IVCC Grinnell students honored

GRINNELL – Iowa Valley Community College Grinnell celebrated the culmination of another academic year with a special awards celebration honoring 2007-2008 graduates and honorees. Robin Shaffer Lilienthal, Vice Provost of IVCC Grinnell, welcomed students, faculty and family members who gathered for the ceremony and a reception that followed at the Grinnell High School Auditorium on Sunday, May 4. The graduates will receive degrees and diplomas during the Marshalltown Community College Commencement on May 9 in Marshalltown.

(For more photos of the IVCC Grinnell Awards event click here.)

Faculty members and support staff selected students for the following awards:

Peer Mentors awards were presented by Andrea Gotta, ASSIST specialist, to Carrie Copeland and Staci Kriegel. Peer mentors help new students adjust to college life and make themselves available to answer questions or assist throughout the year.

Campus Leadership awards were presented to Jessica Anderson, Joana Delgado, Matthew Harvey, Mitzi Smith, and Tammi Van Hamme for the excellent job they did organizing student activity events, and for the dedication and commitment they demonstrated.

Diane Karr, executive assistant, honored DeAnn Hicks for serving as work study and performing a huge variety of tasks including clerical and packing and unpacking text books several times during the year.

IVCC Grinnell English instructor Laura Armstrong presented the emerging writer scholarship award to Jeanne Hammen. Jeanne is known for her storytelling abilities and is working on a book of memoirs with her father.

Kathi May, MCC Associate Professor of Nursing, led a traditional nurses pinning ceremony for graduates of the IVCC Grinnell practical nursing program. Honored were Jenny Campbell, Robin Exline, Amanda Jones, Abby Kahler, Jamie Kendall, and Amber Rhodes. Professor May praised the students for their hard work and said she would trust any one of the students to care for her.

Jim Gran, IVCC Grinnell Math and Business instructor, recognized DeAnn Hicks as the winner of the Wellborn Commitment to Excellence Scholarship established by Beryl Wellborn when he retired from the Iowa Valley Community College District Board of Directors two years ago.

Instructors Armstrong and Gran presented the 2007-2008 Outstanding Students awards to Jeri Campbell, Carmen Deppe, Jarold Diehm, Erin Goetz, Sheila Graham, Jeanne Hammen, Megan Jensen, Stella Macklin, Doug McCuen, Tiya Montano, Elizabeth Mohr, Kassie Neighbors, Robert Neiswonger, Jim Schlesseman, Jennifer Thompson Ivy VanErsvelde, Ramona Washington, and Joe Worley. These students were selected by faculty and staff for showing excellence in leadership, academics, or for overcoming challenges to attend college and succeed.

IVCC Grinnell Outstanding Students 2007-2008 pictured L-R are: Front row: Carmen Deppe, DeAnn Hicks, Ivy VanErsvelde, Jeri Campbell, Ramona Washington, Jeanne Hammen, Rachel Thompson, and Jill Goodrich. Back row: Jarod Diehm, Joe Worley, Jennifer Thompson, Tiya Montano, Stella Mackin, Jim Schlesselman. Not pictured are Erin Goetz, Sheila Graham, Megan Jensen, Eric Kapayou, Doug McCuen, Elizabeth Mohr, Kassie Neighbors, and Robert Neiswonger.

Eric Kapayou was recognized as the outstanding new industrial maintenance technology student.

Rachael Thompson was named the outstanding new student at IVCC Grinnell.

Jill Goodrich was named the Outstanding 2007-2008 Graduate by Vice Provost Lilienthal.

Top Grinnell Awards: The top IVCC Grinnell student honors went to L-R: DeAnn Hicks, Wellborn Commitment to Excellence Scholarship; Jill Goodrich, Outstanding 2007-2008 Graduate; and Rachael Thompson, Outstanding New Student.

Goodrich spoke on behalf of the graduates sharing her personal example that anything is possible with hard work and determination. She said when she set standards for herself she began to succeed, striving to “prove myself to myself.” She said the instructors were absolutely amazing and the smaller campus and small class sizes were just what she needed. Goodrich challenged the graduates, “Your hard work has paid off; remember where it all started – with your Iowa Valley Community College Grinnell family.”

Outstanding Faculty Awards, as selected by the IVCC Grinnell Student Activities Council, were presented to Darwin Kinne and Laura Armstrong.

Vice Provost Lilienthal recognized the twenty-seven 2007-2008 graduates for their accomplishments.

IVCC Grinnell Graduates are shown (L-R) Front row: Amber Rhodes, Staci Kriegel, Diane Winburn, DeAnn Hicks, Robin Exline, Jill Goodrich, and Nathan Hupp. Back row: Carrie Copeland, Joe Worley, Ivy VanErsvelde, Brian Cook, Jenny Campbell, Chay Lewis. Not pictured are: Callie Austin, Tim Brown, Brad German, Nick Griffith, Kassey Huffaker, Amanda Jones, Abby Kahler, Jamie Kendall, Nicole Larsen, Doug McCuen, Robert Neiswonger, Michelle Nevelle-Beason, Michael Stevens, Judy Van Zee.