First Dakota National Bank Donates to Master of Education Program

For many teachers in the Yankton area, continuing their education beyond a bachelor's degree is something that has required them to leave the community to finish.

However, recently donated funds of $20,000 from First Dakota National Bank and a newly revamped program offered through Mount Marty College is giving them the chance to obtain their master's degree while staying at home and more importantly staying in their classrooms.

Photo (L-R): MMC Chief Advancement Officer, Barb Rezac; MMC Interim Dean of Academic Affairs, Celia Miner, First Dakota Bank Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer, Larry Ness; MMC Master of Education Chair, Debbie McCuin

(For more on this story, click here)

Alumni News
 
Lori Hoesing, C'88
MMC alum Lori Hoesing has been promoted to Associate Professor in the Division of Nursing Education at St. Luke's College - Unity Point Health, in Sioux City, IA. She provides classroom and clinical instruction for associate degree students in the Advanced Nursing Course.

An employee of St. Luke's College since 2001, Hoesing was previously an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing Education. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Mount Marty Collge and a Master of Science in nursing with a specialty as a Nurse Educator from South Dakota State University.

Orwigs, MMC Family of the Year

Mount Marty College recognized the Scott and Clare Orwig family of Norfolk, NE as its 2014-15 Family of the Year.

The criteria includes: generosity in home community or the Mount Marty community; commitment to Christian values; ability to touch the lives of many people, and the involvement of the family with Mount Marty College, and their church and civic involvement.

The couple have a daughter, Lauren, who is currently a senior nursing major on campus, as well as three other children: Paige, 19; Jill, 15; and Dean, 12.

(For more on this story, click here) 

Alum Spotlight  

Holly (Byrkeland) Carter, C'13

For Holly (Byrkeland) Carter, choosing a college for her undergrad degree was not a difficult decision because her dad is from Yankton and the city was more like her second home. She has a lot of family that lived and still lives in Yankton. Holly also wanted to continue her softball career and was given a scholarship to play while she was at MMC until a shoulder injury quickly ended her career. She adds with a smile, "Where on earth can you dual major in education and complete all of the required credits within exactly four years - not many places guarantee that!" Also, Holly felt that with the small class sizes and getting into the classroom (within elementary schools) right away first semester of freshman year, she was able to get to know her professors on a first name basis, create relationships with them, and was able to see how the world of education was going to be like as she was entering it as a profession.

The person who had a positive impact on Holly's career and personal life path at MMC was Sister Candy. Still to this day, they keep in contact with each other, updating with how their lives are changing, exciting milestones they are both facing. Holly says, "Sister Candy was always there for me whenever I needed advice, a person to talk to, and someone to share stories with. She is a professor who cares about each of her students."

While Holly attended MMC, she had the opportunity to work for the Boys and Girls Club of Yankton for work-study. While she worked for them, Holly would go to the elementary schools in Yankton and help tutor children who needed extra assistance. During that time, she created a relationship with a little girl who needed a woman figure in her life. The relationship she created with her is one she won't forget.

(For more on this story, click here)

Friday, January 23, 2014 - First Lutheran Church, 327 S. Dakota Ave., MMC 

Choral Performance (8:45 - 9:15pm)/Alumni Mixer (6:30-8:30pm) at the South Dakota American Choral Directors Association Winter Conference

Saturday, February 7, 2015 - Lancer's Homecoming and BBall Alumni Event

Friday, March 6, 2015 - Rapid City, MMC Choral Performance/Alumni Mixer*

Sunday, March 9. 2015 - Denver, MMC Choral Performance/Alumni Brunch*

Mark your calendars for next year's All Schools Reunion on June 26, 27, and 28, 2015! View our 2014 All Schools Reunion Highlights. For more information, please call the Alumni Office at 605.668.1542 or email alumni@mtmc.edu.

* Tentative, planning in progress 

The Mount Marty College and Benedictine Communities are saddened by the deaths of Anne L. (Hirschey) Corrow, Todd M. Kenney and Joyce Wentworth.

Anne L. (Hirschey) Corrow, 67, of Plymouth, MN, passed away unexpectedly on November 10, 2014 after a brief but strong battle with cancer. Anne graduated from MMC in 1969 with a BA degree in education and was an elementary school teacher at St. Richard's in Richfield. Later she enjoyed working at Dayton's Pharmacy and at W.E. Mowrey Co., St. Paul.

(For more on her obituary, click here)

Todd M. Kenney, 35, graduated from MMC in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He was employed at the Yankton Police Department as a jailer and Yankton Sheriff's Department as a deputy. In September 2002, Todd was employed as a youth counselor at the Human Services Center until his passing.

(For more on his obituary, click here)

Joyce A. Wentworth, 68, of Yankton, SD passed away Friday, December 5, 2014. Joyce attended MMC receiving a Bachelor of Arts in education. After

graduating from MMC in 1968, Joyce taught in Worthington, MN for two years. In 1972 Joyce was hired by the Yankton School District to write a grant establishing their Special Education program. When the grant was completed,

Joyce stayed in Yankton taking a position that would lead to her 39 year career as the Director of Student Services.

(For more on her obituary, click here) 

Career Planning  & Placement Postings

From: Estelle Johnson, MMC Director of Career Placement

Scholarship for Seniors and Alumni

Have you thought about going to graduate school in your near future? Would you like to attend graduate studies abroad? If you would like to study overseas, the Rotary Club is offering a $30,000 Global Grant Scholarship for 2015 graduating seniors or alumni. This scholarship is available for global grant scholars who will plan to pursue a career in an area of focus with their graduate level educational goals supporting their career interest. There are restrictions on this scholarship in that the person chosen needs to be from South Dakota, parts of Minnesota or Iowa within a certain mile radius. If you have questions or would like more information, stop by the Career Center in the Scholastica Learning Center (SLC) or call 605.668.1363.