Kirkwood Community College News

Campus Health Update

Steve C./Admin

As you may have seen in news reports of the past week, Linn County Public Health investigated the death of a young person in Cedar Rapids. This person was a Kirkwood student. On behalf of everyone at Kirkwood Community College, we extend our sympathy, condolences and support to the family and friends of this student.

Test results confirmed a case of bacterial meningitis and local health officials are proceeding with precautions and treatments. Kirkwood Campus Health Director Lori Jeppson has been in frequent contact with Linn County and Iowa state officials. They told her that the few people who need further observation, treatment or information have been contacted, and no further persons need treatment.

Lori shared some facts about bacterial meningitis that point out the importance of vaccination and prevention. Approximately 100 to 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur on college campuses nationwide each year, and 5 to 15 students will die as a result. While even one illness or death is too many, it is important to know that no other danger is inherent on our campus or any other area of eastern Iowa. Words like "outbreak" or "scare" are incorrect and misleading.

Kirkwood Campus Health has a supply of meningococcal vaccine available for treatment. We encourage students and their parents to consult with their family physicians and get immunized for meningitis as part of an overall health and disease program.

More information is available from Kirkwood Campus Health, (319) 398-5588.

Vocal Jazz Concert, Nov. 21

The student jazz vocalists of Kirkwood Community College will present their fall concert Saturday, Nov. 21. The RSVP and Jazz Transit groups will perform in Ballantyne Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Both groups are under the direction of Vocal Music director Ray Salucka.

"When October Goes" is the theme of the evening's selections and will feature the title Barry Manilow number, arranged for unaccompanied voices. The program will feature one of the more varied programs in several years, including a dance interpretation as part of one selection.

American standards will include "Fly Me to the Moon" and "If I Were a Bell." Tunes from the swing and be-bop eras are included, plus composers as contemporary as Sting. Another selection is "Blues for Elise," the familiar Beethoven piano classic re-imagined for vocalists.

Kirkwood's jazz vocal groups have been acclaimed in Iowa and around the world for many years. The ensembles have won state, regional and national awards including top honors at festivals from Greeley, Colorado to Montreux, Switzerland. The groups have also been invited to prestigious events in the Czech Republic and Germany in the past decade.

Tickets for the Nov. 21 vocal jazz concert at Kirkwood are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students with current ID. Kirkwood students, faculty and staff are admitted free. Advance tickets are available are available through the Arts & Humanities office, (319) 398-7662.

Hundreds Flock to Hotel Event

Steve C.

Kirkwood Community College Celebrates Hotel Construction Progress

The guests came early, stayed late, ate well and toasted a unique educational project.

That was the scene at Kirkwood Community College on Nov. 10 as the school welcomed nearly 600 community supporters and business partners to a topping-out party for The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. On-site hospitality education was the central focus for the event, with students providing refreshments, d�cor, service and entertainment for throngs of interested visitors.

The topping-out event is a time-honored signal of construction progress and the promise of good things to come as the building nears completion. Kirkwood's Lee Belfield is a veteran of hotel and restaurant management for more than two decades. He signed on as manager of the new teaching hotel in the summer of 2009 and was unofficial "lead guide" for the many guests at the open house event.

"We've been telling people for a couple years how this new teaching facility could change how hotel/motel management and hospitality arts overall can be taught. This event brought it into focus. I can tell that by the comments of the visitors and the questions they asked our students. This really is going to be a new day for hospitality education in the Midwest," Belfield said.

Party guests donned hard hats and walked through the first two floors of the hotel construction zone. Tour stops included a sample of the presidential suites, plus the classroom and culinary laboratory areas on the first floor. A favorite stop was the demonstration auditorium, with semi-circular seating for about 100. Guests were asked to imagine the multi-media capabilities as guest chefs and wine experts impart their secrets to students seated in rising rows.

Elsewhere the focus was on food, drink and entertainment as dozens of Kirkwood Hospitality Arts students served thousands of canap�s and desserts. In the background, student ensembles played jazz as the guests admired a host of floral centerpieces and accent designs, also created by the college's Floral Careers students.

The new teaching hotel has been under construction for a little over a year, with concept studies and development dating back to 2006. Belfield used an educational research award to study the few teaching hotels in other parts of the U.S. and build a conceptual set of ideas for how a hotel designed for a unique guest experience could also be a daily teaching tool.

The result was The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The 71-room facility includes six suites and a variety of other room choices, plus a full-service restaurant with catering support for on-site events. Belfield describes the hotel style and function as "upscale, boutique and full-service" and says it was designed to fit into a niche for its eastern Iowa location as well as a comprehensive set of student experiences.

"First, last and foremost this is going to be a real-world laboratory that happens to also bring high-value hospitality to our guests. Our students will work in daily roles alongside a professional staff of more than 70 people. This is going to re-define how hospitality careers are taught in the future," Belfield added.

College officials note that about 250 students are now enrolled in the five credit programs in Kirkwood's Hospitality Arts curriculum. With the expanded capacity and facilities they expect 300 or more students to pursue those programs in the next two years.

Midway through the festivities on November 10, Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich invited the multitude to pause the party for a traditional toast. He recognized the faculty, staff and students in turn, and acknowledged the wider community support that is bringing The Hotel at Kirkwood Center from concept to reality.

"What you see and hear tonight is what we celebrate," Starcevich said. "This is that spirit of hospitality that Iowans know so well. This place reflects the wisdom and training for this and future generations of professionals. We toast what we can do, what we will do�together!"

Further information on construction progress at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center is available from the program's dedicated Web site:

www.thehotelatkirkwood.com

[PHOTO: Culinary Arts student Jim Pospisil serves seafood at one of the many food "islands" offered at the Nov. 10 topping-out party for The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. ]

Eagles Softball Player Signs National Letter

Steve C.

Kylee Knop Plans South Carolina Step after May 2010 Graduation

A standout pitcher for the Kirkwood Community College Softball program has her junior/senior years planned out. Head Coach Joe Yegge announced that Kylee Knop has signed a national letter of intent with the University of South Carolina-Aiken as a student athlete for the 2010-11 season.

Knop is a second-year player from Oxford, Georgia and graduated from Walton Academy. In her first year at Kirkwood she finished the season with a 1.2 ERA and a 22-5 record. Knop was ranked in the NJCAA Division II Top Ten during the season and was considered the top pitcher in the Iowa Community College conference. Her season performance also earned her D-II All-American honors.

Yegge says several factors earned Knop the nod from the South Carolina university.

"Kylee has an incredible sense of the game. She can spot pitches, move it around and change speed through the innings. Anytime we had a big game or faced a top opponent, it was Kylee that wanted the ball. She has the right kind of �junk' on her pitches that will make her very successful in that division. We know she will make a great transition to USC-Aiken and deliver great things there," Yegge observed.

The University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers Softball squad ended the 2009 campaign with a 34-16 record. That mark garnered the 2009 USC Aiken softball team the best winning percentage (.680) in program history. Yegge says the coaches and team expect Knop to be a strong factor in another big season to come.

"This will be a great college fit for Kylee, and a nice thing that Aiken is just a couple hours from her Georgia home. We wish her the best, but expect great pitching this season at Kirkwood!" he added.

Kirkwood had its own strong season in 2008-09, ending with a 41-10 record and several player honors at the All-Region level that included Knop's First Team award.

Kirkwood Career Fair, Nov. 10

Steve C.

The Career Services department of Kirkwood Community College will host their Fall Career Fair Tuesday, Nov. 10. More than 50 Corridor employers will be on hand to talk with students, recent graduates, alumni and the general public from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Iowa Rooms, third floor of Iowa Hall on the main Kirkwood Campus.

Career Services Director Danielle Ebaugh says the Nov 10 fair has shown a big increase in public interest and participation from previous years.

"We have doubled our number of company participants from 2007, with 54 employers signed up so far. The biggest change from a year ago is a notable rise in calls and interest in this event, plus our other counseling and workshop services this fall. Employers are coming from neighboring states as well as all over east central Iowa. We know this fair will help job-seekers make some important networking connections," she said.

Ebaugh also encourages attendees to bring "a good stack of resumes" to the event and dress appropriately. "Dress like you would for an interview�because in many cases, it could be just that," she added.

More information on the Nov. 10 Kirkwood Career Fair is available from the Career Services office in Iowa Hall:

(319) 398-5471.

Topping Out Party Planned for Hotel at Kirkwood

Steve C.

Event set to showcase daily teaching atmosphere; mid-2010 opening on track

[Cedar Rapids]--The work crews at Kirkwood Community College will get a little breather on Nov. 10. Drills, saws and hammers will go silent briefly�very briefly�as college leaders and the Corridor business community gather to celebrate a rare but practical learning space for future hospitality professionals.

The college will host a "topping out" party from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Florists, entertainment and many of the tour guides will be Kirkwood students showcasing the many career programs offered at the Cedar Rapids college.

About 500 guests are expected to gather in the adjacent Kirkwood Center for Continuing Education to take tours, sample student-made refreshments and learn more about the newest addition to Kirkwood's experience-focused teaching programs. The existing space already is in high demand for training and meeting locations since its January 2008 opening. The center's conference and meeting spaces will complement The Hotel as a full-service facility with completion of the lodging and restaurant spaces next summer.

The Hotel at Kirkwood Center has been under construction for about a year, with most major exterior structural work complete. With winter fast approaching the major focus will shift to interior finish work on The Hotel's 71 guest rooms, including six upscale suites. Meeting rooms, a full-service restaurant and reception area will add to hotel guest experiences, while classrooms, teaching kitchens and demonstration labs provide on-site learning spaces.

But Hotel General Manager Lee Belfield says the most important learning will happen as students experience a working hotel each day of their studies.

"First, last and foremost this is going to be a real-world laboratory that happens to bring high-value hospitality to our guests. Our students will serve in many support roles to match their level of progress through our program. They will work alongside our professional staff as we take care of college guests and the traveling, dining public. This is going to re-define how hospitality careers are taught for the future," Belfield said.

Students will fill roles of guest room attendant, kitchen staff and restaurant servers, through area supervisors, bellhop and catering duties. Belfield expects a professional staff of about 75 people to be in place, trained and ready to welcome the first hotel guests in mid-summer 2010.

Kirkwood's Hospitality Arts programs have steadily grown in reputation for more than two decades. With the completion of The Hotel at Kirkwood Center the college will expand its capacity for teaching five Hospitality Arts fields. Students take classes in Culinary Arts, Restaurant Management, Hotel Management, Bakery and Food Service Assistant programs.

The added space, facilities and real-world learning opportunities should allow Kirkwood to accept 50 or more students per year in those areas. Those graduates will come at a growing time for the Iowa and national hospitality industry. Recent figures from the U.S. Department of Labor show the nation's hospitality industry employing roughly 12.4 million people or close to one-tenth of the U.S. workforce. That number is expected to grow by 15 percent or more in the next decade.

Just hours after the construction crews take a break and the college hosts the topping-out party Nov. 10, it will be right back to business. Even as The Hotel at Kirkwood Center continues to develop and workers complete their building and finishing, a number of events and guests are already filling future calendar space. Hotel Director of Sales Jean Rogers is a long-time veteran of the hospitality and travel industries. She says it's "business as usual for a hotel"�and for the college.

"We have had many business groups, event planners and individuals looking into booking with us starting in late summer. Kirkwood has always been known for the �just-in-time' model in classroom facilities, with classes planned on buildings still under construction. This is familiar territory. It certainly keeps us focused and it's an exciting time to be involved in this project. Our students will start learning with our first guests," Rogers said.

Updated information on progress and plans for The Hotel at Kirkwood Center is available on its dedicated Web site:

www.thehotelatkirkwood.com

H1N1 Flu Clinic at Kirkwood, Dec. 1-2

Melissa J/Steve C.

Vaccinations by appointment, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day; vaccinations for students, "high-risk"

Kirkwood Community College, in cooperation with Linn County Public Health will be holding an H1N1 vaccination clinic for identified "high risk groups." The H1N1 clinic will be held Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in 125 Iowa Hall. This clinic will be by appointment ONLY. People that qualify for the H1N1 vaccine must call Campus Health at 398-5588 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins will not be accepted.

Individuals that are in the following categories qualify for the clinics mentioned above:

� pregnant women
� household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
� health care and emergency medical services personnel
� all people from 6 months through 24 years of age
� persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

The flu mist and a limited supply of the injectable vaccine will be available. If you qualify for the flu mist, you will be required to accept this form of vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine is available at no charge.

Because Kirkwood has been given a limited supply of the vaccine, the target audience is those who are college students, faculty, and staff, and meet the qualifications of the high risk group. If you have other family members who are interested in receiving the vaccine, please contact Linn County Public Health at 319.892.6009 to schedule an appointment for a LCPH clinic.

For more detailed information about 2009 H1N1 influenza, visit: www.kirkwood.edu/flu, www.linncounty.org, www.idph.state.ia.us/h1n1/default.asp, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or call 1-800-CDC-INFO

Guys & Dolls in Ballantyne, Oct. 30-Nov. 8

Steve C.

Classic Frank Loesser musical presented over two weekends

One of the all-time classics of American musical theatre is on its way to Kirkwood Community College. Frank Loesser's Guys & Dolls will be presented in Ballantyne Auditorium for the second of two weekends, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 6-8.

Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m, with Sunday matinees at 2:30. The production is directed by Rick D. Anderson, with musical direction by Ray Salucka. Set design and lighting are by Doug Anderson, with costume design by Annee Noah and choreography by Lisa Pettit.
The Kirkwood production will have some staging elements that might have their own luck-filled history. The college was able to acquire a number of costumes used in the hugely successful Guys & Dolls Broadway revival of 1992-93. Director Anderson calls the bevy of wardrobe offerings "a fun added inspiration" for the students in the musical.

"This is a wonderful addition to the show, having these costumes in our production. That 1992 run on Broadway starred top-billed actors, including Nathan Lane and Faith Prince. Our costume crew is adjusting and fitting, plus our costume designer Annee Noah will finish the cast's other wardrobe pieces. Our students can imagine the applause and spirit of the show as they add their own voices and acting to the story," Anderson said.

In addition to the notable wardrobe history, director Anderson says the show will take on the "mythic qualities" of the Big Apple that Damon Runyon's stories inspired in the original production.

"The characters and story line just soar with that bigger-than-life feeling New York can give you," Anderson observed. "That was the intent I read into the first production, and that is the spirit our show reflects in the sets, the lighting and design. The sets seem to soar over the players and the costumes have bright, intense colors and patterns. These all reflect the post-Prohibition freedoms in the air, yet there is that sense of forbidden fun as Nathan seeks a spot for his infamous floating crap game."

The Guys & Dolls soundtrack includes many tunes that became American standards and hits in their own right: "Luck Be a Lady Tonight," "A Bushel and a Peck," "If I Were a Bell," and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."

"A show this rich in story and memorable songs doesn't come along every day. We know people will leave the humming the tunes," Anderson added.

Tickets for Kirkwood Community College's production of Guys & Dolls are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students with current ID. Kirkwood students, faculty and staff are admitted free. Tickets are available by calling (319) 398-7662.

Nursing Student Credits Scholarship Support

Eric W.

Mallory Gritton is the first to say she wouldn't be where she is today - pursuing a nursing career - if it weren't for Kirkwood and its support system of scholarships.

Today, the 21-year old can't wait to complete Kirkwood's Associate Degree Nursing program so she can join the workforce and test her skills. And thanks to Kirkwood's excellent curriculum requirements and attentive teachers, she will be ready.

Growing up in Clarence, Mallory initially thought she'd like to become an occupational therapy (OT) assistant. She had seen firsthand how much OT helped both her parents recover from injuries (her mom hurt her elbow; her dad severed tendons in his right hand).

When Mallory finished high school in 2006, her mom suggested she go to Kirkwood; it was affordable and a good place to start. By then, she knew she wanted to study nursing. So, Mallory got on the waiting list for Kirkwood's nursing program and started taking prerequisite classes. She'd already found out that any of the classes she took at Kirkwood would transfer elsewhere toward a Bachelor of Science-Nursing degree.

"I took a lot of them, even before I got accepted into the program, so that helped a lot," Mallory notes. "I'll graduate next summer and once I pass my boards, I'll be an RN."

The path hasn't always been smooth for Mallory. Her parents' divorce affected what financial help they could provide. And, once she started classes, Mallory discovered "those hidden costs you don't know about until you get into school - like gas and housing."

That's why the scholarships she received through the Kirkwood Foundation made a huge difference, Mallory says. Among those she has received: the U.S. Bank scholarship, the Rohde Family Nursing scholarship, the Henry and Sara Katz Endowed Nursing scholarship, the Carl and Doris McClain Family Endowed scholarship, and the Betty Winokur scholarship.

"It's helped out a lot," Mallory says, when she was living on campus, commuting from Clarence and now, sharing a house with roommates. She also works part-time at St. Luke's Hospital, where she helps tend both regular and Hospice patients.

Kirkwood's numerous assets have given Mallory the means for attaining her goal of becoming an RN. In fact, Kirkwood students pursuing healthcare careers now have an additional, remarkable learning tool: the new Healthcare Simulation Center that opened in August. It features 10,000 square feet of training space set up as very real hospital rooms, a trauma center and even spaces designed to resemble typical homes. Here, a wide variety of medical situations can be presented, with high-tech simulated humans exhibiting realistic symptoms. Students experience firsthand how to deal with critical situations as healthcare professionals.

For Mallory, Kirkwood has made a great, relevant education attainable.

"It's inexpensive, and I won't have the debt of a four-year college," she points out. "The class size is good. The teachers are really helpful. And the facilities are great, like the library and the recreation center. I really like it. I'm very happy to be at Kirkwood."

Medical Assisting Students Help with Vaccinations

Steve C.

It was prevention and protection time for key Linn County employees on Thursday, Oct. 29, and some Kirkwood Community College Medical Assisting students helped out with the effort. Hannah Samuels (foreground) of Iowa City administers a vaccination while Misty Dodd (background, left) of Troy Mills and Angela Morris, Springville, observe the process and wait for their turns to vaccinate other employees.

Seven Kirkwood Medical Assisting students assisted with the seasonal flu vaccination clinic, giving about 200 injections to the designated county personnel. The students' experiences were part of the "externship" phase of the Medical Assisting program, providing useful field time for students before they complete their Kirkwood studies. Medical Assisting Professor Bev Philpott was pleased with the students and their performance at the vaccination clinic.

"These young women did a great job, both in their technical skills and in communicating with the people receiving the treatments. This is valuable experience for them and we are glad we can help the wider community at the same time," she said.

Philpott also observed that the Linn County employee clinic turned out to be a surprise reunion of sorts. "The woman in charge of setting up this clinic was one of our Kirkwood grads about a decade ago. It really is true that our graduates are everywhere!" Philpott added.

Kirkwood officials expect that students in their Health Science programs will get more opportunities to assist with both seasonal and H1N1 vaccination efforts in the area as vaccine supplies again become more widely available.

Student Showcases Sustainable Design in C.R.

Liz/Communique

Bottleworks building's model condo decorated by Laura Shuckman-Gluck

--by Liz Wardlow, Kirkwood Communique'

Interior design student Laura Shuckmann-Gluck's final layout is showcased in a model condo at Bottleworks, 921 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Open houses are held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Starting from a concrete shell, Kirkwood Community College interior design students competed to renovate an urban loft in downtown Cedar Rapids.

A layout by Laura Shuckmann-Gluck, a second-year interior design major, was selected as the winning entry out of 21 submitted. All floor plans for the Bottleworks project were presented to the owner of Point Builders and two other judges.

According to Sheryl Konen, an instructor in Kirkwood's interior design program who worked on the Bottleworks project, Kirkwood received $5,000 from Point Builders to stage a model for the parade opening of Bottleworks in September.

Students started working on the project during a summer course this year. "It's a complete student-run project," said Konen. "The students found clients and chose which project would be their final one of the course."

Deciding on Bottleworks, located at 921 Third St. SE in Cedar Rapids, close to New Bohemia and Czech Village, students in two classes worked on their own designs.

Each shell is two stories and about 1,100 square feet. Shuckmann-Gluck's winning design had a different appeal: The living space was upstairs and the bedrooms were downstairs.

According to Konen, Shuckmann-Gluck lived in Europe, which influenced her floor plan. "It was interesting and definitely what Bottleworks was looking for," said Deanna Berchenbrieter, an interior design major.

Bottleworks was looking for a sustainable design, which "means intelligent life-enhancing design," said Konen.

[Copyright 2009 by Kirkwood Communique', the student-operated newspaper of Kirkwood Community College. All rights reserved, used by permission.]

Teaching Hotel will Ramp Up Job Prospects

Steve C./Jon K.

Advanced Kirkwood facility will better prepare students for hospitality careers

[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]-- Kirkwood Community College Hospitality Arts graduates find work in everything from casual and fine dining restaurants to casinos and large food corporations. About 90 percent of them find work within 100 miles of Kirkwood. The new Hotel at Kirkwood Center will make sure they're even better prepared to enter that workforce.

"Hospitality Arts students that go through this new two-year program at The Hotel will come out of this program with even more real-world experience than in the past," said Hotel General Manager Lee Belfield. "They will be able to apply all of their knowledge daily while they work in The Hotel. They should be twice as effective when they go into a local or national job because of this new learning laboratory."

Recent Kirkwood graduate Ben Smart is the lead cook working at the upscale Herbfarm Restaurant (www.theherbfarm.com) in metropolitan Seattle. "I have been able to work my way up in a little over a year to the lead cook role here at Herbfarm," Smart said. "My responsibilities include creating the entr�e for our nine-course tasting menu."

Smart's Pacific Northwest experiences have also reinforced an added benefit of his Kirkwood degree. "Things are going great out here. I work with lots of people who went to private cooking schools that were mighty expensive. I constantly give them a hard time over how much they spent on school!" he joked.

Currently, Kirkwood students learn about managing a restaurant while operating the Class Act restaurant on main campus. They work together to serve four lunches per week. With the opening of The Hotel, students will gain experience preparing and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at the full-service restaurant.

The Hotel will prepare students beyond the dining experience. Hotel Management students will have a lab that better suits their needs. Belfield says there is no substitute for reality-based learning.

"Managing a hotel is one of the tougher jobs in the hospitality industry," Belfield observed. "What students learn in the Class Act is limited. Hotels have so many more moving parts. This hotel will help students get that practice. You really can't find that experience at any other community college in the country. The experience they get will cut training time in half once they find their first job after graduation."

Students will work each mealtime and cater events, so they're better prepared for the demands of the hospitality industry.

In the past most graduates went straight to work in area restaurants. Now their degrees are taking them into other areas. "The majority of our graduates end up working for a hotel or restaurant in the Corridor," said Hospitality Arts Department Chair Mary Jane German. "They're not limited to hotels and restaurants though. Others work at country clubs, long-term care facilities, casinos and even downtown Cedar Rapids at Mercy Hospital."

Belfield also noted that The Hotel will create its own economic contributions to the eastern Iowa business landscape. He expects about 75 professional staff members to be in place when the facility opens in the summer of 2010.

"The Hotel will need everything from guest room attendants and bell staff to managers and supervisors. Some of these positions will be entry level while others will need to bring a lot of work experience to the table," he said.

The teaching hotel will provide what Belfield called "constant, daily learning situations" as the college students work alongside the staff in serving guests and restaurant patrons.

The four-story facility is under construction on the south side of the main Kirkwood campus. When complete it will offer 71 guest rooms, including six suites and a variety of other lodging choices, designed as much for the student experience as college and public guest options. It is being built as a learning-laboratory for students to be better prepared when they enter the industry.

The new teaching laboratory/hotel facility will offer upscale lodging, dining and meeting services to local guests and travelers while providing a real-time, comprehensive learning experience to hundreds of students each year in Kirkwood's Hospitality Arts programs. The Hotel's rooms, suites and meeting/conference facilities will complement the breakfast/lunch/dinner restaurant, plus banquet and meeting services.

More information and updates on construction are available via the college Web site:

www.thehotelatkirkwood.com

Kirkwood Grad gets Sweet Surprise

Stephen S./NL Leader

North Liberty's Ginny Scott grows successful cake business, building on skills learned

--by Stephen Schmidt, North Liberty Leader

[NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa]- Life takes you by surprise sometimes, just as it did Ginny Scott.

As a child growing up in Hopkinton, Scott, the owner of Ginny's Cakes, said she always liked to draw, to paint and doodle.

Years later, as an adult, she began to love cooking and baking, enrolling in the culinary arts program at Kirkwood Community College in 2001.

But a love for cake decorating? That came as a surprise.
"I've always liked to cook and I've always liked to bake, but I never liked decorating until I took a class at Kirkwood," Scott said.

Fast forward to 2009: Scott, after using her cake decorating skills at Hy-Vee to work her way through college, married her husband, Don, and had two daughters, Emi and Hana. The family then moved to North Liberty.

Resolved to stay at home with her daughters until they reached kindergarten age, Scott had no intention of starting her own business. However, she still made cakes, she said, as a creative outlet.

After making cakes for her niece and nephews birthday parties, people began asking for her cakes. So Scott, armed with a website, word of mouth, and decals on her vehicle, began her own custom cake making business out of her home this September.

But perhaps, of her unexpected story, the least surprising part is Scott's success.

"I hoped that I would have a lot of orders, but I didn't know what to expect since I didn't have a store front or any advertising," Scott said. "I've stayed pretty busy."
After developing her passion for cake making, Scott has created her own white frosting (white chocolate butter cream) and rainbow cake recipes that are favorites with customers. Scott said her custom cakes- such as one recent creation shaped as a duck in a bubble bath- offer something to customers they can't get other places.

"I don't think you can just walk into a store and get (the kind of cakes) I do," Scott said.

[Photo by Stephen Schmidt. Copyright 2009 by North Liberty Leader. Used by permission, all rights reserved.]

Visuals, Music, Video Combine in Exhibit

Steve C/Sue H.

Kirkwood Fine Arts show highlights collaboration of two UI Arts professors

Creative works in three different media from two artists are all part of one exhibit at Kirkwood Community College. Professors Sue Hettmansperger and Lawrence Fritts of The University of Iowa will present oil paintings, electronic music and collaborative videos. The exhibit in Kirkwood's Iowa Hall Gallery will run from Nov. 16 through Dec. 12.

The exhibition will include a public art mural of paintings that personify stated principles of Kirkwood Community College: technology and innovation, lifelong learning, creative critical thinking, social sciences and human culture. This public art project and events are supported in part by the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sue Hettmansperger is a Professor of Art at the University of Iowa, and a 2008 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow in Painting. She has had exhibitions of her artwork at A.I.R. Gallery in New York City, the Hyde Park Art Center, Evanston Art Center, and numerous exhibits in galleries and museums across the country.

Lawrence Fritts teaches composition at the University of Iowa, where he has directed the Electronic Music Studios since 1994. His compositions for instruments and electronics have been heard in festivals and conferences throughout the world. Recently Fritts has explored compositions that combine instruments and voice with electronic enhancements. The Kirkwood compositions are some of the latest of his works.

Kirkwood will welcome the artists for a reception on Friday, December 11 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free of charge and the public is welcome to attend.

Kirkwood and the Iowa Arts Council have arranged for an extended life of the exhibit after the late-fall showing. "This exhibit invites viewers to contemplate congruencies of image and sound," Hettmansperger said. "My four paintings form a mural grid that reflects some of the many disciplines taught at Kirkwood. When the exhibit closes, the mural will be sited in an atrium space that connects different learning areas at the college, much as the mural reflects a bridge between different ideas and areas of knowledge."

Sue Hettmansperger is available for interviews at:
sue-hettmansperger@uiowa.edu

Heritage Agency Offers Medicare Part D Programs

Steve C./Linda D.

To better inform area seniors of their options with Medicare prescription drug coverage, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program for Iowa (SHIIP) will present a series of free information sessions to help residents make informed choices.

About 7,700 Iowans who are Medicare beneficiaries received letters from the Medicare Advantage plans in which they are enrolled, announcing that the plans will not be offered in 2010. In response to those letters the Heritage Agency on Aging and St. Luke's Hospital SHIIP programs are sponsoring two informational sessions Thursday, November 19 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Services Center, 3375 Armar Drive, Marion. Attendees can discuss Medicare Advantage plan non-renewals and options available to those affected. Reservations are not necessary.

In addition the Heritage Agency on Aging and SHIIP are sponsoring Medicare Part D "check-up" events at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Services Center, 3375 Armar Drive, Marion in November and December. Linda Dearinger of the Heritage Agency says Iowans "need to take a good look at what is offered to make sure they are enrolled in a plan that provides the best coverage at the lowest cost. Attending a check-up event will help them with that."

Appointments are required and can be made calling Kirkwood Continuing Education at 319-398-1022 or 1-800-322-8833. The schedule of check-up sessions includes:

Monday, November 16, 9 a.m. - noon
Wednesday, November 18, 4-7 p.m.
Thursday, November 19, 1 - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, November 24, 9 a.m. - noon
Monday, November 30, 1 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, December 3, 1 - 4 p.m.
Wednesday, December 9, 9 a.m. - noon
Thursday, December 10, 1 - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, December 15, 9 a.m. - noon
Thursday, December 17, 1 - 4 p.m.

For further information on these call the Heritage Agency at 319-398-5559 or 1-800-332-5934.

Amber Pitz is Iowa Volleyball Athlete of the Week

ICCAC/Steve C.

The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference has named Amber Pitz as the Division II Athlete of the Week. Pitz played a major role in Kirkwood victories during the week of Oct. 5-11. Pitz averaged 15 digs per match as part of the Eagles' victories over Southeastern, Southweastern and Clinton Community College teams.

The 5-7 first-year Kirkwood libero also racked up the honors as a player for Western Dubuque High School. The Farley, Iowa native was named First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-District during her prep career, as well as Western Dubuque team MVP awards.

Following completion of her studies at Kirkwood, Amber Pitz plans to transfer to a four-year college and continue studies toward a career in education.

The Kirkwood Eagles Volleyball program has been ranked in the Division II Top Ten for several weeks by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

A Kirkwood First--Male Dental Assisting Grad

Steve C.

Tim Furgason completes program, aims for more training

When Tim Furgason wrapped up his classes in the Dental Assisting program at Kirkwood Community College he didn't realize at first he was "making history." But in a small but notable way, that was the case.

Furgason is the first male in any Health Science faculty member memory to fully complete the program. Program Coordinator Pam Hanson said the Johnson County resident "did well with good humor" in the female-dominated training program.

"We've had a few guys start in the program, try it out over the years. But Tim is the first one we know of to complete with us. He was a fine student, very conscientious. We're proud of his work with us," Hanson said.

Furgason worked in the optical field for a couple years after high school and discovered dental assisting as an interesting career choice. "This field seems to have a lot of job opportunities. Plus, compared to some fields the schooling is intense, but relatively short," he observed.

As with many grads in the program, Furgason had a couple of job offers awaiting him when he took his last final in the summer of 2009. But he has further goals to accomplish at Kirkwood in the next year.

"My plans involve pursuing some additional credentials and completing my associate's degree. There are two certifications I will earn that allow a dental assistant increased responsibility in the dental office," he said.

Furgason also said he plans to use a built-in perk of most dental assistants as an avenue of giving back to his community.

"Dental assistants usually have a four-day work week schedule. I plan on increasing my share in some volunteer activities I take part in, with that flexibilty," he said.

[PHOTO: Kirkwood Dental Assisting Program Director Pam Hanson (left) and Instructor Kristee Malmberg share a moment with Tim Furgason during the final day of classes in August 2009. Furgason was the first male graduate of the Kirkwood Dental Assisting program. Photo by Kirkwood Marketing Services.]

Heritage Agency Plans Caregiver Wellness Day

Steve C.

Nov. 13 free event features speakers, entertainment and practical information

The Heritage Area Agency on Aging will host the 8th annual caregiver wellness day event, "A Celebration of Caregivers," Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. The event is designed to give support and encouragement to informal caregivers of older adults in east central Iowa and to help them focus on their own health and well-being.

This free program will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Services Center (KTOS), 3375 Armar Drive, in Marion. The Heritage Area Agency on Aging, in collaboration with staff from the Alzheimer's Association, Hospice of Mercy, St. Luke's Hospice, Hospice Compassus, Iowa Hospice, Home Instead, Milestones Adult Day Centers in Cedar Rapids and in Marion are planning this event to honor and support caregivers in this region.

The keynote speaker for the day will be motivational leader and success coach, Heather Woody whose presentation will be "Look for the Joy." Woody will interact with participants to achieve intentional, successful and fulfilling life experiences.

Other sessions will include: "A Legal Check-up for Family Caregivers" by Martha Quint, Attorney, Heritage Elder Law Project; "Dealing with Difficult Behaviors" by Dr. Susan Schultz, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Geriatric Division, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine; and "Quick and Easy Meals and the New Number System" by Lori Willet, Hy-Vee dietitian. A closing session will be presented by Christine Wagner-Hecht, Chaplain at Hospice of Mercy, and a presentation by the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, Children's Gospel Choir.

Participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy free chair massage or reflexology therapies or experience Satin Hands by Mary Kay. Free blood pressure checks, and flu shots (depending on availability) will be offered. The nearby Village Ridge Assisted Living will provide free respite care, giving caregivers a break to enjoy the day.

Heritage Family Caregiver Program Coordinator Sandy Nulle notes that family and friend caregivers provide invaluable resources to their loved ones. "Their courage, compassion, and dedication allows the person they are caring for to remain in the home in a loving environment. That often comes at great economic, physical and mental costs to the caregiver. This event is being held to recognize and celebrate the contributions that in-home caregivers of older adults in our region make and to support them in their role," Nulle said.

Nulle also expressed appreciation for the many organizations that will make the day's programs possible at no cost to participants.

Presenting Sponsors: Above & Beyond Home Health & Hospice Care; Aging Services, Inc.; Alliant Energy; Bickford Assisted Living & Memory Care; Burns Housing; CarePro Health Services; Heritage Nursing & Rehab Center; Hiawatha Care Center; Home Choice Senior Care; Home Instead Senior Care; Hospice Compassus; Hospice of Mercy;

Iowa Hospice; The Meth-Wick Community; St. Luke's Hospice; St. Luke's Lifeline,/Philips Lifeline; St. Luke's Living Centers East & West; Summit Pointe; The View's; The Villages at Marion; Visiting Angels of Cedar Rapids; and
Windmill Manor.

Patron Sponsors: Higley Mansion Care Center; Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP); Rose Haven Nursing Home; and Sound Clarity Inc.

This event is free, but registration is requested to ensure adequate food and materials are available. Please register by November 10, 2009 by calling the Heritage Agency office at 319-398-5559 or 1-800-332-5934. Further details on the annual caregiver support event are available from heritage Agency staff members Sandy Nulle or Katherine Hines.

Musical Has Star-Crossed Wardrobe

Steve C.

Kirkwood Production of Guys & Dolls Features Actual Costumes from 1990s Broadway Revival

When the houselights dim and the orchestra hits the opening notes in Ballantyne Auditorium, the audience for Guys & Dolls will get a bonus to their evening's entertainment. The students taking the stage will sport costumes straight from the Big Apple.

The director and crew for Kirkwood Community College's production of the classic Frank Loesser musical were able to find original, award-winning costumes from 1992 Broadway revival of Guys & Dolls. Now dozens of those costumes will get a new life of their own as students sing, dance and act their way through the famed tale of temptation, love, humor and adventure.

Annee Noah is a Kirkwood Performing Arts instructor and costume designer for the show. She recalls the wardrobe coup began with simple brainstorming question earlier this year.

"At an early production meeting, Rick [Anderson] said, �Wouldn't it be great if we could get the original William Ivy Long costumes? They must be out there somewhere.' A couple of us did some quick Internet searching and we found out there were a lot of replicas around the country. Then we found the originals, still in existence from this 1990s show," Noah said.

As she researched it further, Noah found out they not only were available, but "in great working order." She pressed on to button up the deal.

"The company we worked with, Costume World is very supportive of educational theatre groups. Not only could we get these costumes sent to us, but we could do it within our budget," she added.

Director Rick Anderson said the costumes are a "fun and powerful element" to his overall vision for the big-time Broadway show presented on the Kirkwood stage. The vivid colors and post-Prohibition flashiness add fuel to the story and production numbers and look of the show.

"This show has been called by some greats in the theatre as the perfect musical comedy. When you think of Sky Masterson, Nathan Detroit, Adelaide�these are some of the legends in the musical canon. We are thrilled to have this wardrobe that helped revive a classic Broadway show make the trip from New York to Cedar Rapids. This will be a memorable boost for our young performers," Anderson said.

Costume designer William Ivy Long won four Tony Awards over his long Broadway career and was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2006. Encore Magazine columnist Lauren Hodges called Long's costume works "so lively that they seem to have personalities of their own. The movements the costumes were made for seem to reflect in the fabric. Each detail is lovingly stitched for the characters of the stage and speaks of the story itself, giving the viewer an added taste of the spectacle that is Broadway."

For Noah, that footlight spectacle is balanced with the work she and her student assistants are doing to complete the wardrobe. For most of the large cast of singers, dancers and actors, what they wear will have the patina of Broadway in every button and fold. The 1992 Broadway production included such famed actors as Nathan Lane, Faith Prince and Peter Gallagher.

"We have about 90 percent of the original garments and can adapt the few remaining from our stock. There are some amazing dance costumes for Miss Adelaide and her Hot Box Girls. Nathan Detroit and all the gamblers have a snazzy look, too," she said.

Tickets for the Kirkwood Community College production of Guys & Dolls are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students with current ID. Kirkwood students, faculty and staff are admitted free. Tickets are available by calling (319) 398-7662. The student production group is also selling tickets weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon through opening day, Oct. 30 in Iowa Hall at the Ballantyne Auditorium entrance.

November, National Family Caregiver Month

Steve C./Heritage

November is designated as National Family Caregiver Month and a time to thank, support, educate and advocate for the more than one out of four Iowans who are family caregivers.

During National Family Caregiver Month and every day, the Heritage Area Agency on Aging is here to assist family caregivers to act on behalf of themselves and their loved ones, and to remove barriers to health and well being.

The Heritage Agency provides services that will:

� Inform the caregiver- Connecting them to resources
� Encourage the caregiver- Supporting their tireless efforts
� Empower the caregiver- Helping them take control of their situation

Think of a family caregiver you know and celebrate this special month by reaching out and offering them a helping hand. Bring them dinner, offer to assist with transportation needs or provide some respite care to give them a break. Do something to help, it will be greatly appreciated.

For more information, please call:

Heritage Area Agency on Aging
319-398-5559 or 1-800-332-5934
1-866-432-4324 (caregiver helpline)
www.heritageaaa.org

[This information offered as a community service by the Heritage Agency, a division of Kirkwood Community College.]

"Robject" Creator Speaks at Kirkwood, Nov. 17

Steve C.

Young professional Robby Marvin presents message of motivation, self-commitment in Iowa Hall, 11 a.m

Robby Marvin is putting his money where his heart is. The same goes for a good portion of his time. On Nov.17 he will bring his message of commitment and involvement to Kirkwood Community College.

Marvin will discuss "The Robject" at 11 a.m. in the Iowa rooms, third floor of Iowa Hall on the Cedar Rapids main campus. The Robject is Marvin's personal quest to model community service and make a difference in Linn County. The free program is open to the public, sponsored by the Kirkwood Accounting Club. As part of the event, students in the club will launch a food drive for area human service agencies. Collections for the food drive will begin at the Nov. 17 Robject program.

Marvin is an accountant with AEGON USA and the creator of The Robject, a one-year personal commitment to donate time, talent and dollars to his home community. Following the devastation of the 2008 floods, he was motivated to make a personal pledge to donate 365 hours of volunteer time toward charitable and human service organizations. He also pledged to give 31.2 percent of his income for a year, symbolizing the high point of the floodwaters in downtown Cedar Rapids on June 13, 2008. Marvin planned his volunteerism for several months, then launched the one-year service June 1, 2009.

"I want people to know that everyone can do something to make a difference," Marvin said. "You can't do everything, so focus on what you can do!"

Following the public event, Kirkwood Accounting Club students will continue collecting canned goods at various sites around campus. Kirkwood Associate Professor Linda Abernathy advises the Accounting Club and says the students were moved to action when they found out about the Robject.

"They have been inspired to give back to the community by collecting canned goods on campus through Nov. 24. Then they will deliver them to the Madge Phillips Center and Willis Dady Shelter in Cedar Rapids, for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. We hope Robby's talk will inspire much more actions like these," Abernathy said.

Updated information on The Robject is available online at:
http://www.therobject.com