For William Penn University, the 2007 – 2008 academic year was full of success and great accomplishments.

During the annual Fall President’s Convocation, His Excellency James Kimonyo, The Ambassador from the Republic of Rwanda to the United States, served as guest speaker. As an instrumental leader involved in political and social reforms in Rwanda, Kimonyo’s address featured new insight into international relations and matters involving social reform.

Also addressing the Penn community was World Food Prize Laureate Catherine Bertini, who was the recipient of the prize in 2003 for her work as executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme. During her message, Bertini proposed that the way to end hunger world-wide is providing females with an education, citing studies and experiences that show girls in developing countries earning at least a primary education experience less poverty and hunger in their families.

A fun-filled Homecoming in the fall themed “Blue Fever” brought Penn 1972 graduate and internationally acclaimed jazz saxophonist Ray Blue back to campus. Blue, along with Cross Continental Spirit, performed a jazz concert that was sponsored in part by the Iowa Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and William Penn University.

Also taking place during Homecoming was the Sigma Phi Sigma 35th reunion, reunion banquets for classes 1944 – ‘52, an alumni baseball home run derby, alumni soccer, baseball and softball games, and the traditional football game and alumni banquet in the evening.

In October 2007, “The Final Season” was released in theatres featuring the story of William Penn 1965 graduate Jim Van Scoyoc who led Norway High School’s baseball team to 13 state titles in Iowa. Van Scoyoc left the school one year before it was consolidated in 1992 to take a coaching spot with the Detroit Tigers. Previously serving as the assistant baseball coach to the team, Kent Stock took over the head coaching position for the final season and led his team through struggles, defeat and accomplishment.

William Penn President Richard Sours was honored with the Educator of the Year Award from the Oskaloosa Area Chamber and Development Group, which was the first such award to be made by the organization. Main Street Director Jon Sullivan said the award was created to recognize the importance of the work educational institutions put into the community.

“When considering this new award, President Sours’ name rose right to the top,” Sullivan said.

Sours was honored to be the recipient of the Educator of the Year Award.

“I consider it to be awarded to the university,” Sours said. “It is a tribute to the fine work being done by everyone on campus and the high regard in which the community holds William Penn University.”

The fall season was also a time for the second annual Parents Weekend. Parents of current students had the opportunity to visit their students on campus and get a taste of the college life at Penn. Faculty, staff and administrators were available to meet with parents. Events for the weekend kicked off with a movie night followed by a brunch the next morning. Families were given a tour of the Penn Activity Center and attended a tailgater before watching the Statesmen football team host Iowa Wesleyan that evening.

Following a routine re-accreditation visit from the university’s accrediting body, The Higher Learning Commission, William Penn was granted a full 10-year re-accreditation and approval of the new Master of Business Leadership program and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Upon receiving approval from the HLC on the nursing program, William Penn submitted an interim application to the Iowa State Board of Nursing, which was approved. Penn’s next step in establishing the new degree is to submit a program proposal, which, if approved will allow the university to begin enrolling students.

In November, a stunning announcement was made that Musco Sports Lighting, and its president Joe Crookham, had made a gift of $12 million to the university. The donation is the largest ever made to William Penn, and will be used to cover part of the costs of the construction of a new student recreation center, classrooms, laboratories, industrial technology center and headquarters for Penn’s new digital communication program.

The activity center is now the largest building in Oskaloosa and employs a comprehensive geothermal heating and cooling system as well as energy efficient lighting packages. In addition to Penn’s premier industrial technology program, the new technology center will create opportunities for students working in broadcast production.

“We expect the Musco gift will help enrich the quality of life for students as well as to enable new programs to grow and develop at William Penn,” Crookham said. “Our hope is that other supporters and members of the community and of the William Penn family will look at our gift and accept a challenge from the team members to match our $12 million investment in William Penn.”