Morningside Connect

It is appropriate at this time of the year to pause and give thanks for the many blessings that come our way.

I am in my 30^th year at Morningside College and have been a part of so many wonderful moments with students, alumni, faculty, and staff. This is such a special place for students to grow in so many different ways. Growing, however, isn’t a one-way street. Those of us fortunate enough to serve in the various capacities that we do at Morningside College grow as well. Learning and growing lasts a lifetime for all of us!

Again, thank you for your continued love and support. May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Gene Ambroson

Life as a Morningside College freshman can be an eye-opening experience. First-time college students can come to college with different expectations.

Sophomore Travis Metzger recalls what he thought college would be like his freshman year, “I really wasn’t expecting to have this experience. I thought college would be go to class, hang out with friends, sleep and repeat. I never anticipated the level of difficulty, the amount of thinking I would be doing, or all the fun I would have. It’s been a much better experience than I thought it would be.”

He came in his freshman year as a vocal music education major but after the first semester he got burnt out. He took a calculus II class last semester and ended up enjoying it.

“I wasn’t for sure at the beginning of the semester if I really wanted to be a mathematics major,” said Metzger, “but going through the classes this semester has convinced me.”

He dedicates a chunk of his time to solving the puzzling math problems but also spends time in Eppley for voice lessons, practice hours, college choir, and brass ensemble. His schedule as a sophomore is jam-packed full of opportunities and experiences.

“I enjoy getting to experience a lot of things, and I’ve revamped my schedule, so it is even more filled this year,” said Metzger. “It’s great to do so much more and be involved on campus, but it can also stink sometimes when trying to hold yourself to a high academic standard.”

Along with being involved in the music department, Metzger holds a leadership role in the ACACIA fraternity. He is currently the treasurer of it and in charge of the recruitment process.

“It has taught me swaths of leadership skills, from planning events to organizing and increasing involvement,” said Metzger. “I’ve also learned many things about managing money for small groups.”

Despite his accomplishments of making the Dean’s List, participating in two general student recitals, and being elected Brother of the Week for ACACIA, Metzger says his biggest accomplishment this year is “waking up for my alarm. That outstrips any other thing I’ve done this year, hands down.”

Metzger is majoring in mathematics with minors in music and economics. He expects to graduate in May 2018. He plans on going on to graduate school for his master’s and hopes to eventually work towards his doctorate.

Adeline Anderl ’34 celebrated with family and friends as she turned 102. She currently resides at Sunrise Retirement Community in Sioux City, Iowa, and has lived quite the life.

She was born in 1913 in White Lake, South Dakota, but when she turned two, her family moved to Sioux City. She has lived in the Morningside College neighborhood for 100 years. She graduated from East High School when she was around the age of 16 and went on to start her educational journey at Morningside College. During her time at Morningside, she was involved in the sorority ADPi. Anderl loved her English classes during her time as a student. After graduating with a degree in English, she went on to teach English, rhetoric, debate, and drama.

When she was teaching in Le Mars, Iowa, she became secretly engaged. At this time, a woman couldn’t be a teacher and married, so many couples would keep their engagement a secret for some time. They eventually eloped, and at the end of the school year, she left teaching.

Anderl was a mother to three boys, Richard, Jim, and William. She has lived a very social life. She was involved in her church, involved in PEO, played bridge very successfully, and picked up the game of golf around age 50. Jim says she had something going on at the house every week.

In her lifetime she has witnessed some important moments for Siouxland and surrounding places. Anderl’s first apartment was across the street on Morningside Avenue. In 1957, when the Grace Church burned down, they were able to see it and her three boys were able to get closer looks the next day.

Anderl was also working one summer as a secretary for Mr. Wells in an office in Sioux City. During that summer, the company held a contest in the Sioux City Journal for a company mascot. The mascot picked was the blue bunny and thus, Blue Bunny Ice Cream came to exist.

For the past nine years, Morningside College’s chapter of Omicron Delta Kapp (ODK), a national leadership honor society, has been organizing Into the Streets. This annual event provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to give back to the community by volunteering their time to help others. More than 900 students, faculty, and staff volunteered to help approximately 90 different organization this year.

The track team spent the morning helping Camp High Hopes.

The track team at Camp High Hopes gave the tables a fresh coat.

The Morningside Student Media and ACACIA teamed up to help Sioux City with environmental services.

It is hard to imagine being a senior in college when it seems like yesterday you were making the journey to Morningside college to start a new chapter in life. Years fly by fast, but the memories made will be cherished. Anna Ryan, a senior psychology major from Omaha, Neb., started her college journey in 2012.

“They (Morningside College) were interested in my well-being, not only just picking a college, but picking the right college for me,” said Ryan. “They treated me as a person rather than a number they could get.”

She became more involved on campus each year. She started off with AOPi, a girl’s sorority, her freshman year. The next year it grew and by her senior year she was involved in ODK, an upper-class honor society, marching band, and TAK, a religious studies group. She said that AOPi is very small on our campus.

“Because it is small, you really get to know everyone in it very well compared to other chapters on different campuses,” said Ryan. “It has given me a lot of leadership opportunities – a lot that I wouldn’t have had otherwise – because since it’s so small they needed leaders, so I just kind of had to step up. Now I’ve become a much different person than I was as a freshman.”

As president of AOPi this year, Ryan got to travel to Los Angeles for a convention. There she got to spend time with other chapters from around the country, network, and attend to National AOPi business.

Throughout her four years here at Morningside College, Ryan has had the opportunity to attend MAC events and other Morningside events on campus. Her favorite MAC event was the Paradise Fears concert that MAC held early this school year.

“I like Christmas at Morningside,” said Ryan. I have gone every year and I think it really helps putting everyone into the spirit. It just makes me really happy and it is always very well done.”

In her college years, Ryan has been challenged, experienced the joys of events, and sorrows of older friends graduating and starting their own new chapters in different areas. This spring she will be starting a new chapter in her life by continuing her education in graduate school.

Homecoming 2015–what a great time!

Once again, the signature event, Taste of Morningside, drew more than 2,000 people!

One of the joys of being the director of alumni relations at Morningside College is visiting with the array of alumni who make the annual trek back to campus — the classes literally span the decades from the late 1940s through 2015. (Adeline Anderl, a 1934 graduate and as spry and spunky as ever, wanted to be here but thought better of it given the windy conditions of the day. Anderl, a retired teacher living at the Sunrise Retirement Complex in Sioux City, just turned 102 years a few weeks ago!)

Of course, it’s always good to see old friends – though I must confess – given the large amount of details that must be attended to during the three-day celebration – seldom do I get enough time to say much more than hello! For that I’m most sorry.

What is more important though is the interaction that takes place among alumni returning. Some haven’t seen one another for a number of years. To encourage that kind of interaction, we try to provide the kind of space and events that encourages that coming together.

The big news during Homecoming 2015 for alumni was the newly remodeled Dimmitt Residence Hall. We call it the 90-Day Wonder or the Extreme Makeover. Construction workers started in mid-May and finished in mid- August. A top to bottom re-do! Please check out the photos. It’s simply amazing.

One of the questions asked of me at Homecoming – “Next year, how are you going to out-do this year’s Homecoming?” Mark your calendars – September 30 and October 1, 2016. Know that there will be some things done differently – some things added, some things taken away, while others will remain.  As I said, Homecoming 2015 was great! 2016 will be even better! Stay tuned!

Gene Ambroson

It’s officially fall here at Morningside!  It seems our campus literally started to change color overnight!  Fall is a great time for me to strategize on the upcoming year.  This summer, I attended a summer institute on assessment.  Assessment is not something I had given a lot of thought to before; however, in learning more about it, I learned it was really applicable to me and my work.  Assessment is really about continued improvement; and striving to up the ante each year.

I think everyone is interested in bettering themselves, but it is easy to sit back and let things be as they have been in the past. Assessment is about identifying not only what you need to work on, but thinking about the things you do well, and how you can capitalize on those strengths.

The institute helped me to see that assessment is about developing learning or process objectives, and then planning activities that are measurable so you can ensure those objectives are being met.  It is about being intentional with these activities, and not assuming that you are meeting the goals you have set just because you think you are.

Assessment is key for working professionals in all aspects of their lives.  Are you meeting the objectives you have set for yourself, not only professionally but personally?  Are you sure? This fall challenge yourself to take the extra step to ensure the steps you are taking are supporting you in your goals.

Also, reflect on your assessment of yourself as an alum.  Are you as involved as you thought you would be?  How do you want to be involved?  How can you connect to campus in a way that is meaningful for you?  If you are struggling with how to reach out and connect with students and campus, please reach out to myself (hays@morningside.edu) or Gene Ambroson (ambroson@morningside.edu). We would love to hear from you!

Stacie Hays

Tim Orwig ’80, author of the book Morningside College Centennial History and the upcoming book documenting the college’s 125-year history, has asked that Morningsiders share their stories from the last 25 years. How has campus changed? What have been some significant moments? Do you have a funny or significant story to tell?

We would like stories to be e-mailed to Marcie Ponder at ponder@morningside.edu with the subject line Nov. 6 FIWD. These stories will also be used for the on-campus event Friday is Writing Day where students and professors gather to discuss writing about a particular topic. Alumni are welcome to join us as we share stories on Nov. 6 from noon until 12:45 pm in the Hickman Dining Room in the Olsen Student Center, 3609 Peters Ave.

Jesus Cendejas ’14 started his journey at Morningside College with the intent of becoming a nurse. Along the way, however, he took a few detours and hit a few bumps in the road. Down the bumpy road of life, he found his true passion for religious studies.

Cendejas is originally from California and journeyed to the Midwest for the nursing program at Morningside College.

His freshman year led him on the adventure of self-discovery where he took on more responsibilities and became more independent. The next year multiple bumps lined his path. Homesickness set in. He also switched his major to developmental psychology. All of the bumps he had to overcome led him to his turning point in college his junior year.

“I began to get involved in the community at large, not just the college,” said Cendejas. “It helped me set roots and get to know this place better. I fell in love with the city and the people even more. Through this time, I found my calling.”

At this point, Cendejas found his passion for religious studies. This became his major. He also met people that eventually led him to his job as a youth pastor. Along with being a pastor, Cendejas also is Morningside College’s International Student Advisor.

His role at Morningside transitioned from being an active alumnus who showed up to Homecoming, Christmas at Morningside, and other events to now having an active role in students’ life on campus.

“Now it is getting to see the students going through the same things you once did,” said Cendejas, “and watching them accomplish their dreams or goals and watching them change over time. I think it is pretty cool because each experience is unique. I enjoy working with people.”