College News

Published April 25, 2013 11:14 am

Yesterday's Meals from the Heartland effort was phenomenal!!!  New volunteers kept arriving the entire time.  We packaged almost 12,000 meals in two and a half hours!  The meals have been delivered to the Meals from the Heartland warehouse in Des Moines where they will be shipped out to help starving people in the United States and around the world.

Thanks to EVERYBODY who helped and thanks to our very own Meghan Kalvig in the admissions department for bring Meals from the Heartland to campus.  What a worthwhile organization!

See more Meals from the Heartland photos on the SWCC Pay it Forward page on Facebook!  And remember to report your Pay it Forward activities and read what others are doing on the SWCC Post Your PIF Activity page.

Published April 23, 2013 9:57 am

CRESTON—April 19, 2013—Almost 450 high school students were on Southwestern Community College's campus on Friday, April 5, 2013, for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Day and the 2013 SWCC Automotive Open House.  This annual open house offers future students the opportunity to tour the shops, meet the instructors, and learn more about SWCC’s automotive repair technology and collision repair/refinish programs.

As a part of the event, many of the visiting students, as well as current SWCC automotive students, compete in contests and activities.  Placings for the contests follow:

High School Collision/Welding Contest Winners

• Jacob Berkley, Red Oak High School, first place
• Colton Drake, Villisca High School, second place
• Remington Tranburger, Red Oak High School, third place

Tire Changing Contest - High School Division

• Russell Sinclair, Central Decatur High School, tie for first place
• Corey Sunderman, Atlantic High School, tie for first place
• Heath Heller, Atlantic High School, second place

Tire Changing Contest - College Division

• Kadin Miller, Osceola, Southwestern Community College, first place
• Alonzo Rodriguez, Osceola, Southwestern Community College, second place

Photos from the events are available on SWCC’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/swcciowa.

Published April 22, 2013 11:31 am

Poster Day will be held on Thurs., April 25, 2013, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the upstairs of the Student Center.  Approximately 80 students will have their work on display and be available during the event to discuss their projects. This event is supported by SWCC Undergraduate Research (SWCCUR).  Students, staff and community members are invited to come see the work of these SWCC student.

Evaluation/feedback forms will be available so individuals browsing the fair can provide helpful suggestions for future projects.

Published April 18, 2013 4:41 pm

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Center on the Creston campus.

Teresa Krejci, SWCC chief financial officer, talked to the board about the upcoming 20 ¼ Facilities Levy.  The levy, which is a continuation levy that has been in place since the inception of SWCC in 1966, is voted on every 10 years.  The current levy will expire in 2014.  Krejci said funds from the levy may be used for purchase, repairs, renovation, and replacement of physical structures.  Krejci explained the tax is 20 ¼ cents per $1,000 assessed valuation tax on property.  Following Krejci’s presentation, the board voted to authorize the administration to proceed with the necessary arrangements for the facilities levy election on September 10, 2013.

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Published April 16, 2013 11:25 am

Creston, IA—A coach has been named and the Southwestern Community College bowling program is slated to begin with the fall 2013 semester.  Doug Davidson of Orient has been named the college’s first-ever head bowling coach.

Davidson, who owned and operated a bowling center in Creston for 22 years, will begin recruiting for the Spartans’ new athletic program immediately.  Davidson was a member of the Iowa Bowling Proprietors Association and served in the roles of president and secretary for District 9.  He was an Iowa Bowling Proprietor Board member for 10 years.  Davidson was instrumental in starting the first junior bowling traveling tournament in south central Iowa.  He holds a coaching certificate for the Young American Bowling Association.

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Published April 12, 2013 10:17 am

Southwestern Community College’s Student Senate is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Tues., April 16, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Student Center gymnasium, 1501 W. Townline Street, Creston.  The public is invited.

To schedule an appointment to give blood, please contact Connie Harmsen in the SWCC admissions office at 641.782.1421 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Be sure to bring your Red Cross donor card or a government or school issued photo I.D. when you come.

The Blood Drive is one of the first activities for SWCC’s 2013 Pay it Forward (PIF) Week.  The remainder of the events will be scheduled for April 22-25.  During PIF Week, SWCC students, faculty, and staff get involved in encouraging positive behaviors and service to the community.

This is the fifth year SWCC has held PIF Week.  For a complete list of PIF Week activities planned at SWCC, please visit www.swcciowa.edu/pif.

Published April 5, 2013 5:05 pm

Tons of pictures from a great day on campus!  Auto Open House and CTE Day brought more than 450 high school students and many others to SWCC today.  We loved having you here!  Be sure to check out the photos on SWCC's Facebook page (you don't have to be a Facebook member to see them, so click away!)

Published April 4, 2013 8:32 am

The art & design department is holding its second annual SWCC Student Art Exhibition at the Creston Arts: Depot Gallery at the Depot in uptown Creston during the month of April.  The opening reception is Fri., April 5, 2013, from 6-8 pm.  Refreshments will be served.

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Published April 1, 2013 1:52 pm

CRESTON—During the past few months, Southwestern Community College has worked hard to expand transfer options related to criminal justice coursework with five four-year colleges in Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska.  The college has been working closely with Buena Vista University in Storm Lake; Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, MO; Peru State University in Peru, NE; Simpson College in Indianola; and the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO.

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Published March 28, 2013 4:53 pm

During Southwestern Community College’s annual Pay it Forward (PIF) Week, Monday through Thursday, April 22-25, 2013, one of the main events will be a Mobile Hunger Fight event through Meals From the Heartland.  The Mobile Hunger Fight will provide the opportunity for SWCC to sponsor a meal packaging event at the SWCC Student Center on Wed., April 24, 2013.  Currently, funds are being raised for the Mobile Hunger Fight.  The more funds we raise, the more meals we package.  Every donation counts!  Currently, through Meals From the Heartland, it costs $.20 per meal.  Blue plastic donation boxes are located around campus or your donation may be given directly to SWCC’s business office, located in the Administration Center.  If your donation is $25 or more, it will be considered tax deductible.  

Through Meals From the Heartland’s partnerships, their meals have fed more than 22 million hungry people in central Iowa, New Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti, Kenya, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Tanzania.  If you have questions about SWCC’s Mobile Hunger Event, please contact Meghan Kalvig, SWCC admissions representative.
   
Meals from the Heartland Pizza Ranch Tip Night
On Thurs., April 4, SWCC is hosting a Pizza Ranch Tip Night at the Creston Pizza Ranch.  Funds raised during tip night will go toward SWCC’s Meals From the Heartland Mobile Hunger Fight event to be held at SWCC on April 24.  Please bring your family to enjoy the pizza buffet on the evening of April 4 and help us raise funds for a great cause!  Also, if you would like to volunteer to assist SWCC at the Pizza Ranch tip night, please contact Meghan Kalvig.  There will be two shifts of volunteers:  4:45–7 pm will be first shift and 7–9 pm will be the second shift. Volunteers will be making pizza boxes, waiting/bussing tables, vacuuming, and cleaning up at end of night.

More information about SWCC's PIF Week!