Latest news with #AuroraUniversity
Chicago Tribune
20-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora University student earns FAA drone pilot license after taking course
As technologies emerge, college courses are springing up to teach them – something that Alayna Nosalik, a student at Aurora University, knows after becoming the first AU student to earn an FAA Drone Pilot License. Nosalik, 20, of Mendota, is set to graduate next year with a double major in marketing and communications. She said the drone license, which she earned after completing the university's new FAA Drone License Examination Prep Course, was something she was drawn to after learning it was being taught by a previous instructor she had enjoyed. The new course goes in-depth in preparing students to earn their FAA Drone Pilot License. 'The drone class that was being offered – I had Dr. [Christopher] Wells for a previous class. I liked him as an instructor, and it sounded like a cool class and I thought – why not?' Nosalik said. 'I was also part of PREMSA, the PR and Event Management student association on campus, and we had gotten someone who did fly drones for marketing for a living so I had seen what you can do with them and it looked like it might be a fun experience.' Wells, 63, of Belvidere, who currently serves as professor of parks and recreation leadership, said the course has been offered for just a year at AU and that it 'is still in the catching-on stage where it's not tied to any particular major.' 'I teach parks and rec so I started the course primarily for those students so they could use a drone to assess parks and do surveying and those sorts of things, but students in the criminal justice program are also showing interest in the course,' Well said. 'Law enforcement officers and first responders are using drones in their work.' Wells spoke about Nosalik and his impressions of her as a student, noting 'I first had her in an interdisciplinary studies course.' 'It's a first-year student course called 'Discover What Matters' and it introduces students to college and helps them develop a sense of what they want to do with their major,' he said. 'I met her [Nosalik] in that course, and introduced the drone as just kind of an extra topic. Alayna definitely saw it was something that she might be able to apply in marketing and communications. 'When I first offered the drone course, she was one of the first to sign up for it – she definitely took to it and I think she sees the potential for drones in her work and was the first AU student to get her license,' Wells added. Wells acknowledges technology is, in fact, driving some of the curriculum these days. 'Definitely – we have to keep up with the tech and prepare the students to be able to use that tech in their careers,' he said. Nosalik says there is no pressure being the first to own a license and said there has been some additional interest shown from other friends 'who have reached out.' 'They've said, 'Oh, that's so cool – I didn't know AU offered this' and I told them about the class,' she said. 'A lot of people have actually asked about it and I'm hoping a lot more people will take it and have an interest in it.' In yet another turn on the road not taken, Nosalik made a detour earlier in her college career and stepped away from her course work at AU in order to take the Disney College Program, a paid internship that she attended at Walt Disney World in Florida. 'I think it would be really cool to work in marketing or coordinating events for Disney one day – I've always been a fan of Disney and wanted to go down and be a part of the program,' she said. 'I think it was second semester my freshman year. I was in my advisor's office and was asking how could I move my schedule around so I can have an entire semester free and she said we could figure that out.' In the end, Nosalik was one of just 10 individuals selected to be in the program and said her greatest takeaway 'was that I still want to work for Disney – it's one of my goals.' 'You never know if you're going to get tired going to parks or don't like the work anymore but every day there was so much fun going to work and some of my best friends were there,' she said. Wells said there are two ways the FAA allows people to fly drones – recreationally and for professional purposes, from surveillance work compiling statistics. His course description notes that 'Drones (unmanned aircraft systems) are increasingly used in a wide range of careers to accomplish things such as gather pictures and videos, collect environmental data, and assist first responders in managing complex situations. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remote pilot license is required to fly a drone professionally.' 'The enforcement of this – the analogy I use is how to people enforce things like auto insurance– it's usually when you're caught,' he said. 'You get caught and have to show insurance. With work, it's obvious you're out working. I have a friend who sprays fields with a drone and he's constantly stopped by people driving by asking how do you do this – do you have a license? Nosalik also reflected on her drone license and acknowledged that while there are lot of kids as well as adults flying drones on weekends, her certification brings with it other caveats. 'With the license, you can start to fly in different places and have the ability to do more because you can put in requests to fly in different places, whereas if you're flying for fun – you have to stay below a certain height,' she said. Nosalik said her parents have been very supportive of her choices. 'My dad is really big on trying new things and getting my brother and I to try things and experience things and open opportunities for yourselves,' she said.
Chicago Tribune
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Crowning ceremony begins Juneteenth Week in Aurora
The city of Aurora officially launched Juneteenth Week 2025 with the crowning of the new Mr. and Miss Black Aurora on Thursday night at Aurora University's Crimi Auditorium, city officials said. The ceremony honored four high school students from across the city, each a symbol of academic success, community service and cultural pride, according to a press release from the city. West Aurora High School senior James Baker was crowned Mr. Black Aurora and will serve as king of the Royal Court. He is a scholar-athlete with a 4.0 grade point average and a student leader, the release said. The new Miss Black Aurora and queen of the Royal Court, Mbayie Tendong, is a junior at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora. She has a 4.2 grade point average and is a science tutor, Sunday School teacher and multi-sport athlete, city officials said. Chantz Trotter, a senior at West Aurora High School, earned the title of prince of the Royal Court. His resume includes government internships, youth advisory roles, volunteerism and more, according to the release. Zyon Askew-Ward, a senior at Metea Valley High School and accomplished cellist, peer mentor and Tri-M Music Honor Society member, was named princess of the Royal Court, city officials said. The 2025 Black Heritage Royal Court will serve throughout the upcoming school year as youth ambassadors and be involved in mentorship, outreach and cultural engagement, the release stated. State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit. D-Oswego, will host her free annual Recycle and Shred Day event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 28, in the parking lot of Kifowit's district office at 1677 Montgomery Road in Aurora, organizers said. The event is dedicated to helping residents safely dispose of sensitive documents and unwanted electronics while supporting environmental sustainability and local nonprofit causes, according to a press release. On-site paper shredding for residents will be offered, with a limit of three 13-gallon trash bags or two banker boxes per vehicle, the release said. The electronics recycling effort at the event will accept items such as computer towers, printers and fax machines, DVD and VCR players, video game consoles, microwave ovens, and receivers and cables, organizers said. TVs and computer monitors will not be accepted at the event, according to the release. There will also be collection of cellphones to be donated to Mutual Ground to support survivors of domestic violence, eyeglasses to benefit Lions Clubs International global vision programs and new or gently used books for donation to Scarce and the Will County Sheriff's Office, organizers said. For more information, call 630-585-1308 or email State Reps. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, and Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, will host the Outside Kids Fair on Saturday, June 21, at Chapelstreet Church in Geneva. The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church at 3435 Keslinger Road. The family-oriented event includes free admission, refreshments and giveaways, according to a press release about the fair. Demonstrations will be given by the Kane County Sheriff K-9 Office, Traveling World of Reptiles Show, DancEncounter School of Dance and World Martial Arts Academy, organizers said. A medical helicopter from Superior Air Medical will be landing at 10 a.m., and a drawing for a bicycle is scheduled for 11:15 a.m., the release stated. Kids will have 27 options for Touch-A-Truck activities, and there will also be face-painting stations, according to organizers. The fair will include participation from over 50 local businesses, state agencies, county departments, police departments, park districts, villages, cities and more, the release stated. The St. Charles Public Library concludes its 2024-25 Sunday Concert Series at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, with a performance by percussionist Josh Graham at the library, 1 S. Sixth St. in St. Charles. Graham will perform several recently commissioned works for solo marimba, library officials said in a press release. Graham is assistant professor and percussion program coordinator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, as well as executive director of the trio F-PLUS. The free performance is funded through donations to the St. Charles Public Library Foundation. The second annual Solstice Century Ride cycling event will be held Friday, June 20, to raise money for six area nonprofit charities providing mental health and housing insecurity programs, organizers said. Riders are asked to collect $1,000 or more in donations by completing 100 miles of cycling through the Whalon Lake Forest Preserve near Royce Road and Route 53 near Naperville. Money raised will help support Hesed House in Aurora, DuPage PADS, 4:13, SamaraCare Counseling, Grow Wellness Foundation and Max's Mission. The event begins at 6 a.m. and is organized by Zac Larson, a wealth advisor and avid cyclist. A celebration for riders, donors and volunteers with dinner, music and drinks will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, go to The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has broken ground on its new Grounds and Natural Resources Campus at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville. The 112,900-square-foot facility will be a main hub for crews that maintain nearly 26,000 acres of preserves in the county and will replace aging and scattered maintenance buildings, officials said. Its eco-friendly features including a solar array for renewable energy, rainwater harvesting systems to conserve water, and native bioswales and basins that support stormwater management and habitat restoration, a district news release said. The campus also includes a native plant nursery support building and greenhouse, which increases its ability to collect and distribute native seeds. The $36.4 million project is expected to be mostly completed by February 2027 with final completion set for December 2027, the release said. It is the largest of 32 projects the district included in its 2019 master plan.
Chicago Tribune
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Waubonsie Valley senior Danny McGuigan earns a new perk in his new gig. He gets to enjoy a tie and a win.
Waubonsie Valley senior Danny McGuigan didn't see a lot of playing time until late in the regular season. He was used mainly as a pitcher out of the bullpen. But Waubonsie Valley coach Bryan Acevedo saw something in the Aurora University commit and decided to try him as the designated hitter. 'On Saturdays, when he got some opportunities, he hit some baseballs hard, and we liked his approach,' Acevedo said. 'We gave him some opportunities a couple weeks ago as the DH, and he hasn't left the lineup.' McGuigan left the bench only four times on Thursday, but he took advantage of his chances. He went 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs to lead the 10th-seeded Warriors to a 7-1 victory over sixth-seeded Naperville Central in the Class 4A Waubonsie Valley Regional semifinals. McGuigan's two-out, bases-loaded double in the top of the first inning plated the first three runs of the game. He blooped the hit into a perfect spot about a foot inside the right-field line. 'I was lucky on that one,' he said. 'I think it was a change-up away, and I tried to foul it off, but it stayed fair. 'That felt great. It set the tone for the rest of the game, and it really hyped me up as well as the team, so I was really pumped up by that.' The three runs were more than enough for senior right-hander Owen Roberts. The Indiana State commit pitched a three-hitter with two walks and 10 strikeouts and also went 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Warriors (20-12), who advance to play third-seeded West Aurora in the regional final at 11 a.m. Saturday. Roberts improved to 7-2. Junior infielder Casey Cooperkawa scored an unearned run in the sixth for the Redhawks (20-16). By that time, Waubonsie Valley was comfortably ahead, and it all started with McGuigan's big hit. 'That helped us to wake up because the energy was low,' Waubonsie Valley senior third baseman Hiroshy Wong said. 'When we scored that three runs, we got excited, we got happy.' Wong is happy to see McGuigan succeed. 'Being a DH is really tough because your only job is hitting, as you know,' Wong said. 'He had a slow start, but he never gave up. 'As they say, the game always comes back to you. So he's been working really hard in the cages, and it's paying off right now.' McGuigan got hits off three pitchers. He had an RBI double and scored in the fifth inning and singled in the seventh. 'I've got to stay locked in on the other pitcher, taking it at-bat by at-bat,' McGuigan said. 'So before my first at-bat, l just really try to zone in and figure out how I'm going hit him and see what he's throwing.' McGuigan's hitting prowess isn't the only new wrinkle for the Warriors. He was seen wearing a striped tie in the dugout after each of his hits. 'Our manager, Matthew Choi, used to dress up in a shirt and tie for big games, and today he just brought the tie and used it as kind of like the celebration chain type of thing you see in the NFL or Major League Baseball,' Acevedo said. Just like that, a new tradition appears to have begun. 'It started out of nowhere,' McGuigan said. 'Matthew just brought it out and put it on one of the poles and started putting it on everybody who hit.' Expect McGuigan to continue as the DH. 'He's got a really good mentality for it,' Acevedo said. 'He's kind of a goofy kid, but he's able to lock in in spurts. 'We talk about team mystique in our program and for guys to take the next step as a senior, and he's definitely done that for us this year.'
Chicago Tribune
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: New exhibit to highlight Aurora's rich baseball and softball history
As I watched my 14-year-old grandson playing baseball with his youth travel team Wednesday evening on Aurora University's beautiful field, I looked around at all the other bustling diamonds in this section of the Fox Valley Park District's Stuart Sports Complex and thanked the heavens for making the game part of my life. Baseball really is America's sport. More specifically, baseball and softball have huge legacies in this area. So on Thursday, when I found out the Aurora Historical Society will be featuring the exhibit 'Play Ball, Aurora!' at its museum at 20 E. Downer Place starting June 6 at downtown's First Fridays event, I gave Executive Director John Jaros a call to find out a little more about the deep roots baseball and softball have here in our community. Jaros told me this exhibit is similar to the popular display that ran through the summer of 2014, featuring photos, trophies, uniforms and other memorabilia from 'old-timers who played the game' back in the day when both baseball and particularly fast-pitch softball really did rule. 'A lot of good material came into the collection at that time … including Aurora's 1959 World Softball Championship Trophy,' said Jaros. It was 65 years ago in September of 1959, according to the Aurora Historical Society, that the Aurora Sealmasters, a fast-pitch softball team sponsored by Stephens-Adamson Company, made history by winning the Amateur Softball Association National Tournament. (At the time, it was the World Softball Championship). Aurora pitcher Harvey 'The Horse' Sterkel – who had been recruited from Denver after Stephens-Adamson decided to get serious about the game – dominated this Florida tournament, winning eight of the team's nine games, including pitching three shutouts on the final day of the tournament. Sealmasters would go on to win Amateur Softball Association championships again in 1961, 1965 and 1967, and would win the first International Softball Federation World Tournament in 1966 and '68. Sterkel himself would dominate for a good 20 years, earning a well-deserved spot in two major softball Halls of Fame. And as I found out while writing this column, one of the fields in the Stuart Sports Complex on Jericho Road where I watched by grandson play this week is named in his honor. Aurora's winning ways in softball continued into the 1970s, culminating with a win at the international Softball Congress World Tournament in 1980. Under Dolan & Murphy Real Estate, which took over sponsorship in 1988, Aurora continues to field men's and women's teams, and according to its website, has qualified for and played in the world tournament since 1994 – a record – finishing as high as second in 2012. While some of those championship players are still with us, Jaros noted, many have died, including the legendary Sterkel, who passed away in 2019. 'We wanted to pay tribute to those who are still around,' he said, adding that the decision to reintroduce the exhibit is also because 'it was very popular … the sport is big in Aurora.' Baseball in this community actually dates back to the 1870s, with the city being home to some minor league teams back in the early days including the Aurora Blues, whose roster in 1911 included the legendary Casey Stengel. By 1912, Stengel was in the majors playing for Brooklyn. The number of amateur baseball teams grew in the 1930s and '40s as more city and neighborhood leagues formed. And it became even more popular in the 1950s as youth leagues came into existence. 'Back then everybody played ball,' said Jaros, noting that Aurora also had several semi-pro teams. 'Baseball really was America's pastime.' It was in the 1930s, he added, that softball – originally called 'diamond ball' – came into prominence in Aurora, with two men's recreational leagues: The Industrial League – 'every factory had a team' – and the Protestant Church League. But the sport here was far different then what Jaros grew up playing, with big 16-inch softballs and no gloves, in his North Side Chicago neighborhood. 'When I came to Aurora (in 1984), they told me this was a big softball place,' he said. 'I loved softball but when I saw how they played, throwing really hard with a smaller ball and they all had gloves, I thought, this is not how I played.' While Jaros never participated in any Aurora fast-pitch games, he never lost his appreciation for the sport or the special spot it holds in this city's story. 'We have a lot of cool material that comes in and out of storage,' Jaros said. 'We just felt this was a good time to bring it out again.'
Chicago Tribune
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Salvador Rodriguez, Luis Santoyo join the 2026 race for Kane County sheriff
Two more candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to be elected Kane County sheriff in 2026, as current Sheriff Ron Hain prepares to retire when his term ends next year. Earlier this month, Kane County Undersheriff Amy Johnson announced her intention to run for sheriff — with Hain's support. So far, she faces two opponents, including a primary challenger. Salvador Rodriguez of Sugar Grove, who previously worked in the Kane County Sheriff's Office, has announced he is running for sheriff as a Democrat against Johnson. Luis Santoyo, a current Elburn village trustee, has announced he is running as a Republican for sheriff in the 2026 election. Rodriguez retired from the Kane County Sheriff's Office, where he said he worked for nearly 30 years and held a number of different positions — such as a patrol deputy, field training officer, K-9 handler, a sergeant in the Office of Professional Standards and a public safety police lieutenant, according to his campaign website. He said he was involved with the office's Explorer Post Program and also helped develop the office's Cadet Program, which gives individuals ages 17-20 insights into how the department operates and provides entry-level deputy sheriff training. Rodriguez said he has been planning to run for sheriff since last spring. He filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections in October, and has begun to accept campaign contributions, according to records from the state Board of Elections. His top goal is to provide leadership 'rooted in real community involvement,' he said on Monday, like facilitating talks with the community and partnering with local police departments. 'Everything from coffee with a cop to putting on programs where we come together with the youth,' he said. He said forming relationships with local communities could increase the likelihood that community members will call law enforcement when problems arise. 'Especially over on the East Side of Aurora, where it's low-income housing, where we're the busiest … one of the events that I want to do is to get some of us in uniform, go out there, knock on their doors and talk to them — and not in our (squad cars) where they're going to be intimidated, but us on foot in the neighborhood talking to everybody.' If elected sheriff, Rodriguez also plans to respond to what he called in a press release announcing his bid for sheriff 'the national disregard for the rule of law.' 'I think, nationally, there's just this whirlwind of uncertainty and things that aren't being enforced and are being enforced,' he said. 'I will not waver under any type of pressure from the federal government, federal police or just in general.' Rodriguez is also a Democratic precinct committeeman for Sugar Grove Township and a member of the Western Kane Democrats, according to Monday's press release. He's worked as an adjunct professor at Aurora University, he said, and attended schools in Aurora and Naperville as well as Aurora University. Also in the race is Luis Santoyo of Elburn, who's running as a Republican per the Illinois State Board of Elections. He filed his statement of organization on April 16. According to Santoyo's campaign website, he was born in Mexico and grew up in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. He previously worked as a detective in the Cook County Sheriff's Department, having investigated crimes like child exploitation and gang violence and serving as a forensic artist, hostage negotiator and dignitary protection specialist. He has also worked with immigrant and underserved communities, his website says. In 2023, he was elected an Elburn village trustee. The mid-term elections will take place on Nov. 3, 2026, with the primary election next April.
