College News

Published April 26, 2013 12:09 pm

The SWCC Art Club would like to thank Matura Action Corporation for its donation to the club's annual trip to Chicago!

The students in the SWCC Art and Design department were asked to create a new logo for Matura this spring.  The students enrolled in the computer graphic design course researched the company and its goals, as well as the area and people they serve.  Students were asked to think about colors and typography that related to those goals.  After this research, students created designs which were submitted to Matura Action Corporation along with a detailed explanation of their reasons for color, symbols, and type choices.

From the logos submitted, Matura chose SWCC student Taylor Powers as the winning designer.  Powers is shown in the photo (above right) with Linda Dainty, SWCC art & design instructor; Ron Ludwig, Matura Action Corporation executive director; and Dr. Matt Thompson, SWCC dean of student services. 

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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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