friday takeout

May 21, 2021

CUPPA JOE | straight up news.

  • The fast track: Five Waukon High School May 2021 graduates also earn NICC degrees ... feature


  • Northeast Iowa Community College joins manufacturing consortium ... news


  • Breakfast on the Farm set for June 26! ... news


  • Farm Safety Yields Real Results: National Education Center for Agricultural Safety announces National Farm Safety and Health Week 2021 ... news

FACULTY AND STAFF: Stay up-to-date on the College's Strategic Plan and Tracking document in NICC Shared Files!

Note: The Friday Takeout begins its every-other-week summer schedule. The next issue will be released on June 4.

WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.

Donors Make Great Give Day 2021 a Huge Success!

Thanks for taking part in the annual Great Give Day fundraiser on Thursday May 13, 2021. Through online gifts to the NICC Foundation, 79 donors collectively raised $5,424 to help support our students. In addition to those funds, Peosta Nursing student Jaylen Duster (pictured) helped a $5,000 gift from a local business owner. Jaylen said, as a student currently taking on student loan debt, she was really motivated to help raise money to help keep her fellow students out of student loan debt.

A Culture of Resilience

"The model for success isn't endurance but, rather, recovery." - Adam Markel

Northeast Iowa Community College Business and Community Solutions hosted its annual Business Summit last week! The day's theme, "Creating a 'Got Your Back' Culture of Resilience" featured Adam Markel, Resiliency Expert. He is an international speaker and bestselling author who speaks globally to organizations and mentors c-suite leaders on cultivating resilience, increasing performance and utilizing disruption.


Local leaders attended the summit to gain insights and learn resiliency strategies after a very challenging year. Markel's presentation emphasized how critical it is for leaders to develop the organizational capacity to not only perform under stress, but to thrive in the face of it.


Sponsors included CIRAS, Telegraph Herald, Radio Dubuque, Kunkel & Associates, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation and event partners County Social Services and Prosperity of Eastern Iowa.

WELLNESS 360 | be well.

Pandemic Response Team (PRT) Update:

Update to Face Covering Policy at Northeast Iowa Community College

The following policy is based on CDC, IDPH and local guidance along with consideration of The College’s current COVID-19 case count.


If you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19:

  • Face coverings are optional both indoors and outdoors.

  • Social distancing and capacity restrictions are lifted.


If you are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 you are still encouraged to:

  • Wear a face covering inside any NICC location.

  • Stay 6 feet apart from others.

  • Consider getting a COVID-19 vaccine.


If you are under the age of 18:

  • Face coverings are optional regardless of vaccination status.

  • Parents are encouraged to make their own decision about their child’s face covering usage.

APPETIZER | something for your appetite.

Construction Progress Photos!

BIG FISH | be amazed.

Susan Brown

Manchester and RAMS/Oelwein Center Supervisor


When you were growing up, what game or activity did you absolutely dread playing, and why?


Growing up I absolutely dreaded playing the Monopoly board game. It was long, drawn out and generally went unfinished without a real winner.



What is your astrological sign and your birthday? Has anything unusual, funny, amazing or inspiring ever happened because of your astrological sign?

I was born under the astrological sign of Scorpio on Oct. 31. The unusual is that I have a daughter-in-law born under the same sign, on the same date; incidentally her mother’s name is also Susan.



What is the age in your life that stands out as the most memorable, and why?

Eighteen is the age in my life that stands out as most memorable! I was out from under parental authority and calling my own shots! It was most liberating!

Name one country or region in the world you have never visited that you someday want to visit, serve or spend a vacation?

The one country or region in the world that I have never visited that I would someday want to visit is Ireland, mostly to explore genealogy and family history.

What kid’s movie has completely scarred you for life?

I do not recall having been scarred for life by a kids movie, however my children do not allow my grandchildren to view Bambi, The Fox and The Hound or Old Yeller. They claim that my having allowed them to view these movies impacted them emotionally as children—who knew!

If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!