Inside Iowa State

Dec. 09, 2005

ISU Week in Des Moines includes learning events, special deals and basketball games

by Linda Charles

Iowa State will host a week-long celebration in Des Moines that will culminate with the Mediacom Cyclone Capital Classic basketball doubleheader at the new Wells Fargo Arena.

"The invitation to the Capital Classic provided us an opportunity to showcase Iowa State through a celebration in Des Moines," said Tahira Hira, assistant to the president. "Our colleges and campus units took the lead, and together organized both an educational and entertaining week for the people in Des Moines."

The celebration will include many exciting events for holiday shoppers and fans traveling to the basketball games. Several businesses, including stores, hotels and restaurants, will offer special deals Dec. 11-17.

"The week also gives Des Moines leaders an opportunity to learn more about the university that is right next door to them," Hira added. "Iowa State prepares many of their future employees. And it has experts in many areas who can provide valuable insights to communities, businesses and families. Iowa State is almost in Des Moines' backyard, only 30 minutes apart. This proximity is a terrific selling point for both city and university."

The week will kick off Sunday at Jordan Creek Town Center, where shoppers can register to win basket-ball tickets and other prizes, see Cy, pick up promotional materials and sample a new Anderson Erickson Dairy product.

A Tuesday breakfast aimed at business leaders will feature a panel that will discuss "Life After Sarbanes-Oxley: Governing Iowa Businesses." The Sarbanes-Oxley act was passed in 2002 in the wake of scandals at Enron, WorldCom and other corpora-tions. It strengthened regulations for corporate governance, disclosure, reporting and accounting, and increased penalties for corporate misconduct.

Panel members will include alumni Ric Jurgens, president and CEO of Hy-Vee Inc.; Suku Radia, vice president of Meredith Corp; and Eric Crowell, president and CEO of Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital and Blank Children's Hospital. Cara Heiden, division president of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, will moderate.

Those seeking to advance their educations while staying close to home can find out about Iowa State distance learning Tuesday afternoon. Staff from ISU's Continuing Education and Communication Services will help individuals explore ways to advance their careers or prepare for career changes. Participants also can try distance learning techniques.

Members of the business community can catch up with colleagues and enjoy some snacks at "Business After Hours" Thursday evening. The informal event will be hosted by Allied Insurance and Iowa State.

Friday's Greater Des Moines Cyclone Club lunch will feature ISU head men's basketball coach Wayne Morgan and head women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly. Events continue in the afternoon with "Cyclones Stormin' the Court Avenue." The fun includes live bands, specials, prizes and appearances by the ISU Alumni Band and Cy.

Saturday begins in the afternoon with a Cyclone Spirit Rally, sponsored by the ISU Alumni Association and Iowa State's athletic department.

A Cyclone basketball doubleheader in Wells Fargo Arena begins at 4 p.m., when the Cyclone women's basketball team will take on Northern Iowa. At 7 p.m., the Cyclone men will face Ohio State.

Several events for alumni also will be held throughout the week. On Monday, Vet Med alumni are invited to the Blank Park Zoo to learn about advancing emergency care at the college.

On Wednesday, alumni who work in education are invited to the colleges of Human Sciences and Liberal Arts and Sciences' reception at the West Des Moines Public Schools Learning Resource Center. And the College of Engineering will hold an alumni holiday party on Thursday at the Science Center of Iowa.

"We always have a strong presence in Des Moines," Hira said, "but ISU Week will provide both learning opportunities and good fun. We hope it will bring the university and the Des Moines community even closer together."

ISU Week in Des Moines

Dec. 11-17

Free unless otherwise noted

Sunday, December 11

• 2-5 p.m., ISU Week Kick-Off, visit by Cy, promotional materials, prizes, food, Jordan Creek Town Center.

Monday, December 12

• 5:30-9 p.m., Alumni gathering, College of Veterinary Medicine, Blank Park Zoo Discovery Center, 7401 SW Ninth St., reservations: Pat Pendry, ppendy@iastate.edu, 4-0771.

Tuesday, December 13

• 7:30-9 a.m., Breakfast panel, "Life After Sarbanes-Oxley: Governing Iowa Business," $5, Hy-Vee Hall, 730 Third St., register: http://www.bus.iastate.edu/isuweek.
• 5:30-7 p.m., "Give Yourself Credit," learn about continuing education, Pappajohn Education Center, 1200 Grand Ave., more information: http://www.lifelearner.iastate.edu.

Wednesday, December 14

• 4-5:30 p.m., Alumni gathering, colleges of Human Sciences and Liberal Arts and Sciences, West Des Moines Public School Learning Resource Center, Community Room, 3550 Mills Civic Parkway.

Thursday, December 15

• 5-7 p.m., Business After Hours, informal gathering, $5 general public, Allied Insurance, 1100 Locust Ave.
• 6-9 p.m., Alumni gathering, College of Engineering, holiday party, Science Center of Iowa, 401 W. Martin Luther King Pkwy., register: http://wwweng.iastate.edu/alumni/events.

Friday, December 16

• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Lunch with ISU basketball coaches, Wayne Morgan and Bill Fennelly, $15 general public, Greater Des Moines Cyclone Club, Holiday Inn Downtown, 1050 Sixth Ave.
• 5 p.m.-1 a.m., Cyclones Stormin' Court Avenue, live bands, specials (6-8 p.m., Cy and ISU Alumni Band, Spaghetti Works), see http://www. dmcyclub.com for listing of all activities, Court Avenue.

Saturday, December 17

• 1-3:30 p.m., Cyclone Spirit Rally (2:30 p.m. program), Exhibit Hall C, Hy-Vee Hall, 730 Third St.
• 4 and 7 p.m., Cyclone Capital Classic, ISU women's basketball vs. Northern Iowa (4 p.m.) and ISU men's basketball vs. Ohio State (7 p.m.), Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St., $20 and $35 (tickets: http://www.dahlstickets.com).

Photos

Check out the photos from ISU Week in Des Moines.

"We always have a strong presence in Des Moines, but ISU Week will provide both learning opportunities and good fun. We hope it will bring the university and the Des Moines community even closer together.

Tahira Hira, assistant to the president