Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Accolades For Coe’s Katrina Trip




It wasn’t exactly the Pulitzer Prize, as won by the Sun Herald in Biloxi and Gulfport for its coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, but Coe’s alternative Spring Break service mission to the Gulf Coast was well represented at the annual Leadership Convocation on April 18.

The trip received the Outstanding Community Service Award and several participants took home individual honors.

Among faculty and staff, Business Professor Barb Larew was named the Outstanding Faculty Mentor. College Chaplain Kristin Hutson won the Diversity Staff Advocacy Award and was nominated for the Outstanding Staff Mentor Award, as was Reservations Coordinator Tammy Edwards. Math Professor Kent Herron received the Outstanding Philanthropic Contribution Award for his financial support of the trip.

Among student participants, Jase Jensen received the Kohawk Spirit Award and was nominated for the Outstanding Senior Award and the Leadership Award for Campus Commitment. Chelsie Reifschneider was also nominated for the Outstanding Senior Award and Steph Beecher was nominated for the Outstanding Sophomore Award.

Kaitlin Emig and Susan Pelechek represented the Katrina trip as graduates of Coe’s Crimson Leadership Program.

Meanwhile, the trip is the cover story for the spring issue of the Coe Courier. Click here to view the magazine.

Sunday, April 2, 2006

Katrina’s Footprints



by Hannah Ross-Suits

when the water started to rise
it carried giant rolls of brown paper from the factory
they shoved against the foundation of the house,
pushed it into the backyard,
six
feet
back

the water inside rose to three feet
and only left after eight hours
soaking the walls,
encouraging the toxic mold
which grew up the walls and onto the ceiling,
up
that
high

the water littered trash and stones all over the backyard,
front yard
inside the house and under it
the debris wrecked the sidewalk,
and what was left of the foundation,
mortar
and
brick

the water stained the entire house
all the neighborhood and town
all the people,
though they refuse to give up;
they will rebuild and put
lives
back
together

before the water, the house had four entry steps
but with the house on its new foundation
six feet back,
back into the backyard
the
steps
lead
nowhere

Hannah Ross-Suits is a Coe College senior from Grants Pass, Ore., majoring in history and philosophy.