Et Cetera

On December 12, Mount Mercy University pinned over 30 nursing graduates at the Nursing Pinning Ceremony. Graduate Tiffany Schnor ’24 was featured as the student speaker at the event.  The following nursing students received their pins at the Nursing Pinning Ceremony.Atkins, Elizabeth UdelhovenKeystone, Tiffany SchnorVinton, Ben NoringCongratulations nursing graduates! Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy University is the regional Catholic, Mercy University that promises students of diverse backgrounds, ages and faiths a challenging, practical education that inspires them to discover knowledge, build community and live their values.

I recently finished 'When Christmas Comes' by Andrew Klavan. I appreciated Klavan's writing so much that I read the second and third books in the series as well. Melancholy and atmospheric, this is not your average Christmas 'feel-good' tale. Cameron Winter is a former US intelligence officer coming to terms with his violent past and lavish yet emotionally neglected childhood.

Alexander Wallace of Blairstown, was among the graduating class of 2024 at Palmer College of Chiropractic. Graduating with a General Science, Bachelor of Science degree he graduated from the Main Campus in Davenport, on October 25, 2024.

The following students were named to the 2024 summer trimester Dean’s List at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Main Campus in Davenport, Iowa.Faith Hagenow of Vinton, IACaleb Halleran of Fairfax, IAKeegan Koppedryer of Center Point, IA

There was a day I woke up at 3:30 in the morning to read 'Intermezzo' by Sally Rooney before work; that's how much I love this book and this author! Rooney explores grief, love, and the family dynamics between two brothers. Peter, a Dublin lawyer, faces relationship challenges and heavily self-medicates after their father's death. His socially awkward brother Ivan, a 22-year-old phenom chess player, connects with Margaret, an older woman separated from her alcoholic husband.

I recently read 'A Home for the Holidays' by Taylor Hahn. It is light and heart-warming, without being too predictable, and I loved it! This novel tells the story of Mel Hart, a singer who is forced to confront her past after losing her mother. She meets Barb, her mother's former best friend, and learns about a side of her mother she never knew.

Over Thanksgiving break, I read 'Society of Lies' by Lauren Ling Brown. This is Brown's debut novel, and I thought it was a success! During Maya's college years at Princeton, she tries to roll with high society and become someone she's not. She goes to extremes to get into a secret club so that she can help provide for her younger sister, Naomi, who is 10 years younger.

I recently finished the hilarious debut novel 'Husbands' by British author and game designer Holly Gramazio. In this story, Lauren wakes up after a late night out with her best friend and is shocked to find a man in her home; what's most surprising is that the man claims to be her husband, but she has never met him before. Is he a con artist? Does she have amnesia? He goes up a ladder into their attic, only to be replaced by an altogether different strange man who says he is her husband.

These annual scholarships honor important figures in Keep Iowa Beautiful history who have made significant contributions to Iowa communities. * The Byers Scholarship - High school seniors who plan to enroll and study environmental science, community development, landscape architecture or architecture (historical emphasis) or community planning and sustainability are eligible to apply.

Earlier in the year, Kelly asked what book has been on my TBR list but haven't read it yet. Well, you are probably like me and have LOTS of books on your list, but 'My Sister's Keeper' by Jodi Picoult, was one that has been on my list for a while. I decided that I was not in a rush to read it, so I added it to my Libby cart and waited for my turn. You know it's a good book if there is a long list and you recently received it after waiting for months.