Whooping cough cases increase in the area
According to an announcement from Dean of Students Jeffrey Waple, there has been an increased number of whooping cough cases in the Northern Kentucky area. The announcement asks students, faculty and staff to be aware of the symptoms and take precaution to prevent whooping cough or pertussis. Northern Kentucky University Department of Health, Counseling and Prevention Services (University Center room 440) has a limited supply of Tdap vaccines available for $5 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about symptoms, visit http://www.nkyhealth.org/docs/Print/pertussisfactsheet.htm.

2011 Book Connection visual art/writing contest winners
Student visual artists Adam Schmidt, Ashley Cooke, Kaitlyn Staggs, Jonathan Spears and Jamauria Sanders; personal essayists Ashley Meyer, Lindsay Haas, Jamie Diaz and Erin Hertzenberg; and creative writers Caylin Hester, Joseph Thomas, Brandon Holstein and Lauren Crawford were recently announced as the winners of the 2011 Book Connection visual art/writing contest winners. Visit http://firstyear.nku.edu/connection for more info.

Volleyball coach makes another move to WIU
Former Northern Kentucky University assistant volleyball coach April Hall recently joined the coaching staff at Western Illinois University as head coach. At NKU, Hall worked with scheduling, budget management, recruiting, fundraising, academic progress and game planning. Following the 2011 season NKU had five student-athletes earn All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors, three All-Region and three All-Americans selections.

Alum makes it to the big time on iTunes
Northern Kentucky University alum, Jesse Thomas, was the featured indie music artist on iTunes. To download her song, “Fire,” visit http://apple.com or iTunes.
Former NKU student wins top cooking chops
Erica Johnson, who attended Northern Kentucky University, was named the Kentucky Restaurant Association’s Student of the Year during a recent ceremony in Louisville. Johnson currently attends Cincinnati State’s Midwest Culinary Institute. She also has received a designation from the American Culinary Federation as a Certified Pastry Culinarian. Johnson lives in Highland Heights and works in Newport.