The 43rd Kent State Folk Festival opens with music from Puerto Rico
October 20, 2009
The 43rd Kent State Folk Festival kicks off seven days of performances with a concert featuring Puerto Rican musical treasure Edwin Colón Zayas and friends on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. at the Kent Stage in downtown Kent. The evening presents a panorama of Puerto Rican instrumental and vocal music and dance and is suitable for all ages. This is Colón Zayas’ first appearance in Kent. Tickets for the concert are free for students with a valid ID.
Colón Zayas, a master of the “jíbaro” style of Puerto Rican roots music, will be joined by Noel Velázquez and Bill Colón Zayas from Puerto Rico; members of Rondalla Puerto Rico from Dayton; Orlando “El Mostro” Santiago from Elyria; Northeast Ohio’s Grupo Isla del Encanto folkloric dance troupe; and Noraliz Ruiz Caraballo (a graduate student at Kent State University). In September of this year, Colón (a virtuoso on the cuatro and the tiple) was awarded a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship, the country’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts.
Born in the central mountain town of Orocovis, Colón Zayas has traveled the world introducing audiences to his island’s musical traditions. Similar to the Cuban music featured in the documentary “Buena Vista Social Club,” Puerto Rico’s traditional music is a blending of Spanish and African musical elements mixed with a tropical flavor. Typical instruments include the cuatro (a 10-string instrument similar to an Irish bouzouki) and the tiple (a 5-string instrument similar to a mandolin). Much older than the better known salsa, música jíbara (much like the old-time music of Appalachia) has been kept alive for centuries by inhabitants of Puerto Rico’s central mountains, passing songs down from generation to generation.
The concert includes a reception at intermission featuring traditional pastries by Cleveland’s Lelolai Bakery and is sponsored by the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education.
Tickets for all concerts presented during the 43rd Kent State Folk Festival are now on sale through the Kent Stage – (330) 677-5005 or KentStage.org – or in person at Woodsy’s Music and Spin-More in Kent. Band bios, ticket information, links and more are available online at www.WKSU.org. The Kent State Folk Festival has a fan page on Facebook and can be followed on Twitter @KentFolkFest.
The line-up for the 43rd Kent State Folk Festival (all concerts at the Kent Stage unless otherwise noted):
Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.: Masters of Puerto Rican Roots Music featuring Edwin Colón Zayas – $10 general admission tickets, free for students with valid ID.
Friday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.: Greg Brown and Jorma Kaukonen – $25 reserved, $45 gold circle.
Saturday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m.: The Del McCoury Band with Sarah Jarosz – $30 reserved, $50 gold circle.
Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m.: Old Crow Medicine Show – $30 general admission ($35 day of show).
Thursday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m.: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros with Family of the Year – $12 general admission.
Friday, Nov. 13 (various times): Folk Alley ‘Round Town (35+ venues throughout Kent) featuring a special appearance by Country Joe McDonald – FREE
Saturday, Nov. 14, noon-5 p.m.: Workshops (KSU Student Center) – FREE
Saturday, Nov. 14, 5 to 6 p.m.: Talent Contest (KSU KIVA) – FREE
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.: Rhythm in Shoes presents Banjo Dance with Dala – $20 reserved, WKSU members 50% off with member card, $5 for students with valid ID.
Festival support is provided by Kent State University, the City of Kent, Cascade Auto Group, Dominion East Ohio, Marc’s and Kashi, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Lehman’s, Continental Airlines, PARTA, Audio Technica, and Omnova Solutions.
WKSU broadcasts NPR & Classical Music at 89.7 FM, and is a service of Kent State University. WKSU programming is also heard on WKRW 89.3 FM in Wooster, WKRJ 91.5 FM in Dover/New Philadelphia, WKSV 89.1 FM in Thompson, WNRK 90.7 in Norwalk, W298BA 107.5 FM in Boardman, and W239AZ 95.7 FM in Ashland. The station broadcasts three HD Radio channels – adding WKSU-2 Folk Alley and WKSU-3 The Classical Channel to the analog broadcast schedule. The Classical Channel can also be heard in Cleveland at 107.3 HD-3. The WKSU web site is www.wksu.org.
The Recipe for Success
October 16, 2009
Three Steps to Follow for a Positive First Year in College
By Lindsay Kuntzman
The first year in college can be overwhelming with new classes, new teachers and new friends. But, students can adapt to the changes and have a successful first year by following three pieces of advice from Kent State University’s associate director of student success programs, Joanna Liedel.
- Get involved
Liedel says students can transition from high school to college by taking part in activities at their chosen college or university. At Kent State, the Center for Student Involvement offers different volunteer, leadership and cultural opportunities for students. By joining organizations and attending special events, students can make friends with similar interests, network with professionals and build résumés.
- Attend class
Liedel says first year students might be tempted to skip class when they learn that attendance is typically not recorded in college courses. While sleeping in or hanging out with friends might be enticing, students who choose not to go to class can fall behind on assignments, miss important lectures and fail to connect with professors. Liedel says that by attending class, students should receive better grades, could make friends and might even find a professor to act as a mentor.
- Take advantage of resources
All colleges and universities have a wealth of resources for students. From libraries to recreation and wellness centers, students have countless opportunities at their disposal. Liedel encourages students to take advantage of the resources, which can help make the transition from high school to college. For example, Kent State has an Academic Success Center which offers free tutoring for students. By using resources, students will learn and strengthen the skills needed to succeed at the university and will meet individuals willing to help them with future goals.
Hispanic Heritage Month Vignettes - Herman Badillo
October 7, 2009
Listen as we recognize important Hispanic figures in American History.
Hispanic Heritage Month Vignettes - Romana Banuelos
October 4, 2009
Listen as we recognize important Hispanic figures in American History.
Procter & Gamble Supports Latino Education with a $1.5 million pledge to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund
October 2, 2009
Cincinnati, OH, Oct. 1st, 2009
Procter & Gamble (P&G) (NYSE:PG) and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) are pleased to announce that P&G is awarding $1.5 million under the company’s Live, Learn and Thrive™ global cause to support HSF, the leading Hispanic organization devoted to awarding university scholarships. The grant will be provided over the next four years to support scholarships to increase participation from Hispanics in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) areas, as well as sponsoring educational outreach programs.
This contribution will help award 192, $2,500 scholarships to eligible Hispanic students nationwide in the next four years. Thanks to the support of companies like Procter & Gamble, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund has given over 90,000 scholarships to students in need worth over $250 million in the past 34 years. Two-thirds of these students were the first in their families to go to college.
“Through the Live, Learn and Thrive Scholarship program, P&G is enabling a cadre of academically talented, low income, first in family to attend college students complete an important new step in realizing the American dream. And, by focusing on STEM majors, P&G is strategically investing in future career paths destined to assure continued success and leadership of our country in this ever competitive global economy. We salute P&G and the scholars!” said Frank D. Alvarez, HSF President and CEO.
While Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority in the United States, they unfortunately are not keeping up when it comes to educational attainment: according to HSF, Latinos have the lowest high school and college completion rates of any racial or ethnic group, registering a 23.8 percent high school dropout rate, the highest of any major racial or ethnic group (ages 16 to 24), compared to 7 percent for non-Hispanic whites. Moreover, as per data from the Census report Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008, out of the total population, only 13 percent of Hispanics 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, as per data from the report.
In addition, data from the study, “Confronting the ‘New’ American Dilemma, Underrepresented Minorities in Engineering: A Data-Based Look at Diversity,” from the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) reveals that the number minority students pursuing STEM degrees and careers has flattened out or even declined in recent years: out of the 6,404 doctoral degrees in engineering awarded in 2006, only 98 went to Latinos and Latinas.
Following its commitment to advance the Hispanic community, P&G has been a long-standing corporate partner of HSF for over 30 years and has donated more than $3,000,000 to help educate future Hispanic leaders. Under its global Live, Learn and Thrive™ cause, P&G aims to contribute to the success of Hispanic students and even make higher education a more realistic goal by helping build a pool of exceptional talent and empowering possible future employees, who will continue to enhance the company’s dedication to cater to the needs of its consumers.
“At P&G, we believe in having a workforce and business partners that reflect the markets and consumers that we serve, and to fully value and learn from all of their experiences, insights and talents so we can meaningfully improve the lives of our communities. As part of our efforts to improve life for children and youth, we’re proud to make this Live, Learn and Thriveâ„¢ grant in recognition of the programs HSF delivers on behalf of Hispanic students,” said Edgar Sandoval, P&G’s General Manager, North America Marketing.
Sandoval, a former recipient of an HSF scholarship while he was pursuing his engineering degree, was inducted into the prestigious Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) Alumni Hall of Fame as the “Inspirador” (the motivator), in recognition of his personal achievements and the hard work and sacrifice made in pursuit of a college education. His scholastic success testifies to the great positive impact that an HSF scholarship can have in a student’s life.
This year’s Alumni Hall of Fame Gala took place in New York on Sept. 30th, and was hosted by Natalie Morales, NBC’s “Today” Co-Host and National Correspondent. Created in 2002, the HSF Alumni Hall of Fame honors Hispanics who demonstrate the power of higher education and highlights how attaining a college degree can change individual lives and society as a whole for the better. As an inductee, Sandoval will join a select group of Latino professionals who have been recognized, including former Surgeon General Richard Carmona, U.S Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza and Time Warner Vice President Lisa Quiroz.
HSF’s scholarship application period is now open now and will run until Feb. 28th, 2010. General application requirements include having a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and be pursuing or planning to pursue their first undergraduate or graduate program. For more information on how to apply for these scholarships, please visit www.hsf.net
About the Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1975 as a not-for-profit, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation’s preeminent Latino scholarship organization, providing the Latino community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. During the 2007-2008 academic year, HSF awarded almost 4,100 scholarships exceeding $26.7 million. In its 33-year history, HSF has awarded in excess of 86,000 scholarships, worth more than $247 million, to Latinos attending nearly 2,000 colleges and universities in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For a scholarship application or more information about HSF, please visit: WWW.HSF.NET.
About Procter & Gamble and Live, Learn and Thrive.
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 138,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. In these countries and beyond, P&G is committed to improving lives for children in need through its global cause, Live, Learn and Thrive. Every day P&G Live, Learn and Thrive™ is helping children get off to a healthy start, receive access to education, and build skills for life. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-d! epth information about P&G, its brands, and Live, Learn and Thrive.
copyright © 2009
Hispanic Heritage Month Vignettes - Bill Melendez
October 1, 2009
Listen as we recognize important Hispanic figures in American History.
