04/20/23: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

PTK advisors at NCC receive awards

The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon was notified that two of its advisors were selected as 2023 Outstanding Advisors.

Laura Nachtigal, NCC Executive Assistant and Board Secretary and a PTK advisor for 14 years was selected to receive Phi Theta Kappa’s 2023 Distinguished Advisor Award. To be eligible, advisors must have at least four or more years of service. Recipients are nominated by a PTK chapter member and a college employee and are only eligible to receive this award once.

Morgan Granstra, NCC Coordinator-Foundation and Alumni Relations and a PTK Advisor since August 2022, is a recipient of the Phi Theta Kappa’s 2023 Paragon Award for New Advisors. To be eligible, advisors have less than four years of service. Recipients are nominated by a PTK chapter member and a college employee and are only eligible to receive this award once.

These awards recognize advisors who make significant contributions to the growth of individual members, serve as the chapter’s advocate on campus and encourage the chapter to be involved on the local, regional and/or international levels of the organization.

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries.

PTK Advisor Awards will be presented at the PTK Catalyst 2023 in Columbus, Ohio, April 20-22.

Director elections planned for crop reporting districts

On July 11, corn farmers in crop reporting districts 1, 3, 6 and 7 can vote at their local county ISU extension office for representation on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB). The board’s primary priorities and responsibilities include domestic and foreign market development, research of new and value-added corn uses and education on corn and the farmers who grow it.  

Corn farmers within districts 1, 3, 6 and 7 who have produced and marketed 250 bushels of corn or more in Iowa in the previous marketing year (Sept. 1, 2021 to Aug. 31, 2022) and are interested in running for a position may still file a petition with the ICPB. Petitions can be obtained by contacting the Iowa Corn office and must contain the signatures of 25 corn producers from the same district as the prospective director candidate. Completed and notarized petitions must be delivered to the Iowa Corn office no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 26. Once all grower petitions have been received, a final list of candidates will be generated, and candidate names will be listed on the election ballots.

Anyone who has produced and marketed 250 bushels of corn or more in Iowa in the previous marketing year is eligible to vote in the election. Producers unable to visit the local ISU extension office on July 11 can vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can be requested beginning May 24 and must be made no later than June 19 by contacting the Iowa Corn office at (515) 225-9242 or by visiting http://www.iowacorn.org. Absentee ballots must be postmarked or returned to the Iowa Corn office no later than July 11. The results of the election are announced publicly on July 14.    

The current candidates for USDA Crop Reporting District 1 are: Joshua Haack, O’Brien County; and Chad Harms, Dickinson County.