College News

Published October 5, 2012 9:33 am

OCTOBER 5, 2012--The Southwestern Community College collision repair/refinish program recently received an exciting delivery--the SiM Spray 3D Virtual Paint System. SimSpray is an immersive virtual reality painting simulator. It will assist SWCC instructors in the teaching of spray painting and coating fundamentals.

With the system in place, students will learn correct body positioning and movement for proper painting and coating techniques. The student operating the system will use a simulated paint gun and headgear to enter an immersive virtual reality environment where he/she will apply "paint" to specific areas of automobiles. The student will view the simulator through the head gear as it tracks his or her motion and painting techniques.

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Published October 4, 2012 10:05 am

Southwestern Community College in Creston is hosting a National Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Day Odyssey, known as Odyssey Day on Thursday, October 18, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the automotive area of the Instructional Center on the Creston campus.  Odyssey Day will be focused on looking at the use of alternative fuels and learning about advanced technology vehicles.

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Published October 1, 2012 3:05 pm

Southwestern Community College Art Instructor Linda Dainty will be exhibiting "Selected Works" at the Creston: Arts Depot Gallery from October 2-29, 2012.  The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and Saturday from 1-4 p.m. 

Dainty's "Selected Works" will include drawings and paintings she has completed since starting her teaching career at SWCC in 1999.  

The opening reception will be this Friday, October 5, from 6-8 p.m. at the Creston: Arts Depot Gallery, 116 W. Adams Street, in uptown Creston.

Published September 27, 2012 4:03 pm

Representatives from the Union County Auditor’s Office will be at the SWCC Student Center on Wed., October 3, 2012, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. to assist students with voter registration, requesting absentee ballots, and any other voter questions.  Students should bring a current Iowa driver's license or ID with them when they come.

If you have questions or need additional information about this event, please contact Matt Thompson, dean of student services.

Published September 21, 2012 10:06 am

Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds was on campus Wed., September 19, 2012, for a STEM Conversations meeting in the Instructional Center at 1:30 p.m. Reynolds was accompanied by Ben Allen, president of the University of Northern Iowa. The two have been traveling the state educating the general public and answering questions about STEM.

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Published September 13, 2012 1:25 pm

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Center on the Creston campus.

Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president for economic development, spoke to the board regarding the college’s five-year facilities plan, a requirement put in place two years ago by the Department of Education. Lesan explained the five-year facilities plan as an ever-changing document. He noted, for example, the plan includes upgrades to the classrooms in the Instructional Center spread over several years. According to Lesan, an estimate has been sought for a project that would consolidate several of these upgrades into one initiative at a cost of approximately $1.5 million. Work could begin as early as Spring Break 2013.

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Published September 7, 2012 1:34 pm

The SWCC Art Club will be holding its first meeting of the year on Wed., September 12, 2012, at 2 p.m., in the art room (room 511 of the Instructional Center).  Everyone who is interested in art is invited to attend.  You DON'T have to be an art major.  If you are interested in becoming involved but can't make it to the meeting, please contact Linda Dainty, SWCC art instructor.

Published September 5, 2012 4:24 pm

CRESTON—Southwestern Community College will sponsor the 2012 SWCC SmartStart Kickoff for high school students from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, September 24, 2012.

The SmartStart Kickoff—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!  The college will be awarding two $250 SWCC scholarships for senior attendees.

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Published September 4, 2012 5:21 pm

There will be a Drill Team Information Table set up on Tues., September 11, 2012, 10-11 a.m., in the Instructional Center main hallway and again on Wed., September 12, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. outside the Student Center in conjunction with the SWCC Club Fair.  Stop by and learn more about the 2012-13 Spartan Drill Team and meet the new coach, Melisa Crook. 

Bring your calendar with you because we will be talking about dates for tryouts.

Published August 30, 2012 2:06 pm

Melisa Crook of Creston has been named as SWCC's drill team coach. She will soon be announcing dates for a drill team informational meeting and tryouts.

Crook has a bachelor's degree in sociology from Simpson College in Indianola. She is currently enrolled in the master of arts in teaching program at Simpson.

She is a nationally certified C.L.O.G. instructor. She was employed as a dance instructor at Leslie’s Dance Emporium in Creston for the past 10 years. She was also employed by Creston Community Schools as a mentoring coordinator/at risk counselor for four years.

Watch for additional drill team information as it becomes available.