Iowa Cubs to Host Naturalization Ceremony at Principal Park

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

On Thursday, September 17 — Constitution Day — the United States Citizenship and Immigration services, Des Moines Field Office, will hold a naturalization ceremony with the Southern District of Iowa, Des Moines Federal court, on the field at Principal Park.

The ceremony for 75 candidates — representing 32 different countries — will begin at 11 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the free event — which replaces the traditional July 4 pre-game ceremony as the Iowa Cubs 2020 season was canceled. Per the City of Des Moines guidelines, masks will be required for attendees.The Iowa Cubs first hosted a citizenship ceremony in 2009. It is now an annual event, with 327 new citizens welcomed during the first 11 years. [Earlier this summer, Principal Park hosted an informal Citizenship Week, June 22-26, when 487 new citizens were naturalized in a drive-thru process outside the stadium.]

The nation observes Constitution Day and Citizenship Day as part of Constitution Week. The commemoration honors the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. Iowa schools were the first to recognize Constitution Day, in 1911. Nationwide observance began in 1940 as “I Am an American Day.” Citizenship Day began in 1952, based on a law signed by President Harry Truman, and in 1955, President Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed the first Constitution Week.

Paul Davis Scholarship At Clinton Community College Announced

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

The LumberKings and the entire Clinton community lost a good friend in March with the sudden passing of LumberKings President Paul Davis. To honor his memory, friends and family have established a scholarship at Clinton Community College to honor him and his commitment to education and the community. Paul Davis

The LumberKings and the entire Clinton community lost a good friend in March with the sudden passing of LumberKings President Paul Davis. To honor his memory, friends and family have established a scholarship at Clinton Community College to honor him and his commitment to education and the community.

Paul Davis grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and attended Clinton Community College. An agent with the Iowa Bankers Association in Des Moines, he placed great value in education. He was a dedicated volunteer and champion for many causes in the community. His love of sports grew from being an athlete as a young kid, to coaching at all levels, especially the 20-plus seasons of coaching his children’s teams. He loved attending events with wife Kris, and supporting his family by cheering on any team they are part of.

Camanche High School Basketball Coach Josh Davis said this about his father, “Dad was a great example on how to serve others. It was great to have him involved with our basketball program in Camanche. Most of the things I do as a coach, I learned from watching him when I was a kid. This scholarship will be a great way to honor his memory.”

Paul was an official with the Iowa High School Boys and Girls Athletic Associations, as well as the NAIA and NCAA college associations. He served on a variety of foundations including Riverboat Days, Clinton Junior Baseball, local volleyball organizations, and was Past President of the Clinton LumberKings Baseball Club.

Clinton LumberKings General Manager Ted Tornow commented, “Paul valued education and learning. He was always looking for ways to improve not only himself, but others. He touched many lives in this community and this scholarship is a testament to a life well-lived. Many future students will benefit from this and I know that Paul would be very happy to know that.”

The Paul Davis Memorial Scholarship, an annual $500 scholarship through the Paul B. Sharar Foundation for Clinton Community College, will be awarded to a CCC student who makes a difference. The student must demonstrate a commitment to their education and to the community through hard work and active volunteerism. Paul Davis believed that everyone in the community could come together to make this a great place. He valued hard work, and also appreciated the lessons that extracurricular activities could provide.

For more information about the Paul Davis Memorial Scholarship, contact the Paul B. Sharar Foundation at 563-244-7040. Donations can be made to the Paul Davis Memorial Scholarship at Clinton Community College Sharar Foundation, 1000 Lincoln Blvd., Clinton, Iowa or at https://www.eicc.edu/alumni-and-giving/sharar-foundation/.

2020 Nick Adenhart Scholarships Awarded

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels in collaboration with the Kernels Foundation and the Adenhart Family recently awarded to two Eastern Iowa high school graduates with a $1,000 scholarship. On Sunday, June 7th, Ella Popenhagen from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School and Logan Schmitt from Independence High School were recognized during a special check presentation on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in front of their families and members of the Kernels Foundation.

Ella Popenhagen participated in track and field, cross country and swimming. She was named Captain and to the Metro Team for both swimming and track and field for the Cougars. Popenhagen served as a member of Student Government at Kennedy High School and was a member of National Honor Society. Her other school and community activities include Best Buddies Club, Show Choir, St. Luke’s Hospital Volunteer and Special Olympics. Popenhagen plans to attend The University of Northern Iowa and pursue a degree in Movement and Exercise Science.

Logan Schmitt participated in football, basketball, track and field and baseball all four years of high school for the Mustangs. Schmitt was named Captain of the baseball team his junior and senior seasons. Schmitt was a member of National Honor Society, a school mentor and participated in numerous community activities in Independence. Schmitt plans to attend Kirkwood Community College this fall and eventually earn a degree in medicine. Congratulations to these two outstanding youths in Eastern Iowa. Photos of the check presentations attached.

Read More: Cedar Rapids Kernels

Read more about the Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship

National initiative will raise funds for Feeding America in response to global pandemic

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

DES MOINES, IA — The Iowa Cubs today announced they are joining MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed by Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) in conjunction with Feeding America®, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I-Cubs fans are encouraged to visit MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Iowa Cubs as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the Des Moines community. For every $10 donated, the I-Cubs will donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to a local hero of the pandemic.

“Through these unprecedented times, we want to give back to the community that has supported us for over 50 years,” said Iowa Cubs President and General Manager, Sam Bernabe. “This program is a way to make an immediate impact at our local food banks, while also saying ‘thank you’ to those on the front lines.”

School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and extended stay-at-home orders have disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity in the next six months, according to Feeding America. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates, Feeding America has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months alone.

In response, contributions from I-Cubs fans and Minor League Baseball will help ensure families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times. Join the national campaign by donating and selecting Iowa Cubs at MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.

##CUBS##

About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

 

2020 Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship Deadline Approaching

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Cedar Rapids, IA – The application deadline for the eighth annual Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship, administered by the Kernels Foundation, is Friday, April 10th.

Nick Adenhart was a bright young pitcher who played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006, and he was a rising star in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. Only hours after Nick’s 2009 season debut on the mound for the Angels, Nick was tragically killed by a drunk driver on April 9, 2009 at age 22.

Nick’s family would like to honor him by awarding two $1,000 scholarships in his memory. The Kernels Foundation is privileged to administer the scholarships on behalf of Nick’s family.

Applicants must be a graduating high school senior from an area high school and attend a two or four-year accredited college or university and take 12 or more hours per semester. The applicant must have played an organized sport in the last two years, must be a great teammate, must demonstrate hard work and determination, and must have a clear vision of their career goal.

With the recent closure of Veterans Memorial Stadium and area high schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic scholarships can are being accepted one of two ways:

Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship
C/O Cedar Rapids Kernels
PO Box 2001
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406

Scholarship applications may be downloaded from the Kernels website at www.kernels.com under the ‘COMMUNITY’ tab.

For more information, please contact Doug Nelson at 319-363-3887 or email at [email protected].

 

Nominations Open for 2020 Kid Heroes Ceremony

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels are seeking nominations for their third annual Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony sponsored by O’Brien Family McDonald’s. This special group will represent kids who have used the services of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

The ceremony for the 2020 Kid Heroes will be at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sunday, July 26, 2020. Those children selected as Kid Heroes and their families will be honored on the field prior to the game and will receive four complimentary tickets to that game.

The Kernels will begin taking nominations for the third annual Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony on Monday, March 30th. The first 20 submissions will make it into the group, so we urge people to turn in their nominations right away. Nominations will be taken until Friday, May 8th, OR, until 20 submissions are received.

To give all these outstanding kids the opportunity to be honored in the Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony, we ask that those kids included in previous ceremonies from 2018 and 2019 not be nominated.

Nominations can be made online with our online form. A special thank you is extended to our loyal sponsor, O’Brien Family McDonald’s restaurants and the partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

For more information on the Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony, or if you have questions, please contact Jessica Fergesen at (319) 896-7608 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Click here to access the online form | Kid Heroes Nomination Form
Single-game tickets for the Kernels 2020 season are available online now from May 11-August.  https://www.milb.com/cedar-rapids/tickets/single-game-tickets

 

Iowa Cubs Now Accepting National Anthem Auditions for 2020

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Auditions will be held at Principal Park on April 4

The Iowa Cubs are now accepting auditions to perform the National Anthem before a home game in 2020. Live auditions will be held at Principal Park on April 4 from 2:30-4:40 p.m. Participant entrance and registration will be at Gate C.

For the first time, applicants can also submit video files for consideration in lieu of a live audition. Applicants wishing to virtually apply must email Beth at [email protected] with a completed application (download here) and a downloadable video file, or a video link such at YouTube, Google Drive or DropBox. Audio files, tapes, or CDs will not be accepted.

Individual and group vocalists, as well as instrumentalists, are invited to audition. All vocal auditions must be performed a cappella (no musical accompaniment). Performances of the National Anthem are not to exceed two minutes.

The last day to submit 2020 National Anthem auditions is Saturday, April 4. A member of the Iowa Cubs staff will reach out to those who have been selected.

The Iowa Cubs play 70 games at Principal Park in 2020 and will open the home schedule on April 14 at 6:38 p.m. vs. San Antonio.

Kernels hosting Spring/Summer Job Fairs

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

During the job fair, the Kernels management staff will be holding on-site interviews for the following positions: concessions, warehouse, ticket office, ticket takers, promotions team, ushers, souvenirs and stadium operations.

The Kernels are looking for people who are reliable, hard-working and passionate about pleasing our fans. Applicants must be 16 years of age to work at the Kernels. The Kernels are an equal opportunity employer. Applications are also available online at www.kernels.com.

Job Fair Times:
Friday, February 28 | 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Saturday, February 29 | 9:00-11:00 am

The Kernels Ticket Office opens for single-game ticket purchase on Monday, March 23 at 10:00 am. Opening night for the Kernels is Monday, April 13 vs. Wisconsin at 6:35 pm.

 

2020 Assistant Positions Available!

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

The Quad Cities River Bandits are looking for dedicated, hardworking people to assist during the 2020 season. These positions are paid and capped at 40 hours per week! Come get experience in the sports industry at “The Friendliest Ballpark in America.”

For more information on the positions that are currently available, please click on the title you are interested in learning more about. Each job description provides a point of contact within the River Bandits organization to send your application information.

There are four assistant positions currently open for the 2020 season:
– Ballpark Operations Assistant
– Marketing and Promotions Assistant
– Groundskeeping Assistant
– Fulfillment and Sales Assistant

There are also two part-time positions open for the 2020 season:
– On-Field Emcee
– Mascot Performer

Bees now seeking 2020 interns

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

Burlington, IA – The Burlington Bees, class-A Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels are currently seeking interns for the 2020 season.

Available internships are in the areas of Ticketing/Group Sales and Merchandise, Marketing/Stadium Operations, Groundskeeping and Food/Beverage.

Bees interns will actively be a part of the many facets of team operations. Primary responsibilities across all openings include coordinating promotions, providing first-rate customer service, maintaining a clean facility that is fan-friendly, marketing the team in Burlington and in surrounding communities, and looking for ways to improve our operations daily.

The Bees are seeking talented, self-motivated individuals who want to learn what goes on behind the scenes of professional baseball. The Burlington organization values open-minded, conscientious team players possessing a positive attitude and a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done. Candidates must possess excellent writing, computer skills and a willingness to work long hours and weekends.

For more information on specific internship responsibilities or to apply, submit a resume and cover letter to Nick Carey at [email protected]. Please refrain from contacting by phone.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

The Kernels Foundation is now excepting Grant Applications Online

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Awards for the Spring Cycle will be selected in March

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Kernels Foundation is now accepting grant request applications online at www.kernels.com. All information, including the application form, guidelines, and application cycles, can be found at the following link: https://www.milb.com/cedar-rapids/community/grants.

The Kernels Foundation is currently accepting grant applications for the Spring Cycle, which runs from January 1 – February 15. Approved grants will be announced in March.

The purpose of The Kernels Foundation is to ensure that all youth in Eastern Iowa have the opportunity to experience the thrills and life-enhancing lessons that come from engaging in athletics and recreational activities.

All grant applications that are submitted online will be evaluated by The Kernels Foundation Board of Directors.

Bandits and TBK Bank Partner to Renovate Youth Field

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

The Quad Cities River Bandits and TBK Bank, SSB have announced an initiative to renovate youth baseball and softball fields in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas. The first project as part of this initiative will be completed this week at Northwest Park in Davenport.

The Northwest Park Babe Ruth Field will undergo a transformation on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in order to give the young athletes playing on this field a better baseball experience. River Bandits Head Groundskeeper Andrew Marking will lead a team of volunteers from the River Bandits front office and TBK Bank team members throughout the project. Some of the planned improvements include new pitching rubbers and plates in the bullpens, re-sloping the pitching mounds, cleaning up and leveling the area around home plate, cleaning the edges of the infield, clearing the infield dirt of grass and weeds and replacing some of the sod on the field. QC Custom Tees has partnered with the program to provide t-shirts for all of the volunteers.

The field is home to the Scott County Babe Ruth League. The league gives children under the age of 18 an opportunity to play baseball in the spring prior to their summer baseball seasons. For some of the players who won’t play high school ball this represents their last chance to play organized baseball.

The River Bandits and TBK Bank will hold a press conference at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 11 at Northwest Park to unveil the renovated field. Members of the media are invited to attend and take footage of the new field. River Bandits General Manager Jacqueline Holm, TBK Bank, Midwest Division President John DeDoncker and Mike Lizak from the Scott County Babe Ruth League are scheduled to address the media at this event.

Volunteers will be working on the field Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Nominations now open for Kernels sixth annual Military Heroes Baseball Card Set

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Cedar Rapids, IA – Nominations are now open for the Cedar Rapids Kernels sixth annual Military Heroes Baseball card set. The card set will represent each branch of the military and honor those who are currently serving our country, veterans who have served in the past but are no longer active, and those who bravely fought for our country, but have since passed away.

Nominations forms are available by visiting the Kernels offices during normal business hours, or online by clicking here. Nominations can be submitted online by clicking here, mailed directly to the Kernels offices or dropped off at the stadium during normal business hours. Please include a photo of the Military Hero with your completed nomination form.

The first 30 submissions will make it into the 2019 card set, so we urge people to turn in their nominations right away. Nominations will be taken until Thursday, January 31st, OR, until 30 submissions are received.

To give all past and current military the opportunity to be honored in the Military Heroes Card Set, we ask that those veterans included in card sets from 2014 to 2018 not be nominated.

The card set will be given away to the first 1,000 fans that enter Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday, July 4th, 2019. Those military heroes selected to appear in the card set and their families will be honored on the field following the July 4th game, and will receive four tickets to that game.

For more information on the Military Heroes Baseball card set, or to access a nomination form, please contact Andrea Brommelkamp at (319) 896-7603 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Cedar Rapids Kernels release 2018 Community Report

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Kernels have released their third annual report showcasing how the organization supported the Cedar Rapids community in 2018.

The twenty-page report highlights the work inside and outside of Veterans Memorial Stadium throughout the calendar year. The Kernels Organization as a whole gave over $429,000 in charitable donations which includes money granted by the Kernels Foundation for local recreational projects. Other community efforts showcased include the 20th Annual Kernels Summer Reading Program that promoted the importance of reading to 25,000 local children in Eastern Iowa and the “Home Run for Hunger” program that, since 2017, collected 7,200 pounds of food from farmers’ market vendors for the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) food reservoir.

The entire 2018 Cedar Rapids Kernels Community Report can be viewed by visiting www.kernels.com and clicking on the Community tab on the home page.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. For more information, visit www.kernels.com and follow the Kernels on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Alliant Energy Foundation to match a portion of Harry Potter Jersey silent auction proceeds this Friday

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Cedar Rapids, IA – Alliant Energy, the sponsor of the Harry Potter Jersey Night set for this Friday, June 22nd, and the Alliant Energy Foundation have announced they will match a portion of the total money raised from the jersey silent auction at the game.

The Alliant Energy Foundation will match up to $5,000 of the total amount raised by the jersey silent auction that will take place during Friday’s game between the Kernels and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Both teams will be wearing special Harry Potter Jerseys and the proceeds from the silent auction will benefit HACAP’s Operation Backpack.

Gates open at 5:30 PM on Friday, June 22nd with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 PM. Tickets may be purchased online at www.kernels.com or by calling the Kernels Ticket Office at (319) 896-7560.

The Kernels are currently enjoying the MWL All-Star Break through June 20th. They begin the second half of the MWL season by hosting the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Thursday, June 21st at 6:35 PM, which kicks off a seven-game home stand that continues until Wednesday, June 27th.

Chris Kleinhans-Schulz and Morgan Hawk bring you all of the play-by-play on the radio home of Kernels baseball, 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM. Fans may listen on-line at www.kmryradio.com, or www.kernels.com. Fans may also stream all 70 Kernels home game and selected road games via a MiLB.TV subscription. Visit MiLB.TV for subscription information.

Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.kernels.com, or by calling the Kernels Ticket Office at 896-7560. Ticket office hours are 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday.