Kirkwood Community College News

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 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.

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.

Nature Area Honors Kirkwood Educator's Legacy

Steve C.

Atherton Memorial Wetland dedicated Oct. 15; Corps of Engineers provide hundreds of acres

Early on October 15, a light drizzle started to fall across Linn County, Iowa. But the precipitation stopped by about 9 a.m. Charlie Atherton glanced at the sky and nodded his head. Then he looked at his mother and smiled.

"I told you. Steve's got it taken care of," he murmured.

Atherton was referring to his late brother, Steven Atherton, a long-time Kirkwood Community College professor whose memory and influence were being honored that morning in a field south of Ely, Iowa. The Athertons were among about 90 people who gathered in a parking lot to dedicate a new memorial wetland and nature trail in Steve Atherton's memory. The 25-year Kirkwood educator died unexpectedly in May 2008 at the age of 54.

Charlie Atherton had returned from his home in Monument, Colorado to attend the dedication withhis mother, Lee Atherton of Ely. The ceremonies also celebrated the growth of an endowed scholarship fund in the late professor's name, ensuring support of future Kirkwood Parks and Natural Resources department students, in perpetuity.

In program remarks, Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich spoke of Atherton's dedication and focus. "Steve lived for the beauty and value of Iowa's outdoors, and he wanted his students to take up that love, too. He brought his students into the natural world he loved and taught them to make it their world," Starcevich said.

Upper Iowa University President Alan G. Walker also attended and presented gifts from the Fayette, Iowa-based school to help enrich the endowment. Walker presented checks to Kirkwood, not only from the university but also from Upper Iowa faculty and his own personal donation.

"We are pleased and proud to share this support in honor of such a great individual and educator. We also are proud to note that last year alone we welcomed about 50 Kirkwood students to complete their studies at Upper Iowa. It's a great partnership," Walker added.

Charlie Atherton also presented a check from his family to add to the endowment for his late brother. "I thank everyone at Kirkwood and all the people here today. This tribute and this beautiful spot are a perfect way to remember Steve," he said.

The ceremonies continued with the unveiling of a commemorative stone designating the Steven J. Atherton Memorial Wetland, with landscaping, decorative stone and a groomed pathway leading northward into a pristine lowland meadow. All the work was done by Kirkwood Ag Science students, guided by their faculty.

The Atherton memorial wetland is a small part of an initial 440 acre land parcel offered to Kirkwood's Ag Science programs by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Corps Coralville Reservoir Area Director John Castle also spoke at the event and said the partnership is "a very fitting tribute" to Atherton and his many years of dedication to the cause of Iowa natural resources.

"Steve lived his passions for nature every day. He believed in conservation and taking care of the Iowa land. It was a pleasure working with him and an honor to know him. We are honored to be a part of this project to make this a working laboratory and teach future students," he said.

Castle also indicated that discussions between the Corps and Kirkwood may result in even more land added to the cooperative agreement to provide more "outdoor laboratory" options into the future. A large-format aerial photograph was displayed at the event, showing preliminary plans for the wetland, upland prairie plantings and rotation-crop areas through the next decade.

During his 25-year stint at Kirkwood, the late Atherton built a wide network of partnerships and connections in the Iowa conservation and parks arenas. Colleagues remember his work to raise funds for wetlands preservation through an annual wildlife art show, auction and fund-raising dinner.

Atherton was also instrumental in launching the Kirkwood/MacBride Raptor Center project in conjunction with the University of Iowa. He also led efforts to reintroduce peregrine falcons to eastern Iowa and was a champion of prairie habitat restoration. Fellow instructors estimate that his work reclaimed thousands of acres of prairie in the state.

Long-time Kirkwood Ag Science colleague Ken Carroll was sure that were he still alive, Atherton would have been deeply involved in the Corps of Engineers development.
"Steve would have been all over this project. It covers all of his passions�wetlands, prairies and wildlife management," Carroll said

The finale of the Steve Atherton tribute was the release of four trumpeter swans into a wetland pond a short distance south of the memorial trailhead. As the crowd headed out in vehicles to watch the birds' release, a light mist started to fall.

[PHOTO: Lee Atherton (left) gets a friendly greeting from a trumpeter swan after ceremonies to dedicate a wetland and trail in memory of her son, the late Steve Atherton. Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologist Ron Andrews (center) and Steve Atherton's brother Charlie share in the moment. The swan and three others were released into a nearby pond to conclude the Oct. 15 program south of Ely, Iowa. Photo by Steve Carpenter, Kirkwood Marketing Services.]

Kirkwood, Community Dedicate Jones Regional Center

Steve C.

Crowd of many hundreds flocks to see new multi-purpose building at west edge of Monticello

It was standing room only Thursday afternoon, Oct. 15 as educators, donors, parents and others came to see the new Kirkwood Community College Jones Regional Education Center. The grand opening event formally dedicated the new 32,000 square foot facility in Monticello and served up public kudos to the many boosters and donors that made the facility possible.

What began as a conceptual partnership less than three years ago is now a working model for sharing high school courses and innovative programs to a group of schools sharing instructors and resources with Kirkwood. The center also is the hub for Kirkwood college credit and lifelong learning classes for Monticello and the wider community.

Kirkwood Executive Director of Secondary Programs Dave Bunting was a key planner for the partnership project. The Jones County native called the shared work and the center concept "an incredible collaboration" and praised the many people and schools involved.

"To get eight school districts to share teachers, students and common goals is truly incredible. I have to believe this is the future of rural education in Iowa," Bunting added.

Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich spoke of the "simply amazing" level of cooperation among the eight partner school districts that form the heart of the center's operations. "The great community, family and corporate response to our call for assistance is unbelievable. Our school and city partners greeted our idea with a clear answer: �What can we do to help?'"

Jones Regional Center Director Kristy Black and Board of Trustees Chair Lois Bartelme also addressed the crowd that spilled out the doors and down the halls of the facility. The new center welcomes students from eight districts in five counties, coming to the new building at the west edge of Monticello to participate in college credit transfer courses and college credit Career Edge Academy programs, plus upper-level high school courses.

Students spend just under three hours at the Jones Regional facility, with the rest of their school day spent at their home high school with other courses and co-curricular activities. The eight schools have pledged a total of 200 students for the program over a ten-year period.

"That commitment from our partner schools is what made our plans�and this center�possible," Mick said.

As public buildings go, the $6.5 million facility was built on a notably swift schedule. The two-story structure at the west edge of Monticello had a formal ground-breaking Oct. 22, 2008, with initial ground work already in progress. The completed center was open for fall high school and college classes in mid-August. Local businessman Lloyd Welter and his family donated eight acres of land set strategically near Highway 151, which prompted Kirkwood and area schools to discuss the possibilities of shared goals and resources.

Officials and administrations of eight eastern Iowa school districts signed agreements to send their students to the center for higher-level classes and career academy programs: Monticello, Anamosa, Central City, Western Dubuque/Cascade, Springville, Olin, Maquoketa Valley and Midland Community.

Cooperation from the City of Monticello, Alliant Energy and other entities further fueled the center's development. Kirkwood officials thanked those partners and many other donors and boosters during the Oct. 15 program. Starcevich announced that donations and in-kind support had totaled more than $680,000 to complete the center, with more possible.

Kristy Black said the center is abuzz with activity throughout a typical day. "We are here greeting students at about 7 a.m. and classes can go until 9 or 10 at night. Plus we offer Saturday morning classes as well. The volume of activity just speaks to how much the community needed this place and these services," she remarked.

"I think everyone can recognize how the community has supported this project so generously," Bartelme added. "We know this new center will truly be a learning hub for many hundreds of people a year. We look forward to hundreds of our young people growing in their scholarship as they strengthen their bridges to higher education and career training. We want them to learn about the many opportunities to be found right here in eastern Iowa."

Further information on the Jones Regional Education Center is available from Kristy Black at (319) 465-2303, or via the Kirkwood Web site:

http://www.kirkwood.edu/jrec

Art Exhibit Spotlights "Daily Miracles" in Cloth

Steve C.

Kirkwood's Milagro del Dia Exhibit Shares Personal Stories of Rural Mexican Women

The images express profound truths in a simple way, giving thanks for beneficial blessings of rain, health, healing or good fortune. The delicate stitching sometimes stands alone in a frame, sometimes gathered in groups on cloth quilt backings, telling stories of a village, family or events of a year.

Milagro del Dia: The Daily Miracle is the current exhibit on display now through November 6 at Kirkwood Community College. The collection in Kirkwood's Iowa Hall Gallery contains embroidered quilts, individual cloth works and photographs that reflect daily lives of Mexican women through their hand-made expressions. The exhibit was assembled by Susan Chrysler White of the University of Iowa. White and others supported the local Mexican women in providing materials, then gathering the finished work and helping them sell the quilts in local markets.

Milagro del Dia is a collection of stories by individual women presented in the form of ex votos, or "from a prayer" symbolism. The individual fabric pictures, many with words in Spanish explaining the image, have been created by women in rural villages in the Guanajuato region of central Mexico (about four hours' drive north of Mexico City.) After sewing their personal fabric testimonies, they are gathered into quilts that capture the many stories and views of daily life in rural Mexico. The campesinas, or "women of the country" are from indigenous populations of mainly Chichemeca communities who were never conquered by the Spanish military and colonizers.

Economic conditions of the past decades have driven many men from this area of Mexico to find work elsewhere, leaving the women and elderly with fewer economic options. Susan White has visited the area extensively, as her parents lived in Guanajuato following retirement. White and others worked with the women of the villages and helped them find expression�and income opportunity�through their embroidered creations. White and others brought fabric and thread to the women, then gathered the completed works and paid them for the finished pieces.

"As the project has matured, the quality of the work has steadily improved and the women have taken more and more responsibility for its management. We are nearing a point when it will be entirely their own," White said.

Quilts from the Milagro del Dia project have been displayed in galleries from New York City and Los Angeles to Taos, New Mexico and Toronto, Ontario.

An artist's reception for the exhibit will be held Thursday, Nov. 5 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Visitors may also take in a Mexican themed dinner in conjunction with the exhibit, presented by Kirkwood Culinary Arts students. The dinner is set for the Class Act Restaurant Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. Dinner reservations may be made at (319) 398-5468.

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 resposibility 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 (lfet) 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

Street-Wise Self-Defense Course Offered

Steve C.

Class will emphasize awareness as well as physical techniques

Kirkwood Community College will offer a course on personal safety and smart responses to potentially dangerous people and situations. The "Basic Street Self-Defense" class is offered through Kirkwood's Continuing Education division beginning Sunday, Nov. 1.

Kirkwood Dean of Students Bob Burnes is a veteran martial arts trainer and skilled instructor in self-defense and personal safety. He says the topic comes up frequently in classes and in general discussions with students and neighbors.

"I have been asked many times over the years about what people should do if they are threatened or attacked. I have designed this Basic Street Self-Defense class that will show how to respond effectively to the most common street attack scenarios. I also emphasize that being safer and better prepared in uncertain situations is probably more mental than physical. We will work on physical responses, for sure. But this course will be a combination of fitness and a great deal of awareness," Burnes said.

The class is scheduled from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday mornings in the Lincoln Learning Center Gym, 912 18th Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids. The class begins November 1, 2009 and will require no special equipment. "This will be a skill-building class, not a hard aerobic workout," Burnes added.

The class number is CRMA-905-STO01. Participants may call to register through Kirkwood Continuing Education, (319) 398-1022.

Bob Burnes can address questions at his main campus office, (319) 398-5584.

Kirkwood High-Tech Girlz Day Set, Oct. 23

Steve C.

Day-long event spotlighting skills and careers for future women in technology
Not so long ago, the world of computers and high-tech gadgetry seemed to be a fairly closed "boys club." Software and mainframes, satellites and gigabytes tended to be male-dominated career fields.

A team at Kirkwood Community College says that attitude is so last-century. The college will host a High-Tech Girlz Day Friday, October 23, presenting interactive workshops and presentations on GPS/GIS systems, Local Area Networking, Web design and other future-focused careers for area high school females.

Kirkwood Business and Information Technologies Coordinator Michelle Kruse is part of the High-Tech Girlz Day organizing team and says the event gets area high school girls from 9th grade to seniors involved in promising career ideas.

"This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a variety of information technology fields taught here at Kirkwood. We have designed projects and demonstrations so the students can rotate through our labs to get direct experience in these skills. We call them �byte-sized' learning sessions. We got some great comments from the students last year and hope for even more this time," Kruse said.

The High-Tech Girlz Day programs are set from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and will feature presentations on:

� Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
� Local Area Networking Management (LAN)
� Computer Support and Hardware Repair
� Web Design, Development and Marketing; and
� Computer Programming

Participating students will receive a complementary T-shirt and a computer flash drive. Lunch will be served during the one-day program. The project is supported in part by a grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation.

Registrations are open through Friday, Oct. 16 for Kirkwood High-Tech Girlz Day. Students can register online at: www.kirkwood.edu/techgirlz

More information on the event is available from Michelle Kruse via e-mail: mkruse@kirkwood.edu