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Graduation is here, for rising seniors it's time to think about the future
Graduation is here, for rising seniors it's time to think about the future

Yahoo

time25-05-2025

  • General
  • Yahoo

Graduation is here, for rising seniors it's time to think about the future

DES MOINES, Iowa — Several area high schools are celebrating their graduates this weekend, and for those now moving into their final year of school, it's time to think about the future. Plenty of maroon caps and gowns at the Knapp Center Friday night, and Dowling Catholic High School held its graduation ceremony on the campus of Drake University. While the class of 2025 gets ready to head off to college or trade school, the military, or into the workforce, high school counselors say it's never too early for the next round of high schoolers to start thinking about the future. And that can … at times … be pretty overwhelming. 'The fear of moving away from home, maybe, or thinking about choosing the wrong path. And it's being in something that doesn't take them where they want to go. I think that can cause a lot of fear. And then, you know, just getting good grades, passing courses, and being able to take the next step of going to a trade school or doing whatever they're looking for in the future, is making sure they have what they need to do that,' said Beatrice Kramer at the Iowa Virtual Academy. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 63% of high school graduates went on to study at a 2- or 4-year college or university last year. That means many soon-to-be seniors will spend this summer and next year investigating schools in and out of state. High school counselors say it's always important to look at the programs being offered, the size of the institution, and to get a feel for the campus by taking a visit. However, college degrees aren't the only option for recent graduates. 'We're seeing more and more the need for students or people to enter the fields of trades. That's a lot of different opportunities with vocational training. Whether it just be an apprenticeship or little training programs that are shorter and they're not as long as maybe some of your college experiences might be. So they can start to investigate those trades, and those are a good option. And they have good salaries, so those can be beneficial for students as well,' said Kramer. If your student really doesn't know what they want to do, there are some online tools that can help. Iowa Workforce Development has curated a portal of career exploration and information. Some of their features include 'Hot Jobs,' which projects occupations with strong growth potential, as well as helping individuals get connected in professions that may require licensing or coursework. The U.S. Department of Labor and the AmericanJobCenter network teamed up for CareerOneStop, which guides fresh graduates through career exploration, job training, and the job search. To explore their services, visit the CareerOneStop website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Drake University celebrates opening of new student center
Drake University celebrates opening of new student center

Yahoo

time25-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Drake University celebrates opening of new student center

Drake University alum Greg Johansen gave remarks during the grand opening of the university's new student center on April 24, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Drake University) Drake University students, staff, alumni and community members celebrated the opening of a new student center this week, the culmination of one of the missions behind its capital fundraising campaign. The private university, located in Des Moines, held an opening celebration for the Johansen Student Center Thursday, according to a news release, housed in the renovated former Morehouse Residence Hall. A portion of the largest gift in the university's history, a $28 million donation from alum and board of trustees member Greg Johansen and his wife, Cie, along with other donations allowed for the $16.2 million project to be completed debt-free, according to the release. The rest of the $28 million was split among other capital projects, scholarship funds and athletics. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The center was completely funded by donations through 'The Ones: Drake's Campaign for the Brave and Bold,' a $225 million fundraising campaign launched in 2021 that had amassed more than $265 million by October 2024. 'We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Greg and Cie Johansen, making it possible for the University to convert Morehouse Residence Hall into a vibrant new student center,' said Marty Martin, Drake University president, in the release. 'After serving Drake and our students for nearly 100 years as a residence hall, we're pleased to enhance the historic building and make it a space that can continue to serve our campus community.' Included in the new center are casual and formal meeting spaces, an outdoor plaza and areas utilized by the Olson Institute for Public Democracy, Darling Institute and Adams Leadership Institute. According to the release, the university's first intercultural center will also have a home in the center, and more than 150 student organizations will use it for their operations. According to the release, Drake Student Body President Ashley Dyson said during the event the new center will help bring students together just like Morehouse Residence Hall did in the past. 'On behalf of the student body at Drake, I want to thank the many donors whose support has made this project a reality,' Dyson said in the release. 'For almost 100 years, these walls [Johansen Student Center] have served as a place of community amongst our student body. Now the building will continue that legacy by providing a dedicated space for students to build relationships, hone leadership skills, collaborate with community partners, and get plugged into the causes and issues they care about for generations of Drake students to come.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Equal Protection Project files civil rights complaint against Drake University
Equal Protection Project files civil rights complaint against Drake University

Yahoo

time23-04-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Equal Protection Project files civil rights complaint against Drake University

An organization involved in litigation with universities across the U.S. has filed a federal complaint against Drake University for allegedly violating Title VI. (Photo courtesy of Drake University) An organization involved in litigation with universities across the U.S. has filed a federal complaint against Drake University in Des Moines, alleging one of its scholarship programs violates federal anti-discrimination law. The Equal Protection Project, a branch of the Legal Insurrection Foundation, submitted a civil rights complaint Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights against the private university. The organization, which says it is 'devoted to the fair treatment of all persons without regard to race or ethnicity,' claims in the complaint Drake is violating Title IV by limiting eligibility of one of its scholarship programs, the Crew Scholars Program, to students of color. 'Drake is expanding DEI activities at a time when the State of Iowa and the federal government are scaling back,' said William Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project, in an emailed statement. 'Regardless of where one stands on the DEI debate, discrimination based on race violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Iowa state law, and Drake's own non-discrimination rules. Drake should open up the scholarship to all students without regard to race.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Drake University spokesperson Ashton Hockman said in an email the university cannot comment at this time, as it has not received any communication from the U.S. Department of Education. The Crew Scholars Program is described online as an 'academic excellence and leadership development program for incoming students with a passion for diversity' that provides $500 annual scholarships to participating students. According to the civil rights complaint, the scholarship program limits participation to students of color. The complaint cites as evidence a university website link and screenshots showing the program description including the language 'The Crew Scholars Program at Drake University is open to incoming domestic students of color in any major.' A different website describing the scholars program eliminates references to race in who is allowed to apply. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act forbids 'intentional discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin' in any program that receives federal support, the complaint stated, and as Drake University receives federal funding, it is in violation of the law. Referencing the U.S. Department of Education's Feb. 14 'Dear Colleague' letter, the complaint stated that regardless of its reasons for offering a 'discriminatory program,' Drake is still violating the law. 'Accordingly, we respectfully ask that the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights promptly open a formal investigation, impose such remedial relief as the law permits for the benefit of those who have been illegally excluded from Drake's various programs based on discriminatory criteria, and ensure that all ongoing and future programming at Drake comports with the federal civil rights laws,' the complaint stated. Drake has reiterated its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion multiple times as state and federal actions have required universities to pull back on such programming, including implementing new programming to ensure all students feel like they belong and speaking out against decisions that negatively impact campus and Drake students. Drake President Marty Martin published a letter in early March telling students they are all welcome at the university despite contrary messages such as legislation to repeal the inclusion of transgender and nonbinary people in civil rights protections. Martin called the law 'one among many current state and federal efforts that seek to turn our differences into division.' 'This is a moral failure against which we stand in opposition,' Martin said in the letter. 'It is our duty to respect, support, and affirm anyone in our community targeted by these actions.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

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