News Roundup: Supporting Troops, 'Above Self' Award Honoree & Acing Exams

The holidays have come and gone and Rasmussen College campuses are moving full steam ahead in the New Year! This month learn about an organization that’s making an impact overseas and a few recognitions worthy of reading.

Don’t forget to follow our Facebook page to get live updates from all of our campuses throughout the week!

Rockford Campus Student Nursing Organization Supports Troops

The Student Nursing Organization (SNO) at the Rockford campus held a bake sale Jan. 20 and 21 to raise money to purchase and send care items for troops in Afghanistan.

The students had a wide variety of tasty treats for sale, including sugar and oatmeal raisin cookies, red velvet cheesecake, cinnamon crumb cake and raspberry danishes.

SNO president Amanda Acosta organized the event after partnering with Rolling Green Elementary to raise money for the troops.

“[The SNO] tries to work on a monthly project. If we can, we try to do more,” Acosta said. “Any Rasmussen nursing student is encouraged to volunteer for any project.”

Instructor Earns ‘Above Self’ Rotary Club Award

A Rasmussen College anatomy and physiology instructor recently won the Above Self Award from the Greater Mankato Rotary. Dr. Deb Bobendrier will be honored during the rotary’s 10^th annual award luncheon on Feb. 10.

The rotary awards two individuals and one organization annually for demonstrating their commitment to helping others through volunteering. Participants are recognized for going above and beyond what’s expect of them in terms of their work and personal lives.

Bobendrier, who is also a chiropractor at Discover Chiropractic, said she is humbled to have been chosen. “In all of my volunteer ventures, I work with fellow volunteers who put forward their time and passions for no reason other than to make a difference,” she said. “In my opinion, they are all equally deserving of an award.”

She added that staying involved in the community is easy to do if you’re willing to invest the time. She advises others to only volunteer for organizations or initiatives you’re truly passionate about, otherwise it becomes work.

“This year we'll be focusing on the YWCA,” Bobendrier said. “I have historically been involved with the local Relay for Life for many reasons, and I am actually moving forward onto other things this year.”

Bobendrier will be a champion runner for the Mankato Half Marathon this year in October and will be fundraising and representing the Mankato YWCA. She is also on the planning committee for the YWCA's Girls on the Run program for their event held in April each year.

Surg Tech Program’s Graduating Class Aces Exam

The Brooklyn Park campus’ surgical technology program is celebrating a big success. Its eighth consecutive cohort class has earned perfect scores on the National Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Exam.

The test—which is typically paid for by Rasmussen College—is key to a career as a surgical technologist.

The entire surg tech program prepares students to succeed in the exam. Sara Vodnick, surgical technology program coordinator, says in addition to the curriculum, she enrolls the students in an online learning tool called Northstar. They use the tool during the last two quarters of the program. Northstar is comprised of online quizzes and games that focus on the material they need to know to be successful.

“The students acing the exam are showing the community they are very well prepared, and the students are very likely able to be hired right out of the program,” Vodnick said.

Additionally, she said 90 percent of the healthcare systems in the Twin Cities require the certification upon employment, so her students will already be well-equipped to enter the workforce. This is also a great achievement for the students and graduates, as most work extremely hard to balance the rigor of the program with a job and family in order to be successful.

Blaine Campus Receives ‘Best College’, ‘Best Business School’ Awards

The Rasmussen College Blaine campus has done it again! The campus was voted “Best College” and “Best Business School” for ABC Newspaper’s Blaine/Spring Lake Park Life’s Reader’s Choice Awards. Campus Director Patty Sagert said the campus has received the “Best of” awards since the campus opened in 2010.

“We are humbled to continue to receive these awards in our local community,” Sagert shared. “It means so much to us to know that local community members voted for our campus acknowledging the great work we do. Winning both awards means that we are truly making a difference in our community.”

What helps set them apart from other colleges and schools is the concerted effort to get involved and give back to the community, Sagert explained. College representatives are members of the local chambers, they support local non-profits, host leadership events inviting local community members and host local high school students on their campus.

“I wholeheartedly believe that it is our students and graduates that set our campus apart,” Sagert added. “And our graduates go out to work in our local community to showcase the skills they learned while attending our college.”