Latest news with #St.Ambrose
Boston Globe
25-05-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Eastern Nazarene College part of nationwide wave of rural, religious colleges experiencing closures, mergers
Then it took an unexpected turn. 'Lord, hear our prayer for St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy University,' the young voice said, 'that the grace of the Holy Spirit may help us to follow God's plan for our new partnership.' The speaker was talking about ongoing efforts to unite St. Ambrose University, where this weeknight Mass was being held, with fellow Catholic university Mount Mercy. Small religious schools in rural states are shutting down at an accelerating rate, a fate these two are attempting to avoid. Advertisement 'Lord, hear our prayer,' responded the congregation of students in St. Ambrose-branded T-shirts and hoodies. The heads of both St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy, which is in Cedar Rapids, said they've watched as nearby religiously affiliated colleges, athletic rivals and institutions that employed their friends and former colleagues closed. With falling numbers of applicants to college — especially in the Midwest — 'we just don't have the demographics anymore,' said St. Ambrose President Amy Novak. Now, as For many other small religiously affiliated institutions, time has already run out. More than half of the 79 nonprofit colleges and universities that have closed or merged since 2020, or announced that they will close or merge, were religiously affiliated, according to a Hechinger Report analysis of news coverage and Advertisement Some small, religiously affiliated institutions that are not on these lists are also showing signs of strain. Saint Augustine's University in North Carolina, which is Episcopal, has 200 students, down from 1,100 two years ago, and has Bluffton University in Ohio, which is Mennonite, is looking for new partners after a planned merger Other religiously affiliated schools are also taking steps to buttress themselves against demographic and financial challenges. Ursuline College in Ohio, for instance, which has fewer than 1,000 students, Advertisement More than a fifth of colleges and universities in the United States, or 849 out of 3,893, The threats to them are getting new attention. Presidents of 20 Catholic universities and colleges met in November in Chicago at a conference sponsored by DePaul University and held at the offices of the Deloitte consulting firm, which collected data to help them figure out solutions to the challenges they face. 'The intent was to think about a blueprint for the future of Catholic higher education,' including more partnerships, shared services and other kinds of alliances, said Donna Carroll, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. 'Survival of the fittest is not the strategy that will advance the common good of Catholic higher education. We have to work together.' The American Council on Education last year launched a Commission on Faith-Based Colleges and Universities, with leaders of what has since grown to 17 institutions including Pepperdine, Brigham Young and Yeshiva universities and the University of Notre Dame. The idea of the commission, which is scheduled to meet in Washington in June, is 'to increase visibility for the important contributions of religious and faith-based colleges and universities and to foster collaboration' among them. Advertisement Some religious colleges and universities are doing fine, and even posting enrollment gains — at least in part because of growing political divisions, campus protests and ideological attacks on secular institutions, said David Hoag, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Parents are 'wanting to put their son or daughter at a safe place that's going to have a biblical worldview or a way to look at challenges that's not polarized,' Hoag said. 'At our institutions, you're not going to be seeing protests or things that are happening at many of these [other] universities and colleges. You're going to see them rallying together, whether it's for a sporting event or for a revival or baptisms.' Other trends also offer some hope to religiously affiliated colleges and universities. A long decline in the proportion of adults who consider themselves affiliated with a religion Even religiously affiliated institutions confronting the realities of falling enrollment and financial woes fill a critically important role, their advocates say. They often serve low-income students who are the first in their families to go to college and are reluctant to enroll at large public universities. Many are in rural areas where access to higher education is more limited than in urban and suburban places and is becoming less available still as public universities in rural states have Advertisement Attending a small rural, religiously affiliated institution 'is, I think — especially for rural students — a great opportunity,' said Todd Olson, president of Mount Mercy, above the sound of trains crossing Cedar Rapids outside his window. 'I know kids from very small towns around Iowa,' like the one where he grew up, Olson said. 'This campus is a much more comfortable place for them.' When Jacob Lange arrived at St. Ambrose from East Dubuque, Illinois, and attended a Mass on campus, 'all of a sudden all these new people I had never met were kind of chatting with me and it was really kind of nice. It felt like I was kind of included and I didn't really think I would be originally,' he said. 'You figure, 'I'm probably going to sit in the back and probably not talk to anyone all night,' and then I showed up, and I walked out here and all of a sudden they're, like, 'Here, come join our group.' ' His parents also liked that he decided to go to a Catholic university, Lange said. 'You know, you go to one of these big schools with 25,000 kids, and you're kind of worried about your kid — like, what kind of dumb things is he going to get up to?' Catholic universities in particular have a slightly higher four-year graduation rate than the national average, according to the Center for Catholic Studies at St. Mary's University in Texas. Graduates have a stronger sense of community purpose, the center found in a survey. Alumni are 9 percentage points more likely to say they participate in civic activities. Advertisement More students at religiously affiliated than at secular institutions receive financial aid, the American Council on Education says. Three out of five get scholarships from the colleges themselves, compared to fewer than one in four at other kinds of schools. At both But these benefits for students can be vulnerabilities for budgets, said Novak, at St. Ambrose. 'We serve the poor. We educate the poor,' she said. 'That is a risky financial proposition at the moment for small, regional institutions that are largely tuition-driven.' The threats to smaller religiously affiliated institutions in rural areas stem largely from the downturn in the already short supply of high school graduates choosing to enroll. The proportion of such students going straight to college has fallen While they're generous with their financial aid, religiously affiliated colleges are also generally more expensive than many other higher education institutions, at a time when many families are questioning the return on their investments in tuition. Median tuition and fees average $25,416 a year, according to the American Council on Education. St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy, about 90 minutes away, Reaction among students and alumni has been mixed. Combining with St. Ambrose 'was kind of nerve-racking at the beginning because it's, like, 'Oh, this is a lot of change,' ' said Alaina Bina, a junior nursing major at Mount Mercy. She picked the university in the first place because she liked the small, hilly campus. 'I came from a small town, so I didn't really want to go bigger,' she said. 'Even when I came here on a tour, people would say 'Hi' to each other. You just know everyone, and that's kind of how it is in a small town, too.' Students were worried about what name would appear on their degrees (the degrees will still say 'Mount Mercy') and whether sports teams that once competed against each other would be merged. Novak and Olson promised to keep their athletics programs separate and even add a sport at Mount Mercy: football, beginning in 2026. Combining sports teams 'would not be wise at all from a business perspective,' Olson said the two agreed, because they are 'a powerful enrollment driver' for both schools. 'Honestly, this was probably the biggest student concern,' said Nasharia Patterson, student government president at Mount Mercy, who was wearing a brace on her wrist from an awkward back tuck basket catch during cheer practice. Keeping the athletics teams 'gives us a piece of Mount Mercy specifically to just hold on to.' Among alumni, meanwhile, 'there's mixed feelings' about what's happening to their alma mater, said Sarah Watson, a leadership development consultant who graduated from Mount Mercy in 2008. Still, she said, 'I know the great challenges that higher ed is facing right now. It's not just Mount Mercy. It's not just St. Ambrose. It's the bigger schools, too. Enrollment numbers have dropped. The desire to go to a traditional four-year college is just not quite what it used to be.' For Mount Mercy, which was founded by an order of nuns in 1928, Watson said, 'If we don't do this, what's the alternative? We want to be around for another hundred years.' After all, said Novak, the St. Ambrose president, 'to watch universities close across the heartland because we can't make it work will leave our communities fallow.' Carroll, of the Catholic colleges and university association, said that many other religiously affiliated institutions are closely watching what's happening at St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy. 'It's a leap of faith,' she said. 'And who better to take a leap of faith than a Catholic institution?' This story about and universities was produced by , a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for our . Listen to our
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Losing faith: Rural, religious campuses are among the most endangered
DAVENPORT, Iowa - The Catholic prayer for the faithful echoed off the limestone walls and marble floor of the high-ceilinged chapel. It implored God to comfort the poor and the hungry. The sick and the suffering. The anxious and the afraid. Then it took an unexpected turn. "Lord, hear our prayer for St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy University," the young voice said, "that the grace of the Holy Spirit may help us to follow God's plan for our new partnership." The speaker was talking about ongoing efforts to unite St. Ambrose University, where this weeknight Mass was being held, with fellow Catholic university Mount Mercy. Small religious schools in rural states are shutting down at an accelerating rate, a fate these two are attempting to avoid. "Lord, hear our prayer," responded the congregation of students in St. Ambrose-branded T-shirts and hoodies. The heads of both St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy, which is in Cedar Rapids, said they've watched as nearby religiously affiliated colleges, athletic rivals and institutions that employed their friends and former colleagues closed. With falling numbers of applicants to college - especially in the Midwest - "we just don't have the demographics anymore," said St. Ambrose President Amy Novak. Now, as fewer graduates emerge from high schools, combining forces is a way to forestall "the reality that we might all see in five or seven years," Novak said. For many other small religiously affiliated institutions, time has already run out. See a list of religiously affiliated colleges that have closed, been merged, or announced that they are closing or merging. More than half of the 77 nonprofit colleges and universities that have closed or merged since 2020, or announced that they will close or merge, were religiously affiliated, according to a Hechinger Report analysis of news coverage and federal data. More than 30 that are still in business are on a U.S. Department of Education list of institutions considered "not financially responsible" because of comparatively low cash reserves and net income and high levels of debt. Related: Interested in innovations in higher education? Subscribe to our free biweekly higher education newsletter. Some small, religiously affiliated institutions that are not on these lists are also showing signs of strain. Saint Augustine's University in North Carolina, which is Episcopal, has 200 students, down from 1,100 two years ago, and has lost its accreditation. The 166-year-old St. Francis College in New York, which is Catholic, has sacked a quarter of its staff. Catholic Saint Louis University in Missouri laid off 20 employees, eliminated 130 unfilled faculty and staff positions and sold off its medical practice after running a deficit. Bluffton University in Ohio, which is Mennonite, is looking for a new partner after a planned merger fell through in February and the president resigned. Catholic St. Norbert College in Wisconsin is eliminating 11 majors and minors and 21 faculty positions. And Georgetown College in Kentucky averted closing only after an alumnus gave it $16 million, which, along with another $12 million in donations, was enough to pay off crippling debt that was costing the small Baptist institution $3 million a year just in interest. Other religiously affiliated schools are also taking steps to buttress themselves against demographic and financial challenges. Ursuline College in Ohio, for instance, which has fewer than 1,000 students, has agreed to merge with larger Gannon University, 95 miles away. Both are Catholic. Spring Hill College in Alabama and Rockhurst University in Missouri, both also Catholic, are teaming up so they can jointly offer more academic programs, though they will remain independent. More than a fifth of colleges and universities in the United States, or 849 out of 3,893, are religiously affiliated, according to the most recent figures from the National Center for Education Statistics. The threats to them are getting new attention. Presidents of 20 Catholic universities and colleges met in November in Chicago at a conference sponsored by DePaul University and held at the offices of the Deloitte consulting firm, which collected data to help them figure out solutions to the challenges they face. "The intent was to think about a blueprint for the future of Catholic higher education," including more partnerships, shared services and other kinds of alliances, said Donna Carroll, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. "Survival of the fittest is not the strategy that will advance the common good of Catholic higher education. We have to work together." The American Council on Education last year launched a Commission on Faith-Based Colleges and Universities, with leaders of what has since grown to 17 institutions including Pepperdine, Brigham Young and Yeshiva universities and the University of Notre Dame. The idea of the commission, which is scheduled to meet in Washington in June, is "to increase visibility for the important contributions of religious and faith-based colleges and universities and to foster collaboration" among them. Some religious colleges and universities are doing fine, and even posting enrollment gains - at least in part because of growing political divisions, campus protests and ideological attacks on secular institutions, said David Hoag, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Parents are "wanting to put their son or daughter at a safe place that's going to have a biblical worldview or a way to look at challenges that's not polarized," Hoag said. "At our institutions, you're not going to be seeing protests or things that are happening at many of these [other] universities and colleges. You're going to see them rallying together, whether it's for a sporting event or for a revival or baptisms." Other trends also offer some hope to religiously affiliated colleges and universities. A long decline in the proportion of adults who consider themselves affiliated with a religion appears to have leveled off, the Pew Research Center finds. And while enrollment at parochial schools that feed graduates to Catholic universities fell more than 10 percent from 2017 to 2021, the most recent year for which the figure is available, the number of students at other kinds of religious primary and secondary schools is up. Even religiously affiliated institutions confronting the realities of falling enrollment and financial woes fill a critically important role, their advocates say. They often serve low-income students who are the first in their families to go to college and are reluctant to enroll at large public universities. Related: The number of 18-year-olds is about to drop sharply, packing a wallop for colleges - and the economy Many are in rural areas where access to higher education is more limited than in urban and suburban places and is becoming less available still as public universities in rural states have merged or closed or cut dozens of majors. Attending a small rural, religiously affiliated institution "is, I think - especially for rural students - a great opportunity," said Todd Olson, president of Mount Mercy, above the sound of trains crossing Cedar Rapids outside his window. "I know kids from very small towns around Iowa," like the one where he grew up, Olson said. "This campus is a much more comfortable place for them." When Jacob Lange arrived at St. Ambrose from East Dubuque, Illinois, and attended a Mass on campus, "all of a sudden all these new people I had never met were kind of chatting with me and it was really kind of nice. It felt like I was kind of included and I didn't really think I would be originally," he said. "You figure, 'I'm probably going to sit in the back and probably not talk to anyone all night,' and then I showed up, and I walked out here and all of a sudden they're, like, 'Here, come join our group.' " His parents also liked that he decided to go to a Catholic university, Lange said. "You know, you go to one of these big schools with 25,000 kids, and you're kind of worried about your kid - like, what kind of dumb things is he going to get up to?" Catholic universities in particular have a slightly higher four-year graduation rate than the national average, according to the Center for Catholic Studies at St. Mary's University in Texas. Graduates have a stronger sense of community purpose, the center found in a survey. Alumni are 9 percentage points more likely to say they participate in civic activities. Related:See Hechinger's list of all college closures since 2008 More students at religiously affiliated than at secular institutions receive financial aid, the American Council on Education says. Three out of five get scholarships from the colleges themselves, compared to fewer than one in four at other kinds of schools. At both Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose, which have about 1,450 and 2,700 students, respectively, 100 percent get financial aid. But these benefits for students can be vulnerabilities for budgets, said Novak, at St. Ambrose. "We serve the poor. We educate the poor," she said. "That is a risky financial proposition at the moment for small, regional institutions that are largely tuition-driven." The threats to smaller religiously affiliated institutions in rural areas stem largely from the downturn in the already short supply of high school graduates choosing to enroll. The proportion of such students going straight to college has fallen even more sharply in many largely rural states. While they're generous with their financial aid, religiously affiliated colleges are also generally more expensive than many other higher education institutions, at a time when many families are questioning the return on their investments in tuition. Median tuition and fees average $25,416 a year, according to the American Council on Education. Related: 'Easy to just write us off': Rural students' choices shrink as colleges slash majors St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy, about 90 minutes away,are teaming up from positions of relative strength. Publicly available financial documents suggest that neither faces the immediate enrollment or financial crises that threaten many similar institutions. But their leaders say that they're trying to fend off problems that could arise later. By joining forces, each can increase its number of programs while lowering administrative costs. Reaction among students and alumni has been mixed. Combining with St. Ambrose "was kind of nerve-racking at the beginning because it's, like, 'Oh, this is a lot of change,' " said Alaina Bina, a junior nursing major at Mount Mercy. She picked the university in the first place because she liked the small, hilly campus. "I came from a small town, so I didn't really want to go bigger," she said. "Even when I came here on a tour, people would say 'Hi' to each other. You just know everyone, and that's kind of how it is in a small town, too." Students were worried about what name would appear on their degrees (the degrees will still say "Mount Mercy") and whether sports teams that once competed against each other would be merged. Novak and Olson promised to keep their athletics programs separate and even add a sport at Mount Mercy: football, beginning in 2026. Combining sports teams "would not be wise at all from a business perspective," Olson said the two agreed, because they are "a powerful enrollment driver" for both schools. "Honestly, this was probably the biggest student concern," said Nasharia Patterson, student government president at Mount Mercy, who was wearing a brace on her wrist from an awkward back tuck basket catch during cheer practice. Keeping the athletics teams "gives us a piece of Mount Mercy specifically to just hold on to." Among alumni, meanwhile, "there's mixed feelings" about what's happening to their alma mater, said Sarah Watson, a leadership development consultant who graduated from Mount Mercy in 2008. Still, she said, "I know the great challenges that higher ed is facing right now. It's not just Mount Mercy. It's not just St. Ambrose. It's the bigger schools, too. Enrollment numbers have dropped. The desire to go to a traditional four-year college is just not quite what it used to be." For Mount Mercy, which was founded by an order of nuns in 1928, Watson said, "If we don't do this, what's the alternative? We want to be around for another hundred years." After all, said Novak, the St. Ambrose president, "to watch universities close across the heartland because we can't make it work will leave our communities fallow." Carroll, of the Catholic colleges and university association, said that many other religiously affiliated institutions are closely watching what's happening at St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy. "It's a leap of faith," she said. "And who better to take a leap of faith than a Catholic institution?" Contact writer Jon Marcus at 212-678-7556 orjmarcus@ This story about religious colleges and universities was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for our higher education newsletter. Listen to ourhigher education podcast. The post Losing faith: Rural, religious campuses are among the most endangered appeared first on The Hechinger Report.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Ambrose University, Davenport, will recognize three with McMullen Award
St. Ambrose University will recognize the servant leadership and profound institutional impact of this year's McMullen Award recipients: Paul '76 and Alva Sachs, and Don 'Duke' Schneider '76, a news release says. The McMullen Award presentation will be held 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, during a Mass in Christ the King Chapel on campus, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport. The public is welcome. Paul '76 and Alva SachsTogether, Paul and Alva Sachs have built a life centered on education, family, and service. Through their shared commitment to giving back, they have inspired countless others to do thesame. Paul is a distinguished alumnus who exemplifies excellence in leadership, service, and professional achievement. Coming from a family of seven children, scholarships were essentialin enabling him to attend St. Ambrose. After graduating in 1976 with a degree in accounting, heworked on multiple high-profile accounts as a partner at Arthur Andersen before becoming afounding managing director of Protiviti, a global business consulting firm, where he recentlyretired. His commitment to service extends beyond the corporate world. He joined the board oftrustees at St. Ambrose University in 2002 and has played a key role in supporting capitalcampaigns. Alongside him is his wife, Alva, a dedicated educator, community volunteer, and leader. She earned her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Illinois, followed by a master'sin education from Northern Illinois University. As an award-winning children's author and founder of Three Wishes Publishing Company, Alva has dedicated her career to inspiring young readers. Through her literacy foundation, she provides empowering resources for children and educators, fostering fluency, concentration, creativity, and brain development at an early age. Paul and Alva are relentless champions for the Ambrose Annual Fund, ensuring that all students have access to a St. Ambrose education. As compassionate philanthropists with nearly 40 years of consecutive giving, few individuals embody the university's core values of courage, wisdom, justice, and service as they do. Through their unwavering commitment to charitable giving and service, the Sachs continue to inspire future generations of St. Ambrose students. They demonstrate that true success is measured not only by professional achievements but also by the impact one has on others and the world. Don 'Duke' Schneider '76For more than four decades (and counting), Don 'Duke' Schneider '76 has been synonymous with St. Ambrose. His life's work has left a lasting impact on generations of students, faculty, alumni, and the university as a whole. Duke's journey with St. Ambrose began in 1972 when he arrived as a student in the Communication Department. He was deeply involved in the college's media outlets, contributingto the radio and TV stations, the school newspaper, and theater productions. A few years after he graduated, Schneider returned to campus as the operations manager of thecollege TV station. During his 43-year career, he played a pivotal role in expanding St. Ambrose's digital media platforms and shaping the careers of hundreds of students. His leadership equipped them with the skills needed to succeed in an industry where technology is constantly evolving. But Ambrosians know Schneider for more than just his professional role—he was always there. He attended campus events to ensure every story was covered. He worked alongside students,teaching them the nuances of covering live sports. He was always available to help those struggling to edit a news story, work the camera, or perfect their on-screen delivery. His dedication to student success and the SAU community was unwavering. As a mentor, Schneider guided aspiring communicators with wisdom and encouragement, fostering relationships that continued long after graduation. His passion for storytelling and hiscommitment to his students left an indelible mark. His phone is still filled with messages from alumni sharing updates on their careers, awards, and life milestones—a testament to theprofound impact he has had on so many. Through his dedication to communication, mentorship, and service, Schneider's legacy will continue to inspire the St. Ambrose community for years to come. His contributions extend far beyond the classroom, shaping the minds and futures of countless students and colleagues. About the McMullen AwardNamed in honor of the founder of St. Ambrose College, the Rev. John J. McMullen, the McMullenAward is presented annually to individuals who embody St. Ambrose University's mission: An inclusive, Catholic, and diocesan community of learners, St. Ambrose University empowers allAmbrosians to act courageously, to seek wisdom through faith and reason, to work for justice,and to lead lives of service. The distinguished award was established on Sept. 4, 2006, as St. Ambrose University began its celebration of 125 years of educational excellence in Davenport and the surrounding communities in Iowa and Illinois and continues today as the university's second highest from crosses that once hung in the sanctuary of Christ the King Chapel, the crosswith the seal of the university recognizes the heritage of St. Ambrose and the relationship ofeach recipient with all who have come before, those who are with us now and those who willcome in the future. For more information, visit here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Vaughn Goberville, who makes online fitness and nutrition videos, bulks up for Brother Rice. ‘I love to inspire.'
When it comes to the bodily transformation of Brother Rice's Vaughn Goberville, teammate John Mikrut has seen it all. Goberville was heavy in grade school, then thin as a freshman for the Crusaders, and now has bulked up like a bodybuilder to the point that he's offering online videos on fitness and nutrition. 'Oh, man, I've been with him since fifth grade,' Mikrut said of Goberville, a senior middle hitter. 'Back then, he was on the obese side, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. 'He was an overweight, tiny kid in fifth grade. He grew and his body transformed. He was a skinny kid and then he fell in love with the gym. Now, he's a student of his body.' That student had a lot to say on the volleyball court Tuesday night. The 6-foot-3 Goberville put away the first and final kills of the match for Brother Rice in a 25-22, 25-17 Catholic League victory over host Providence in New Lenox. Goberville finished with five kills for the Crusaders (3-1, 1-0). John Mikrut led the way with seven kills and five aces, while Ben Adamski came up with six kills and Zach Mikrut added five. Jackson Fowler paced Providence (2-6, 0-1) with eight kills. Sean Dovin followed with four. Over the years, Brother Rice coach Brandon McGinnis has witnessed Goberville's progression. 'He's gone from the freshman B team to being a captain on the varsity,' McGinnis said of Goberville. 'He also showed offseason leadership. That's why he's here.' Goberville knows he's undersized as a middle hitter, but since he owns a 39-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot touch, that makes up for it. 'I've been a pretty short middle my entire life,' he said. 'I've always been seen as weak. But I got my vertical up, and I just want to prove to people that small middles can still work.' In the offseason, Goberville watched a bunch of college volleyball videos and hit the weight room. Speaking of videos, his YouTube presence is impressive, with titles such as 'Leaning Out,' 'Return of the Powerlifter,' 'Pull Day — Crazy Guy in the Gym,' 'Body Dysmorphia' and 'How to Build a HUGE Back.' 'I'm a bodybuilder and I'm really into fitness,' Goberville said. 'I love to inspire a younger audience to better themselves, and I love creating videos. I love cameras. 'I'm big on nutrition, so I tell them how to eat and how to work out. But at the same time, I do some talking and tell them about my life.' John Mikrut said he enjoys watching Goberville's videos. 'Honestly, his filmmaking is a cool part of his fitness,' Mikrut said of Goberville. Goberville, who has volleyball offers from St. Ambrose, Trine and Barton, hasn't entered any bodybuilding contests yet. He's wrestling with the decision to stay with volleyball or get even more serious with bodybuilding. He's also aware that bulking up too much can hurt him on the court, so he tapers during the months he plays volleyball. 'He still has quickness and is fast to the block,' McGinnis said. 'He's jumping out of the gym, even with that extra mass. We are always focusing on his legs to make sure they can perform day in and day out.' Goberville has come a long way from the kid who took grief for being too scrawny. 'I was picked on a little for that,' he said. 'They made fun of my skinny wrists and skinny arms.' But not now. 'When you are down, they pick on you,' Goberville said. 'But when you are up, they ask you, 'How are you doing?''
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Humility is the winning formula
In this file photo, head coach Lisa Bluder of the Iowa Hawkeyes signs autographs for fans after the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Jan. 31, 2024 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.' — PROVERBS 11:2 The teachers tying one on in the booth next to us were working up to Friday on a Thursday at Red's in North Liberty. They howled and screeched. I could barely hear son Kieran and his wife Holly across the table. Kieran pointed out that it was attracting attention from another table. With my Hawkeye Bar Vision glasses on I could see that none other than retired Coach Lisa Bluder was seated there. Holy Herky, she is my hero. Star at Linn-Mar and UNI, coach at St. Ambrose, Drake and Iowa. Bluder helped make women's hoops a national attraction while barely leaving the farm. So I walked past her table and told her so. That is the greatest thing about living in Iowa. You can do that at Red's. You do not do that if you see Rick Pitino or John Calipari. But heck, Lisa Bluder seems so nice on TV I am sure she won't mind if I tell her that I love her. She didn't seem to. Her husband Dave stood up and shook my hand. Wow. Ever the Iowan, Coach Bluder asked what I was doing in Iowa City. I told her I was seeing a doctor about some heart plumbing set for Feb. 19. A look came over her face and she expressed genuine concern, as anyone from Marion, Iowa, would. Humility. She has it in spades. She puts others above herself. That's why she is regarded up there with Maury John in my mind. He was Iowa's hero when Drake took on UCLA in the Final Four. I urged her to run for governor. Everyone loves her and would vote for her. She could bring the state together. She laughed but was ever polite, as Fighting Bees from St. Ambrose are off-court. She worked with all races and persuasions. It didn't matter that this was Iowa, we could expect to be the best. You can have fun and be civil while shooting your way to the top. And when some gomer fan from Storm Lake interrupts your Thursday night, you entertain him. You don't win by demeaning others. She did not get dragged in to trash talk. Not one to get whistled for a T. You lose when you gloat. Bluder would spend about an hour celebrating after a win before working up her next game plan. She could manage a phenomenon like Caitlin Clark without anyone noticing. We could use more leadership like that in Iowa. Genuine. If Tommy Tuberville can be a U.S. senator, well … I can dream. Sometimes it can be a dream. Iowa normally is miserable in February. I am scared to death about someone shoving a stent up my arteries. There is Lisa Bluder to pop up and make me think I might be somebody. It's how Iowa can be. Should be. There was a guy standing on the shoulder of the road at Marengo with a cardboard sign that read: 'Go home, illegals.' Where does that come from? How did a Mexican ever put that guy down? What is so wrong with Iowa that would make him stand out there in the wind? What is right with Iowa is that we can be so unassuming. It lifts you up as you leave the hospital parking ramp for home, and there the protester invades the windshield view. It's such a pretty place, even on a brown winter day, the surgeon has a sure hand, and Lisa Bluder is cheering us on. It makes you love Iowa even when you might want to hate it. It's not the heat, it's the humility. Marengo still could use some help. The folks at the Chelsea bar, with the only public restroom around, were priceless. As long as we can somehow stay grounded, we will survive. Art Cullen is editor of the Storm Lake Times Pilot, where this column first appeared, as well as Art Cullen's Notebook on Substack. It is republished here as part of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative. Editor's note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and its member writers to support their work.
