Morningside Connect

Here’s the answer to last month’s trivia question.  The quote: “Subject to editorial fallibility, the best will be printed”  appeared in the 1938 issue of The Manuscript. Today it is called The Kiosk.

Congratulations to Tasha Lechtenberg, Patricia Nieland, Allison Larson, Bette Day Stern, Lynne Boulden and Nicole Knowles.

Here’s this month’s trivia question. This was the only instructional building completed before 1900 in the Morningside College Historical District. What was it originally identified as and what is its name today?

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

Morningside College celebrated Homecoming September 30 and October 1 and 2. It was great to see so many alumni and friends back on campus. We hope you had a great time attending events, reuniting with your friends and making new ones. If you were unable to experience Homecoming in person, we captured some great photos so you can share in the experience.

We’d love to see the photos you took.  Please share your Homecoming photos with us by sending an email with them attached to alumni@morningside.edu.

1956 and 1966 Class Reunions

Dinner with the President

Members of the 1956 and 1966 classes were invited to socialize at a dinner at President John and Robin Reynders’ home. Graduates enjoyed reminiscing and looking at old yearbooks. Click here to see more.

Friday Night Festivities

Alumni & Friends Gathering

Alumni and friends gathered Friday night at Bev’s on the River to reconnect. The reunion class of 1991 and the affinity groups AOII, Cross Country & Track and the Jazz Band reunited and reminisced over dinner.  Alumni also enjoyed a performance by the Morningside College Jazz Band. Click here to see more.

Morningside College Volleyball

Morningside vs. Grace

Morningside’s volleyball team scored five wins in its last seven matches with a 25-18, 25-19, 25-9 sweep of Grace University in Friday’s non-conference match in Allee Gymnasium.  Click here to see more.

Amazing Mustang Race

Campus-Wide Obstacle Course

The inaugural Amazing Mustang Race kicked off Saturday’s Homecoming festivities.  Teams of alumni, faculty, staff, students and families followed clues through campus and completed six challenges before racing to the finish line at Elwood Olsen Stadium.  All seven teams that competed won tickets to spend at the Taste of Morningside. The race was followed by a pancake feed for all alumni and friends.  Click here to see more.

Campus Tours

Explore the Campus

On both Friday and Saturday, campus tours were provided so alumni and friends could see the changes across campus and share stories about their days at Morningside. All tours began and ended at the Dimmitt Alumni House. Click here to see more.

M-Club Luncheon

Alumni Athletics Celebration & Awards

The annual M-Club Luncheon was Saturday morning in the Yockey Family Community Room to induct new members into the M-Club Hall of Fame. The 2016 M-Club Hall of Fame inductees were Dani Gass ’09, Chris Johnson ’06, Ken Stripling ’60, Dan Travaille ’66 and the undefeated 2008-09 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship Team.   Click here to see more.

Morningside College Football

Morningside vs. Concordia

No. 6-ranked Morningside celebrated Homecoming with a 55-13 victory over Concordia (Neb.) on Saturday at Elwood Olsen Stadium. Spectators were able to enjoy the Marching Mustangs, who provided half-time entertainment and extra support from the stands. Click here to see more.

Taste of Morningside

Post-Game Party

Students, alumni, family and friends enjoyed food from local favorites and beverages of all kinds. Children had fun with games and activities for just them. The Massive Brass Attack provided musical entertainment. Click here to see more.

Morningside College Soccer

Morningside vs. Concordia

The Morningside College women’s and men’s soccer teams battled Concordia on Saturday at Elwood Olsen Stadium. Fans watched the Mustang women get edged out 2-1 by the Bulldogs.  The men also suffered a 3-0 loss. Click here to see more.

A Look Around

Campus Photos

Morningside College was founded in 1894.  During the past 120 years, the campus has grown into one of the most beautiful spaces in Siouxland. Take a moment to see if you recognize any of your favorite buildings. Click here to see more.

Here’s the answer to last month’s trivia question: the construction of the fine arts building started in the spring of 1965. It was completed and dedicated to Eugene C. Eppley on October 9, 1966.

Congratulations to David Wagner, Patricia Lyn Nieland, Glenda Den Herder, Geraldine Day, Barbara Eckerman, Elizabeth Swanson Bushard, Marianne Cole, Bette Day Stern, Dale Howard, Lynne Boulden, Sharyn Cook, Delbert Christensen and Steve Hansen.

Here’s this month’s trivia question:

“Subject to editorial fallibility, the best will be printed.” In what literary magazine and what year did this quote appear? What is this name of the magazine today?

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

Bill Zahren, a 1986 graduate of Morningside College, majored in mass communication with a double minor in English & history. Zahren’s new novel Paper Trail was released by Mill City Press in late September. Paper Trail continues with the story of the lead characters from Zahren’s debut novel, Officer Involved: Assistant Woodbury County Attorney Hillary Reed and Sioux City Sentinel-Leader reporter Tom Kingman. The fictional Kingman is a Morningside College alumnus.

Officer Involved was published in the fall of 2015. The characters Kingman and Reed were inspired by Zahren’s time as a journalist for the Sioux City Journal from 1988 to 1995.

 “It’s fun to be a sort of super-reporter in print with Tom Kingman,” Zahren said. “Some of the stuff he does, real reporters probably wouldn’t or couldn’t do for various reasons. But some of the stuff that ran through my head — but didn’t come out of my mouth — during my years as a reporter continues to show up in my books.”

Both of Zahren’s novels were influenced by his time at Gateway Inc. from 1995 to 1999.

“Working at Gateway was one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. I still feel camaraderie for my former colleagues. In fact, the book is dedicated to all my co-workers at Gateway. I hope they enjoy the nuances in the book that were inspired by the big cow-spotted building in North Sioux.”

In Paper Trail, characters Kingman and Reed stay a week in Kingman’s hometown of Council Bluffs so he can go undercover at Cryptotech, a technology-oriented corporation in Omaha.

Another focus of Zahren’s novel is faith.

 “Hillary is a serious Christian and Tom is a serious skeptic, so their exploration of each other’s beliefs or lack thereof will continue to be an element in my books,” Zahren said.

Zahren’s goal is to make Tom Kingman Morningside’s most famous fictional alumnus. He has two more manuscripts featuring Kingman and Reed in varying stages of editing with plans for a fifth. He hopes to publish the next book, Avenging Angel, set back in Siouxland, in the fall of 2017, followed by Tipsy House, set in Okoboji, a year later.

Signed copies of Paper Trail are available at Sioux City Gifts, 1922 Pierce St., Sioux City. Both Paper Trail and Officer Involved are available on Amazon.com, on BN.com,  or through any Barnes and Noble bookstore.

Learn more at billzahren.com.

The history of Iowa came to Morningside College via Bus-eum Tour by Traces.

Mass communication senior Haley Rustvold transferred to Morningside from her hometown community college. She is on the softball team, a part of the National Broadcasting Society and is involved in the college’s television station (MCTV) and radio station (KMSC).

Rustvold is vocal about her pride for the college.

“Everyone’s super friendly; meeting new friends wasn’t too hard and my professors were amazing. Also, the campus is probably the prettiest campus I’ve ever seen.”

Rustvold believes that the best part about being a Morningsider is that the college feels like home. She says that she will not forget the opportunities that she has experienced at Morningside. She fell in love with the school and the people.

“[It’s a] very friendly environment, so I will definitely never forget that. Also, meeting someone special is a wonderful memory too.”

In addition to her media and sports involvement, Rustvold was crowned Homecoming Queen 2015.

“I was only at Morningside for about a year and a half, and I had no idea that many people knew me. At first I thought it was a joke, but it turned out to be very, very real. It was an exciting feeling because at that moment I was like, ‘Wow, some people must really like me!’ Plus it was simply an honor being recognized.”

Homecoming is Rustvold’s favorite time of the year.

“It’s fall. Everyone loves the weather, the sports, and the activities that go on around this time. Homecoming is super important because a lot of alumni return to the campus, which is extra beautiful during the fall. Homecoming is such a huge success at Morningside. I am excited to come back every year to see old friends and the college itself!”

Paul Johnson, a 2016 graduate from Nigeria, says that he will remember everything about his Morningside experience.

“The last four years have been so special for me, and I absolutely love this college so the memories will stay with me forever. I remember the fun in classes, broadcasting sports games, the friendships made. The highs and lows of being a college student will always stay with me.”

The close-knit family feel of Morningside was something he enjoyed. He reminisces on cheering at sports games with friends or social time in the café. The feeling that people cared made Morningside special to him.

Johnson was crowned Morningside College Homecoming King 2015. He believes that the tradition of a Homecoming Court is a good one. He describes being crowned as an incredible feeling.

“It was special for me because I did not expect it. I did not campaign or tell anyone to vote for me. So for my peers to think highly enough of me for that position was what made it special.”

Johnson believes that Homecoming fosters an important connection with the college and alumni.

“The college realizes that, and that is why it puts a lot of effort into its alumni relations. Homecoming is great time for the alumni to [return and] see what has changed and [how] the college has grown since they’ve been gone.”

Here’s this month’s trivia question: In what year was Eppley Auditorium built?

Leave your answer below in the comment section. At the end of the month if your answer is correct, we will be in contact with you through the e-mail address you leave (an e-mail address is required to be able to post a comment and only we can see it). Be sure to use an e-mail address you check so we are able to find out where to send your prize! The correct answer will be posted in the next newsletter along with the winners.

A change is going to take place in alumni relations at Morningside College on June 1. That’s the date Shiran Nathaniel officially assumes the duties of alumni director.

Some of you already know Shiran from your student days at Morningside when he was general manager of the Sodexo food service on campus for seven years. During the past year, Shiran served as assistant director of alumni relations. And many of you may have met him at alumni events on campus or at various gatherings the alumni office sponsored around the country.

Shiran will be leading the alumni office at an exciting time. Morningside is expanding alumni programs and exploring new was to connect with you.

I will start a new role as special projects assistant in the president’s office at Morningside. In my new assignment, I will still interact with alumni – only in a slightly different way. One of my new assignments is to build an organized and highly proactive student-alumni mentorship program in cooperation with our career services staff on campus. Also, Morningside is coming up on its 125th anniversary, and I will help oversee planning and execution of that year-long celebration.

Morningside College has made tremendous progress over the past 15 years. The campus has been transformed, enrollment has grown and new academic programs are preparing students for fulfilling careers. During this period, alumni played an important role in supporting Morningside. Under Shiran’s leadership, the alumni office will continue to involve alumni in new and exciting ways with all of the great things happening at this college.

Alexander Schmitz is a sophomore biology major from the small town of Carroll, Iowa. Schmitz is a part of the wrestling team and prides himself as being a Mustang.

“I love being on the wrestling team,” said Schmitz. “The competitive and brotherly bond that we all have is something you can’t get any other way. It affects every aspect of my college experience, from competing in the sport to being held accountable in the classroom to being active in the community.”

He believes that there is a lot of tradition at Morningside that is manifested through conversations with alumni and the Siouxland community.

“There is a positive association with Morningside and I am proud to be a part of it,” Schmitz said. “I especially feel that pride when I wear the Morningside singlet when I compete. I know I represent something special when I compete and whenever I get to associate with Morningside.”

In addition to wrestling, Schmitz is in Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and a member of Acacia Fraternity, where he has been both the senior and junior dean. He has been on the athletic director’s academic honor roll every semester and was also named second team All-GPAC at the end of his freshman wrestling season.

“I think that both being a part of the wrestling team and being a member of Acacia has shown me how strong of a community a college, especially one like Morningside, can be,” said Schmitz. “There is a really strong link with alumni, and the college makes a huge impact in the community. It has impacted me knowing that the little things I do within the school are noticed by others and make an impact on others’ lives.”

When asked about his major, Schimtz said, “I had a pretty specific plan going into college, knowing exactly what I wanted to do for a career. I knew biology would be the best path and that the staff in the biology department would prepare me well.”

After college Schmitz hopes to attend a graduate school and become a certified prosthetics and orthotics practitioner. He would design and help build braces for individuals with limb defects in order to improve their quality of life.

He was exposed to the prosthetics field after a work-related accident that caused his uncle to lose his leg.

“Seeing his own experience and hearing more and more about veterans and even children who rely on artificial limbs made me think that this was a field I could really make a difference in,” Schmitz said.

Being a part of Acacia has given him the opportunity to visit The Shriner’s Hospital in Minnesota. His visit included a tour of the Shriner’s Hospital prosthetics ward and the opportunity to interact with the hospital staff.

Schmitz said, “I learned a lot about the process I will need to go through to work in the prosthetics field, and I gained some excellent connections that I hope to use in the future.”