Central Club raffle
The Central Club is offering a chance for a walleye fishing trip for six from Ballards Resort at Lake of the Woods in Minnesota. The trip includes four nights lodging, three days of guided walleye fishing and 11 meals. Winners can schedule their trip any time between May 15-Oct. 15 (mid-week rules apply). The raffle will be held May 1. Cost is $10 per ticket and all proceeds go to the Central Club. To purchase a ticket, contact Dave Pavlat (exercise science) at ext. 7636.
AAC March 28-29
The Alumni Advisory Council will be on campus March 28-29. The council will hear from current students Scott Paja ’08, Josh Smith ’08, Mary Swanson ’08, Abby Schwennen ’09 and Peter Fegley ’11.
Library and media center spring break hours
Geisler Library and the media center will close for spring break Friday, March 14, at 5 p.m. and will be closed Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16. The library and media center will be open Monday-Thursday, March 17-20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be closed Friday-Sunday, March 22-24. Both will open Monday, March 24, at 1 p.m.
KAC closed over spring break
The Kuyper Athletic Complex will close for spring break at 6 p.m. Friday, March 14, and re-open at 6 a.m. Tuesday, March 25.
Central celebrates TRIO Day 
Central College honored Jan Webber as TRIO Champion and Joel Schutte ’92 as TRIO Honoree during Central’s TRIO Day Feb. 25.
The title of champion is given to a strong advocate and supporter of TRIO programs. Webber worked at Central College from 1987 to 2005, holding such positions as academic assistant, secretary, Upward Bound teacher and Center for Academic Excellence assistant.
The title of honoree is given to a participant of a TRIO program who specifically carries over knowledge and experiences from TRIO and applies it to a future career. Schutte is principal at Harbor Alternative school within the Southeast Polk School District. He was named the 2007 TRIO Achiever by the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel.
Tip from SUSTAIN
When recycling plastic water and drink bottles, remember to drain out all remaining liquid as it can cause harm to the pulping machine used to process them into re-usable material.
Employee Spotlight - Lee Weers
Name: Lee Weers
Department: IT services
Title: Assistant director for network services
About me: Graduated from Iowa State University December 2000 with a bachelor's degree in management information systems; holds several certifications including MCSE, MCSA messaging, A+, Network+ and others; recently graduated from Leadership Red Rock; married to wife Janet for almost 10 years and has three girls Katie, Alex and Bekka; enjoys spending free time working on wood projects and building things.
Nominations for faculty awards
Nominations are now being accepted for annual faculty awards. Descriptions of each of the awards and a complete explanation of the nominating procedures can be found in Chapter 10 of the Faculty Handbook. Nominations for the Outstanding Performance Awards in the areas of effective teaching, professional growth and development, institutional service, and community service should be sent to Kevin Den Adel (economics/accounting/business management), chair of the personnel committee. Last year’s recipients were: Kris Kilibarda (education) and Debela Birru (economics/accounting/business management), effective teaching; Jim Shriver (chemistry), professional growth and development; Dave Pavlat (exercise science), institutional service; and Robin Martin (library), community service. Nominations for the David Crichton Memorial Award should be sent to Paul Naour (academic affairs), provost and dean of faculty. Last year’s recipient was Viktor Martisovits (physics). The deadline for nominations for all of the awards is Monday, March 31.
Hutch Bearce Community-Building and Faculty Leadership Award
The personnel committee is soliciting nominations for the Hutch Bearce Community-Building and Faculty Leadership Award. The award description and criteria are listed below. Please send nominations to Kevin Den Adel (economics/accounting/business management), chair of the personnel committee, by Monday, March 31.
This award pays tribute to the lasting impact Hutch Bearce, Central College’s academic dean from 1987-94, had on the college and the wider Pella communities. While serving in the leadership role as dean, he was known for his mentoring of new faculty, his sensitivity to the needs of others, his patience, and his integrity. In retirement, he led by example, freely giving of his time and professional talents in tireless service to a wide variety of community groups and causes.
This award is to be made annually to a member of the faculty in order to encourage and recognize:
- community building in fostering the creation and encouragement of community at Central College, and in serving as a bridge between Central and non-college constituencies to assist both groups to realize new potential in their mutual cooperation;
- mentorship of professional colleagues, including faculty, students and staff;
- leadership in guiding individuals and groups to serve others.
The recipient shall be recognized for these efforts over a sustained period of time especially in the category of community building and also in either one of the two other categories, mentorship or leadership. Service outside of the college which contributes to the recognition of the candidate’s contributions should have letters of support from those external sources, and these letters should be included along with the nomination from Central College colleagues.
Krogstad in Merida
Allison Krogstad (Spanish) visited the Merida program Feb. 10-16 with a grant from OCPC. She visited classes, talked to students, visited the three universities that Central as an agreement with, and aided the director in coming up with a new plan for Spanish majors at the Merida program.
Reynaga presents paper at conference
Oscar Reynaga (modern languages) attended Nuestra America in the U.S.? A U.S. Latino/a Studies Conference at the University of Kansas Feb. 8-9. He presented a paper titled “Performing Chicana Identity in (Cyber)space: Sexuality, Religion and the Digital-Hood.”
Weihe reviewer for publication
Paul Weihe (biology) recently served as a reviewer for the latest publication in the “Special Focus” series for Environmental Science, published by the College Board. These disciplinary summaries provide professional development materials for teachers of Advanced Placement classes.
Webber speaks at Southern Indiana
Phil Webber (modern languages) recently spoke as the guest of the Center for Communal Studies at University of Southern Indiana. He also presented his research in a number of classes.
Roberts exhibits sculptures
Brian Roberts (art) is exhibiting 16 sculptures at the Dorris Rider Art Gallery on the North Central Missouri College campus in Trenton, Mo., through March 17.
Strategic Planning Initiatives
No news.
Students Doing Interesting Things
Pella Corporation Scholars program
This year’s Pella Corporation Scholars dinner and program was held at Pella Corporation Feb. 25. Each year, this particular evening provides a special highlight of the year for all who attend: members of the Kuyper and Farver families who have made the scholarships possible, senior executives of Pella Corporation and spouses, Central’s senior leadership team and spouses, and a faculty representative, who this year was Phil George (education) joined by his wife Kathy.
Some of the graduating seniors, in saying thanks to Kuyper and Farver family members who were there and to Pella Corporation, related the tale(s) of their four years at Central. Their comments were moving and inspirational and served to build optimism for the future in the hearts of all present. New scholars were introduced by Charles Farver, chairperson of the Pella Corporation Board, as Joan Farver, chairperson emeritus, Pella Corporation, gave them their certificates as they have been initiated into this special society of scholars.
This year’s Pella Corporation Scholars are: Joan Kuyper Farver Scholarship/Fellowship* — Anna Abney, Ottumwa, Iowa; Katy Fuchtman, Allen, Texas; Kaylee McElree, Arlington, Texas; Amy Renes, Sioux Center, Iowa; H.S. Kuyper Scholarship/Fellowship — Sean Boyce, Altoona, Iowa; Dan Bowser, Fort Dodge, Iowa; Lucas Boyd, Fort Dodge, Iowa; Trevor Jones, Pleasant Hill, Iowa; Jered Wells, Altoona, Iowa; P.H. Kuyper Scholarship/Fellowship — Emily Kuecker, Tripoli, Iowa; Tyler Schipper, Ankeny, Iowa; Jenna Vik, Woodbury, Minn.; Jordan Waddell, Guthrie Center, Iowa; Pella Rolscreen Scholarship/Fellowship — Jill Anderson, Lake Mills, Iowa; Kendi Beyer, Pella, Iowa; Kristen Borcherding, Shenandoah, Iowa; Justine Celoni, Jasper, Indiana; Andrea Clark, Guthrie Center, Iowa; Tom Hartshorn, Carlisle, Iowa; Annette Honken, Forest City, Iowa; Lindsay Kelderhouse, Island Lake, Ill.; Leanna McBride, Toddville, Iowa; Joel Mudd, Fort Lupton, Colo.; Evan Olson, Newhall, Iowa; Royce Riessen, Fort Dodge, Iowa; Amanda Roling, Preston, Iowa; Whitney Taylor, Eddyville, Iowa; Zachary Van Arkel, Malcom, Iowa; Lindsey Van Genderen, Lynnville, Iowa; Brandon Vogel, Atkins, Iowa; Brittany Waack, Cedar Falls, Iowa; and Kathryn Williams, Bemidji, Minn.
*The Central College Fellows Program recognizes Central’s most distinguished scholarship recipients. Our fellows have proven their academic and leadership potential, and have prospects for prestigious post-baccalaureate fellowships. Fellows are paired with faculty mentors who assist in identification of personal goals and opportunities in study abroad, community service, student-faculty research and the honors program. Participants also develop peer mentoring relationships within the cadre of fellows. Mentors and fellows meet individually and as a group regularly for socializing, scholarship and service activities.
No news.
No news.
Our condolences go to John Venenga (facilities planning and management) for the passing of his daughter Laura Venenga Groenenboom Feb. 25.
Our condolences go to Coralee Fee (dining services) for the passing of her mother Carolyn Timmins of Monroe Feb. 27.
Holiday March 21
The college is closed Friday, March 21. Remember you can view the holidays and pay schedule on the HR portal at https://my.central.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp. Log in and click on the infocentral tab at the top of the screen.
Open Positions
Central College invites applications for the following faculty position openings:
Tenure-track position in communication studies at rank of assistant/associate professor
Tenure-track position in exercise science at the rank of assistant professor
Tenure-track position in physics at the rank of assistant professor
Tenure-track position in religion at the rank of assistant professor
Visiting instructor/assistant professor of chemistry
Full position descriptions can be found at www.central.edu/jobseekers/jobs.cfm.
To review general open positions and download an application click here or visit the college Web site at www.central.edu and select job seekers on the home page drop-down menu for more information.
Central College is strongly committed to creating a diverse community. In furtherance of that commitment, the college encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds, under represented groups and/or those who have had experience working with and/or interacting with individuals from diverse populations to apply. Central College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates.
News items should be submitted to Abby Gonzales by noon Friday, March 14.