Rotary names scholarship winners

John Van Nostrand, The Creston News Advertiser, Iowa
·2 min read

May 10—Creston Rotary invited its scholarship recipients to their meeting Monday, May 6. Recipients are Abby Tallmon, Neveah Kernes-Potter, Shauna Phelps, Devon Hill, Mica Andreasen and Lydia Goins. The scholarships were noted Wednesday during Creston High School's award night ceremony.

Rotary members also heard from Southwestern Community College President Lindsay Stoaks. She highlighted a few ongoing projects. Southwestern Community College's Board of Trustees recently approved the CDL Training Range-Ag Sciences parking lot and road improvements. At its ag sciences facility, a portion of the property would be used for CDL training. The college has purchased a semi tractor to be used for the course. The college is searching for an adequate trailer to also be used for training.

The goal is to start the program with 60 students.

The college estimates the parking lot improvements to cost about $119,000 and the road improvements to cost about $218,000. Funds for these improvements, as well as the eventual building addition, will come from a variety of grants.

Southwestern Community College's board of trustees also approved an agreement with the Clarke County Development Corporation (CCDC) for the new ORBIT Center. The Osceola Regional Business and Industrial Technology Center is estimated to be up to a $3.4 million construction project, west of the SWCC Osceola Center on Highway 34.

The ORBIT Center, owned by CCDC, will be a regional training facility to be used for industrial training needs of private companies, regional secondary schools and the college. The 9,000 square foot building is being constructed by Denovo Construction Solutions in West Des Moines. The facility will feature a 7,500 square foot lab area with flexible lab space and a welcome area/student lounge space.

In 2022, the CCDC applied for a United States Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant. In September, they were approved an allocated $2 million in funds toward the project. CCDC has since raised the rest of the funds needed to complete the project.

Stoaks said college officials are also researching the feasibility of expanding its athletic program to include wrestling and soccer. Part of that research includes an assessment of its athletic facilities and needs for growth.

In Rotary club news, members picked up trash along a portion of North Cherry Street Road April 22 as part of its annual participation in the college's Pay It Forward Week. Members of the college's men's basketball team also helped. Rotary members also contributed to Meals from the Heartland assembly held April 24 at SWCC. All volunteers met the goal of packaging 100,000 meals.

Rotary will assist with the annual Barbecue Bash 4-8 p.m. June 28 at McKinley Park. Tickets are available from Rotary members.

Creston Rotary meets at noon the first and third Mondays at Anson's Bar and Grill.