Roosevelt University students who will graduate Friday with a grade point average of at least 3.5 were inducted into the Franklin Honor Society during a ceremony Tuesday evening. President Middleton presented the inductees with a certificate while the academic deans awarded the honor cords.

Thirty-five students in two Roosevelt University classes worked together last semester on a fundraiser that netted $6,800 for the benefit of the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities’ Bridges from School to Work program in Chicago. Carol Brown, assistant professor of hospitality management who oversaw the project, last week presented a check to Ken Upshaw, director of Marriott’s Bridges from School to Work program in Chicago. Planned from start to finish by Brown’s students, the event, which attracted nearly 200 people, featured a silent auction and the sale of student-made bracelets and ornaments shaped as pineapples, the international symbol of hospitality.

Students from campuses across the Chicago area displayed their artistic talents and commitment to the environment through the Green Menorah Contest, a competition to create a menorah entirely from recycled materials. Zax Rosenberg (in green sweatshirt), the Hillel student president at Roosevelt, shows off the menorahs with students from Columbia College and the School of the Art Institute.

During a special lecture on Dec 4 in the Spertus Lounge, Rolf Weil (far right), president emeritus and professor emeritus of finance and economics, talked about the many outstanding professors who were part of the University's innovative Economics Department in the 1940s and 50s. The presentation was sponsored by the Department of Economics and the Mansfield Institute for Social Justice.

With final exams less than a week away and year-end papers looming, Roosevelt University students flocked to the Murray-Green Library . On Monday, Laura James, a graduate student majoring in Early Childhood Education, spread out all her notes as she worked on an assignment.

Roosevelt University elementary education majors taking science methods classes taught by Assistant Professors Byoung-Sug Kim and Ken King have been serving as mentors for elementary students, helping the children develop and produce science investigations. On Dec. 6, the science experiments at Harriet Gifford School in Elgin were presented during a science fair attended by parents, students, mentors and teachers. Photo courtesy of Ken King.

Bean bag toss, as demonstrated by Florentino Herrera, senior assistant director of admission, was a popular new addition to the festivities at Roosevelt University's holiday parties. Many Roosevelt employees supported those less fortunate by bringing non-perishable food to the Chicago Campus party on Dec. 11 and gift cards from Wendy's, Subway, McDonalds or Burger King to the Schaumburg Campus party on Dec. 12.

Thursday, Nov. 29 was Steve Meyers Day in the State of Illinois in honor of the Roosevelt University psychology professor who was selected as the 2007 Professor of the Year in the State of Illinois by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. President Middleton (left) presented Meyers with a proclamation from Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich during a reception for Meyers in the Sullivan Room. In addition to Middleton, other speakers at the event were Arts and Sciences Dean Lynn Weiner; Jim Choca, chair of the Department of Psychology and Meyers who thanked everyone for supporting him.

Al Golin (BA,'50), chairman and founder of the GolinHarris public relations firm, discussed his vision for public relations over the next 50 years at a lecture Tuesday, Dec. 4 in the Gage Building. After the standing-room-only event, the Roosevelt trustee met with members of the Roosevelt Association of Marketing Communication (RAMC), which sponsored the lecture along with Roosevelt’s Department of Communication. Pictured from left are Tony Rossetti, RAMC member; Caroline Courtois, RAMC president; Mr. Golin; Katie Meyer, RAMC secretary; Natalie Moore, RAMC vice president; and Elizabeth Adegboyegapanox, student body representative.

Renee Ferguson, investigative reporter at NBC-Channel 5 News, discussed changes in the field of journalism and how the 2008 election will affect African-Americans during a lecture last week in the Auditorium Building. Ferguson was the first speaker in a year-long series sponsored by Roosevelt University's St. Clair Drake Center for African and African-American Studies.

More than 275 students from five northwest suburban high schools attended Latino Visit Day at Roosevelt University’s Schaumburg Campus on Wednesday morning, Nov. 28. Florentino Herrera, senior assistant director of Admission and one of the presenters, told the students about the value of earning a college degree and he explained the many programs offered at the campus.

Dr. Bruce Blacker, an internist at Weiss Memorial Hospital, was the keynote speaker at Roosevelt University's annual Science Day on Friday, Nov. 30. He discussed "Substance Abuse in Chicago from a Clinical Perspective." A wide range of scientific topics were presented by speakers, panelists and Roosevelt students who explained their research projects.

Illinois State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-33^rd) (left) visited the Schaumburg Campus on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and stopped by one of the science labs with President Chuck Middleton to talk with biotechnology students. While in Schaumburg, Sen. Kotowski also met Michael Durnil, vice president for governmental affairs and university outreach, and Toni Potenza, vice president and dean of the Schaumburg Campus.