Education News

Conner Ellinghuysen has been named director of admissions at Buena Vista University. Ellinghuysen comes from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, Minn., where he has served as associate director of admission. The Lewiston, Minn., native has been with Saint Mary’s working in a variety of admission and advancement positions before and after graduation in 2015...

A wide smile crosses Jorge Ceballos’ face as he discloses his dream job. “Dentist,” he says, eyes glimmering. “I want to be a dentist.” How will he get there? Ceballos, a Buena Vista University senior, will one day open his dental practice after making connections in Cuba, Carroll, Storm Lake, and, most recently, Argentina, where he served as an intern for Enjoy Dental, one of 179 internships completed by BVU students in the 2018-19 academic year...

Iowa Central Community College honored its 2019 Hall of Fame nominee notable alumni Saturday at the college. “For more than 50 years, Iowa Central has helped students get to the next step to achieve their dreams and be a vibrant part of their community. Our Hall of Fame event provides Iowa Central, fellow alumni, faculty and staff a chance to recognize their contributions and accomplishments,” notes Iowa Central President, Dr. Dan Kinney...

CommUnity Education along with Tyson of Storm Lake will be offering a Turkey Shoot Free Throw Contest on Saturday, November 10 at the Storm Lake Elementary School. The Turkey Shoot is a free family activity for parents or grandparents to participate in with their son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter. ...

Buena Vista University (BVU) has again been selected as a NASPA Lead Initiative Institution for the 2019-20 year. Additionally, Dr. Ashley Farmer-Hanson, assistant vice president of Student Success and director of Community Engagement, has been chosen to serve on the National Board for Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE)...

Iowa Central Community College’s Honors Program is a highly esteemed program within the college that aims to allow exceptional undergraduate scholars to reach their full potential through innovative educational opportunities and personally enriching experiences. Designed to challenge students intellectually, those in the program will explore advanced topics, gain relevant experience, and expand their worldview...

Storm Lake Community Education will be holding a Sports Gear Swap on October 12, 10 a.m. - noon, to help get used gear into the hands of people who can use it. There is no cost to participate, according to CE Director Joe Kucera. During this time, anyone can:...

On Thursday September 19th, FFA members helped the ISU Extension with Farm Safety Day which was held at the ISU Allee Farm for area third graders. Newell Fonda FFA members assisted with teaching three sessions. Animal Safety was taught by Lexi Roberts and Paige Roberts. ...

On Tuesday, September 17th and Wednesday September 18th, members of the Newell Fonda FFA assisted Iowa State University Extension with hosting Ag Citing Day at the ISU Allee Farm south of Newell. Area fourth graders came to the farm to learn about a variety of agriculture topics...

Kelle Wedeking was recently named director for the Ready, Set, Grow! Learning Center. She will oversee both the Alta day care and the new site planned for the Methodist Manor campus in Storm Lake. Kelley graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Child Adult and Family Services. ...

BVU’s University Marketing and Communications team, alongside representatives from all areas of the University, worked with the national higher education branding firm, Ologie, for the past 10 months to enhance the existing brand. The result of this effort includes the development of new logos for the University and BVU athletics teams, along with extensive framework to build a cohesive voice and common design approach across all University communications. ...

The State Board of Education recently approved performance levels that determine how many students met expectations on Iowa’s new state test, the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP). The board adopted performance levels based on a recommendation from a committee of Iowa educators and the test’s developer, Iowa Testing Programs at the University of Iowa. ...

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has launched a drive to get schools involved in registering young voters. The Iowa Legislature passed a law in May 2017 that lowered the voter registration age to 17 as of Jan. 1 of this year. Under the new law, those who will be 18 in time for the next general election also may participate in primary elections...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s High School juniors and seniors reflected upon 9/11 through service this week with history educator Kate Swanson. They spent a day at the Fonda Freedom Quilts learning about 9/11, quilting, and service learning and giving back. While at the quilting center, they made a monetary donation. Back at school, the students wrote letters to accompany the quilts they helped make, which will be received by families who lost a loved one in military service since 9/11...

Jairo Zavala Aguilera recently was selected as the Division 2, Region 2 Conservation Poster winner. Presenting him his award are Storm Lake Elementary Principal Barb Lange, and Colleen Schwanz with the Buena Vista Soil and Water Conservation District...

Russ Lachney - Iowa’s “One Man Band” returns to Storm Lake in the Live at Regatta music series at Kings Pointe Resort, Saturday, September 14. Showtime is 6 p.m. The owner of Stringwinders Music in Algona, Russ is a native of New Orleans, LA, greatly influenced by the rich musical culture of the city. ...

The Newell Fonda FFA took 12 members to the Manson Northwest Webster FFA trap shoot on Saturday, September 7. In total, there were 84 individuals and 20 teams competing from area FFA chapters. Garrett Meyer took sixth place individual, AJ Chase got 10th place individual and Jaron Vanderhoff got 11th place individual. ...

When Mary Rose Bernal sought help for her eating disorder during her first year of college in Iowa, she said she felt like she had to educate her Iowa providers “who should have known better.” Bernal, 21, originally from San Jose, Calif., and a spring 2019 graduate of Grinnell College, has struggled with an eating disorder since she was 15. ...

Buena Vista University welcomes 17 new faculty members for the 2019-20 academic year. “We are thrilled with the quality of new faculty members this year,” says Dr. Brian Lenzmeier, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “These professionals come from across the country, bringing a wide range of experiences to our campus, ranging from seasoned faculty with extensive experience in higher education, to new faculty coming right out of industry. ...

Three Storm Lake St. Mary’s School staff members will be honored for their years of service, at the Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Delta Hotels Convention Center. Third grade educator Heidi Larsen will be honored for 35 consecutive years of service, preschool educator Kristin Stille for five years of service and preschool aide Heidi Wunschel for five years of service. ...

Farm Credit presented the local Future Farmers of America Chapter at Storm Lake St. Mary’s High School with a $2,000 grant check. The grant funds will be used towards attending the national convention and for the school’s new ag class and materials, according to moderator and ag instructor Ashley Treadwell. ...

Eighty-nine percent of the children surveyed at the College Savings Iowa annual Iowa State Fair survey believe a college education is a necessary step to achieving their dreams and career aspirations. “Iowa children are already thinking about their futures,” State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald stated. “Every year, this survey reaffirms how important it is for families to start planning and saving early to help make college a reality for their children.”...

Newell-Fonda is running new start and end times for the 2019 - 2020 school year for all grades from pre-kindergarten to 12. The school day starts at 8:20 and ends at 3:20.

New instructional assistants were introduced at Storm Lake Elementary Monday. The district held a Welcome Back day for staff, to introduce a theme of “America’s School,” followed by creative meetings in each of the buildings to help inspire and empower staff toward the coming school year. See Friday’s issue for more on the events...

Youngsters take part in the final sessions of Witter Gallery Summer Art Camp. All last week, the final segment focused on “Create Your Own Museum,” as students were inspired by the Louvre, the Guggenheim, State Hermitage Museum in Russia, British Museum, and the works of Vincent Van Gogh...

Storm Lake St. Mary’s School held professional development for their new teachers Monday for the 2019-20 school year. New staff includes front – Erin Joneson, 4-year-old preschool; Sara Kruetz, 3-year-old preschool; Paulette McCall, Librarian; Judy Boettcher, second grade. ...

“Stay Independent: A Healthy Aging Series” is a nutrition and wellness program offered by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach for adults age 60 and older. The four-session program will be offered September 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the first-floor conference room of Cherokee Regional Medical Center located at 300 Sioux Valley Drive in Cherokee...

Lauren Slings is working on the streets of Newton in her second internship of the year, spending the summer working with the Newton Police Department. “I’m doing parking enforcement, making sure people are parking legally,” she says. “It can be challenging while interacting with the public in a different perspective.”...

Natalie Brewer took a break from her summer internship to return to BVU to welcome a huge class of incoming freshman as a member of the Orientation Team. During introductions, Brewer, per the Orientation Team tradition, presented a gift to one new student. Brewer handed out a small puzzle, along with her explanation: “Because everyone’s story is unique, and BVU helps you along the way as you put the pieces together and discover your true identity.”...

The following students participated in the weeklong Tech Trek camp in July at Buena Vista University: • Maddy Courtright, of Storm Lake • Megan Courtright, of Storm Lake • Claudia Tapia, of Alta • Lydia Whitmore, of Storm Lake • Autumn Wunschel, of Lakeside...

Seven youth from Sac County recently participated in the Scratch your Video Game Itch Camp at the Sac County Extension Office. The participants played Olympic games with Dot. For the rest of the camp, the participants used Scratch and designed their video games. ...

Central College is adding new club sports for the 2019-20 school year, including men’s volleyball and women’s bowling with the possibility of both soon becoming varsity sports. Men’s volleyball and women’s bowling continue to be emerging intercollegiate sports, the result of increased participation at the high school level...

The annual retired staff breakfast will be August 23. Anyone who has retired from Storm Lake Community School is invited to attend. The group will meet at Lakeshore Cafe at 8 to chat for a bit, then order from the menu and eat around 8:30. If you have questions, call Marilyn at 732-7783 or Denise at 284-2843...

On Monday, July 8th, 6 youth from Sac County participated in the What is a Farmer? camp at the Sac County Extension and Outreach Office. The participants were able to take a personality assessment, had a crossword puzzle with different uses for animal products, learned about the different jobs within the farming industry, played a farming simulation game, and ended the day getting a tour of 2 different farms. ...

Dr. Dan Kinney of Iowa Central Community College was officially awarded the IACCT (Iowa Association of Community College Trustees) 2019 Iowa Outstanding Chief Administrator Award last week in Council Bluffs.

Briana Roberts, AC of Pierce, White, & Liberty Halls, has traveled to more than 17 countries. Briana encourages students to take advantage of traveling opportunities at BVU. “Expanding what you learn here, globally, is what I try to encourage and excite students about.”...

Nothing but smiles from BV’s first-year Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling graduate students. They had an exciting residency week ahead of them.

High school and current college students will once again have the opportunity to win Upper Iowa University tuition awards and free classes during the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. To enter the respective drawings, students are encouraged to visit the University’s information booth during the August 8-18 event...

School districts throughout the U.S. are struggling to find school bus drivers, a challenge that has worsened with low unemployment and a strong economy. The problem has become so severe that some districts are offering sign-up bonuses for new drivers, while others rely on mechanics, custodians and other school employees to fill the gap. For parents and students, the shortage can mean longer waits for a ride to school and more crowded buses...

Storm Lake student Lessly Ortega, taking part in the Rocket Girls education program at Kennedy Space Center.

The path Debra Marquart followed to becoming a writer was far from ordinary. And yet, it is hard to imagine how the Iowa State University Distinguished Professor of English could have taken any other route and achieved as much. That’s because every unexpected detour and fork in the road – even the “grim existence of life on the farm” – have strongly influenced her poetry, short stories and novels. ...

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday that a total of 23 Iowa school districts including Storm Lake will be able to bolster their computer science teacher workforce, due to a state appropriation of $500,000. Storm Lake schools will receive over $57,000 for teacher professional development in science and technology...