Central College to participate in Iowa Private College Week Aug. 2-6

PELLA — Central College is one of 28 Iowa private colleges and universities participating in Iowa Private College Week Monday-Friday, Aug. 2-6. Last year, Central hosted approximately 424 students and their families, totaling 726 persons from across Iowa and the Midwest. Central has been one of the top visit sites during Iowa Private College Week the past five years.

The annual event, now in its 12th year, is sponsored by the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (IAICU) and offers campus tours and informational meetings specifically designed to assist students in evaluating their needs and goals for their higher education experience.

“Iowa Private College Week is an excellent time for students and their families to visit several colleges,” said Carol Williamson, vice president for enrollment management. “Choosing a college is a major decision and there are a lot of great schools out there. During this first week in August, students and families are able to compare facilities, visit with faculty and current college students and find out about how affordable a private education in Iowa can be for most families.

“At Central, students will learn about Central’s reputation of excellent academics, which enables 97 percent of graduates to find a job or further their education by attending graduate school within one year after graduation,” said Williamson. “And, Central has many unique opportunities for students including our own study abroad program, internships, over 80 clubs and organizations as well as 19 varsity athletics teams.”

During Iowa Private College Week, each campus conducts tours and holds free information sessions on financial aid two times a day at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Prospective students and their families can meet current students and faculty and learn about academic programs. A panel of Central College students will answer questions about college life.

Students will be given a passport at their first campus to collect visit stamps. With three or more stamps, students will be eligible for a drawing for one of 56 bookstore vouchers worth $500 each. Each participating college and university will award two $500 bookstore vouchers to students who visit during IPCW, collect the required three or more passport stamps and then apply, are accepted and enroll. Additionally, families attending Iowa Private College Week will have an opportunity to reduce their travel costs by five cents per gallon during the week by presenting a valid IPCW passport at any Iowa Casey’s General Store.

After visiting colleges, students are encouraged to return to campus for an overnight stay during the school year to get a chance to experience college life.

To register for a session, please contact Central College’s admission office at 877-462-3687 or visit www.central.edu.

Central College is a four-year, private, residential, liberal arts college in Pella, Iowa, affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Central offers a bachelor’s degree in 39 majors and pre-professional advising.

About Independent Colleges and Universities
Iowa’s private colleges and universities are a diverse collective of 29 independent institutions that offer students the choice of enriching, individualized educational experiences, both academically and socially. Located in cities and towns across the state, Iowa’s private colleges educate more than 50,000 people annually. Combined, they offer 148 undergraduate degree programs and an expansive selection of co-curricular activities and work-study/internship opportunities. These 29 schools are represented by the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. More information about Iowa’s private colleges and universities can be found at www.thinkindependently.com.

071410

Area students travel to Haiti for mission trip

PELLA — Area Central College students traveled to Pignon, Haiti, to work with United Christians International from July 19-Aug. 3.

While there, they will work with refugees who have fled to the area following the earthquakes earlier this year. The group will pour concrete floors in homes that have dirt floors, work at the nutrition center run by pastor Jean Jean Mompremier, wife Kristie and their daughters Tana and Kerri, hold vacation Bible schools in the afternoons for local children and teach English to community members. In turn, Central students will learn about the culture of the people from the plateau region of Haiti.

Kristin Tremper, coordinator of Reformed Church in America Relations, accompanied the students on the work trip.

Area students are Ashley Kinkade, junior, elementary education major, graduate of Oskaloosa High School; Clayton Boeyink, senior, international studies major, graduate of Pella High School; Taylor Boeyink, sophomore, exploring, graduate of Pella High School; and Sarah Rankin, sophomore, exploring, graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School.

072110

Dollars for Scholars awards nearly $65,000 to Pella and Pella Christian High School seniors

PELLA — Pella Dollars for Scholars awarded $64,100 to 145 seniors from Pella High School and Pella Christian High School’s 2010 graduating class. Awards were announced at each school’s senior awards’ night in May.

This year, Pella Dollars for Scholars awarded 95 designated named scholarships of $500 or more and 50 $250 general scholarships.

Organized in 2000, Pella Dollars for Scholars raises funds for every graduate planning to continue his or her education regardless of academic ability or financial need. Students must fill out an application and complete all requirements to receive the scholarship.

For a complete list of award winners, go to www.pellacommunityfoundation.org and click on the Dollars for Scholars link on the left-hand side of the page.

If you would like more information about the Pella Dollars for Scholars program, e-mail pelladfs@gmail.com or call 641-628-8003. Or, contact a current board member: Deb Ditzenberger, Mark Ellingson, Abby Gonzales, Josh Harrington, Mike Kleis, Chad Klyn, Jim Palmer, Jason Schroeder, Teresa Thompson, Dan Van Kooten, Cory Veenstra, Carrie Ver Ploeg and Patty Zylstra.

070910

Central College announces new Maxine Huffman international studies scholarship

PELLA, Iowa — Starting this fall, Central College will offer an international studies scholarship in honor of Maxine F. Huffman, former professor of biology and English at Central from 1953-96.

Central College will provide scholarships for Central students and/or students from co-op schools participating in the college’s study abroad program. This scholarship will be awarded to one or more students planning to attend their first overseas study program. A recommendation must be received from the student’s academic adviser and from the department chair of the student’s major. Criteria for the award require a student to be of a sophomore standing and acknowledges the student’s commitment to international study and progress in academic courses prior to attendance of one of Central’s abroad programs.

International and cross-cultural studies were major interests of Maxine and her husband Don, professor emeritus of biology. This scholarship is supported by friends, colleagues and family members of Maxine Huffman.

072710

Central College helps Iowa become second in the nation in volunteerism

PELLA — Central College helped Iowa become second in the nation in volunteerism. According to a report released by Volunteering in America, Iowa college students rank second in the nation in volunteering within the college student demographic up from 32nd in 2006, with 41 percent of college students volunteering their time in 2009.

As a state, Iowa has the second-highest volunteer rate in the country with 38.7 percent of its residents volunteering their time in 2009, surpassing its fifth-place ranking from the year before. Utah ranks first in the country as a state and first in the college student demographic.

“It’s exciting to learn that Iowa has achieved this milestone, and we’re especially pleased that more of our Central College students are engaging in community as they learn,” said Cheri Doane, director of community-based learning at Central College. “Our community partners report that students’ involvement is making an impact.”

Iowa’s high percentage is due in part to college and university students. Currently, 92 college students are enrolled in the Iowa Campus Compact AmeriCorps program serving 300 or 450 hours of service across Iowa helping meet local community needs. In addition, each participant recruits 10 additional volunteers throughout their term of service.

Central College had 819 students engaged in academic service-learning in the 2008-09 academic year and logged 38,938 hours. Over 700 students that year performed at least 20 hours of community-based service-learning. Nearly 600 students engaged in forms of community service other than academic, producing over 16,000 hours of non-academic volunteer work. In total, 1,402 Central College students performed 55,311 hours of service, which saved local businesses and organizations $862,298.49.

“I volunteer because there are so many people in our world who need a helping hand, and I want to improve conditions of both peoples’ lives and our planet,” said Alayna Schutte, a junior Central College student from St. Olaf, Iowa. “I think it is great for college students to volunteer because if you start at a young age, you are more likely to volunteer throughout your life. Each person can make a difference. A great component about Central’s service-learning program is that you are not only giving, but also learning as well. It is beneficial for students to be able to incorporate class lectures into real life situations.”

Central College has one of the top service-learning programs in Iowa. This year, the number of students, faculty and courses utilizing service-learning has risen significantly at Central. Just two years ago, 11 faculty members instructing 14 courses had 176 students doing some type of academic service-learning. This spring, 20 faculty members in 26 courses had 345 students engaged in service-learning.

“We experienced almost a 60-percent growth in the number of students participating in service-learning over last year,” said Melissa Childs, Iowa Campus Compact VISTA at Central College.

Part of Central’s dedication to service-learning comes from being a long-time member of the National Campus Compact and more recently becoming a charter member of the Iowa Chapter of Campus Compact. Campus Compact is a coalition of more than 1,100 colleges and universities committed to fostering in students the values and skills of civic engagement through active involvement in community and service-learning. In the past five years, member schools have reported a 60 percent increase in service participation. Students working in areas such as literacy, health care, homelessness, voting and the environment contribute more than $5 billion in service to their communities each year. The Iowa Chapter now includes 21 member institutions. Central College President David Roe was a founding board member and a past member of the executive committee. Mark Putnam, Central College president-elect, begins board membership July 1 when he starts his presidency.

Central College’s center for community-based learning partners with a number of federal, state, county and city programs for service-learning and other service activities.

Each year, the college holds an annual community service day in April in which students, faculty, staff and alumni come together to volunteer to help with over 70 service projects in Pella and surrounding communities.

This year, Central College was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll With Distinction by the Corporation for National and Community Service for its fourth consecutive year. The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. It administers Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America, a program that supports service-learning in schools, institutions of higher education and community-based organizations.

061510

Central College religion professor takes students to Turkey

PELLA — In 2004, Terry Kleven, professor of religion at Central College, led a group of six students to Turkey. He’s going to repeat the trip this summer in an effort to broaden students’ knowledge of Turkey and the Middle East, including a better understanding of Judaeo-Christian heritage and the people and politics of the area.

“There are few areas of the world more in need of our attention and understanding than the Middle East,” commented Kleven, who’s taught at Central for 14 years. “Our trip will explore ancient, medieval and modern Turkey from its prehistoric and Hittite origins, to the Greek and Roman civilizations, to the establishment of Christianity by Paul, John and other Apostles in Asia Minor, to the period of Byzantine Christianity, to the 600-year rule of the Ottoman Empire, and finally to the establishment of the modern Republic of Turkey. We will visit historic places which pertain to this long history of Turkey’s past.

“Along the way we will discover the pleasant pride of the people of Turkey and experience the panorama of 4,000-plus years of civilization, still living in the sights and sounds of Turkey and in the hearts of the people. Istanbul is the crossroads of civilizations, the gateway to Europe, to Asia and the Middle East. No one will pass through this place and return the same person.”

The excursion is titled Turkey, Past and Present: The Cradle of Early Christianity and the Heartland of the Islamic Ottoman Empire.

Students will be able to earn academic credit for one or both of the courses, Biblical Archaeology and Islam. Also, students may receive the X credit requirement for graduation, which involves significant contact and interaction with some minority, subculture or international group. Students will see historical sites related to these courses, and they will meet people who are living representatives of Turkey’s diverse religious and political communities.

Elena Vishnevskaya, assistant professor of religion who teaches courses in early Christianity at Central College, accompanied the trip.

Eight students, as well as Vishnevskaya and Kleven, departed Friday, June 11, from Chicago, Ill., and returned from Istanbul Saturday, June 26.

Students included:
- Amanda Archer, a junior from Mingo majoring in cultural anthropology;
- Athena Bowen, a sophomore from Boone majoring in biology and Spanish;
- Devin Delvaux, a junior from Altoona majoring in mathematics and economics;
- Stuart Campbell, a sophomore from Urbandale majoring in psychology;
- Brooke Hiemstra, senior from Orange City majoring in religion and Spanish;
- Jackie Hoffman, a senior from Slater majoring in communication studies;
- Jory Houser, a May graduate from Bussey who majored in philosophy;
- Jennifer Kramer, a junior from Lynnville majoring in psychology and religion.

060910

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Crier Ltd. or towncriernews.com.
Readers' responses are always welcomed.