The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is grateful to its partner organizations for their investment in and commitment to student-athletes and communities across the state of Iowa. This featured blog series will highlight our partners and showcase why they invest in the IGHSAU, how they are supporting Iowans during this difficult time and words of encouragement for the Iowa Girl. We will also share ways in which you, the reader, can in turn support these businesses and organizations in return as a way thank them for their investment in the IGHSAU.
Des Moines Area Community College
Contact: Dianne Downing
Phone: 515-250-2234
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: dmacc.edu
Why does DMACC support the IGHSAU and the Iowa Girl?
High school athletics is very important to the youth of Iowa. It helps build self-confidence, social and communication skills and teamwork. It also stresses the importance of receiving a good education that could translate into continuing education at a community college, college or university or directly entering the work force after high school.
How is DMACC supporting Iowa communities during this time?
In March, DMACC donated 4,000 N95 masks to Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines. The donation was personally picked up by Broadlawns’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Yogi Shah. The DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy donated 150 masks, 80 isolation gowns and approximately 1,000 gloves to the Dallas County Hospital and Family Medicine Clinics in Perry, while the DMACC Boone Campus delivered a donation of 60 N95 masks, 130 isolation gowns, 6,500 exam gloves, 600 sterile gloves, 100 face masks and another 250 face masks with shields to the Boone County Hospital.
DMACC nursing students enter the workforce and support health care systems: Nearly 100 pre-licensure DMACC Nursing students set to graduate in May were authorized to complete their education early and immediately be hired as nurses under a section of the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued on March 27 by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.
DMACC Fashion Merchandising and Design students sew Olson masks from home support local health care providers: Under the direction of DMACC faculty members Alecia Mintle, Courtney Conlin, Gretchen Bohling and Ann Gadbury, DMACC Fashion Merchandising and Design students have sewn hundreds of protective Olson masks to donate to local hospitals and medical offices responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
DMACC students help protect vulnerable populations through service learning project: DMACC Psychology Professor Marilyn Jerome and her students have worked together to make and donate protective masks to workers in local nursing homes and shelters.
DMACC reallocates funds set aside for commencement ceremonies to instead help students impacted by COVID-19: When DMACC made the difficult decision to cancel of its College-wide Spring Semester Commencement Ceremonies due to the impact of COVID-19, DMACC President Rob Denson committed to moving funds that would have paid for commencement ceremonies into an emergency fund for students.
What else should the IGHSAU community know about DMACC?
Des Moines Area Community College, a public institution serving the educational and career training needs of Iowans, is committed to the lifelong success of its students. Situated in one of America’s most vibrant regions, DMACC offers 200 programs, certificates and transfer degrees, annually serving more than 70,000 credit and noncredit students on six campuses and six learning centers. Thanks to college-wide innovation including Continuous Process Improvement (CPI), new programs and affordable tuition, DMACC continues to experience solid growth. For more information, please visit www.dmacc.edu.
How can the IGHSAU community support DMACC?
If you or your students are interested in learning more about continuing your/their education, please reach out. There are several grants and scholarships available to those who qualify.
Words of Encouragement to the IGHSAU community and the Iowa Girl
Together we will get through this and be stronger.