Latest news with #Conner
Chicago Tribune
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Perseverance pays off for Prairie State College photography students
Two young photographers from vastly different backgrounds had a chance to share the spotlight at Prairie State College as the spring semester wrapped up. Jamel Conner, of Chicago Heights, who won the school's Photographer of the Year award for his commercial art, and Huynh Vinh Duc Le, who has won various awards and scholarships for his serene portraits and other images, both share a love of the camera and what it can portray. Neither could afford a good camera when they came to the community college in Chicago Heights, but their work was featured in the school's Christopher Gallery in April and May. Both students are working on associates degrees in photography. Conner's featured photos were of a wedding dress, pages from magazines, glassware, jewelry and a percolator, all in calm, artsy settings. The images, he said, were the results of his efforts to bring objects to life. 'The idea of it being almost like a painting but it's real life,' he said. 'The ability to capture a moment to stop in time is something I wanted to be able to do myself.' He started toying with the idea of assembling a still life photo, but it morphed into something more commercial. 'It's almost editorial in a way,' he said. Conner's teacher, Rebecca Slagle, a professor of visual communications and multimedia arts, said there was much to like about Conner's work. 'It's very clean, he put a lot of thought into it,' she said. 'I like that it's quirky and fun and not boring still-life.' Duc, whose photos also were on display, said he'd loved taking pictures of landscapes and people ever since he was a middle schooler in Hue, the city where he grew up in Vietnam. Photography, drawing and journalism were required courses. But cameras were pricey, so he had to borrow one from a friend at school. 'I loved it and decided to get into it,' said Duc, who continued photography at the University of Education in Vietnam. He immigrated here with his mother in 2022, both sponsored by his grandmother, who has lived in Oak Lawn for 15 years. He's working toward his work visa. 'My mother wanted a new life,' he said. 'She's helped me a lot. She pays the rent and everything so I can focus on my studies.' He started helping out at a nail salon where his mom worked to help pay bills. 'When I came to the United States, I felt like I didn't belong here,' said Duc. But he persevered and made a home for himself at the college and started doing wedding photo gigs with another photographer. These days, one of his favorite subjects for pictures is his friend Ngoc, who he met at Tinley Park Community Church. 'She really liked the way I took her picture,' he said. Many other people have shared her enthusiasm for his work and he has received a number of scholarships and awards, including the Arts Unleashed Scholarships from the Prairie State College Foundation's Nicholas & Jacqueline Rinaldi and John B. Abate' Prize in the Arts recently. He has a full ride scholarship to Columbia College, which he'll attend in the fall. For Duc, the beauty of an image is in the details. 'I want to express my personality through the color grading,' said Duc. 'You can see my color is not that bright,' he said, pointing to his portrait shots displayed in Prairie State's gallery. Slagle, his photography professor, is one of his biggest supporters. 'Duc is an amazing photographer,' she said. 'Just the artistry and the connection I see with him and all the people he photographs. He has a way of making people comfortable.' Photography is making Duc more comfortable, too. 'When I take a photo, it makes my life happier — better. I'm improving myself,' he said. 'I want to tell people a boy from Vietnam came here to improve himself and to do things to gain experience and achieve a better life,' he explained. That sentiment isn't lost on fellow photographer Connor. Though always a hard worker, Conner said he was taken aback when he discovered he'd won the Photographer of the Year award, which includes a $1,500 scholarship to PSC. 'I felt like the other competitors were more talented than me, me being my own worst critic,' he said. But then he just felt grateful, not only for the award but for his own perseverance. 'Never assume you're not good at anything,' Conner said. 'After taking photos more and more, I gained more confidence and skill. It was that willingness to experiment and take risks.' He aims to use that confidence, skill and perseverance to do more commercial work, perhaps within a company's marketing department. Slagle, who also is coordinator of photography and graphic communications at Prairie State, said she was proud of the students' accomplishments as she 'watched them grow and the confidence they gain through the two-year program.' 'They're like your kids,' she said.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Experts stress safety for the start of boating season
May 23—With Memorial Day weekend almost here and the start of summer just around the corner, local experts are stressing the importance of boating safety. According to U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating statistics, the period from May through September accounts for most boating accidents. The majority of these accidents are caused by operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, alcohol use and navigation rules violations. From the 2023 statistics, 10.77% of boating accidents were due to inexperience. "Every year we get a lot of new owners who have never owned a boat, and usually those are the ones that are the most dangerous," said Riverwalk Marina owner Steve Conner. "They just haven't gone through the courses or done anything to know what they're doing. A boat is so much different than driving a car." Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Officer Chad Dyer recommends novice boaters choose a less busy time than Memorial Day weekend to take to the waters for the first time. "It's easier to learn when there is less traffic on the waterway," Dyer said. "It's less stressful for you and safer to learn." Many of the accidents that Conner has seen or heard about happen when a boat driver comes to pick someone up. To avoid dangers, he recommends drivers wear a legally required kill switch cord, which will turn the motor off if they're thrown from the boat. A motorized vessel license is required to operate a motorboat in Alabama. Additionally, any child under the age of 8 is required to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. "The biggest thing that I can stress to people is wear a life jacket," said Danny Kelso, chief of the Morgan County Rescue Squad. "No matter if you're a good swimmer or not, sober, or young, it doesn't matter; wear a life jacket because you can't drown with a life jacket." When people come through Riverwalk Marina to set out on the water, Conner offers them these words of advice: "Make sure all your equipment is on board. Make sure you have enough life jackets. Make sure your lighting on your boat is working." Kelso also recommends boaters ensure they have enough fuel and a fully charged battery. He said people don't think about it and kill their batteries by playing the radio when the boat isn't running. If they do find themselves without fuel or power this Memorial Day weekend, the Rescue Squad will be available to tow them back to safety when they call 911. The National Safe Boating Council also offers safety tips, which in addition to Conner's recommendations, include sharing your "float plan" with a friend or family member not on the water, monitoring the weather before departing and keeping a functional communication device on hand in case of an emergency. Conner said there are a lot of common sense safety precautions during Memorial Day weekend that people frequently overlook. He remembers a time a group had a grill on board that they forgot to secure. It got knocked over in the boat and spilled hot charcoal. Conner also said passengers should avoid drinking too much, and the driver shouldn't drink at all. Alcohol consumption is another leading cause of boating accidents. "If people are going to drink on the boat, have a sober, licensed boat driver that has a vessel license," Kelso said. Blood alcohol content for a boat driver must be below 0.08%, the same as for the driver of a car. According to Coast Guard statistics, in 2023, alcohol use was the top contributing factor in accidents resulting in a fatality when the cause of the accident is known. Conner said boat drivers have a big responsibility because they're in charge of making sure everyone else is safe. — or 256-340-2437. Bernie Delinski contributed to this report.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals rookies given 2 key pieces of advice living in Arizona for first time
The Arizona Cardinals rookies took the field for the first time on Friday as NFL players. For many of them, it was their first time in Arizona. Offensive lineman Hayden Conner, the Cardinals' sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft, was asked about what advice he got coming to Arizona for the first time. He pointed out two things: Advertisement "Don't speed. We heard they ticket easily over here." "Hydrate. It's different heat in Arizona." The Cardinals have had issues with speeding in the past. Linebacker Zaven Collins got hit with a big speeding ticket in Scottsdale. He wasn't a rookie, but receiver Hollywood Brown was driving over 100 mph on the Loop 101 heading into training camp in 2022. Many players live in the Scottsdale area. Anyone who lives here or has visited here knows just how easy it is to get a speeding ticket and how hard it is to get out of one. As for the heat, yes, that is a given. Even for a guy like Conner who comes from Texas, where it gets plenty hot, "it's a little different." As a personal note, Conner also said he has to wear sunscreen all the time. "I'm too pale." Advertisement He and the rest of the Cardinals rookies are going to learn a lot. Those might be the two most important things to know when they are off the field heading into their first NFL season. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals rookies given 2 key pieces of advice living in Arizona for first time
USA Today
11-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Contract details for OL Hayden Conner, the Arizona Cardinals' sixth-round pick
Contract details for OL Hayden Conner, the Arizona Cardinals' sixth-round pick Conner was one of four rookies to sign with the Cardinals before rookie minicamp. These are the details of his contract The draft is only two weeks old, but as most of the teams conducted rookie minicamps this weekend, there has been a cascade of draft choices signing their contracts, including the Arizona Cardinals. They signed four of their picks before the start of camp, including guard Hayden Conner, their sixth-round pick, selected with the No. 211 overall pick. Arizona Cardinals OL Hayden Conner contract, salary details Here are the specifics of guard Hayden Conner's deal: As a sixth-round choice (No. 211 overall), the total value of his four-year deal is $4,374,280 and includes a signing bonus of $174,280. His salary cap charge for 2025 is $883,570. His base salaries are the minimums for all four years: $840,000 this year; $1.005 million in 2026, $1.12 million in 2027 and $1.235 million in 2028. He has a full split for the first two years, which means his salary would decrease to $490,000 in 2025 and $540,000 in 2026 if he is on injured reserve. Conner (6-6, 314) played 51 games in four seasons at Texas and started 43 consecutive games at left guard to end his college career. In 2023 and 2024, he was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive lineman in college football. Last season, Conner started all 16 games as the Longhorns advanced to the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs. Draft pick signing details around NFL As of end of day Friday, 148 of the 257 (57.6 percent) selections had signed and the Cardinals with four of their seven have a nearly identical percentage (57.1). The breakdown of rounds for the signed contracts league-wide is: First round: 6 of 32 Second round: 2 of 32 Third round: 26 of 38 Fourth round: 18 of 36 Fifth round: 28 of 28 Sixth round: 33 of 40 Seventh round: 35 of 41 Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
10-05-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals rookies given 2 key pieces of advice living in Arizona for first time
Arizona Cardinals rookies given 2 key pieces of advice living in Arizona for first time Sixth-round pick Hayden Conner shares what advice he has been given as a new resident in Arizona playing football. The Arizona Cardinals rookies took the field for the first time on Friday as NFL players. For many of them, it was their first time in Arizona. Offensive lineman Hayden Conner, the Cardinals' sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft, was asked about what advice he got coming to Arizona for the first time. He pointed out two things: "Don't speed. We heard they ticket easily over here." "Hydrate. It's different heat in Arizona." The Cardinals have had issues with speeding in the past. Linebacker Zaven Collins got hit with a big speeding ticket in Scottsdale. He wasn't a rookie, but receiver Hollywood Brown was driving over 100 mph on the Loop 101 heading into training camp in 2022. Many players live in the Scottsdale area. Anyone who lives here or has visited here knows just how easy it is to get a speeding ticket and how hard it is to get out of one. As for the heat, yes, that is a given. Even for a guy like Conner who comes from Texas, where it gets plenty hot, "it's a little different." As a personal note, Conner also said he has to wear sunscreen all the time. "I'm too pale." He and the rest of the Cardinals rookies are going to learn a lot. Those might be the two most important things to know when they are off the field heading into their first NFL season. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
