By Maple 5 AmeriCorps NCCC Team Maple 5 has been in Montpelier, VT since May 8th where they have being working with the city's Park and Trees Department for their round 2 project.

Twenty Iowa long-term care professionals graduated from the Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) Leadership Academy this week in West Des Moines. The academy is an intensive one-year leadership course for licensed nursing home administrators, assisted living directors, home care agency directors and directors of nursing who work in long-term care, assisted living and home care settings.

By Javier Rocha AmeriCorps NCCC team Cedar 5 continues to serve with Sioux County Extension in Ft. Yates, N.D. They have been helping with providing access to fresh foods within the extreme food desert of the Standing Rock Reservation.

By Nicholas Ku AmeriCorps NCCC team Maple 6 is serving at various preserves with the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) planting trees, removing invasive species, and renovating work sheds.

Iowa State University's largest-ever graduating class (5,248) received degrees during four spring commencement ceremonies May 9 and 11. Iowa State awarded 4,439 undergraduate degrees, 527 master's degrees, 132 doctor of philosophy degrees and 150 veterinary medicine degrees.

By Sara Monks Maple 2 is currently serving at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise Michigan maintaining and rerouting the 4.5-mile long River Trail for future visitors of the park.

Schoettmers Celebrate60th Anniversary withCard ShowerThe family of John and Jackie Schoettmer are proud to announce their upcoming 60th wedding anniversary!John Schoettmer and Jacqueline England were married June 27, 1959.

The following students received recognition for outstanding achievement at Mount Mercy University's Honors Convocation on May 17:Belle Plaine, IA  Joshua Gene Long, National Catholic College Graduate Honor SocietyNewhall, IA  Andrew Enderle, Outstanding Marketing Student AwardVinton, IA  Cali Rae Arbuckle, Sister Mary Edward McConohy Nursing AwardMount Mercy congratulates these students for their considerable contributions to the mission and spirit of MMU!Forty awards were given during the ceremony, recognizing students for excelling in academics and extra-curricular activities while demonstrating leadership and personal growth during their time at Mount Mercy.

The student(s) listed below graduated from Mount Mercy University this May. A commencement ceremony was held Sunday, May 19, 2019, at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

By: Courtney Kessinger and Savannah Smith On May 6th, Oak 5 traveled to Adrian, Michigan to begin their project of helping build houses with Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County.