EDUCATIONAL TALENT SEARCH TAKES SUMMER COLLEGE BUS TRIP

Students in Educational Talent Search at Iowa Lakes Community College recently returned from a three day trip visiting colleges in the regions. The goal of the trip is to expose students to a variety of educational options after high school.

The tour started with a trip to Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. Lisa Story, the college Director for Enrollment Management, gave the students a general presentation about the college. The students took a tour of the college and participated in a question and answer session. Then, with a tote bag full of information, the students loaded the bus to Sioux City.

The next stop was Briar Cliff University. While there the students were given a presentation from the Director of Students, Support Services, Sister Jean Beringer, who explained the importance of grades and reading. The students learned that the TRIO program is all over the state and country, not just at Iowa Lakes Community College. The students then split into groups and took a tour of the campus.

After leaving Briar Cliff University, the students got some rest and then headed out for an evening at the Sioux City Explorers baseball game.

The second, day of the trip, the students headed to The University of South Dakota in Vermillion. The admissions staff gave each student a T-shirt before splitting into groups for tour of the campus. When the tour was done, the students loaded the bus again, and headed for Sioux Falls.

Once in Sioux Falls, the students traveled to Augustana College there they not only heard from the admission staff, but enjoyed a lunch on campus as well. After the talk and lunch were over the students took a tour of the campus. Later that day they headed out to the Wild Water West Water Park and Adventure Park. At the park the students and advisors were free to have their own adventures. The students enjoyed a catered dinner on site at the park, before departing.

The third day, the students ventured on to Marshall, Minn., to visit Southwest Minnesota State University. The students were greeted by the admissions staff and were given a tour of the campus and presentations from student support services. The admissions staff provided the students with a sack lunch before they continued on to their next destination.

The last campus visited was Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington, Minn. The students took a quick tour of the campus.

The students returned home with lots of new information on each college and the knowledge of different opportunities in and out of state.

Students participating in the trip included Brittany Berte, Ty Bisenius, Kelsey Blocker, Kayla Bortvit, Kourtney Clasing, Seth Eischeid, Brandon Hampson, Eric Hatland, Megan Iwen, Taylor Jaquith, Payton Jaquith, Max Johnson, Amanda Kern, Jamie Klepper, Taylor Linn, Jesse Nissen, Megan Rogers, Becca Schmeling, Orian Schneider, Carrie Sorensen, Zach Strohman, Amber Swalve, Jake Tonderum, Heather Twaiten, Jorge Vasquez, and Zach Wissbaum.