College preview program announced
The Office of Admissions and Records will host a College Preview Program from 7 to 8 p.m. May 8 in the Levis Faculty Center Reading Room. The program's goal is to assist faculty and staff members with children who are currently high school freshmen, sophomores or juniors. The program will offer guidance to families going through the college-selection process. Information will not be specific to UI. Topics will include how to select an institution best suited for each student, how families can prepare for the college experience and what parents need to know about financial aid. Reservations are requested and may be made by calling the Campus Visitors Center at 333-0824 or by e-mailing Angie Dimit at m-dimit@illinois.edu.
Second Sunday features soprano
Soprano Brenda Rucker will perform at WILL's Second Sunday Concert at 2 p.m. May 11 at the Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion. The free concert will feature songs by Gabriel Faure, Richard Strauss and Aaron Copland, along with the aria "Steal Me Sweet Thief" from the opera "Old Maid and the Thief," by Giancarlo Menotti. The concert also will be broadcast live on WILL-FM (90.9) with host John Frayne. Rucker has a master's degree in music from the University of Louisville and an artist diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She will be accompanied by pianists Thomas Schleis and Julie Gunn. Second Sunday concerts are part of WILL-FM's Prairie Performance series.
WILL-TV's fund drive falls short of goal
WILL-Channel 12's 18-day March Festival fund drive raised $162,218 and brought in more than 900 new members. In addition, the pledge drive resulted in the donation of 800 cans of food and 500 pounds of chicken to area food banks.
County Market Stores of Champaign-Urbana donated a can of food to regional food banks for every credit card pledge during the drive. In addition, Grand Prairie Families and Farms donated 5 pounds of chicken for each of the first 100 credit-card pledges made on March 15 and 16.
The "Riverdance" performance brought in the most pledge dollars, raising $18,741 during its broadcast on St. Patrick's Day and on the drive's final night. Two broadcasts of Lawrence Welk brought in the second highest total, $12,445.
The fund-raising drive fell short of the $200,000 goal, according to station manager Ellis Bromberg. "We're disappointed that we didn't meet the goal. Now our efforts will be geared to making up the gap before the end of the fiscal year, June 30," he said.
The station will have an end-of-the-year on-air fund drive May 29 through June 1, providing viewers with another opportunity to pledge and the station with a final opportunity to raise funds for next year's programs.
Conference: Future of South Asia
"The Future of South Asia: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka" is the title of a conference that will examine the developments occurring on the Asian subcontinent. The conference, scheduled for June 24 and 25 at the Levis Faculty Center, will offer a variety of sessions focusing on the developments occurring within this region and the challenges it will face. Sessions will concentrate on topics such as South Asian economy, politics and cultural diversity. The conference is open to the public. Registration is required. To obtain a registration form, call the Office of Continuing Education in International Affairs, 333-1465.
Locally produced program on composer
WILL-FM's Vic Di Geronimo has produced a program on internationally renowned composer and music educator Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. The program, "A Child to the Max: Stories and Music From Sir Peter Maxwell Davies," airs on WILL-FM (90.9) at 7 p.m. May 9 and 11 a.m. May 18; on WILL-AM (580) at 2 p.m. May 26; and will be distributed nationally later this summer. The program showcases Davies' gift for storytelling, as well as his music, much of which is written for children to perform. Davies talks about his childhood, describes his life in the Orkney Islands on the northern coast of Scotland, and tells the stories behind some of his best known works, including "An Orkney Wedding With Sunrise" and "Farewell to Stromness." Di Geronimo talked with Davies during his 1995 visit to Champaign-Urbana to conduct the BBC Philharmonic at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
Course explores the 'Allerton Legacy'
An eight-session course, designed to develop more awareness and appreciation for the Allerton legacy," will be held Thursday evenings May 22 through July 17 at Robert Allerton Park.
The course, "Allerton Experience Retrospective on 'The Allerton Legacy,' " will cover the Illinois' Grand Prairie region and how Piatt County became so attractive to pioneer settlers; the arrival of Samuel Allerton in 1855 and his farm purchases beginning in 1863; Robert Allerton following in his father's footsteps beginning in 1897; and Robert Allerton's homestead (now called Robert Allerton Conference Center), garden/woodland property (now called Robert Allerton Park) and 18 Piatt County production farms.
The sessions on house, garden and farm include a guided tour. An optional
overnight at Allerton House (for an additional fee) is being considered,
contingent upon sufficient interest by participants. The course will be
from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 22 and 29, June 5, 12, 19 and 26, and July 10
and 17 at the Allerton Park Information Center. The $79 fee includes materials.
The course is limited to 30 individuals. For more information, call 333-3061.
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