T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM The electronic sign next to the Marshalltown Community College campus lets the community know when classes start for the 2025-26 school year. President Anne Howsare Boyens is looking forward to seeing students and staff again, and highlighted some events the community can attend in September.

That special time of year is right around the corner — the time when eager, young minds return to the classrooms to further their education. For Marshalltown Community College (MCC), that corner will arrive on Friday, Aug. 22 with student orientation and classes begin Aug. 25.

Iowa Valley Community College President Anne Howsare Boyens is looking forward to the 2025-26 school year.

“Seeing faculty and staff interacting with students and seeing everyone connecting is my favorite part of the start of the term,” she said. “Everyone is fresh and enthusiastic about their future and ready for new adventures.”

According to Howsare Boysens, students have already been arriving and registering, solidifying their spots in desired classes.

“Enrollment is looking very strong,” she said.

Even though some of the classes are full, Howsare Boyens added there are still some spots to be claimed and she urged people to apply as soon as possible to be included.

One of the options already full is the evening nursing program, which is new to MCC this year. “Many other disciplines are reformulating their classes and programs to meet student and industry needs,” she said.

Implementing the evening nursing program comes after the first year of a healthcare apprenticeship program finished at MCC. Due to the nursing shortage, the college partnered with UnityPoint in Marshalltown and Grinnell, the McFarland Clinic and Hansen Family Hospital in Iowa Falls to create the program. It was awarded a three-year $451,878 grant from Iowa Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship 2.0, and generated a lot of interest amongst students. In January, IVCCD Business and Community Solutions Vice President Jacque Goodman said there was a waiting list of 15 to 20 students wanting to get into the program.

Of course, life at MCC goes beyond academics, and Howsare Boyens said the Tiger sports teams are looking strong. Kicking off the school year will be the soccer and volleyball seasons.

“Our rosters are looking great and we have Whitney Sowers, our new athletic director, in place,” she said. “Whitney brings a lot of positivity and new ideas to MCC and we are looking forward to seeing her leadership in action.”

To celebrate the beginning of the year, MCC will host a Welcome Back Club BBQ and start of the East Wall Mural on Aug. 27 outside of the Faust Student Union facility. Howsare Boyens said the event is for students and employees.

However, there are other new and upcoming events Marshalltown residents could try to attend. She said on Sept. 4, the Tiger Days Golf Tournament will be at the Elmwood Country Club.

On Sept. 20, the first ever MCC Fishing and Nature Festival will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the campus pond. At 9 a.m., people will be able to check out various nature organizations booths and programs. Some of the presenters will include Saving Our Avian Resources (SOAR), Tama County Beekeeping Association and Marshall County Master Gardeners.

Food trucks, such as Holy Grounds Coffee, will be at the Fishing and Nature Festival. A raffle for prizes such as Adventureland Amusement Park tickets and a $100 Bass Pro Shops gift card will be held at 12:30 p.m. Money from the raffle will be used for the renovation of the Outdoor Nature Learning Lab.

“I am so excited for this upcoming year and the first day of having all students on campus,” she said. “They are the reason we are here and supporting them is our focus. We are so excited to see everyone and get into the fall term.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.