Dr. Papadakis will present awards to this year’s President's Award recipients during an evening of food and fun on Wednesday, October 15, at 5:30 p.m. under a tent at Korman Quad. Bus transportation will be provided from the Hahnemann and Queen Lane campuses.

The President's Award is the most prestigious honor presented to Drexel employees. These awards acknowledge the important work of our talented and innovative staff in helping us achieve the mission and goals of Drexel University and the Drexel University College of Medicine. Mary Caraccioli, host of CN8's "Money Matters Today," will be the MC and Drexel trustee Renee Amoore, founder and president of The Amoore Group, and author of "The Elevator of Achievement," will be the keynote speaker.

The Great Works Symposium will present a lecture,"The Keys to the White House: A Surefire Guide to Predicting the Next President," today, October, 9, 2008, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in room 108, Disque Hall (32nd Street between Market and Chestnut Streets).

Allan Lichtman, a professor from American University, will present his model, which analyzes the13 keys that have determined the winner of every Presidential election going back to 1860. He will also discuss the conditions that have already predicted the winner of this year’s election. Dr. Lichtman has provided commentary for all the major U.S. broadcasting networks and cable companies, the Voice of America and many foreign broadcast companies. He worked with Dan Rather as a CBS consultant during the impeachment of President Clinton, served as the 2004 election-night analyst for BBC Worldwide and political analyst for CNN Headline News.

The Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology will present a departmental seminar led by Dr. Susan Kilham today, October 9, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. in room 113, Stratton Hall (32nd and Chestnut Streets).

Dr. Kilham, professor of Bioscience and Biotechnology, will present her research "The Impacts of Frog Extinctions on Ecosystem Processes in Neotropical Streams of Panama."

Complimentary refreshments will be served.

For more information, call the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology at 215-895-2624.

Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority will host the first "Inc eXpresso informational meeting today, October 9, 2008 ,at 7 p.m. in Conference Room B, Greenawalt Development Center, lower level of Creese Student Center (33rd and Chestnut Streets).

Chi Upsilon Sigma is a sorority committed to multiculturalism and strives to bring education to students from a variety of cultures as well as contribute to philanthropies and work with surrounding communities.

The Division of Student Life and Administrative Services, and the Office of Government and Community Relations will host a dedication ceremony for the Drexel Community Park with President Papdakis and Honorable Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell on Friday, October 17, 2008.

There will be a barbeque with the Powelton Village community, which begins at 4 p.m. The dedication ceremony and a symbolic tree planting will begin at 5:30 p.m.  

The former industrial site was redeveloped into open green space to serve as a recreational park for the University and Powelton Village communities. Construction on the 2.5 acre, $500,000 project began in fall 2007. The community park includes walking paths, lighting and more than 45 trees. 

The Department of Student Life and Administrative Services invites students, faculty and staff to join “Team Drexel” in the fight against lung cancer.

The Free to Breathe® 5K Run/Walk benefits the National Lung Cancer Partnership. The run/walk will be held Sunday, November 2, 2008, from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row (Kelly Drive).

The Office of Commuter, Graduate and Transfer Student Programs and Services will host "Health and You," a time and stress management workshop today, October 9, 2008, from 11 a.m. to noon in Conference Room D, Greenawalt Student Development Center, lower level of Creese Student Center (33rd and Chestnut Streets).

Students who would like help dealing with the pressures of classes, homework, and commuting can learn how to better manage time and handle stress from experts from the Office of Counseling and Health. 

Complimentary lunch will be provided.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering will Host Dr. Bikramjit Basu, associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, in a seminar today, October, 9, 2008,  at 10 a.m. in room 331, Lebow Engineering Center (31st and Market Streets).

Students, faculty and staff are invited to hear Dr. Basu’s talk “Densification-Microstructure-Property Relationship of WC-ZrO2."

Complimentary refreshments will be served in the lounge at the Lebow Engineering Center.

Transer Student Programs and Services will present a workshop on cultural competency Thursday October, 9, 2008, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in room 2020, MacAlister Hall (33rd and Chestnut Streets).

Students are invited to come and find out if they are culturally competent. Culturally competent people can: identify, question and cross social boundaries that separate them from others; build inclusive and welcoming environments; and respect others for their unique differences and contributions to our communities.

Lysa Monique Jenkins, commuter assistant and expert on multicultural competence, will present a workshop, "Pride and Prejudice-Part 1,"  designed to improve interpersonal and leadership skills that will help students raise their cultural IQ.  CEO credits are available for this workshop.

Complimentary pizza will be provided.

All students are invited to audition for the inaugural season of the Director’s Lab theater production of five short comedies from All in the Timing by playwright David Ives on Thursday, October 9, 2008, at 7 p.m. at the Main Auditorium (32nd and Chestnut Streets) and Sunday, October 12, 2008, at 6 p.m. at Mandell Theater (33rd and Chestnut Streets).

One of the plays,The Philadelphia, is about a man who thinks he is just having a bad day, only to be told that he has fallen into a metaphysical hole called Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, everything goes wrong: the taxis don't take you where you want to go, and no matter what you order at a restaurant, you'll only get a cheesesteak.  All in the Timing will be staged at the end of fall term. 

Students interested in auditioning may pick up a copy of the script at the Performing Arts office, room 2018, MacAlister Hall (33rd and Chestnut Streets). 

Underclassmen who would like to represent their class on the American Medical Student Association e-board are invited to apply. The board  has two open positions. Students must be in their first or second year and national members to apply.

Students who are interested in international culture, international studies, international co-op or learning a foreign language are invited to join the Conversation Network.

The Conversation Network provides a unique opportunity for language and cultural exchange, and a forum for students to meet and interact with English Language Center (ELC) students. ELC students come from all over the world, including South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Native English speakers can help ELC students practice English, while ELC students help English speakers learn a foreign language. The exchange may also focus on culture and other related areas.

Students who join our member list will be matched with partners whose interests match their own, or members can chose their own partners and arrange meeting times as well as other forms of interaction independently. 

For more information or to join the network, visit  www.drexel.edu/elc. Scroll down to "Activities" and click on Conversation Network.

The Department of Athletics announced the seventh annual “Have A Heart” Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Blood Challenge, which will take place on Thursday, October 30, 2008. The American Red Cross will collect blood donations on the University City Main Campus and Center City Hahnemann Campuses.

University City Main Campus Donation Locations

• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Behrakis Grand Hall (32nd and Chestnut Streets)
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ,Earle Mack School of Law (3320 Market Street)
• 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ,Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) Fraternity (3421 Powelton Avenue)
• 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ,Van Rensselaer Hall (3320 Powelton Avenue)
• 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ,Myers Hall (3301 Race Street)

Center City Hahnemann Campus Donation Location

• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Stiles Hall Lounge (325 N. 15th Street)

Help save a life and show your school spirit at the same time by donating blood. Go Dragons!

Dr. Shawkat M Hammoudeh, professor of economics and international business, published a commentary about the U.S. government’s $700 billion bailout plan in the Middle East Economic Survey Oct. 6, 2008.

Diana Dougherty and Michelle Preiston, juniors majoring in fashion design, were quoted in an article about designing nursing home rooms in the Daily Local News Oct. 8, 2008.