Civic Engagement at Knox College
Civic Engagement Awards and Recognitions
Knox students, faculty, and staff take an active interest in their communities, both here in Galesburg and around the country. Students have started small businesses, created initiatives to help families in need, and even run political campaigns. Read about Knox's most recent recognitions:
- U.S. Supreme Court Selects Knox Senior
- Knox Noted in Congressional Resolution
- Small Business Awards Recognize Local Efforts
- Knox Receives National Award for Community Service -- College named to President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
- Knox College Employees Named a Top Ten Contributor to the United Way Campaign
- Knox College Cited for Commitment to the Public Good
- Knox College Awarded Youth Outreach Grant
- Knox Receives Grant to Support College Readiness Programs
- Knox Ranked Among Top Colleges in Service to the Public Good
- Sierra Club calls Knox College a "Cool School"
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Volunteerism
Knox regularly appears on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in recognition of its outstanding record of engaging students in community service. The honor is conferred on colleges that contribute volunteer time and effort to the community. In the 2010-11 academic year, Knox students contributed more than 16,000 hours of volunteer time to the local community. The Center for Community Service provides a variety of opportunities each year for students to make a difference in the local area. Learn more:
- NPR Focuses on Knox Prairie Community Kitchen
- Day of Service to Celebrate College's 175th Anniversary
- Students Raise Funds in Polar Plunge
- Prairie Fire Basketball Squads Raise Cancer Awareness
- Reading Buddies and Adopt-a-Classroom Programs Celebrate Success
- Student Initiates Knox Chapter of Best Buddies
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Community Outreach
Knox students, faculty and staff give of their time and talents to community organizations. They participate in charitable events, contribute to community causes, and advocate for a better community. Recent efforts:
- Knox Corps Members Start Their Positions
- Knox Embraces Election Enthusiasm
- CommUNITY Week: Diversity & Inclusivity
- Knox College Hosts Relay for Life Knox County Event on Campus
- Fashion Show Unites Knox Students, Local Teens
- Knox Students Donate, Help Feed Local Schoolchildren
- Gale Scholars Program Prepares Local Teens for College
- Small Business Awards Recognize Local Efforts
- Turkeys are College's Gift to Food Pantries
- Students Create Sustainable Food Group: Growing Galesburg
Community Based Research
Independent research is a hallmark of a Knox education. From a single-term independent study to a year-long Honors project, approximately 85% of our students complete an independent research or creative project by the time they graduate, and 53% report working on a research project with a faculty member outside of course or program requirements. A sampling of student accomplishments:
- Knox Journalism Students Conduct 2012 Presidential Election Poll
- Knox Students Produce Documentary about Pakistani School
- The Maytag Project: Knox Professors, Students Study Former Factory Workers
- Knox Students Research, Build Museum Exhibit on Galesburg History
- Student Chef Focuses on Food, Sustainability, Community
- Senior's Honors Project Sparks Youngsters' Interest in Robotics
- Students, Professor Create Online Site Featuring Fiction, Poems, Essays
- Knox Hosts 'Beaming Bioneers'
- REACH Fellowships Encourage Future Teachers, Knox Students Enhance College for Kids
- Two Knox Students Run Food Stand Focused on Sustainability
- Knox Students Engage Political Interests
- Knox to Host 'Beaming Bioneers' 2012
Global Studies at Knox College
It's not simply about exploring a new place; it's about connecting that place to what you'll study there, and placing the experience within the context of your overall academic goals. Approximately 50% of Knox students study off campus before they graduate. The Eleanor Stellyes Center for Global Studies helps students find the program that fits their learning goals. Learn more:
- Knox Student Studies Ecology and Human Origins in Tanzania
- Student Explores Public Health in Denmark
- Student Visits Japan and China
- Faculty Study in Tanzania and Japan
Peace Corps Preparatory Program
Knox is the pilot site--and the first college or university in the country--with an official Peace Corps Preparatory Program. This program features a curriculum designed to prepare students to serve in the Peace Corps or in international service. The program includes coursework in international studies, education, and foreign language study, as well as a community service project or opportunity to study abroad. Learn more:
- Knox Graduate Elyse Callahan Talks About the Current Fight Against Malaria
- Speakers Promote Peace Corps Service
- Knox Graduate Whitney Bey '07 Shares Her Peace Corps Experience
Arts & Cultural Outreach
Knox College offers rich variety of arts programming for both the campus and the wider community. In addition to offering performances, exhibits, concerts and lectures, Knox collaborates regularly, offering learning opportunities to students in the elementary and secondary schools. The Box Gallery provides a community-based venue for Knox students and faculty to engage with members of the community over the arts. In addition, the Box and campus venues are available to local arts groups and events. Each summer the Box Gallery hosts the Studios Midwest Artists Residency program, as well as exhibits by local artists.