Blair and Dana College will have the opportunity to partner together at a Service Fair on the Dana campus on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 21, from 1-4 p.m. in the Cooperman Atrium of the Gardner-Hawks Center.

Several area community organizations, including the YMCA, the Youth Emergency Shelter, the Goldenrod Hills Community Action Agency, the Crisis Center and others, will be available to let Blair residents know how they can join together to continue to improve our community. Other campus events correlating with MLK Day are also being planned. -MORE-

CAB Sponsored YMCA Fitness Challenge! - January 9-30, 2008
Get in shape for Spring Break by competing in the Dana College CAB Fitness Challenge throughout the month of January. All you need to do is log in the hours that you worked out (circuit machines, playing ball, swimming, aerobics, etc. No hot tub hours!) each day you’re at the Y. Ask for the log book at the front counter to sign up. Questions? Contact Brandi.

John Lyden’s article “Theology and Film: Interreligious Dialogue and Theology” was published in Robert Johnston, ed., Reframing Theology and Film: New Focus for an Emerging Discipline (Baker, 2007). Dr. Lyden was also recently interviewed for John Morehead’s blog on Religion and Film which can be found at
http://johnwmorehead.blogspot.com/2007/12/john-lyden-film-as-religion-myths.html

Angela Archer is the new Service Learning Coordinator-VISTA volunteer. She graduated from Rollins College (FL) with a degree in psychology. She committed to volunteering for a year with VISTA as a way to show her appreciation for the kindness, compassion and generosity that was shown to her and the program she worked with in New Orleans. She is very excited about her opportunity to help build service learning here at Dana College and hopes that together we can “be the change.”

Pam Muell-Talbot is the new Dana College campus nurse.She has been a registered nurse since 1980 and received her BSN at the University of Nebraska College of Nursing. You may contact her, ill or well, in Mickelsen Hall first floor or call 426-7320 ( If you leave a message, she will get back to you the same day). Office hours during Discovery Term are 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Several in Washington County enjoyed a brighter holiday this season because of the efforts of Dana College employees and students.

Dana College employees donate $5 or more on the last Friday of each month to participate in “Denim at Dana.” Employees can wear jeans and Dana apparel in exchange for their charitable donation. A different cause is chosen by Dana’s Staff Council each month.

In the month of November, $250 was raised for Blair’s Head Start program. The Denim at Dana collection of $150 was added to by the new Dana College chapter of M.O.P.S. (Mothers of PreSchoolers) which meets on campus each month. Eighteen boys and girls of Blair’s Head Start program received Christmas gifts in the form of coloring books, activity cases, Play Doh, socks, underwear and gloves.

In October, Denim at Dana funds were added to other fundraising efforts of the student-led Social Awareness Organization and matched by Dana’s Student Senate to create 21 Thanksgiving baskets for local families.

Other recent Denim at Dana charities have included Habitat for Humanity in Blair, Blair Special Olympics, the Washington County Food Pantry, the Blair Crisis Center, the victims of the Von Maur shooting and sending school supplies to Iraq.

Dana’s students are also active in charitable efforts. In November the History Club conducted a successful food and clothing drive and donated all the items to Joseph's Coat in Blair.

In December, the Morton Scholars raised money and donated it to the Von Maur Victims Fund.

Students also had a chance to pay their campus parking fines with donations to the local food pantry. A little over $700 in parking fines was paid with donations and several students donated extra items. Eighty-six boxes of pancake mix, 51 bottles of pancake syrup and 44 boxes of oatmeal were delivered to the Washington County Food Pantry from this drive.

Chanticleer Theatre presents "Jerry's Girls," directed by Dwayne Ibsen, Jan. 11-27. With music direction by Jerry Gray, the show features Dana Associate Professor of Music Peggy Holloway, Rachel (Lynch '01) Holmes, Denise Putman and Jan Rowley. "Jerry’s Girls" is a cabaret production featuring the music of Jerry Herman, one of the most successful Broadway composers. "Hello Dolly," "Mame," "Milk and Honey" and "La Cage Aux Folles" are some of his more famous shows. Production runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15/adults, $12/seniors and $7/children/students. For more information and reservations, call the box office at (712) 323-9955 or e-mail manager@chanticleertheater.com.

Every February, a group of medical personnel travel to Nicaragua to run a clinic. Thousands come to take advantage of their services, however the need is often times too overwhelming to meet. How can YOU help?
By bringing in Prescription bottles…those little plastic, amber-colored things that you usually throw away. (Please remove the labels before donating them.) Help us collect pill bottles to send to Nicaragua! Collection boxes located at: Student Center, Library, Durham Center, Cooperman Atrium, and Science Hall. Effort sponsored by the Dana Business Club.