Morningside Connect

Morningside College will hold its annual all-campus student art show Wednesday, Feb. 8, until Friday, March 3, in the Eppley Art Gallery, 3625 Garretson Ave.

Student works in the categories of studio art, photography and graphic design will be judged by local artists in the Siouxland community. Awards in these three categories will be announced during a reception held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the art gallery.

The show is free and open to the public and will contain works of drawing, painting, graphic design, photography, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, illustration and mixed media art work. The Eppley Art Gallery is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here’s this month’s trivia question. What building was used as the gymnasium before the Hindman-Hobbs Center was built, and what year was the Hindman-Hobbs Center built?

The first 10 individuals with correct answers will be given a prize.

Lorenzo Sandoval, a playwright, stage and film actor, college professor and community leader from Des Moines, Iowa,  is in residence on campus at Morningside College as part of the Dimmitt Fellows program.

He is staying in the visiting faculty apartment in Dimmitt Hall. During the spring semester, Sandoval will teach classes, deliver guest lectures, direct performances of plays he has written and engage with the campus and Siouxland community.

Sandoval will be the first Dimmitt Fellow to reside on campus and interact with the campus community for an entire semester.

On Jan. 19, Sandoval presented “Growing Up Latino in Iowa” in the UPS Auditorium in Lincoln Center. His presentation included a wide range of experiences, from being the descendent of second generation immigrants to being a student at Morningside.

Sandoval was 24 when he moved from his home in Illinois to Iowa to attend Morningside College, and he believes in the arts and education that Iowa has to offer.

“Do not overlook the wonderful institutions of learning that we have here in Iowa… You can certainly go out in the great world, but you can truly bring the great world here to Iowa. Hone your artistic skills in Iowa.”

While at Morningside, Sandoval will present two plays at the Klinger-Neal Theatre. The first, Thrice Told Tales (7 p.m. March 18 and 2 p.m. March 19), Sandoval’s award-winning play about three generations of Romeos and Juliets interacting and learning from each other. He will also present Juanito and his Tales (7 p.m. April 7 and 8), Sandoval’s original children’s play based on Mexican folk tales.

Sandoval’s fellowship is made possible by Morningside College, the Gilchrist Foundation, Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For further information, to schedule an event or meet with Sandoval, contact Dr. Marty Knepper at knepper@morningside.edu or Laura Florio at floriol@morningside.edu.

Nicholas Yaneff is a senior biology major and Spanish minor from Sioux City, Iowa. He believes that being a Morningside Mustang means having the ability to take an everyday opportunity and turn it into an extraordinary one.

Yaneff chose Morningside for its study abroad program. He spent the spring of 2016 in Berlin, Germany, and will spend this spring semester in Alicante, Spain.

Initially, Yaneff found it challenging to meet people. Morningside is a widely athletic campus and he wasn’t a part of a sports team. However, he became involved in the student alumni association, residence life and a men’s Bible study on campus, and he made a lot of friends.

These days Yaneff spends most of his time either in the café or in Dimmitt with friends.

“I have made more friends than when I started not knowing anyone. Learning a variety of lessons has been increasingly possible at Morningside and abroad.”

Yaneff believes that all of his college activities have impacted his life but found his men’s Bible study to be his most enjoyable activity.

“All have helped me become a more effective leader and communicator with a variety of people. It’s [Men’s Bible Study] one I started with some friends that involves guys from every group on campus, athletic or not. All have helped me become a more effective leader and communicator with a variety of people.”

Yaneff finds college to be different than he expected because of the relationships he has built.

“The relationships you build with people, both students and professors, can be much stronger than you expect. I did not expect this because I had grown up with the same people my whole life and yet feel closer to those I have met in college.”

Yaneff initially wanted to become a veterinarian. However, that changed sophomore year when he decided he would rather go into law enforcement or the military.

He finds ecological subjects and outdoor research to be the most enjoyable aspect of his major.

“I don’t expect to do anything with my major until later in life, when I will hopefully become a park ranger at a National Park.”

Yaneff describes his first  study abroad experience in  Berlin, Germany, as overall a great experience.

“I went in with no German language background except self-education, but came back being able to converse at a decent level with the Germans on campus. I spent nearly every weekend in a different town or country and learned many life lessons along the way. The seemingly minor cultural differences in Germany helped me mature in a variety of ways as well.”

He is currently in Alicante, Spain, for his second study abroad and describes his feelings as completely different than how he felt in Berlin.

“The language immersion here is intense, but little by little, I am improving. My host family (a retired mother and her working daughter) provides my daily needs and is instrumental in my language comprehension. Although I do not intend to travel as much during this study abroad experience, I believe the increased cultural and lingual immersion will do wonders for me, as Berlin did.”

After graduation Yaneff hopes to continue his travels. He has  applied for some naturalist and law enforcement positions.

“If all else fails, which part of me hopes it does, I will hopefully get an odd job to do for a year or two and then switch – and continue to do so to gain ‘life experiences.’ This will hopefully include moving to new and exotic places.”

He eventually might like to work at an embassy overseas.

When deciding on furthering her academic career, Judith Stanton chose Morningside because of its reputation and location.

“I heard Morningside College had an excellent curriculum, and they were highly recommended. Sioux City is my hometown, and Morningside feels like home.”

Stanton is a 2013 graduate of Morningside College with a Bachelor of Science in integrated community service. She believes that the best part about Morningside College is the people.

“The advisors, professors, and friends I’ve met at Morningside College have
developed into lasting relationships. I love the people and the positive atmosphere everyone creates. The people are so special at Morningside College. It’s nice to come back and visit with professors; they are life-long mentors. I enjoy attending the sporting and music events.”

With her integrated community service degree, Stanton worked as an assisted living manager for one year. In this role she helped families through transitional consultation services. In 2016 Stanton formed Senior Lifestyle Advantage LLC.

“Senior Lifestyle Advantage magazine reaches families and seniors who are looking to enhance their life and live a longer more fulfilled life. We circulate 10,000 copies each issue, with the premiere issue being voted ‘Most Engaging’ on issuu.com”

It is Stanton’s view that Morningside College built the foundation of experiences that encouraged her success.

“Graduating from Morningside College was an accomplishment. Also, completing the Clinical Outcomes Certificate at the graduate level helped develop my skills of leadership. I couldn’t have imagined being a publisher of Senior Lifestyle Advantage magazine; we are looking forward to giving back to our seniors, families, and communities. Raising our family, being married to my best friend, Scott Stanton, for 26 years, and fulfilling a dream of owning a company – if you can dream it, you can do it! Never quit, and find the people in your life who encourage the dream”

The art department has had an exciting fall season. Starting in the spring and working over the summer, the department moved equipment into Longfellow School and set up photo studios, which have been used for class projects, such as a practice wedding photo session. This created some space for faculty development, and the department is working to complete a product photo studio for students to document their art to help build portfolios.

Classes started with the energy and exploration of a new school year, including a new class in Game Design. Students in Art 345 Relief Printmaking will enter a national print trade. Graphic Design students are active members in the American Institute of Graphic Arts and will travel to Omaha for a Meet the Pros conference in February 2017.

Photography students and professor Dolie Thompson traveled to Seattle to attend the Society for Photographic Educators conference and found opportunities to visit the Northwest rainforests, cameras in hand.

The opening exhibit in the Eppley Art Gallery, “War of Words,“  was part of the collection of World War II posters from the State Historical Museum of Iowa. The exhibit featured 30 original posters, which are as vibrant and powerful today as ever. John Fender, graphic design professor at Drake University, presented his research on the posters on Thursday, Sept. 15. “These posters serve as an outline to the social changes happening at the time,” he said.

This was followed by the art faculty exhibit, in which the 12 artists who teach at Morningside presented their unique work. Faculty are Paul Adamson, Jim Bisenius, John Bowitz, Karen Emenhiser-Harris, Amy Foltz, John Kolbo, Terri McGaffin, Steve Paulson, Shannon Sargent, Dolie Thompson, Jodi Whitlock and Rich Yates.

“Resonant Illumination,” created by Yates and shown below, is a wood structure holding 50 glass bottles, some etched, through which light emanates. The source of the pulsing light, deep within the shape of the bottle, responds to sounds in its vicinity, inviting viewers to become participants, uniting experiences of sound and motion, light and color.

https://youtu.be/gUeqKNwwh_k

Arts administration major Margarita Ruelas is presenting her senior art show at the Whispering Creek Active Retirement Community. A reception will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, December 2.

The department expects 14 sophomore art majors to present their art for the Sophomore Reviews in January and is excited to be part of the artistic and academic growth of our students, and look forward to the year ahead.

Joshua Doering of Hubbard, Iowa, is a senior currently majoring in business administration with an emphasis in finance and marketing and minoring in agriculture business.

Doering chose Morningside College mainly because of its size.

“I loved the connections to professors and students based off the small-school feel, the good reputation as a business school and also the chance to continue my sports career through basketball and track.”

Doering has been involved in Morningside College Entrepreneurship Group since his sophomore year.

“Joining Entrepreneurship Group has given me the chance to build and refine many important skills and make connections that have positively impacted my time at Morningside.”

He views E-Group as apart of the foundation for launching his own business, Seed Slide.

Seed Slide is a device that allows farmers to safely open and and unload large seed boxes.

“Since Seed Slide’s inception, it has been a roller coaster of experiences that have shaped into one fun ride.”

Doering started designing the product for use on his family’s farm due to dangers faced by his father and grandfather.

Since then he has had many accomplishments, including being nominated to be the Silicon Prairie Student Entrepreneur of the Year and winning the CEO National Pitch Competition.

“While helping to build my résumé, my work with Seed Slide has grown into a sustainable business, truly making an impact in the agriculture industry by adding safety and convenience into farming operations.”

Jesus Cendejas is a 2013 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies. Cendejas, originally from California, says that it was a step of faith coming to Morningside.

“In all respects, spiritually and in the entirety of that journey, I trusted that this is where I was being led. I had no family or friends out here, so everything was new and didn’t know what to expect.”

Cendejas was a resident assistant, a member of Campus Ministries, Oasis and the Student Alumni Association.

“I became very involved from the moment I arrived on campus with many organizations,” he said.

He believes that religious studies is more than a spiritual or academic practice.

“It leads you to understand the world you live in. Part of what I did right after graduation and continue to do today directly and indirectly relates to my major. I served at my church, Calvary Chapel, for a while and soon after became ordained as a staff pastor in April 2014.”

At that time Cendejas was offered a job at a local organization called the Mary J. Treglia Community House; he previously volunteered there for his service learning class.

The Mary J. Treglia Community House focuses on helping the Siouxland immigrant population assimilate into the community, whether it is through English as a second language (ESL) classes, translation and interpreting services, or legal services, among many other things.

“This part is how my degree was used indirectly, since we dealt with many different cultures,” Cendejas said.

In the summer of 2015, Cendejas joined the staff of Morningside College. He is now the international student advisor, where he mentors and aids international students throughout their college careers.

“I am a full-time staff pastor at church and part-time advisor at Morningside College,” he said.

Cendejas believes that the community at Morningside is unforgettable.

“It helped shape and mold me into the person I am today,” he said. “It was a good place, it’s been almost six years since I graduated and I’m still here. That has to say a lot of how much I appreciate the college.”

Cendejas believes that keeping a connection with the college is important because it means helping with the future of the college.

“Those that cared for you during your college career were made up of not just faculty, but those who chose to stay connected, the alumni,” he said. “They all invested in you in one way or another and helped shape you into the person you are today. By staying connected, one is given many opportunities to do the same and invest in others.”

Morningside’s art and photography clubs have joined together to host a public art sale.

Works available for purchase include paintings, drawings, photos, crafts and other items created by students. Also included are ceramics by John Bowitz and Hahn Shufro.

The art sale is taking place yesterday and today until 9 p.m. in the lobby of  Eppley Auditorium, 3625 Garretson Ave.

Alongside the art sale, the photo club hosted an open house and tea party on Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Longfellow School. Longfellow was transformed into an Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter with various photography props and backgrounds. On display were images from photo club members.