2021 Southwestern Magazine

Writing this letter is particularly difficult this year, as it will be my last as president of Southwestern Community College. When I began teaching clinical for the nursing program in February 1981, I had no idea I would be retiring in 2021 after nearly 40 years of full-time employment at the college. When presented with the opportunity to be a part of the work of Southwestern, I knew it was where I wanted to be. Education can have such a profoundly positive impact in a person’s life and I had the opportunity to be a part of that on a daily basis.

• Dr. Barbara J. Crittenden
• Southwestern Community College President
• The Southwestern Magazine, published annually by the marketing and institutional advancement offices, is a publication of the Southwestern Community College Education Foundation. Address changes may be sent to Southwestern Community College, 1501 W. Townline St., Creston, IA 50801, or emailed to thiggins@swcciowa.edu.

After 39.36 years [NOTE: This number was calculated and verified by the SWCC accounting department] as an employee of Southwestern Community College, Dr. Barb Crittenden will make her last trip to campus as college president on July 30, 2021.

Why 39.36 years you ask? Wouldn’t that round up to 40? No, that is not Crittenden’s style.

First of all, Crittenden would not want to take credit for the .64 years she was not working at Southwestern. And second, that would not be an exact calculation, and Crittenden is known for her ethics, intelligence, and exceptional efforts to complete tasks thoroughly and with unequivocal precision.

• By Terri Higgins
• Director of Marketing and Enrollment Management
• The Southwestern Magazine, published annually by the marketing and institutional advancement offices, is a publication of the Southwestern Community College Education Foundation. Address changes may be sent to Southwestern Community College, 1501 W. Townline St., Creston, IA 50801, or emailed to thiggins@swcciowa.edu.

As the world continued to adapt to life during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southwestern Community College athletic department was left with more questions than answers coming into the 2020-21 academic year.

After teams had their seasons abruptly ended in the spring of 2020, many coaches and athletes struggled with the uncertainty of what the new year would bring.

• By Scott Vicker
• Marketing and Institutional Advancement Specialist
• The Southwestern Magazine, published annually by the marketing and institutional advancement offices, is a publication of the Southwestern Community College Education Foundation. Address changes may be sent to Southwestern Community College, 1501 W. Townline St., Creston, IA 50801, or emailed to thiggins@swcciowa.edu.

When the world shut down in mid-March 2020, colleges and universities were left scrambling to make important decisions at a moment’s notice.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 had reached a global pandemic level on March 11, 2020.

Southwestern Community College President Barb Crittenden wrote in a message to SWCC students, faculty, and staff later that week, detailing the college’s plan for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. At the time, students were preparing for spring break the following week.

• By Scott Vicker
• Marketing and Institutional Advancement Specialist
• The Southwestern Magazine, published annually by the marketing and institutional advancement offices, is a publication of the Southwestern Community College Education Foundation. Address changes may be sent to Southwestern Community College, 1501 W. Townline St., Creston, IA 50801, or emailed to thiggins@swcciowa.edu.

Wayne Lens, a Crestonian of 20 years, was honored for his dedication to Southwestern athletics this spring during a Spartan softball game. Lens has been coming to support the Spartans for the past five years.

• The Southwestern Magazine, published annually by the marketing and institutional advancement offices, is a publication of the Southwestern Community College Education Foundation. Address changes may be sent to Southwestern Community College, 1501 W. Townline St., Creston, IA 50801, or emailed to thiggins@swcciowa.edu.