Marshalltown High School freshmen basketball team assistant coach Khor Kong talks to MHS freshman player Grant Greazel prior to a game on December 20. Khor is a 2011 MHS graduate who helps coach three sports at MHS.

A former heralded athlete from Marshalltown High School is now hoping to inspire the next generation of Bobcats in athletics.

Khor Kong, a 2011 MHS graduate, is an assistant coach for the MHS freshmen football, varsity track and freshmen basketball teams.

“It’s important for me to inspire youth in my hometown because I look at it as my way of giving back, and also a necessary step in the right direction for what we want for our youth here in Marshalltown,” Khor said.

He said since he’s had many coaches in his athletic career he has tried to take the best attributes from them in his approach to coaching.

“I try to get the best out of every kid that I possibly can,” he said.

Khor also works with behavioral disorder students at Miller Middle School as a paraeducator and is employed part time at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA.

Track champion
After high school, Khor earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he ran track and field and was part of the national champion distance medley relay in 2012. Khor also was a two-time state champion in the distance medley relay at Marshalltown High School.

Khor said he had many inspirational teachers and coaches in Marshalltown Schools including Doug Bacon, who not only helped him in track but also tutored him in pre-calculus.

“I would go to his house for help and we would work on homework for hours,” Khor said. “Looking back at it, he really didn’t have to do that, but he did because that’s the kind of person he is.”

Other inspirational and supportive Marshalltown Schools staff he mentioned through the years included Mark Bohan, Todd Kluver and Jen Beals, among others.

Native of Kenya
Khor was born in Kenya and moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota when he was six years old.  He eventually moved to Marshalltown in the sixth grade where he was impacted by Anson Middle School teachers Leah Mattox and Angie Lovell.

Mattox, who now teaches at Lenihan Intermediate School, remembers Khor’s friendliness and willingness to work.

“He was always such a positive, hard working student who was friends with everyone,” Mattox said.  “We are so blessed to have someone of his character helping our students now and being a role model.”

Olivia Adams Zmolek, center, won the Marshalltown High School Poetry Out Loud contest on December 19. Also pictured is second place winner Zyrus Whitehead, left, and third place winner Phoebe Osgood.

Marshalltown High School sophomore Olivia Adams Zmolek won the school’s Poetry Out Loud contest on December 19 in the MHS/Community Auditorium. It was the second year in a row that she took top honors at the MHS contest as she will next compete in the state Poetry Out Loud competition on March 3.

Taking second place in the MHS contest was senior Zyrus Whitehead while senior Phoebe Osgood placed third.  Other great performances were given by the rest of the competitors including Carmen Araiza, Alex Stansberry and Heather Junk.

Poetry Out Loud has students recite two poems from memorization. Students are judged on the following criteria: physical presence, voice and articulation, appropriateness of dramatization, level of complexity of the poem they read, evidence of understanding, accuracy and overall performance.

Alex Stansberry

Carmen Araiza

Heather Junk

Phoebe Osgood, third place

Zyrus Whitehead, second place

Olivia Adams Zmolek, first place

Marshalltown High School students delivered treats to construction workers who are workingon the Roundhouse Phase II project before school on December 18. Pictured from left are Jonathan McKeever, Mia Barajas, Luke Wymore, Shakira Herrera, Jane Ragland, Emily Jacobs, Zyrus Whitehead, Carissa King and Olivia Brintnall.

While students and staff have been working at Marshalltown High School this year, construction workers have also been getting the job done on the Roundhouse Phase II project.

It was time to bridge that gap on December 18 as MHS juniors and seniors in Shelly Chandler’s composition classes delivered holiday cheer to the workers in the form of baked treats, breakfast pizza and water. It was Mrs. Chandler’s idea and was well received by the workers.

“We just wanted to let them know how much we appreciate what they are doing for us,” Chandler said.

Construction is nearing completion on the Roundhouse Phase II project which includes an auxiliary gym and wrestling room at MHS. The project is led by the general contractor Ball Team.

For a video of this delivery, click here.

Maria Estrada is a 2015 Marshalltown High School graduate who hopes to earn her teaching degree and come back to Marshalltown to teach.

It took a few years out of high school for Maria Estrada to find her passion. But now that she’s found it, she is ready to go to the next level.

The 2015 Marshalltown High School graduate and 2017 Marshalltown Community College graduate is now set to attend Buena Vista University locally to study elementary education. She discovered her love of helping students learn through her work as a teaching assistant at Bobcat Academy.

“That’s how I found out I want to be a teacher,” Estrada said. “I enjoy seeing kids learn about new things and how their mind works.”

Estrada credits the Marshalltown Education Partnership (MEP), which is a program that provides MCC tuition to Marshalltown students after years of mentorship and other guidance.

“MEP really helped me open new doors,” Estrada said.

That next door is leading her to two years at the BVU satellite campus in Marshalltown with both classroom and online coursework while she is still employed full time at Bobcat Academy. Bobcat Academy has provided her a scholarship as well.

“It is truly a joy to have Maria as part of our Bobcat Academy staff,” said Bobcat Academy Director Amber Young. “She is not only reliable and professional, but is also kind and positive with everyone she encounters.  Kids light up when they see her and the wealth of positives her colleagues have to say about her speak volumes to her character and work ethic.”

She hopes to one day give back to Marshalltown Schools by teaching the next generation of students.

“I’ve lived in Marshalltown my whole life and with all the teachers I’ve had here I would like to give that back to the community,” Estrada said. “I would love to teach here.”

The 2018 Marshalltown High School Holiday Concert was held on December 9 at the MHS/Community Auditorium. It featured vocal and instrumental performances.

View more photos from the event on the district Facebook page.

Treble Choir

Concert Choir

Holiday Singers

Symphonic Band

Wind Symphony

Eli Devine is a 2013 Marshalltown High School graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Iowa State University. He is currently working on his master’s degree in Education from ISU and wants to be a math teacher.

MHS graduate hopes to inspire next generation

Eli Devine had inspirational math teachers during his time at Marshalltown High School. In fact he was inspired so much that he hopes to become one of them himself.

Devine is a 2013 Marshalltown High School graduate who received his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Iowa State University in December 2017. He is currently working toward a master’s degree in Education at ISU with a teaching focus on mathematics.

“I enjoyed my time and the people there, and I want to be able to give back to the community and be a part to help it grow more and create more opportunities of learning to all students,” Devine said.

Devine said MHS math teachers such as Scott Smith and Nancy Sills helped build his love of math.

“They were both very encouraging to me as teachers and answered any questions I had with enthusiasm,” Devine said. “They were both very welcoming and worked towards that teacher-student relationship and tried to understand their students. For me, they really made the classes fun, challenging, and engaging for myself.”

Scott Smith remembers Eli being a well-rounded student at MHS.

“Eli was a model student in that he was both gifted academically as well as involved in many extracurricular activities,” Smith said. “He led by example and serving others and represented the best MHS had to offer.”

Some of Eli’s favorite memories from MHS are participating in athletics and singing in retirement homes as a member of the Holiday Singers. Eli too acknowledged he was able to take advantage of opportunities and the Science Bound graduate appreciated the world that was open to him at MHS.

“I was able to be involved in a variety of extracurricular activities that helped shape who I am today and add to my experience,” Devine said.

When Eli wraps up his master’s program work he hopes return to Marshalltown to teach and inspire students who are seated in the same place he was several years ago.

“It is important to me to return to Marshalltown because Marshalltown has done a lot for me when I was a student there, I enjoyed my time and the people there, and I want to be able to give back to the community and be a part to help it grow more and create more opportunities of learning to all students,” Devine said.

Pictured on the new Marshalltown High School wrestling competition mat donated by the Bobcat Booster Club are from left, Anne Vance of the Booster Club, Head Wrestling Coach Mike Mann and Amy Williams of the Booster Club.

The Bobcat Booster Club was recognized prior to the home wrestling match at the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse against Urbandale on December 6 for a recent donation. The club donated $10,000 toward the purchase of the new wrestling competition mat.

“Over the years the Booster Club has donated funds toward the purchases of uniforms, scoreboards and equipment and have provided countless volunteer hours to assist in promoting and supporting Marshalltown athletics,” said MHS Activities Director Rollie Ackerman. “Thank you all for your continued generous and valuable support.”

The wrestling program will receive another boost as the Roundhouse Phase II project which includes a wrestling room and auxiliary gym nears completion.

The new wrestling competition mat made possible by the Bobcat Booster Club.

Members of the Marshalltown High School robotics team displayed their competition robot at the 3rd Annual Family Coding Night held on December 5 at Miller Middle School.

Robotics, STEM activities, computer technology and coding filled the Miller Middle School gym on December 5. It was the third annual Family Coding Night at the gym which featured students of all ages and families coming together to celebrate the world of technology and offerings in Marshalltown Schools.

To view a video from
the event, click here.

To view more photos from the event visit our district Facebook page.

Woodbury Elementary School teacher librarian Val Ehlers talks to a youngster who is trying out a Codeapillar.

Students play a video game designed by Miller Middle School students Locke Bloomquist, left, and Kaiden McWilliams, not pictured.

Students from Marshalltown High School toured and presented at the World Food Prize Foundation headquarters in Des Moines on November 29. Pictured in front row, from left, are Alejandra Morales and Hay Oo. Back row, Betsy Goeh, Uriel Campos Padilla, Hay Htu, Nasteho Mohammed and Josue Asul Martinez Torres.

A group of Marshalltown High School English Language Learner-Gifted students visited the World Food Prize Foundation headquarters in Des Moines on November 29.

The students were able to report to the staff there on food security issues around the world, as part of a special project led by MHS teachers Hector Campos and Susan Fritzell. One group of students chose to research Venezuela and the other group researched Ethiopia.

Each group gave a 30 minute presentation on the current situation in each of these countries and proposed a possible solution to help alleviate the hunger issues there. The students were also treated to a tour of the World Food Prize building where they were introduced to the stories of Norman Borlaug and many of the World Food Prize laureates.

The students are pictured receiving a tour from World Food Prize Youth Institute Director Kelsey Tyrrell, left.

Lydia (Kosbau) Youngdahl works as a bilingual counselor for YSS in Marshalltown. She is a 2008 Marshalltown High School graduate.

2008 MHS graduate serves as a
bilingual counselor in her hometown

Something clicked for Lydia (Kosbau) Youngdahl when she was a student at Central College in Pella. The 2008 Marshalltown High School graduate found her passion and her hometown now reaps the benefits.

Youngdahl already had an interest in the Spanish language and as she enrolled in sociology and psychology courses at Central she found her calling – working in counseling with Spanish speaking families.

And there is no shortage of that type of work in the diverse community of Marshalltown. Since 2015, she has worked as a bilingual family counselor for YSS, which is also known as Youth and Shelter Services or Youth Standing Strong.

Lydia works with families who have youth in juvenile courts and also conducts in-home counseling for at-risk youth through referrals from schools.

“I love being able to speak Spanish and provide a service to families that wouldn’t otherwise get it,” Youngdahl said. “I really like seeing my families succeed and being able to get the things they need.”

Since she is both a Spanish speaker and a counselor, there is no need to bring along an interpreter as is the case many times when counselors visit homes of Spanish speakers.

“It builds a trust and speeds up the work,” Youngdahl said.

When she is not providing these needed services, the 2012 Central College graduate also gives back by helping with an afterschool program through Grace Church known as The Big House.

David Hicks, director of YSS of Marshall County who is also a graduate of MHS, said he sees Lydia as a valued member of the YSS staff.

“She represents the very best of our agency’s values and mission,” Hicks said. “Lydia was recently chosen by her colleagues for having demonstrated outstanding compassion through her work as our bilingual counselor.”

Diversity in Marshalltown
Youngdahl said the diversity of Marshalltown helped her grow and become the person she is today.

“The diversity in Marshalltown Schools is a huge benefit to kids,” she said. “You learn so much about the world and about yourself when you learn about other people’s culture and background. It creates a more well-rounded individual when you are able to do that.”

She said she had many inspirational teachers through the years in Marshalltown and noted that just a few were MHS Spanish teachers Tonia Emerson and James Christensen and social studies teacher Tim Johnson. All three still teach at MHS.

“The foreign language department at MHS is really strong,” Youngdahl said.

Her future
Lydia plans to enroll in a three-year online program to become licensed in mental health therapy. It appears her career goals and the needs of her community will once again align.

“There’s a huge need for mental health therapy for Spanish speakers here,” Youngdahl said. “I want to be able to continue to help people.”

As with any community, she heard her fellow students in high school talk about how they can’t wait to leave Marshalltown. In Lydia’s case, she couldn’t wait to get back.

“I knew that I needed to come back and serve here,” she said.