JEWELL WELCOMES STUDENTS, HONORS CIVIC LEADERS AT OPENING CONVOCATION CEREMONIES SEPTEMBER 11

Civic leaders were honored for public service at Opening Convocation ceremonies marking the beginning of a new school year September 11 in John Gano Memorial Chapel on the William Jewell College campus. This year’s recipients of the William F. Yates Trustee Medallion for Distinguished Service were: Peggy J. Dunn, Mayor of Leawood, Kansas; Barney A. Karbank, Real Estate Developer; Reverand Robert H. Meneilly, Sr., Religious Leader and Social Activist; Jeannette Terrell Nichols, Patron of the Arts; George W.“Dub” Steincross, Volunteer Leader. Addressing students and guests at Opening Convocation ceremonies was Kansas City Councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem Alvin Brooks.

PRINCETON REVIEW NAMES WILLIAM JEWELL STUDENTS AMONG NATION’S HAPPIEST

The 2004 edition of The Princeton Review’s annual guidebook “The Best 351 Colleges” has ranked William Jewell College in the number 4 slot in its “Happy Students” category. There are more than 3,500 institutions of higher education in the U.S. William Jewell also scored among the top 20 in several other categories, including capturing the number one spot in “Town-Gown Relations,” which indicates how well the College is integrated into the surrounding community. The college received national recognition during a “Today” show feature on the Princeton rankings. The rankings are based on interviews with more than 100,000 U.S. college students who are asked to rank colleges in more than 60 categories, including academics, political leaning, quality of life, cafeteria food, dormitories, social life and extracurricular activities. “We are gratified that Princeton Review has confirmed what those of us on campus already knew: Missouri; the other two are St. Louis University and Truman State. Illinois is represented by Illinois Wesleyan,Augustana, Lake Forest, Knox and Wheaton, while Iowa schools included in the book are Grinnell,Coe, Luther, Cornell and Drake.A website is also being developed that will complement the guidebook. WILLIAM JEWELL PROGRESSES IN TORNADO RECOVERY William Jewell College has made significant progress in recovering from the massive tornado system that swept through the Kansas City area May 4, inflicting serious damage to the historic campus. “We have made enormous progress,” said President David Sallee. “There is no doubt that the College will emerge even stronger as we work with the community to meet this challenge.”

Damage estimates to College structures and facilities from the May 4 tornado strike has been estimated at approximately $8 million.Thanks to advance warning and established emergency response procedures, no injuries were sustained by students, faculty or staff.

More than $50,000 in general merchandise purchasing cards, rent subsidies, utility subsidies and furniture purchasing credits has been distributed to displaced residents of the Regent’s Quad married student housing complex, according to College Chaplain Andy Pratt, whose office coordinated relief efforts. Regent’s Quad was among the hardest hit areas of the Jewell campus.The three-building complex has been demolished, and designs for a new complex are in the preliminary phase. Most of the residents were relocated to a Liberty apartment complex following the storm.

Melrose Hall, the women’s residence hall that was also extensively damaged in the storm, will undergo a complete renovation and will remain closed throughout the 2003-04 school year.

“As we move forward, we are doing so with a vision that embraces not the needs of the past, but rather a vision that can meet the expectations and requirements of the 21st century,”Dr. Sallee said.“Our obligation is to ensure that the buildings and equipment damaged or destroyed by the tornado will be replaced with state-of-the-art facilities that will attract and serve well our future students and faculty.” that Jewell provides a supportive environment in which to pursue a superior liberal arts education,” said President David Sallee. Other Jewell placements included:

#9,“Don’t Inhale,” under Parties
#14,“Great College Radio Station,” under Extracurriculars
#12,“Future Rotarians and Daughters of the American Revolution,” under School Type
#19,“Students Pray on a Regular Basis,”under Demographics

William Jewell is among the country’s top public and private colleges and universities chosen through a competitive review process for inclusion in Princeton Review’s annual guide to “The Best 351 Colleges.”

For a link to The Princeton Review’s rankings of William Jewell and other top colleges, go to http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/profile s/rankings.asp?listing=1022612&LTID=1

JEWELL SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN COLLEGES OF DISTINCTION GUIDEBOOK

William Jewell College has been selected for inclusion in a new admissions guidebook, Colleges of Distinction. The book will profile approximately 150 colleges (out of more than 3,500 institutions of higher learning) throughout the United States that excel in engaging students, offering great teaching, providing a vibrant campus community and resulting in successful outcomes for their students (30-40 schools each in the northeast, midwest, south and west).

Criteria for inclusion in the guidebook were developed by college admissions deans and directors and by high school counselors.These counselors were also responsible for selecting the various colleges for inclusion in the guidebook. The front of the book will have chapters written about each of the four areas of distinction and why these distinctions are critical to the college experience—engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes.These sections will be written by admissions professionals, faculty, deans and several college presidents.

Each school will have a four-page profile in the guidebook, consisting of an introductory page of fast facts on the college, a two-page critique of the school based on a campus visit by guidebook staff and subsequent interviews, and a final page of quotes about the college from high school counselors who are familiar with the school.Publication will be in early spring of 2004.