E-News - April 9, 2024

Only two days left until Coe's Day of Giving

Coe College is celebrating a decade of generosity with the 10th annual Day of Giving on April 11, 2024, and the entire Kohawk community is invited to participate! Spread the word to your friends and networks by being a Digital Ambassador, be sure to check your email inboxes and social media that day and make your gift to support Coe. Alumni and friends in the Cedar Rapids area, you are also invited to attend a City Celebration during Happy Hour — learn more and sign up by checking out the Upcoming Events below.

Both fan favorites and new challenges will be happening this year to make your dollars go even further to support student success and the areas of greatest need at Coe. Make your gift early during the Early Bird challenge (going on now!), honor your sweetheart or bestie whom you met at Coe and battle against other class decades. Thank you to our generous challenge leaders for providing challenge dollars to increase the impact of each and every gift!

Help us complete the All In Ten challenge and reach our goal of 600 gifts for Day of Giving! Every gift, big or small, makes a difference. It is because of your support that we are able to make the Coe experience possible for current and future students.

Generosity looks good on you!

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C3 hosts successful networking and careers events for students of all years

Kohawks can always count on connecting with members of the Coe alumni network and exploring career opportunities during their time as students, thanks in part to the events put on by C3: Creativity, Careers, Community. March was a busy month, including both the Spring Break Externship trip and the much-anticipated Sip & Socialize networking event, revived for the first time since prior to COVID. 

During the three days of Spring Break Externship, students had the chance to go on company tours, participate in networking and gain insight into the daily world of companies in and around the Cedar Rapids area. These organizations covered a wide range of industries and included the Cedar Rapids Public Library, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, KRCG-TV9 news station, Tanager, Aerotek Actalent, the United States Courthouse for Northern District of Iowa and UnityPoint Health - St Luke's. The company visits included several Kohawk connections with Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance's Membership Growth Specialist Anne Laugen '91, Tanager's Director of Clinical Services Maggie Vickers Hartzler '08 and Aerotek Practice Lead Jade Lynch '18, as well as two evening alumni receptions. Sip & Socialize in late March welcomed over 60 students, faculty, staff and alumni into Clark Alumni House to help current students make connections and learn networking skills which they can then put into practice in the real world.

These events and the skills gained would not be possible without the participation of Coe alumni. These annual events will be happening again next spring, so keep a lookout to take part and continue to help future generations of Kohawks.

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Check out the Spring Courier

The most recent edition of the Courier is here! The online issue is available to read at any time. This issue contains an interview with Docs Kent Herron and Steve Feller, the 20th annual Contemporary Issues Forum speaker, stories of the Kohawk experience spanning from community service to the wilderness of Minnesota to public affairs on the East Coast and much more. The Courier is published three times a year and is one of the best sources for information for alumni, friends and parents of current students. The next issue of the Courier will be in summer 2024.

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Stock up on Kohawk spirit

The Kohawk Shop is the best place to find an ever-changing assortment of Coe apparel, gifts, decor and more, all year round. Shop online for the latest items and to take advantage of the many seasonal markdowns going on!

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Refer a Kohawk

You know what type of person will thrive as a Kohawk! So if you know someone in your life who could be a good fit at Coe... let us know!

You can recommend a student at www.coe.edu/recommend_a_student. We'll reach out and take it from there! We just need to know who to contact. And remember — children of alumni receive an annual $1,000 Legacy Award!

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Coe College Festival of Bands 

Coe College's annual Festival of Bands is celebrating the joys of the full band experience. This year’s festival will feature five concerts and nine bands with over 600 participating musicians. Traditionally held each year in April, Coe's Festival of Bands brings a major guest conductor to campus to assist in the celebration of the many facets of band music. 

On Saturday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Sinclair Auditorium, Carol Brittin Chambers will join the Coe College Concert Band as a guest conductor for several of her own works. Rose Bishop, Coe's outstanding flute professor, will join the band for the performance of a new flute concerto by composer Alan Theisen, who will be present as well.  

Ms. Chambers will also work with the Elementary Honor Bands, which will perform at 4:00 p.m. that day and with the Coe Junior and Senior Honor Bands, who will present their Festival concert on Sunday, April 14, at 4:00 p.m. Also featured during the Festival, on Thursday, April 11, at 7:00, will be a free concert by the Kirkwood Community College Concert Band, directed by Kelli Swehla, and the Coe College Jazz Band, directed by Dr. Steve Shanley. The New Horizons Band of Cedar Rapids, directed by Alan Lawrence, will perform on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. along with the Collins Concert Band, directed by Jim Jezek. Tickets for the Honor Band concerts will be available through the Coe College Box Office. No tickets are required for the free concerts by the Coe College, Kirkwood, Collins and New Horizons bands.

The Coe College Festival of Bands, under the administration of Dr. Carson, was established in 1994 and has featured a number of respected composers and conductors.

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Save the Date for Homecoming 2024

It's great to be a Kohawk! And there's no better time to celebrate than at Homecoming with fellow alumni. Homecoming 2024 will take place during September 26-28. The weekend will be filled with football, beloved traditions including the Brat 'n' Bev tent and, of course, getting together with alumni, faculty, staff and all those who love Coe. This year will especially celebrate the Class of 2014 for their 10th reunion; the Classes of 2003, 2004 and 2005 for their 20th cluster reunion; the Class of 1999 for their 25th reunion; the Class of 1984 for their 40th reunion; the Classes of 1978, 1979 and 1980 for their 45th cluster reunion; the Class of 1974 for their 50th reunion; a special reunion recognizing 50 years of International Club and more. Mark your calendars, tell your friends and keep an eye out for registration to open this summer! As you make your travel plans, remember that Coe holds several discounts with hotels in the Cedar Rapids area.

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Upcoming & Virtual Events

There are always ways for the Coe alumni community to be involved with Coe and events on campus. You can stream music events and athletic home games from wherever you are, and stay up-to-date on the Coe calendar to find other interesting and exciting events.

April 11: Day of Giving and Cedar Rapids City Celebration — Help Coe celebrate a decade of generosity through making a gift in support of the college or taking part in the Cedar Rapids City Celebration.

April 22: Alumni Gathering in the Greater Seattle Area — Join with Coe staff and other Kohawks in the greater Seattle area for a fun gathering to enjoy all things Coe. The event fee includes food and beverage, and be sure to RSVP before registration closes on April 17th.

April 23: Alumni Gathering in the Greater Portland Area — Join with Coe staff and other Kohawks in the greater Portland area for a fun gathering to enjoy all things Coe. The event fee includes food and beverage, and be sure to RSVP before registration closes on April 17th.

April 24: Alumni Gathering in the Greater San Francisco Area — Join with Coe staff and other Kohawks in the greater San Francisco area for a fun gathering to enjoy all things Coe. The event fee includes food and beverage, and be sure to RSVP before registration closes on April 17th.

April 25: Alumni Gathering in the Greater Las Vegas Area — Join with Coe staff and other Kohawks in the greater Las Vegas area for a fun gathering to enjoy all things Coe. This event is sponsored and hosted by Clete Meyer '62. The event fee includes food and beverage, and be sure to RSVP before registration closes on April 17th.

April 26: Alumni Gathering in the Greater Los Angeles Area — Join with Coe staff and other Kohawks in the greater Los Angeles area for a fun gathering to enjoy all things Coe. The event fee includes food and beverage, and be sure to RSVP before registration closes on April 17th.

April 27: Spring Choral Showcase — There are several ways to participate in this inaugural event hosted by Coe's music program. Any Coe alumni who were involved in a choral ensemble have the opportunity to participate to sing one song with our three choral groups (Concert Choir, Coe Sho Cho and A-Coe-Pella). The full evening includes dinner, a show and dessert — alumni can sign up to participate as a singer, an audience member, a dinner attendee or as a combination of all three.

May 5: Commencement — Celebrate and welcome the Class of 2024 to the alumni family! Learn more about all the events of graduation weekend.