will be due Friday, Feb. 3.
Color-coordinated
photo by BRODY KUHAR
Dance Marathon members throw colored dye during the FT5K fundraiser for the patients and facilities at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Story: Page 2
Loras theater staple wows crowd in 24 hours by MEGAN TEWS | sports co-editor
Four requirements, five teams, 24 hours. These are the elements of the One Day Theater Project which took place last week in Hoffmann Hall. The One Day Theater Project is an opportunity for students to write, direct and perform in their own one-act play in 24 hours. The participants arrived in St. Joseph Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday. The teams were given the rules and requirements of the project. The teams had certain requirements that needed to be incorporated into their one-act, such as a character, location, prop and line. Every group was given the same prop, a flintlock gun, but the other elements varied. After these housekeeping items were taken care of, the groups dispersed throughout the Hoffmann classrooms to get to work. About halfway through the project they were handed another challenge. Each team was instructed to incorporate a dance number into
Tianna Sunderland, Skye Miller, Ben Colwell and Ben Burkholder act out a scene from their performance of “One Simple Kiss” during the One Day Theatre project on Saturday. The team won both the Judge’s Choice and Audience’s Choice awards for their performance. photo CONTRIBUTED
their play. At 7:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, the teams showcased their finished products. The one-acts ranged from a murder in a clock tower to a séance in an old house. The audience got a little bit of everything, as the show contained drama, suspense and humor.
In addition to participating teams, there were also two students working behind the scenes to make sure this project was successful. Seniors Travis Exline and David Baird were present for the entire event to help answer questions for the teams. “I think the one thing that
stands out for me is the fact that you don’t have to have any theatre experience to enjoy it,” Baird said. One person in particular who enjoyed her experience was senior Tianna Sunderland. Sunderland is a four-time participant of this theater project. “This year was different because
I got to experience it with a team who has never done it before. It was exciting to hear all their creative ideas and to bring it all together at the end of the 24 hours,” she said. In addition to being a participant, Sunderland played a large role in organizing this event as she is the President of the Guild of St. Genesius. After each of the teams performed their one-act, a panel of judges deliberated to determine winners in a variety of categories. A prize was awarded to the group that best utilized each of the five requirements in their show. There was also a judges’ choice award for their favorite one act overall and an audience choice award. Sunderland has some encouraging words for anyone who is considering joining any future productions “Just go out and have some fun. Try whatever comes to mind first, Who knows, it may be just what the character needs!”