The Morningsider, Vol. 78/No. 1 - Spring 2023

Rare Breed

Honoring the ongoing legacy of Head Football Coach

Steve Ryan

WHY I LOVE MORNINGSIDE

Morningside has been a part of my life for more than 47 years. As a first generation student, Morningside provided me with an education that prepared me for the outside world. It taught me how to think outside the box, challenge myself and my beliefs, to look at all possible solutions to problems, to try new things without being afraid to fail, and the importance of giving back.

Education is one the greatest gifts you can give a person. Seeing students start as freshmen and watching them grow and mature over the time they are at Morningside is very fulfilling. It gives you great pleasure knowing that upon graduation they will be equipped to take on the world and its many challenges, just as I experienced as a student. There is no greater satisfaction than knowing that you work at an institution that does this for young people. Morningside makes a difference in people's lives.

In any organization the people you work with play a big part in determining your success. I have had the pleasure of serving under the direction of four different presidents, all of whom taught me something different. I am grateful to have gotten to be at a place with the best students, faculty, staff, and board. I am especially grateful for the employees in the business office division who have made my job the most enjoyable job ever. The people at Morningside truly care about each other.

Seeing Morningside grow and prosper over the years has been fulfilling. Seeing the campus facilities and grounds transformed over the last 20 years due to the generosity of our donors and the leadership of President Emeritus Reynders and my colleagues on the senior staff has been gratifying. It also makes me incredibly proud that Morningside currently has one of the most beautiful campuses in the Midwest.

As I retire, it will be difficult not to miss everything that makes Morningside a great place to work. I know, though, that Morningside will continue to grow and prosper while enduring in its mission to cultivate a passion for lifelong learning and a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility in students.

Morningside will always be a part of my life.

Ron Jorgensen ‘79

Ron ’79 and Kathy Jorgensen

VOL. 78/NO. 1

MANAGING EDITORS

Tasha Goodvin ’14

Bailey Zubke

ART DIRECTOR

Randee Small ’88

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bailey Zubke, Skyler McDermott ’21, Erin Edlund, Randee Small ’88

VP FOR UNIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Erin Edlund

4

Morningside Avenues

Cargill

donates funds for outdoor classroom

Cargill has provided $51,500 to the Regina Roth Applied Agricultural & Food Studies Department that will help enhance learning for students in the program by providing funds to lease a tractor and purchase equipment. In honor of the gift, the space located outside of the newly constructed Rosen Ag Center and Lags Greenhouse will be named the Cargill Outdoor Classroom.

“There is a great deal of expense in providing our students with the full range of equipment and materials they need for learning,” said Dr. Tom Paulsen, department head and professor. “Our board and administration have invested significantly in our program, but there are always additional needs. The gift Cargill has provided us allows us to invest in some critical new pieces of equipment that will elevate the student learning experience.”

The Cargill Outdoor Classroom will encompass 2.5 acres behind the new Lags Greenhouse. It offers space for outdoor agriculture production, research and demonstration classrooms. While students will work cooperatively with faculty to determine the exact uses for the space, the test plots will offer the opportunity to grow larger crops, start trees and shrubs for the campus grounds, grow edible forest plants and landscapes, explore viticulture, possibly start an apiary, and more.

Dr. Jennifer Miller was named the 2023 Dimmit Fellow in June 2022. Her time in residence this spring will include different opportunities for interested individuals to learn more about her expertise in embodied writing. This approach is a technique that encourages writers to use the knowledge they bring from their own bodies to their writing. In doing so, writers are giving themselves expertise and confidence to complete assignments that could otherwise be daunting.

Miller earned her doctorate in English at the University of Minnesota, where her dissertation was focused on the intersection between multicultural American literature and popular works of fantasy and science fiction. There are a variety of planned events throughout the semester.

Miller is a faculty member at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minn.

Named for the late Lillian Dimmitt who was one of the original faculty members hired at Morningside University in 1894 and who lived and worked at Morningside until her death in 1965, the Dimmitt Fellowship program brings distinguished scholars from around the world to Morningside University to enrich the cultural and academic life on campus.

Dimmitt Fellow

Dr. Jennifer Miller

Ag student Tom Moss works in the Morningside garden.

Morningside announces aviation program

Morningside University is pleased to announce the launch of its School of Aviation, which includes professional flight and aviation management programs. The programs will be offered in partnership with Oracle Aviation, a fixed-base operator (FBO) based in Omaha, and the City of Sioux City. Enrollment is now open for students interested in beginning one of the programs in fall 2023.

“Nationally, the need for pilots and aviation management professionals is at a historic high. That is also true here in Siouxland. As a regional resource, this partnership allows us to provide the skilled talent that the aviation and other industries in this area need, and it gives Morningside students another pathway toward a fulfilling, high-wage career. This is a great thing for Siouxland businesses and the economy, and it is an outstanding opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in aviation,” said President Dr. Albert Mosley.

Oracle Aviation characterizes the growing demands of the aviation industry with projections that show the number of passenger flights doubling in the next 20 years, nearly 80 percent of active pilots being forced into retirement in the next 14 years due to pilot age requirements, and Boeing’s estimates that more than 850,000 pilots will need to be trained to keep up with demand.

Col. Brian Miller, former commander of the 185th Refueling Wing, serves as director of aviation for Morningside and is overseeing the development of facilities, curriculum, and recruitment.

“This is a perfect partnership in an outstanding location. The Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX) offers an ideal setting for pilots to learn in a four-season setting, and the connections that SUX has to commercial, private, and government aviation entities offers students a variety of opportunity,” shared Miller.

Miller noted that students who choose to take part in the program will have an opportunity to get a first-class education and will get to be part of the process of building the program.

As a regional resource, this partnership allows us to provide the skilled talent that the aviation and other industries in this area need, and it gives Morningside students another pathway toward a fulfilling, high-wage career.

— Dr. Albert Mosley

“There is so much about Morningside that makes it a great setting where students can really be successful and build strong relationships with other businesspeople and professionals as they are getting their education. That is especially true with the School of Aviation since the students will be helping set the standard for what the program will be. It’s a historic opportunity,” said Miller.

Students interested in enrolling in the professional flight or aviation management program for Fall 2023 will need to apply to the program and are also encouraged to make a campus visit. Students who apply and are accepted to the professional flight program can expect additional requirements necessary for obtaining pilot ratings. Opportunities to discuss these requirements in detail are available during the campus visit and admissions process.

MUSTANGMinute Esports leveling up with first home invitational

By Bailey Zubke

For the first time since becoming part of campus life at Morningside, the esports program is getting the chance to host a home competition in front of a live audience.

Esports Head Coach Jared Amundson and his team are hosting a 17-team tournament at the Seaboard Triumph Foods Expo Center March 10-11, providing an opportunity to gather and play against local competitors while also giving esports a moment in the local spotlight.

“Esports fills the gaps between groups,” Amundson said. “These are students who aren’t necessarily into singing and dancing, and they may not be athletically gifted enough to go out for a sport, or maybe they just don’t want to. This is where they get that competitive interaction and a chance to meet others with a similar interest.”

The two-day Morningside Esports Invitational will feature four games being played by the collegiate teams in attendance: Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch 2, and League of Legends. Each player on the team has a designated game they

play during competitions, but some play multiple games in practice as the team gears up for competitions.

This kind of event is far from the first for Morningside Esports. They face teams from all over the country every week. The advantage of video game competition is that the two teams don’t need to be in the same room, city, or state to compete against each other.

“There are a lot of individuals who play video games for fun. Offering it as a varsity sport on campus allows those players to come together and play in a competitive environment. These teams are putting in the work and competing at a collegiate level,” shared Amundson. “We’ve played against teams from local colleges, as well as places like UC Davis and Stanford.”

In 2022, the Rocket League and Overwatch 2 teams found success in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC). In the spring semester, the Rocket League team won the Great Plains Conference of the NECC and made a national semifinals run in their division. In the fall, Rocket League placed runner-

up in the Great Plains Conference and Overwatch 2 placed second in the Midwest Conference.

Amundson shares that an event like the March competition in Sioux City elevates the sense of competition for the Morningside esports team by bringing teams together in the same room instead of simply playing from the Esports Nexus on Morningside’s campus. Additionally, the event will be the first of its kind for the Sioux City area. Teams from around the region will compete, including rival Great Plains Athletic Conference schools Briar Cliff and Northwestern.

“With esports, there’s no NCAA or NAIA hierarchy established. Having Morningside and Sioux City get behind putting together this tournament is the best way for us to get our name out there and to build connections in the esports industry.”

In showcasing the sport, the growing competition, and the increasing number of teams at the collegiate level, Amundson hopes that an event like this will bring more awareness and acceptance for the esports community - especially in the Sioux City area and beyond.

Esports isn’t going anywhere, and this shows students that no matter what your interests are, there is value as long as you’re putting time into it in a productive manner.

— Jared Amundson, Esports Head Coach

“The good thing about esports and an event like this is that there will be something for everybody. If you like first-person shooting games like Call of Duty, you can watch the college teams play something similar. If you like something a little bit more strategy-based, maybe watch League of Legends. If you’re a bit more of a sports fan and are interested in esports, there’s Rocket League, which is basically car soccer.”

In addition to the main stage competition, there will also be rooms set up for people to play and participate in community tournaments on a variety of consoles, offering games like Super Smash Bros. and Madden. Amundson has also set up a trio of panels for people to attend that are designed to help raise awareness for esports and give community members an opportunity to hear about what Morningside and other higher education institutions are doing with it.

“Esports isn’t going anywhere, and this shows students that no matter what your interests are, there is value as long as you’re putting time into it in a productive manner.”

Morningside Esports will not offer live streaming due to the size of the event. However, Amundson advises anyone interested to follow the team on Twitter @MsideEsports or Twitch, where they live stream their other matches four days a week.

PLAYERS

“Hopefully, this will start to normalize esports at a grassroots level in this area. You can see the world championships of any game in sold out stadiums around the world. By bringing a tournament like this to Sioux City, we become part of that world stage and are showing people that you don’t have to be in Los Angeles, Berlin, or South Korea to see people gathering to watch an esports event.”

Morningside will be playing in all four games at the Morningside Esports Invitational. Group stage play kicks off Friday, March 10 at noon and runs until 8 p.m., then continues on Saturday, March 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., the top four teams from each game will be seeded and the semifinals will commence. The finals for all four games are set to begin at 6 p.m.

MARCH 10-11

Seaboard Triumph Foods Expo Center

LANDON CHRISTENSEN BENJAMIN HUGHES-DIVELY

YEAR: Senior

LANDON CHRISTENSEN

MAJOR: Computer Science

GAME: League of Legends

“League of Legends is a 5-vs-5 game with three lanes, where everyone has a designated role. It’s a strategy based game with an objective of trying to get to the other side of the map before the opponent gets to your side.”

YEAR: Sophomore

MAJOR: Biology

GAME: Overwatch

“Overwatch is a 5-vs-5 team-based shooting game. There are a lot of strategies and different heroes you can play as. The objective is to take control of a point on the map and keep it in your possession or move it.”

SETH NELSON

YEAR: Junior

MAJOR: Public Accounting and Business Administration

GAME: Rocket League

“Rocket League by quick definition is just car soccer. For matches, we play 3-vs-3 and it is a best of five games series. Otherwise, in regular season championships or finals, it’s the best of seven games.”

YEAR: Senior

JORDEN PRESNALL

MAJOR: Business Administration

GAME: Valorant

“Valorant is kind of like Call of Duty, but it is a 5-vs-5 and one side is the defenders and the other is the attackers. The attackers’ job is to plant the bomb and get it to explode. For the defenders, it’s the opposite - stop the bomb from being planted or defuse it if it gets planted."

The 2021-22 Rocket League junior varsity team of freshmen Seth Nelson (Remsen, Iowa), Tyler Duffy (Tea, S.D.), Sean Corbin (Fort Myers, Fla.), and seniors Brock Rebensdorf (Sioux City, Iowa), Nic Heise (The Villages, Fla.), not pictured, rolled through their spring playoffs to win the title and reached the semifinals of the NECC National Championships.

The Magnanimous Miss Dimmitt

A series celebrating the life and history of Lillian E. Dimmitt

By Erin Edlund

The name Dimmitt is found on a great many things throughout the campus of Morningside University, and that name is connected to a woman who was truly extraordinary. There are many presidents, students, alumni, and donors throughout the history of Morningside who have shared many times and in many ways that without Lillian Dimmitt, there would likely be no Morningside.

As time marches on, it is important to revisit those pieces of history. Over the next few editions of the Morningsider, we will share the story of Lillian Dimmitt to be reminded of the many ways she remains a living presence on the Morningside campus.

PART ONE: Lillian Dimmitt arrives at the University of the Northwest

From its first day as Morningside College in 1894 and for more than seven decades, Miss Lillian E. Dimmitt served Morningside as a beloved leader and mentor. Her 71 years of dedication to Morningside students, alumni, and colleagues made her one of the longest-serving leaders of a single institution, and her Morningside legacy continues today. As stated by Morningside President J. Richard Palmer in 1965, “Miss Dimmitt will always be more than a memory, she is a living presence in this place.”

Miss Lillian E. Dimmitt was born in Danville, Ill., on Feb. 10, 1867, to James P. and Sarah Louisa (Rush) Dimmitt. She attended schools in Danville, as well as the preparatory department of Illinois Female College (later MacMurray College) and graduated from Decatur High School. She went on to earn her A.B. degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1888.

Following completion of her degree from Illinois Wesleyan, Miss Dimmitt moved with her family to Fort Worth, Texas., where her father was serving as a Methodist minister. Miss Dimmitt’s parents boarded a retired preacher from northwest Iowa who had heard from the chancellor of the University of the Northwest back in Sioux City, Iowa, that the university needed faculty. The preacher let the chancellor know that Dr. Dimmitt had daughters who might be interested in filling the positions, so the chancellor wrote Dr. Dimmitt with the hope one of the Dimmitt daughters might be persuaded to join as faculty. There was no mention of salary or even what subject would

need to be taught in the letter that was sent, but Miss Dimmitt recalls her spirit of adventure giving her the courage to tell her father she would go in reminiscences wrote that now live in the Morningside University archives.

When her father’s Fort Worth congregation learned of Miss Dimmitt’s plan, they were appalled at the notion she would consider moving to Sioux City where the University of the Northwest was located. Lillian Dimmitt shared in her reminiscences in 1957:

“Now what was the reaction of our parishioners when they found out that the preacher’s daughter was going to Sioux City immediately? Why, one of them said, “Why, Dr. Dimmitt, you surely aren’t going to let your daughter go to Sioux City! Why, yes, she is going there to teach.”

“Why, it is the worst hell-hole in the United States. Just across the river in what they call “Covington,” Nebraska, is the gathering point for criminals in America. And it isn’t safe for a woman to be on the street in Sioux City –even in the daytime.”

Well, they told me and that didn’t faze me…They told me that in Iowa it gets so cold that the eyes of the horses freeze in their heads. Well, I couldn’t believe that, so that didn’t faze me either. And I was ready to go.”

Indeed, Miss Dimmitt did not let the warnings deter her. She arrived in Sioux City in a “blinding northwest Iowa blizzard” on Feb. 22, 1893 and was met by the chancellor of University of the Northwest, Dr. W.F. Brush. At that point, the campus was no more than a single building that was to serve all the young university’s functions. There were no steps or bathrooms; just boards yet to be assembled and the hope of becoming a respected institution of higher education.

Miss Dimmitt was a bit shocked by the state of things, but that night she was taken to a dinner where she was introduced to her colleagues and a few students.

Miss Dimmitt recounted that one of those students, Earnest Richards, provided a toast that gave her hope she had made a good choice in going to University of the Northwest, recounting, “It was poetical and rhetorical, and it was a beautiful thing – well organized. I was dumbfounded. And I said to myself, ‘Why do they have students like this at the University of the Northwest?’ So it popped through my head that I hadn’t made such an awful blunder after all in coming here.”

Unfortunately for Miss Dimmitt and the founders, the hopes and dreams upon which the University of the Northwest had been built would not be enough. The young university was struggling to find its footing as Miss Dimmitt was working to find hers. It had been conceived amidst a period of growth in 1889 by Sioux City business leaders who felt it would be an important resource for serving the booming metropolis. However, the financial depression of the early 1890s thwarted the growth of Sioux City, and the debt-ridden, young university was turned over to the law.

Miss Dimmitt shared that this was the point where she felt she had endured enough, writing, “My personal discomfort with the immediate surroundings and my disappointment over the position that was offered me meant nothing compared with the general spirit of gloom and unfulfilled dreams and uncharted futures.

So, I wrote home a detailed account of my personal experiences of living quarters, no teaching contract, no salary guarantee, and no salary payments except for a few dollars. The economic situation was shallow, the unrest and uncertainty of the prospect of the institution being closed most any day. My own pride was injured with being connected with a bankrupt institution.”

Within days, Miss Dimmitt received a letter back from her father that advised her to resign. However, attached to the letter was a post-script from Miss Dimmitt’s mother. In it, her mother discouraged Miss Dimmitt from following her father’s advice. Her mother told Miss Dimmitt that returning home would weaken her resolve and potentially damage her reputation as an

The children of Sarah Louisa Rush and Rev. James Polk Dimmitt: Emma Franes Dimmitt Swain, Lillian English Dimmitt, George Rush Dimmitt, Della Crane Dimmitt, Lucy Paulsen Dimmitt Kolp.

Downtown Sioux CIty

educator. Miss Dimmitt said her mother reminded her that life was made up of hard situations and obstacles, and that in life, it was necessary to find ways around the stone walls a person encounters to build personal strength and courage. This support from her mother not only gave Miss Dimmitt the fortitude to stay, but students would later recall that her mother’s words helped form a philosophy that Miss Dimmitt carried with her and shared throughout her teaching career, often reminding students and colleagues facing misfortune that, “The road gets better further on.”

Miss Dimmitt stayed, and the road that she and the University were on found its way to the Northwest Iowa Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. These organizations filed articles of incorporation to re-establish the university as Morningside College. Miss Dimmitt recalled that the members of the board came to her and offered the opportunity to return to teach at the school following its transition to become Morningside. Understandably, Miss Dimmitt had many questions about why their plan would work when the University of the Northwest had failed. She wrote, “They replied we were going through a period of transition…they said they needed someone to hold over and help keep the school running, and that I was young

enough to afford to give a year of my life to missionary work. That finally persuaded me. It wasn’t exactly a Christian duty, but an open door to Christian service.”

So, Miss Dimmitt chose to stay on at the newly formed Morningside College, and the period that would follow would be one that Miss Dimmitt would describe as the young college’s “Heroic Age.”

Look for the story to continue in the next edition of the Morningsider.

Faculty baseball team

Ron Jorgensen

Ron Jorgensen ’79 knows better than anyone that Morningside is an investment worth making. He first invested in the University as a student in the 1970s. Now, 44 years after graduating from Morningside, Jorgensen will conclude his professional career as a long-serving Morningside employee who has invested much time, talent, and treasure to his beloved alma mater.

Jorgensen began pursuing his Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1975. His parents owned a house not far from campus that had an upstairs apartment where he lived while studying and working off-campus during his four years as a Morningside student. Following graduation, Jorgensen took a job as a staff accountant at First National Bank (now U.S. Bank). He worked there for 17 years, taking on progressively more responsibility and being promoted numerous times before eventually being named vice president and cashier.

During that time and beyond, Jorgensen also continued his education. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota, graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado in Boulder, passed the Certified Management Accountant exam (CMA), and passed the Certified Cash Manager exam (CCM). As he progressed, he began to realize he was ready for a change.

Accepting that job offer back in January 1997 is the best decision I have ever made. It’s been an honor to be part of such a great organization and to be part of a management team that has truly transformed this campus.

Ron Jorgensen ’79 and Paul Treft ’84

Investing in Morningside, Community, and Family

By Erin Edlund

In 1996, Jorgensen heard that Morningside was looking for a vice president for business and finance. He applied and was offered a position that would be the beginning of a 26-year tenure at Morningside.

“Accepting that job offer back in January 1997 is the best decision I have ever made. It’s been an honor to be part of such a great organization and to be part of a management team that has truly transformed this campus. I am also proud to have built an incredibly strong staff within my division that has helped create that success,” shared Jorgensen.

Indeed, the University has seen extensive transformation during Jorgensen’s tenure. More than $70 million in campus improvement have been made, the endowment has grown by more than $30 million, the overall financial condition of the University has improved, and Morningside has seen its best enrollment and fundraising success to date.

“The best part of working at Morningside is knowing we have made a positive difference in the lives of students,” commented Jorgensen. “Seeing students mature and grow is incredibly rewarding, and it feels good knowing that Morningside students who earn their degree greatly increase their opportunity for success after college.”

Outside of being a dedicated professional, Jorgensen also believes strongly in giving back to the community where he lives. He has served on more than 15 different profit and nonprofit boards during his lifetime living in Siouxland. He was also elected to serve on the Sioux City Community School District school board for six years – half of which he served as president – and also served six years in the Iowa House of Representatives.

“It’s important for me to do what I can to improve the community,” Jorgensen noted. “I plan to continue being involved even after retirement.”

That time is just around the corner for Jorgensen. On May 31, 2023, he will officially retire as vice president for business and finance at Morningside. Paul Treft

’84 is set to step into the position after working for Jorgensen for many years.

Once retired, Jorgensen plans to play golf, read, and travel. He is even considering getting involved in theatre and getting his first tattoo. More than anything, though, he is looking forward enjoying more time with his wife of 41 years, Kathy; his two sons, Corey and Eric; daughter-in-law, Kristin; two grandsons, Calvin and Carson; and his sister, Paula. He emphasizes that family has always been central to who he is as a professional and a person.

“For me, being grateful, working hard, being fair, exceeding expectations when you can, not taking yourself too seriously, being a good listener and a lifelong learner, having fun, giving back, and being unafraid to fail have all been important to my own success,” reflected Jorgensen. “More than anything, though, it is so important to find time for family.”

While his immediate family will be the focus of his next chapter, Jorgensen acknowledges that Morningside has also given him another kind of family that he also intends to maintain, stating, “Morningside will always be part of my life.”

STEVE RYAN

A Rare Breed

By Bailey Zubke

The seniors who finished playing Morningside football following the 2022 season have only experienced two losses as Mustangs, both in post-season games. The super seniors in the group have actually won more national championships than accrued losses in five years. Moreover, they have been GPAC champions every year. Those stats are impressive, but they are only part of the epic and ongoing tenure of Head Football Coach Steve Ryan.

The winningest coach in Morningside football history is now enshrined with the greats of the NAIA.

Morningside University Head Football Coach Steve Ryan was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame following the 2022 season. He has led the Mustangs to 13 Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships (12 straight) and three NAIA national titles. He also has the most wins and the best winning percentage in the history of Morningside football.

“I think our kids are tough by our definition of toughness, which is the ability to keep your courage and confidence under pressure,” Ryan said. “They also benefit from the team environment. Especially early on, we made everything we did team-orientated. For example, there used to be Camp Goodwill. We’d go over there for a couple days and would climb the mountain with our seniors. There was a junior trip that we would take as well. We just did a lot of team offseason activities in terms of building ‘team.’ It was intended to put high standards in place, a sense of toughness, and we started doing those things from day one.”

When Coach Ryan first walked onto Morningside’s campus in 2001, there were concerns about the state of Morningside and its football program. Reflecting, the recent NAIA Hall of Fame inductee believed that if it weren’t for those hardships, the school and his program wouldn’t be where they are today.

“Those early years were very difficult, but they had to be difficult,” Ryan said. “Morningside is in a great place now. It’s a phenomenal place to be at. Part of that is because people made tough decisions and we made it through those tough days. That’s kind of the way life is sometimes. You’ve got to go through the tough times if you want to have something special. This is a special place.”

Coach Ryan’s Mustangs first broke onto the national scene when they appeared in the NAIA playoffs in 2004. Ryan won his first GPAC Coach of the Year award that same season. In 2005, Ryan picked up his second conference Coach of the Year award and his first AFCA NAIA Region 4 Coach of the Year award when the Mustangs won their first conference championship. He is now an 11-time GPAC and Region 4 Coach of the Year honoree.

While the honors that the team and coaching staff have amassed help in recruiting truly talented students to Morningside today, attracting local athletes to Morningside was challenging in the early days of the Ryan tenure. Mustangs football was at a low point and the University overall was struggling with enrollment and needed major updates to the campus. As the school started trending back upward, though, so did the football program.

“The battle in terms of local people was that they thought Morningside was going under, that we weren’t going to make it,” Ryan said. “It was just all of the negative press around Morningside. We just struggled to get local young men to come here in those early years. It wasn’t until 2004-05 when we started winning that we started getting local athletes.”

The Mustangs’ first national championship game appearance came in 2012, but it was six years prior in 2006 when coach Ryan started to feel the program turn a corner. He remembers that time as being the start of the run of great athletes who were dedicated to helping build the program. While the group from 2006 to 2011 didn’t win any conference championships, Ryan is clear that those players set the groundwork for what the program is today.

The Mustangs ultimately came up short in that first national championship appearance in 2012. While Ryan says that was a difficult moment for him and the program, he also shares that it was a moment when he more fully understood just how far the program had come and how much it all meant to his athletes.

“In 2012, I felt we should have won the national championship,” Ryan said. “The next week, I started getting letters and emails from former players, and it was a moving experience for me. I kept all of those. When I look back and think about it, it’s those letters and those moments that are what it is all about.”

Since that time, the Mustangs have consistently been in control of the GPAC and in the hunt for the national championship. Coach Ryan acknowledges that the coaching staff around him has been central to that success. Assistant coaches Casey Jacobsen and Nate Turner have been with the program for 19 and 17 years respectively. Taylor James played for Ryan and has stuck around as a coach ever since. The strong and stable leadership they have provided alongside Coach Ryan have allowed the program to soar to incredible heights.

2022 coaching staff (left to right) Tarence Roby, Taylor James, Nate Turner, Steve Ryan, Jay Schlichte, and Reggie Corbin, not pictured, Casey Jacobsen.

“You have this continuation of coaches that allows you to be more successful in recruiting,” Ryan said. “They’re focused on this program. They have done a lot for the program, and they aren’t looking for the next job all of the time. They invest in the players. There’s so much that I get credit for that really belongs to those coaches because they love and care for the players. They’re going to their weddings, they’re helping them with their academics. The players feel that, and I know that so much of our success is tied to how amazing those assistant coaches are at what they do.”

Today, recruiting looks much different for Coach Ryan and his team. The tri-state area of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota and beyond have provided Morningside with a steady stream of talented athletes eager to be part of a powerhouse football team on a campus that has been almost totally transformed over the last two decades. Plus, time and talent eventually allowed Ryan and the Mustangs to reach the pinnacle of the NAIA Football National Championship Series once again in 2018. They emerged from that contest victorious.

“I joke, but that’s kind of the way it is, that my favorite championship is the next one because you always have to be thinking ahead,” Ryan said. “In all seriousness, though, it was 2018 because it was the first one. We just had to go one more step. We had struggled all those years to get one more step. Then once we went that one more step, everything was just wide open for us.”

There has been little debate about where Morningside ranks among the NAIA since that fateful victory. The Mustangs were repeat champions in 2019. After the 2020 season was moved to the spring, Morningside came up just short of the title game, but returned to glory in the fall of 2021 to win its third title in four seasons.

While the 2022 season ended in the quarterfinals of the playoffs, there is still plenty to celebrate for Coach Ryan and the team, including 38 seniors who had a tremendous impact on the program.

“I remember in my early years I had a player who was just phenomenal. An All-American athlete, academic All-American, phenomenal student on campus, great person. The athletic director at the time told me, ‘That’s a once in a generation player, so I hope you enjoy it.’ As I think about it, though, I’ve had dozens of players at that caliber. Guys that you’re just like, man, I can’t believe I had the privilege of coaching that young man here,” shared Ryan. “Graduating 38 seniors this year, we are really losing an entire class of incredible young men. It’s just been a privilege and an honor to coach and to be around a whole generation of guys who are that exceptional.”

And for Coach Ryan and the Mustang football program, everything goes back to the players and the sense of community around them.

“The best thing about this place is not the buildings or the campus itself. Those things are great, but it’s really just the people, the coaches, the players, and even beyond that. The professors, the other coaches, the staff. They have all helped build success here at Morningside, too, and they continue to build on that success. When you have so many people on this campus out there unselfishly dedicating themselves to our students, you’ve got a great place.”

MARCH 15-16, 2023

MAKE OR TAKE A CHALLENGE

You can create a challenge that builds momentum, fosters competition, encourages giving and increases impact. Reach out to JJ Marlow to establish a challenge gift that doubles amounts donated or that unlocks when a specific number of gifts are made. You can also head to msidemadness.com and find a challenge. Make a gift in support of that challenge, head to social media, and pass the challenge along to your Mside friends.

BE A SOCIAL AMBASSADOR

As an ambassador, you help create excitement about Morningside’s Day of Giving event before and during the campaign. Ambassadors get to help in the following ways:

1. SPORT THE SWAG. Wear your t-shirt on Wednesday, March 15, or Thursday, March 16, then post a selfie on one or more of your social media accounts. Remember to use #MsideProud.

2. MAKE A GIFT. If you have already made a gift this year, thank you! By making an additional gift of any size, you will help secure essential funding for the students at Morningside.

3. SPREAD THE WORD. Talk about Morningside Madness on our social media accounts. Use your custom URL to track each gift you bring in, then ask your friends to make a gift to Mside Madness.

MAKE A GIFT

There is no time like the present to make a gift. The success of this event depends on you. It takes all of you making gifts of all sizes to make this event a success. Mside alumni are notorious for showing up big and giving back. We are so grateful to be able to count on you. Thank you for continuing to provide brilliant experiences for our students. Make your gift today at morningside.edu/giveback or follow along on March 15 and 16 and make your gift at msidemadness.com.

JJ Marlow

email: marlow@morningside.edu

phone: 712-274-5424

Contact JJ to find out how you can be part of the excitement. You can also make your Morningside Madness gift today at morningside.edu/giveback

THE INAUGURATION

of our THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT

The Board of Directors of Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, requests the honor of your presence at the inauguration of

Dr. Albert Mosley

13th president of Morningside University

Wednesday, April 19

8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Palmer Research Symposium

8 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Student Presentations

12-12:45 p.m. Palmer Lunch, Yockey Family Community Room, Olsen Student Center

12:45-1:30 p.m. Palmer Research Symposium

Keynote Speaker: Rajasingh Johnson, MPhil., PhD, HCLD (ABB) UPS Auditorium, Lincoln Center

1:45-4 p.m. Student Presentations

5:30-6:30 p.m. Waitt Lecture Eppley Auditorium

Thursday, April 20, 2023

10 o’clock in the morning

Eppley Auditorium 3625 Garretson Avenue

Sioux City, Iowa 51106

Reception immediately following outside of Eppley Auditorium

Thursday, April 20

10 a.m. Investiture, Eppley Auditorium Master of Ceremonies: Dr. Esther Mackintosh, chair of the Morningside University Board of Directors

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Michael Ugwueke, president & CEO, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

12-1:30 p.m. Meet & Greet Reception, outside of Eppley Auditorium

1:30-2 p.m. Student Program

2:30-4 p.m. Service Activities

4:30-6 p.m. Inauguration Happy Hour with Alumni & Friends, Bob Roe’s Point After Please register online.

(VITA)L Service

Morningside students find purpose and passion volunteering with Center For Siouxland

Benjamin Franklin said in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy in 1789 that “in this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” While these realities can conjure foreboding feelings in many of us, the certainty of taxes offers Morningside accounting students a meaningful growth experience as volunteers for Center For Siouxland’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Accounting is part of the Morningside University School of Business and offers students two distinct options depending on their professional interests. The managerial accounting program is for those who wish to take on a career in industry or private accounting, while the public accounting option prepares individuals who wish to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Despite the differences in the degree options, both programs share a focus on experiential learning and earning professional certifications.

Twyla Rosenbaum and Mark Nielsen are the two professors leading the charge in teaching accounting classes at Morningside. Together this dynamic professor duo has amassed an impressive amount of professional credentials and experience to ensure their students are well-prepared after graduation. They also take great care to arrange ample opportunities for Morningside students to build their own resumés.

By Erin Edlund

“Connecting students with alumni and other professionals in the industry allows them to see themselves and their future. For example, I have been taking students to the Institute of Management Accountants national accounting and leadership conference every year since 2017. It gives them a chance to interview and explore job opportunities while also providing me with an opportunity to nominate students who attend for scholarships to help cover costs for the CMA certification,”

My Morningside degree has forced me to step outside of my comfort zone. I easily could have been just another face at a big school, but instead I chose the small school that has made a big impact on my life.

— Brenick Birks-Hoppe, junior public accounting student

shared Rosenbaum. “Our goal with providing an array of experiences, activities, and volunteer opportunities is always to open as many doors as possible for our students to grow and make connections.”

One staple opportunity for Morningside accounting students for around 20 years has been volunteering for the Center For Siouxland VITA program. Located in downtown Sioux City, Center For Siouxland has served the region for nearly 48 years with a mission of helping people, empowering lives, and building futures through financial and housing stability. The VITA program is one of several services offered by Center For Siouxland, offering free income tax preparation and e-filing for households making less than $60,000 per year. The program is volunteer-dependent, with many volunteers from colleges and universities in the region, including Morningside. Presently, 18 Morningside students are signed on to volunteer during the upcoming tax season.

Sophie Fill

Year: Junior

Major(s): Business Administration and Non-Profit Management

Hometown: Tübingen, Germany

Campus Activities: Vice president of Morningside Student Government, resident assistant in Dimmitt Hall, intern with Sodexo at Morningside, member of Gender Undone and the International Student Association Plans after Morningside: Earn a master’s degree in business somewhere in Europe, then pursue a management position with a business that allows her enough free time to volunteer and serve the community

Students who choose to volunteer for VITA have the option to earn college credit for their work, and Center For Siouxland provides them with the necessary training to assist Siouxlanders. Those who volunteer with VITA often have varying degrees of experience with taxes when they start, but Center For Siouxland Executive Director Jonette Spurlock notes that it doesn’t take long for even novice students to learn the ropes.

Brenick Birks-Hoppe

Year: Junior

Major(s): Public Accounting

Hometown: Le Mars, Iowa

Campus Activities: President of the Accounting Club, member of Business Honors, wrestler for Mustang Wrestling

Plans After Morningside: Sit for the CPA exam and go into public accounting; hopes to one day own his own business and be settled down with a family

“I enjoy watching the students grow personally and professionally. I see the fear in their eyes when they first get started. By the end of the season, though, they are helping solve problems and answering questions for others. Their confidence grows tremendously.”

Rosenbaum concurs that the program offers students an opportunity to build their professional confidence, and she also sees the deep impact it has on them from the standpoint of civic responsibility, sharing, “Students who volunteer with VITA really see the socioeconomic differences in our own community. In some cases, VITA is their first time interacting with individuals who are facing poverty or homelessness. This experience really broadens their viewpoint on life and makes them more empathetic to individuals facing serious crises.”

The experience is often so meaningful to students that many choose to return to volunteer year after year, even if they are no longer receiving credit. Morningside accounting students Brenick Birks-Hoppe and Sophie Fill are among a group of returning volunteers this year, and Spurlock acknowledges that those returners are an important indicator of the work Center For Siouxland is doing.

“Students like Brenick and Sophie who choose to return to volunteer for more than one year make my heart happy. It tells me as the executive director that we did our job. Not only are we providing a valuable service to the clients, but to our community as a whole.”

As an accounting major, Birks-Hoppe initially signed on with Center For Siouxland to gain professional experience but quickly discovered a far more meaningful perspective.

“My Morningside degree has forced me to step outside of my comfort zone. I easily could have been just another face at a big school, but instead I chose the small school that has made a big impact on my life. Volunteering at Center For Siouxland has shown me what the real world is like. People of all walks of life rely on outreach programs such as VITA. I have learned that the little things matter so much, and a little bit of my time is a huge deal to people in need.”

“One of the great aspects of doing taxes for people in your community is that you get to hear so many different stories and make more connections to a great variety of people. It gives you insight into the job you might want to do in the future while helping others out and gaining professional experience.”

For Spurlock, continuing to nurture and grow that pipeline of volunteers like Birks-Hoppe and Fill means growing the number of people Center For Siouxland is able to serve.

“Center For Siouxland’s programs and services focus on giving people the tools they need to make informed decisions about their finances on a fundamental level. VITA is only part of what we do, but it can open the door to people learning more about the resources available to them through Center For Siouxland,” she shared. “When I started with Center For Siouxland 19 years ago we were completing about 300 tax returns through VITA. Today we are over 2,000. That’s only possible because of our community volunteers and places like Morningside.”

·

·

Morningside Choir performs at prestigious ACDA National Conference

The Morningside Choir was selected to participate in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, in February, serving as a demonstration choir for the ACDA Undergraduate Conducting Institute Masterclass.

As one of only thirteen universities selected to perform as a part of the conference, the choir is conducted by four select university undergraduate conducting students. Both the choirs and student conductors were selected via recorded auditions from across the country. The Morningside Choir performed two selections by contemporary composers: Cum Sancto Spiritu by Hyo-won Woo and To See the Sky by Jocelyn Hagen.

During the event, the ensemble and the student conductors collaborated in a clinic format with four renowned American choral conductors: Felicia Barber, Associate Professor of Choral Conducting at the Yale School of Music; Joe Miller, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Elizabeth Schauer, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Arizona; and André J. Thomas, Associate Arts of the London Symphony and Professor Emeritus at Florida State University.

The Morningside Choir is the university’s premier 45 member touring choral ensemble under the direction of Dr. Ryan Person. It will celebrate its centennial year in 2024.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Telling

In February, the Morningside Humanities Department hosted its inaugural “Telling Our Stories: A Morningside University Conference and Workshop.” Students, faculty, and staff read stories they had submitted for selection to the conference, then attended a writing workshop before enjoying hearing from keynote speaker Anne Lamott, best-selling author of Bird by Bird, Shitty First Drafts, and Operating Instructions

Mustang Grill Masters

In January, the Morningside University Applied Agriculture and Food Studies Department announced the latest club on campus, the Mustang Grill Masters. The group is focused on the art of grilling and food safety, with plans to take part in and cater events around the Siouxland area.

Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Awards

Morningside alumni Jim and Sharon Walker ‘70 established the Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Awards in 2003. Criteria for selection include teaching excellence, effective advising, scholarship, and service to Morningside University. The awards are based upon the accomplishments and activities of a faculty member during the previous academic year.

Kim Christopherson began her time at Morningside in 2007 as a member of the psychology department. She moved to the Sharon Walker School of Education in 2015 to serve as a faculty member and an educational technologist, teaching within the action research course sequence in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Morningside University. She also mentors PK-12 classroom teachers from across Iowa and the United States in their own classroom research projects. As educational technologist at Morningside, Dr. Christopherson serves as a critical resource for assisting faculty with integrating technology into their teaching with best practices for all teaching modalities (face-to-face, online, blended).

Tom Paulsen began leading the Regina Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies department at Morningside in 2016. Dr. Paulsen has been recognized for teaching excellence as the Iowa Teacher of the Year, the Milken National Educator award, the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Early Achievement in Teaching Award, the American Association for Agricultural Education Outstanding Early Career Award, the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator award, and the Teaching Scholar Award. Dr. Paulsen’s research interests fall within the areas of effective teaching and learning practices in the discipline of agriculture. His research has received national recognition from the Journal of Agriculture Education and the NACTA Journal.

Shelby Prindaville arrived at Morningside in 2019. In addition to her responsibilities on campus, she is president of the Sioux City Art Center Board of Trustees. Her studio practice combines her interests in the sciences and art, which has led to a collaboration with LSU Chemistry Professor John A. Pojman in developing a new polymer clay called QuickCure Clay. Prindaville’s artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has been included in a number of public and private collections. This has resulted in her receiving a variety of grants, prizes, and international and domestic residencies. Prindaville has also been published in a wide range of journals, catalogs, and media outlets and she was invited to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine to become the first-ever artist in residence at veterinary school in the United States.

FIVE YEARS: Adam Boeve, head baseball coach; Tami Burnett, central scheduling manager/business office specialist; Jon Deaton, maintenance technician; Bob Felix, housekeeper; Juan Iniguez, custodian; Jennifer Kennelly, assistant professor of education; Trent Miller ’14, head men's basketball coach; Lawrence Muzinga, associate professor of accounting and business; Andy Nelson, director of campus ministry & community service

10 YEARS: Shannon De Clute ’02, associate professor of social sciences; Amy Derrick, textbook buyer; Bryan Farris, head swim coach; Jessica Pleuss, associate professor of social sciences; Jake Stevenson ’08, head men's wrestling coach; Heath Weber, dean of visual and performing arts

15 YEARS: Kim Christopherson, educational technologist; Allie Kirby ’07, admissions communication coordinator; Brett Lyon ’04, director of safety and security; JJ Marlow ’03, director of the Morningside Fund; Shaun Meyer ’18, senior systems administrator; Robb Rusk ’07, custodian; Beth Schlitter, institutional advancement administrative assistant; Bruce Weaver, custodian; Brenda Woodbury, payroll/ administrative coordinator

20 YEARS: Karmen Ten Napel, associate vice president for student life; Georgianna Wolf, administrative assistant of graduate nursing

25 YEARS: Jackie Barber ’95, dean of nursing education; Ron Jorgensen ’79, vice president for business & finance; Michelle Robinson, assistant director of student financial planning; Jim Stroh, professor of natural & mathematical sciences

30 YEARS: Pat Bass, humanities professor

35 YEARS: Shari Perley-Tramp ’96, information services administrative manager

Morningside is proud to recognize employees who have reached milestones in their years of service at the university.

Thomas S. Thompson Staff Excellence Awards

The Thompson Staff Awards are funded by an endowment established in memory of Thomas S. Thompson who served as president of Morningside from 1969 to 1978.

Employee of the Year

Melissa Nelson has served as the ag and food studies externship coordinator at Morningside since 2018. Named both a 2022 Thomas S. Thompson Award winner and the Employee of the Year, Nelson is noted for not only demonstrating exceptional service within the campus community, but for being a star who shines brightly in many places outside of it. She is credited with building strong relationships with community and business partners, offering critical support to students, and organizing and executing exceptional events that provide great opportunities for the ag department.

Jon Deaton, a residence hall maintenance technician since 2017, is described as an organized, detail-oriented, outstanding communicator who puts the wellbeing of Morningside students above all else. Deaton has proven himself to be an excellent problem-solver amidst supply chain issues, finding solutions even when parts and materials required are not available, outdated, or even obsolete. His nominator described him as a truly invaluable member of the facilities team who goes above and beyond to make students feel welcome and safe.

Elizabeth Bohlmann ’18 has been a counselor on the Morningside admissions team since 2019. Her nominator describes her as hardworking, organized, and extremely dedicated. Bohlmann is known for her reliability and sharp skills, making her a logical choice to mentor new counselors who join the team. Per her nominator, Bohlmann never hesitates to jump in when work needs to be accomplished, and her efforts to ensure students and families have what they need set the gold standard the admissions team has in supporting students.

Karrie Alvarez has worked at Morningside since 2015, currently serving as the academic affairs coordinator. In her role, Alvarez spends countless hours planning and preparing work related to the academic affairs division. Her nominator notes that despite the tremendous workload she takes on, Alvarez is rarely in the spotlight as she works quickly and efficiently behind the scenes. She is a confidant, a source of kindness, and someone who never complains while always offering a superior level of customer service.

Randee Small ’88 has been an employee at Morningside since 1988, most recently serving as marketing services director. Small is described as the kind of Morningsider who truly bleeds maroon, always supporting Morningside students and events as part of her job and as an alumna. Small’s nominator shared that her love for Morningside runs deep, reflected in her willingness to take on tasks outside of her job, her efficient work, and her willingness to take on new responsibilities and adapt to the needs of students.

Jenn Braunschweig was hired in 2019 and is School of Business administrative coordinator. She has quickly established herself as someone who everyone from students, to faculty, to staff, relies upon for guidance, resources, and support. She is also considered by many students to be a “parent away from home” who is always ready to offer a quick word of encouragement or to help out however she can. Braunschweig’s nominators say without her, students would not have been served nearly as well because she is “the glue that holds the School of Business together.”

Jon Deaton Elizabeth Bohlmann Karrie Alvarez

Randee Small Jenn Braunschweig

Class Notes

Catch up with your Morningside Community in these pages. Have something to share? Send us your good news, job updates, big life moments, or anything you’d like us to know. More info on page 39.

Milestones and Memories

1973

During Homecoming weekend, former Morningside and Sioux City North tennis players honored Larry "Mace" Mason for more than 50 years of service to the Sioux City tennis community. After retiring as Morningside's head coach in 2018, he continues in his fourth year as assistant coach.

1968

Kathy (Marbach) Montgomery recently retired from teaching at the University of Portland (Ore.) where she taught and supervised students in the school of education for 12 years. As a faculty advisor she contributed to advancing the women's lacrosse team from National Collegiate Atheltic Association Division II to Division I. Before she was invited to teach at the University, she taught for the Beaverton School District for 20 years.

1969

Jane (Gourley) Dugan has been a mental health counselor and grief specialist in the Fremont area for 18 years. She taught in Scottsbluff, Neb. for five years and in Fremont for another eight years.

1973

1971

Jim Gunsolley was elected to a second term to the South Sioux City City Council in November 2022. In 2020, Jim retired as an educator after a 49-year career.

Larry Crummer fully retired from 60 years of church work as organist/pianist and/or choir director in 2021. Larry and his husband, Bill, now spend a major portion of their time sailing on cruise ships throughout the world.

1972

When a Dream Dies: Agriculture, Iowa, and the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, a recent book by Iowa State University history professor Pamela RineyKehrberg, highlights the writing of Cheryl Tevis, editor emeritus, Successful Farming magazine.

Eugene Buccelli reports continuing to enjoy life with his wife of nearly 60 years, Connie, and his family. He shared that his three adult grandchildren Karen, Alex, and Nick have all achieved great personal successes and that he recently had the pleasure of spending some extra time with his great grandchildren that included the excitement of a scavenger hunt for new toys.

1973

Steve Parker retired from the crop protection industry after 46 years, having worked for several companies (survived and succumbed to mergers), in several states and Latin America. He is now relocated to Vero Beach, Fla.

1975

Scott Benjamin and his wife Diane are celebrating Little Swan Winery's 20th birthday. Just north of Superior, Iowa, Little Swan Lake Winery hosts music up to three times a week.

Dale Howard is still working fulltime as a trainer and consultant on Microsoft's project management tools. He is currently working on a project with the US Forest Service to help them implement Microsoft Project Online as their project management tool.

Ken O. Bowman qualified for his third Boston Marathon (2024).

CLASS NOTES

David Koebel retired as vice president for administrative services for Metro Community College after 35 years.

1976

Chris Frey has published Book Two of the Hank Anderson mystery series, The Mighty Shall Fall, in his pen name Raymond Parish. A sequel to Overnight Delivery, the Hank Anderson novels are set in Iowa.

Del Olivier retired after nearly 20 years as a pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in July 2019 and is now serving as the part-time bridge pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ. He is also very involved with a few

nonprofit organizations including the local chapters of the Alzheimer's Association and Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

1979

Kae (Tessman) Tritle received the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses in the fall of 2021 from Mercy Hospital, Iowa City. In July 2022, she stepped down from hospital nursing after 43 years in a variety of facilities. Kae continues work as the well-being coordinator in the area of wholistic health promotion for the the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church working primarily with clergy. She is a certified Community Faith RN. Kae and her spouse Barrie Tritle '80 are at home in Iowa City, Iowa.

Jeanie Theobald retired after 35 years as a pharmacist in Indianola, Mapleton, and Cherokee, Iowa, and is now doing all the fun things that “little old retired ladies” get to do.

1983

Keith Vollstedt started a new position as the interim chief medical officer (CMO) at MercyOne Western Iowa. In 2021, Dr. Vollstedt retired from surgical practice but decided he wants to devote his time and experience to MercyOne’s Mission. He believes he can use the CMO position to improve health care for those in Siouxland.

1984

1975

Mark Stuck was honored with Baird's 2022 Rupple Citizenship Award for his extraordinary achievements and unwavering dediction to service. The Rupple Award is Baird’s most prestigious internal honor for the associate who has most generously given back to his or her community by service and commitment.

Kary (Olsen) Austin retired after 10.5 years with Sammons Financial Group where she was a business systems analyst.

1985

Randy Gaulke's battlefield tour company, Knee Deep into History, LLC, was selected by the Connecticut Heritage Foundation to offer a seven-day tour focused on the 102nd Infantry Regiment's and Yankee Division's combat during WW1.

Mark Schnaible has been named professor of voice at the Manhattan School of Music as well as adjunct professor of Voice at the Curtis Institute of Music.

Michael Langley's new album For the Life of Me, on Blue FX Records out of Boston, Mass. was released on all major virtual platforms.

Marla (Hinders) Kerr retired in December 2021 from her position of administrative librarian (circulation services manager) at the Sioux City Public Library after a 35-year career.

1993

Chris Dixon has taken a position as senior principal analyst for competitive intelligence with the U.S. Services group of Maximus.

Chad Sorenson successfully completed two terms as the president of the HR Florida State Council, representing 16,000 HR professionals across the state. He will now serve on the HR Florida Executive Committee as the immediate past president for 2023 and 2024.

1994

After 14 years on the Scotts- Miracle Gro legal team, Dimiter Todorov has been promoted to the Fortune 1000 company’s general counsel and executive vice president.

Nicole (Newberg) Goodwin was awarded the Golden Plaque of Distinction from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union in 2022. Her team has also reached the conference tournament finals seven times, winning the conference tournament four times. Goodwin's team has played in the 1A regional finals eight times, qualifying for the state tournament on three occasions. She has been

the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Coach of the Year six times, the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year three times, and was awarded the National Federation of State High School Associations State Coach of the Year and the NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year in 2019-20. She also served on the IGHSAU Basketball Advisory Committee from 2018-2021. Goodwin was honored as Morningside Alumni Coach of the Year in 2018.

1996

Daniel Plathe started a new position as a business systems analyst, supporting the transmission/distribution & field services team for MidAmerican Energy in Urbandale, Iowa.

Jeree (Carlson) Menning PT, OCS opened her second physical therapy clinic in Hooper, Neb. in Dec. 2022 to serve the Hooper and Scribner area. Her primary clinic Fremont & Wellness is in Fremont, Neb.

Brian Poggenklass was promoted to court administrator at the City of Westminster Municipal Court.

1998

Karla (Engbard) Santi was named the 2022 SBA South Dakota Small Business Person of the Year. Santi is the chief executive officer and founder of Blend Interactive, Inc. in Sioux Falls, S.D.

1999

After 23 years as a newspaper feature writer and editor, Andrew McGinn graduated in 2022 with his MA in clinical mental health counseling from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. McGinn provides therapy through Lutheran Services in

Iowa with an office in Ames. He also works regularly with incarcerated teens in juvenile detention.

2001

Rebecca (Heuertz) Kerber received her Master of Arts in Teaching degree in May 2022. She is currently teaching at Omaha Nation Public School in Macy, Neb.

Jerico (Foutch) Vinsonhaler started a new position as the chief underwriting officer at Hourly, Inc.

Sandra (Christiansen) Torry accepted a new position as a direct support staff and home health aide at Family Care Solutions in Davenport, Iowa.

2002

Jennifer (Haage) Stodden started a new position as lab manager at June E. Nylen Cancer Center in Dec. 2021.

2003

Dr. Amanda (Van Meeteren) Haverhals achieved certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL).

2005

Taera (Stille) Mulder joined Iowa Kidney Physicians as a part-time physician assistant in Nov. 2022.

Andrew Husk moved to Omaha and started a new job as the administrative assistant in the Office of Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance at Creighton University.

2009

Derek Nolan started serving as mayor of the City of Parker, S.D. in May 2022. He also serves as chair of the Emerging Leaders group of the South Dakota Bankers Association from June 2022 - June 2023.

2007

Dr. Laura Roost has taken a position at Creighton University as a resident assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations, is the interim internship director for the department, and is affiliate faculty in the African Studies Program. Rachel Morehead, marketing and engagement manager at the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, received the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce's Young Professional of the Year award in March 2022. Additionally, Rachel was recently selected as a 2022 recipient of the Midlands Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award and will be honored at a special event in Feb. 2023.

2009

Russell and Ashley (Danner) Heine will be celebrating 18 years together in 2023. They began dating during their time at Morningside in 2005.

2011

Sasha Lee (Backhaus) Foley received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Aug. 2018. Since Feb. 2020, Foley works as a full-time graphic design/marketing assistant for Performane Food Group (PFG) / Core-Mark Eby Brown. She also works part-time in the spring semester as an adjunct professor for Des Moines Area Community College teaching an online class called Art Appreciation. Brian Gesink became principal at Bell Elementary in the Papillion La-Vista Community Schools in July 2022.

2013

Briana (Schaeuble) Halse was named the director of clinical services for the Compass Center, a non-profit that offers counseling and advocacy to individuals impacted by family, relational, and sexual trauma. In addition to this leadership role, she is a registered play therapist, pursuing her supervisor credential in this area.

Justin Tjaden started Justin D. Tjaden, Attorney at Law, LLC, a general practice firm focusing on helping people first. He was also named Forward

Ohio District Captain of Ohio’s 99th District and named chair of the Forward Ohio State Bylaws subcommittee.

2014

Trevor Strong was promoted to assistant head coach for the Southwestern College football program and also still serves as the team's defensive coordinator. The team repeated as KCAC conference champions this season, with the first championship breaking a 22-year drought for Southwestern football.

2015

Lynae (Toom) Becker recently received her realtor designation by the National Association of Realtors and became a dual licensed real estate agent in both Kansas and Missouri.

Alex (Howrey)

Gerdes graduated with a master’s degree in family nurse practitioner from Morningside University in May 2022. She is currently working as a nurse practitioner caring for patients with cancer and blood disorders throughout their treatments at June E. Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City.

2017

Allison McNeil accepted a position as senior creative designer for Target where she provides design solutions, consultations and support that align to the overall creative strategy. She accepted this position after working six years at the Walt Disney Company as a graphic design and communications specialist.

CLASS NOTES

Donna Habinck started a new position as the head of youth services at the South Sioux City Public Library. She is also planning to wed Christopher Van Horn '18

2016

Nicole Loe accepted a new position as the marketing coordinator for Central Payments where she coordinates and executes day-today marketing projects including social media, website upkeep, company podcast, and graphic design projects. She is also getting married in Sept. 2023.

2018

Abigaill (Sump) Lehmann and Grant Lehmann '19 celebrated their first year of marriage in Sept. 2022.

Hayden Godfrey is working as a tax associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He recently passed four out of four CPA exams and hopes to licensed mid-year 2023.

2019

Sarah Schwartz took a new position as a trainer at Life Skills Training Center where she serves adults with disabilities.

2020

Samantha (Johnson) Rozeboom was appointed by Governor Reynolds to the Iowa State Board of Health for a three-year term.

Vianna (Miller) Hobbs started her own business selling freeze dried candy, Red Valley Freeze Dried Treats.

Marianna (Pizzini) Mankle started a new position as content marketing specialist at Siege Media. She also recieved her Master of Arts in communications from Arizona State University in Aug. 2022.

Bailey Portwood graduated from St. Ambrose University with a Master of Organizational Leadership in May.

Rebekah Mayer accepted a new position as a licensed substance abuse counselor at Family Wellness Associates.

2022

Jeremiah Horacek accepted a teaching position at MVAO Middle School teaching 7th grade Reading and Writing.

Brandi Kaptein accepted a special education teaching position at Le Mars High School.

Emily Stiernagle accepted a band teaching position at Central Community School District teaching 3-6 general music, 5-12 band, and 7-8 general music.

Future Morningsiders

INSIDE MSIDE

A podcast focused on all things Morningside. Also available on Spotify, YouTube, and Morningside social media.

insidemside.podbean.com

2009

Kendra (Klein) Hajek and Ryan Hajek welcomed Ryker Klein Hajek on April 20, 2022. Ryker was welcomed home by her big sister, Phoenix (3 years old).

2011

Marissa (Greco) Kowal and Daniel Kowal welcomed Katarina Frances Kowal on Oct. 1, 2022.

2012

Tom Chilton and Cassie (Burnside) Chilton ‘14 welcomed Carter Matthew Chilton on Jan. 4, 2023.

2014

Trevor Strong and Rachel Strong welcomed Nolan Strong on March 9, 2021.

2015

Tyler (Arensdorf) Jones and Nick Jones welcomed Raymond Jones on March 5, 2022.

McKenzie (Hartman) King and David King ‘13 welcomed Adalynn King on Oct. 21, 2022.

Ryker Klein Hajek

Adalynn King

Carter Matthew Chilton

Katarina Frances Kowal

Jackie (Kuspa) McCabe and Clayton McCabe welcomed Marin Joe McCabe on Nov. 23, 2022.

Madison (Fisher) Glade and Jesse Glade welcomed Mya Glade on May 17, 2022.

2016

Amy (Widman) Davelaar and David Davelaar welcomed Alivia Mae Davelaar on Sept. 23, 2022.

Tasha (Lechtenberg) Hamm and Austin Hamm welcomed Lydia Joy Hamm on Nov. 29, 2022. Lydia was welcomed home by her big brother, Jalen (2.5 years old).

2017

Jasmine (Glasgo) King and Jacob King welcomed Jett Charles King on May 6, 2022.

Rachel (Chamberlain) Alitz and Mason Alitz welcomed Yasmin Raye Alitz on March 4, 2022.

2018

Erin (Oliver) Baker and Drew Baker welcomed Piper Lou Baker on June 24, 2022.

Madison (Hoff) Folkers and Nathan Folkers ‘16 welcomed James “JD” Folkers on Oct. 13, 2022.

2019

Lucas Farrington and Riley (Custer) Farrington 20’ welcomed Penelope Farrington on July 25, 2022.

2022

Blake Stratton and Sadie Robbins ‘24 welcomed Lena Lou Stratton on Aug. 26, 2022.

Raymond Jones

Marin Joe McCabe

Penelope Farrington

Piper Lou Baker

Lydia Joy Hamm

Yasmin Raye Alitz

Newlyweds

1993

Patty Considine-McClintock and Bob McClintock, Oct. 23, 2021.

2011

Sasha (Backhaus) Foley and Jacob Foley, June 25, 2022.

2013

Katie (Schiltz) Schmaltz and Lucas Schmaltz, Aug. 6, 2022.

2014

Cole Schwarz and Kylee Schwarz, Sept. 10, 2022.

2016

Spencer Eiseman and Tyler Panagiotu, April 30, 2022.

Jordan (Truckenmiller) Chapin and Cole Chapin ‘17, June 29, 2019.

2017

Rachel (Faga) Buchmann and Brett Buchmann, Sept. 10, 2022.

Patty Considine-McClintock and Bob McClintock

Katie and Lucas Schmaltz

Spencer Eiseman and Tyler Panagiotu

Sasha and Jacob Foley

Cole and Kylee Schwarz

Jordan and Cole Chapin

2018

Erin (Oliver) Baker and Drew Baker, March 27, 2021.

Marie (Sitz) Roeder and Shane Roeder ‘19, Oct. 1, 2022.

Maci (Heimsoth) Ohm and Beau Ohm ‘19, Aug. 27, 2022.

2019

Joey (Volquartsen) Martin and Jared Martin, Oct. 1, 2022.

2020

Kyle Kommes and Kassidy (Hinkel) Kommes, Aug. 13, 2022.

Dylan Ferguson and Krista (Hogstad) Ferguson, Sept. 24, 2022.

2021

Ashley (Boer) Heimensen and Zed Heimensen ‘22, July 2, 2022.

Marie and Shane Roeder

Kyle and Kassidy Kommes

Ashley and Zed Heimensen

Erin and Drew Baker

Joey and Jared Martin

Dylan and Krista Ferguson

In Loving Memory

1942

Mina Karcher Sioux City, Iowa, died Dec. 14, 2022.

1945

Vernice (Christiansen) Kingsbury Ponca, Neb., died Dec. 22, 2022.

1947

James Okey Ames, Iowa, died Aug. 11, 2022.

1948

Vesta (Feller) Pryor Malvern, Ark., died March 1, 2022.

Myrtle (Geake) Stephens Grimes, Iowa, died Nov. 13, 2022.

Darwyn “Tony” Snyder St. Louis, Mo., died Dec. 2, 2022.

Barbara (Sargisson) Nielsen Yorkville, Ill., died Jan. 9, 2023.

1949

Marvyn Schultz Papillion, Neb., died July 30, 2022.

Joan (Meyer) Snyder Saint Louis, Mo., died April 28, 2022.

1950

Thomas McKeown Douglas, Mass., died July 10, 2022.

Anne (Madison) Wallace Mason City, Iowa, died Oct. 16, 2022.

Robert Krueger Spring Grove, Ill., died Jan. 6, 2023.

Shirley (Menage) Roach Rock Rapids, Iowa, died Nov. 17, 2022.

1951

Robert G. Webster Acworth, Ga., died Oct. 30, 2022.

Richard “Dick” Wiedenfeld Fort Dodge, Iowa, died Jan. 15, 2023.

Floyd Lindgren Oneida, N.Y., died Nov. 24, 2022.

1952

Donald Strandburg Santa Clara, Calif., died July 13, 2022.

1953

Donald Hodges Mounds View, Minn., died June 8, 2022.

Rebecca (Rice) James Cherokee, Iowa, died Sept. 16, 2022.

Warren “Bud” Nelson Sioux City, Iowa, died Oct. 8, 2022.

1954

Mary (McCauley) Zellmer

Fairmont, Minn., died Nov. 30, 2018.

Dana Wall Surprise, Ariz., died May 17, 2022.

J.R. Sobalvarro Big Lake, Minn., died Dec. 30, 2022.

Joan Bleil Kingsley, Iowa, died Nov. 29, 2022.

1957

James Cornils Dexter, Mich., died July 6, 2022.

John Christiansen Dubuque, Iowa, died Nov. 15, 2022.

Ilene (Anderson) Parkhill

Stafford, Va., died May 8, 2022.

1958

Keith Roeper Dakota Dunes, S.D., died Sept. 19, 2022.

Arnold Schanke Tulsa, Okla., died May 12, 2022.

1959

Robert “Bob” A. Mortenson Parker, Colo., died Oct. 5, 2022.

James Erwin Spencer, Iowa, died Aug. 13, 2022.

1960

Beverly Jean Smith Onawa, Iowa, died Sept. 12, 2022.

James Umbarger Tulsa, Okla., died July 26, 2022.

Roger Kipf Lady Lake, Fla., died Oct. 2, 2022.

William “Wally” Delzell Sioux City, Iowa, died Dec. 31, 2022.

1961

Bruce Morrison Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, died Aug. 2, 2022.

Leland Warne Prescott Valley, Ariz., died Aug. 20, 2022.

Jerry Adams St. Louis, Mo., died Jan. 14, 2023.

Paul Appel Chicago, Ill., died Feb. 11, 2022.

1962

Maroldine (Smith) Grabe Sioux City, Iowa, died Aug. 5, 2022. Marlene (Fairley) Jorgensen

Galva, Iowa, died Dec. 10, 2022. Roger P. Reinking Kingsley, Iowa, died Dec. 30, 2022.

1963

Don Noel West Mason City, Iowa, died Dec. 1, 2022.

Robert C. Johnson Clive, Iowa, died Dec. 26, 2022.

Dwight Ames Ashland, Wis., died Nov. 9, 2022.

1964

Eugene J. Levine Sioux City, Iowa, died Sept. 24, 2022.

Thomas Collier Sioux City, Iowa, died Aug. 9, 2022.

Ron “Bob” Josten Des Moines, Iowa, died Feb. 26, 2022.

Loren Ivener Jonesboro, Ark., died Dec. 30, 2022.

1965

Sharon (Moller) Collier Sioux City, Iowa, died Feb. 19, 2022.

Richard H. Jacoby died Stow, Ohio, Dec. 20, 2019.

Ronald Bechler Monticello, Iowa, died Aug. 23, 2022.

Michael Brainerd North Sioux City, S.D., died Dec. 11, 2022.

1966

David Mellick Jackson, Neb., died Aug. 26, 2022.

Michael Doran Hanna Milwaukee, Wis., died Sept. 13, 2022.

Craig Severeide Sioux City, Iowa, died Aug. 12, 2022.

Harold White Silverthorne, Colo., died Dec. 13, 2017.

1968

Gerald Barth Sioux City, Iowa, died Nov. 26, 2022.

1969

Gregory Dahl Comstock Park, Mich., died Dec. 28, 2021. Dorothy (Henshaw) Johnson

Onawa, Iowa, died July 21, 2022. David Allan Hartle Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Dec. 9, 2022.

Larry Pohlman St. Louis, Mo., died Jan. 4, 2023.

Diane Lundquist Sioux City, Iowa, died Jan. 15, 2023.

Wallace Mundy Sugar Grove, Ill., died Nov. 8, 2022.

1970

James W. Vail Sioux City, Iowa, died Oct. 9, 2022.

Francis “Frank” Wiekoski Sioux City, Iowa, died Oct. 12, 2022.

Kathleen (Smith) Kahn Fort Collins, Colo., died Oct. 28, 2022.

1971

Daniel Dawdy Sioux City, Iowa, died July 18, 2022.

William Vust George, Iowa, died Nov. 24, 2022.

1972

Elizabeth (Diehl) Devitt Omaha, Neb., died Jan. 28, 2022.

Allan Anderson Meridian, Idaho, died Oct. 10, 2019.

Geraldine C. ‘Geri’ Bryan Sioux City, Iowa, died Dec. 11, 2022.

1975

Robert Fletcher Akron, Iowa, died Sept. 28, 2022.

Diane (Traxler) Sorensen Sioux City, Iowa, died Nov. 4, 2022.

1976

David Krumbholz Overland Park, Kan., died April 10, 2022.

Glen Michael Kampa Rochester, Minn., died Dec. 26, 2022.

1979

Iva (Peterson) Robins Hot Springs, S.D., died Oct. 15, 2022.

Dorothy (Branstad) Rice Sioux City, Iowa, died Aug. 30, 2022.

Virginia Lucille Hinders Sioux City, Iowa, died March 22, 2022.

1981

Mick Samuelson South Sioux City, Neb., died Sept. 17, 2022.

1982

David Summerlin Sioux City, Iowa, died Aug. 12, 2022.

1985

Deborah (Harris) Garnand South Sioux City, Neb., died Sept. 28, 2022.

Kim Weikert-Moner Groveland, Mass., died July 25, 2022.

1986

Carolyn (Yongschlager) Steig Plano, Texas, died Aug. 26, 2022.

1988

James Randel ‘Randy’ Leach Mound City, Kan., died Sept. 25, 2022.

Sandra (Nelson) Buster Sioux City, Iowa, died Aug. 17, 2022.

1993

Andrew Fowles Arlington, Texas, died Sept. 5, 2021.

Patricia Hursh died Spencerville, Ind., Jan., 9, 2019.

Jennifer (Washburn) Harrison Grand Forks, N.D., died Oct. 28, 2022.

1995

Frances S. Kline Naples, Fla., died Sept. 22, 2022.

1997

Marion Sindt Oakland, Iowa, died Dec. 23, 2020.

2001

Brenda (Bloemendaal) Mauch

Sioux City, Iowa, died Aug. 14, 2022. Brian Beck Tulsa, Okla., died Sept. 5, 2022.

2002

Matt Oleson Sioux City, Iowa, died Sept. 10, 2022.

2006

Daniel Nielsen Omaha, Neb., died Nov. 13, 2022.

2015

Morgan (Kelley) Blomme Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Aug. 12, 2022.

2018

Stephany Lynn (TenNapel) Becker Hinton, Iowa, died Sept. 26, 2022.

Remembering Cherished Friends

Dr. Gerald Gorton 'Doc' Gabel Homer, Neb., died Oct. 15, 2022.

Reinhold ‘Ray’ Hoffman Correctionville, Iowa, died Oct. 29, 2022.

Kari Pinto Hot Springs, Ark., died Sept. 9, 2022.

Rev. Dr. Lyle W. Lieder Rochester, Minn., died Dec. 6, 2022.

Fran Grooters Loveland, Colo., died May 18, 2022.

Betty Lieder Rochester, Minn., died Jan. 13, 2023.

Rudy Daniels Sioux City, Iowa, died Oct. 28, 2022.

Judge Charles Wolle Broomfield, Colo., died Dec. 6, 2022

Kari Pinto Fran Grooters

The Morningside ALUMNI BOARD

Serving on the alumni board is one of the many ways that our alumni can make a difference on campus and beyond. If you have an interest in serving on the alumni board or know someone that would be a great fit, please email wattersa@morningside.edu.

Don’t forget to update your information so we can stay in touch, and feel free to contact me anytime. #MsideProud

Alex Watters ’09

Alumni Engagement Director

wattersa@morningside.edu

cell: 712-330-2885

work: 712-274-5036

Josh Widman ’05

Dick Stone ’68

Laura (Scammacca) Schmitt ’89

Tom Betz ’89

Chris Delfs III ’09

Andrew Gerodias ’11

Brian Johnson ’83 Gene Knudsen ’71

Kelsey Martin ’12

Jenna Rehnstrom- Liberto ’06

Rick Samuelson ’06

UPCOMING EVENTS

Morningside Madness Alumni & Friends Happy Hour

Thursday, March 16, 4-6 p.m. Bodega 401, Sioux City

Waitt Lecture presenting Robin Roberts

Wednesday, April 19, 5:30 p.m.

Eppley Auditorium

Free and open to the public

Investiture Service for Dr. Albert Mosley

Thursday, April 20, 10 a.m. Eppley Auditorium

Presidential Inauguration Alumni & Friends Happy Hour

Thursday, April 20, 4:30-6 p.m. Bob Roe's Point After

Register at morningside.edu/inauguration

2023

Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 2 p.m.

Undergraduate & Graduate Commencement Ceremony Elwood Olsen Stadium

Snoot Jake Whip Open

August 18-19

Emerald Hills Golf Course Okoboji, Iowa

Contact Mark Paulsen at mjpaulsen7@gmail

Celebrating 20 years and $400,000 raised

Morningside University Operator - 712-274-5000 or 1-800-831-0806

SUBMIT CLASS NOTES

Send us your good news, job updates, or big life moments.

alumni@morningside.edu

712-274-5409

morningside.edu/alumni/connect

Morningside Class Notes 1501 Morningside Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106

Are you moving? Do you have an email address? Please let us know! Just send an email to alumni@morningside.edu or write to the Alumni Office, Morningside University, 1501 Morningside Ave., Sioux City, IA 51106.

The Morningsider is published twice a year under the auspices of the University Engagement office. It is distributed free of charge to alumni and friends of the university. ©2023 by Morningside University, Sioux City, Iowa. All rights reserved.

POSTMASTER

Send address changes to: The Morningsider Morningside University 1501 Morningside Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106

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The Morningside University experience cultivates a passion for lifelong learning and a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility