Announcements for Students

Health and Wellness Symposium postponed to 2023

The inaugural ISU Health and Wellness Symposium, an event for staff, faculty and students that had been planned for the afternoon of Feb. 4, has been postponed for a year. The symposium has been rescheduled for Feb. 3, 2023.

McFarland Clinic shares care guide

Ames-based McFarland Clinic announced it is experiencing an extremely high volume of calls and requests for appointments for patients with upper respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. There may be some days it will not be able to accommodate the volume of appointment requests, and some appointments may be extended to the following days. Clinic leaders anticipate high patient volumes and adjusted work flows at least through March. The clinic's testing supplies and new medications to treat patients with COVID-19 also are limited. Due to the high demand on its services, the clinic has posted a care guide for assessing symptoms, getting tested, etc.

Submissions sought for sustainability symposium

The 2022 Symposium on Sustainability, Feb. 21-22 at the Memorial Union, will celebrate the diversity of sustainability efforts and initiatives on campus. Nominations are being accepted for the Live Green awards for excellence in sustainability, which recognize faculty, staff and students who make an impact on campus' sustainability efforts. The nomination form, due Feb. 11 (5 p.m.), is online.

Poster abstracts and table displays that support the Live Green Initiative also are sought from students, faculty and staff as part of the Sustainapalooza event. They can come from any campus project, activity or research. Multimedia art submissions also are being requested and should focus on areas of theory and practice in sustainability. All submissions are due Feb. 11. For more information, visit the symposium website.

Jan. 17 is a university holiday

Spring semester classes begin a day later (Jan. 18) and university offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, to observe the national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Undergraduate 'Research at the Capitol' applications due Jan. 25

Abstracts are due Tuesday, Jan. 25, for undergraduate researchers who would like to participate in the regent universities' annual Research in the Capitol event Monday, Feb. 21, in Des Moines. Faculty who mentor undergraduates on their research teams are asked to encourage their students to participate; online applications may be submitted by individuals or small groups. Submissions are evaluated by topic, relevance to legislative interests and geographic representation. Fifteen research projects from Iowa State will be selected, along with projects from the universities of Iowa and Northern Iowa, to present to an audience of legislators, reports and university administrators. Students or their research mentors may direct questions to Svitlana Zbarska, university honors program.

MU poster sale runs Jan. 24-28

The Memorial Union's winter poster sale, featuring hundreds of designs, will be held in the Cardinal Room Monday, Jan. 24, through Friday, Jan. 28 (10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily). Most posters are priced $8-$12, and proceeds from the sale support MU art programs.

Reception for calendar honorees is Jan. 25

The 2022 "Women Impacting ISU" calendar will be unveiled during a public reception recognizing the honorees on Tuesday, Jan. 25 (3:30-5 p.m., MU Sun Room). The program will begin at 4 p.m., and will be livestreamed on YouTube. Following the program, free copies of the calendar will be distributed. The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2021 calendar reception, so the 2021 calendar honorees also will be recognized at this reception.

Art rental available Jan. 19-20 at the Memorial Union

The Memorial Union is hosting an Art for Rent open house Jan. 19 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Jan. 20 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) in the MU art gallery on the first floor. The collection includes about 275 framed posters, prints and paintings that may be rented for a half or full year, for office or home. Rentals typically range from $10 to $25 per year. Patrons may view the collection and take selected pieces with them during the open house. Proceeds from rentals support art programs at the MU.

Annual CyThx campaign recognizes 342 winners

In the fourth annual CyThx campaign (fall 2021), ISU employees and students honored 342 of their campusmates in 113 departments. Those who submitted a thank you message responded to the question, "Who makes you feel like a valued member of the ISU community?" Organizers distributed the responses to recipients and their unit leaders, and also honored recipients on this website if their submitters approved the public option. CyThx is a joint effort of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, learning communities, graduate and professional student senate, office of multicultural student affairs and student government.

By the numbers: COVID-19

For the week that ended Jan. 2, the positive rate for COVID-19 tests completed at the Thielen Student Health Center was 35.44% (28 of 79 tests completed), up from 5.65% a week earlier. Testing reflects both symptomatic students and student-athletes following NCAA testing protocols. The Story County positivity rate for the week ending Jan. 5 was 14.73%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vaccination rate among Story County residents at least 5 years of age rose to 63.7% as of Jan. 5. The CDC changed the definition for "eligible population fully vaccinated" to include those 5 years and older; previously it counted residents 18 years and older. Iowa State is providing weekly updates on these and other public health benchmarks on its COVID-19: By the numbers website.

Make to Innovate to celebrate 10th anniversary Jan. 28

Make to Innovate, a project-based learning program in the aerospace engineering department, is marking its 10th anniversary in a celebration Jan. 28 from 2:30-4 p.m. at the Student Innovation Center's step-a-torium. The event also will introduce the Make to Innovate Lab of the Future Challenge, a competition for student teams to envision the lab needs of students, faculty and universities in 2050. The challenge is sponsored by John Deere and will offer $10,000 in prize money. A list of speakers and a link to RSVP is available online. Registration to attend in-person is due by Jan. 10.

Study Abroad Fair set for Jan. 20

The spring Study Abroad Fair will be held Thursday, Jan. 20 (10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., South Ballroom and Sun Room, Memorial Union). The event is a one-stop shop for students to learn about adventures available abroad, including internship and study abroad experiences lasting from one week to one year. Also, all members of the campus community -- students, faculty and staff -- can apply for a U.S. passport at the fair. More information about the fair is available on the Study Abroad Center website.

Degree audits hit million mark for third consecutive year

For the third straight calendar year, the registrar's office has run more than 1 million degree audits -- the snapshot-in-time tool that's helpful for everything from reports to what-if academic planning. The first time the office surpassed 1 million degree audits was in 2019. This fall, a student using the TRANSIT system ran the 1 millionth degree audit on Nov. 9. Last year, employees and students ran a total of 1,294,818 degree audits, and registrar's staff anticipated a similar statistic by Dec. 31.

History of run date for 1 millionth degree audit: 

• 2021: Nov. 9
• 2020: Oct. 27
• 2019: Nov. 4

Volunteers sought for LEGO robotics state championship for youth

The College of Engineering's community outreach team seeks volunteers to assist at the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) state championship, to be held on campus Saturday, Jan. 22. FLL is an international robotics team competition for youth aged 9-14, intended to help them develop skills in problem-solving, teamwork, programming, design, research and creative thinking. This year's theme, "Cargo Connect," looks at the challenges of supply chain and transportation of goods and services. Volunteers should email fllvolunteer@iastate.edu to sign up.

COVID-19: By the numbers

For the week that ended Dec. 12, the positive rate for COVID-19 tests completed at the Thielen Student Health Center was 8.82% (27 of 306 tests completed), down from 8.95% a week earlier. Testing reflects both symptomatic students and student-athletes following NCAA testing protocols. The Story County positivity rate for the week ending Dec. 15 was 8.46%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vaccination rate among Story County residents at least 5 years of age fell to 62.6% as of Dec. 15. The CDC changed the definition for "eligible population fully vaccinated" to include those 5 years and older; previously it counted residents 18 years and older. Iowa State is providing weekly updates on these and other public health benchmarks on its COVID-19: By the numbers website.

Design's annual postcard print exhibition, silent auction opens Dec. 20

The 21st annual International Postcard Print exchange, exhibition and silent auction will be held Dec. 20-Jan. 14, 2022, at the College of Design's Gallery 181. The show features 85 prints by artists from 15 states and six other countries. Printmakers sent 13 original, identical, 4-by-6-inch prints in response to the theme, "A Recipe For…" interpreted as they wished. Artists received 12 other artists' prints (hence the "exchange"). The University Print Society kept one print from each artist for its own collection and these are available for bid in the silent auction. Bidding ends at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14; proceeds support student club activities.

Wednesday afternoon, evening exams moved to Friday

Due to the severe weather forecasted for Wednesday afternoon and evening, final exams scheduled from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday have been moved to Friday, Dec. 17. Students should work with their instructors about potential accommodations if they have significant conflicts, such as air travel scheduled for Friday. The revised exam schedule is:

COVID-19: By the numbers

For the week that ended Dec. 5, the positive rate for COVID-19 tests completed at the Thielen Student Health Center was 8.95% (23 of 257 tests completed), up from 5% a week earlier. Testing reflects both symptomatic students and student-athletes following NCAA testing protocols. The Story County positivity rate for the week ending Dec. 8 was 12.73%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccination rate among Story County residents at least 12 years of age rose to 65.2% as of Dec. 8. Iowa State is providing weekly updates on these and other public health benchmarks on its COVID-19: By the numbers website.

'Tracing Race' proposal deadline moved to Dec. 17

Due to the additional holidays extended to campus by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the submission deadline for Tracing Race at Iowa State University proposals was extended to Dec. 17. The project seeks proposals for digital projects that reveal the under-documented history of accomplishment and experience of people of color and engage with the history of race; inequality; racism; and student, faculty and staff activism at Iowa State. The extension also applies to the Student Scholar Award opportunity; undergraduate applicants are asked to identify a faculty or staff advisor for their project. 

Register now for implicit bias session on Jan. 26

Registration is open for a virtual presentation and discussion on implicit bias with psychology faculty member Sylvia Perry, Northwestern University, who's affiliated with Project Implicit. The ADVANCE Midwest Partnership is hosting the session for its member schools on Wednesday, Jan. 26 (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). The objectives of the session are to raise awareness of our biases, explore how researchers measure and understand identity-based biases and share actionable steps to prevent and mitigate the impact of biases. A free copy of the book, "Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People" by Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony Greenwald, will be sent via campus mail to the first 20 ISU staff, students or faculty registering for the Jan. 26 event. Questions may be directed to Cinzia Cervato, Morrill Professor of geological and atmospheric sciences who leads the ADVANCE Midwest team.

COVID-19: By the numbers

For the week that ended Nov. 28, the positive rate for COVID-19 tests completed at the Thielen Student Health Center was 5% (2 of 40 tests completed), down from 6.4% two weeks earlier. Testing reflects both symptomatic students and student-athletes following NCAA testing protocols. The Story County positivity rate for the week ending Dec. 1 was 12.33%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccination rate among Story County residents at least 12 years of age rose to 65% as of Dec. 1. Iowa State is providing weekly updates on these and other public health benchmarks on its COVID-19: By the numbers website.

Honors program fall poster event is Dec. 8

The University Honors program will hold its fall poster presentation event Wednesday, Dec. 8 (3-5 p.m., Memorial Union Great Hall). Fall 2021 Honors graduates as well as other Honors students will be present to answer questions and speak with individuals interested in their projects. A convocation will follow at 5:30 p.m. in the Sun Room.

Volunteers sought to assist at gardens' holiday light show

Reiman Gardens is recruiting volunteers with holiday cheer to staff this year's Winter Wonderscape holiday light show Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from Dec. 2 through Jan. 1 (except for Christmas Day). Volunteer slots are 4:30-7 p.m. and 6:30-9:15 p.m. It's a great activity for individuals, families and service groups. Volunteers get a behind-the-scenes look at this holiday event and receive two complimentary tickets to the light show each time they volunteer. Sign up online.

Ten classrooms reserved for evening study during prep week

Room scheduling has designated 10 general university classrooms on central campus for students to use as study rooms during prep week, Dec. 6-10 (5:30-11 p.m. daily). They are:

• Carver 0274 and 0294
• Pearson 1105
• Physics 0038, 0056 and 0058
• Ross 0027, 0028, 0029 and 0131

Art Mart at the MU is Dec. 1-4

Support local artists at the Memorial Union's annual fall holiday sale, Art Mart, Dec. 1-4. Hours are 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, noon-8 p.m. Friday (WinterFest), and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. The event will be in the MU Art Gallery on the first floor. Art Mart features one-of-a-kind gifts from our campus community of artists, including jewelry, pottery, paintings, coloring books, accessories, fibers and more, and blown glass vases, vessels and sculpture  by members of the ISU Gaffer's Guild. To support physical distancing, a shoppers capacity limit will be in place.

COVID-19: By the numbers

For the week that ended Nov. 14, the positive rate for COVID-19 tests completed at the Thielen Student Health Center was 7.22% (21 of 291 tests completed), down from 8.36% the week earlier. Testing reflects both symptomatic students and student-athletes following NCAA testing protocols. The Story County positivity rate for the week ending Nov. 17 was 13.22%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccination rate among Story County residents at least 12 years of age rose to 64.6% as of Nov. 17. Iowa State is providing weekly updates on these and other public health benchmarks on its COVID-19: By the numbers website.

WinterFest set for Dec. 3, with president's open house at Beardshear

Celebrate WinterFest Dec. 3 by joining President Wendy Wintersteen and her spouse, Robert Waggoner, for the president's open house, 4-6 p.m. that day in the ground floor lobby of Beardshear Hall. Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, apple cider, cookies, ISU Creamery ice cream and music by a student string quartet. This year's open house was moved to Beardshear from its traditional location at The Knoll to provide ample gathering area for guests.

Call for student entries for MU multimedia exhibition

The Memorial Union Art Gallery is issuing a call for art, poetry and design by ISU students for a multimedia exhibition that will run Jan. 27-March 10, 2022. The theme of the show is Nostalgia, which can be interpreted in multiple ways. Artists, apparel designers and writers are invited to submit up to three entries for consideration by Dec. 1. More information is online.

Forestry Club annual Christmas tree sale begins Nov. 27

The Forestry Club is holding its annual Christmas tree fundraiser in the Reiman Gardens parking lot Nov. 27-28, Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12. Hours are 3-6 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. The club will have wreaths, white pines and Korean, balsam amd Canaan firs. Cash or checks only. Proceeds go toward club activities and student development.

Silent auction through Dec. 1 benefits food/nutrition clubs

The Culinary Science Club, Dairy Products Evaluation Club, Food Science Club and Student Dietetics Association Club are hosting the annual food science and human nutrition silent auction through Dec. 1. Winners will be notified Dec. 2 to pick up items in the Culinary Discovery Lab (2379 Food Sciences) on Dec. 3 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The bidding link is now open. All proceeds benefit the four clubs. 

Poinsettia sale is Dec. 1-4

Students in the Horticulture Club will sell poinsettias Dec. 1-4 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.) at a different campus location each day. A variety of colors and two sizes are available: 6-inch pot ($15), and 10-inch pot ($35). Proceeds from the sale support club activities. Preorders close after Nov. 19 and can be picked up at one of the sale locations or at Hort Hall Dec. 1-4 (4-6 p.m.).

• Dec. 1, Curtiss Hall, ground floor rotunda
• Dec. 2, Beardshear Hall, sale desk
• Dec. 3, Memorial Union, by the ISU Book Store
• Dec. 4, Reiman Gardens, main corridor

Eagle's Loft has child care openings

Editor's note: The ISU partnership with Eagle's Loft ended in 2022 due to low utilization. Contact ISU Child Care and Family Services for current  child care options.

Thinking about your child care arrangements for the spring semester? Eagle's Loft Early Learning Center at 2715 Dayton Ave. is currently enrolling all ages for January 2022 and has immediate but limited openings for all ages. Eagle's Loft is a 117-child capacity center that joined the list of child care facilities affiliated with Iowa State this summer, meaning the center offers tuition on an ISU-subsidized income-based sliding scale and adheres to the university's requirements for service quality, staffing, security and safety.

COVID-19: By the numbers

For the week that ended Nov. 7, the positive rate for COVID-19 tests completed at the Thielen Student Health Center was 8.36% (25 of 299 tests completed), down from 10.48% the week earlier. Testing reflects both symptomatic students and student-athletes following NCAA testing protocols. The Story County positivity rate for the week ending Nov. 10 was 11.41%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccination rate among eligible Story County residents -- those at least 12 years of age -- rose to 64.4% as of Nov. 10. Iowa State is providing weekly updates on these and other public health benchmarks on its COVID-19: By the numbers website.

COVID-19: By the numbers

For the week that ended Oct. 31, the positive rate for COVID-19 tests completed at the Thielen Student Health Center was 10.48% (22 of 210 tests completed), up from 5.56% the week earlier. Testing reflects both symptomatic students and student-athletes following NCAA testing protocols. The Story County positivity rate for the week ending Nov. 3 was 11.13%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccination rate among eligible Story County residents -- those at least 12 years of age -- rose to 64.1% as of Nov. 3. Iowa State is providing weekly updates on these and other public health benchmarks on its COVID-19: By the numbers website.

Library hosts online multimedia exhibit for Indigenous Heritage Month

To celebrate November as Indigenous Heritage Month, university library has assembled an online exhibit that shares a variety of resources on both recent and historical topics: Books, streaming media such as Tik Tok videos and movie trailers, trivia questions, recipes, links to Indian Nation websites and an interactive map that highlights geographic locations in Iowa significant for their indigenous history. Parks Library publications include a call number for easy retrieval. The exhibit was curated by library staff Hema Thulsidhos and Katie Wampole, who serve on the library's DEI committee.

Daylight saving time ends Sunday

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7. Clocks turn back one hour, adding an hour of rest to your night.

Wednesday sale features caramel apple ice cream

Among the Dairy Science Club's five flavors at its Wednesday ice cream sale is a fall favorite, caramel apple. It joins vanilla, strawberry, Oreo and Reese's flavors today (noon-2 p.m., near the Lush Auditorium north doors in Kildee Hall). The price is $2 per cup.

Holiday light show tickets go on sale Nov. 2

Timed tickets for Reiman Gardens' holiday light show go on sale at noon Nov. 2 and must be purchased online. "WInter Wonderscape" is offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings Dec. 2-Jan. 1 (5-8 p.m.), except for Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Ticket holders must arrive during their assigned time but may stay until the show ends that night. Tickets are $10 (members and ISU students $8, youth $5, children under 2 years are free). Live music will be offered some evenings. Reiman Gardens will close early at 4 p.m. on light show nights for set-up.

Snow blower service days are Nov. 12-13

The Agricultural Systems Technology club's annual snow blower service days will be held Nov. 12 (1-6 p.m.) and Nov. 13 (8 a.m.-1 p.m.). Club members will provide a routine service -- oil and spark plug change and a power wash -- but no major repairs. Drop off your snow blower during service hours. Pick-up and delivery is available for $25 ($35 outside a 10-mile radius of Sukup Hall). Email astservicedays@gmail.com or call 515-708-8672 to request pick-up service. Payment is by check (to: AST Club).

COVID-19: By the numbers

For the week that ended Oct. 24, the positive rate for COVID-19 tests completed at the Thielen Student Health Center was 5.56% (12 of 216 tests completed), up from 4.82% the week earlier. Testing reflects both symptomatic students and student-athletes following NCAA testing protocols. The Story County positivity rate for the week ending Oct. 27 was 10%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccination rate among eligible Story County residents -- those at least 12 years of age -- rose to 63.8% as of Oct. 27. Iowa State is providing weekly updates on these and other public health benchmarks on its COVID-19: By the numbers website.

Three Minute Thesis finals set for Oct. 28

Eight graduate students competing in the Three Minute Thesis competition will present during the finals livestreamed on the Graduate College’s Facebook page Oct. 28 (6-8 p.m.). Live viewers will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite three-minute research presentation designed for non-experts. An overall winner will receive $500, and the runner-up and people’s choice winner will both win $250.

Greek trick-or-treat for families is Oct. 31

Iowa State's sorority and fraternity community will host its annual free Trick-O-Treat in the Memorial Union Great Hall on Sunday, Oct 31 (1-3 p.m.). Chapters will have games (such as bags, mini golf, Simon Says, apple relay, pin the donkey and ring toss) and lots of candy to take home, with tables spaced out to provide a fun and safe atmosphere. Face coverings are encouraged. All participants are encouraged to wear their best family-friendly costume.

Through Nov. 30: Thank ISU's community builders

The fourth cycle of the recognition initiative CyThx is accepting submissions through Nov. 30. CyThx aims to celebrate and thank those who make individuals feel like a valued member of the Iowa State University community. Messages of gratitude to faculty, mentors, advisors, teaching assistants and colleagues can be submitted via the online submission form. All who receive recognition will receive an email after Dec. 22, post on the CyThx website and opportunity to be featured as the CyThx Teaching Spotlight in the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching's (CELT) "Teaching Tip" newsletter. CyThx is a joint effort of CELT, learning communities, Graduate and Professional Student Senate, office of multicultural student affairs and Student Government.

'Daniel Tiger Live' tickets go on sale Oct. 29

Tickets for a March 4, 2022, performance of "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood LIVE!" at Stephens Auditorium go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 29, via Ticketmaster. Tickets start at $27.75, plus fees. The show is based on the Emmy Award-winning PBS Kids TV series, and begins at 6:30 p.m. 

Help install Reiman Garden's winter light show

Reiman Gardens is recruiting volunteers to help install this year's Winter Wonderscape holiday light show. Installation is Monday-Friday, Nov. 1-5 and 8-12; morning and afternoon times are available. Volunteers get a behind-the-scenes look at this festive event and receive two complimentary tickets to the light show each time they volunteer. More information and the light show volunteer application are online.

Creamery offers limited edition cheddar cheese Friday afternoon

Just in time for Homecoming, the Iowa State University Creamery announced its second foray into cheese production, a limited-edition, cyclone-shaped and cardinal-waxed, aged cheddar cheese. The Creamery has been selling fresh cheddar cheese curds intermittently since April in its retail location, 2955 Food Sciences.

A limited first release of 15 chunks of cheddar cheese was sold Oct. 16, and an additional 15 pieces will be offered Friday, Oct. 22 (noon-4:30 p.m.) at the retail store. Pieces are sold by weight, and range in price from approximately $6.50 to $16.50 each.

COVID-19: By the numbers

For the week that ended Oct. 17, the positive rate for COVID-19 tests completed at the Thielen Student Health Center was 4.82% (12 of 249 tests completed), up slightly from 4.44% the week earlier. Testing reflects both symptomatic students and student-athletes following NCAA testing protocols. The Story County positivity rate for the week ending Oct. 20 was 8.97%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccination rate among eligible Story County residents -- those at least 12 years of age -- rose to 63.5% as of Oct. 20. Iowa State is providing weekly updates on these and other public health benchmarks on its COVID-19: By the numbers website.

Save the date: ISCORE 2022 is March 2-4

The 2022 Thomas L. Hill Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE) will be held March 2-4. This comprehensive forum on issues of race and ethnicity is free and open to the ISU community. Consider submitting a presenter's proposal  by Nov. 12. The 2022 edition of the conference will include both virtual and in-person components to reach a broad audience:

• Virtual preconference: Wednesday, March 2
• Virtual conference: Thursday, March 3
• In-person conference: Friday, March 4 

'Nutcracker Ballet' tickets go on sale Oct. 20

Tickets for three performances of the 40th annual "Nutcracker Ballet" at Stephens Auditorium go on sale to the public at noon Wednesday, Oct. 20, via Ticketmaster. Tickets are $30 ($25 for seniors at least 65 years, youth 17 years and younger and groups of at least 10) plus fees. Matinee performances begin at 1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 11-12, and a single evening show is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11. This holiday fairy tale features choreography by Robert Thomas and Miyoko Kato Thomas, Iowa Youth Ballet. More than 150 dancers from central Iowa communities participate and guest dancers perform the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Tanya Lynn Trombly, a freelance artist based in New York City, and Fred Davis, currently affiliated with American Midwest Ballet, will dance those roles this year.

Comedian Ron White returns to Stephens this week

Grammy-nominated comedian Ron "Tater Salad" White is returning to Stephens Auditorium for the third time Thursday, Oct. 21 (8 p.m.). White performed to sold-out crowds at Stephens in 2016 and 2018. Tickets, $45-$74 plus fees, are available online via Ticketmaster or by contacting the Stephens ticket office at ticketoffice@iastate.edu or 515-294-2479.