College News

Published September 24, 2013 8:42 am

NEW!  Donations for this effort must be turned in by Fri., September 27!  The Disaster Relief Center will shut off donations as of next week, so in order for Haskell to get the donations to Colorado in time, she must travel this weekend.

Southwestern Community College online student Angela Haskell, of Winterset, is taking it upon herself to assist the victims of the recent Colorado floods who lost everything.  The flooding in Colorado really hits home for Haskell, who lost six family members in the July 31, 1976, Big Thompson, CO, flood.  Haskell is accepting donations and plans to drive a truck to Colorado next weekend for distribution to the victims of the flooding.  Donation boxes will be set up on campus in the Instructional Center, Student Center, and Administration Center by the end of today (Tuesday).  Students may also give at the Osceola and Red Oak Centers.  The donations will be accepted until Wed., October 2.

Haskell has been in contact with the Disaster Relief Center in Loveland, CO.  Suggested items for Colorado Disaster Relief include:
•    Bottled Water
•    Sports Drinks
•    Toiletries
•    New Warm Clothing
•    Blankets
•    Pillows
•    Camping Gear
•    Non-Perishable Food Items
•    Hairbrushes
•    Hygiene supplies
•    Duffel Bags
•    Cloth grocery bags
•    New Footwear
•    Socks
•    Pet Crates
•    Pet Bowls
•    Leashes
•    Cat Litter

Haskell was named 2013 SWCC Online Student of the Year at the annual award's ceremony in April.  She is also a member of SWCC's Phi Theta Kappa.

Published September 23, 2013 9:04 am

Competition was fierce at the first-ever SWCC Mud Volleyball Tournament.  Approximately 20 teams competed yesterday in a single-elimination tournament.  The winning team was crowned mid-afternoon.  Congrats to TEAM BINDA--SWCC's 2013 Mud Volleyball Champions!

For more mud volleyball photos, please visit SWCC's Facebook page!

Published September 19, 2013 2:01 pm

Register now for the SWCC 3 on 3 Basketball Contest or 3 Point Contest at SWCC! The 3 on 3 Basketball Contest will be held on Wed., September 25, 2013, at 7 p.m. in the Student Center gymnasium. The 3 Point Contest will be held on Tues., October 1, 2013, at 7 p.m. in the Student Center gymnasium.

The cost to register for the 3 on 3 basketball contest is $5/person or $15 per team. The fee to register for the 3 Point Contest is $5. Register now at the SWCC Bookstore. Registration ends September 24. Late registrations will have an additional $3 fee.

If questions, please contact event organizers This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., both SWCC students. This event is a project for the introduction to entrepreneurship class.

Published September 19, 2013 11:58 am

Great job to SWCC's Phi Theta Kappa who served the Open Table meal in uptown Creston on Monday evening! They organized food donations and served approximately 90 individuals a free meal of sloppy Joe sandwiches, veggies, chips, and dessert.  The early crew is shown in the photo above (L to R): Jody Nedley-Newcomb, co-sponsor PTK; Jackson Shantz, volunteer; Amanda Edwards, PTK alumni; David Livingston, PTK president; and Zach Johnson, PTK member.  Other workers included Alex Duffy, PTK vice president, and Megan Doubleday, PTK vice president.

Published September 13, 2013 3:59 pm

CRESTON—Southwestern Community College (SWCC) will sponsor the 2013 SmartStart Kickoff for high school students from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, September 23, 2013, on the SWCC Creston campus.  

The event—an open house for students—will be a great chance for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to check out SWCC and its campus!  Students will be able to sit in on college classes, visit program areas, talk with instructors and students, and tour the residence halls.  High school students in attendance will receive lunch, a SWCC T-shirt, and the opportunity to win door prizes, including an iPod Shuffle!  The college will be awarding two-$250 SWCC scholarships for senior attendees.

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Published September 11, 2013 4:12 pm

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees met Tuesday, September 10, 2013, at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Center on the Creston campus.

The board approved the college’s five-year facilities plan, which had been given to them for review at the August 2013 board meeting.  The Department of Education requires the board to review and approve the plan on an annual basis.

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Published September 11, 2013 1:53 pm

The SWCC softball and volleyball teams are hosting a 32-team mud volleyball tournament on Sun., September 22, 2013, starting at 11 a.m. by the softball and baseball fields on the SWCC campus. Teams may have up to 10 people (at least three females) and the registration fee is $100. Deadline for registration is September 18. Each member of the winning team will be awarded a hoodie (see photo above).

To register, please contact Melissa Blessington, SWCC head volleyball coach. When registering, please be prepared to give Blessington a team contact with phone number and email address. Teams will be given their start time of play and waiver sheet.

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Published September 6, 2013 8:17 am

Community Awareness Day will be held on Wed., September 11, from 9-11 a.m., in the main hallway of the Instructional Center.  Approximately 10 community agencies will be in attendance with information tables and representatives for students to talk to about their services. 

Agencies registered include:

• Crest Area for Life
• First National Bank
• Iowa State Savings Bank
• Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation
• Iowa Works
• Life Care Pregnancy Center
• Matura
• Parents as Teachers
• Planned Parenthood of the Heartland
• Southern Prairie YMCA
• TRIO Student Support Services

Published September 5, 2013 8:59 am

WHO-TV's (Channel 13's) RVTV is coming to Creston on Mon., September 9, 2013, from 4-10:30 pm! SWCC admissions is leading games for the event and will be set up directly in front of the Creston depot.  If you would like to assist admissions for a couple hours Monday evening, please contact Cait Maitlen to sign up.  You'll even get a one-of-a-kind SWCC/ISU/U of I button (pictured at right), because you know a lot of great Cyclones and Hawkeyes start their college adventure right here at SWCC!

RVTV includes nightly family friendly tailgating each week night leading up to the Iowa-Iowa State football game on Saturday in Ames.  This year's RVTV schedule is as follows:

• Monday - Creston
• Tuesday - Jefferson
• Wednesday - Webster City
• Thursday - Iowa Falls
• Friday/Saturday - Ames

Published August 22, 2013 4:59 pm

Southwestern Community College (SWCC) announced today Beth Kulow will be the college’s new dean of student services.  Kulow succeeds Dr. Matt Thompson, who recently accepted a position at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.

Kulow, a native of Mediapolis, has served as the southwest regional manager for the Iowa STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Education Network since August 2012.  The governor’s STEM Advisory Council, which oversees the Iowa STEM hub, is a public-private partnership whose overarching goal is creating greater student achievement in STEM subjects and building a stronger STEM workforce.  In this position, Kulow has traveled a region consisting of 56 southwest Iowa school districts implementing Scale-Up Programs in local school districts to grow STEM educational programming for every learner.  Under Kulow’s direction, the southwest region achieved 98 percent participation during two academic school-years.

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