Saint Joe Welcomes New CEO
The Saint Joseph's College (Rensselaer, IN) Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome Rachel J. Lattimore as the new CEO. With her extensive background in fundraising, corporate support, and community engagement, Ms. Lattimore is uniquely qualified to lead the College to new heights. Her experience in media sales and marketing, institutions, health care, and higher education, combined with her organizational skills in developing marketing and promotional plans, events, and strategic planning, make her an excellent fit for the position.
In reflecting on her new role, Ms. Latimore says “I’m thrilled to be a part of the great work that has been happening at St. Joseph’s College. There’s a strong mission to serve students, community, and alumni in a space that honors the past and shapes the potential of the future – it will be an honor to serve with so many people who’ve worked tirelessly to keep this dream alive and create opportunities for students.”
Ms. Lattimore received a Bachelor’s in Communication and a Master's in Communication from the University of Illinois and has most recently served as a director of development at Purdue For Life Foundation supporting student life and Purdue Convocations. She also served as the membership director at WBAA Purdue public radio station. Previously, she held leadership and fundraising roles at the University of Illinois Springfield. Her multiple Toastmaster public speaking and leadership awards are a further testament to her excellent communication skills.
The College community looks forward to Ms. Lattimore's leadership and expertise guiding Saint Joseph's College towards a bright future.
SJC to Offer College-Credit Courses
We are thrilled to announce the launch of an innovative studies program on the Saint Joseph’s College campus in Rensselaer. This unique program offers four college-level courses: Intro to Healthcare, College Composition, Personal Financial Literacy, and Intro to Psychology.
The 8-week courses were hand-selected as a way to offer a variety of topics to learners looking to get a headstart on their journey towards a degree or wanting to explore interests before committing to the full college experience. Yet, it also offers opportunity for anyone to enroll and learn something new since these courses are not just for the traditional student!
Students will receive college credit from Bethel University (Minnesota), with scholarships available for those who are eligible. Housing is available on campus for short-term and long-term stays for those with a long commute.
Our first class is set to begin later this summer on August 6th.
The Work Continues for the Building & Trades Program
This past month we’ve hired a new Building & Trades instructor, Rudy Taulman. The Saint Joseph’s team is excited to have someone local with experience in the trades & construction field to work with the local high school students to build the first house. A ribbon cutting and ground breaking is planned for Thursday, July 25th.
- Ernest Watson, Jr., Program Coordinator of Trades and Technology
CDL Academy is Announced
Beginning this July, our Rensselaer campus will be the home to the Saint Joseph’s CDL Academy. The American Trucking Association estimates the need for 1,000,000 new drivers over the next ten years – and the immediate need by local employers and manufacturers demonstrates the need to train and hire locally. Both Class A and Class B will involve some online training and plenty of behind the wheel training taught by a skilled and experienced instructor.
- Ernest Watson, Jr., Program Coordinator of Trades and Technology
LICA Water Management Forum
Saint Joseph’s College welcomed LICA – Land Improvement Contractors of America – to campus for their multi-day event on June 13 & 14th! There were over 25 vendors and several hundred professionals here for the inaugural Water Management Forum. Attendees and members represented a diverse group of water management professionals, contractors, farmers, and government officials. As well, several recent local high school graduates joined the Forum and participated in the heavy construction class. They also worked on a simulator and then operated heavy equipment in the field. Two of these local students were hired on the spot!
The education sessions ran all day intermingled with industry vendors in the Core Building and out in the field off Daughtery Road where heavy equipment was used for certification and a “test drive.”
Saint Joe was thrilled to host the inaugural LICA Forum and looks forward to their return in 2025.
Save The Date - Homecoming 2024
The Saint Joseph’s College Alumni Association, Inc. will be hosting their Homecoming weekend event on campus on September 13-14, 2024.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
Pinning Ceremony
Saint Joseph’s College held its inaugural Pinning Ceremony on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Through this unique and special celebration, we recognized the incredible achievements and dedication our graduates put forth towards their educational journey. Through hard work, they have not only earned their certificates, but have also exemplified the values and principles that Saint Joseph's stands for.
The event kicked off with Board Chairman Mike Van Eekeren reciting a wonderful opening speech followed by prayer and song by Br. Daryl Charron, Chaplain of Franciscan Munster. Lou Offer, President of the Saint Joseph’s College Alumni Association, followed by inducted and welcoming students into the Alumni Association.
As names were announced by Program Director Hali Chapman, graduates walked across the stage in Shen Auditorium to receive a Saint Joseph’s College lapel pin handed to them by Rachel Lattimore, the College’s new CEO. Certificate program instructors also joined the stage to shake hands and congratulate their students.
The first Pinning Ceremony was a successful and memorable event and it was a beautiful site to see an event like this taking place on campus again. It was an honor to celebrate the accomplishments of our students in front of 150 of their friends and families. We are incredibly proud of our graduates and are excited to see the positive impact they will make in the world.
Graduate Spotlight - Maggie Waugaman
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Maggie Waugaman, I am 33 years old and from Wheatfield, IN. I was enrolled in the EKG-CET and the CCMA. My program was in-person.
Did you enjoy your class time?
I did enjoy my class time. I made lifelong friends. I get to watch them grow as a person and follow their dreams. I truly enjoyed drawing the blood area of the CCMA and doing EKGs. I do not think there was anything I did not enjoy.
What stood out to you about SJC?
What stood out about me, was how SJC, the people and professors really care about the students being able to succeed. Hali, Tracy and Jen helped make sure not only had I succeeded but my classmates as well. They celebrate the success.
How did you hear about our academic programs and what made you choose Saint Joe?
I heard about the programs by the post on Social Media. I chose Saint Joe because the hours of the programs still allowed me to be home with my boys during the day. I chose the EKG-CET first as I was interested in learning more about how they work. I went to the CCMA program because after my car accident in 2018, I wanted to be in the medical field and make a difference.
“Saint Joe is an excellent school with excellent programs. My favorite memory is being able to make friends, make a difference and encourage others to attend Saint Joe. I love learning, and attending Saint Joe helped make me the CCMA I am today.”
Endowed Gift to Honor Professor John D. Groppe and Mrs. Rose Marie Groppe
Alumnus Dr. Bart Ng (SJC 1968) endowed a writing prize at the University of Dayton to honor Professor John D. Groppe and Mrs. Rose Marie Groppe.
Dr. Bart Ng (SJC 1968), Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at IUPUI, endowed a writing prize at the University of Dayton with a gift of $106,000 in honor of Professor John D. Groppe and Mrs. Rose Marie
Groppe. “I wanted to express my gratitude to Professor Groppe who changed my life and to Mrs. Groppe for her generous hospitality in welcoming me to their home when I was a student,” Dr. Ng said at the award luncheon at Dayton University on March 8, 2024.
The John D. and Rose Marie Groppe Award for Excellence in Writing was inaugurated on March 8 when Dr. Margaret Strain, Professor of English and Director of the Writing Program at the university, presented to both Eleanor Yates-McEwan and Daniel C. Napoli a check for $750. The Groppe Award will be awarded at the end of each semester to students, irrespective of their majors, who distinguish themselves with outstanding performance in one of the University’s required writing courses.
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 Program Director to discuss how you can help! Hali Chapman, RMA hchapman@saintjoe.edu