Latest news with #RockfordUniversity
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rockford's Keith Country Day School graduates 11
Keith Country Day School hosted its 52nd annual commencement ceremony Thursday, May 29, at Rockford University's Maddox Theatre. The ceremony celebrated the graduation of 11 students from the Rockford-based private college-preparatory school. According to Keith, this year's graduating seniors will attend some of the nation's top-ranked colleges including the University of Illinois, Indiana University, University of Minnesota, Rhodes College and Marquette University, among others. The school also reported that the class of 2025 had collectively earned $3 million in merit-based scholarships. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford's Keith Country Day School graduates 11
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New program aims to address shortage of mental health providers in Winnebago Co.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford area colleges joined forces to create a new program for college graduates looking to become social workers in the Rockford area. The program is being funded by a $2 million grant. The grant is being fulfilled through a half-cent sales tax. The University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rock Valley College, Rockford University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work, Rockford Public Schools 205 and the Boone-Winnebago County Regional Office of Education #4 all have played a part in getting the Social Worker Opportunity Tracks (SWOT) program underway. 'Winnebago County has a shortage of mental health providers, often having 150 or more positions for social workers open,' says Alex Stagnaro-Green, Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford and the principal investigator on the grant. 'SWOT will train individuals committed to becoming social workers in Winnebago County and build opportunities for area students to train and work in the area for years to come.' SWOT provides multiple pathways for students to get into the world of social work, such as: Graduates of Rock Valley College with an associate degree are eligible to apply to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work online programs or Rockford University programs to complete a bachelor's in social work while receiving scholarships and other financial and educational support. Rockford University graduates are eligible to receive financial support and assistance to complete the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online master's of social work degree. Winnebago County high school students interested in pursuing a social work degree can enroll in the SWOT Pipeline Track. Following successful completion of the high school component, each student has the option to enroll in either the associate degree program in human services at Rock Valley College or the bachelor's in social work program at Rockford University. Rock Valley College graduates could either transfer to Rockford University to complete their BSW in person or enroll in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online bachelor's in social work. Upon completion of the BSW from either Rockford University or the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the student could then enroll in the online MSW program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The SWOT Immediate Track allows staff presently employed by Winnebago County schools with an associate degree to earn a bachelor's degree in social work through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's existing online program or a soon-to-be-developed bachelor's completion program at Rockford University. Those who have a bachelor's degree can complete the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online master's degree program. Participants can receive tuition reimbursement from their school and continue to work as they earn their social work degree. Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board (WCCMHB) had the half-cent sales tax that is helping fund the program approved by Winnebago County residents in March 2020. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Rockford University raises awareness about sexual assault on Denim Day
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford University raised awareness about sexual assault and advocated for survivors on Denim Day. Denim Day is a campaign that started in 1999 after the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction, claiming the victim must have helped her attacker remove her tight jeans, implying consent. Many women wore jeans the next day to show solidarity. Rockford University students strung up shirts on a clothesline along with survivors' stories on campus. One student emphasized the importance of listening to victims and eliminating assumptions around sexual violence. 'I think it's a stigma to think that a man can not be a victim when he can be. Or that a child cannot be a victim because they're too innocent, or that an older person can't be a victim because they're not attractive,' said Sandy Ruiz. I think a lot of these stigmas and stereotypes are still very much prevalent, so I think that's the first place that we need to go, is to have these different levels of people be representatives of sexual assault.' The school hosted a celebration for its women's flag football team in tandem with Denim Day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rockford University, Almoka Coffee House host art show for Arab-American Heritage Month
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford University is partnering with Almoka Coffee House to celebrate Arab-American Heritage Month and Arab culture. Seventeen artworks are on display at the coffee house, located at 753 Highgrove Place. Customers are encouraged to vote for their favorite, with the top three winners to receive prizes. The event is the first of its kind in Rockford, organized by the Rockford Arab Chamber of Commerce, which plans to host an Arab Heritage Festival on April 26th, at 2510 S. Alpine Road, with food trucks, dancing, and live music. Almoka has only been open since February, but barista Amina Hussein said staff are already feeling the impact the cafe is having on the community. 'To have it here in your own city, and not have to drive far for it, that makes life worth living,' Hussein said. 'Because for Arab's, a lot of them, especially families, they don't have a place where they can just come in and stay there for later hours. And we're people who love to sip on our tea and our coffee in the middle of the night. So it gives you a sense of companionship.' Voting in the art competition closes at 10 p.m. on Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rockford University adding men's and women's track & field
ROCKFORD, Ill. – (WTVO/WQRF) — [From Rockford Univ. news release] Rockford University is adding men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field to its palette of sport offerings beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. The addition of the track and field teams will give Rockford 17 varsity intercollegiate athletic programs.'We are extremely excited to add indoor and outdoor track and field programs to our list of sport offerings here at Rockford University,' said Director of Athletics Jason Mulligan. 'Expanding our athletic programs provides unique opportunities for talented and motivated student-athletes, which is a priority for our university. This expansion aligns with our commitment of providing a comprehensive and well-rounded athletic experience, fostering teamwork, sportsmanship and achievement both in athletics and academics. We all look forward to welcoming our new track and field student-athletes and to supporting them in achieving success at their meets and in the classroom.'Current Rockford University head cross country coach Kevin Niles has been tabbed to lead the track and field programs as well. Coach Niles will be tasked with rebuilding and reestablishing the rich tradition of the RU track and field programs. Rockford had 30 All-NACC performers in a total of 15 events over the time that the Regents previously competed in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Additionally, the Regents had multiple individuals combine to win a total 16 NACC titles and one person qualified to compete at the NCAA Division III Championships.'I am honored to lead the return of Rockford University's track & field programs,' Head Coach Kevin Niles stated. 'We have already started recruiting and are looking for motivated young men and women who want to be a part of a team that will support them academically, personally and of course athletically. Track and field is a very diverse sport and will give student-athletes yet another reason to join the Rockford community. This will also bolster our cross country programs by giving those student-athletes more opportunities to develop and compete throughout the entire academic year.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
