Bobcats Making Headlines

MHS students Valeria Becerra, left, and Zach Vazquez, right, take a look at a piece of equipment at the Emerson Innovation Center Tuesday.

It was a day of exploring career interests for more than two dozen Marshalltown High School junior and senior students Tuesday. 

The group visited the Emerson Innovation Center to learn about the myriad engineering career opportunities offered by the company. Emerson is one of Marshalltown’s largest employers and is a global corporation that creates advanced valves for a variety of industries. 

“My favorite part was probably the materials demonstration,” said MHS junior Carlye Castillo. “I learned more about it, and that was one of the types of engineering I was most thinking about.” 

Carlye said she was intrigued by the many different types of engineers working at Emerson. 

Fellow junior Jordan May said she is especially interested in pursuing a career in chemical engineering. She said she learned about the kind of involved work that goes into creating Emerson’s products. 

“There are a bunch of calculations that go into programming each and every design,” Jordan said. 

MHS students Diego Ortiz (center), Drake Stalzer (second from right) and Carson Johnson (right) discuss careers in engineering with Emerson staff.

MHS junior Drake Stalzer said he is interested in a career in engineering, though he does not yet know which exact path he wants to take in the field. He said he was especially impressed by the global reach of Emerson, which has locations across several continents. 

“They go to different countries and they get to work on stuff in those countries,” Drake said. 

Students got to hear about careers from engineering staff, including those employees’ formal education and why they took a particular path within engineering. 

MHS senior and bowling team member Lucas Kramer, right, led a Bobcats Bowling program food drive. He and Bobcats Bowling head coach DJ Wilder, left, delivered 183 pounds of food items to the Emergency Food Box Wednesday.

The Marshalltown High School Bobcats Bowling teams are experiencing an excellent season, and they have been collecting food items as part of an equally excellent community service effort.

MHS senior and bowling team member Lucas Kramer led a food drive which collected 183 pounds of food items. Kramer and Bobcats Bowling head coach DJ Wilder delivered the donations to the Emergency Food Box Wednesday.

“When I was visiting colleges and deciding where to go next year, one college I visited was having a little competition with their teams for a canned food drive,” Kramer said. “I thought that was a good idea, so I pitched it to Coach (Wilder) and he thought it was a good idea, too.” 

Kramer set up the food drive as a competition between the boys and girls bowling teams to see who could collect more food. Ultimately, Wilder said the contest was a virtual tie.

“We both kind of eyeballed it and I said ‘I can’t call it either way.’ So as the coach I have to declare both of them winners,” Wilder said with a smile.

Both the boys and girls teams have impressive 9-2 records so far this season. They have their sights set high going into Friday’s CIML Conference meet at 10 a.m. in Fort Dodge. That meet was initially supposed to take place Thursday.

The Bobcats will look to qualify for state-level play next Tuesday, Feb. 18 as they host the district meet at Wayward Social. The meet is set to start at 10 a.m. that day.

LEFT: MHS seniors Josie McLain, left, and Darrion Ruffin, center, talk to state Rep. Dean Fisher at the Iowa State Capitol Monday.
RIGHT: MHS freshman Peyton Twyford, left, and Miller seventh grader Sophie Cardona, right, meet state Rep. Mark Smith, center, at the Capitol.

Four Marshalltown Community School District students who are part of the Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) program participated in Legislative Day on Monday, February 10 at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. 

Marshalltown High School seniors Josie McLain and Darrion Ruffin, freshman Peyton Twyford, and Miller Middle School seventh grader Sophie Cardona were able to interact with state legislators throughout the day. Education Specialists Mary McCann Fuchsen, Chad Weir, and Austin Hauser guided the students Monday.

The students shared their own personal success stories and asked their lawmakers to continue to support iJAG. Dozens of other iJAG programs from around Iowa were also in attendance.  

iJAG is a nonprofit organization supported by corporate and foundation contributions, public sector grants and participating school funds. The program creates partnerships among business, industry and educational institutions that are committed to the mission of iJAG – to assist students with multiple barriers in graduating from high school and/or successfully transitioning from high school to continued education and careers. 

To learn more about the iJAG program, click here.

Local business owner, Bobcats supporter and MHS alum Vic Hellberg, left, is presented with an IHSAA Friend of the School Award by MHS Activities/Athletics Director Ryan Isgrig Tuesday evening in the Roundhouse.

Marshalltown small business owner Vic Hellberg was recognized for his support of Marshalltown Community School District at Tuesday’s Marshalltown High School basketball game. 

The Hellberg’s Jewelers owner was presented with an Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Friend of the School award due to his outstanding support of high school activities.  

“Vic Hellberg truly embodies the spirit of this award. He has been a friend of Marshalltown High School since his graduation in 1964. As a proud MHS alum, Vic has been generous with time, money, and resources,” said MHS Athletics/Activities Director Ryan Isgrig in his nomination letter for Hellberg. “Vic Hellberg is a man of service. He has the heart of a Bobcat and embodies the spirit of Bobcat Pride. Vic is Marshalltown Strong. Vic is truly a friend of our school.” 

Hellberg has contributed time and resources to various MHS activities for decades. He has helped film basketball and football games, operated the scoreboard and clock for basketball games, and has been an active booster club member, as well as a hardworking Marshalltown community member and business owner. 

“It’s quite exhilarating. That’s really something, it’s a really nice honor,” Hellberg said after receiving the award during halftime of Tuesday’s boys basketball game at the Roundhouse.

The IHSAA’s Friend of the School award allows school districts to honor those in the community who consistently support school activities.

Also recognized during halftime of Tuesday evening’s game were MHS senior student-athletes Jordan Anderson and Casey Linsenmeyer, who were awarded the John White and Nick Norris scholarship awards, respectively. 

Vic Hellberg, center, presents MHS senior student-athlete Jordan Anderson, left, with the 2019-20 John White Scholarship Award. Also pictured is MHS Head Football Coach Adam Goodvin.

MHS senior student-athlete Casey Linsenmeyer, center, was named the 2019-2020 recipient of the Nick Norris Award. Erik C. Nilius of United Bank and Trust, left, and MHS Head Football Coach Adam Goodvin, right, presented the award to Linsenmeyer.

Derek Wrage said he is ready to take charge of the Marshalltown High School baseball team.

Marshalltown High School is proud to announce Derek Wrage as the next head baseball coach. He will replace longtime head coach Steve Hanson. Wrage will also serve as a special education teacher in the Marshalltown Community School District, pending school board approval on February 17, 2020. 

“I’m very excited,” Wrage said. “Growing up in Newton, Marshalltown was always a program I had a ton of respect for. There’s a ton of tradition and a ton of success.”

After graduating from Newton CSD, Wrage played baseball collegiately at Cornell College in Mount Vernon. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history education and received dean’s list honors. Wrage was also a Presidential Scholarship Recipient and the Gast Award Winner (awarded for academic excellence and outstanding teaching from the Cornell Education Department.) 

Wrage has served in the Newton Community School District for the past two years as a special education/at-risk teacher. He comes to Marshalltown after serving as an assistant varsity baseball coach for Newton and Montezuma. His father, Jeff, is a 1981 graduate of Marshalltown High School. 

“Derek was very impressive throughout the hiring process. We are excited about his energy, professionalism and his overall knowledge of the game. He wants to be here and be a Marshalltown Bobcat,” said Marshalltown High School Athletic Director Ryan Isgrig. “We are getting someone who will develop great relationships with the stakeholders in this program. He is a hard-working teacher and coach and we look forward to seeing him lead the Marshalltown baseball program and continue the Bobcat baseball legacy.”

Joining Wrage’s baseball staff will be veteran coach and 1980 Marshalltown alumni, Kevin Goodman, also contingent on future board approval. Goodman played baseball collegiately at Iowa State University. He has experience as an umpire with the Iowa Cubs as well as several years experience coaching youth baseball and softball in the Marshalltown area.  Goodman was an assistant on the Bobcat baseball team from 2012-2015.

They guide, they advise, they advocate and they make a positive impact on countless students each year. School counselors are a crucial for student success at Marshalltown Schools, and they are being celebrated during National School Counseling Week. 

Counselors offer different services at each academic level, from helping meet elementary students’ developmental needs to guiding high school students toward a rewarding post-secondary path.

MCSD school counselors discussed why they love their careers this week. Check out what they had to say below:

“I wanted to become a school counselor because I have a passion for helping and working with kids. I love encouraging students to see the value in themselves and what they are capable of by supporting their academic, career and social/emotional development. I enjoy the fact that I am able to build relationships with all of our students, families, and staff members. Being a school counselor is a very rewarding experience and I love what I do.”
– Heidi Williams, Woodbury Elementary School

“I enjoy helping and watching students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. I take pride in helping students through tough situations. I also enjoy working with students as they plan out their future high school schedules and begin to look at future careers. I am blessed to work with great students, staff, and parents.” – John Augustine, Miller Middle School

“I love being a school counselor because each day I have an opportunity to share in the educational journey with our students in the district. Part of education is learning how to respond to life’s challenges. As a school counselor, I get to work with students and their families to discover their gifts and talents and to help them build the skills to be successful throughout their lives. ”
– Karen Mussig, Lenihan Intermediate
                                        School

“Each and every day, I am honored and humbled with the trust that our students put into us as school counselors. Marshalltown High School students are intelligent, kind, resilient and brave. It is a privilege to serve them, and they are what motivates me on a daily basis!
– Meri Edel, Marshalltown High School

 

“I love being a school counselor because of the connections I get to make with my students. Every day I have an opportunity to nurture hearts and inspire growth in my students so they can build dreams and reach their full potential. The most rewarding part of my career is being able to have a positive impact on the lives of students and celebrating their success.”
– Valerie Corson, Marshalltown High School

The district’s counselors were recognized at this week’s Marshalltown School  Board meeting. District Human Resources Director Dr. Nora Ryan read a proclamation declaring this week National School Counseling Week.

For more information about National School Counseling week and to learn more about what benefits counselors bring to students, click here.

This team of Lenihan students earned a third-place finish in this year’s Battle of the Books competition. Pictured from left: Carter Hutchison, Jamison Niehouse, Eduardo Bañuelos, Lizzie Bethel, Gavin Freiberg, and Elise Brott.

Dozens of Lenihan Intermediate School students have been reading avidly over the past several weeks, and their hard work was rewarded Monday at the Battle of the Books Bash. 

Marshalltown Public Library hosted the 78 Lenihan Battle of the Books participants, along with several St. Francis Catholic School students. Small teams of students were tasked with reading 25 books and their knowledge of those books was tested Monday. 

The teams competed in a quote quiz, where they tried to correctly match a given quote with one of the books they read, and a team of Lenihan students emerged victorious in that contest. 

The local Battle of the Books competition is hosted by Marshalltown Public Library. The goal of the program is to spark students’ interest and passion for reading books.