The Daily Smorgasbord JUN 2014 | Page 11

Highlights  of  the  2013-­‐2014  school   year  Recap     There   were   many   kinks   and   flaws   that   riddled   the   joining   of   two   schools.     But   on  a   grand  scale,   it   was  an   overwhelming  success.    Both  the  faculty   and   students   couldn’t   have   worked   harder   to   perform   a   seamless   transaction  on  such  a  short  time  period.     Academic   wise,   the   merger   is   a   godsend.     At   valley,   I   would   have   a   meager   selection   of  electives   to   choose   from.    At  NFV,  I  not  only  have  a  limitless   supply  of  classes  offered  by  the  faculty,   I  can  delve  into  the  reserves  of  NICC   …and   Upper   Iowa   University.     The   Charismatic   teachers   and   combined   coffers   of   both   schools   offer   me   a   strong   background   for   a   future   career.     If   all   goes   well   next   year,   I’ll   be   graduating   with   22   college   credits   compromising   areas   of   Engineering,   geology,  and  literature.    Never  before  in   small   rural   Iowa   have   students   had   such   an   opportunity   to   secure   their   interest   in   their   future.     NFV   provides   them   with   financing   a   tools,   but   they   need  to  provide  the  ambition.         The   student   body   was   integrated   almost   flawlessly   and   collectively   think   of   themselves   as   Tigerhawks.     This   year   has   seen   exemplary   examples   of   leadership   among  upper  classman,  faculty,  and  staff.    I   hope  that  next  year,  all  the  small  flaws   can   be   ironed   out.     It   was   nice   to   see   more   attention  being  paid  to  fine  arts  and  ‘world   building’   classes   like   science   or   math,   but   unfortunately   sports   still   took   the   center   stage.     But   maybe   it   was   fore   the   best,   as   sports   are   the   things   that   bring   rural   communities   together.     The   only   terrible   complaint   I   have   about   the   merger   is   the   long  drive,  but  that  can’t  be  fixed.    Besides,   I’ll  take  NFV  over  Postville  anyday!