Today's update: First-Gen Day!

Nov. 3, 2021

First-generation students, Nov. 8 is your day

It's National First-Generation College Student Day on Monday, and we want to celebrate YOU!

Your passion and determination to be the first generation of college graduates in your family is inspiring.

Please stop by one, two or all of the events below as we celebrate you:

Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Banner Signing in the Brew. Sign the 4 X 12-foot banner that will be displayed on Nov. 8 to share our celebration with the Quad-City community.

Monday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Stickers in the Brew. Pick up an Augie1Gen Rising Scholars sticker. Come early while supplies last!

Monday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., TRIO open house, Olin 308. Learn about TRIO Student Support Services. Prize drawings and giveaways.

Monday, Nov. 8, 2-4 p.m. reception in the Gerber Center's You Belong Lounge. President Steve Bahls will speak briefly at 2 p.m., and then we'll cut the cake! Come by when you can for cake, photos and an Augie1Gen Rising Scholars T-shirt.

Today's updates:

• Here are three opportunities for students interested in learning or working in the entertainment industry. One of these — the United Talent Agency's Industry Speaker Series — begins at 6 p.m. today via Zoom.

• Our second GIS Day is coming up Nov. 13. Talks and workshops will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in person at the Hanson Geospatial Lab and via Google Meet. The day will start with information about GIS and careers.

• A limited number of seats still is available for the Sunday performance of Christmas at Augustana Dec. 5. (If you can't go in person, see Augustana.edu for a livestream of the Dec. 4 performance.

 The Falling for Augie photo contest deadline has been extended to Nov. 8. (The trees were lagging this year.)

 Geography's Dr. Chris Strunk and Julie Eisenband have established the Quad Cities Scholarship for Immigrants and Refugees through the Quad Cities Community Foundation, funded by an inheritance from his grandfather. 

 Just about everyone on the women's cross country team set a personal best at the CCIW Championships last Saturday.

Make a plan!

The sixth annual Augustana College Business Plan Competition is open to all students (or teams).

Present your idea to a panel of business pros. The first-place award is $4,500; second place $3,000, third place $1,500; and $500 each to the remaining two finalists.

Simply put, business plans identify a problem and propose a solution in the form of a product or service. There is no lack of problems out there, so get started!

Deadline is noon Dec. 20.

Augie experts in the spotlight

Dr. Kirsten Day will present the Tea Talk "Reclaiming Classics: Classical Allusions and Racial Equity in HBO’s 'Watchmen' and 'Lovecraft Country'" today at 4:15 p.m. (Virtual)

Dr. Jane Simonsen will offer "Standing (on) Her Ground: Native American Women & Land Claims in Eastern Iowa" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. (In person and virtual)

Dr. Tierney Brosius will discuss her insect-themed art and textiles, now on display at the Tredway Library, at 10 a.m. Friday. (In person)

Lucas Street of the Reading/Writing Center will discuss "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson in the Frieze Lecture Series Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Rock Island Library. (In person)

Dr. Matthew Fockler will share his project, "Two Mississippi," a historical and geographic investigation of the Upper Mississippi River, at noon Nov. 10. (Virtual