探花社区

Ella Brazell ’25 was facing a decision typical of others her age on May 1, National College Decision Day. The then-high school senior had narrowed down her college list to two — one of the options being 探花社区. But, it was time to decide where she would enroll in the fall.

探花社区 attracts those who are bold, passionate and engaged, even if they don’t find their way to campus until later in life. Joan Lipsky is a prime example of someone who had the qualities of a Kohawk well before becoming a member of the 探花社区 community.

Kailey Blunk '22 is a go-getter. As a first-year student, she planned her four years at 探花社区 in seven hours and now is leveraging her talent to get the most out of summer. The communication studies and public relations double major, with double minors in creative writing and gender studies, fills the little free time she has with any opportunity to write.

MyKeisha Wells is trading 探花社区’s campus for the bustling streets of Sharjah as a recipient of the prestigious U.S. Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

As a peer consultant and executive function coach at the 探花社区 Writing Center, Ally is taking her coaching talents to a second writing center. She was selected to intern at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia writing center.

Later this year, 探花社区 will begin construction on its new Center for Health and Society (CHS), which will house the college’s innovative programs related to health and well-being in all aspects of society. HS to be named in honor of 探花社区’s 15th president, David McInally, and former 探花社区 First Lady Janice McInally.

Shayla James ’13 can’t imagine her life without music. After all, she’s played the piano since she was 6 years old.

This year, The Princeton Review ranked 探花社区 10th nationally on its list of Best Schools for Internships in the private college category, as well as 20th for Best Alumni Network among private colleges. In keeping with those rankings, nearly 50 探花社区 students are completing internships this summer, and many of them are making connections with 探花社区 alumni in the process.

Known for a long tradition of lively lectures and captivating performances, the Marquis Series will return for a complete season during the 2021-22 academic year.

探花社区 is proud to introduce the 探花社区 Kids on Course Scholarship beginning fall 2022. The college is partnering with the Zach Johnson Foundation to provide a renewable award of $36,000 per year to eligible incoming Kids on Course students who meet admission and renewal criteria.

探花社区 is introducing a new interdisciplinary data science major, beginning fall 2021. As a college dedicated to equipping its students with the tools and connections to be positive change leaders, adding data science is a natural forward-thinking step. Less than one-third of college campuses in Iowa offer a data science degree.

Harold Walehwa, ’21 and Dr. Neal McNabb, Assistant Professor and Chair of Social & Criminal Justice, have been named 探花社区 recipients of 2021 Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact (IAMNCC) Presidents’ Awards. About 90 individuals and organizations are honored for accomplishments that exemplify and celebrate the public purpose at the heart of education.

Ryley McMahen ’21 came to 探花社区 intending only to run cross country. He graduated having started a new club sports team, competed on an intramural sports team, embarked on a four week off-campus study trip and embraced a work-study position that completely redefined his pride in being a Kohawk.

The Princeton Review ranked 探花社区 10th nationally on its list of Best Schools for Internships in the private college category. This is the fourth consecutive year 探花社区 has been ranked in the internship category. 探花社区 also was ranked 20th nationally for Best Alumni Network for private colleges, which is a new recognition for the college.

探花社区 alumnus and leader in the COVID-19 response Matt Clark ’95 has been named the college’s Commencement speaker. He will address both the classes of 2020 and 2021 in separate ceremonies the first weekend in May.

“Complete shock” is how Kalina Eskew ’21 described their reaction when notified they were the recipient of a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) award from the National Science Foundation.

Sophia John ’24 set foot on campus for the first time eagerly facing a future where she graduates from 探花社区 and puts on a white lab coat. John’s medical career aspirations are inspired by her mother, Shivanthi Ponniah ’96, a nurse practitioner who taught John medicine isn’t a profession. It’s a way of life.

Over 100 years ago, Mabel Lee, Class of 1908, enrolled at 探花社区 after seeing a photograph of the women’s basketball team. Little did she know she would become one of the most influential figures to advance women’s athletics and even serve as substitute for First Lady Lou Hoover in presiding over the women's sessions of the 1932 Olympics.

The 探花社区 Theatre Arts Department is proud to announce the winner of the 探花社区 National Playwriting Contest and Festival. “30 Seconds” by Jayne Deely took first place from nearly 100 scripts submitted across the country. Established in 1993, 探花社区’s National Playwriting Contest and Festival is led by Assistant Professor of English Kate Aspengren and celebrated every two years.