Morningside Connect

A first impression can have a major impact on a person’s life, especially when it comes to colleges. Is it going to be a good fit? Are the people friendly? How good of a program is it?

The first impression of Morningside College and the Nursing Department was what drove Kelsea Hoberg to signup to become a Mustang.

“I came for a visit, loved the campus and after meeting with the nursing faculty, made my decision that day to come to Morningside,” said Hoberg.

She had been working at St. Luke’s prior to coming to Morningside College. Many nurses had been coming in and being hired by St. Luke’s. A good chunk of them were graduates from Morningside College, which sparked her interest in the program.

Kelsea feels like the professors in the nursing department want to help them learn.

“They are so passionate about their profession and want to pass it on,” said Hoberg. “They want us to get the information being taught to us and teach in several different ways to get the same information across to the students.”

Besides being a busy nursing student, Hoberg is involved in the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, Photo Club, Morningside Student Nurses Association, and Sustainable Environment Association.

“Photography is not my major, but here at Morningside, it does not matter if it is. The professors are willing to help you just the same,” said Hoberg.

Hoberg is in her third year at Morningside College and is planning on graduating in 2017 due to a hiccup with transferring in at a later date.

“After graduation I plan on working in a hospital on either a Medical/Telemetry floor, in the Emergency Department, or in the Intensive Care Unit,” said Hoberg.

On January 10, the Iowa BBQ Society Board of Directors and members inducted eight people into their new BBQ Hall of Fame.

Among the eight inductees was Morningside College 1980 graduate Anne Rehnstrom.

The Iowa BBQ Society Hall of Fame is intended to honor individuals, teams, businesses, local charities, and celebrities who have distinguished themselves in recognizing barbeque as “American Cuisine.” Those people also have helped celebrate and promote barbeque as a culinary technique, sport, and art form.

The first inducted members received a State of Iowa Plaque inscribed with their name, a Hall of Fame Certificate, and a lifetime membership in the Iowa BBQ Society.

The first inducted members were also the original founding members of the society.

“I was one of the original eight that founded the Iowa BBQ Society back in 1998; until 2014 I was the society’s secretary,” said Rehnstrom.

Throughout her years at the society, she has coordinated many barbeque competitions, written press releases, maintained the membership, searched for sponsors and judges, and completed many other various tasks.

Before helping start the Iowa BBQ Society, Rehnstrom was involved with the National Pork Board. She joined them in 1986.

“I helped with a contest that the Pork Board sponsored for a few years and then became the coordinator of one of the largest contests in the Midwest,” said Rehnstrom.

For her, this award meant a lot. She has dedicated over 16 years to getting the organization started and then keeping it running.