For students in Jill Morstad’s Basic Skills in English class, learning became much more real than learning how to order words on a page.  This spring, the 16 students undertook an unusual project to benefit orphans at the Pan American Health Service, Inc.’s orphanage in Peña Blanca, Honduras, while enhancing their own communication skills.

Last night around 10:00 p.m. a lawn sprinkler control panel caught fire in the mechanical room in basement of the Dick Building. While a few people where working in the building at the time, everybody was evacuated without incident. Damage from the fire was minimal, but some smoke circulated throughout the building.

The Dick Building will be open as usual on Thursday, May 2. The smoke has been cleared from the building, but employees who have any allergies or sensitivity to smoke may contact their supervisors to make alternate work arrangements.

After a one-year hiatus, Union College will once again offer a summer math workshop for math educators at all levels—kindergarten through college. Under the direction of Union College mathematics professor Larry Ray, the one-week course will focus on bringing together teachers from every level to enhance teaching skills. Discussions and learning activities will emphasize implementation of the NAD-USA Elementary Math Standards 2012, which are closely aligned with the new Common Core State Standards.

This school year, Union College launched the Center for Interfaith Studies and Culture, a center devoted to educating Union College to better serve people of different faiths and to foster goodwill and understanding between the school and other faith groups.

On April 20, Doug Hardt, the center’s director will present an overview of the content and historical context of the Qu’ran at 4 p.m. in the Shawnee-Porter Care Conference Room. at Union College.

“Union College is a center for peacemaking just as Christianity is a center,” said Chris Blake. “We want to be children of God just as Jesus said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.’”

Christian folk singer and independent artist JJ Heller will perform at Union College for vespers on Friday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the College View Seventh-day Adventist Church.

This weekend many Union College alumni have travelled back to their alma mater to reconnect with classmates and the institution that played a significant role in their lives. For everyone else, Union College will webcast select events from Homecoming Weekend 2013 live on UCLive this weekend.

During the week celebrated by the Christian world commemorating the final events in the life of Christ, including his death and resurrection, Union College students will be able to follow the story at a series of events throughout the week highlighted by a Resurrection Pageant, which will unfold on March 30 on the Union College campus, with tours starting every 20 minutes between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.