People across campus look forward to the Pottery Club’s sale at the end of the fall and spring semesters. This semester’s sale continues Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the lobby of Heuser Art Center. Again, the students have created a beautiful variety of mugs, bowls, vases, pitchers, and more. Not only are they pieces of art, but they are useful. Just my cup of tea!

This afternoon, Sarah Rebholz of St. Louis and Beth Fruehan of Mundelein, both seniors majoring in ceramics, were on hand to sell the pieces. Sarah says she has been doing a lot of primitive firing, done at lower temperatures than typical kiln firing. Beth enjoys hand-building ceramics, as opposed to using a wheel. She explained the process, which involves adding coils.

The Pottery Club sale is a great way to support our fine student artists and the club itself. Sixty percent of the sales goes to the artists, and 40 percent goes to the Pottery Club. Money raised by the club goes toward the purchase of new equipment for the studio and to bring in visiting artists. In addition, this year, the club is raising funds to send students to a national ceramics conference in Arizona next April.

Come shop for your family and friends or for yourself. You’re sure to find beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces that will be useful pieces of art for years to come.

The patter of children’s feet as well as their giggles echoed across campus today as 400 students from St. Mark and Whittier elementary schools visited the 2nd annual pediatric nursing health fair.

It was so heartwarming to see 73 of our junior-level nursing students help the children learn about so many different things at the event, which was held in the Michel Student Center ballroom. Each child looked so excited whether they were jumping around while learning about the importance of exercise, singing the Emergency 911 song loudly, learning about proper handwashing techniques, or discovering pet safety and care. Our nursing students also discussed nutrition, summer and winter safety, proper teeth cleaning techniques, stranger danger, fire safety, and helmet and seatbelt safety with the children from our neighboring schools.

Our students appeared excited, too, as they helped fit the students for the free helmets provided by the Children’s Hospital of Illinois. “I think it’s great,” said nursing student Cathy Babicz. She related that a lot of the children visiting the health fair said they either didn’t wear a helmet or that their helmet was broken. Participation at the fair was part of the BU students’ pediatric nursing grade for the semester.

The Peoria County Sheriff’s Department also distributed finger-printing kits at the fair and introduced the children to Clyde, their bloodhound.

Above: Emphasizing the importance of exercise, Bradley’s junior-level nursing students get some elementary school children moving at the 2nd annual pediatric nursing health fair.

Right: Erin Durbin ‘97, MA ‘05 of the Children’s Hospital of Illinois makes sure a student’s helmet fits correctly at the 2nd annual pediatric nursing health fair. The Children’s Hospital provided 400 free helmets to the school children attending the event.

A visit to Bradley by the President of the United States is a rare event.

Of course we hoped our newly elected President, William McKinley, could attend the dedication of Bradley Polytechnic. Back then, however, the President couldn’t just board Air Force One and jet across the country.

During the primary campaign of 1976, then-President Ford spoke to a packed Robertson Memorial Field House. The media attention the visit attracted to Peoria and Bradley was exciting.

In 2005, Senator Barack Obama, beginning his term as Illinois’ junior senator, came to campus to promote his idea to increase the dollar amount of Pell grants. He had just introduced a bill that he said was “designed to help make college more affordable.” He wasn’t even running for President then, but our students were enthusiastic about meeting him.

I remember seeing this tall, energetic man leaving the Wyckoff Room in the library, where he had just held a press conference. Students surrounded him, getting his autograph, taking his photo, and shaking his hand.

Remembering the students’ excitement that day, I am not surprised that young voters helped Barack Obama win this election. I am so glad we found these archived photos of the president-elect with our students and on our campus. I wish him well and hope that he continues to fight for students and for higher education.

And I hope that President Obama returns to the Hilltop soon.

I’m so proud that one of our esteemed alumnae, Jean Cravens Borland ’36, chose to celebrate her 94th birthday at the November 14 Bradley basketball game.

The Borland family gathered first at Kelleher’s for a birthday dinner, then filled 40 seats at the game. It was delightful to see Mrs. Borland’s four children, 10 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren celebrating—and cheering—with her. It’s heartwarming to see a family where Bradley is such a beloved part of their lives.

Mrs. Borland’s late husband, John, attended Bradley, and her daughter, Lynn Borland Guyon ’65, worked at Bradley for years. I’m also pleased that President Joanne Glasser joined in the festivities at halftime and gave Mrs. Borland a Bradley scarf. The day had a perfect ending when Bradley pulled out a victory over University of Illinois-Chicago.
I hope Mrs. Borland and her family are back next November to celebrate her 95th birthday!

From left: Members of the Bradley Basketball Band, freshmen Alexis Walich and Liz Tanner, both tuba players, and sophomore Sara Klinger, junior Patricia Blank, and senior Alison Bjorklund, baritone players, relax for a few minutes during halftime of the men’s basketball game Sunday.

Bradley basketball has been a Hilltop tradition for more than 100 years, and exhibition games are a fun way for our players to get some actual playing time as a team while the fans get a preview of the new group of players. It was fun to be back in Carver Arena yesterday to see both the men and women play exhibition games. Not only could fans watch the teams, but they enjoyed watching and listening to our Bradley Basketball Band, dance team, and cheerleaders. Of course, our loyal fans still stand and clap whenever the band plays the Bradley fight song, “Charge On, Bradley.”

Tip-off for our women’s team was at 1:05 p.m., and they soundly defeated Truman State, 85-35. The men’s game against the University of Wisconsin-Platteville followed, and our team was defeated by a score of 84-79. I look forward to an exciting Bradley basketball season, and I invite everyone to support all of our Bradley athletic teams.