College News

Published December 1, 2011 4:45 pm

The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) Dance Team will be performing at the 2012 Iowa College Dance Competition at Wells Fargo Arena and Hy-Vee Hall on Friday, December 2.  SWCC performs in the hip hop division at 4:11 p.m.  The doors open to spectators at 7 a.m.  The competition runs from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.  All seats are general admission.  Ticket cost is $10 per day.

Team members include Erica Lensing, Jessica Fooken, Megan Fooken, Melissa Haveman, Cassandra Edwards, Danielle Shae, and Leah Robinson.

There will be 23 college teams in competition. 

Published December 1, 2011 8:20 am

CRESTON — The TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) program at Southwestern Community College is offering free ACT Test prep courses for all ETS high school participants the morning of Saturday, January 7, 2012.

Two options are available for students who attend: 

•    Option 1 – 8 a.m. to noon.  Students who choose Option 1 will be participating in a mock exam consisting of the same conditions as the official ACT exam. 
•    Option 2 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Students who choose Option 2 will attend three break-out sessions (math, English/reading, and science).

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Published November 23, 2011 10:08 am

CRESTON, IA—The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) Concert Choir will be performing “Holiday Carols in Concert” on Sunday, December 11, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center on the SWCC Creston campus.  Tickets for this event are $10 per person, $5 for students and seniors, and may be purchased at the door.

The choir performed in the Des Moines area the week of November 28.  The concerts featured favorite carols and masterworks by Christiansen, Mattson, The King’s Singers, Felciano, and Schreck.

The concert schedule follows:
•    Mon., November 28, First United Methodist Church, 309 E. Jefferson Street, Winterset
•    Tues., November 29, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 5720 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines
•    Wed., November 30, Zion Lutheran Church, 4300 Beaver Ave., Des Moines
•    Thurs., December 1, Central Presbyterian Church, 3829 Grand Ave., Des Moines
•    Fri., December 2, Grace Lutheran Church, 3010 52nd Street, Des Moines

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Published November 22, 2011 2:32 pm

November 21, 2011, CRESTON, IA—Southwestern Community College’s 21st Annual Athletic Fundraiser set a new record for the college on Friday evening, bringing in approximately $13,000 for athletic scholarships.

The event, which was held at the Elk’s Lodge in Creston, included a buffet dinner catered by The Windrow Restaurant; a program featuring statements from the head coaches of SWCC’s seven intercollegiate sports; and a raffle and auction with various items, including unique and autographed sports memorabilia, donated by local businesses and friends of the college.

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Published November 21, 2011 10:40 am

If you have ever thought about teaching K-12 math or science, consider registering for "Exploring Math & Science Teaching" during the Spring 2012 semester. The class begins on January 31, 2012, and meets Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. During the course, you will hear from outstanding teachers each week and will get the opportunity to observe and teach in a classroom.

The best part ... if you successfully complete the course, your tuition for the class is reimbursed, completion of the course makes you eligible for scholarships at state universities, AND you will be eligible for paid internships.

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Published November 16, 2011 3:21 pm

CRESTON —The fall 2011 semester brought additional course options for Southwestern Community College students who are interested in fields such as law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, security, private investigation, etc.  The college now has an associate of arts transfer plan for criminal justice majors.

With this criminal justice degree plan in place, SWCC is offering the following new courses:  introduction to criminal justice, criminal law, criminology, constitutional law, introduction to computer forensics, and juvenile delinquency.  In addition, the college has sociology and psychology courses in place that will complement the student’s academic plan.  The criminal justice courses will be offered on the Creston campus, as well as the Osceola Center.

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Published November 9, 2011 5:24 pm

Creston— The Southwestern Community College board of trustees met on Tues., November 8, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. in the board room of the Administration Center.

A public hearing was held for renewal of a tower land lease with Electronic Engineering. The tower is located on SWCC’s Creston campus. The current land lease expired spring 2011. No written or oral objections or petitions were heard or submitted. The board voted to approve the new lease as presented. The land lease will run June 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012, and is for $500 per month.

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Published November 4, 2011 9:39 am

Get ready for a week of fun!  The agenda is complete and there is a ton planned for the college’s first-ever SWCC Week, November 7-11, 2011. Some activities do require pre-registration, so if you are interested in any of the following activities start planning now:

• Game Night, Monday, 8:30 p.m. – Come play and compete in Call of Duty at Game Night for SWCC students. Sign up with Admissions in the Administration Center. Deadline for entry is Friday, November 4 by 4 p.m. Rules and other information can be found on the events page on Facebook.

• President’s Chili Cook-off, Wednesday, 11 a.m. – If you’re interested in showing off your chili making skills, please contact Matt Thompson at 641.782.1413 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.

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Published October 29, 2011 8:20 pm

October 30, 2011--We, at Southwestern Community College, are trying to come to grips with the sudden and unexpected loss of Southwestern Community College student-athlete Chrystal Olerich (pictured at right).  Olerich, a freshman at Southwestern, and two other SWCC students—Samantha Weed and Kaley Folkerts—were involved in a one-vehicle accident early Saturday morning just outside of Hopkins, MO.

We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Chrystal’s family during this extremely difficult time.  Chrystal, who wore number nine for the Spartan volleyball team, had a passion for volleyball that runs deep from her family roots.  She had played the sport since she was a little girl.  Coaches say she was a great teammate, did her best every day, and always accepted the assignments she was given on the court.  She will be remembered by her teammates for her outgoing and friendly personality and her dedication to their sport.

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Published October 28, 2011 8:16 am

The SWCC Art Club is sponsoring a canned food drive on campus from October 27-November 7, 2011. The donated goods will be given to local food pantries in time for the holidays.

Cans may be dropped off in boxes located outside the main door of the SWCC LRC and the main hallway of the Instructional Center. During SWCC Week, which is scheduled for November 7-11, the Art Club will make an art sculpture out of the donated cans in the Student Center.