Fall 2024 Newsletter

Reimagining A Legacy
We are thrilled to announce Saint Joseph's College's new official logo, a symbol that embodies our rich history while ushering us into an exciting new era. The new design seamlessly connects our broad past with our bright future, representing not only the College's mission, traditions, and aspirations, but also a physical landmark that has been a cornerstone of our community for generations.

At the heart of this new logo is a modern interpretation of our iconic twin towers. These towers have long been a symbol of strength, stability, and tradition at Saint Joe, and their inclusion in the new design pays homage to the legacy that our alumni, staff, and C.PP.S. priests have built over the years. With clean lines and a fresh spin, the new logo maintains the essence of the past while presenting a forward-thinking image that aligns with our evolving identity – a model Catholic liberal arts institution for the 21st Century.

In addition to our main logo, we proudly feature subsidiary logos that represent each of our four current learning paths. These specialized logos highlight the unique strengths and values of each program, adding depth and meaning to our educational offerings. By incorporating these logos, we emphasize the distinct contributions of each learning path while reinforcing our commitment to comprehensive and impactful education.

We hope that our new logo resonates with our alumni, reminding them of their cherished memories at Saint Joe while also inspiring them to create connections with our new generation of students. As we move forward, we do so with deep respect for our past and a renewed commitment to shaping the future together. We believe this logo will serve as a unifying symbol for our entire community—one that current students, alumni, and future generations can all rally around with pride.

Saint Joseph’s CDL Academy Is Rolling Along
The CDL Academy at Saint Joseph's College is off to a steady start. Since our first class on July 15th, we've successfully held three Class B training sessions, promoting four students who have all gone on to pass their license tests. We're incredibly proud of these graduates, who have not only demonstrated their hard work and determination, but have also been able to advance their roles within our local community while working for the City of Rensselaer. Building on this strong foundation, we recently launched our first Class A training program on August 26, welcoming our first dedicated students who will complete their training on September 20th and then be able to test for their license with the state. 

Our commitment to providing quality, hands-on instruction is evident in our approach to class sizes. In our Class A, we limit each class to a maximum of four students, ensuring that everyone gets ample time behind the wheel. This not only accommodates the limited space within the semi, but also minimizes downtime for students, allowing them to maximize their learning experience

The CDL Academy's reputation is spreading, and with it, enrollment is steadily increasing as more people recognize the value of our program. This growing momentum is a testament to the effectiveness of our training and the positive experiences of our students. As we look forward to the future, we have no doubt that our graduates will continue to be safe and responsible drivers. The Saint Joseph’s CDL Academy is on the rise, and we're proud to bring a CDL training program to our community.

The Saint Joseph’s Building and Trades Groundbreaking Event
On July 25th, Saint Joseph's College celebrated a significant milestone for its Building and Trades Program with a groundbreaking event. The ceremony was a resounding success, bringing together staff, Trustees, partners, sponsors, and community members to celebrate the start of our ambitious new program. Attendees had the opportunity to view housing plans and neighborhood layouts, ask questions, and gain insights into how the program will function, all of which contributed to the event's positive atmosphere.

The event officially marked the beginning of construction for the program's first house, a key component of the hands-on training that will be provided to Indiana Agriculture & Technology School students. The Building and Trades Program is designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional application through practical experience.

The enthusiasm and support from the community hinted at the program's potential impact and the collaborative effort involved. With the groundbreaking now complete, the Building and Trades Program is sure to make a meaningful difference in the lives of local students and enriching our community.

On August 26, staff members officially broke ground and began preparing the land for the foundation of the first house in the Building and Trades project. Father William Stang, C.PP.S. was in attendance to provide a special blessing on the land in a small private event with staff. 

“That altar cloth from SJC Chapel held a relic of Saint Joseph, a lit candle and the mission cross of the C.PP.S. I spoke about the following: The missionaries of the Precious Blood began the mission of education in Jasper County in the 19th Century. We answered the call of the Bishop of Northern Indiana. Our goal was to provide knowledge and the light of Christ to those who were willing to build a life for themselves. The candle represented that light and the candle was still lit.  It was still lit because so many good people responded to the missionary call.  Lay professors and lay trustees picked up the torch and carried the light of Christ.  The "Building and Trades program" reflects that so well since it was conceived by SJC's own Dennis Black, carried over the goal line by SJC Alum Ernest Watson, and promoted and aided by SJC alums and trustees such as Mike Van Eekeren, Jim Madden and Mike Vallone.  Lastly was the relic of Saint Joseph the worker, the carpenter, the man who was the primary teacher of Jesus Christ during his childhood and early adulthood. St. Joseph represents the common mission that has existed at Saint Joseph's for well over one hundred years.  ‘This is a day that the Lord has made, Let us rejoice in it and be glad.’”  -Fr. Bill Stang

As construction on the first house begins, you can follow along with its progress at saintjoe.edu/buildingandtrades

 

Homecoming 2024
The Saint Joseph’s College Alumni Association, Inc. will be hosting their Homecoming weekend event on campus on September 14, 2024. 

The weekend's activities include:

Friday, September 13:

• Golf outing at Pine View Golf Course - 5310 West Norway Road Monticello, IN 47960
• Separate RSVP required
• 11:30am - 5pm Eastern
• Shotgun start at 1pm

Saturday, September 14

• Mass in the Chapel at 10:00am Central
• Homecoming at10:30am – 5pm Central
• Beer and Brat tent opens at 11am Central
• Other activities TBA

It’s not too late to RSVP! Make plans with your fellow Pumas and use the links below to secure your attendance! We can't wait to see you at another great homecoming event!

RSVP to Friday's Golf Outing Here

RSVP to Saturday's Homecoming Here


Graduate Spotlight – Olivia Carrera
"Saint Joe and WorkOne can change your life—like it did mine!"

In 2021, Olivia Carrera was at a crossroads. She was young and had no idea what she wanted to do, so she turned to WorkOne for guidance. They suggested the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Certificate Program at Saint Joseph’s College as a potential path forward. Intrigued and hopeful, Olivia enrolled in our in-person program. Balancing a full-time job with night classes was challenging, but the supportive environment made all the difference. Our smaller class sizes offered a personalized, one-on-one experience that helped her better understand complex medical concepts and stay motivated.

After 15 weeks, Olivia completed the program successfully and secured a position at a local doctor's office. Over the next few years, her passion for helping others grew. Then an exciting opportunity presented itself—WorkOne was hiring. Remembering the impact WorkOne had on her own life, Olivia leapt at the chance. 

Today, Olivia thrives at WorkOne Rensselaer and Morocco, helping other young individuals find opportunities while removing barriers and navigating career decisions, even suggesting our certificate programs as a viable opportunity. Olivia credits Saint Joseph’s College for her success. When speaking with others, Olivia often emphasizes that our programs are not only short in length, helping you enter the workforce quickly, but they also serve as a stepping stone for unexpected opportunities—just like the one that led her back to WorkOne.  Olivia’s journey has come full circle, and she’s proud to make a difference in the lives of others. 


New Learning Opportunities On Campus
Saint Joseph College is very excited for a new partnership with IATS (Indiana Agriculture & Technology School) where we’re hosting 37 students and their faculty every Wednesday on campus for their APD (Active Participation Day) – a day every week where students gather to socialize, learn from each other and engage in learning projects and activities.  

IATS is a Hybrid Public Indiana Charter High School and Middle School that offers a high-quality core education and hands-on project-based learning in the Agriculture and Technology Career Fields using both at home online and in person learning. The student’s Core curriculum is driven by an online platform where career-based classes utilize in-person, project-based learning.

Here you can see students from another partner campus participate in the Urban Garden Program. Students learn infrastructure, crop production, soil & fertilizers, crop maintenance, marketing, and entrepreneurship. The type of farming they are teaching is the No-Till or Lasagna bed garden style, which is an agricultural technique for growing crops without disturbing soil. Once produce is harvested, the students prepare produce and sell their goods at local farmer's markets, or they promote and setup their own stand. The program also teaches students that with this technique of farming you can grow anywhere on top of the ground and that being able to grow their own food will benefit them in the future. 

Many students from IATS will begin working on the SJC farm growing vegetables and herbs using the resources on campus for learning based projects!  While others will participate in the trades program learning building techniques with the new Building & Trades House located at the corner of Sparling and Daugherty just behind campus on the newly zoned field.  


Welcome to SJC!
We are excited to introduce our new Senior Administrative Assistant, Erin Diener Mattull (’05). Erin is a seasoned professional in the non-profit sector, most recently as Artist Relations and Education Manager at Purdue Convocations. She brings a deep passion for guiding, building, and managing impactful projects. Her diverse experiences since her undergraduate days at SJC have instilled in her a profound sense of gratitude and purpose. Erin’s career is characterized by her commitment, dedication, and passion for serving others effectively and meaningfully. She is thrilled to return to SJC and is ready to give back to the community that provided her so much as a student. She looks forward to supporting the next generation of Pumas and continuing the tradition of excellence and commitment that defines our institution.

Want to help or become involved?
Give an Alumni Gift - To give a gift in recognition of a loved one, or to make a donation in support of Saint Joseph’s College, please visit www.saintjoe.edu/give for more information on the different ways to give.

Program Development - If you have a specialized skill set or expertise that could be useful in building our future curriculum, consider reaching out to us at marketing@saintjoe.edu

Jobs Available - We’re always seeking additional instructors to teach our certificate programs at SJC! Please email our CEO Rachel Lattimore at rlattimore@saintjoe.edu to discuss how you can help! 

Contact Us
Saint Joseph’s College
PO Box 300
Rensselaer, IN 47978
Email: saintjosephs@saintjoe.edu
Phone: 219-866-6000
saintjoe.edu