Technology to improve student experience PAGE 5 More students

spring summer 2015
Technology to improve student experience PAGE 5
More students go on to graduate school PAGE 8
College kicks off Alumni Chapters Program PAGE 23
P R E S I D E N T
T H E
F R O M
2
The best thing about Morningside College has always been the people. This applies not only to current
students, faculty and staff, but also to the thousands of alumni that support the college and live out its
mission in their daily lives. You are an important part of the college’s past, its present, as well as its future.
Last fall we sent out an alumni survey to get input on how we can strengthen our connection with you.
Almost 650 alumni took the time to respond and help us grow stronger as a college. Thank you.
The most gratifying message in the survey results was that alumni are very satisfied with the college.
Ninety-four percent said their overall opinion of the college was good or excellent, 95 percent said their
student experience was good or excellent, and 93 percent said they promoted the college to others at
least occasionally.
Looking specifically at alumni from our graduate education program, 98 percent said their student
experience was good or
excellent, and 61 percent said
they promote the college
regularly or all the time.
There is one area where we
need to improve for graduate
alumni, and that is the
alumni experience. We
noticed that and are looking
at how we can better connect
with you.
In the survey, alumni said
they want to help identify
jobs for graduates, serve as
mentors for students,
provide leadership on boards
and committees, and serve as
ambassadors for the college.
This is exciting, as our alumni
Alumni and friends smile for a photo at an Alumni Chapter event in Kansas City.
are a great resource of
wide-ranging knowledge
and expertise.
I would love for you to get even more involved with Morningside, whether that means hosting students
for internships, visiting our campus as guest speakers, or serving on the board for the Morningside College
Alumni Association.
The Alumni Association works to create opportunities for alumni to connect with the college. It recently
helped launch the Alumni Chapters Program, where alumni in different parts of the country get together
for different activities. Meetings have already been held in Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles and
San Francisco.
I appreciate how alumni want to do whatever they can to help the college and our students. I also
want the college to be there for alumni. From professional networking to cultural and entertainment
opportunities, I want the college to be a lifelong resource for you.
Morningside College is a very special place. A transformation is occurring here that is enhancing the
college experience for our students and has enabled us to become one of the fastest-growing colleges in
the Midwest. Our graduates continue to get great jobs or enroll in prestigious graduate or professional
programs. Robin and I hope that you can attend an alumni event this coming year or come back for
homecoming and feel the energy on campus that just permeates the place. I guarantee that you’ll love it!
JOHN REYNDERS
contents
spring summer 2015
Editor:
Jenny Welp Thomas
Art Director:
Kevin Kjeldseth
volume 70 number 2
Vice President for Communications
& Marketing:
Rick Wollman
Alumni Association
Executive Committee:
Adam Lloyd 2004, president
Matt Campbell 1998, vice president
Dick Stone 1968,
treasurer & secretary
Julie Negus Eickhoff 1989,
college board representative
& alumni chapter liaison
Paul Johnson, student
government president
Paige McKern, student alumni
association president
Gene Ambroson,
director of alumni relations
in this issue
4 Morningside opens new
Col. Bud Day Center for Civic Engagement.
Community news on and off campus
6 Mustang Minutes
Morningside sports highlights
7 M-Club Messenger
Reflecting on 40+ years of Morningside softball
10 Faculty and Staff Notes
Morningside College Operator:
712-274-5000 or 800-831-0806
The Morningsider is published twice
a year under the auspices of the
public relations office. It is
distributed free of charge to alumni
and friends of the college. © 2015 by
Morningside College, Sioux City,
Iowa. All rights reserved.
4 Morningside Avenues
Faculty and staff awards, faculty news, new staff
14 Donor Recognition
Thank you for supporting the college
8 More students are going on to graduate school.
16 Class Notes
Alumni news and feature stories
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to:
The Morningsider
Morningside College
1501 Morningside Ave.
Sioux City, IA 51106
Morningside College does not
discriminate on the basis of age, sex,
religion, creed, race, color, gender
identity, sexual orientation,
marital status, disability, genetic
information or national origin in its
programs and activities.
30 College sweethearts share their stories.
The Morningside
College experience
cultivates a passion
for life-long learning
and a dedication to
ethical leadership and
civic responsibility.
ON THE COVER: Shelby Hawn enjoys the view from the second floor of the
Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center at Morningside College.
Photo by Doug Burg, Burg Studios.
3
MORNINGSIDE AVENUES
Notable
“Most Efficient” College
Morningside was included in a U.S. News &
World Report list of the country's "most
efficient" colleges and universities. In the
"Regional Colleges (Midwest)" category,
Morningside scored second on operating
efficiency and was one of only five Midwest
regional colleges to make the list that
compared spending and educational
quality.
Top College for
Counseling Degree
Morningside College was ranked No. 5 on
a list of the “Top 25 Small Colleges for a
Counseling Degree” that appears on the
website Best Counseling Degrees,
www.bestcounselingdegrees.net. Schools
were evaluated on accreditation, retention
rate and net price and ranked by overall
graduation rate.
4
Fundraising/Alumni
Relations Awards
The college received awards for best
practices in fundraising and alumni
relations at the Council for Advancement
and Support of Education District VI
conference in Denver, Colo. Over 450
institutions applied, and Morningside was
one of only 12 selected to receive awards
at the platinum level.
Morningside College dedicates new
Col. Bud Day Center for Civic Engagement
This spring Morningside dedicated the new Col. Bud Day 1950 Center for Civic Engagement on
the second floor of the Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center on the college’s campus.
Named in honor of one of America’s most highly decorated servicemen, the Col. Bud Day Center
for Civic Engagement will focus on activities related to civic awareness and citizenship
on campus and in the Sioux City area. The center is affiliated with the Morningside College
Department of Economics, Political Science and Sociology.
“Our vision is for the center to become known nationally for its nonpartisan efforts to
encourage civic involvement and interest in the political process,” said President John Reynders.
“We are grateful that Colonel Day’s family agreed to let us name the center after him and are
pleased they joined us for the dedication ceremony.”
Morningside professor Sam Clovis will serve as the center’s director.
Day saw active military duty during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, which
included more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. He received nearly 70 medals
and awards as well as the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest combat military award, and the Air
Force Cross, the highest combat award for airmen. Day died in 2013.
Morningside hosts NAIA Softball
World Series
Ten teams from across the nation converged on the
Elizabeth & Irving F. Jensen Softball Complex in
May when Morningside hosted the 35th Annual
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Softball World Series with the City of Sioux City.
The event was presented by Morningside and
Security National Bank. Morningside also will host
the 2016 World Series with the city.
Honorary
Doctorates
George Dehne, president and CEO of GDA
Integrated Services, was recognized for his
career in higher education as a consultant to
some of the nation’s leading colleges and
universities, including Morningside.
Bishop Deborah (Lieder) Kiesey 1973, a United
Methodist Church bishop and former member
of the college board of directors, was honored
for her and her family’s long association with
and service to Morningside.
Mark Nylen, president and CEO of Hepar
BioScience LLC, was recognized for
philanthropic endeavors that have supported
numerous area organizations and programs,
including Morningside.
Morningside grad
named vice president
for institutional
advancement
Kari (Bull) Winklepleck 2003 recently was named vice president
for institutional advancement at Morningside College. Winklepleck
has 12 years of experience working in the advancement
department and most recently
was assistant vice president
for the annual fund. “She has
established and nurtured many
important relationships with
current and prospective
donors,” said President John
Reynders. “I am thrilled to
have someone of Kari’s caliber
already on staff to take this
leadership role.” Ahmad Boura,
the previous vice president for
institutional advancement,
accepted a position at
California State University at
Chico.
Join us for a show!
The Betty Ling Tsang Fine Arts Series is free and open to the public.
Summer performances take place at the college in the
Buhler Outdoor Performance Center, weather permitting.
Holiday Pops Concert with the Sioux City Symphony
8:15 p.m. June 27
Hansel and Gretel and the Long Way Home
10 a.m. and 7 p.m. July 10, 10 a.m. July 11
Oklahoma Sing-A-Long
7 p.m. Aug. 7 and 8
MORNINGSIDE AVENUES
College uses technology
to improve student
experience
Morningside recently found a new way to use technology to
improve the student experience. It all started when faculty and staff
members were discussing how to assess academic challenge.
John Pinto, associate vice president for graduate programs and
institutional assessment, said students will tell you in a course
survey whether a class was challenging, but it is difficult for them to
pinpoint exactly why the class was challenging. Also, he said it is
difficult for students to answer a question like, “How many hours do
you study each week?”
Information technology staff suggested a free software program
called mQlicker. It allows the college to send out short surveys that
students can answer in real time using their phones.
“We will get a much better idea of what students are doing and
when they do it so we can adapt our programs to fit students’
schedules instead of ours,” Pinto said.
Over a two-week period this spring, about 100 students were
buzzed three or four times a day between 8 a.m. and midnight. Each
time it took them less than 60 seconds to answer questions about
what they were doing and whether they found it valuable.
The college is still analyzing survey results. However, Pinto said
he was pleased to see that one-third of the time, students reported
that they were studying. When studying, 72 percent agreed or
strongly agreed that the work was challenging.
“You always worry that you’re assigning busy work,” he said.
“Students do not see what they’re doing as busy work.”
The mQlicker technology also can be used in class to conduct
quizzes or to check for understanding. The college already has
clicker technology, where professors distribute remote control-like
devices to students to complete surveys. But Pinto said mQlicker
surveys will be easier for faculty to use because students already
have the technology in their phones.
“It really has significant implications in changing the pedagogy
in the classroom and in changing how we collect information about
our students,” he said.
5
MUSTANG MINUTES
By Dave Rebstock
Morningside sports highlights
Men’s basketball team
has banner season
The men’s basketball team had a
28-5 record this winter for the second
highest victory total in school history.
The Mustangs posted a 17-3 record
in Great Plains Athletic Conference
(GPAC) play to share the league’s
regular season championship with
Dakota Wesleyan. Along with
winning their fourth conference
title during the Jim Sykes coaching
era, the Mustangs also made it to
the National Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
Steve O’Neill
Division II National Tournament for the
fifth time in the last 10 years, where they posted an 86-79 opening
round victory against Tabor before a season-ending 72-70 loss against
Saint Francis in the round of 16.
Experience was key for a team that featured seven seniors among its
top 12 scorers. Senior guard Steve O’Neill topped the Mustangs with an
18.3-point scoring average and became Morningside’s first-ever
first-team NAIA men’s basketball All-American.
6
Two wrestlers earn All-America honors
The Mustangs posted a 7-3 dual record in wrestling and finished
second in the GPAC standings with a 6-1 league mark.
Senior 184-pounder Rulin Pederson was ranked among the top
competitors in the nation throughout the campaign and placed eighth
at the NAIA National Championships to earn NAIA All-America honors
for the second time in his career.
Senior Garret Lambrecht also made a strong national tournament
showing with a seventh-place finish in the 141-lb. division to earn
All-America honors for the first time in his career.
Track & field athletes
make their mark
Neeia Cooperwood was named the
GPAC Female Track & Field Athlete of
the Year for both the indoor and
outdoor seasons.
Cooperwood graduated as one of
the most decorated athletes in
Morningside history as an 18-time
GPAC champion, a 13-time NAIA
All-American, and the owner of six
school records and part owner of two
school relay records.
She won the long jump, 60-meters,
200-meters and 400-meters at this
Neeia Cooperwood
winter’s GPAC Indoor Track & Field
Championships and then added four more titles at the GPAC Outdoor
Championships with triumphs in the long jump, 100-meters,
200-meters and 400-meters.
Cooperwood also excelled on the national stage by earning
All-America honors in three events at both the NAIA Indoor and
Outdoor National Championships, including a second-place finish in
the indoor 400-meters for the top national finish of her Morningside
career. Cooperwood added a third-place finish in the 200-meters and
a fifth-place finish in the long jump at the NAIA Indoor National
Championships. She was fifth in the 400-meters and third in both
the long jump and 200-meters at the NAIA Outdoor National
Championships.
Jay Welp was one of the top performers at this year’s GPAC Indoor
Championships when he won a distance triple with victories in the
mile and 1000- and 3000-meter runs. The senior standout followed up
with a fifth-place finish in the 1000-meters at the NAIA Indoor
Championships to earn individual All-America honors for the first time
in his career.
Mark Abrams joined Cooperwood as a conference champion at this
year’s GPAC Outdoor Championships when he reigned in the 10,000meters for the second year in a row.
Mustang highlights in softball, baseball,
tennis, golf, dance and volleyball
The softball team posted its 13th consecutive winning season with a
27-21 record. The Mustangs peaked at the finish when they went 13-4
over their final 17 games and just missed earning a seventh straight
NAIA National Tournament appearance when they lost to Concordia in
the GPAC Tournament Championship Series. Faith Schmidt pitched a
no-hitter during the GPAC’s post-season tournament and was named
to the All-GPAC First Team.
The baseball team also enjoyed a successful season with a 35-18
record for its fifth 30-win campaign in the last eight years. Freshman
hurler Cody Selig had a 9-1 record to break a school record for pitching
victories in a season and was joined on the All-GPAC First Team by
Nate Clark and Jacob Lamoreux.
The women’s tennis team went 13-5 and finished as the GPAC
runner-up with a 6-1 league record. Cassie Stanek led the Mustangs
with a 19-3 singles record to set a school record for wins in a season.
She was joined on the All-GPAC team by Megan Carlson, Katie
Hanson, Megan Solberg, and Audri Swisher. Alex Struck had a 13-6
singles record for the Mustang men to tie their record for wins in a
season. Struck, Jordan Betts and Danny Graves were named to the
All-GPAC Men’s Tennis Team.
The Mustangs had two All-GPAC performers on the links, where
Caitlin Fieselman received the honor in women’s golf and Keegan Bak
did so in men’s golf after he finished third in the conference individual
standings.
Morningside’s dance team finished first at the NAIA Cheer & Dance
North Qualifying Competition in Crete, Neb., and then finished fourth
at the NAIA Cheer & Dance National Invitational in Fremont, Neb. The
Mustangs’ cheer team also qualified for the national invitational,
where they finished seventh. Erin Oliver became the Mustangs’
first-ever dance All-American, and her teammates Kara Bentz and Alli
Martin were named honorable mention All-Americans.
This winter the Mustangs entered the world of varsity men’s
volleyball competition. The Mustangs posted an 11-17 record in their
debut season.
M-Club Messenger
A tradition of excellence
Reflecting on 40+ years of Morningside softball By Dr. Sharon Ocker
Softball has been an important sport at Morningside for many
46 wins in a season, and set records with 75 home runs, a .335 batting
years. How did the game of softball come into being? The variant of
average and a 1.63 earned run average.
baseball with a larger ball and a smaller field was invented in Chicago
Here are a couple of interesting stories through the years, as told
as an indoor sport in 1887. Back then, the ball was larger, spongy and
by coaches and players.
soft enough that gloves weren't needed. Not so today. The ball is very
Morningside was playing games at Buena Vista. A tornado had its
hard and about 12 inches in circumference, whereas a
eye pointed at the field. Maureen (Kolar) Nussman 1975
baseball is about nine inches. A few years ago, the
was shook and wanted out of there. Nita (Harris)
color yellow was introduced, supposedly to make the
Edlund 1959 asked Karen Taylor Burton 1974, who
ball easier to see.
was from that area, where the best place to go might
I am sure that Morningside gals played softball for
be. Taylor Burton spotted a culvert. Was there room
fun way back when, but the first record of collegiate
for the whole team? They all managed to get in - the
competition was in 1973 when Mike Pomerenke 1973
storm hit - and when they came out afterward, there
coached the team to a 2-3 record. The very next year,
was lots of damage - trees, etc. The girls grew closer
the Io-Kota Conference was formed, and Morningside
than ever, and learned a valuable lesson - be prepared
took third place. Morningside did well in that
for anything when you're in a town with the name of
conference, winning the conference four times,
Storm Lake.
including two years in a row in 1982 and 1983 with
Now and again, there were practical jokes. One of
Gary Gevik 1974 as coach.
the best happened to coach Sandy Winter 1981. One
Then the North Central Conference (NCC) made a
of the girls joined a sorority, and some other team
rule that Morningside had to compete in the NCC or
members didn't like the idea. Winter got a call that
the college would have to give up its league
the players had gone to a formal sorority meeting and
membership, so we began much stiffer competition
Jessica Jones-Sitzmann removed the girl, chair and all. Winter talked to the
playing an NCC schedule in 1990. We became quite
team about this and said that they were out of line.
competitive in the NCC, but never captured a championship over
She thought that would take care of it, but the next day, Dean
the 14 years.
Carolyn Rants called and said there had been a food fight in the
The college joined the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in
commons between the sorority and the softball girls. She provided
2004, and we have held our own there over the years, winning five
names of those involved.
regular season championships and six post-season tournament
At the next practice, coach pulled the players on the list into a
titles. We also earned our way into the National Association of
separate room and yelled at them for about 30 minutes. Finally, one
Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tourney six times.
of the girls raised her hand and said, "April Fools’!" Winter said, "But
Morningside has won 925 games and lost 567 for an all-time winning
it's March 30." "We knew you would never fall for it on April 1st," they
rate of 62 percent.
said. Winter countered, "But Dr. Rants would never have helped you."
Coaches over the years were Pomerenke, 1973; Mary Kay
"Yeah," said the player. "We had to talk to her for days." Winter sank
Anderson, 1974; Connie Hauswirth 1976 and Joyce Stille 1985, 1975;
into a chair and offered, "You did it. You got me." Then the players
Rich Everett, 1976-1977; Jean Ellis, 1978-1980; Gevik, 1981-1985;
said, "Coach, the rest of the team thinks it's for real, so could you
Sandy Winter 1981, 1986-1990; Joan McDermott, 1991-1995; Ann
make us run extra?" "No problem," said Winter, and they ran...
Halsne, 1996-1997; Lt. Gen. Ron Dardis 1965, 1998; and Jessica
Jones-Sitzmann just completed her 17th year of coaching the
Jones-Sitzmann, 1999 to present.
Mustangs, and she has had much success, with a record of 566-327
Morningside has produced a number of All-America softball
for a .633 winning percentage. When recruiting, she of course is
players and all-conference awardees. In Division II, five ladies
interested in fielding, throwing ability, hitting, speed, versatility,
garnered All-America honors: Mindi (Prince) Sauer 1998,
stuff and control for pitchers, etc. But what she is most concerned
Jeree (Carlson) Menning 1996, Melissa (McWilliams) Hansen 1999,
about is finding team players who will get along with the others and
Tia (Vitiritto) Stiles 1997 and Angie (Koll) Van Otterloo 1999.
keep their heads up under pressure. We've had our share of those.
Eight players have been named
For more, go online to www.morningside.edu/mclubmessenger.
NAIA All-Americans: Zena
Beth (Junck) Olerich 1985,
Mackenzie Neely 2013,
Whitney (McElrath)
Lloyd 2008, Kendra
Klein 2009, Kelly
(Baumert) Rutter
2010, Alisha
Krieg 2008, Cara
(DeStigter) Drew
2009 and Kati
Steffen 2015.
The 2011 team set
a school record with
Jessica Jones-Sitzmann has been Morningside’s head coach since 1999.
7
Austin Granatowicz (left), Alex Sjuts, Audri Swisher, Brittney Mozer and Jon Hoaglund give students tips on how to get into professional school
during a Health Care Explorers panel at Morningside. Photo by Doug Burg, Burg Studios.
8
Going Places
More Morningside
students go on to graduate school
By Jenny Welp Thomas
recommendation letters.”
Over the past 10 years, Morningside College has about doubled the
Last year Quinton Behlers 2014 applied to eight pharmacy schools
percent of students going on to graduate or professional school.
and was accepted by every single one. At the end of his first year at
The figure used to be about 10 percent of Morningside graduates,
the University of Iowa, he has a 3.95 grade point average.
and now that number is closer to 20 percent, said Stacie Hays,
Behlers said Morningside definitely has given him an advantage.
Morningside’s career counselor.
He said he developed close relationships with
“It’s exciting for us to see our students be admitted
Morningside professors, and that makes him more
into these competitive programs,” she said. “It shows we
comfortable approaching professors in pharmacy school.
are preparing our students academically, and we are
He also did research at Morningside. He said that has
making them aware of the experiences they need outside
made him more analytical so he takes the time to
of the classroom to be viable candidates.”
understand course content, rather than just
Hays said students have to start thinking about
memorizing it.
whether they would like to go to professional school as
“That’s better because, as they’ve told us, some of
early as their freshman year in college.
these drugs aren’t going to be relevant in 15 years,” he
The reason is that some schools start accepting
said. “It’s actually more important for us to know the
applications at the end of their junior year, with an
concepts rather than just memorizing the drug name and
application deadline early the fall of their senior year. As
somewhat of what it does. That way down the road when
a result, they only have three years to take most of the
new drugs are coming out, I will be able to understand
required courses, to do job shadowing in their field, and
what systems they are affecting and just have more
to take advantage of leadership, community service and
Quinton Behlers knowledge about them.”
research opportunities that will look good on their
Students in the Class of 2015 have been accepted
application.
into graduate programs ranging from video game development to
Faculty members approach students early to talk with them
criminology and from healthcare ethics to choral conducting, and
about their options.
professional schools ranging from business to law and from physical
“Because we have smaller class sizes and our students work so
therapy to optometry. Here are just a few of their stories.
closely with our faculty, they’re able to develop very personal
types of relationships,” Hays said. “And that shows in their
Oswaldo Sanchez, engineering physics
and math major, is going to Iowa State
University in Ames for a Ph.D. in
mechanical engineering. He was
awarded full tuition plus a living
stipend. A first generation college
student, Sanchez applied to
Morningside at the last minute, and he
was able to start classes just a couple of
weeks later. His freshman adviser,
Kitty Green, saw his test scores and
sent him to the physics department to
talk about a career in engineering. Later
his physics professors let him know about an open house at Iowa
State, which led to a summer research internship. Sanchez feels that
got his foot in the door. He also said it helped that previous
Morningside graduates have been successful in the mechanical
engineering program.
Hope Forman, business and political
science major, is going to law school at
Chapman University in Orange, Calif.
Forman applied to nine law schools.
She was accepted by all nine and was
offered full tuition from three of them.
Because she is not taking on a lot of
debt, Forman feels she has more
freedom to pursue a career as a human
rights lawyer, which does not pay as
much as some other specialties. This
summer she is teaching English at an
orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania. When
asked what made her law school application stand out, Forman said
she worked two years at Berenstein & Moore Law Firm in Sioux City.
Her pre-law adviser, Dr. Lillian Lopez, had encouraged her to
apply for the job.
Michaela Ingalls, biopsychology major,
is going to the University of Nebraska
Omaha for a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She
was awarded full tuition plus a living
stipend. Ingalls originally wanted to go
into art therapy. Then she took a
biology course where Dr. Chad Leugers
had students grow tau proteins to study
their role in the development of
Alzheimer’s disease. She loved working
on a research project where she
understood the bigger picture. When
applying to graduate school, Ingalls was
told she had some of the best recommendation letters the professors
had ever seen. She said it helped that Morningside is a small school
because she had the same professors for several classes and was able
to develop relationships with them.
Austin Granatowicz, biology and
chemistry major, is going to medical
school at the University of Nebraska
Medical Center in Omaha. He decided
to become a doctor after being
diagnosed with leukemia at the
beginning of his sophomore year at
Morningside. His cancer was quickly
controlled with medication, and he
spent the spring semester of his
sophomore year studying abroad in
Italy. He feels studying abroad and
playing football at Morningside set him
apart when applying to medical school. He also volunteered at camps
for little kids with cancer and worked with Morningside athletics to
raise $15,000 to fight cancer. Granatowicz said professors were so
great about helping him study for the medical school entrance exam
that he felt like he had private tutors.
Kayla Schaefer (top) and Audri Swisher,
biology and chemistry majors, are going
to veterinary school at Iowa State
University in Ames. Iowa State offers
in-state tuition to six South Dakota
residents each year through a contract
with the state of South Dakota.
Schaefer and Swisher took two of those
six spots. It will save each of them more
than $90,000. They felt they had
well-rounded applications that
included strong test scores, research
projects, campus activities and
experience working in vet clinics.
Schaefer got a philosophy minor, which
probably stood out. They both did
research with sea turtles in Costa Rica,
and Swisher worked at a vet clinic in
Mexico. Career counselor Stacie Hays
helped them prepare their personal
statements and know what to expect
during their interviews.
David Meisinger, general psychology
major, is going to medical school at
the University of South Dakota in
Vermillion. He plans to specialize in
child and adolescent psychiatry.
Meisinger majored in psychology rather
than biology or chemistry because he
figured a psychology major would focus
more on mental health issues. Also, he
said psychologists take a slightly
different approach than psychiatrists
when treating patients, so majoring in
psychology as an undergraduate will
make him more well-rounded. With help from adviser Dr. Kim
Christopherson, Meisinger completed his psychology major and the
courses he needed for medical school. He also took other courses in
the liberal arts curriculum, such as photography and philosophy.
9
Walker Faculty Excellence Awards
Outside evaluators selected the recipients. Criteria for selection included teaching excellence, effective advising, scholarship and
service to the college during the previous academic year.
Dr. Anthony Kern,
associate professor of
biology and academic
chair of the Regina
Roth Applied
Agricultural and Food
Studies Program,
teaches with such
passion and enthusiasm that students are
captivated by new theories and topics and
are engaged with course material and
with learning. He integrates hands-on
experiences and gives students
opportunities to develop their own research
projects, allowing for more advanced
research at the undergraduate level.
Advising support for students ranges from
helping plan semester schedules to guiding
career choices. As a scholar, he co-authored
a book chapter and had a peer-reviewed
scholarly article published. He also served
as chair of five faculty search committees,
began an extensive program review,
performed first-year faculty evaluations and
served as a mentor to new faculty.
10
Dr. Patrick McKinlay,
professor of political
science and chair of
economics, political
science and sociology,
received high marks
from students and
peers alike on the
quality of his teaching. One peer wrote that
his “commitment, passion, and vocation for
teaching are extraordinary.” Student
evaluations consistently describe him as
tough but fair and deeply dedicated to
student learning. He works tirelessly in
advising students and assisting them with
their specific goals at Morningside, but he
goes well beyond this to help students
discern career and life paths that fit their
gifts and talents. Scholarly achievements
include authoring a chapter in a textbook.
He also has integrated his ongoing research
into a new course he taught last year.
Colleagues use words like “hard work,”
“integrity” and “conviction” to describe his
commitment to service.
Dr. Chris Spicer,
associate professor of
mathematics, leads
classes through
logical, clear lessons,
soliciting student
input, making jokes
and covering difficult
content. He created a course to help
students with weaker backgrounds in the
field not only improve their skills and
demonstrate competency, but also to
experience some of the passion, creativity
and breadth of the discipline. As an adviser,
he consistently earns high praise from
students. He helped guide development of
Morningside’s advising program through
review of best practices and innovative ideas
from national advising organizations. He
served on numerous committees, worked on
curriculum development, and fostered
interest in his discipline. He has contributed
in countless ways with inspiration, diligence,
compassion and good humor.
Thompson Staff Excellence Awards
Recipients were selected based upon their demonstration of outstanding dedication, service and commitment to Morningside
and its students during the 2013-2014 academic year. Jen Dolphin also was named staff employee of the year.
Jen Dolphin, who was
associate registrar
when she received the
award, provides
numerous services to
students, faculty and
staff. She is always
friendly and helpful
and is extremely skilled at her job. Other
staff members use the word “amazing” to
describe her analytical and technical skills.
Within her department, she facilitates
positive group dynamics and outcomes.
Jeanette (Strub)
Frey 1995, assistant
controller, pitches in
to get projects
completed. She was
involved in the Higher
Learning Commission
accreditation
self-study report and the successful
conversion to the AIMS graphical user
interface. She also developed billing and
refund policies for the graduate education
program and served on two planning task
force committees – chairing one.
Mary Krejci 1999,
enrollment data
manager, has a
positive impact on all
students, faculty and
staff who come in
contact with her. She
especially has an
impact on international students by helping
them deal with the complicated web of
government regulations and procedures
they face in order to study in this country.
Aaron Orndorff,
technology services
supervisor, is
described by other
staff members as
devoted, personable
and hard-working. He
is dedicated to
providing a high level of customer service as
he assists almost every administrative and
academic department on campus. Likewise,
students rely on him and his team to make
their technology experiences problem-free.
Sue Pyburn,
associate director of
admissions, plays a
major role in ensuring
that prospective
students have the best
possible experience
when they inquire,
apply or visit Morningside. From approving
every piece of mail sent to prospective
students to organizing visit days, everything
she does has an impact on the success of our
admissions process.
Kari (Bull)
Winklepleck 2003,
who was assistant
vice president for the
annual fund when she
received the award,
always has a smile and
cheerful greeting to
share. Every day it’s obvious that she takes
great pride in her work and is willing to
make that extra effort to do things right.
Her efforts have had a major impact on the
success of our Annual Scholarship Fund
campaign, which is critical to the college’s
financial vitality.
Faculty Notes
Patrick Blaine, Ph.D., assistant professor of
Spanish, presented a paper and moderated a
panel at the Cine-Lit conference in Portland,
Ore. He presented a paper titled “Gringos
in Chilean Cinema: Nicolás López and
Sebastián Silva.” He also moderated a panel
on children and adolescents in Latin
American film.
Aaron Bunker, Ph.D., assistant professor of
biology, and three students worked on a
paper that was published in the March 2015
issue of BIOS, the quarterly journal of the
Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor
Society. The paper is “Effects of Arm and
Body Position When Measuring Blood
Pressure in Young Healthy Males and
Females.” The students who helped conduct
the 2.5-year study are Kaitlin Gerber 2013,
Nick Haedt 2011 and Blake Schany 2013.
The study found body position – standing,
sitting or lying down –significantly impacts
the blood pressure of females but not males.
Kim Christopherson, Ph.D., associate
professor, had an essay published with a
compilation of essays written for the Society
for the Teaching of Psychology. Her essay
looks at how she assigns writing for both
academic and general audiences. The idea is
to give students experience writing in
different styles, something they will have to
do in their careers.
Stephen Coyne, Ph.D., professor of English,
presented his short story “Smoke and Dew”
at the North American Review Bicentennial
Conference at the University of Northern
Iowa in Cedar Falls. The conference
celebrated the 200th anniversary of the
North American Review, the oldest literary
magazine in the United States.
Lindsey Dutler, D.N.P., assistant professor
of nursing education, completed a
professional certificate program on Mental
Health Care and the Older Adult through the
University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also
had a paper published in a journal for health
professionals working with American
Indians and Alaska Natives. Her paper,
“Hepatitis C Prevalence in a Native
American Reservation Clinic: Impact of a
Screening and Monitoring Program,” was
published in The IHS Primary Care Provider.
David Elder, Ph.D., assistant professor of
writing and rhetoric, presented at the
International Writing Centers Association
conference in Orlando, Fla., with students
Hannah Hecht and Mallory Sea. They
discussed how the college writing center
staff has gone into Sioux City’s public high
schools to work with specific classes or to
offer writing center services for an
afternoon. High school students also have
visited Morningside to work with the writing
center and to do research with the librarian.
Elder and Hecht also led a professional
development workshop for the Sioux City
Community School District. They discussed
ways college professors can change how
they teach based on how high school writing
is taught, and ways high school teachers can
change how they teach based on how college
writing is taught.
Kitty Green, M.A., assistant professor of
history, was elected vice chair of the State
Historical Society of Iowa Board of Trustees.
Geoff Harkness, Ph.D., assistant professor of
sociology, was named treasurer-designate
of the Midwest Sociological Society, and he
authored chapters in two books. He
authored a chapter in the book “Soccer in
the Middle East” that examines the
relationship between athletic participation
and political activism, and finds that female
athletes who took part in the Arab spring
protest in Iraq attributed these actions to
their involvement in sports. He authored a
chapter in the book “Intercultural
Communication with Arabs: Studies in
Educational, Professional and Societal
Contexts” that examines the role of sports in
both exacerbating and alleviating ethnic
tensions among Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens
playing together on a college basketball
team in Iraq.
John Helms, Ph.D., assistant professor of
chemistry, was elected to full membership
in Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.
More than 200 Nobel Prize winners have
been members. To be eligible for full
membership, an individual has to show
noteworthy achievement as an original
investigator in a field of pure or applied
science. Helms conducts research in the
areas of environmental chemistry,
analytical chemistry and aquatic science.
Valerie Hennings 2001, Ph.D., assistant
professor of political science, recently
co-authored two publications. One examines
the ways women provide leadership within
the United Nations General Assembly
through their floor speeches, and it appears
as a chapter in “Global Women Leaders:
Studies in Feminist Political Rhetoric.” The
other analyzes the selection of women in
elections from around the world, and it
appears in the journal Political Behavior.
Hennings also gave the opening address for
Ready to Run Iowa, a non-partisan
candidate training program at Iowa State
University in Ames, and she chaired a
session on women and politics research at
the 2015 Iowa Association of Political
Scientists annual meeting at Drake
University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jean (Peters) Hickman 1981, Ph.D., assistant
professor of music education, gave two
presentations at the Hawaii Music
Educators Association In-Service
Conference at the University of Hawaii at
Manoa in Honolulu. Her presentations were
"Creative Assessment for Performing
Ensembles" and "I Can Get It for You
Wholesale: Free (or Nearly Free) Apps and
Programs for Music Educators."
James M. Hopkins, C.P.A., professor of
accounting, had two articles published in
accounting journals. An article in TAXPRO
Journal explains how the federal income tax
law applies to head-of-household filing
status when one spouse is a nonresident
alien. An article in the Journal of
Accountancy looks at a case where the
court allowed a father to claim his child
for a dependency exemption and earned
income tax credit because he was the
custodial parent, even though a divorce
instrument had awarded custody of the child
to her mother.
Anthony Kern, Ph.D., associate professor of
biology and academic chair of the Regina
Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies
Program, was awarded a competitive grant
subcontract to continue developing the wild
American hazelnut into a viable perennial
crop for the Upper Midwest. The interinstitution hazelnut breeding program is
funded by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Kern was awarded the
competitive grant subcontract with the
University of Minnesota. He is working on
the genetics of the plant and was funded for
$92,000.
11
Marty (Steele) Knepper 1972, Ph.D.,
professor of English and chair of English and
modern languages, led a session at the Iowa
Council of Teachers of English conference in
Johnston, Iowa. Her presentation was on
using recent Iowa films to teach English and
interdisciplinary courses.
Mary Kovarna, Ed.D., professor and chair of
nursing, was a keynote speaker at the Iowa
Nurses Association Legislative Day in Des
Moines. She also helped coordinate an
interactive session on “Stating Your Case:
The Nuts and Bolts of Your Message.” More
than 250 Iowa nurses and nursing students
attended the Legislative Day and then went
to the state Capitol to lobby for healthrelated issues. There were 32 Morningside
students at the event that met with senators
and representatives and articulated
positions on current bills and legislative
action.
faculty
and staff
notes
Jessica LaPaglia, Ph.D., assistant professor
of psychology, presented research at the
Psychonomic Society's annual meeting in
Long Beach, Calif. She presented research on
how testing and contextual detail impact
new learning and false memories.
Lorna Leavitt 1995, Ed.D., associate
professor of education, was hired by
Pearson to score the spring edTPA
assessment given to pre-service teachers.
She scored portfolios for special education.
EdTPA is an assessment designed to answer
the question: “Is a new teacher ready for the
job?” It includes a review of teaching
materials that document and demonstrate
each candidate's ability to effectively teach
his or her subject matter to all students.
12
Susie Lubbers, M.S., assistant professor of
education, helped complete an accreditation
review of the education department at
Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
Lubbers was appointed to the five-person
accreditation review team by the Iowa
Department of Education. Lubbers also
presented at a Sioux City Community School
District “We Teach Secondary” professional
development day. She discussed how
educators can motivate middle and high
school students, and how they can engage
students in their own learning.
Dick Owens, Ed.D., professor emeritus of
education, received the Sam Kirk Educator
of the Year Award at the 52nd Annual
Learning Disabilities Association
International Conference in Chicago.
Each year the Learning Disabilities
Association recognizes an outstanding
educator. Owens was recognized for his
notable contributions to the education of
persons with learning disabilities.
Anne Garreans Power, Ph.D., associate
professor of business, presented at the
National Education Finance Conference in
St. Louis, Mo., and at a Phi Delta Kappa
doctoral research poster session at the
University of Nebraska Omaha. Her
presentations looked at faculty and
administrator perspectives on merit pay
compensation systems in private higher
education.
Heather Reid, Ph.D., professor of
philosophy, presented research at the
American Academy in Rome as part of her
fellowship there, and she traveled to Cyprus
to give the keynote address at a symposium
on ethics and doping in sport. She presented
papers at philosophy conferences in New
York and Canada - one discusses how
athletics are mimetic, yet Plato allowed
them in education because they are
virtuous, and the other discusses how
performance-enhancing technologies
decrease the ethical value of the Olympic
sport. Her chapter “Olympism: A Philosophy
of Sport?” appeared in the book “Routledge
Handbook of the Philosophy of Sport,” and
her book review of “The Bloomsbury
Companion to the Philosophy of Sport” was
published in the journal Sport, Ethics and
Philosophy. She performed article reviews
for the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport
and History of Philosophy Quarterly, and she
reviewed a book manuscript on the subject
of ancient philosophy for Routledge.
Jeremy Schnieder, Ph.D., assistant professor
of writing and rhetoric, and Aaron Bunker,
Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, had a
paper accepted for presentation at the
Annual International Conference on Biology
at the Athens Institute for Education and
Research in Athens, Greece. The paper,
“Once Upon a Time in a Biology Class,”
centers on a biology writing project created
by Bunker that epitomizes the Writing Across
the Curriculum program at Morningside, of
which Schnieder is the director.
Chris Spicer, Ph.D., associate professor of
mathematics, completed a paper with a
colleague and a student that was published
in the Journal of Combinatorial Mathematics
and Combinatorial Computing. The paper
finds solutions to all of the remaining cases
of a problem in Combinatorics that
was originally posed in 1933 by the
mathematician Richard Rado. Amy (Baer)
Whitsell 2013, B.S., started the project while
a student at Morningside. After she
graduated, Spicer worked with Brenda
Mammenga, Ph.D., a former Morningside
faculty member, to finish the problem.
Alden Stout, Ph.D., assistant professor of
philosophy, and David Elder, Ph.D.,
assistant professor of writing and rhetoric,
co-authored a paper that was presented at
the Trends in Teaching College Composition
Conference in Dallas, Texas. Their paper
presented assessment research about the
effectiveness of Morningside’s first-year
seminar classes. Stout also presented a
paper at the annual Conversation on the
Liberal Arts conference in Santa Barbara,
Calif., on “Integrating Ethics and Economics:
Rationality and the Common Good.”
Leslie Werden, Ph.D., associate professor
and chair of writing and rhetoric, taught at
The University of Teacher Education in
Lucerne, Switzerland, last fall as part of a
faculty exchange program. She returned to
the university this spring to do additional
curriculum development and to develop a
conference she will host there in 2016 on
“The Status of English as a Global Language
in Education.”
Heather Wilburn, Ph.D., visiting assistant
professor of philosophy, had a paper
published in the Southwest Philosophy
Review, and she presented the paper at the
Southwestern Philosophical Society’s
annual meeting at The University of Kansas
in Lawrence. The paper discusses beliefs of
philosopher and social critic Theodor W.
Adorno, a German philosopher who was
prominent in the 1960s and 1970s.
Mary Zink, M.B.A., instructor of business,
offered a workshop on “Doing Employee
Discipline Right” for small business owners
and people who have been promoted to
management but may not be trained in this
area.
New Staff
Jonathan Blum 2001,
director of planned
giving and major gifts,
holds primary
responsibility for
deferred and planned
gifts such as trusts,
charitable annuities,
life insurance, wills and bequests. He serves
as a fundraising liaison, preparing written
materials and providing training and
support for staff members working with
donors on deferred and planned gifts.
Katy Burford, head
athletic trainer,
develops and
implements an
athletic training
program for the care
and prevention of
injuries to student
athletes.
Jesse Cole, system
administrator, works
as a member of the
information services
team to provide and
maintain reliable,
efficient and secure
computing and
network services for the Morningside
College community.
Beth Donnelly, head
women’s volleyball
coach, directs and
manages the
intercollegiate
volleyball program.
Mike Freeman,
assistant director of
the Annual
Scholarship Fund,
develops and
implements strategies
for securing financial
support from a
portfolio of donor prospects. He coordinates
all direct mail and email appeals for support
of the Annual Scholarship Fund, including all
athletic fundraising.
Carla Rodawig 2010,
administrative
assistant for
economics, political
science and sociology,
assists the economics,
political science
and sociology
department, and associated programs
and activities, with general office
responsibilities.
Jeff Seagren, assistant
track coach, assists
with the management
of the track and cross
country programs at
Morningside.
James Ewoldt, Dan
Kennedy and Donna
Willers, custodians,
are responsible for
the cleanliness of
assigned areas and
performance of other
duties established by the director of physical
plant and lead custodian.
New Appointments
Dr. Kim Christopherson, associate
professor/educational technologist in the
graduate education program, is responsible
for educational technology for the entire
campus. She also is a member of the
graduate education teaching community
and continues to have undergraduate
teaching responsibilities. Christopherson
has served on the psychology faculty since
2007.
Jen Dolphin, registrar, conducts registration
and maintains academic records for the
college. She facilitates and implements
institutional policy, providing interpretation
and enforcement of policy, and assists the
provost by providing reports, analyses and
recommendations for policy formulation
and revision. She had served as associate
registrar at Morningside since 2001.
Dr. Jackie (Brummond) Barber 1995, dean
for graduate nursing, oversees all aspects of
the graduate nursing program. Morningside
offers a graduate certificate in nursing, and
it has applied to offer a Master of Science in
Nursing. Barber has served on the nursing
faculty at Morningside since 1997.
13
AWARDS & HONORS
Dr. William C. Yockey
Assessment Awards
Elizabeth Birdsell,
Maria Andrade
and India Palm,
housekeepers, are
responsible for the
cleanliness of
assigned areas and
performance of other duties established by
the director of physical plant and lead
custodian.
Dr. Chris Spicer for Mathematical
Understanding and Reasoning
Dr. Patrick McKinlay for United States
Government
Wert Award
Kitty Green, assistant
professor of history, received
the Lucille and Charles Wert
Dr. J. Alden Stout for Introduction to Ethics
Faculty Award, which
The History Department
recognizes the faculty
member judged by his or her
peers to best exemplify the
ideals of the teaching
Awards from ODK Honor Society
profession at Morningside.
Faculty Person of the Year
Dr. Chris Spicer, associate professor of mathematics
faculty
and staff
First-Year Teaching/Advising Award Dr. Gail Dooley, professor of music
Staff Member of the Year Donna Galati Huls, writing center consultant
notes
no
President’s Society Members
14
PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY
Aalfs Manufacturing, Inc.
Michael E. Abbott '70
Sterne Akin
Dr. Clark '77 & Susi Albert
Michael '72 & Linda '72 Alexander
Bill '66 & Mary '65 Allen
Alliant Energy Foundation
Gene O. Ambroson
American Pop Corn Co.
Francis Y. Ames '41
Anonymous (3)
Hobart & Charlotte Anderson
Allan A. Arkfeld '70
Larry '65 & Joan '67 Arnold
Barry & Sandra Backhaus
Bacon Creek Construction & Design
Dr. Craig '70 & Sandra '70 Bainbridge
Dr. Jackie '95 & Scott Barber
Robert E. Barks '51
Robert H. Bates '53
Adam '97 & Lynn '97 Baumgartner
Merl & Alta Baxter
Robert & Maureen Baxter
Sherwin C. Beck '73
James E. Beermann '66
Michael '75 & Margie Bennett
Chad W. Benson '90
Chris '94 & Karen '95 Benson
Shari '82 & Marc Benson
Birkhofer Family
Jonathan '01 & Stacy Blum
Wesley H. Boldt '55
Bomgaars Supply
Larry & Jeanene Book
Keith E. Bottorff '72
Ahmad & Jen Boura
Dr. Zeddie P. Bowen
Randy Bradley '91 & LaVone Sopher '79
William L. Brandt '65
Dr. Lucy Y. Buhler '56
Rev. Jeffrey L. Bullock '71
Jeremy K. Bullock '00
William H. Burke
Dr. J. Robert '70 & Christine Burkhart
Dr. Randall L. Burnight '72
Paul '80 & Colleen '82 Bush
Cable One, Inc.
Michael '69 & Linda '69 Cadwell
Craig J. Cain *
Cannon Moss Brygger Architects
Cargill, Inc. of Sioux City
Jim '74 & Mary Anne Carlson
Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust
Chris '89 & Heidi '93 Cassaday
Dennis A. Chapman '70
Chesterman Company
Chesterman Family Foundation
Cy '71 & Karen '71 Chesterman
Dr. J. Greg '67 & Joan '68 Clark
Brian M. Clarke '97
Joe E. Clausen '65
Jon G. Cleghorn '64
John T. Connor '66
Larry K. Corrington '77
Larry C. Countryman '70
Bob '87 & Sandra '73 Craig
Crary Huff Inkster Sheehan P.C.
Dave & Arlene Curry
Kevin & Terri Curry
W. Roger Curry '61
Lt. Gen. Ron Dardis '65
Dr. David '76 & Diane '76 Davidson
J. Doug Davis
Dr. Stephen & Kathleen Davis
Dr. William Deeds & Pamla Hoadley
Deloitte & Touche Foundation
Lawrence L. Delperdang
Dennis Supply Company
Carter R. Dennis
Col. Dwight L. Dinkla '74
Donald P. Ducommun '61
Dr. Richard L. Ducommun Estate* '68
Julie R. Eickhoff '89
Karen Einsidler
Joshua & Anne Ellwanger
Michael W. Ellwanger '72
Emerald Hills LLC
Dick & Marilyn Engle
Fred S. Erbes '62
Scott '75 & Brenda '74 Ernst
Mick Everett '73
F & M Bank
Beverly Tucker Fest '71 & Bruce Fest
Mary A. Fiddick '50
Dr. Dan L. Flanagan '69
Laura L. Florio
Harry Flowers
Tom '68 & Kris '70 Flynn
Foulk Bros. Plumbing & Heating
Dr. Charles R. Franz '63
Kendra '10 & Trent Fredericksen
Fred '59 & Floanne Frey
Dan R. Friedlund '70
Karen K. Gagnon '97
James & Bobbi Gahlon
Mark '82 & Robin '82 Gambaiana
Randal S. Gaulke '85
Tom Gehl '75
GELITA North America
Jan '77 & Ted George
Gerkin Windows & Doors
Dr. Jeanne M. Giddings '80
Franklin B. Gilbert '62
The Gilchrist Foundation
John & Karen Gleeson
Gleeson Family Foundation
Rev. Ivan F. Gossoo Estate* '44
Great West Casualty Company
Greenberg Found. of Sioux City
Dr. Tyrone '65 & Janet Rayburn Greive
Tom '81 & Gina '81 Grimsley
Michael & Mary Gay Gunsch
Gene '59 & Carla Hagen
Mary L. Haindfield '60
Rev. James '69 & Miriam Hanke
Michael D. Hanna '66
Randy '72 & Becky Hansen
Steven Hansen '77 & Glenda Den Herder '79
Claris V. Hanson
James '69 & Carol '72 Hanthorne
Hard Rock Casino
Kathleen Hare Estate* '53
Nathan J. Harris '08
Jan '99 & Daryl Harrison
Connie J. Hawthorn
Jo Kitterman Hayes '77
Stephen Haywood
Timothy C. Held
Dan '71 & Suzane '72 Henderson
Henjes, Conner & Williams P.C.
Rev. Alan A. Herbst Estate* '76
Dale '50 & Shirley Hewlett
Jean A. Hickman '81
Donald D. Hill '63
Elta Hogan Estate*
Kenneth A. Hoogensen '66
Doug Huitink '72
Interstate Mechanical Corp.
Iowa College Foundation
Iowa Annual Conference
Iowa Arts Council
Milford E. Jacobson '40
Lee B. Jarvis '62
Jebro Inc.
Linda L. Jennings '86
Dr. Irving F. & Carolyn Jensen
Irving & Elizabeth Jensen Found.
Dr. Edward A. Johnson '73
Galen G. Johnson '68
Jeraldine S. Johnson '65
Mark R. Johnson '76
and Graduates of the Last
Decade (GOLD) Members
Rev. Robert '63 & Mary Ann Johnson
Wayne P. Johnson '68
Feldman Jones Estate* '48
Ron '79 & Kathy Jorgensen
Mary D. Josten '64
Robert E. Josten '64
Roland '59 & Carol Junck
Glen M. Kampa '76
Mina Karcher '42
Kay Dee Feed Company
John P. Kilstrom '63
The Kind World Foundation
King, Reinsch, Prosser & Co.
Peter S. King '68
Jason '96 & Shelly '96 Kleis
Dr. Frances S. Kline '95
Klinger Companies, Inc.
Jim '79 & Darlene '77 Kloeppel
Kneip Investments, LLC
Knife River Midwest, LLC
Robert G. Knowler
Drs. Gene '71 & Debra '73 Knudsen
Drs. Eileen '77 & Randy Kohlenberg
Anne Packard Kotlik '76
Steve '79 & Mary Kovarna
Clyde '61 & Marcia '64 Krause
Wally A. Krone '55
Kvidera Company Inc
Dr. Harold '44 & Marjorie '44 Ladwig
Lance L. Larson '70
Rose Legler Morningside Trust
Stan Lemkuil '64
Dale L. Lenderts '76
John & Cheryl Long
Dr. Lillian J. Lopez & Brent Linn
Verne Luther '47
Dr. Esther M. Mackintosh '69
Irene Madison Estate* '40
Mahoney-Hill Charit. Fund Trust
Marco, Inc.
Nick '03 & JJ '03 Marlow
Raymond W. Martin '74
Patrick R. Martone '74
Dr. Charles '67 & Patricia Mason
Larry Mason '73
Doris M. Mauer '58
Steven '84 & Julie '84 Mauer
John & Juliana Mayne
Gary '62 & Kathy '63 McConnell
Dr. Patrick F. McKinlay
Dr. Keith McLarnan
James E. McMahon '73
Nancy '71 & Kim Meadows
John & Janice Mechem
W.S. Lewis Society
Michael '72 & Linda '72 Alexander
Gene O. Ambroson
Gary L. Anderson '61
Hobart & Charlotte Anderson
Sally Bartlett
David J. Blair
Mary Bolton
Muriel M. Briggs '48
Dr. Lucy Y. Buhler '56
Dr. J. Robert '70 & Christine Burkhart
Charles W. Carlberg '69
Dr. J. Greg '67 & Joan '68 Clark
Warren J. Conner '60
Carolyn W. Cox '47
Barbara L. Danger '67
Deane L. Davenport '72
Dr. David '76 & Diane '76 Davidson
Stella J. Davis '50
Judith J. Dirks '59
Donald P. Ducommun '61
Dick & Marilyn Engle
William '51 & Mary '51 Enockson
Beverly Tucker Fest '71 & Bruce Fest
Dr. Dan L. Flanagan '69
Carol M. Forbes '70
Jerry R. Foxhoven '74
Mark A. Freerks '79
James '54 & Janice '76 Galli
Mark '82 & Robin '82 Gambaiana
Laura L. Gerkin '55
Von Dell J. Glaser '53
David A. Gould '75
Janis W. Grant '65
Richard '53 & Evelyn Greenlee
Dr. Mary A. Grefe '43
Dr. Tyrone '65 & Janet Rayburn Greive
L. Lucille Hakala '41
Troy C. Hames III '81
James '53 & Mary '53 Hamilton
Ruth M. Hamilton '47
Margaret Hancock '54
Rev. James '69 & Miriam Hanke
Randy '72 & Becky Hansen
Claris V. Hanson
James '69 & Carol '72 Hanthorne
Dr. Gary G. Hargroves '62
Gary '64 & Linda '81 Harward
Dan '71 & Suzane '72 Henderson
Dale '50 & Shirley Hewlett
Jerry & Carol Israel
Timothy '71 & Betty Jackes
Milford E. Jacobson '40
Lee B. Jarvis '62
Donna Johnson '58
Ron '79 & Kathy Jorgensen
Richard '71 & Frances '71 Keith
Donald D. Kelsey '49
DeWitt '59 & Phyllis '60 Killam
The President’s Society commends those who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to Morningside College by annually contributing $1,000 or more.
The college also wishes to acknowledge the Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) members who form the next generation of philanthropists through their gifts of
$100 or more. This list recognizes President’s Society and GOLD members for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2015.
Jane B. Meginnis
Dr. Ryan '95 & Tracy '96 Meis
Mercy Medical Center
Dixie J. Metcalf '58
Bill & Nancy Metz
Meyer Brothers Funeral Homes
Robert R. Meyer '50
Darlene M. Miller
David '01 & Julie '01 Miriovsky
Missouri River Hist. Develop.
Colin H. Mitchell
James Mohatt Estate*
Michael V. Montague '76
Dr. Earl & Joyce Moore
Morningside College Alumni Association
Marjorie A. Morrell '70
Scott A. Morton '61
Dan & Cindy Moser
Dr. David W. Mulder '61
Terry M. Muldowney '68
Dr. Thomas '70 & Carol '71 Narak
John '79 & Jeri '79 Nelson
Muriel Burgess Nelson '51
Verne D. Nelson '75
Rev. Dr. Tony R. Nester
New York Life Foundation
Nicholas Tiedeman Charitable Trust
Joan C. Nielsen
Northwestern Mutual Foundation
Novelty Machine & Supply Co.
Mark A. Nylen
Dr. Sharon & Donna Ocker
Claris M. Olson '51
Russ '76 & Robyn '76 Olson
Ronald '73 & Stephanie O'Neal
Michael '59 & Patsy '59 Owen
Asa '67 & Karen '69 Oye
Pacific City Graphics
Palmer Candy Co.
Douglas E. Palmer
Martin B. Palmer
Robert '78 & Lori '78 Parks
David W. Patch '82
David & Marta '72 Patee
John '74 & Catherine '76 Paul
Paul '67 & Carol Payne
Dennis '72 & Cheryl '72 Pederson
Skip & Cathy Perley
Gary W. Peterson '63
Pinnacle Bank of Sioux City
Dr. John N. Pinto
Pioneer Bank
Lloyd A. Pippett '47
Barbara B. Pitts '70
Ben '53 & Carol Ploof
Thomas '72 & Patricia '75 Pohlman
John J. Prast '65
Prestige Collision Repair Center
LaDonna E. Preston '53
Prince Manufacturing Corp.
The Principal Fin. Group Foundation
Scott & Kim Rager
Khalid & Terrie Rasheed
Charles M. Rexroat '56
Dennis L. Reyman '92
John & Robin Reynders
Doug Rice '75
Tom & Paula Rice
Randal '77 & Julie '81 Richardson
Rick Collins Toyota Scion
Michael '66 & Linda '67 Rickert
Rev. Allen '73 & Donna '72 Ricks
Dr. Cory A. Roberts '90
David M. Roederer
Keith A. Roeper '58
Roger Rohlfs Estate* '51
Laura B. Roman '76
Tom Rosen '70
Regina S. Roth
Rudolph's Shoe Mart
Rush Werks, Inc.
Daniel '00 & Anne '00 Ryan
Richard J. Salem '65
E.R. Salty '49 & Betty '45 Saltwell
Dr. Robert '73 & Marcelene Saylor
Sam's Club/GECF
Dr. Donald C. Schenk
Michael C. Schmidt '72
Steven C. Schmidt '73
Greg '77 & Sandy '77 Schnirring
Emil O. Schultz Estate*
Security National Bank
Kenneth W. Seiling '67
Thomas H. Selwold '63
Roy & Diana Semon
Dr. Larry & Pauline '89 Sensenig
Marilyn F. Setzler '66
Sioux City Journal
Siouxland Community Foundation
Siouxland Federal Credit Union
Dr. Jerome '75 & Cheryl '75 Smith
Garrett K. Smith
Rett Smith '10
Lowry & Lella Smith
Pamela '79 Miller-Smith & Doug Smith
Sodexo, Inc. Affiliates
John & Tonya Spies
Lynn A. Splittorff '70
Standard Ready Mix Concrete Co.
State Steel Supply Co.
John J. Steele '79
David S. Sterling '50
Jay '85 & Rhonda '88 Stidham
Drs. Alan '64 & Jonieta Stone
Dick '68 & Carol Stone
Muriel B. Stone '64
Mark D. Stuck '75
Craig '70 & Chris Struve
H. Allan Sturgeon '79
Mia Sudo
Don '61 & Diane '63 Taylor
Tegra Corporation
Rev. Dennis '69 & Dr. Glenna '70 Tevis
Thompson Electric Company
Don R. Thompson '65
Robert '74 & Patricia '74 Thompson
Dr. Robert '57 & Patricia '57 Tiemens
Dr. Mark '69 & Linda '69 Titus
Michael T. Tramp '88
Paul '84 & Nancy '92 Treft
Bishop Dr. Julius C. Trimble
Cliff '70 & Jean '70 Tufty
Union Pacific Foundation
U.S. Bank
Joseph & Sue Utley
Peggy A. Vagts '76
Don '55 & Eunice Van Der Weide
Rick Vander Berg '75
The Verdoorn Foundation
Verizon Foundation
Keith A. Vollstedt, M.D. '83
Lincoln Wacker Foundation
Dr. Neil '62 & Lynne '61 Wainwright
Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation
Norman W. Waitt '86
Jim '70 & Sharon '70 Walker
Rich & Karleen Waller
Wal-Mart Foundation
Dr. Craig S. Wansink '84
Carol L. Warren '86
WC Development, Inc.
Dick Weikert '53
Wells Fargo Iowa NA
Wells Fargo Foundation
Werner Enterprises
Carol A. Pencook Werner '69
Marilyn A. Wheeler '66
JJ White '01
Curt White '76
Marty Wikert '62
Ray '62 & Kathleen '62 Willhoite
Connie P. Horton Wimer '54
Mary R. Winkler
Sherman & Susan Wollesen
Rick & Vicki Wollman
Ron '70 & Jeannette Yockey
Robert '74 & Nancy '74 Youngren
Christine K. Zarkos '86
Zimco Supply Company
GOLD MEMBERS
Jordan W. Aggen '12
Trent L. Allen '09
James '06 & Heidi '08 Braunschweig
Nicholas A. Buth '11
Jeremiah J. Curry '13
Kirsten M. Dargy '13
Jacob A. Devine '08
Joel T. Dorsett '13
Miranda A. Galvin '08
Molli A. Ginger '04
Jonathan '07 & Emily '06 Goodin
Russell '09 & Ashley '09 Heine
Randi L. Hudson '05
Michael T. Huseman '13
Devon P. Kramer '06
Katie L. Lackey '12
Wyeth '09 & Breanne '09 Lynch
Brett A. Lyon '04
Amanda L. Mayo '05
Dr. Roni R. Miller '10
Taera A. Mulder '05
Wade T. Planting '10
Andrew A. Poeckes '14
Kevin J. Pottebaum '11
Amy J. Renneke '07
Gerald R. Robbins Jr. '13
Reid T. Rosen '13
Staci D. Rourke '06
Dr. Holly A. Schenzel '05
Troy J. Schultz '05
Breanna M. Schwartz '13
Nathan E. Schwartz '11
Matthew '07 & Annie '06 Stachowitz
Chuck Szitas '13
Jenny '11 & Chris Thomas
Mallory A. Trudell '07
Sandra Van Drie-Yockey '12
Darija Vladisavljev '05
Spencer B. Walker '13
Dr. Adam '04 & Suzanne '03 Webb
Michael '07 & Kari '03 Winklepleck
Emily A. Winterwood '04
Jessica M. Yosten '11
* deceased
The W.S. Lewis Society pays tribute to individuals and families who have acknowledged Morningside College in their estate plans. With these gifts, W.S. Lewis Society members
ensure the future of the college and provide wonderful educational opportunities for the Morningside students of tomorrow. The society is named in honor of Bishop Wilson
Seeley Lewis, the second collegiate president, who established the endowment in 1903. Membership is conferred through written confirmation of deferred gift arrangements.
Dr. Frances S. Kline '95
Robert G. Knowler
Robert G. Koshkarian '68
Wally A. Krone '55
Arthur D. Leiby '73
Barry Loughridge
Dr. Charles '67 & Patricia Mason
Larry Mason '73
Doris M. Mauer '58
Gary '62 & Kathy '63 McConnell
John & Janice Mechem
Drs. Bonnie '64 & Donald Messer
Robert R. Meyer '50
Darlene M. Miller
Dr. Earl J. Moore
Marjorie A. Morrell '70
Muriel Burgess Nelson '51
David J. Nielsen
Dr. Sharon & Donna Ocker
Russ '76 & Robyn '76 Olson
Ronald '73 & Stephanie O'Neal
David W. Patch '82
Charlotte L. Petty '55
Margaret E. Phelps '55
Robert & Thora Phelps '53
Barbara B. Pitts '70
Ben '53 & Carol Ploof
Audrey M. Poppen '59
John J. Prast '65
O. Nelson Price '51
John & Robin Reynders
Tom & Paula Rice
Leo '59 & Joan Roepke
Tom Rosen '70
Clarence & Harriet '45 Schlichting
Ruth M. Schmalenberger '44
Kenneth W. Seiling '67
Lucille Shaffer
Samuel N. Shapiro
Edward '65 & Jane '70 Sibley
Mary E. Sievert '60
Jules Smith '62
Pamela '79 Miller-Smith & Doug Smith
Dr. Rosalee Sprout '60
Rod '74 & Ginger '74 Stemme
Dick '68 & Carol Stone
Drs. Alan '64 & Jonieta Stone
Randall I. Stoneking '68
Milo '52 & Patricia '53 Thompson
Carlton O. Tronvold '61
David G. Vail '68
Jim '70 & Sharon '70 Walker
James '59 & Joyce '61 Weaver
Philip J. Webb '81
Korey A. Willnauer '74
Ron '70 & Jeannette Yockey
15
By Vianna Miller
Please send your news to:
Jeanie Dolphin
Morningside College
1501 Morningside Ave.
Sioux City, IA 51106
alumni@morningside.edu
712-274-5363
1945
Dr. Gus Lease celebrated 70 years of teaching
in higher education, spending one year at the
University of Colorado, four years at the
University of Oklahoma, and 65 years at San
Jose State University.
1950
The Rev. Thomas McKeown and Irma
(VanderVelde) McKeown 1951 celebrated 63
years of ordained ministry, which included
being district superintendent of the Boston
District of 83 Methodist churches.
1953
Photo by Katrin Talbot
Class Notes
Robert Bates received the Alumni of
Distinction Award from Springfield High
School in Springfield, Ohio.
1954
Connie (Horton)
Wimer received the
first National
Association of Women
Business Owners
(NAWBO) Iowa Hall of
Fame Legacy Award
from NAWBO Iowa.
Wimer is a trustee at Morningside College and
at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. She was
the first woman to chair the Des Moines
Chamber of Commerce and The Alliance of
Area Business Publications, and the first
woman to be inducted into the Greater Des
Moines Committee’s Business Hall of Fame.
She also was inducted into the Iowa Women’s
Hall of Fame.
Dr. Tyrone Greive retired in May of 2013 from
the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As part
of a weekend celebration of his 34 years on
the violin faculty and long-time Polish music
research, he was the featured soloist in two
UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra
performances of Szymanowski’s Second
Violin Concerto. Past students came from all
over the county and from Canada to attend
the concerts. Greive received the
UW-Madison 2013 Joyce J. and Gerald A.
Bartell Award in recognition of his many
years as concertmaster of the Madison
Symphony Orchestra. He continues to serve
as a voting member on the Madison
Symphony Board of Directors. In addition to
traveling and other delayed nonprofessional
pursuits, Greive plans to continue performing
– much of the time with his cellist wife, Janet,
who taught at Morningside in 1964-1965 –
and pursuing research projects and related
publications.
Jeraldine (Sloan)
Johnson retired after
teaching music for 26
years at Palo Alto
Unified School District
in California, and for
four years in Iowa and
Illinois.
1962
16
The Rev. Steve and Nancy (Tillotson)
Pohlman 1964 of Dakota Dunes, S.D., had
their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 5,
2014. They celebrated with a family vacation
to Colorado. The couple has four children and
10 grandchildren.
Jane (Schreiner) Cloud is in her fourth year of
retirement after 43 years of teaching math –
the last 24 of them in Marion, Ark. She also
taught in Wisconsin, Texas, Iowa and
Massachusetts.
1951
The Rev. Darrell Mitchell participated in the
Arizona Senior Olympics in Scottsdale in
February. He won three gold medals in the
100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes. He broke
records in the 200- and 400-meter dashes
and came within a fraction of a second of
setting a new record in the 100-meter dash,
all within the 85 to 89 age group. He will be
running in the National Senior Games in
Minneapolis, Minn., in July. He would love to
hear from classmates. Send him an email at
mitchdv-ea@mchsi.com.
1952
Vivian (Oleson) Leckband and her husband,
Stanley, celebrated their 60th wedding
anniversary in Boothbay, Maine, with their
five children and spouses and six of their 12
grandchildren.
1967
Rick Cloud retired on Dec. 31, 2014, after
working for Cargill and for the last 10 years in
information technology for Methodist
LeBonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tenn.
1965
Ellen Carter of Ohio (left) and Janet
(Goettsch) Pommrehn of Colorado were
roommates at Morningside College back in
1961. They recently reconnected to go on a
road trip to the Black Hills, Yellowstone
National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
They said they got along so well, it was like
they had never been apart. Both Carter and
Pommrehn are retired – Carter from
supervising the gifted and talented programs
in Ohio schools and Pommrehn from teaching
second grade in the Denver Public Schools.
Both are grandmothers and enjoying it.
1969
Esther Mackintosh is
president of the
Federation of State
Humanities Councils,
an association that
supports state
humanities councils
and strives to create
greater awareness of the humanities in public
and private life. Mackintosh joined the staff
in 1986 and has been president since 2004.
A match made in
the heavens
Morningside gives observatory telescope
to grad for restoration
By Laura L. Florio
Morningside telescope
Morningside was home to the largest telescope in Iowa during the
1950s when a telescope and observatory were donated to the college.
Jim 1979 and Darlene (Davidson) Kloeppel 1977 asked about the
telescope when Mike Freeman, assistant director of the annual
scholarship fund, visited them at their home in Urbana, Ill., in April of
this year.
“We were reminiscing about their times at Morningside when the
topic of the telescope came up,” Mike said. “Jim asked me if it was still
on campus. I knew that its home, the observatory, had been torn down,
so after I returned to campus, I did some digging. I found that the
telescope was in storage and, needing some repair work, had been
retired. Jim was thrilled when the college released it for him to adopt
and restore.”
A renowned manufacturer called Tinsley Laboratories made the
telescope in 1953. The company normally produced smaller telescopes
for personal use or industry-grade telescopes for much larger
observatories, so the Morningside telescope was a unique product. The
telescope measures 12 inches in diameter, weighs about 80 pounds
and is mounted on a stand that weighs an additional 270 pounds.
“They don’t build telescopes like this one anymore,” Jim confirmed. “It
really is an antique.”
Jim’s connection to the telescope began in 1974 when he came to
Morningside on the recommendation of a friend, Ron Thompson 1979.
Previously a student at the University of Iowa, Jim sought out a
smaller, private, residential college that could offer a more flexible
curriculum and in-depth study. “I needed more non-book, hands-on
learning, and my professors at Morningside, like Dr. Robert Green 1943
and Jim Galli 1954, allowed me to design several independent studies
and pursue my passion for astronomy. For example, I attached a
camera to my telescope, drove out to the country and spent many
nights photographing the skies. From the pictures, I produced a mural
of the Milky Way that hung in the science department.”
Jim and Ron were entrusted with keys to the observatory and
permitted to use the telescope whenever they wanted. In fact, they
spent so much time studying the skies there that Jim affectionately
refers to it as his second home while at Morningside. He majored in
physics and minored in math, graduating in 1979.
High school sweethearts from North High School in Sioux City, Jim
and Darlene married in 1975 while students at Morningside. Darlene
graduated in 1977 with a quadruple major in the social sciences and
then earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of
Iowa while Jim completed his bachelor’s. Jim’s passion for astronomy
took the couple to Tucson, Ariz.; Boulder, Colo.; and Atlanta, Ga., where
Jim worked as a telescope operator and technician. While in Atlanta,
the Kloeppels decided to start a family. “We knew it would be
challenging to raise a family with all of Jim’s travels, so he decided to
look for a new job,” Darlene said.
Jim and Darlene adopted four children – Christopher, Betty,
Jonathan and Thomas – and Jim became a science writer for Georgia
Tech. He wrote articles for the university’s magazine and press
releases about important scientific research, essentially translating
the university’s scientific scene for the rest of the world. While in
Atlanta, Darlene went back to graduate school and received master’s
degrees in architecture and city planning. Eventually, their careers
took them to the University of Illinois, where Jim continued his science
writing, and Darlene took a job with the Champaign County Regional
Planning Commission.
Jim retired from the University of Illinois five years ago. Since then,
he has resumed his passion for astronomy. He joined the ChampaignUrbana Astronomical Society and writes for its monthly newsletter. He
also has restored six telescopes that he uses to gaze at the skies. “Each
telescope has a different function that allows me to study various
aspects of the sun and moon. I have the heavier ones on wheeled carts,
so that I can maneuver them around the house.”
Jim has several other telescopes that he is in the process of restoring.
“It’s a challenge to find parts, so I have several works in progress going
on at once. Fortunately, the Morningside telescope is not missing
many parts — it needs a new motor, but I should be able to track one
down without too much trouble. I’ve already dismantled it down to the
last bolt, and I will spend the next year cleaning it piece by piece.”
17
class notes
1971
The Rev. Eleanor (Hickman) Foster retired
recently after many years as a United
Methodist pastor.
Dr. Marty (Steele) Knepper, professor of
English and chair of the English and modern
languages departments at Morningside
College, recently led a session at the Iowa
Council of Teachers of English conference in
Johnston, Iowa. Her presentation focused on
using Iowa films to teach English and
interdisciplinary courses. Knepper co-wrote
and published “The Book of Iowa Films” with
Dr. John S. Lawrence, professor emeritus of
philosophy at Morningside. The book is a
history and discussion of over 400 Iowa
movies from 1918 through 2013, including
both Hollywood films and independent films.
She also was a contributing expert for the
“Hollywood in the Heartland” exhibit on
display at the State Historical Museum of
Iowa in Des Moines through late 2016.
1973
Bill Russell had a number from the musical
“Side Show,” for which he wrote the book and
lyrics, performed during the 2014 Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade. The photo shows
the stars rehearsing in front of Macy’s prior
to the parade.
18
Bishop Deborah
(Lieder) Kiesey,
former member of the
Morningside College
Board of Directors,
received an honorary
doctorate from
Morningside College during the spring
commencement ceremony in recognition of
her and her family’s long association with
and service to Morningside. She also was the
featured speaker for commencement. Kiesey
is the United Methodist Church bishop for the
Michigan Area in Lansing, Mich.
1974
1972
Eugene Buccelli Jr. and his wife, Connie,
celebrated 50 years of marriage by taking a
trip to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and
Zion National Park in October 2014. Then
they ended up in Las Vegas!
Deb (Hanson) Argast
recently retired. Now
she is able to spend
more time exploring
her creative side
through henna art, nail
art, music and dance.
1975
Rick Gustafson lives in
Ogden, Iowa, with his
wife, Vicki. Rick
currently serves as
interim principal at
Trinity Lutheran
School in Boone, Iowa.
Since taking early
retirement from the Ogden Community
Schools in 2010, Gustafson has been a
substitute teacher in the Ogden schools. He
serves on the Board of Elders at Grace
Community Church in Boone, Drake
University Head Start Education Advisory
Board, and the Early Childhood Education
Board for Character Counts In Iowa. He also is
president of the Board of Trustees of the
Leonard A. Good Community Library in Ogden.
Charles Leissler IV is the finance manager for
Holzhauer Motors in Cherokee, Iowa, and
writes and performs songs about Cherokee.
Ruth (Dorale) Moore is in her 14th year as a
special education consultant for Heartland
Area Education Agency in Newton, Iowa.
Heidi Pfeil is a real
estate agent with Small
Dog Realty in
Bozeman, Mont.
1976
Charles Knudson is a supervisor at Wilson
Trailer Company in Sioux City.
Sue (Hoversten) Vigstol celebrated 20 years
as an interior decorator at Design By Sue in
Minnesota in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Jeff Moran is retiring as shift commander for
the Woodbridge Fire Department in New
Jersey after 29 years of service.
Trey K. Blackburn 2009 (left), Kirill Vaal, Mikaela Johnson Vaal 2006 and Nick Radu were all smiles after seeing
“Side Show” on Broadway in New York City. The book and lyrics for the musical were written by Bill Russell 1971.
Peggy Vagts, a music professor at the
University of New Hampshire in Durham, has
spent the past school year teaching at Regent’s
University in London, England. While there,
she ran into current Morningside College
student Nicole Loe, of Baltic, S.D. Loe spent a
semester studying at Regent’s University.
Marriage of art and science
Cheryl Kruger teaches art, while Dan Kruger
designs 3-D animation for court cases
By Laura L. Florio
Cheryl (Eichhorn) 1990 and Dr. Daniel Kruger 1989 form a happy
Inc. as an intern in 1994 and was hired as soon as he graduated in
marriage of the arts and sciences. They dated through college and
1995. The company went public in 1998 and was acquired by
married on July 21, 1990. Currently, they reside in Slater, Iowa, and
Germany-based Siemens in 2001. During the acquisition, the
have three children: Joe, 19; Sam, 17; and Tim, 13. Dan and Cheryl met
animation group spun off into its own company called Demonstraat Sears while Cheryl was still in high school. Cheryl designed signs
tives Inc., of which Dan became a vice president. In 2004, the
for the company, and Dan worked in hardware. “I had to get my paint
president passed away, and the company named Dan president.
for the signs from him, and our relationship took off from there,”
During his tenure at Demonstratives Inc., the company developed
Cheryl said with a smile.
animation for cases like the BP oil spill in 2010. Dan
At Morningside, Dan majored in physics and math,
led the company until 2014, when Engineering
and Cheryl transferred from Northwestern College to
Systems Inc. acquired it.
Dan Kruger
Morningside to pursue a degree in art education.
Both Dan and Cheryl were active on campus during
headed a company
“After studying with water colorist Jim Goff Sr. at
their time at Morningside College. Cheryl was a
that developed
East High School in Sioux City, I wanted to become
resident assistant and a member of Alpha Delta Pi
an artist, but decided that I could impact more
sorority, and she avidly pursued her passion for art.
3-D animation for
people through education. Dr. Sharon Ocker, my
Dan cheered for the football team and took part in
the court case on
professor at Morningside, was instrumental in
Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and Sigma Pi Sigma,
the BP oil spill.
helping me become an effective educator. He was a
Omicron Delta Kappa and Kappa Mu Epsilon honor
wonderful mentor and very approachable whenever I
societies. He also was treasurer for Student
had questions,” Cheryl said. In fact, during Cheryl’s
Government. They return to the college four or five
first year of teaching, Ocker visited her classroom in Radcliffe, Iowa,
times every year, especially now that their son Joe attends. “We
and asked how Morningside could better equip teachers.
always try to make it back for Homecoming to see old friends and
Growing up on a farm in Northwest Iowa, Dan was recruited by
watch the football game,” Dan said.
Morningside’s Dr. Robert Green 1943 to study physics. “Professor
“Yes, and we also enjoy the tailgating,” Cheryl adds. “We both
Green’s classes prepared me for graduate school’s challenging
have good friends with whom we’ve remained in contact.
curriculum, and he also hired me as a lab assistant.” After graduating
Matt Carney 1989 was Dan’s roommate through college, and his
from Morningside, Dan attended Iowa State University in Ames,
wife, Rhonda (Cleveringa) 1990, and I are close, as our husbands
where he earned a master’s degree in engineering mechanics and a
went to Iowa State together and then worked for Engineering
Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. One of the professors on his doctoral
Animation for several years.”
committee had recently founded a company that provided 3-D
When asked what advice they had for current Morningside
animation for court cases.
students, Dan and Cheryl both agreed that forming relationships
“Attorneys were tired of using toy cars during court cases, and
with faculty was important. “That’s where you get your return on
Engineering Animation offered a valuable tool that could capture
your investment,” Dan said. “Also, being involved with campus
exactly what happened during an accident and allow the jury to more
organizations helps to build skills that will be useful once you land a
accurately ascertain whether guilt lay with the driver or the car
job, such as working with your peers, how to resolve conflict and how
manufacturer,” Dan explained. Dan joined Engineering Animation
to execute a plan.”
19
class notes
1977
Brent Huldeen is a human resources
administrator/recruiter for Rafferty
Construction in Franklin, Ind.
1978
Pete Hittle retired after 35 years of public and
private school and college teaching in Iowa.
He and wife, Nancy, now live near New
Orleans, La., and Pete is pursuing a life-long
dream of playing jazz in the Big Easy. In
addition to his itinerant gig schedule, he
maintains a private trumpet studio and does
some substitute teaching in the local schools,
all while enjoying the fantastic cultural
variety of South Louisiana.
Deb (Borchers) Juffer is an associate
professor for the division of nursing
education at St. Luke's College-UnityPoint
Health in Sioux City. She is teaching courses
for the associate’s degree program and the
bachelor’s degree program.
20
Anne Rehnstrom was
one of the first eight
people inducted into
the Iowa BBQ Society
Hall of Fame. They
were recognized for
having contributed
significantly to the
Iowa BBQ Society’s
mission - to promote, teach and have fun with
BBQ, while focusing on random acts of
kindness through charitable works focused
on helping children, families, their
communities and the state. Rehnstrom lives
in Urbandale, Iowa, and is a marketing
assistant for the National Pork Board.
Terry Alvarez is an
advertising executive
with Sun Media out of
Minneapolis-St. Paul
and general manager
of La Jornada Latina
(TSJ News) Pittsburgh.
Kimberly (Peters) Cale is a medical
technologist at Mercy Dunes Medical Lab
in Dakota Dunes, S.D.
1981
Scott Boyer is founder
and president of OWP
Pharmaceuticals and
ROW Foundation
based in Chicago.
Dr. Jean (Peters) Hickman, assistant
professor of music education at Morningside
College, recently gave two presentations at
the Hawaii Music Educators Association
In-Service Conference at the University
of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu. Her
presentations were “Creative Assessment for
Performing Ensembles” and “I Can Get It for
You Wholesale: Free (or Nearly Free) Apps
and Programs for Music Educators.” This was
her second time presenting at the conference,
which draws educators from around the
country and from Asia.
1982
Sherri Levers is an accountant at Mutual of
Omaha.
The Rev. Annette (Ruhs) Kruse is pastor of
Gowrie United Methodist Church in Gowrie,
Iowa. She and her husband, the Rev. David
Kruse, are hosting an exchange student from
Bangladesh.
1983
Willie Delfs is the 2014-2015 board president
for Siouxland Habitat for Humanity. The
photo shows him standing in front of a recent
Siouxland Habitat for Humanity house.
1984
Carol (Wilkens) Blevins has been promoted
to senior section manager at MRIGlobal in
Kansas City, where she recently celebrated
her 30th anniversary at MRIGlobal in June of
2014.
1986
Dennis Lauver and his family have returned
to Iowa, having finished 25 years working for
local chambers of commerce, most recently
in Kansas. He has become a partner/owner
of Howes and Jefferies, an 18-agent real
estate firm in Clinton, Iowa. He also has
joined the board of directors of Gateway
State Bank in Clinton.
The Rev. Anna (Clock) Saxon is a chaplain for
Unity Point Methodist Home Health in Peoria,
Ill. She launched the program and is one of a
small number of chaplains serving in a home
health setting across the United States.
1980
Craig Brandt is a nurse
case manager for
Bunch CareSolutions, A
Xerox Company. He
lives in Bloomington,
Minn. He is a
registered nurse with a
Bachelor of Science in
Nursing and a Master of Arts degree. He is
also a certified case manager.
Shelley (Randall) Stallons is the fifththrough 12th-grade band director for the
Charter Oak-Ute Community School District
in Charter Oak, Iowa. She also received her
master’s degree in music performance from
the University of South Dakota in 2014.
Lori (Herzberg) and John Strohm 1981
welcomed their first grandchild, John Preston
William Strohm, on Nov. 8, 2014.
Carol (Bear) Warren is
vice president at
Goodwill Industries of
Central Iowa. She lives
in Johnston, Iowa.
In search of
Noah’s Ark
Leah Winter helps produce
documentary
By Laura L. Florio
How did a Morningside graduate find herself scaling Mount Ararat
in Turkey with archeologists and a film crew? Leah Winter 2008
helped produce a documentary focused on finding Noah’s Ark.
After graduating from Morningside College as a biology and
chemistry double major, Winter moved to Dallas, Texas, to work as a
project manager with a software engineering company. During an
ordinary trip to the mall, an agent approached her about modeling.
Soon, she was gracing the pages of Italian Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar
while working for companies like Neiman Marcus and JCPenney.
Winter would go on to be signed by agencies in New York and Los
Angeles, often walking the runway during fashion season. Eventually
she moved to Los Angeles to be closer to the action.
After several months, Winter met a producer with a unique project
in mind – the quest for Noah’s Ark. Archeologists had strategized
regarding the exact location of the ark and would travel to Eastern
Turkey every year to search for missing ruins. The producer wanted
to film their journey and thought Winter would be a perfect addition
to the film team. Winter’s background in science complemented the
religious overtones of the documentary, and the improbability of
actually locating the ark piqued her curiosity. She joined the team.
Winter carefully researched internationally renowned experts and
visited them to discuss their studies. She interviewed Jewish, Muslim
and Christian scholars, as the story of the ark is common to all three
faiths, along with archeologists, scientists, sociologists and
historians. Her travels took her to Israel, Jordan, England, Ireland,
Scotland, Peru, Chile, Argentina and finally to the glacier-capped
Mount Ararat in Turkey, where the rest of the team was based. A film
crew with experience filming on Mount Everest captured the team’s
day-to-day living and its work on the mountain.
Mount Ararat is 17,000 feet high, with a base camp at about 10,000
feet that is accessible by sport utility vehicle. From there, provisions
and equipment had to be carried up on horseback. Kurdish sherpas
trekked up and down the mountain, acting as guides and shuttling
supplies. The team climbed toward the peak, where they drilled 30 to
50 feet into the ice until they reached organic matter and, hopefully,
evidence of the ark’s presence.
Winter traveled with the team to the base camp but did not
accompany the team and film crew to the final site because she acted
as point person for logistics — of which there were many. For
example, the team used a drone, called a hexacopter, to capture
aerial views of the site. The drone was held up in Turkish customs, so
Winter contacted the head of UPS in order for it to be released. She
also made certain the team had adequate provisions while in Turkey.
Back in Los Angeles, Winter headed up the post-production
processes of research, story direction, marketing and even
composition involving a 60-piece orchestra recording at Warner
Brothers studio.
Winter’s passion for the project, zeal for scientific truth and past
project management experience led to a promotion to co-producer of
the film. Over 200 hours of footage went into making the two-hour
documentary, along with many more hours of editing. “There is a
constant refinement process in producing a compelling
documentary,” she said. “With scripted film, there is much less
editing because everything revolves around prescribed dialogue.”
Winter faced challenges on her adventure: long days and
navigating political situations, but, on the whole, she felt the
situation reinvigorated her spirit and gave her the opportunity to
synthesize the arts and sciences. “In college, I loved my philosophy
and religion classes as much as those in my major. Morningside is
truly a place that fosters the liberal arts. The goal of the movie was
very much the same – we wanted to expose the audience to both the
religious and scientific sides and let them make up their minds.”
The film, “Finding Noah,” is currently finished and securing
distribution. She has several other opportunities for films and plans
to stay in Los Angeles for the immediate future. However, this
summer she has planned a two-month trip backpacking in Southeast
Asia. She gave this advice to Morningside students: “Keep yourself
open to opportunities, and don’t be afraid of risk. Shirk complacency
and never settle.”
21
class notes
1988
Kyle Ellerbeck is a warehouse supervisor for
McLane Company in Northfield, Minn. He is
one of six warehouse supervisors in the upper
Midwest division who service retail customer
outlets in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota,
North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
1990
Joe Mlnarik works in the government
reporting department at TD Ameritrade in
Omaha, Neb. After working in several
different positions over the years, he feels he
has finally found a home, both in the job he
does and the company where he works.
1991
Delaine (Thompson) Krager is a licensed
massage therapist. She is spa director at The
Loft, the Belle Touché location on Historic
Fourth Street in Sioux City.
1993
Russ Frazier is president of Anawim Housing
in Des Moines, Iowa. The organization focuses
on affordable housing development and
management.
Pete Laskie is art department manager at
Revival Animal Health in Orange City, Iowa.
Aaron Lukken is a
member of the Kansas
City Symphony Chorus.
22
Chad V. Sorenson,
president of Adaptive
HR Solutions in
Jacksonville, Fla., was
recently installed as
president of the
Society for Human
Resource
Management’s
Jacksonville chapter. With nearly 700
members in Northeast Florida, SHRM
Jacksonville is the largest SHRM chapter in
Florida. In February, he was also presented
with Cubmaster’s Key, the Unit Leader Award
of Merit and the God and Service Award for
his six years of service as Cubmaster of Cub
Scout Pack 268 in Jacksonville, Fla. He lives
in Saint Johns, Fla., with his wife and their
two sons.
Mindy (Hass) Russell celebrated 10 years
with Mokse Marketing & Communications in
Austin, Texas. She is the owner of the
company.
in Omaha, Neb., as a trust and safety specialist,
keeping LinkedIn members safe online.
Cynthia Mollet is vice
president of human
resources for 3B Group
in Minneapolis, Minn.
1995
Dr. Jackie (Brummond) Barber has served on
the nursing faculty at Morningside College
since 1997. She moved into a new position
this year and is now dean for graduate
nursing.
Amy (Gruber) Bloch is the executive director
of Catholic Charities in Sioux City.
Jeanette (Strub) Frey works in the business
office at Morningside College as assistant
controller. She received a Thompson Staff
Excellence Award from the college in
December. Recipients were selected based
upon their demonstration of outstanding
dedication, service and commitment to
Morningside and its students during the
previous academic year.
Dr. Lorna (Hulstein)
Leavitt, associate
professor of education
at Morningside
College, was hired by
Pearson to score the
spring edTPA
assessment given to
pre-service teachers.
She scored portfolios for special education.
EdTPA is an assessment designed to answer
the question: “Is a new teacher ready for the
job?” It includes a review of teaching
materials that document and demonstrate
each candidate's ability to effectively teach
his or her subject matter to all students.
Pearson is a major publisher of educational
products such as the edTPA assessment.
Lisa (Martensen) Mercer earned a Master of
Arts in Management from Bellevue University
in Bellevue, Neb. She now works for LinkedIn
1998
Matt Campbell is an internal auditor at
Central Bank in Sioux City.
Carla (Richards) Kreegar is executive
producer of 41 Action News in Kansas City,
Mo.
Jonathan Owens is a teacher, broadcaster and
voice actor living in Southern California. As a
broadcaster, Owens covers sports for NCAA
Division II Point Loma University, as well as
many other San Diego area sports. On camera,
he collaborates with a video production
company out of Los Angeles called Spygames
Studios, most recently covering the Sundance
Film Festival. He also operates a multi-media
production company. Examples of his work
can be seen at thejdowens.com. Jon and his
wife, Lindsay, have two boys – 4 and 2 years
of age – and were expecting a baby girl in late
May 2015.
1999
Teresa Gronwoldt is the senior media planner
at UnityWorks advertising agency in
Minneapolis, Minn.
Mary Krejci works at Morningside College as
the enrollment data manager. She received a
Thompson Staff Excellence Award from the
college in December. Recipients were
selected based upon their demonstration
of outstanding dedication, service and
commitment to Morningside and its students
during the previous academic year.
1994
Angela Dieckman completed a master’s
degree in professional counseling in January
of 2014. She is now working as an addictions
counselor at Prelude Behavioral Services in
Iowa City, Iowa, and is living in her hometown
of Muscatine, Iowa.
Jeramiah Schrock 2007 (left), Jordan (Balfour) Edison 2009 and Andy Edison 2009 returned to Morningside
College this spring to participate in the Sioux City Relays. All three are former members of the Morningside
College Track and Field Team.
College kicks off Alumni Chapters Program
2000
Kimberly Fulfs was
hired as an exchange
teacher in Yamanashi
City, Japan, beginning
in March. Her
responsibilities with
the Yamanashi City
public schools include
assisting with English language instruction at
a junior high school and assisting with
English oral communication at primary/
elementary schools. Fulfs also is involved
with seminars for English language teachers
and local international exchange activities.
Yamanashi City is the Japanese sister city of
Sioux City. Morningside College and the Sioux
City Community School District cooperated
with Yamanashi City public schools to hire
someone for the exchange teacher position.
Denver
While the Morningside College campus remains firmly planted in Sioux City, the college
considers itself a part of any community where our alumni are living.
Knowing it is difficult for some of our alumni to make it back to campus on a regular basis to
engage with the institution, the Alumni Board recently started an Alumni Chapters Program,
where alumni in different cities will be able to get together a couple of times a year for
different activities.
Some events might be Morningside focused, such as a send-off for high school seniors in the
area who are headed to Morningside or a question-and-answer session with faculty and staff.
Others might be social or cultural events, such as a picnic, a baseball game, a lecture or a
community service project. Still another could be a networking event to help alumni reach
their professional goals.
Each chapter relies on support from alumni in the area. These volunteers are assisted by
Shiran Nathaniel, alumni chapter
adviser, and Julie Negus Eickhoff 1989,
who serves on the Alumni Board as
alumni chapter liaison.
The college has already held initial
meetings in several cities. If you would
like to know more about the chapters
program or would be interested in
starting a chapter in your area, contact
Shiran at nathaniel@morningside.edu.
“It’s all about staying connected
beyond graduation,”
he said. “This
is about the
institution giving
alums opportunities
to stay connected
with each other and
with us.”
2001
Jonathan Blum works at Morningside College
as director of planned giving and major gifts.
Chicago
Dr. Valerie Hennings, assistant professor of
political science at Morningside College,
recently gave the opening address for Ready
to Run Iowa, a non-partisan candidate
training program for women at Iowa State
University in Ames. She attended the 2015
Iowa Association of Political Scientists annual
conference at Drake University in Des
Moines, Iowa, where she chaired a panel on
women and politics research. She also
co-authored two publications that appeared
in academic journals.
Los Angeles
23
Kelli (McGill) Britton is a sales representative
for Eli Lilly and Company, a pharmaceutical
company.
Cathy (Seebecker) Jochims accepted the
position of elementary principal at
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School
in Hartley, Iowa. She has more than two
decades of experience working as an
elementary teacher at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn
Elementary School.
San Francisco
Jacob Bossman is Northwest Iowa regional
director for U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley
(R-Iowa).
Kansas City
2002
class notes
2003
Dr. Adam Webb is a
lecturer and professor
of voice at Wayne State
College in Wayne, Neb.
Paul Berger III is starting a neurocritical care
fellowship at the University of Kansas
Medical Center in July.
Jesus Pena is a mortgage loan originator at
Northwest Bank in Sioux City.
Melissa (Koll) Soda is a project manager at
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Des Moines,
Iowa.
Kari (Bull) Winklepleck recently was named
vice president for institutional advancement
at Morningside College. Winklepleck has
12 years of experience working in the
advancement department and most recently
held the position of assistant vice president
for the annual fund. She received a
Thompson Staff Excellence Award from
the college in December in recognition of
her outstanding dedication, service and
commitment to Morningside and its students
during the previous academic year.
24
Lisa Crosby Wipperling
of Sioux City was a
guest artist for
Morningside College’s
fully staged production
of the Stephen
Sondheim musical
“Into the Woods,”
playing the role of The
Witch. She also played Mrs. Cratchit in “A
Christmas Carol” for the Midwest leg of the
Nebraska Theatre Caravan's national tour.
This summer you can see her in “To Kill a
Mockingbird,” “She Loves Me” and “Shrek the
Musical” at the Black Hills Playhouse in
Custer, S.D. Keep in touch with her at
lisawipperling.com.
2004
J.J. (Benson) Marlow works at Morningside
College as assistant director of the Annual
Scholarship Fund.
Daniel Herrstrom is an infrastructure
management analyst for FIREHOUSE
Software in Urbandale, Iowa, and director of
information technology for the Iowa Weather
Network in Madrid, Iowa.
Scott Wismont is an executive escalations
specialist for PayPal in La Vista, Neb. He is
enrolled in the clinical counseling program at
Bellevue University.
2005
Dr. Holly (Varenhorst) Schenzel earned a
Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from
Creighton University in 2013. She is also
serving as an acute care nurse practitioner at
the Division of Hospital Internal Medicine at
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
2009
Carlos Hurtado Andrade is a banking
representative at Security National Bank in
Sioux City.
Jonalee Jackes is
director of catering at
Arrowwood Resort and
Conference Center in
Okoboji, Iowa.
2006
Dr. Jason Goergen is a family practice
physician at Meritas Health near Parkville,
Mo.
Mikaela Johnson Vaal is a teacher in the
Advanced Personal Training Department at
the Swedish Institute: College of Health
Sciences in New York. She is a production
coordinator for Brookfield Properties, and
she works as an actress at New Perspectives
Theatre Company.
Daniel Krohn is program manager at the
Global Food Security Consortium at Iowa
State University in Ames. The consortium is
an initiative to create food security for the
world that involves looking at every step of
the food value chain.
2008
Annie (McInnis) Chen was accepted by the
Yamanashi Board of Education in Japan to be
an assistant language teacher in English
starting in April 2015.
Breanne (Evans) Lynch is a business teacher
at Madrid Senior High School in Madrid, Iowa.
Wyeth Lynch recently earned a Master of Fine
Arts in integrated visual arts from Iowa State
University in Ames. He is now a temp-to-hire
graphic design technician at American
Packaging Corporation in Story City, Iowa.
Mark Martindale is a senior business
performance analyst at Great Western Bank
in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Beau Sudtelgte is director of human
resources at Briar Cliff University in Sioux
City.
2010
Jared Noteboom is a personal banker at
Security National Bank in Sioux City.
Alyxis Peery is a claim representative at State
Farm Insurance in Lincoln, Neb.
class notes
Looks like a fun group at this young alumni event in Omaha, Neb. In the front row are Andrew Poeckes 2014 (left), Scott Wismont 2008, Josh Benson 2010, Emily (Greenlee)
Parkhill 2014, Keisha Meyer 2013 and Jamison Parkhill 2013. In the back are Courtney (Lucart) Liester 2013 (left), Levi Liester 2011, Jeremiah Hughes 2010, Jeremiah Curry 2013,
Katie Kotlik 2008, Emily Olsen 2008, Matt Muschall 2012 and Bryce Williamson 2012.
Carla Rodawig works at Morningside College
as an administrative assistant for the
economics, political science and sociology
departments.
Danya Hangman is a registered nurse for
Craig HomeCare, a nursing agency that
provides a variety of services, with an
emphasis in pediatric nursing care. She is also
a full-time surgical nurse at Mercy Medical
Center in Sioux City.
2011
Shannon Greene-Hogan is a special
education teacher at Remsen-Union High
School in Remsen, Iowa. Previously she
worked with students that have severe and
profound disabilities at West Monona
Elementary School in Onawa, Iowa.
Drake Johnson is an investment consultant at
TD Ameritrade in Austin, Texas.
Daren Koehler is a master resiliency
trainer-performance expert for
Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness
(CSF2) in Vilseck, Germany. CSF2 provides
hands-on training and self-development tools
so soldiers, their families and Army civilians
are better able to cope with adversity,
perform better in stressful situations and
thrive in life. It is an integral part of the
Army’s Ready and Resilient Campaign, which
promotes physical and psychological fitness
and encourages personal and professional
growth.
Tiffany (Strand) Kesler is a special education
teacher at Lake Mills High School in Lake
Mills, Iowa.
Dr. Benjamin Knight is the owner/operator
of Abundant Life Chiropractic in Chanhassen,
Minn., and co-president of BREAKthrough
chiropractic student coaching systems, a
program to help students ease the transition
from student to doctor to business owner.
Kelsey Martin is
community manager
at Chatterkick, a
digital marketing
company in Sioux City.
She also serves on the
board of directors for
the Mid America
Museum of Aviation
and Transportation.
2012
Jessica Boschen is a naturalist and outdoor
educator at Ponca State Park in Ponca, Neb.
Karena Danner is the director of human
resources for the Good Samaritan Society in
Syracuse, Neb.
Christine (Hassenfritz) Toft was one of 20
teachers in the Davenport Community School
District selected to be a mentor in the Teacher
Leadership Compensation System. Toft will
mentor a new teacher through the Journey to
Excellence program for two academic years,
after which the new teacher will be prepared
to apply for his or her standard teaching
license.
2013
Brittany Buren is a third-grade teacher and
junior high volleyball coach at Madrid
Elementary School in Madrid, Iowa.
Cody Danko is a quality assurance technician
at Den Hartog Industries in Hospers, Iowa.
Jesse Derrick is a real estate agent with
Property Pros Group in Sioux City.
Kaitlin Gerber, Nick Haedt 2011 and Blake
Schany 2013 worked on a research project
with Dr. Aaron Bunker, assistant professor of
biology, while they were students at
Morningside. Their research determined that
body position significantly impacts the blood
pressure of females but not males. A paper
reporting their results was published in the
March 2015 issue of BIOS, the quarterly
journal of the Beta Beta Beta National
Biological Honor Society.
25
AWARDS
Alumni Educator of the Year
HONORS
Siouxland Alumni Teachers of the Year
&
Dr. Timothy Orwig 1980,, who teaches courses in art and architectural history at Boston College and
Northeastern University.
Jennifer Koch 2007,, a first-grade teacher at Clark Elementary School in Sioux City.
Kim Bentsen 2004,, a life skills teacher at West Harrison High School in Mondamin, Iowa.
OTHER NOMINEES: Sioux City – Deborah Ammons 1992, Spalding Park Elementary School; Elizabeth (Reynolds)
Boetger 2007, West High School; Wendy Bryce 2005,, East High School; Katie (McElroy) Demers 2000,
Bryant Elementary School; Lisa Frink 1995,, Lincoln Elementary School; Courtney Jungers 2009,
Hunt Elementary School; Kris McCarthy,, Riverside Elementary School; Erin Nelson, Washington and
Whittier elementary schools; Angela (Pottorff) Schneider 1978,, East Middle School; Jani (Waddell)
Sparr 1978, West Middle School; Heidi (Christensen) Vondrak 2004,
2004 Loess Hills Elementary School;
and Stephanie White 2005, Unity Elementary School. Iowa – Mary (Kottman) Benton 1987,
1987 Le Mars
Middle School; Lindsay DeHaan 2011,, Ridge View Middle School, Early; John Held 1976, Denison High
School; Amy (Johnson) Rolfes 1998,, Akron-Westfield High School, Akron; Vonda MacClure 2001,
Dr. Vicki Schug 1978 of
Westwood Elementary School, Sloan.
Bloomington, Minn., nursing
Nursing Alumna
of the Year
professor at St. Catherine
University in St. Paul, Minn.
GRADUATE EDUCATION AWARDS
Owens Award for Professional Service
Joel Illian 2014 of West Des Moines, Iowa.
Tevis Award for Excellence in Action Research
Ryan Austin 2014 of Carroll, Iowa.
Outstanding seniors recognized
by alumni association
Maria Bohling of Loveland, Colo.
Drew Nolan of Hawarden, Iowa
Hannah Hecht of Lansing, Kan.
Sarah Sorenson of Sioux Falls, S.D.
Lacey Ruth Martinez of Pomona, Calif. Audri Swisher of Spearfish, S.D.
Kyle McGlade of Council Bluffs, Iowa
class notes
Mariah (Stauffer)
Gesink is in graduate
school, studying
epidemiology at
University of Nebraska
Medical Center.
Erin Hedlund is a paraeducator in the Hinton
Community Schools in Hinton, Iowa, and she
is pursuing a degree in elementary education.
Jacy Jahn is an applied behavior analysis
specialist at The Homestead in Davenport,
Iowa.
Greg Kolpin is a social studies teacher at
Woodbine High School in Woodbine, Iowa.
Cody Neddermeyer is a fleet manager at K&B
Transportation in South Sioux City, Neb.
Joseph O’Neill works in the sales department
at Palmer Candy Company in Sioux City.
Rachel Penning is an enterprise analyst at
Sports Authority Corporate Headquarters in
Englewood, Colo.
26
Briana Schaeuble is
pursuing a master’s
degree in marital and
family therapy at Sioux
Falls Seminary. She is
completing an
internship at
Children’s Inn, a
private, nonprofit
organization that provides 24-hour, free
services for adults and children who are
victims of family violence, elder abuse, child
abuse, neglect or sexual assault. She helps
facilitate a support group for kids who
experienced domestic violence at the Child
and Adolescent Therapy Clinic at Sioux Falls
Psychological Services. She also helps
facilitate EMPOWER, a group in the Sioux
Falls schools that educates teen girls about
dating violence.
Amy (Baer) Whitsell co-authored a paper
recently published in the Journal of
Combinatorial Mathematics and
Combinatorial Computing. The paper finds
solutions to all of the remaining cases of a
problem in Combinatorics that was originally
posed in 1933 by the mathematician Richard
Rado. Whitsell started the project while a
student at Morningside. After she graduated,
Dr. Chris Spicer, associate professor of
mathematics, worked with Dr. Brenda
Mammenga, a former Morningside faculty
member, to finish the problem.
2014
Jess Anderson is a web designer and
developer for JD Gordon Creative Labs in
Sioux City.
Cole Boger is a banker at Valley Bank and
Trust of Mapleton and Danbury, Iowa.
In Loving Memory
Jenna Bowmaster is the fifth- through
12th-grade Spanish teacher for Remsen St.
Mary’s Schools in Remsen, Iowa.
1934
Barbara (Van Uleck) Kruck, Sioux City, died
Nov. 15, 2014.
Daltynn Brockman is pursuing a graduate
degree in counseling psychology at The
University of Kansas in Lawrence.
1936
Carol (Atkinson) Newton, Huntsville, Ala.,
died Aug. 30, 2014.
Jason Carlson is a mental health technician at
Boys and Girls Home and Family Services in
Sioux City.
1939
Dr. Robert Rohwer, Indianola, Iowa, died
March 2, 2012.
Jenna Graves is a small business specialist at
U.S. Bank in Sioux City.
1940
Vera (Farrington) Olson, Kansas City, Mo.,
died Nov. 4, 2014.
Megan Grooters is
working full time
at Sunnybrook
Community Church in
Sioux City as a
missions and student
ministries assistant.
1942
Muriel (Hiler) Moeller, Fort Dodge, Iowa, died
Jan. 15, 2015.
1943
Evelyn Freeburg, Ames, Iowa, died March 6,
2008.
Mary Horton is a third-grade teacher at
Bryant Elementary School in Sioux City.
Audrey (Luse) Georgesen, Moville, Iowa, died
July 16, 2014.
Michael Lewis is a news reporter for the
television station KCAU in Sioux City.
1944
Frances (Washburn) Dougherty, Whiting,
Iowa, died May 23, 2014.
Aaron Lonneman is a social studies teacher
and boys’ basketball coach at George-Little
Rock Middle School in Little Rock, Iowa.
Roberta (Held) Hasek, Sac City, Iowa, died
March 24, 2015.
Leann Osten is a special education teacher at
Cardinal Elementary School in South Sioux
City, Neb.
David Riveros Garcia
was hired as a
consultant for the
social development
and citizen
engagement
department at the
World Bank office in
Paraguay. In his new
position, he is assisting the bank’s senior
development specialist in supervising the
development of a social accountability
mechanism that aims to promote
transparency in the Paraguayan
government's conditional cash transfer
program.
Josh Schreiner is a math teacher at Remsen
St. Mary's Middle School in Remsen, Iowa.
Emma (Mastalir) Thompson is a youth
worker 2 at Children’s Square USA in Council
Bluffs, Iowa.
Ferne (Dunn) Obye, Sun City, Ariz., died
Nov. 27, 2014.
1945
Lorraine (Iverson) Haviland, Phoenix, Ariz.,
died Oct. 16, 2014.
Evelyn (Madsen) Held, Hinton, Iowa, died
Feb. 13, 2015.
1947
Veneta (DeWitt) Ewen, Le Claire, Iowa, died
May 30, 2014.
Carol (Hansen) Miller, Costa Mesa, Calif.,
died Sept. 24, 2011.
1948
Edward Motz, Sioux City, died Dec. 21, 2014.
Arlene (Burow) Petersen, Pender, Neb., died
Sept. 30, 2014.
1949
Dr. Vernon Helt, Dakota City, Neb., died
March 22, 2015.
Dr. Calman Levich, Pentwater, Mich., died
Dec. 25, 2014. He was a retired commander in
the U.S. Navy.
Roy Moore Jr., Upland, Calif., died Nov. 26,
2014.
1950
Morgan Anderson, Buffalo, Minn., died
Nov. 10, 2014.
1958
Dr. M. “Zab” Zabezensky, Mesa, Ariz., died
Jan. 6, 2013.
1967
Helen Petersen, Anthon, Iowa, died Sept. 27,
2014.
Lucille Hansen, Spencer, Iowa, died Nov. 21,
2014.
1959
William Clemens, Beloit, Wis., died Feb. 16,
2015.
Mary (Thomsen) Tucker, Sioux City, died
Feb. 8, 2015.
Joan (Buckwalter) Hoelscher, Estes Park,
Colo., died May 27, 2013.
Fred Holtrop, Ireton, Iowa, died July 21, 2014.
Dr. Philip Loh, Honolulu, Hawaii, died
Jan. 12, 2014.
Forest “Ted” Penn-Whitlow, Johnstown, Pa.,
died Dec. 18, 2014.
Karen (Johnson) Hyde, Albert City, Iowa, died
Nov. 30, 2014.
1968
Gloria (Bosquez) Nassiff, Orlando, Fla., died
Feb. 22, 2015.
1960
Donald Miller, Delavan, Wis., died Nov. 18,
2014.
Dennis Peavey, League City, Texas, died
Aug. 18, 2014.
Stuart Oliver, Sioux City, died Jan. 24, 2015.
1969
Joyce (Emmeck) Muff, Dow City, Iowa, died
Jan. 2, 2015.
Russell Rasmus, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died
Nov. 6, 2014.
1961
John Braheny, Los Angeles, Calif., died Jan. 19,
2013.
James Winter, Marshalltown, Iowa, died
March 14, 2015.
David Crumley, North Bend, Ore., died
Dec. 12, 2013.
Donald R. Smith, Clermont, Fla., died
Aug. 20, 2014.
1951
William Gates, Sioux City, died Jan. 11, 2015.
Gene Lehner, Arvada, Colo., died March 17,
2015.
1952
Milo Kirkegaard, Hastings, Neb., died Jan. 3,
2015.
1962
Blayne Johnson, Hartley, Iowa, died Dec. 2,
2014.
1970
Rick Kumerfield, San Antonio, Texas, died
Oct. 29, 2014.
1953
Genevieve (Majorowicz) Wise, Northfield,
Minn., died Oct. 11, 2014.
Carl Noltze Jr., Sioux City, died March 15,
2015.
The Rev. Bruce Zellmer, Sioux City, died
Nov. 30, 2014.
1954
Don H. Christensen, Spirit Lake, Iowa, died
Sept. 14, 2014.
Milton Madden, Portland, Ore., died Sept. 20,
2014.
Ben Storek, Tucson, Ariz., died July 19, 2014.
Jeanette “Delores” (Hughes) Swenson,
Ocheyedan, Iowa, died Jan. 28, 2015.
Walter Wagner, Anaheim, Calif., died Sept. 11,
2014.
1956
Mary (Musselman) Boston, Sioux City, died
Oct. 7, 2014.
Gerald “Jerry” Huldeen, Sioux City, died
March 20, 2015.
Leo Juffer, San Diego, Calif., died March 3,
2015.
Adele (Kirkpatrick) Sorensen, Sioux City,
died Dec. 22, 2014.
Jack Sweeney, Sioux City, died March 2, 2015.
1957
Shirley (Kemner) Spaulding, Sun City West,
Ariz., died Oct. 11, 2014.
1963
Robert Gourley Sr., Statesville, N.C., died
Feb. 17, 2015.
Sally (Ahlberg) Johnson, Lincoln, Neb., died
Nov. 5, 2014.
Harold “Gene” Turner, Ocheyedan, Iowa, died
March 19, 2015.
1964
Michael Moser, Dallas, Ore., died Sept. 21,
2014.
1965
Kelly Doonan, Harlan, Iowa, died June 9,
2014.
Charlene Hunt, Conrad, Mont., died Jan. 17,
2014.
Diane (Kemner) Johnson, Sioux City, died
Feb. 27, 2015.
Roger Ralston, Lancaster, Wis., died Feb. 24,
2015.
1966
Max Brodersen, McCook, Neb., died Jan. 16,
2015.
Peter Koenig, West Liberty, Iowa, died
Sept. 3, 2014.
Douglas Swanson, Sioux City, died Oct. 20,
2014.
Stephen Rohr, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died
Aug. 23, 2014.
Louise (Schwartz) Smith, Atlantic, Iowa, died
Sept. 17, 2014.
Gary Weiner, Yoder, Ind., died Oct. 20, 2014.
1971
James Martin, Sioux City, died Oct. 25, 2014.
Douglas Mortensen, Forsyth, Ill., died
Nov. 24, 2014.
Thomas Thomsen, Sioux City, died March 3,
2015.
1972
Lorraine (Nugent) McDermott, Kingsley,
Iowa, died Oct. 18, 2014.
1973
Mark Bigler, Des Moines, Iowa, died Dec. 7,
2014.
Thomas Holmes, Seal Beach, Calif., died
May 26, 2014.
Daniel Washburn, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, died
Oct. 25, 2014.
Robert Wilson, Sioux City, died Jan. 10, 2015.
1974
Dr. Debra Donahue Riehle, Cedar Falls, Iowa,
died July 6, 2014.
Ronald Servine, Ponca, Neb., died Feb. 27,
2015.
1975
Mary Ann (Gaspar) Kriss, Boise, Idaho, died
March 29, 2015.
27
1979
Royce McGuire Sr., Sloan, Iowa, died Feb. 16,
2015. He was a retired master sergeant in the
U.S. Air Force.
Maya Jane (left) and
Isobel Marie Bossman
Ethen Richard James De Clute
1980
Gary Funke, Sioux City, died Nov. 17, 2014.
Makenna Rae Barrett
Donald Holloway, Harlan, Iowa, died
Sept. 20, 2014.
1981
Beverly (Battey) Smith, Sioux City, died
Feb. 17, 2015.
1982
Anne-Marie (Yaneff) Black, Sioux City, died
Dec. 20, 2014.
1983
Gary Lovik, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, died
Jan. 21, 2015.
Joleen (Johnsen) Rich, Sioux City, died
Aug. 14, 2014.
1985
Ronald Boren, Raeford, N.C., died
Aug. 29, 2014.
1988
Robert Dowd, Olympia, Wash., died
Dec. 28, 2014.
28
Quinn May Liberto
Emma Paulsen
Evie Elizabeth Richard
1990
Rita Flynn, Coon Rapids, Iowa, died
Nov. 11, 2014.
Thora Phelps, Northfield, Minn., died Aug. 7,
2014. She was a former staff member at
Morningside, having served as head resident
of Dimmitt Hall and as dean of women.
1996
Chad Coyne, Moville, Iowa, died Feb. 22, 2015.
Future Morningsiders
2010
Susan Perkins, Indianola, Iowa, died
Feb. 22, 2015.
1997
Brian Clarke and his wife, Angela, a
daughter, Angelyse Mei, Nov. 29, 2014.
Remembering
Cherished Friends
1998
Chuck and Stacey (Jacobs) Baughman 1999,
Surprise, Ariz., a son, Cash Jacobs, Nov. 28,
2012.
Mary Hilker, Vero Beach, Fla., died Nov. 8,
2014. She and her husband, the late
Dr. Robert Hilker 1938, made the naming gift
for the Hilker Campus Mall.
2002
Jacob Bossman and his wife, Carmen Evenson
Bossman, Sioux City, twin daughters, Isobel
Marie and Maya Jane, June 30, 2014.
Bishop Rueben Job, Brentwood, Tenn., died
Jan. 3, 2015. He was a former member of the
Morningside College Board of Directors.
Dr. Shannon (Schmidt) De Clute and her
husband, Ryan, Sioux City, a son, Ethen
Richard James, Aug. 3, 2014.
Irene Kucinski, Portland, Ore., died Feb. 6,
2015. She was the widow of Dr. Leo Kucinski,
who was a music professor at Morningside.
Melissa (Grout) Levine and her husband,
Matt, Creston, Iowa, a daughter, Rebecca,
Dec. 13, 2012.
Dr. Raymond Nelson, Colorado Springs, Colo.,
died Oct. 24, 2014. He was a former faculty
and staff member at Morningside, having
served as chair of the English department,
humanities chair, academic dean and vice
president. He received an honorary doctorate
from Morningside in 1979.
Jill (Zevenbergen) Paulsen and her husband,
Jason, Harlan, Iowa, a daughter, Emma, Oct.
3, 2014.
2003
Marcy (Pudenz) Clark and her husband,
Charlie, a son, Oscar Andrew, Aug. 18, 2013.
Angela (Turner) Ricklefs and her husband,
Ben, a daughter, Ava Jo, May 2, 2014.
Amy (Skalisky) Vermeys, Bronson, Iowa, a
daughter, Kadence, March 16, 2007.
2004
Mike and Janel (Gillies) Bennett, Aliso Viejo,
Calif., a daughter, Brielle Rene, Nov. 28, 2014.
2005
Elizabeth (Jessen) Barrett and her husband,
Tim, a daughter, Makenna Rae, Oct. 8, 2014.
2006
Jenna (Rehnstrom) Liberto and her husband,
Chris, Sioux City, a daughter, Quinn May,
June 25, 2014.
2009
Wyeth and Breanne (Evans) Lynch, Madrid,
Iowa, a daughter, Evelynn Marie, Sept. 22,
2014.
Mark Martindale and his wife, Katie, Sioux
Falls, S.D., two daughters, Alli, April 22, 2010,
and Annabelle, July 24, 2013.
2010
Tim and Christina (Blomgren) Richard 2011,
Persia, Iowa, a daughter, Evie Elizabeth, Jan. 2,
2014.
Newlyweds
1960
Donald Nieuwendorp and Lorae Wilson,
Oct. 5, 2013. At home in Sioux City.
1988
Bill Hartwig and Karen Johnson, June 6, 2015,
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fremont,
Neb. At home in Fremont.
1995
Lisa Martensen and Jason Mercer, June 22,
2013, Elkhorn, Neb. At home in Omaha, Neb.
1997
Joel Weyand and Tami Hoppmann, Aug. 17,
2014. At home in Crete, Neb.
1998
Dawn Swenson and John Kilby, May 2010. At
home in Kansas City, Mo.
2001
Camie Shuff and Matthew Blundell, Aug. 9,
2014, St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church, Halsall,
England. At home in Ormskirk, England.
2009
Kelsey Ploen and Jeffery Walter, Nov. 8, 2014,
St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Kingsley, Iowa.
At home in Le Mars, Iowa.
Hollie Vaughan and Joshua Henrich, June 14,
2014, St. Michael Catholic Parish, Sioux Falls,
S.D. At home in Sioux Falls.
Nicole Van Heek and Brian Block 2013,
Oct. 4, 2014. St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church,
Crofton, Neb. At home in Sibley, Iowa.
2010
Shannon Hettinger and Seth Jensen, Aug. 2,
2014, St John’s Lutheran Church, Le Mars,
Iowa. At home in Hinton, Iowa.
2013
Clayton King and Katie Koenigs, Jan. 3, 2015,
Church of the Nativity, Sioux City. At home in
Lawton, Iowa.
2011
Heidi Lieber and Nathan Connelly 2013,
July 26, 2014, Central Baptist Church, Sioux
City. At home in McCook Lake, SD.
Sean Richardson and Sarah Dickinson,
Oct. 24, 2014, Immaculate Conception
Catholic Church, Sioux City. At home in
Sioux City.
Lindsey Siepker and Brandon Mueller 2007,
Sept. 20, 2014, St. John Vianney Catholic
Church, Omaha, Neb. At home in Omaha.
2014
Amber McGreevy and Shane Schaaf, July 12,
2014, Wabash Trace, Mineola, Iowa. At home
in Silver City, Iowa.
2012
Erin Downing and
Matthew Gorman,
Oct. 3, 2014, Grand River
Center, Dubuque, Iowa.
At home in Marion,
Iowa.
Kassie Hein and Alex
Smith, Oct. 11, 2014,
First Lutheran Church,
West Okoboji, Iowa. At
home in Sioux City.
Bob Seger and Mallory Lowe 2011, June 21,
2014, Panora United Methodist Church,
Panora, Iowa. At home in Hickman, Neb.
Camie Shuff & Matthew Blundell
Alumni Office Update
I would like to highlight a group of 20
volunteers who work behind the scenes –
quietly and without fanfare. That group is
the Morningside College Alumni Board of
Directors.
The Alumni Board’s main focus is to assist
the Alumni Office in coordinating events at
Morningside and around the country. What a
phenomenal job these volunteers have done!
Let me give you an example of their dedication! Homecoming. It
is perhaps the most complex and most fun event in which the board
gets involved. On Friday evening of Homecoming, the Alumni Board
helps in a myriad of ways, from decorating to working the event.
We’re excited to say that this year our Friday event will take place
on campus! (We used to host this event at Emma’s Event Center.
However, the facility, owned by an alum, was recently sold.) Watch
your snail mail, email and Facebook for further information!!
As I mentioned, Homecoming is about fun, but it’s also about
connecting and reconnecting. The Alumni Board participates in all
of the Saturday events, most particularly the Taste of Morningside.
The event, which got its start in 2007, has grown to be the largest
single annual alumni event in the history of the college. Upwards
Heidi Lieber & Nathan Connelly
29
By Gene Ambroson
of 3,000 people attend . Of course, it helps to have the great
football game that precedes it. Taste of Morningside would not
happen without the assistance of the Alumni Board.
But they do much more! The board helps coordinate our newly
formed Alumni Chapters Program, where alumni in different cities
get together for a variety of activities. Chapters have been formed
in Denver, San Francisco, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Chicago and
Dallas, with more to come this year.
Last year the president of Morningside College, John Reynders,
formed strategic planning task forces to set goals for different
areas of the college between now and 2020. The Alumni Board
stepped up and participated in a big way by recommending the
direction the alumni program should take in the future. In October,
the final strategic plan will be presented to the Morningside
College Board of Directors. To be sure, there is much fun and
excitement in store for the Alumni Office and the Alumni Board!
Stay tuned!
Members of the Morningside College Alumni Board, like so many
before them, have done an outstanding job of helping the college
continue to be one of the very best in the Midwest. We don’t say it
often enough – a big THANK YOU! We couldn’t do it without you!
class notes
Morningside College sweethearts
Alumni share their stories
Photo by Catelin (Hoistad) Drey 2010
Tim 2010 and I met on my college visit. The volleyball girls took me to
“The Football House.” After meeting, we stayed in touch on social
media. Tim had no idea I decided to come to Morningside College
because of him! We started dating in November 2007, and we were
married in May 2011. We have an 18-month-old daughter, and we’re
expecting our second child.
– Christina (Blomgren) Richard 2011
Andy 2009 and I met during the 2006-2007 school year. We were both
members of the track team. After eight years together, five years
married, and surviving our 2-year-old twins, we couldn’t be happier.
– Jordan (Balfour) Edison 2009
30
Tyler 2007 and I met my freshman year in college choir. We are
celebrating our fifth year of marriage this year with our two little girls
ages 3 and 1!
– Amanda (Flater) Schnuckel 2008
First time I noticed Marilyn (Horswell) 1976, she was working in the
commons in the food service line. They say the best way to a man’s
heart…Nope, it was the mini skirt! I asked her to join me at an ice
cream social, and that was that. We have a daughter, Marissa, and a
son, Charlie. Marissa is with us in the more recent photo.
– Charlie Leissler IV 1975
Chris 2008 and I met at Morningside in December of 2006. We got
married Oct. 1, 2011. We now live in Des Moines with our 9-month-old
baby girl.
– Katie Rae (Johnson) Lee 2010
I met Ashley (Danner) 2009 freshman year in Professor Heather
Reid’s “The Examined Life.” Ash and I had many long, late-night
conversations under the clock tower. We started dating at the
Homecoming dance on Oct. 3, 2005, and got married Oct. 3, 2009,
stopping by Taste of Morningside and the clock tower. After almost a
decade together, we always celebrate our anniversary at Morningside.
When Homecoming falls on the weekend of Oct. 3rd, it’s an added
bonus, like last year when our youngest daughter got to celebrate her
first Homecoming on our anniversary.
– Russell Heine 2009
Morningside wins women’s
basketball national championship
Lexi Ackerman made two free throws with two seconds left in the game to lift Morningside
to a 59-57 victory against Concordia in the title game of the 2015 NAIA Division II Women’s
Basketball National Championship on March 17 in Sioux City.
The Mustangs’ two-point win against their Great
Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) rival was the
closest championship game victory margin in
the history of the National Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics II National Tournament.
It was Morningside’s fourth national
championship of the Jamie Sale coaching era
after previously winning national crowns in 2004,
2005 and 2009.
This year’s title run may have been the most
impressive of them all as the Mustangs had to
overcome adversity after their best player, senior
first-team All-America forward Ashlynn Muhl,
underwent season-ending surgery one day before
the tournament began.
Muhl’s understudy, junior forward Jessica Tietz,
stepped up admirably and was named the
tournament’s MVP after she led the Mustangs with
17 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in the
Lexi Ackerman
title game. Tietz was joined on the all-tournament
team by junior guard Allison Bachman, while
junior forward Jordyn Wollenburg received the
tourney’s Hustle Award.
Muhl was joined on this year’s NAIA II
All-America selections by sophomore guard Taylor
Bahensky, who was tabbed to the third team, and
Ackerman, a sophomore guard who was named to
the honorable mention list.
After a 79-45 opening round victory against
California Merced, the Mustangs survived their
biggest scare of the national tournament with a
74-66 triumph against Oklahoma Wesleyan after
rallying from a 17-point first half deficit.
Morningside rolled to a 79-62 wire-to-wire win
against defending champion Saint Francis in the
quarterfinals before a 66-63 semifinal round win
against Hastings in an all-GPAC Final Four set up
its title game showdown with Concordia.
Jessica Tietz
Dave Rebstock
Are you moving? Do you have an e-mail address?
Please let us know! Just send an e-mail to
alumni@morningside.edu or write to the
Alumni Office, Morningside College,
1501 Morningside Ave., Sioux City, IA 51106.
Sioux City, IA 51106
Change Service Requested
HOMECOMING
2015
OCTOBER 8-11
CLASS REUNIONS
1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1990, 1995,
2005, 2015
OTHER REUNION GROUPS
Dimmitt Residents, Ag Business,
2005 GPAC Football Champs
ALL ALUMNI AND
FRIENDS ARE INVITED!
For more information, call the alumni
relations office at 712-274-5293, or visit
www.morningside.edu/alumni.