Leading the Way Morningside's First MBA Graduates
FALL 2026
WHY I LOVE MORNINGSIDE Sitting down to write something about my time at Morningside and how it has impacted my life brings to mind some lyrics from John Prine. He wrote, "Today I walked down a street I used to wander. Yeah, shook my hand and made myself a bet. There were all these things I don't think I remember. How lucky can one man get?" It is clear to me how lucky I am to be once a Chief and now a Mustang. It has truly impacted my life in every way. I grew up close to campus. Through my school years before college, I was fortunate enough to have a group of friends who were well connected to sports teams and the fine arts. I have many memories of sitting mid-court at basketball games or going to concerts. When it was time to choose where I would further my education, it was clear Morningside was where I belonged. The guidance and support I had from friends, family, and so many caring instructors was paramount to my success. I graduated with
Ed Voloshen ’92, center, wears Morningside maroon alongside colleagues from Sioux City Fire Rescue.
a double major in Business Administration and Secondary Business Education with a Phys Ed minor. Through a Morningside connection, I began a career at Great West Casualty as a night operator, then a claims processor, and finally as a commercial insurance underwriter. I later made a career change and joined Sioux City Fire Rescue as a firefighter and EMT. Although this occupation was not exactly what I had gone to school for, it really incorporated several facets of my education. The team concept of the department and the physical side of the job reminded me of my physical education minor, and teaching never left my blood either. I spent over 12 years as a Lieutenant and Fire Service Instructor at Station 3 in Sioux City, where all Sioux City firefighters spend their first year training as they learn the job. The last four years were spent in Morningside as Captain of Station 6; the station on Morningside Ave near campus. It was an honor and joy to be back on campus from time to time, interacting with students and staff. Engine 6 was even adorned with a "Morningside Proud" logo! I retired in January of 2025 after 28 years of service in the department. You know, the word "connections" gets thrown around a lot, but it really means something to me. I have so many dear relationships in my life that stem from Morningside; I don't have the room to list them in one article. They are generations of friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. The education I received and the friendships that were made are cherished. I'm thankful I live close to campus so I can still be involved, attend events, and appreciate how beautiful campus is. It is clear Morningside is going strong! Morningside is woven into my life. How lucky can one person get?
Ed Voloshen, '92
TA BL E OF CO N T E N T S
4 MORNINGSIDE AVENUES 6 M USTANG MINUTE A Championship Built on Belief: Morningside Cheer Team's National Championship
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10 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Changing Paths, Finding Purpose: Morningside's Teacher Intern Program
14 A HISTORIC FIRST Morningside Celebrates Its Inaugural MBA Graduates
18 DIMMITT HALL’S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY 20 ANNUAL HONOR ROLL 24 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
VOL. 82/NO. 1
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EXECUTIVE EDITOR/ ART DIRECTOR Tasha Goodvin '14 MANAGING EDITOR Alisanne Struck CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Zach James Gabriel Ruiz '26 CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS Miriam Moore '25 Alexis Christenson '26 PHOTOGRAPHY Nick Buth '11 Meredith Maassen Jetske Wauran-Castro VP FOR UNIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT Stacie Hays
Visit us online at morningside.edu
25 FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS 28 CLASS NOTES 36 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 39 UPCOMING EVENTS
MORNINGSIDE AV E N U E S
Morningside Avenues Business Building Groundbreaking Morningside University hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Honeck Freymann Hall, the future home of the Rosen School of Business. The event marked a major step in the university’s ongoing investment in academic excellence and campus growth, creating a modern space designed to support students, strengthen business education, and serve the wider community. “This building gives our students the space to learn alongside local businesses and organizations, gaining real experience that prepares them for meaningful careers,” said President Chad Benson. “It is an investment in our students and in the future of Siouxland. When our students succeed, our community succeeds with them.”
LAMB Theatre Partnership Through a shared commitment to the arts, LAMB Theatre and Morningside University have announced a longterm partnership to inspire creativity, learning, and community connections. As an exciting result of this new partnership, LAMB has also committed nearly a million dollars raised through their past fundraising efforts to totally upgrade the University’s Klinger-Neal Theatre facility. Highlights of some of the upgrades will include all new patron seating, a quarter of a million dollars in state-of-the-art lighting, a massive video wall, scenic projectors, state-of-the-art sound equipment with the latest in wireless microphones, making Klinger-Neal the finest equipped theatre in the region.
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FROM CLASSROOM TO COMMUNITY: Reimagining Education Through Camp High Hopes Through a new strand of courses and a formal partnership with Camp High Hopes, a regional nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities, education students engage in experiential learning at Camp High Hopes and may also elect a full semester internship in adaptive recreation and community-based service. Strengthening this collaboration, Dr. Kelly Chaney, Dean of the Sharon Walker School of Education, was recently appointed to the Camp High Hopes board of directors. The project encourages students to explore vocation as a commitment to human dignity, ethical responsibility, and community flourishing, and the project generates new pedagogical models.
MORNINGSIDE AV E N U E S
Welcome the 2026 Incoming Class
Siouxland Start Program Launches
This fall, Morningside University is welcoming more than 500 new students—a record-setting class that reflects growth across every corner of campus. The Rosen School of Business is seeing record undergraduate and MBA enrollment, aviation students are heading to Sioux Gateway Airport for hands-on flight training, and nursing and health sciences are thriving with record incoming classes gaining real clinical experience across Siouxland. Add the largest transfer class in Morningside history, and the picture is clear: this is a university committed to expanding opportunity and delivering on it, with 99% of graduates going on to employment or continued education.
The Sioux City Career Academy and Morningside University have launched the Siouxland Start Program, giving local high school students a meaningful head start in two high-demand fields: Education and Nursing. Students enroll in hybrid college courses at Morningside, complete practicums in real Sioux City classrooms, and train in Morningside's advanced Simulation Lab, building both the skills and confidence they need to step into rewarding careers. It's a powerful partnership that doesn't just prepare students for their futures; it strengthens the entire Siouxland community.
Morningside Faculty and Departments Earn Four Summer Grant Awards Totaling $60,000 This summer, Morningside faculty and departments earned four grant awards totaling $60,000, a testament to the creativity and dedication that define our community. Shelby Prindaville was named an Iowa Artists Fellow, receiving a $10,000 grant from the Iowa Arts Council. The Communication Department secured $20,000 from the Gilchrist Foundation to modernize student learning experiences with new equipment. Dan Witten and Seth McNeill received $10,000 from the Iowa Space Grant Consortium to develop programmable agricultural sensors, while Dan Witten and Dan Wubbena earned $20,000 from CIC NetVue to build vocational development modules across campus. These awards reflect the spirit of innovation and commitment to student success that Morningside is known for.
St. Luke's College Spring Graduation In a celebration of achievement and community, Morningside University hosted the commencement ceremony for St. Luke's College, honoring 88 graduates of the Spring Class of 2026. St. Luke's College – Morningside University celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of these students, who showed dedication and academic excellence throughout their undergraduate journey. The ceremony marked a meaningful milestone for both institutions, reflecting a shared commitment to preparing students for success and welcoming them into a close-knit community that champions lifelong learning. 5
MUSTANG A CHAMPIONSHIP BUILT ON BELIEF By Zachary James
After the Morningside cheer team won a national championship in April, coach Maci (Heimsoth) Ohm ‘18 faced a good problem: getting the towering first-place trophy home from Daytona. Ohm, the trophy and the Mustangs returned home after two strong performances earned Morningside the NCA Intermediate Small Coed NAIA division championship. Before flying home from Daytona Beach, Florida, Ohm and the team unscrewed the megaphone from the top of the trophy, half in a suitcase and half as a carry-on. When the Mustangs arrived home, Ohm reassembled the trophy piece by piece, much like she had built the belief required to win it. The first step in that belief was the most important. She had to convince her team and Morningside leadership that going the NCA route, instead of NAIA, was best for the program, even early in the season. In 2025, the Mustangs competed at the NAIA level, and Ohm believed that they competed well at the Great Plains Athletic Conference competition but missed the mark for nationals. She knew something was missing, so she decided to switch to NCA. “I felt like there was a little bit less bias and prior connections that, unfortunately, under the table felt like they just didn't allow us to get to the big stage like I felt like we deserved,” Ohm said.
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"That belief in themselves started the season before, and they carried that confidence into this past season, using what they had accomplished as fuel to keep pushing forward." Without much hesitation, Ohm first approached her team about making the competition switch. Elizabeth Lloyd remembers sitting in the room and having the conversation of going from great in the NAIA to potentially being elite in the NCA against teams from all over the country from every division collegiately.
Maci had confidence in us all throughout the season, knowing that we could go down to NCA and do something great. - Elizabeth Lloyd ‘28 Glidden, IA
“It felt good to have Maci's confidence in us and have her push us to be like, 'Hey, we can do this,’” Lloyd said. “Maci had confidence in us all throughout the season, knowing that we could go down to NCA and do something great.” Lloyd then took those nerves from undeclared to taking what her team thought was something potentially life-changing. “You have to take some initiative because that's how it is in the
Elizabeth Lloyd ‘28 poses in Daytona Beach with the banner and trophy.
real world,” Lloyd said. “If you want something in life, you have to work for it. You can't just be told what to do and automatically go and be the best.” After the cheer squad accepted the challenge, Ohm’s next checkmark was to make sure Morningside leadership was OK with it. She met with Jim Sykes, vice president of athletics, to explain why the NCA was the right move and why the NCA judges more fairly than the NAIA. “I felt like I needed to try to get him on the same page that we wanted to make a move where we felt we were going to feel valued, appreciated, and seen,” Ohm said. “I'm very big on intuition, and my gut was telling me that this is what we needed to do.” After a few talks, Sykes agreed to move the Mustangs from NAIA to NCA — which gave them more time to prepare and prove the decision was ultimately the right one. “Everything came together at the same time, and it can’t get better than that,” Sykes said. “I challenged Maci when we had those conversations, and she felt confident for several reasons. She put a lot into it, and I was very confident it would get done.” Ohm asked her athletes to trust that same instinct when they arrived in Daytona for nationals. Stormy weather, however, made that unknown even more unpredictable. That changed
their schedule, and while Lloyd admitted her team was nervous, they refused to show it in their routines. Morningside turned in a score of 86.1481 to take first in the qualifying round. The division emphasizes technique, synchronization, and clean execution with a limited number of coed athletes. “We hit all of our stunts the first day and had all our tumbling go, and not necessarily every other team in our division was able to do that,” Lloyd said. “Just seeing how well we scored after the first day, it was like, 'Hey, we can do this. It's right here. We just have to keep going.' That really gave us all a boost of confidence.”
The Mustangs delivered again in the finals, posting an 87.3704. While they weren’t sure it was good enough to win, they waited on stage with two other teams — Friends University and Central Methodist University. Lloyd remembers the moment her team was announced as the national champion. “As soon as we heard Central Methodist (for second place), I think we all kind of had the 'No way. This is actually happening’ moment,” Lloyd said. “It was so surreal. I couldn't believe it.”
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Ohm, meanwhile, felt the happy tears fall down her face as she watched the Mustangs celebrate on stage. “To come home with this — just all the things I felt — I finally felt proud and like I did something right,” Ohm said. “It was easy to be very proud of my team along the way. For me, I like tangibility. I like being able to see it and hold it. Being able to hold that moment meant a lot to me.” After Ohm arrived home, she also let herself have a moment of satisfaction.
returns from holiday break, they’ll focus on learning the choreography for the national competition in April 2027. “I think this year we really need to focus on doing it for the person next to you,” Lloyd said. “If you're not stunting and you're tumbling, you're throwing this pass to help your team score higher. You just have to take every opportunity and run with it. Chances like this don't come by very often.” Last season, the Mustangs borrowed Ohm’s belief. This season, they can find it in each other.
“I think that is when it was like, ‘OK, yeah. I just did that. We just did that,’” Ohm said. “It took some time to sink in for me.” The video of their routine performance during finals gets frequently watched on Ohm’s iPhone while the trophy — all in one piece — sits proudly in her office. She admits that both have gotten attention all summer. “I'm just so proud that they did that,” Ohm said. “They did that, and I can't wait to do it again. Obviously, it's a new team going into this year, but we want to use what we accomplished as a reminder of what we are capable of. We know what it takes to be a champion, and we are going to use that as motivation to do it again." The Mustangs will have NCA camp toward the end of the Fall 2026 semester, where they’ll earn their bid to NCA. Once everyone
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We know what it takes to be a champion, and we are going to use that as motivation to do it again. - Maci (Heimsoth) Ohm ‘18 Head Cheer Coach
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By Alisanne Struck
CHANGING PATHS, FINDING PURPOSE Two Morningside graduates traded careers in business for a new purpose in education.
The Question That Wouldn’t Go Away Two women. Two very different lives. One quiet, persistent feeling that there was something more they were meant to do. Avery Hieber (‘14 & ‘22) spent five years in banking, working in ag and commercial lending, doing solid work for clients who trusted her. Jocelyn Osborne (‘17 & ‘21) felt something similar. For both women, the question was the same one thousands of mid-career professionals ask themselves every year: What if I started over and became a teacher?
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Jocelyn Osborne at her 2017 commencement ceremony.
I had loved my time at Morningside, so it seemed like a good experience to explore. - Jocelyn Osborne ‘17 & ‘21
Taking the Leap Deciding to change careers is one thing. Believing you can pull it off is another.
Jocelyn found the same flexibility, and she used it to solve one of the biggest questions every career changer faces: How do I make this work while still paying the bills?
Avery was 28, married, and had young children, and her youngest was just two months old when she began exploring her options. She already had a degree, a BA in business administration from Morningside. She didn’t know how someone with a non-teaching degree could become a teacher. So she started researching. At the time, only two programs in Iowa offered the pathway she needed. One of them was at Morningside, her own alma mater.
Her answer was to earn while she learned. She took a parttime role with the Iowa Reading Corps through AmeriCorps, working on reading interventions with students in a local elementary school. It fit neatly around her coursework, and it gave her something even more valuable than a paycheck. Being inside a school every day helped her build relationships with area teachers, log her practicum and observation hours, and understand how a school actually runs from the inside.
“As an adult learner, I was really scared,” she admits. “I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m no longer this young 22-year-old. What is a 28-year-old going to be doing on a college campus?’”
“It was super easy to both work and be a part of the program,” Jocelyn says. The two halves of her life fed each other, each one making the other stronger.
For Jocelyn, the leap came around 2020, when she moved back home and finally faced the question she’d been carrying for years. Browsing graduate options online, she came across the Morningside Teacher Intern Program. The timing felt right, and so did the place. “I had loved my time at Morningside, so it seemed like a good experience to explore,” she says. “The program was perfect,” she says. “It’s perfect for working adults. That’s the whole purpose of it.” For Avery, the updated education facilities left a mark, too. As a former business major, she had spent her undergraduate years on the other side of campus. The education building felt like a different world. “They were so modern,” she says. “I just loved the facilities.” 11
Participants in the Teacher Intern program attend a three-day Summer Institute, where immersive, hands-on preparation equips them with the foundational skills and confidence to step into the classroom.
Surviving the First Year Every teacher will tell you the first year is the hardest. For Avery and Jocelyn, that year came with extra weight. Avery graduated from the program in 2021 and stepped into the classroom amid pandemic protocols: masks, one virtual day a week, and a shift to block scheduling. “I was thrown into it. I had a really crazy first year,” she says. “I couldn’t tell you how many times I called my favorite professor, saying, ‘I don’t know if this is for me.’”
Jocelyn spent her first two years teaching sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade language arts at a Sioux City middle school. The early days tested her the same way they test everyone, but her mentor’s honesty made the reality feel less like a surprise and more like something she was ready for. Today, Avery teaches an impressive range of subjects to
“By October, I had the schedule and our routine down,” Avery says. “And then I just fell in love with teaching. I honestly don’t think I can see myself doing anything else.”
And then I just fell in love with teaching. I honestly don’t think I can see myself doing anything else. - Avery Hieber ‘14 & ‘22 Avery Hieber in her classroom. 12 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Jocelyn Osborne in 2017 outside of Charles City Hall.
I could not recommend the teacher intern program more highly. - Jocelyn Osborne ‘17 & ‘21 middle and high school students at Whiting Community School District: marketing, social media marketing, computer science, personal finance, workplace readiness, business law, and accounting. She even leads a middle school exploratory course. It’s exactly the meaningful, hands-on work she’d been craving during those long days at the bank. And she’s found it while getting more time with her own children. She got her foot in that door the smart way. While still in the program, she picked up substitute teaching, mostly at Whiting. “Subbing helped me ease into teaching,” she says. “I was able to network with tons of people. That helped me get my foot in the door.” By her second year in the program, that networking turned into a full-time offer. “It’s been such a blessing,” she says. Jocelyn’s payoff came full circle in the most literal way. She returned to Hinton, the school where she’d completed her major classroom hours as an intern, and stepped into the very classroom where she had once practiced her craft. Today she teaches high school English there, coaches the speech team, and directs the school musicals.
What Two Journeys Teach Us Both were afraid of starting over. Both found a program that bent to fit their lives instead of asking them to put everything else on hold. Both leaned on mentors who answered the late-night questions and steadied them through the hard days. And both came out the other side doing work that fills their days with purpose. Their advice to anyone standing where they once stood is refreshingly down-to-earth. Get into a classroom any way you can. “Nothing is going to show you how a school system works more than actually being a part of that system,” Jocelyn says. If it still feels uncertain, she suggests substitute teaching or anything that lets you feel what the work is really like. As for the path she took, her recommendation could not be clearer: “I could not recommend the teacher intern program more highly.” Avery’s takeaway is just as simple, and just as hard-won. It’s never too late to change course. The path exists. The support is real. And the reward, in her words, is a genuine blessing. Two women. Two different paths. One decision to answer a question that wouldn’t go away, and one program that helped turn that question into a calling.
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A HISTORIC FIRST Morningside Celebrates Its Inaugural MBA Graduates By Alisanne Struck
Will Canaday "23 & '26 and Jessica Matney '26 at the 2026 commencement ceremony.
Morningside University made history this year. For the first time, three students crossed the stage as graduates of the school’s MBA program, marking a proud new chapter for the institution and everyone who calls it home. 14 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Launching a graduate business program is no small feat. It takes vision, dedication, and a community willing to invest in something new. The first class embodied that spirit. These graduates trusted Morningside to guide them through a rigorous journey, and they leave prepared to lead with confidence. At Morningside, learning has always reached beyond the
classroom. The MBA program continues that tradition, blending practical experience with meaningful mentorship in a close-knit community. Students didn’t just study business theory — they applied it. Concepts moved from the syllabus into the workplace, often within days. Faculty served as mentors, not just instructors, investing in each student’s success and challenging them to think bigger, broader, and bolder. That personal attention is a Morningside hallmark, and it made all the difference for a first class navigating new terrain.
The MBA program was amazing. The coursework pushed me to be innovative, and the faculty acted as great mentors who invested in my success. - Lily Vollertsen ‘25 ‘26 MBA Dr. Jeff Zink, Dr. Darrel Sandall, Jessica Matney '26 & Dr. Paula Kueter 15
Jessica Matney '26
Morningside didn’t just help me grow professionally; it also helped me grow personally. - Jessica Matney ‘26 MBA
“The MBA program was amazing. The coursework pushed me to be innovative, and the faculty acted as great mentors who invested in my success. It was especially meaningful to be part of the first graduating cohort. To anyone considering the program, I would say to take the opportunity. I’m proud to be a graduate of this program, and even prouder to have been there at the beginning.” Lily Vollertsen ‘25 & ‘26 MBA
This is the Morningside model at work: small enough to know your professors by name, ambitious enough to prepare you for big-time opportunities. And this first class proves the model works.
“Earning my MBA from Morningside University has been such a truly personal and transformative experience for me. As a Finance Manager at Morningside Lutheran Church, I’ve been able to apply what I learned at Morningside University in real and meaningful ways. It helped to strengthen my analytical thinking and helped me to approach financial decisions with greater confidence and clarity. The program pushed
Here’s what the first class of graduates had to say about the program: “Completing the MBA program through Morningside has strengthened my business knowledge and reinforced my commitment to delivering value to my customers. I was able to apply the concepts from my studies immediately, allowing me to grow professionally. These insights have given me new perspectives that I bring to organizations I work with every day, helping solve unique and complex problems.” Wade Canaday ‘23 & ‘26 MBA Lily Vollertsen '25 & '26 16 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Wade Canaday ’23 & ’26 shakes President Chad Benson’s hand as he crosses the stage at the 2026 commencement ceremony.
me to think beyond the numbers and understand how financial strategies connect to the bigger picture of an organization’s success. What stands out most is how much I’ve grown as a leader. I feel more confident sharing insights, collaborating with others, and stepping into conversations that influence key decisions. Morningside didn’t just help me grow professionally; it also helped me grow personally, and that growth shows up in the way I lead and contribute every day at MLC!” Jessica Matney ‘26 MBA
Their names will always be tied to this beginning, a reminder that every lasting tradition starts with a first step and the people brave enough to take it. Future students will study in a program strengthened by the trail that Wade, Lily, and Jessica blazed. Each new cohort will build on the momentum started this year, carrying forward the same commitment to community, curiosity, and leadership. As the program looks ahead, the future is bright. More students will follow the path these three graduates helped create, and Morningside will be there, as always, ready to welcome them home. To the Class of ‘26 MBA: congratulations, and thank you for going first. You’ve written the opening chapter of a story Morningside will be proud to tell for generations.
I was able to apply the concepts from my studies immediately, allowing me to grow professionally.
Wade Canaday ’23 & ’26
- Wade Canaday ‘23 & ‘26 MBA
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Dimmitt Hall’s Centennial Anniversary By Gabriel Ruiz ‘26
A CENTURY ON CAMPUS: Morningside’s Dimmitt Hall
early university faced bankruptcy. Her father advised her to resign and return home, but her mother urged her to view this as “stone walls to climb over.”
Standing on a hill diagonally northwest of Morningside University’s
Her resilience and determination persisted, launching her into a career spanning more than 65 years. Dimmitt would go on to serve as professor of Latin from 1897 to 1916 before becoming Dean of building on campus. It first opened its doors in 1927 and the Women, a position she held for 26 years. Outside her administrative structure has seen several transitions since then. It has stood as duties, she published work on classical languages, sponsored a women’s dormitory, a World War II military barracks, and today, student organizations, led European study tours, and taught Latin the university’s largest co-ed residence facility. classes from her home at 3527 Peters Avenue, now known as the Dimmitt Alumni House, well after To best understand Dimmitt Hall When it officially opened on February 12, 1927, The her official retirement as Dean and what it represents, one must Sioux City Sunday Journal hailed the hall Emerita in 1940. Her dedication understand the woman behind as an “Ideal Home for College Girls” and to Morningside eventually its name. In 1893, Lillian English “One of the Finest in the Country.” earned national recognition Dimmitt (1867–1965) arrived at the when she marked her 65th year University of the Northwest (later of service to the college in 1959, renamed Morningside College) to fill receiving a formal telegram of a vacant position. The daughter of congratulations from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. a Methodist minister, Dimmitt earned her Bachelor of Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University and later pursued graduate studies at Columbia University and the American School of Classical For over twenty years, Morningside leadership planned a dedicated Studies in Rome. Warned that Sioux City was a rough frontier town, residence for its female students. When it officially opened on Dimmitt was only further energized by the idea, noting that she was February 12, 1927, The Sioux City Sunday Journal hailed the hall simply “thinking of adventure.” She got her wish when she arrived as an “Ideal Home for College Girls” and “One of the Finest in the in February 1893 in the middle of an intense blizzard. Her resilience Country”. It housed 200 women and charged $350 annually for was further tested during the 1890s economic depression, when the room and board. There was a central dining room seating 350, an main campus, Lillian E. Dimmitt Residence Hall is the third-oldest
Lillian Dimmitt
An Ideal Home
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Above: An early dorm room photo of Dimmitt when it opened as a Women's residence hall in the late 1920s. Top right: Students lay out on Dimmitt Hill in 1958 Bottom right: A group of students in the Dimmitt Formal Lounge in 2009. auditorium for social functions and dramatic productions, a formal drawing room, sun parlors, and an infirmary. The kitchen even boasted automatic potato peelers and a 20-gallon electric soup bowl which were the true height of culinary appliances in their time.
Wartime Repurposing The outbreak of World War II altered daily life across campus. In February 1943, following an emotional “Farewell, Dorm dance,” the female residents vacated the building to accommodate the war effort. Morningside was selected as a site for the Army Aviation Cadet Training Program, and Dimmitt Hall became home to the 81st College Training Detachment. While civilian female students moved into local sorority houses (such as the Alpha Sigma house) and nearby private residences, military cadets filled the dormitory. This temporary military takeover served as a crucial financial lifeline for Morningside; it sustained the institution during a period when civilian enrollment dropped to a record low of 506 students.
Post-War Expansion With the passage of the G.I. Bill, post-war enrollment exploded to a record 1,477 students during the 1946–1947 academic year. In May 1948, the college officially renamed the facility Lillian E. Dimmitt Hall during an alumni ceremony honoring Dean Dimmitt’s 47 years of service. To keep pace with growing student numbers, Dimmitt Hall underwent two major expansions: a new east wing, built in 1961, added three floors of housing for 83 additional women, along with four ground-level apartments designed specifically for married couples. By 1966 a matching west wing was constructed on the
opposite side, completing the building’s appearance we know today.
Modern Era For nearly seven decades, Dimmitt Hall stood strictly as a women’s residence hall (outside of its brief military stint). However, in the 1990s, Morningside transitioned the landmark building into a co-educational residence facility. In 1996, it was officially designated as a key contributing property to the Morningside College Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2015, Dimmitt Hall underwent a massive $13.5 million full-scale renovation, made possible through major historic gifts from alumni and foundations. The project modernized mechanical systems, refreshed common living areas, and updated student rooms while preserving the building’s rich architectural heritage. Today, Dimmitt Residence Hall remains the largest living facility on campus, housing approximately 400 students as a hub of student life at Morningside University.
Students studying in the Dimmitt Formal Lounge in Fall 2026.
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Annual Honor Roll $100,000 +
$50,000-$99,999
Jim & Mary Anne Carlson Eugene Freymann Estate Douglas '64 & Mary (Sorenson) '64 Glasnapp John & Karen Gleeson Klinger Companies, Inc. David Lageschulte Trust Robert Mishne Estate Missouri River Historical Development Regina Roth Tom Rosen '70 Jim '70 & Sharon '70 Walker Connie Horton Wimer '54
Larry Arnold '65 & Joan Arnold '67 Lucy Y. Buhler '56 Iowa College Foundation Rex Johnsrud '73 Rose Legler Morningside Trust Cory Roberts, MD, MBA '90 Muriel (Smith) Stone '64 Craig '70 & Christine Struve The Verdoorn Foundation
PRESIDENT'S SOCIETY We are grateful to the donors recognized below for their 2025–26 President’s Society membership through gifts of $1,000 or more. Beginning this year, annual President’s Society membership will recognize donors who give $1,200 or more during the fiscal year (June 1–May 31). Morningside also celebrates Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD), the next generation of philanthropists, for gifts of $120 or more.
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$25,000-$49,999 Steven Armstrong '71 Patrick '77 & Terri (Follett) '77 Bradley Carl Bylin Estate Robert Danforth '60 Great West Casualty Company Foundation Timothy '71 & Betty Jackes Linda (Hoogensen) Jennings '86 Galen '68 & Ann Johnson Jim '79 & Darlene '77 Kloeppel Dr. Esther Mackintosh '69 Charles Martin '76 Larry Mason '73 Donna Roeper Security National Bank Glenna (Erickson) Tevis '70 Carol A. Pencook Werner '69
$10,000-$24,999 American Pop Corn Company Jodi (Sohn) Bacon '91 Mike & Margie Bennett Chad '90 & Lisa Benson Lynne (Erickson) Boulden '74 & Dennis Boulden Muriel (Lambert) Briggs '48 Diane Bushyager '62 Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust Chesterman Company Chesterman Family Foundation Cy '71 & Karen (Smith) '71 Chesterman Cy Chesterman, Jr. '91 Jay Chesterman '95 CMBA Architects W. Roger '61 & Betty Curry Charles '66 & Virginia (Landman) '66 Danish Paul '84 & Karmin (Rogers) '86 DeBey Farm Credit Services of America Nathan ’08 & Katie Harris Dan '71 & Sue (Roberts) '72 Henderson Zimco Supply Company Henjes, Conner & Williams P.C. Iowa Annual Conference Carol Junck Harry '65 & Marlys Kitts Jason '96 & Shelly (Van Meeteren) '96 Kleis Dr. Gene '71 & Dr. Debra (Anderson) '73 Knudsen Robert Koshkarian '68
Gary '62 & Kathy (McComb) '63 McConnell Michael & Jan (Sellen) '72 McGrane Nancy (Mullette) Meadows '71 Bonnie (Nagel) '64 & Donald Messer Kory Mitchell '98 Ron '73 & Stephanie O'Neal Palmer Candy Company Marty Palmer Tony '69 and Latona (Peterson) '69 Pisa Thomas '72 & Patricia (Rasmussen) '75 Pohlman Tom & Paula Rice Rick Collins Toyota Ron & Robbie (Smith) '94 Rohlena Marilyn (Schirck) Setzler '66 Siouxland Community Foundation Lori & Mark '75 Stuck Tegra Corporation Doug & Cathy Palmer Jim Palmer Thompson Solutions Group Donor-advised fund of Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing Dr. Mark '69 & Linda (Stark) '69 Titus Larry & Sue Utley Marty (Macfarlane) Wikert '62
$5,000-$9,999 Michael Abbott '70 Kathy (Majorowicz) Agness '60 Chris '94 & Karen '95 (Bright) Benson Dr. Randall Bergen '70 Christopher '94 & Joy (Collins) '95 Bogenrief Cindy (Barrett) '82 & Jon Brewer Cargill John Gregory '67 & Joan Everly '68 Clark Jeremiah Curry '13 Barbara (Bossman) Daniels Carter & Colleen Dennis Diesel Specialties, Inc. Drs. Paul & Marilyn Eastman Michael '72 & Carolyn Ellwanger Janice Ernst '75 Scott '75 & Brenda (Obrecht) '74 Ernst Mick & Pam Everett Jan Rouse Finnegan '67 Cleo Franklin, Jr. '81 Gary '91 & Jeanette (Strub) '95 Frey Mark '82 & Robin (Nilson) '82 Gambaiana Jan (Deemer) George '77 & Ted George The Gilchrist Foundation Randy '72 & Becky Hansen Wayne Johnson '68 Mark Kamies '91 Scott Kerkhoff '93 Clyde '61 & Marcia (Blenkarn) '64 Krause Constance (Hicks) Lewis '73 Laura (Grote) Longacre '84 Dennis '68 & Karen '72 Lumphrey
President's Society continued Nick '03 & JJ (Benson) '03 Marlow Dixie (Kirkhart) Metcalf '58 Marjorie (McCracken) Morrell '70 Russell Movall '69 Carol (Dahl) Narak '71 Roger & Joan Nielsen Novelty Machine & Supply Co. Russ '76 & Robyn (Reckert) '76 Olson Paul '67 & Carol Payne Peoples Bank Gregory Roeper Susan Roeper Reid Rosen '13 Emil O. Schultz Estate Jill Seinola '74 Siouxland Economic Development Corporation Lynn (Litterick) Splittorff '70 Dave '65 & Cathy Stead Jay '85 & Rhonda (Evilsizer) '88 Stidham Mia Sudo Cliff '70 & Jean (Vandenburgh) '70 Tufty Keith Vollstedt, M.D. '83 & Jaclyn Vollstedt Walden Charitable Foundation Richard & Karleen Waller Curt '76 & Linda White Yockey Foundation
$2,500-$4,999 Brent & Renee Beaulieu Bob '63 & Margaret '63 Bell Dr. Paul Berger III '03 Rev. Neil Blair '73 William Brandt '65 Jeremy Bullock '00 Dr. J. Robert '70 & Christine Burkhart Steven '76 & Lynn (Farran) '83 Corrie CW Suter Services Dr. David '76 & Diane (Hantsbarger) '76 Davidson J. Doug & J.R. Davis Dr. William Deeds & Pamla Hoadley Col. Dwight Dinkla '74 Eide Bailly LLP Robert Ellingson, III Emerald Hills LLC William Enockson '51 Dr. Bruce Forbes '70 Jason '03 & Cheri (Jorgensen) '03 Gehling Dr. Tyrone Greive '65 & Janet Rayburn Greive Mary Gay Gunsch Mary Lou Haindfield '60 Miriam Hanke Janis '99 & Daryl Harrison Steven '82 and Judie Hayward Shirley Hewlett Ken '66 & Patsy Hoogensen Jebro Inc. Gary '68 & Judy (Murphey) '70 Jones John Kelzenberg ‘86
King, Reinsch, Prosser & Co. Knife River Midwest, LLC Robert G. Knowler Jerry & Anne (Packard) '76 Kotlik Lance '70 & Linda Larson Dale Lenderts '76 Tim '88 & Mary Beth McCabe Dorothy McCormack Trust Ryan '95 & Tracy (Bogenrief) '96 Meis Marlene (Gieselman) Meyer '84 & Capt. Peter Welch Ida (Childs) Milligan '90 Michael Montague '76 Scott Morton '61 Sharon K. Nelson Verne Nelson '75 Janet (Barks) O'Brien '79 Mary Packard-Winkler, PhD Dennis '72 & Cheryl (Everson) '72 Pederson Andrew Poeckes '14 LaDonna (Rispalje) Preston '53 Dennis Reyman '92 John & Robin Reynders Steven Schmidt '73 Fred Schriever Trust Donne & Marian (Meyer) '95 Schuldt Brad '02 & Kathy (Cave) '02 Sitzmann Pamela Miller-Smith '79 Sodexo, Inc & Affiliates La Vone Sopher '79 & Randy Bradley '91 State Steel Supply Company John J. Steele '79 Dick Stone '68 Michael '88 & Megan Tramp UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Bill '86 & Rhonda (Schreur) '85 Zahren
$1,000-$2,499 Peggy (Hamann) Adams '63 Rev. Paul Akin '68 Dr. Clark Albert '77 Dr. Donald Ambroson '66 Gary '61 & Terri Anderson Renea (Springer) Anderson '94 Anonymous Dr. Gary '70 & Laurel (Nagel) '70 Armstrong Bacon Creek Design, Inc. Barry & Sandra Backhaus Lynne Baller Dr. Jackie (Brummond) Barber '95 & Scott Barber '94 Bruce Barnard '66 Kirt Bennett '88 Shari (Vaudt) '82 & Marc Benson Debbie (Lebo) Billingsley '79 Bob Roe’s Point After David '58 & Bonnie Bogue Bomgaars Supply Keith Bottorff '72
Scott & Ruth Boyer Jerald Brabec '78 Matthew '03 & Kelli (McGill) '02 Britton Daniel '78 & Sheila (Pollema) '80 Brooks Douglas Brown '67 Dixie Brueck '68 William Burke Dr. Randall & Deb Burnight Jeanne Burns '79 Carter '84 & Karen (Brubaker) '81 Burnside Michael ’69 & Linda (Johnson) ’69 Cadwell Matt '98 & Stacey Campbell Dr. Kelly Chaney Dennis Chapman '70 Maxine (Shun) Chou '70 Gregory Clark '25 James Clark '82 Mike '95 & Lynn (Vande Kamp) '95 Clark John Connor '66 Larry Corrington '77 Dr. Daniel Cox Bob '87 & Sandy (Popenhagen) '73 Craig Kevin & Terri Curry James '64 & Char (Strand) '64 Cuttell Gretchen (Bottom) Dalzell Margaret (Sellen) Dana Hobart Darbyshire '64 Lt. Gen. Ron Dardis '65 Deane Davenport '72 Gary Davis '65 Dorothy (Hoh) DeGroot '74 Willie Delfs '83 - Able Homebuilders Rosa Diaz Mary Kay (Harris) Duquette '84 Paul & Julie (Negus) '89 Eickhoff Karen Einsidler Kristen Erbes Virginia (Peverly) Erickson '77 Mark Faber '81 Beverly (Tucker) '71 Fest & Bruce Fest Scott '14 & Cameron (Oakley) '14 Finke Foulk Bros. Plumbing & Heating Gary '74 & Debby (Dobrovolny) '75 Garst Carlene (Erikson) Gehrts '58 Franklin Gilbert '62 Douglas '69 & Marcia (Small) '69 Grabinski Tom '81 & Gina (Bryan) '81 Grimsley Vara Bones Groot Troy Hames III '81 Jeanne (Gwinn) Hanna '65 Steven Hansen '77 & Glenda Den Herder '79 Nancy (Hose) Harper '72 Sally Hartley Linda (Readout) Harward '81 Brett '14 & Stacie Hays Larry '66 & Marybeth Heikes Russell '09 & Ashley (Danner) '09 Heine Timothy Held 21
David '68 & Pauline (Longfellow) '68 Hendricks Richard & Mary Hettinger Max '62 & Judy (Daniels) '64 Hill Bruce Holmgren '70 Dave Hutchinson '71 Matt Huth '95 Tim & Robin '08 Jager Marlin & Gayle Jeffers Brian Johnson '83 Donna Johnson Trust Dr. Edward Johnson '73 Jeraldine (Sloan) Johnson '65 Mary (Taylor) Johnson '65 Mike & Char Jorgensen Ron '79 & Kathy Jorgensen Bishop Deborah (Lieder) Kiesey '73 Dr. Beau Kildow '10 DeWitt '59 & Phyllis (Mackintosh) '60 Killam Cindy (Penning) Kinney '03 Ruth Kleban '72 Knoepfler Chevrolet David Knol '59 Bruce '60 & Beverly (Frazier) '63 Kolbe Marilyn (Vaupel) Kopperud '70 Mike & Lisa Krohn Linda (Lamoureux) Krueger '79 Dr. Paula Kueter Dean Langdon Lee's Roofing LLC Charles '75 & Marilyn (Horswell) '76 Leissler Lewis Electric Co. Luane Lorenzen Aaron '93 & Peggy Lukken Mark & Jes Lumsden Brett Lyon '04 Nic '19 & Madeline Madsen Burlin Matthews Tim McCabe '06 Don '72 & JoAn (Wolf) '72 McCulloch John '52 & Janice (Haupt) '51 Mechem Jeff Moran '76 Bill & Ann (Michener) '66 Mrla Dr. David Mulder '61 Taera (Stille) Mulder '05 Terry Muldowney '68 Elizabeth (Potter) Nash '76 Sandra (Edwards) Newberry '64 Mary (Clarke) Newton '78 Kirk '85 & Sonja (Andresen) '85 Nielsen Dennis Nitz Derek '09 & Tarah (Sagedahl) '09 Nolan Kris (Sargent) Noreen '80 Brady '11 & Callie (Anderson) '15 Nurse Marc '02 & Jill (Simmons) '02 Obbink Mike & Mary Origer Asa '67 & Karen (Brenner) '69 Oye David Patch '82 David & Marta (Johnson) '72 Patee John '74 & Catherine (Aunan) '76 Paul Thomas & Michelle Paulsen Michael & Linda (Hellyer) Peitz '70 Troy '98 & Stephanie (Mohr) '99 Peters 22 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Dr. John Pinto Pioneer Bank Plains Mechanical Services, Inc. Larry '72 & Nancy (Jacobs) '72 Podey Prestige Collision Centers Steven Reed '76 Douglas Rice '75 Chris Rich '90 Randal '77 & Julie (Grassman) '81 Richardson Michael '66 & Linda (Jalas) '67 Rickert Allen '73 & Donna (Tack) '72 Ricks Patrick '86 & Sandy Rogers Dr. Keith Ruffcorn '76 Dan '00 & Anne (Cady) '00 Ryan Jeannene (Christiansen) Ryan '81 Richard Salem '65 Scheels Sports Dr. Donald Schenk Laura (Scammacca) Schmitt '89 Michael & Mary Margaret Schoep Kevin '87 & Eunice (Tseng) '85 Scholten Cole Schwarz '14 Thomas Selwold Dr. Larry & Pauline (Gensler) '89 Sensenig Ronald & Christina Sheppard Wayne Shively '65 John Shulenberger '66 Ed '65 & Jane (Shrader) '70 Sibley Siouxland Federal Credit Union Bill Slocum '66 Darrell Smith '74 Dr. Jerome '75 & Cheryl (Hogeboom) '75 Smith Donna (Lageschulte) '69 & Ken '68 Speake Chris & Christy Spicer Stalcup Agricultural Service Al Sturgeon '79 J. William '09 & Kate Swanson Laura (Knepper) Switzer '80 Jim & Laurie Sykes Nick & Trace Taylor Cheryl Tevis '72 Jean Theobald '79 Don Thompson '65 Jana (Lickiss) Timmerman '95 Paul '84 & Nancy (Miller) '92 Treft David W. Treimer '80 Peggy Vagts '76 & Mark Miller Rick Vander Berg '75 Donald '55 & Eunice Van Der Weide John Vermilyea '67 Dr. Neil '62 & Lynne (Minear) '61 Wainwright Spencer '13 & Skylore (Curry) '18 Walker Dr. Craig Wansink '84 Thomas Warren '83 Dick Weikert Samantha Wenger '08 Craig '84 & Joan Werner Jim '75 & Kathy '78 Westergaard Karen Wiese '97 Scott Wilcox '81 Mike '07 & Kari (Bull) '03 Winklepleck Woodhouse Auto Randy Yockey '73
President’s Society Gold Members Garrett Anderson '23 Garrett '23 & Skyler (McDermott) ’21 Arbuckle Amy Arrick '16 Kannika Aun '25 Erin Baker '18 Brenick Birks Hoppe '24 Jacob Brand '19 Jake Brand '19 Jaden Carney '25 Aubrey Cervantes '23 Emily Colt '25 Claire Cozad '25 Alec DeVries '17 Jackson Dotzler '24 Elizabeth (Thies) Ekelund '20 Kelli Flack '21 Lukas '19 & Abby (Taylor) '19 Forsling Brayton Hagge '17 Jordan Heim '17 Colin Higgins '16 Kali Hill '21 Braxton '22 & Lauren (Rohwer) '22 Hinders Casey & Heidi (Harman) '16 Jacobsen Adam Kascht '20 Gregory Kirwan '18 Gabby (Roe) Koithan '20 Christian Leonard '24 Carlie Maasz '17 James Maher '20 Caleb Mattox '25 Thomas Moss '25 Jackson O'Brien '16 Tyler Paulson '19 Rulin '15 & Gabrielle (French) '16 Pederson Dr. Kim (Cannegieter) Perry '21 William '24 & Liz (Zobel) '24 Pinnow Linda (Gearheart) Richardson '19 Samantha (Johnson) Rozeboom '20 Eric '17 & Moriah (Bohlmann) '18 Salmonson Zachary Schleuger '16 & Sidney Hildahl-Schleuger '19 Samuel Shaver '20 Katie Shull '23 James '22 & Faith (Laskie) '23 Spicer Rachel Spier '25 Samantha Stark '20 Chandler Todd '24 Nathan & Sarah (Merrigan) '20 Turner
W.S. LEWIS SOCIETY The W.S. Lewis Society pays tribute to individuals and families who have included Morningside in their estate plans or have supported the university through an endowed scholarship gift. For more information, go to legacy.morningside.edu or contact JJ Marlow at marlow@morningside.edu. Michael '72 & Linda (McFarlane) '72 Alexander Gene Ambroson Gary '61 & Terri Anderson Anonymous (1) Larry '65 & Joan (Errett) '67 Arnold Dr. Craig Bainbridge '70 Carole Beck Bob '63 & Margaret '63 Bell Mike & Margie Bennett David Blair Jonathan '01 & Stacy Blum David '58 & Bonnie Bogue Mary Ann Bolton Lynne (Erickson) Boulden '74 & Dennis Boulden Lucy Y. Buhler '56 Dr. J. Robert '70 & Christine Burkhart Diane Bushyager '62 G. Ray Bushyager '67 Douglas Lee Camarigg Matt '98 & Stacey Campbell Charles Carlberg '69 Chris '89 & Heidi (Hobson) '93 Cassaday John Gregory '67 & Joan Everly '68 Clark Joe Clausen '65 Jon '64 & Anne Cleghorn John Connor '66 Carolyn (Wolle) Cox '47 Bob '87 & Sandy (Popenhagen) '73 Craig Dr. Larry Crummer '71 & Bill Oman Gretchen (Bottom) Dalzell Barbara Danger '67 Charles '66 & Virginia (Landman) '66 Danish Deane Davenport '72 Dr. David '76 & Diane (Hantsbarger) '76 Davidson Gary Davis ’65 Nancy (Nelson) DeMeyer '76 Rev. Msgr. R. Mark Duchaine Josh & Anne Ellwanger Michael '72 & Carolyn Ellwanger Richard C. Engle William Enockson '51 Paul K. Erbes Mick & Pam Everett Beverly (Tucker) '71 Fest & Bruce Fest Jan Rouse Finnegan '67 Dan L. Flanagan '69 Carol (Loken) Forbes '70 Jerry Foxhoven '74 Mike & Mary Freeman Mark Freerks '79 Janice (Lingebach) Galli '76 Mark '82 & Robin (Nilson) '82 Gambaiana Jan (Deemer) George '77 & Ted George David Gould '75
Dr. Tyrone Greive '65 & Janet Rayburn Greive Troy Hames III '81 James Hamilton '53 Margaret (Wood) Hancock '54 Miriam Hanke Randy '72 & Becky Hansen Carol (Seagren) Hanthorne '72 Janis '99 & Daryl Harrison Linda (Readout) Harward '81 Larry '66 & Marybeth Heikes Dan '71 & Sue (Roberts) '72 Henderson Richard & Mary Hettinger Shirley Hewlett Max '62 & Judy (Daniels) '64 Hill Dave Honeck '75 Robert Hoover '71 Jerry & Carol Israel Timothy '71 & Betty Jackes Linda (Hoogensen) Jennings '86 Keith '92 & Jodi (Johnson) '94 Jones Ron '79 & Kathy Jorgensen James & Mary (Rogers) '68 Kaplafka Richard '71 & Frances (Radtke) '71 Keith DeWitt '59 & Phyllis (Mackintosh) '60 Killam Harry '65 & Marlys Kitts Robert G. Knowler Suzanne (Andresen) Kolbo '15 Robert Koshkarian '68 John & Nancy (Cummings) '79 Lawrence Arthur Leiby '73 Sherri Levers ’81 Barbara Lewison '86 Aaron '93 & Peggy Lukken Dennis '68 & Karen '72 Lumphrey Brett Lyon '04 Dr. Esther Mackintosh '69 Nick '03 & JJ (Benson) '03 Marlow Charles Martin '76 Charles '67 & Patricia Mason Larry Mason '73 Russell McComsey '75 Gary '62 & Kathy (McComb) '63 McConnell Michael & Jan (Sellen) '72 McGrane Jennifer McNeil, MD John '52 & Janice (Haupt) '51 Mechem Bonnie '64 & Donald Messer Dixie (Kirkhart) Metcalf '58 Ervin Miller Joyce Moore Marjorie (McCracken) Morrell '70 Russell Movall '69 Carol (Dahl) Narak '71 James '80 & Susan '81 Nelson Jon D. Nelson '78
Sharon K. Nelson Steven Nelson '74 David Nielsen Donna Ocker Mark O’Connell '85 Russ '76 & Robyn (Reckert) '76 Olson Ron '73 & Stephanie O'Neal Mark Packard '73 Doug & Cathy Palmer David Patch '82 Gary '63 & Beverly Peterson Margaret (Lohr) Phelps '55 Dr. John Pinto Barbara Pitts '70 John Prast '65 LaDonna (Rispalje) Preston '53 O. Nelson Price '51 Khalid & Terrie Rasheed John & Robin Reynders Tom & Paula Rice Randal '77 & Julie (Grassman) '81 Richardson Cory A. Roberts, MD, MBA '90 Donna Roeper Leo Roepke '59 Tom Rosen '70 Marcelene Saylor Jill Seinola '74 Ed '65 & Jane (Shrader) '70 Sibley Pamela Miller-Smith '79 La Vone Sopher '79 & Randy Bradley '91 Rosalee (Jacobson) Sprout '60 Rod '74 & Ginger (Doidge) '74 Stemme Dick Stone '68 Don '61 & Diane (Huntsinger) '63 Taylor Nick & Trace Taylor Patricia (Kirkhofer) Thompson '53 Dr. Mark '69 & Linda (Stark) '69 Titus Carlton Tronvold '61 Stephen '67 & Theresa Ullman Peggy Vagts '76 & Mark Miller Jim '70 & Sharon '70 Walker James '59 & Joyce (Fry) '61 Weaver Philip Webb '81 Curt '76 & Linda White Karen Wiese '97 Korey Willnauer '74 Connie Horton Wimer '54 Mike '07 & Kari (Bull) '03 Winklepleck Gregory Winneke '74
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S T UDEN T ACH I E V E M E N T S
Students Package 21,000 Meals During National Agriculture Week 21,000 meals. 151 volunteers. One hour. During National Agriculture Week, our campus showed up in a big way. In partnership with The Outreach Program, students, staff, and faculty worked side by side to package 21,000 meals for the Siouxland community in a record-breaking hour. All meals were delivered to the Food Bank of Siouxland, Inc. and the campus food pantry. The event is held in partnership with The Outreach Program, a nonprofit organization based in Union, Iowa, that connects volunteers with opportunities to provide nutritious food and other essential resources to communities in need. The initiative is also made possible by the Siouxland District Health Department, Morningside Student Government, and the Food Bank of Siouxland.
Line Jensen is the Academic All-American of the Year (Women’s Tennis) Line Jensen added a historic honor by becoming the first selected as the College Sports Communicators Academic All-American of the Year for NAIA women’s tennis. Jensen also earned CSC Academic All-America honors for the second time, becoming the fifth Mustang women’s tennis player to repeat and extending the program’s total to 12 Academic All-America selections. The recognition followed a standout season in which Jensen received All-America honors from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and Intercollegiate Tennis Association, along with all-conference recognition from the Great Plains Athletic Conference. She also helped the Mustangs capture both the GPAC regular-season and tournament championships. The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for achievement in competition and the classroom. 24 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Jade Chauza Joins the Red Cross Collegiate Leadership Program Nursing student Jade Chauza has been selected for the American Red Cross Collegiate Leadership Program, a distinction that reflects both her compassion and her drive to make a difference well beyond the classroom. The experience began with two weeks of handson training in Washington DC, mentoring, and networking designed to sharpen leadership skills, clarify purpose, and open doors to a bright future. Jade returned to campus with a life-saving mission: organizing Red Cross blood drives for her classmates and the surrounding community. Through this national initiative, she joins a proud tradition of young leaders who champion a philanthropic cause, inspire a new generation of volunteers, and create real impact where it matters most. For a future nurse already devoted to caring for others, it's a fitting next step, one that promises to save lives on college campuses while shaping a leader our community can be proud to call our own.
FACULT Y A ND S TA FF N E WS
Morningside University Dean Named to National Fellowship Dr. Kelly Chaney, Dean of the Sharon Walker School of Education at Morningside University, has been named an Impact Academy fellow through the national non-profit organization Deans for Impact (DFI). Dr. Chaney joins a cohort of leaders chosen for their commitment to strengthening educator preparation and ensuring future teachers are prepared to meet the needs of all students. DFI aims to meet this need through its Impact Academy fellowship, which has developed a national network of nearly 200 education deans and executive-level leaders who now work within and beyond educator preparation to strengthen teaching and learning. Dr. Chaney is one of 24 leaders announced as part of the fellowship’s 11th cohort. This year’s fellows represent a wide range of contexts and communities in which future teachers are prepared, including public and private universities, community colleges, national programs, school districts, and innovative teacher-preparation pathways. Together, they share a commitment to strengthening education systems so more students are taught by well-prepared teachers.
Prindaville Named to Prestigious Iowa Arts Fellowship Morningside University is proud to announce that artist and faculty member Shelby Prindaville has been selected for a statewide Iowa arts fellowship, becoming the first active, Sioux City-based artist to receive the honor since the program began in 2014. The fellowship is designed to elevate artists who are already excelling in their fields, offering support at pivotal moments to help them grow, expand their practice, and create public programming that reaches a wider audience. Each year, the fellowship selects a cohort of just five artists from across Iowa. When applications opened, Prindaville applied with the support of Morningside's campus grants office, which encouraged and guided her submission.
Witten Receives Honorary Iowa FFA Degree at 97th State Leadership Conference Dan Witten, Associate Professor of Applied Agricultural and Food Studies at Morningside University, was awarded the Honorary Iowa FFA Degree by the Iowa FFA Association during the 97th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Ames. This prestigious recognition is the highest honor the Iowa FFA Association bestows upon non-members, celebrating individuals who have provided exceptional service to agricultural education and the FFA mission. For over 25 years, Witten has turned his passion for agriculture into meaningful impact for students. After nearly two decades guiding award-winning FFA students at Westwood Community School District, he brought his hands-on teaching approach to Morningside University in 2018. He prepares the next generation of educators in animal science, agricultural education, and emerging fields like precision agriculture and drone technology. Witten also serves on the Iowa FFA Board of Directors, where he continues mentoring and championing agricultural youth—proof that a career built on developing others can shape an entire field. “FFA has always been about more than agriculture—it’s about leadership, service, and preparing students for meaningful careers,” said Witten. “I am honored to support this organization and grateful to be part of a community that continues to make a lasting impact on students across Iowa.” 25
FACULT Y A ND S TA FF N E WS
NEW FACULTY BIOLOGY
EXERCISE SCIENCE
Broc Kokesh Assistant Professor of Biology PhD University of Chicago
Rebecca Carson Assistant Professor of Exercise Science PhD University of Central Florida
Megan Struck '16 Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology DPT University of Iowa
Sarah Swiston Post-Doctoral Fellow PhD Washington University
CRIMINAL JUSTICE Mike Elbert Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice PhD University of Nebraska- Omaha
Mitzie Forrest Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice PhD Liberty University
BUSINESS Maureen De Armond Assistant Professor of Business JD University of Iowa
EDUCATION Kim Hawkins Visiting Assistant Professor of Education EdD Liberty University
MUSIC Paul von Kampen Director of Choral Activities DMA University of Nebraska- Lincoln
Mitchell Widmer Assistant Professor of Music DM Indiana University
NURSING Kourtney Wilcox ‘20, ‘23 Assistant Professor of Nursing Education MSN Morningside University
THEATRE Crockett Ward Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre MFA University of Southern Mississippi 26 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
FACULT Y A ND S TA FF N E WS
NEW AND RETURNING STAFF HIRES David Poole, Director of Flight Operations
ST. LUKE’S COLLEGE NEW FACULTY NURSING Maria Magana Assistant Professor of Nursing Education BSN St. Luke’s College
Nicole Olhausen Assistant Professor of Nursing Education MSN Northwest Missouri State University
Loren Schmoll, Advising and Disability Services Coordinator Melody O'Connor, Business Operations Analyst Mia Heilman, Agricultural Facilities Learning Coordinator Megan Hegna, Senior Administrative Coordinator Jaden Carney ‘25, Area Coordinator & Residential Education Coordinator
Annette McNamara, Student Activities Coordinator Logan Hudson, Software Engineer Jennifer Walker, Enrollment and Transition Coordinator Mia Wenzel ‘26, Admissions Counselor Jody Bacon, Administrative Coordinator
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE Rhonda Oedekoven Assistant Professor of Medical Laboratory Science BS South Dakota State University
Chauncey Cox, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dulce Hernandez Alvardo, Housekeeper Kalie Johnson, Administrative Coordinator, Physical Plant Drayton Virgo, Head Esports Coach Shannon Kokesh, Unit Communication Coordinator
RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
Andrew Dornieden, Writing Specialist
Megan Parker Assistant Professor of Radiologic Technology BS St. Cloud State University
Reid Harris, General Maintenance Technician Kendra Hall, Director of Experiential Learning Caleb Perrin, Physical Plant, PT Custodian
Eastman receives Wert Award Dr. Marilyn Eastman was awarded the Lucille and Charles Wert Faculty Excellence Award. The Wert Award honors faculty for their excellence in teaching, civility, and concern for students and colleagues in a variety of settings. 27
CL A SS N O T E S
Class Notes
Catch up with your Morningside Community Have something to share? Send us your good news, job
updates, big life moments, or anything you’d like us to know.
Milestones and Memories 1964
1976
Twenty years ago, Bonnie Messer and husband Donald Messer were founding members of the Center for Health and Hope. On Sept. 17, 2026 the Center will celebrate its 20th Anniversary and Bonnie and Don will be honored with the Global Impact Award.
Lonnie Hohl retired after nearly 40 years of selling real estate in the Siouxland area and looks forward to spending more time with his grandchildren and golfing.
1977 Kevin Throne retired from a position with the Council Bluffs Consolidated School District in 2022 as an accompanist for the music department at Wilson Middle School. He is currently employed part-time with the City of Omaha at the Florence Community Center and also plays for weekly Mass at Corpus Christi parish in Council Bluffs.
1979 1991 After 33 years serving the City of Kearney Jason Koetters recently transferred from the patrol division to the Investigations division where he serves as the Lieutenant overseeing the Criminal Investigations Bureau.
28 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Jan Turbes recently retired for the 2nd time! She worked 37 years at NWAEA retiring in 2021. For the past 5 years she worked at the Pier Center for Autism as the Education Director of the Pier Learning Center. Now she is facilitating social smarts groups at the Pier Center for Autism a few evenings a week.
1991 Kathryn (Mustain) Westergaard retired from West Monona Comm. School District after 28 yrs. of communicating, planning, and enriching students and faculty in the efficacy of education. She recently joined the Morningside University Education department as a Supervisor or coach to student teachers during their final teaching experience.
1982 Mary (Salem) Edwards received the John C. Parker Distinguished Service Award at the Iowa Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator’s (IASFAA) Spring Conference. It is one of IASFAA’s highest honors.
1986 Barbara Lewison retired Dec. 31, 2025 from the Iowa Department of Revenue.
1990 Tom Gerking served as the 6th-12th grade vocal music director at Westwood Community School in Sloan, Iowa for 33 years. Tom took early retirement and began his second teaching stint in Omaha, Neb.. He will be entering his fourth year at Westside Middle School wheremore than 350 seventh- and eighth-graders are involved in the
CL A SS N O T E S choral music program. Tom was awarded the 2023 ICDA Robert McCowen Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Choral Music in Iowa.
1993 Aaron Lukken is now an Adjunct Professor of International Law at the University of MissouriKansas City School of Law. Ann Cole-Nelson is serving a second term as the Ronald McDonald House Siouxland Board President.
1996 Daniel Plathe started a new job as a Business Systems Analyst at GreatAmerica Financial Services in June. Kelly (Rowse) Spencer is a grade level Team Lead and K-1 Spalding coach at Great Hearts Academies in Phoenix, Ariz.
1997 Brian Clarke is the Senior Vice President of Sales for Saputo USA and leads the sales team of one of the largest producers of cheese and dairy products in the US. Saputo USA is one of the largest producers of extended shelf-life cultured
and fluid dairy products and Mozzarella Cheese; and is the largest manufacturer of Blue Cheese, String Cheese and Goat Cheese in the US as well as the largest importer of specialty cheeses from around the world.
2004
Patrick J. Murphy has been inducted as a United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Justin G. Longenecker Fellow, the highest recognition awarded by the organization. Murphy is the Goodrich Chair of Entrepreneurship, a professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham and director of the J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Entrepreneurship Program.
Alissah (Brosamle) Albert is going into year two as Director of Student Services in charge of overseeing special education and Section 504, a dual role with supporting middle school
2000 Jason Anderson led the Dakota Valley Lady Panther Softball team to a South Dakota High School Class A State Championship in their Spring 2026 season in his first year as the Head Softball Coach. He was also named the South Dakota Class A Softball Coach of the Year for the 2026 season.
2001 Jonathan Blum was elected to serve as a member of the ACLU of Iowa Board of Directors.
Dr. Michael Eldridge received a Doctor of Education degree from the University of South Dakota in August of 2026.
behaviors.
2006 Jonathan Fisk was awarded a 2026-2027 Fulbright-University of Vaasa Scholar Award, which is supported by the Fulbright Finland Foundation.
2007 Laura Roost was elected to the editorial board of the Journal of Political Science Education in September 2025. She continues to serve on the Nebraska Ecumenical Legislative Briefing Day committee, and was selected to serve on the board for the Nebraska Fulbright Association in June 2026. At Creighton University she has been promoted to Teaching Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations.
1993 Morningsiders Catharine (Daniels) Hennessy ‘93 and Allison Smith ‘13 graduated 20 years apart, yet an unusual set of circumstances brought them together as the medical and technical leadership team at VCA Broad Street Animal Hospital in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Catharine Hennessy began her career as a chemist for North Carolina's medical examiner, but she soon returned to school and earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Since then, she has worked as a large animal veterinarian, an industry consultant, and a small animal practitioner before joining VCA Broad Street in 2023 and becoming medical director in 2025, a role that quickly led her to recognize that the team would benefit from a lead technician. Allison Smith filled that opening. She began her veterinary journey as an assistant at a VCA clinic, fell in love with the work, earned an associate degree in animal science, and became a registered veterinary technician in 2015. She took her first technician role at Arapahoe Animal Hospital, then moved to North Carolina and Carpenter Animal Hospital in Cary in 2019, transferred to Carolina Ranch Animal Hospital and Resort in 2023, and, seeing that her skills were suited to management, joined VCA Broad Street in April of 2025. Since coming together, the two have enjoyed getting to know each other and reminiscing about their days at Morningside and their lives at Dimmitt Hall, working side by side to elevate the hospital's level of care while building a place where other team members can learn, grow, and advance in veterinary medicine.
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She has also been appointed the Internship Director for the department. For 2026-2028, she is the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) Senior Faculty Associate for Academic Service-Learning. Amos Schonrock recently completed his Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree from Morningside. He was appointed to the Board of Directors for CCI Competency and Credentialing Institute overseeing national certifications for perioperative nursing leadership and practice.
2009 Kari Hansen works as the Work-Based Learning Events & Business Engagement Coordinator at DMACC. She will plan large events across the DMACC region’s campuses for middle and high school students to engage in career exploration opportunities. J. William Swanson was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Sioux City, Aug. 1, 2026.
2012 After one year at Junior Achievement North, Abbey Feenstra has been promoted to Experiential Learning Manager of Minnesota Pop Ups. Abbey brings financial literacy learning simulations around the state of Minnesota, serving students from grades 7-12. In February 2026 Ana (Miranda) Cappello and her family moved to Round Rock, Texas. Ana got a new job as a Behavioral Health Counselor as she continues to hold her license as Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor in state of Texas.
2013 Brooke Haltli is now a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones helping clients create personalized financial roadmaps to make their dreams possible.
2017 Eric Salmonson, CFO of St. Anthony Regional Hospital was recently named one of Becker's Hospital Review's "Rural Hospital and Health System CFOs to Know.”
2010 Dillon Plantage retired from Air National Guard, 192nd Fighter Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, after 20 years of service and has a new position as a Senior Intelligence Analyst covering China for the National Guard Bureau.
2022 Kayla (Harris) Kratz is entering her second year as the assistant volleyball coach at Mount Marty University.
2023 Alex Freeman is now working as Senior Management Analyst/Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Olathe, Kansas.
2007 Lindsay (Smith) Hindman published S is for Sioux City in early summer 2026. S is for Sioux City is a children's book featuring Sioux City landmarks for each letter of the alphabet, each accompanied by a photo and some fun facts. Hindman is the author of 100 Things to do in Sioux City and Siouxland (2020) and Surprising I-29 (2024), and contributed a chapter to Midwest State Park Adventures (2023).
30 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
2026 Mia Wenzel is now an admissions counselor at Morningside University, working with all sophomores and juniors. She also works with high school seniors from Wyoming, Colorado, and Southern and Western Nebraska.
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
Campus from above Photo credit: Drew Dau '15
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CL A SS N O T E S
Future Morningsiders
2010
2020
Dillon Plantage and Morgan McLeod welcomed their second son, Rhys Everett Plantage.
Alex Borchers and Kylee (Goodvin) Borchers welcomed Dorothy Jo Borchers on July 20, 2026.
2012
2022
Ana (Miranda) Cappello and Robert Cappello welcomed Raphael Leonardo Cappello in Feb. 2024.
Kassidy (Hart) Schnitker and Zane Schnitker welcomed Adalynn Grace Schnitker on July 28, 2026.
2017 Eric Salmonson & Moriah (Bohlmann) Salmonson welcomed Emmett Clark Salmonson on Aug. 20, 2026.
2023 Rachel (Steinkamp) Walters and Heath Walters welcomed Anton Walters on Jan. 7, 2026.
2018 Courtney (Seibold) Leaverton and William Leaverton welcomed Amelia (Millie) Sue on May 22, 2026.
2024 Hanna (Blackmore) Lee and Zachary Lee welcomed Russell Lee on June 5, 2026.
2019 Dorothy Jo Borchers
Molly (McInnis) Beauchene and Jake Beauchene welcomed Blakelee Kay Beauchene on April 7, 2026.
Emmett Clark Salmonson
32 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Adalynn Grace Schnitker
Amelia (Millie) Sue Leaverton
Newlyweds
CL A SS N O T E S
2021 Jordan Pierce and Ashton (Whited) Pierce April 24, 2026.
2022 McKenna (Nielsen) Conner and Oliver Conner Aug 10, 2024. Kayla (Harris) Kratz and Carter Kratz.
2024 Abigail (Simmons) Ruba and Mitchell Ruba June 13, 2026. Lauren (Hedlund) Cleeton and Brayden Cleeton '25 Aug. 8, 2026.
2025 Ellie (Woelber) Niemeyer and Eli Niemeyer.
Eli and Ellie (Woelber) Niemeyer '25
Jordan and Ashton (Whited) Pierce '21
33
CL A SS N O T E S
In Loving Memory 1946
1959
Doris (Peterson) Markland, Norfolk, Neb., died Aug. 27, 2026.
Elaine (Haugen) Delzell, Sioux City, Iowa, died on Aug. 29, 2026.
Raeburn (Voight) Newell Louscher, Spirit Lake, Iowa, died June 6, 2026.
Raymond Huibregtse, Sheldon, Iowa, died Sept. 22, 2025.
1950
Joan (Shultz) LeValley, Fort Dodge, Iowa, died May 31, 2026.
Connie (Pence) Kouris, Sioux City, Iowa, died June 4, 2026.
Audrey (Smeins) Poppen, Gilbert, Ariz., died April 16, 2026.
1951
Jo Ann (Bullard) Durlam, Ames, Iowa, died May 14, 2026.
Stanley Jenkner, Algonquin, Ill. died Aug. 15, 2022. Darrell Mitchell, Marshalltown, Iowa, died Mar. 6, 2026.
1952 Patricia (Hammand) Brock, Humboldt, Iowa, died on April 9, 2025.
1955 John Beekman, Spirit Lake, Iowa, died Mar. 17, 2026. Donald Palmer, Libertyville, Ill., died June 6, 2026.
1956 Burleigh Boldt, Sioux Falls, S.D. died May 14, 2026. Doris R. (Yungschlager) Peterson, Pearland, Texas, died May 31, 2026.
1958 Michael R. Larson, Sioux City, Iowa, died May 20, 2026. Bonnie (Haefner) Linman, Odebolt, Iowa, died Mar. 12, 2026. Eugene Wulf, San Antonio, Texas, died June 6, 2025.
34 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Gary Larson, Iowa City, Iowa, died April 2, 2026. Robert Leverenz, Gresham, Ore., died April 19, 2026.
1960 Larry Domino, Sac City, Iowa, died May 14, 2025.
1961 Thomas Macfarlane, Green Valley, Ariz., died May 24, 2026.
1962 David Evans, Valley Springs, S.D., died June 13, 2026. JoAnn Haafke, Omaha, Neb., died Jan. 31, 2026. Jayna (Casper) Saltz, Kennewick, Wash., died Mar. 12, 2026.
1963 Ronald Arndt, Hartley, Iowa, died June 10, 2026. Joyce Myrick, Storm Lake, Iowa, died Nov. 25, 2024. Sally (Stuehmer) Prince, Sioux City, Iowa, died May 15, 2026. William Keith Welcher, Sioux City, Iowa, died Jan. 30, 2026.
1964 Stephen Dee, Ft. Collins, Colo., died July 29, 2026. John Lease, Dubuque, Iowa, died Aug. 30, 2026. Nancy (Adams) MacReynolds, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died July 30, 2026. Patrick McCormick, Morrisville, N.C., died April 29, 2026.
1965 Charles Draper, Pipestone, Minn., died June 13, 2026.
1966 Marcia (Cox) Ahlrichs, Rockwell City, Iowa, died July 7, 2026. Carol (Schnell) Pohl, Brunsville, Minn., died Nov. 2, 2024.
1967 Ronald Cork, Bellevue, Neb., died June 12, 2026. Douglas Ryan, Davenport, Iowa, died Mar. 12, 2026.
1968 Karen (Reisch) Hoss, Sioux City, Iowa, died April 25, 2026. Dennis Jackson, Spirit Lake, Iowa, died July 10, 2026. Terry Muldowney, Banning, Calif., died May 1, 2026. Ruth (Yankey) Noelck, Carroll, Iowa, died July 31, 2026. Mae (Reiff) Range, Omaha, Nebr., died Aug. 23, 2026.
1969 Vina (Rasmussen) Rodecker, Sioux City, Iowa, died May 2, 2026. Don Zaleznak, Scottsdale, Ariz., died Mar. 30, 2026.
CL A SS N O T E S 1970
David Schol, Des Moines, Iowa, died Feb. 5, 2026.
Stephanie Divis, Hinton, Iowa, died June 13, 2026.
1977
Ret. Sgt. Major Monte Knepper, Spanish Fork, Utah, died Aug. 4, 2026.
Connie (Schleisman) Funk, Sioux City, Iowa, died Mar. 24, 2026.
Rhonda (Husted) Lee, Battle Creek, Iowa, died April 27, 2026.
1998
Martin Wallace, Sibley, Iowa, died Aug. 15, 2024.
Gwen (Johnson) Pedrick, Douds, Iowa, died April 6, 2026.
Don Belson, Holstein, Iowa, died July 15, 2026.
1972
1979
2013
Keith Bottorff, Leawood, Kan., died June 14, 2026.
Richard Gerking, Bronson, Iowa, died Aug. 1, 2026.
Nancy Martin, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, died July 22, 2026.
Mary Ann Schuldt, Sioux City, Iowa, died March 3, 2026.
Ella (Rauter) Olson, Spirit Lake, Iowa, died Aug. 29, 2026.
2020
Kenneth Van Meter, Van Meter, Iowa, died Nov. 15, 2025.
Gayla (Hanson) Yanney, Battle Ground, Wash., died Feb. 26, 2026.
1973
Janet (Aube) Wiegand, Green Bay, Wisc., died Mar. 23, 2026.
Thomas K. Cooper, Stone Mountain, Ga., died June 5, 2026.
Richard Blake, Sioux City, Iowa, died July 23, 2026.
1980
Thomas Cooper, Waukesha, Wis., died Nov. 7, 2025.
Scott Wilson, Sioux City, Iowa, died July 2, 2026.
Rick Hansen, South Sioux City, Neb., died May 2, 2026.
1981
Eula (Anderson) Nook, Parkersburg, Iowa, died May 5, 2023.
Rita (Kafka) Robinson, Sioux Falls, S.D. died Mar. 30, 2026.
Linda Winston, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died July 23, 2026.
Janice (Schlueter) Herman, Iowa City, Iowa, died Aug. 20, 2026.
1975
1983
David Honeck, Sioux City, Iowa, died Aug. 3, 2026.
John Grote, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, died Nov. 5, 2024.
Kurt Jenson, Belgrade, Mont., died Dec. 3, 2025.
1986
Beverly (Janssen) Strandell, Audubon, Iowa, died Nov. 21, 2025.
David Sokolowski, Kearney, Neb., died Nov. 11, 2025.
1976
Ruth Steunenberg, Sioux City, Iowa, died July 14, 2026.
Raejean (Pacholke) Furne, Lawton, Iowa, died April 2, 2026.
1987
James Keesey, Aurora, Colo., died Aug. 7, 2025. Michael Montague, Kansas City, Mo, died Mar. 4, 2026.
John Lago, Omaha, Neb.., died Sept. 6, 2025.
1992 John Boll, Great Falls, Mont., died April 24, 2026.
Rylie Muhlbauer, Lake View, Iowa, died Aug. 2, 2026.
Remembering Cherished Friends Jaden Ochsner, Hastings, Neb., died on Feb. 28, 2026. Maxine Percell, Sioux City, Iowa, died Nov. 19, 2025. Sophia "Sophie" Pionek, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Jul 6, 2026. Dr. James Rajasekar, Cary, N.C., died Feb. 17, 2026. Shuji Sudo, the husband of our longtime board member and friend, Mia Sudo, died. Mia has been a dedicated member of the Morningside University Board of Directors for many years. Mitch Watters, Okoboji, Iowa, died Feb. 21, 2026. 35
The Morningside
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jane Arnold
Jodi Bacon '91
Renee Beaulieu
Chad Benson ’90
Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai
Meredith Davis Lang ‘02
Paul D. DeBey '84
Rosa Diaz, MSW
Mark Gambiana '82
Brayton Hagge '17
James Palmer
Khalid Rasheed
Roberta (Robbie) Rohlena ’94
Thomas Rosen ’70
Ray Scott '91
Richard Waller
Carol Werner '69
Curtis White ’76
Cindy Barrett Brewer '82
Dr. Patrick McKinlay
Alumni Representative 36 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Faculty Representative
Morningside’s Board of Directors is the decision-making authority for our institution, creating policies, expanding programs, and upholding the Morningside mission. The Board’s members include Morningside alumni, respected community and business leaders from across the region and the nation, a faculty representative, staff representative, and the current student body president.
Chris Bogenrief ‘94
Rev. Ron Carlson
Cy Chesterman, Jr. ‘91
Dr. Dan Cox
Jeremy Craighead
Scott Kerkhoff ‘93
Nolan Lubarski
Rev. Dr. Michel Lundula
Dr. Esther Mackintosh ’69
Tim McCabe ‘88
John Steele '79
Craig Struve '70
Mia Sudo
Keith Vollstedt, MD '83
James Walker ’70
Karen Wiese '97 Staff Representative
Kinsey Alt '27
Student Representative
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MORNINGSIDE
& President Chad Benson’s Inauguration October 1−3, 2026 THURSDAY, OCT. 1, 2026
SATURDAY, OCT. 3, 2026
2–3:30 P.M. – INVESTITURE (Eppley Auditorium)
9 A.M.–NOON – CAMPUS TOURS (Buhler Rohlfs Lobby)
3:30–5:30 P.M. – CELEBRATION (Lobby and Eppley Auditorium)
FRIDAY, OCT. 2, 2026 1–4 P.M. – CAMPUS TOURS (Buhler Rohlfs Lobby) Tours begin on the hour, with the last tour at 3 p.m.
5:30 P.M. – THE SILVER, GOLD, & DIAMOND REUNION DINNER CELEBRATING THE CLASSES OF 2001, 1976, AND 1966 (Helen Levitt Art Gallery) Special invitation and RSVP sent separately.
7 P.M. – PREMIERE PERFORMANCE AND CODA AWARDS FT. THE MORNINGSIDE CHOIR, THE MORNINGSIDE WIND ENSEMBLE AND M AVENUE JAZZ (Eppley Auditorium) 8:30 P.M. – CODA & SILVER, GOLD, & DIAMOND REUNION DESSERT RECEPTION (Eppley Auditorium/Helen Levitt Art Gallery) For a full list of events and RSVP links visit morningside.edu/alumni
Tours begin on the hour, with the last tour at 11 a.m.
9 A.M. – M-CLUB BRUNCH, ALUMNI ATHLETICS AWARDS & CELEBRATION (Yockey Family Community Room) Contact Jim Sykes at 712-274-5371 or sykes@morningside.edu for more information.
9:30 A.M. – SILVER, GOLD, & DIAMOND REUNION RECEPTION CELEBRATING THE CLASSES OF 2001, 1976, AND 1966 (Buhler Rohlfs Lobby) Special invitation and RSVP sent separately.
1:30 P.M. – MORNINGSIDE FOOTBALL VS. DAKOTA WESLEYAN (Elwood Olsen Stadium) 3 P.M. – TASTE OF MORNINGSIDE (Mason Family Tennis Complex) 4 P.M. – ALUMNI MILESTONE TENT (Mason Family Tennis Complex) CELEBRATING THE CLASSES OF 2021, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971, 1966, 1961, AND BEYOND! Stop by for your free gift and a drink on us. RSVP Required.
UPCOMING EVENTS Homecoming Weekend
NN 4th A UAL
Oct. 2-3
Senior Visit Days Friday, Oct. 2 (Homecoming) Friday, Oct. 23 Friday, Nov. 13 Friday, Dec. 4 (CAM)
Oct. 23-24, 2026
Friday, Jan. 29, 2027
SENIOR VISIT DAYS
Mustang Family Fest
High school seniors who attend a Fall Visit Day will
Oct. 23-24
receive a FREE Owala or Nike Backpack:
Christmas at Morningside Thursday, Dec. 3 Friday, Dec. 4
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Fri., Oct. 2
•
Fri., Oct. 23
•
Fri., Nov. 13
Morningside University Operator – 712-274-5000 or 1-800-831-0806 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. ©2026 by Morningside University, Sioux City, Iowa. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER Send address changes to:
morningside.edu
The Morningsider Morningside University 1501 Morningside Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106
Morningside University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, creed, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator. phone: 712-274-5191; email: titleix@morningside.edu
The Morningside University experience cultivates a passion for lifelong learning and a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility.
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MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY 1501 Morningside Avenue Sioux City, Iowa 51106 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
morningside.edu
THEN AND NOW
Today, Dimmitt Residence Hall remains the largest living facility on campus, housing approximately 400 students as a hub of student life at Morningside University. 40 | MORNINGSIDE.EDU
Kappa their sor Zeta Chi siste rs ority ha ll in the practice dance ea steps in in the 19st wing of Dimm 30 s. itt Hall