Latest news with #IndianHillsCommunityCollege
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
OUR VIEW: Slashing Job Corps is a betrayal of southeast Iowa
The U.S. Department of Labor's decision to 'pause' all contractor-run Job Corps centers, effectively shutting them down, is a devastating blow to the Ottumwa community. It's also a glaring example of federal leadership abandoning successful, long-term investment for short-term optics. Let's be clear: no program is perfect. The desire to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce deficits resonates across party lines for good reason. When done right, efforts to ensure government programs deliver maximum impact should be applauded. But that's not what is happening here. This is a program with documented successes being discarded to save fractions of a penny in the grand scheme of the federal budget. Whatever savings result will pale in comparison to the long-term societal costs of ending it. In Ottumwa, Job Corps was not a liability. It was a model of success. Serving 33 counties in the region, the center consistently ranked among the top nationwide for job placement. It maintained strong partnerships with local employers and Indian Hills Community College. It trained young adults in fields such as health care and information technology. This program provided real life-changing opportunities to some of our most at-risk children and young adults. The federal government claims the program's costs are too high, citing an average of $80,000 per student annually. But the cost of doing nothing is far greater. That $80,000 is a worthwhile investment when it helps lift young people out of poverty by providing structure, direction and opportunity. Programs like Job Corps are an investment. What message do we send when we abandon programs that offer young adults the tools to succeed, not through handouts but through hard work and hands-on training? What good does creating jobs do if we won't invest in preparing people to fill them? Cutting off the opportunity Job Corps provides, especially in rural areas like southeast Iowa, isn't just poor policy. It's a moral failure. The 195 students still enrolled at the Ottumwa center have been given mere days to leave. More than 100 staff members will lose their jobs at the end of the month. And for what? A vague promise of reevaluation and a faint hope that someone, somewhere, might come up with an alternative. The government's announcement offered no tangible details. We hope this is not the end. We urge readers to raise their voices and contact their elected officials to demand this program be reinstated. In the meantime, we offer our deepest thanks to the staff who dedicated themselves to bettering young lives in our region. While today's administration may not see the value in that work, we have seen it first hand — and we know this community is better because of it.
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa baseball pitcher enters transfer portal
Iowa baseball pitcher enters transfer portal After making 30 combined appearances out of the bullpen in his two seasons with Iowa baseball, senior right-hander Sam Hart announced on Thursday that he will enter the transfer portal. The Highlands Ranch, Colorado, native joined the Hawkeyes before the 2024-25 campaign after two seasons with Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. In his first season with the Hawkeyes, Hart made 15 appearances out of the bullpen with a 0-0 record and 7.90 ERA through 13 2/3 innings, where he allowed 13 runs (12 earned) and one home run on nine hits with 17 strikeouts. Hart finished this past season with 15 appearances out of the bullpen, a 0-1 record, and a 9.00 ERA through 13 innings, where he allowed 14 runs (13 earned) and four home runs on 17 hits with 13 strikeouts. If Hart does depart for another program through the portal, he will have one year of NCAA eligibility remaining as a graduate transfer. As for Iowa, head coach Rick Heller and the Hawkeyes will look to add in the offseason throughout the lineup as they retool ahead of the 2026 season. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
CBC
03-04-2025
- Sport
- CBC
After path of U.S. sprinter Kenny Bednarek led to Olympic silver, he searches for gold
The path of sprinter Kenny Bednarek has been far from easy or conventional. Plenty of uphill climbs, too. His experiences, though — foster care, being adopted, going the community college route, constantly overshadowed — has only added power to his alter ego, "Kung Fu Kenny." That version of him emerges when he steps on the track and slips on his signature headband. That version of him looks at his two Olympic silver medals in two ways — reminders, yes, of the success he's had, but a motivator for the success still yet to achieve. This season, he's sharpened his burst out of the starting blocks and took his nutrition to another level to turn silver finishes into gold. That starts possibly in September at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and down the road at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "I know I have the capability of being a champion," said Bednarek, who races this weekend in Kingston, Jamaica, at the inaugural event of Grand Slam Track, a new professional league. "I've always just been hungry." Born in Tulsa, Okla., he and his fraternal twin brother, Ian, were adopted out of foster care at four years old by Mary Ann Bednarek, who'd already taken in two girls. The family moved to Rice Lake in northwest Wisconsin when he was 12 "I had a lot of issues when I was a kid," the 26-year-old Kenny Bednarek explained. "My mom took so much time to help me become the person I am today. I mean, without her love, care and support, I don't know where I would be. "I might not be 'Kung Fu Kenny.' I might be somewhere stranded. She's the big reason why I'm here today." Track, too. Because on the track, Bednarek could let his mind wander, to the places his feet might one day take him. "Track was just the gateway that let me feel free," explained Bednarek, who also played football. "It was just me against the clock." From Indian Hills to Olympics Bednarek didn't go to a big-time track powerhouse out of high school. Instead, he spent a season at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. That one season, though, showed Bednarek's vast potential. He won 200 and 400 national titles at the 2019 NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Still, he's been largely overlooked in a crowded field of high-profile sprinters that includes Americans standouts Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley and Erriyon Knighton, along with Andre De Grasse of Canada and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo. Playing second-fiddle used to bother Bednarek and especially his alter ego, "Kung Fu Kenny." "I had a really big chip on my shoulder," he said. "It was annoying." Winning medals solved that. Maybe not always the favourite in a race, Bednarek always found a way to be in the mix. Like at the Tokyo Games in 2021, when he finished runner-up to De Grasse in the 200. Or a year later at world championships when he took silver behind Lyles. At the Paris Games last summer, he won another silver in the 200 behind Tebogo. Last summer's medal remains special because his mom was watching in the stands. She was so happy for him, crying tears of joy, as they embraced after the race. "Just to be able to shine bright and have my mom witness that, it meant a lot," he said. 1 per cent better These days, he's working out in Winter Garden, Fla., under coach Dennis Mitchell. His training group includes Sha'Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman. "We just have this iron-sharpens-iron mentality," said Bednarek, who's sponsored by Nike. "We're all making each other better." His top task this spring is sharpening his starts out of blocks. "If I can get that down, I feel like nobody is going to be able to beat me," said Bednarek, whose top time in the 200 is 19.57 seconds. "I'm always trying to add something that makes me 1% better." For his dedication to nutrition -- he's eliminated gluten -- and overall health, he credits Sharmila Nicollet, a professional golfer from India who he's been dating since 2020. "I used to think, 'Oh, I can sleep whenever I want, play video games whenever I want, and I'll be fine,"' Bednarek recounted. "She opened my eyes. It was like, `OK, this is how you become an Olympian and a medallist. This is what you've got to do.'" Grand Slam Track debut Bednarek is among the runners of all distances – and hurdlers -- taking part this weekend in Grand Slam Track, which was founded by Hall of Famer Michael Johnson. The new league includes stops in Kingston, Miami (May 2-4), Philadelphia (May 30-June 1) and Los Angeles (June 27-29). In Kingston, Bednarek will face Kerley & Co. in the 100 on Friday and again in the 200 on Saturday. "It's an incredible opportunity just to be able to represent this league," Bednarek said. "It's all about speed, personalities and telling great stories." Like his. One question he constantly receives: What's the story behind his alter-ego "Kung Fu Kenny?" Bednarek said it really stems from his love of anime. His favourite character is Naruto, a young ninja who's seeking recognition.
Associated Press
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Path of sprinter Kenny Bednarek led to Olympic silver medals. Now ‘Kung Fu Kenny' searches for gold.
The path of sprinter Kenny Bednarek has been far from easy or conventional. Plenty of uphill climbs, too. His experiences, though — foster care, being adopted, going the community college route, constantly overshadowed — has only added power to his alter ego, 'Kung Fu Kenny.' That version of him emerges when he steps on the track and slips on his signature headband. That version of him looks at his two Olympic silver medals in two ways — reminders, yes, of the success he's had, but a motivator for the success still yet to achieve. This season, he's sharpened his burst out of the starting blocks and took his nutrition to another level in an effort to turn silver finishes into gold. That starts possibly later this season at world championships in Tokyo and down the road at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 'I know I have the capability of being a champion,' said Bednarek, who races this weekend in Kingston, Jamaica, at the inaugural event of Grand Slam Track, a new professional league. 'I've always just been hungry.' The path to the Olympics Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he and his fraternal twin brother, Ian, were adopted out of foster care at 4 years old by Mary Ann Bednarek, who'd already taken in two girls. The family moved to Rice Lake in northwest Wisconsin when he was 12. 'I had a lot of issues when I was a kid,' the 26-year-old Kenny Bednarek explained. 'My mom took so much time to help me become the person I am today. I mean, without her love, care and support, I don't know where I would be. 'I might not be 'Kung Fu Kenny.' I might be somewhere stranded. She's the big reason why I'm here today.' Track, too. Because on the track, Bednarek could let his mind wander — to the places his feet might one day take him. 'Track was just the gateway that let me feel free,' explained Bednarek, who also played football. 'It was just me against the clock.' From Indian Hills to the Olympics Bednarek didn't go to a big-time track powerhouse out of high school. Instead, he spent a season at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. That one season, though, showed Bednarek's vast potential. He won 200 and 400 national titles at the 2019 NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Still, he's been largely overlooked in a crowded field of high-profile sprinters that includes Americans standouts Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley and Erriyon Knighton, along with Andre De Grasse of Canada and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo. Playing second-fiddle used to bother Bednarek and especially his alter ego, 'Kung Fu Kenny.' 'I had a really big chip on my shoulder,' he said. 'It was annoying.' Winning medals solved that. Maybe not always the favorite in a race, Bednarek always found a way to be in the mix. Like at the Tokyo Games in 2021, when he finished runner-up to De Grasse in the 200 meters. Or a year later at world championships when he took silver behind Lyles. At the Paris Games last summer, he won another silver in the 200 behind Tebogo. Last summer's medal remains special because his mom was watching in the stands. She was so happy for him, crying tears of joy, as they embraced after the race. 'Just to be able to shine bright and have my mom witness that, it meant a lot,' he said. One percent better These days, he's working out in Winter Garden, Florida, under coach Dennis Mitchell. His training group includes Sha'Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman. 'We just have this iron-sharpens-iron mentality,' said Bednarek, who's sponsored by Nike. 'We're all making each other better.' His top task this spring is sharpening his starts out of blocks. 'If I can get that down, I feel like nobody is going to be able to beat me,' said Bednarek, whose top time in the 200 is 19.57 seconds. 'I'm always trying to add something that makes me 1% better.' For his dedication to nutrition — he's eliminated gluten — and overall health, he credits Sharmila Nicollet, a professional golfer from India who he's been dating since 2020. 'I used to think, 'Oh, I can sleep whenever I want, play video games whenever I want, and I'll be fine,'' Bednarek recounted. 'She opened my eyes. It was like, 'OK, this is how you become an Olympian and a medalist. This is what you've got to do.'' Grand Slam debut Bednarek is among the runners of all distances — and hurdlers — taking part this weekend in Grand Slam Track, which was founded by Hall of Famer Michael Johnson. The new league includes stops in Kingston, Miami (May 2-4), Philadelphia (May 30-June 1) and Los Angeles (June 27-29). In Kingston, Bednarek will face Kerley & Co. in the 100 on Friday and again in the 200 on Saturday. 'It's an incredible opportunity just to be able to represent this league,' Bednarek said. 'It's all about speed, personalities and telling great stories.' Like his. One question he constantly receives: What's the story behind his alter-ego 'Kung Fu Kenny?' Bednarek said it really stems from his love of anime. His favorite character is Naruto, a young ninja who's seeking recognition. 'He's a very persistent character and doesn't give up no matter what,' Bednarek explained. 'I kind of resonate with that. Whatever you want to achieve, it will not come to you — you have to work for it. You have to go get it.' ___
