Faculty Preps for Finals, Too

by Josh Sandin

On Wednesday, April 24, Graphics and Web Technology Instructor and Coordinator Michelle Beets looks over students final projects as the semester comes to an end.

It’s finals week, not only do students feel the pressure of preparing for exams and final projects but Instructors are also preparing and feeling the pressure of having to grade hundreds of exams, papers, and projects before the May 17 deadline, the final date that all grades are to be in the grade book.

Michelle Beets is just one of many instructors at Iowa Central Community College preparing for finals week. Beets says she will spend an extra 35 to 40 hours during finals week grading exams and final projects. Beets a graduate in Science and Technology from Iowa State started off her career as a News Director for a National Public Radio Station before coming to Iowa Central Community College as a part time reporting and broadcast instructor in 1980. Having gone back to graduate school to obtain her teaching degree, Beets returned to Iowa Central Community College and is now the Instructor of over 10 different classes in the Graphics and Web Technology programs. Beets is also the Graphics and Web Technology program coordinator and has a full schedule with teaching and advising students. When asked what she liked about teaching she said, “The students, NOT the grading.” … Continue Reading

Studying For Finals

by Josh Sandin

With only two weeks left of the semester, there’s only one thing standing between students and their summer vacation: finals!  Although finals week marks the end of a semester and is often accompanied by the excitement and anticipation of summer, it is the time to focus on doing well on final tests and reflect on the academic year, rather than coasting to summer.  So what are your studying techniques?  How do you prepare for a big test?  Do you stay up the night before and absorb as much information as you can or do you glance at material every day? Here are some tips and just a few helpers to get you on the right track for taking your final exams. … Continue Reading

Kevin Durant’s Quest to be No. 1

by Josh Sandin

The NBA Playoffs started on April 20, 2013, and for Kevin Durant, it started another chance to be number one.  Kevin Durant is a basketball player who currently plays small forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  All players have the dream of one day being number one, but not many have been as close as Kevin Durant. … Continue Reading

Iowa Central, My Second Home

by Josh Sandin

Should I go to school?  Which college is right for me?  Virtually everyone will find themselves considering the possible answers to these questions at some point in life.  For some, the college selection process is easy.  They have known since middle school where they wanted to go.  Others struggle with the college selection process.  Picking a college to attend is one of the biggest decisions of a person’s life.  Many factors play a part in choosing the right school.  Finding out more about your top choices helps tremendously.  Picking the right school plays a huge role in future success as a student.  You are going to be in college for at least two years so you might as well pick one you like.  I fell in love with Iowa Central ever since my first visit.

I went on a couple college visits as a junior in high school.  By my senior year, I had my college choices narrowed down to Iowa State, UNI, and Iowa Central Community College.  I went on several senior visit days and just could not decide between Iowa State and Iowa Central-so I picked both!  I am currently in my freshman year at Iowa Central and plan on returning next year.  I will finish up my bachelor degree at Iowa State University.

Right from the start I knew Iowa Central was right for me.  I have always been comfortable with Fort Dodge because I have family near Webster City and Fort Dodge, so I am comfortable with the area.  I really liked the feel of the campus.  The apartment style dorms are so much more appealing that the two-person dorms at UNI and the campus is so accessible unlike a big University such as the University of Iowa.  All of the teachers, coaches, and staff that I met with on visits were welcoming.  Not one of them made me feel uneasy or uncomfortable.

I knew during the first month of school that I had made the right choice.  I felt like Iowa Central wanted me to be there.  There was so much going on the first month of school, it was almost impossible not to make friends.   Participating in dances, games, bingo night, cookouts, and my favorite, college movie night were all great opportunities for me to meet new people.  All of my teachers are great here.  I feel like I can approach any one of them.  I am so comfortable at Iowa Central; I feel like I just fit right in.  Although I wouldn’t change anything about Iowa Central, I am looking forward to the new cafeteria!  I have enjoyed my time here so far and I can’t wait to come back next year.

The NBA Playoffs (And the Ewing Theory)

by Craig Shultz

In a mere matter of four days the NBA Playoffs begin. 16 teams will fight for their chance to become the champions of the NBA. 15 of the 16 playoff spots are secured for those teams good enough to make the cut. Only the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz are still hunting for their spot and will perhaps go to the wire for their playoff lives. The Lakers, though, are now without star player Kobe Bryant should they make the playoffs.

The loss of Kobe would seemingly hinder their chances for a playoff birth but sometimes teams are able to rally around one another and play harder. On the other hand teams have been known to play better without their star player and has become known as “The Ewing Theory” named after former New York Knick, Patrick Ewing, when he went down with an injury and the eight seed Knicks made a run to the NBA Finals.

The Ewing Theory was created by a friend of famed ESPN columnist, Bill Simmons, which states that a team will be better off without their star player. There are many notable examples of this such as the Tennessee Volunteers winning the National Title one year after Peyton Manning went to the NFL. So maybe it is possible for the Lakers to show that the Ewing Theory would apply to them this year should they get that final playoff spot in the West.

As a whole this year the playoffs seem to come down to one single team, the Miami Heat, who earlier in the season put together the second longest winning streak in NBA history before having it snapped by the Chicago Bulls, who by the way, could find themselves as part of the Ewing Theory history should they make it far into the playoffs without Derrick Rose who still has not returned from his torn ACL.

Even the Boston Celtics have a chance go down in Ewing Theory history if Rajon Rondo is their best player. As a seven seed, right now, the Celtics have something to play for with the tragic events on Monday during the Boston Marathon. In tragedy the city might cheer on their Celtics and help will them in the playoffs. However, the team to beat is still the Miami Heat with their core three of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.

Over on the Western side of the playoffs the favorites have to be either the Oklahoma City Thunder behind their exciting young stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook or the San Antonio Spurs who are always seemingly at the forefront of possible NBA Title contenders. While the Thunder have quite a few exciting scorings the Spurs have one of the most sound teams in the league. The Spurs are lead by Tim Duncan who has been one of the greatest big men in NBA history since he came into the league.

The West usually appears to be the tougher conference in the NBA and this year in no exception with all playoff teams have a record over .500. In the East the eight seed has a record that is under .500. This does suggest a stronger conference but as long as the East have the Miami Heat everything seems to be balanced. Upsets do happen and the NBA playoffs are always a fun ride.

On Saturday, buckle up and experience the NBA playoffs for the next near two months.

Why you should wait to get a tattoo

by Emily Martin

Over 45 million Americans have tattoos, 38 percent of which are in the 18-29 age group. Of those 45 million, 7.6 million later regret their tattoo.

The top three reasons for wanting to remove a tattoo are:

1. They got a person’s name tattooed
2. They don’t like the way it looks
3. They think it was a “stupid” choice

Over the past 20 years, the United States has seen a historical rise in tattoos. The deviation from old biblical beliefs has become a growing trend as the Millennial generation ages. From TV shows to celebrities to the sharp rise in tattoo shops, tattoos are increasingly common and well-promoted.

But is the promotion of permanent body art a good trend for the youth in America? With 7.6 million people who get tattoos later regretting them, I believe there should be a higher age limit on tattoos. … Continue Reading

Students Donate Photographs

by Josh Sandin

Iowa Central Professional Photography students Angela Sande (left), Grace Kiefer and Britt Kudla donated photos to St. Paul’s sixth annual Growing Saints for Christ dinner and auction on April 6, at the Fort Dodge Fairgrounds 4H Building. Photo by Dee Schnurr

Iowa Central Professional Photography sophomores Angela Sande, Grace Kiefer and Britt Kudla each donated one of their photos to be auctioned off at the sixth annual St. Paul Growing Saints for Christ Dinner and Auction.  The event will be held at the 4H Building at the Fort Dodge Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 6. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. The evening will include dinner, and silent, dessert and live auctions.  The optional meal is $25.00 per person.

… Continue Reading

Iowa Central Photo Club Trip To Des Moines Botanical Gardens

by Breanna Kuebler

The Iowa Central Photography Club poses for a picture at the Botanical Gardens in Des Moines on March 30.
Photo by Dee Schnurr

On Saturday, March 30, students participating in the Iowa Central Photography Club hopped a bus to Des Moines to take unique photos at the Botanical Gardens. These students spent hours adjusting their cameras to manipulate photos with composition, depth of field and did all they could to get different angles to make the photos more appealing to the eye and give others a new point of view. The students walked around the area searching for unique and wild plants and critters to photograph. The trip was very enjoyable for all.

[Show as slideshow]

Madness Is In Full Effect

by Craig Shultz

Wow. Just wow. The first weekend of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is easily summed up with that word, wow. Going into this tournament there was some speculation that there would be some upsets as there are every year. So far in this year’s tournament there have been more than just the one or two normal upsets that are seen every year. Just think about this for a few moments.

Three of the No. 12-seeds upset the No. 5-seed in the second round. One of those No. 12-seeds has now advanced to the Sweet 16. … Continue Reading

The Traveling Band

by Josh Sandin

On March 14^- 16, Iowa Central’s concert band, jazz band, brass ensemble and drum line went on a tour that led them all over the state and ended in Minnesota.  This trip was a recruitment opportunity to show off what Iowa Central’s music department has to offer instrumentally.  It was set up set up by band directors Paul Bloomquist and Jeremy Smith.  … Continue Reading