E-News - October 4, 2019

Celebrating 25 years of outstanding athletes
On September 13, Coe marked the 25th anniversary of the Barron Bremner Outstanding Athlete Award with a special ceremony. The event was emceed by Trustee Curt Menefee ’87 and brought many past award recipients back to campus. Check out the video for highlights, and read about this year’s award winners here.

Students network with employers and alumni at C3 Fall Internship & Career Fair
C3: Creativity, Careers, Community hosted the Fall Internship & Career Fair in the Eby gym on October 1. Over 50 area employers and more than a dozen alumni were on hand to make connections with current Kohawks.
The fair allowed employers to meet prospective employees and see what Coe students have to offer. Some of the organizations in attendance included Aerotek, the City of Cedar Rapids, TrueNorth Companies, Mercy Medical Center and Tanager Place. The fair also gave students a chance to refine their networking skills and hear firsthand what it is like to work for area organizations. “The employees I talked to gave a lot of info about their companies and why they like working there, as well as how to learn more about them,” said chemistry and biochemistry major Rachel Rethwisch ’20.
A new addition at the fair this year was the Ask an Alum feature. Local alumni mingled with current students to answer questions and offer advice about life after Coe. Mike Coulter ’10, an account executive at Palmer Group, took part in the feature because he enjoys spending time with current Kohawks. “When I was a student, I worked at the Alumni Office over a summer and saw firsthand how passionate the alums were in giving their time and support to students," he said. "I love this part of Iowa, and want college students and young professionals to love it as well. There are so many opportunities if you stay dialed in and look for them. Plus Kohawks are always the best and brightest!”
Coe professors also got the chance to network at the fair in the new Faculty Meet & Greet feature. Over 20 faculty members talked one-on-one with employers to highlight the work they’re doing with students in and out of the classroom. Employers were able to share information about their hiring trends and learn how Coe students are prepared to excel in the workforce.

Coe College continues to set enrollment records
Over the past seven years, Coe has welcomed the college's largest classes in its 168-year history.
On August 17, new Kohawks arrived from 260 cities, 23 states and 9 countries across the world. Over half of Coe’s incoming first-year students are from outside the state and the Class of 2023 is one of the most diverse and academically talented classes in Coe’s history.
The last few years have proved to be a highly competitive market in higher education. Coe is bucking the trend by providing academic excellence at an affordable price. The school's superior academics continue to attract high school graduates ranking at the top of their class. And ninety-nine percent of all Coe students receive financial aid, more often than not, making it more affordable than a state school.
Coe College ranks as the best school for internships in Iowa and number 15 nationally out of more than 4,000 colleges and universities. “I completed an internship with St. Luke’s Teaching Interventions to Empower and Strengthen Families (TIES) Program where I was able to see the psychological concepts I’ve learned in the classroom applied to real-life situations,” said psychology major Grady Rudsell ’21. “This internship helped me advance my professional skillset and gave me a better sense of what I am capable of.”
“The current market for higher education is challenging but our academics and hands-on learning experiences are unequaled,” said Vice President for Enrollment Julie Staker. “Coe’s network of alumni as well as business and community partners provide the opportunity for our students to gain early access in areas of interest through observations, internships or research opportunities. These early experiences allow students to find out what they truly are passionate about.”

Coe College, NewBoCo partner to establish on-campus Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Approximately 70% of Generation Z has the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ or dream of owning their own business. This new partnership between Coe and NewBoCo creates an on-campus Entrepreneur-in-Residence position. NewBoCo Chief Relationship Officer David Tominsky '98 will lead the entrepreneurial way for Kohawks.
To kick off the new partnership, Tominsky will lead two entrepreneurial thinking sessions for Kohawks titled ‘Entrepreneurship 101’. The sessions will cover the basics of getting started with a business model as well as the steps people take to identify customers, generate revenue and deliver value as they launch new business ideas.
The next event will be the second-annual Kohawk Startup, a 24-hour entrepreneurship and innovation event, where Kohawks work in teams to turn an idea into action and build a business around the idea. Cash prizes of up to $10,000 will be awarded to the winning teams.
“Our goal is to infuse entrepreneurship into the Coe experience,” Tominsky said. “In addition to Kohawk Startup, we'll be hosting sessions throughout the school year to help students learn about idea generation, business modeling and what it means to find product-market fit. We'll also have a dedicated space on campus for one-on-one entrepreneurial coaching.”
Coe and NewBoCo are working together to provide Kohawks the tools to turn ideas into reality. “Knowing what it takes to create a business and how to find the resources to scale that business are a few of the goals we have,” Tominsky said. “Whether a student starts their own business or simply learns what it takes to do so, we believe Kohawks will be more prepared for life after graduation.”
The Coe C3: Creativity, Careers, Community center, a catalyst for Coe’s designation as the #15 school in the nation for internships, will work in collaboration with NewBoCo to identify additional ways to enhance entrepreneurial opportunities through internships and off-campus experiences.
The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) is a 501(c)(3) organization located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. NewBoCo’s programming supports entrepreneurship, innovation, and tech education to help Iowans become more resilient and thrive in a changing economy.

Coe College presents a performance artist, musical and plenty of drama in the 2019-20 theatre lineup
This year’s theatrical season explores LGBTQ community issues and offers humor, drama and love while conducting an exploration of humanity.
Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for non-Coe students 18 and younger and seniors 55 and older. Visit www.coe.edu/box-office to purchase tickets. Coe College students, faculty and staff attend for free.
Unless otherwise noted, all productions are presented in Dows Theatre on the Coe campus. Performances begin at 7:30 PM, except for Sunday performances, which start at 2 PM. This year's productions include:
- “Sheltered” — Nov. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9, book and lyrics by Roxanne N. Rodriguez, music by Sarah C. Butts-Manzo, directed by Dr. Deanna Downes with music direction by Dr. Marc Falk.
In the Iowa premiere of this new musical, three college students stumble upon a community of homeless persons in an abandoned church. Following their discovery, the threat of eviction looms, while all characters try to resolve the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
- “Stones in His Pockets” — Feb. 7, 8, 9, 13, 14 and 15, written by Marie Jones, directed by Dr. Deanna Downes by arrangement with Nick Hern Books and performed in Mills Theatre.
Behind-the-scenes drama takes center stage when a Hollywood film crew invades a small rural Irish village and casts locals as extras. The audience is in for a wild ride while two actors play 15 roles in this fast-paced acting challenge.
- Student One-Act Play Showcase — Feb. 9, 10, 11, 12
A showcase of student-directed one-act plays including Anton Chekov’s “The Bear” directed by Bridget Atkinson-Moore ’20, Maria Irene Fornes’ “Springtime” directed by Carmen Chavez ’21 and Barbara Wiechmann’s “Feeding the Moonfish” directed by McKayla Sturtz ’20. All three plays ultimately show how love prevails in difficult situations.
- “Trevor” — April 17, 18, 19, 23, 24 and 25, written by Nick Jones and directed by Dr. Dennis Barnett.
Based on a true story, this witty comedy portrays a 200-pound chimpanzee as an out-of-work actor waiting around for his next gig. Details about relationships and our ability to lie to ourselves are woven through this comedic and heartfelt play.

Don’t miss out on Homecoming 2019: Game On!
Homecoming is just a few short weeks away, and we hope to see lots of Kohawks back on campus! Check out the complete schedule of events and register by October 16 at www.alumni.coe.edu/homecoming19.
Upcoming Alumni Events
October 24–27 — Homecoming 2019 — It's game on! Join Kohawks on campus at this year’s Homecoming and relive some of the best years from the past! Don’t miss out on celebrating reunions, seeing campus updates and reconnecting with classmates, faculty and friends. Enjoy signature events such as the Homecoming Showcase Concert, All-Alumni Celebration, Brat ’n’ Beverage and of course — the football game!
October 27 — Bike Lehn IV — Bike from Chrome Horse Saloon NewBo to Ely and back on the Cedar River and Hoover trails (20 miles round trip) or run/walk the NewBo and downtown area while enjoying food and drink specials to celebrate the memory of our friend and Coe colleague Dan Lehn.
The Alumni Office and C3: Creativity, Careers and Community are excited to continue providing opportunities for local alumni to meet current Kohawks. C3 emphasizes the connections between Coe and the corridor, and we are excited to grow the alumni-student network in a fun way. We are asking Coe alumni to join us in helping prepare current Kohawks for life after college and the careers that await them. There are a variety of opportunities coming up this fall, so click here to see them all and sign up!
Upcoming Events

Last Day to Change Method of Grading &/Or Withdraw from 1st Half-Term Courses
Thursday, February 13, 2025 - Friday, February 13, 2026
8:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Coe Campus
Academic Affairs
Free
Last Day to Change Method of Grading &/Or Withdraw from 1st Half-Term Courses

Artist Exhibitions: Ali Hval + Julia J. Wolfe
Monday, February 17, 2025
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sinclair Auditorium
Art & Art History
Free
Ali Hval, mural and sculpture Julia J. Wolfe, painting, sculpture, and bookmaking

Artist Exhibitions: Ali Hval + Julia J. Wolfe
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sinclair Auditorium
Art & Art History
Free
Ali Hval, mural and sculpture Julia J. Wolfe, painting, sculpture, and bookmaking