BOOK BUYBACK: The Bookstore will be buying back textbooks during the four days of final exams. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday Dec. 14, Monday Dec. 18 and Tuesday Dec. 19, and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday Dec. 15. Buyback will be at the second set of double doors outside of the Bookstore.

JOIN THE PARTY: IVCC students and guests are invited to a party from 8:30 p.m. to midnight Dec. 8 in the IVCC upper gym. Sponsored by People of the World End Racism, the party features a dee-jay, dance contests and raffles. Admission is free to IVCC students and $3 for their guests.

OVER-POWER-ING PREJUDICE: Members of People of the World End Racism are continuing to talk to area students about stereotyping, prejudice and intolerance. Dave Msseemmaa, Darryl Stuggis, Maurice Caffey, Juana Chavez, Kendrick Carr, Nicole Avenarius, Heather Kaszynski, Lori Mavity, Dan Floyd and Marissa Laicoff have worked with fourth graders at Lincoln Grade School in Ottawa, eighth graders at Peru Washington and health classes at L-P High School.

"This is evolving into a very interesting presentation which stimulates much discussion," said POWER advisor Kim Abel. "They are doing a tremendous job of representing IVCC in our community."

GIVING TREE: Gift tags were still on the Student Nurse Association-sponsored Giving Tree at press time. The tags on the tree identify Christmas gifts for residents of area nursing homes. Students and staff members are encouraged to take a tag from the tree outside of A-217, remove the white slip inside the card, fill it out and drop it into the box below the tree. By Dec. 9, the wrapped gift and the card from the tree should be taken to the nursing office. SNA members will will deliver the gifts.

MOSAIC CREATION: Students who have taken pottery in previous semesters are invited to participate in the ceramic mosaic being constructed in the art department. The mosaic will be mounted outside the art department door, opposite the copy center.

Students interested in participating should come to the pottery class on Tuesday or Thursday between 6 and 8 pm. to make their own eight inch tile to be included on the wall. More information is available from instructor N. Dana Collins at 224-0351.

FINDING A JOB: IVCC’s 2001 Job Fair is scheduled for April 19 in the gym.

"People who intend to participate in the fair can prepare early by getting their resume in order," said Kathy Glascock, director of career planning and placement.

More than 100 employers have attended the fair in past years.

PROJECTING SUCCESS: Project Success students are being asked to bring a donation for the Illinois Valley Food Pantry to the office, E-301, by Dec. 15 and receive their Christmas gift.

INTERESTED IN TUTORING? Students interested in being a peer tutor for the spring semester should contact Mary Turchi in the Reading Lab, LRC-B, or at 224-0233. Tutors must have earned an "A" or a "B" in a class in order to tutor. Pay is $5.15 per hour. Turchi said tutors can work hours that are convenient for them.

HOLIDAY FOOD: The IVCC Chem Club collected nearly 300 pounds of food before Thanksgiving for distribution through the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.

GIFT IDEA: Gift certificates for spring semester classes are available at the Bookstore. The certificates can be made in any even dollar amount and can be used to pay for tuition and fees for the spring semester. Bookstore hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday. For more information, call 224-0311.

VALENTINE’S BALL: The IVCC Foundation Second Annual Valentine’s Ball is Feb. 10, 2001 at Celebrations in Utica. The evening, which is open to the public, features music by Class Act, a 20-piece orchestra.

Cost for the event is $35 per person or $70 per couple. Further information is available at 224-0551.

STUDENT ACCESS: Career planning , scholarship and other information is available from a new government Web site.

The Department of Education is offering "Student Gateway to the U.S. Government," a site which includes the topics such as: Plan Your Education, Career Development, Military Service, Pay for Your Education, Taxes, Travel and Fun.

SPRINGFIELD BUS TRIP: A bus trip to visit historic sites in Springfield is being sponsored by IVCC Dec. 14. Stops on the trip will include Lincoln’s home, the Illinois Executive Mansion, Memorial Hall in the Howlett Building and the Dana-Thomas House.

Lunch will be at the Chesapeake Seafood House. The bus will leave the east campus parking lot at 7 a.m. and return at approximately 5:30 p.m. Cost of the trip is $45. For information, call 224-0207.

FRESHMEN NEEDED: The Apache is still accepting applications for the staff. Students are needed for news and sports writing, photography, graphic arts, cartooning, and page design.

The staff is also recruiting freshmen, interested in training for editorial positions for next year. All students, part-time and full-time, are eligible; no prior publishing experience is required.

REGISTRATION CONTINUES: Registration is being accepted on campus from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday through Jan. 16. Phone-in, fax and mail-in registrations are also being accepted through Jan. 16.

AUCTION POSTPONED: The IVCC auction that had been scheduled for Dec. 2 was postponed. It will be rescheduled in the spring.

STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP: The National Security Education Program is offering scholarships for study abroad. NSEP provides opportunities for study in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. Award amounts are a maximum of $8,000 per semester or $16,000 per year.

LOOKING FOR A LAB? Computer lab LRC-D is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jacobs Library is also open during those hours.