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Three º£½ÇÊÓƵ College students are serving alongside the City of º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s Fire Department as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and firefighters—strengthening the connection between campus and community in meaningful ways.

The Katherine Howell Weingart ’61 Civic Innovation Pavilion, located in Renfrow Hall, is designed to bring people together — creating opportunities for collaboration, learning, and shared experiences between campus and the greater º£½ÇÊÓƵ community.

Downtown º£½ÇÊÓƵ was filled with warmth and sweetness on Feb. 6 as the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Sweet Stroll.

From the start, the meal stood out for its collaborative spirit. Different community organizations took turns cooking and serving each week, creating a shared effort that, over time, fed thousands of community members and reflected the generosity of º£½ÇÊÓƵ itself.

The College awarded over $14,000 in Community Mini-Grants to support efforts by local non-profits.

Food has long been a place where culture, memory, and community meet—and in small towns across Iowa, Chinese American restaurants have played a quiet but powerful role in shaping local life.

For Jeff Smith, basketball in º£½ÇÊÓƵ has never just been about the game—it’s been about family, community, and the places that shape you long before you realize it. Smith’s journey reflects a story º£½ÇÊÓƵ knows well: roots that run deep, a willingness to explore beyond them, and a return driven by connection, service, and community.

The º£½ÇÊÓƵ community gathered for a truly special performance of The Nutcracker, made possible through a collaboration between º£½ÇÊÓƵ College, the º£½ÇÊÓƵ School of Music, the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Area Arts Council, and Ballet Des Moines. Photos were provided by Jennifer Weinman Photography.

The College, º£½ÇÊÓƵ School of Music, and the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Area Arts Council worked together to bring the Ballet Des Moines’ professional production of The Nutcracker to º£½ÇÊÓƵ. Notably, this performance also brought together 30 º£½ÇÊÓƵ area young dancers to collaborate with the professional ballerinas. Leading up to the performance, the Des Moines Ballet collaborated with these students to gracefully integrate them into the production.

These student leaders offer meaningful perspectives on community engagement, showcasing their lived experience, their academic interests, and their identities in the work of strengthening community through service, leadership, and collaboration.