Hawkeye Reporter

The newest class of Iowa Central Community College’s Hall of Fame will be honored on Saturday, October 22 with an induction ceremony on the campus in Fort Dodge.

The Class of 2022 Hall of Fame includes Tanner Aus, Morgan Angotti, Sessions Harlan, Dan Cassady, Lisa Shimkat, Joseph LeValley and the 2007-2008 Women’s Cross Country Team.

Aus, Angotti, Harlan and the 2007-2008 Cross Country team will be recognized as athletes, Shimkat and LeValley as distinguished alumni and Cassady as distinguished faculty.

The event will begin at 4 p.m.  with a social hour followed by a meal and honoring of the inductees at 5 p.m.  A silent auction will be held featuring a variety of items. Tickets for the event are $25 and are available at Iowa Central Foundation Office or the Iowa Central Bookstore in person or by phone at 515-574-1081

Distinguished Athletes

• Tanner Aus 

Aus started his college journey at Iowa Central in 2008 and was a member of the Rodeo Team. As a Triton, Aus finished his freshman season ranked 10th in the nation in bareback riding and third in the nation in bareback his sophomore. Upon graduation from Iowa Central, Aus transferred to Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. where he finished second in the nation as a junior and won the Bareback Riding National Championship his senior year. Professionally, Aus is currently ranked seventh in the world bareback standings and is a six-time qualifier for the renowned National Finals Rodeo. 

• Morgan (Brown) Angotti

Angotti, a Fort Dodge native, was a decorated three sport athlete for the Tritons from 2006 through 2009. She was an all-region volleyball player in 2006 and 2007, a member of the 2007 national qualifying Iowa Central women’s golf team and qualified for nationals in golf as an individual in 2008. Angotti was a member of the Triton Women’s Basketball Team from 2007-2009 where she was named an all-region basketball player during the 2008-2009 season; averaging 17.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Following her years at Iowa Central, she continued to have a stellar basketball Career at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City. 

• Sessions Harlan

Originally from Detroit, Harlan played basketball for Fort Dodge Junior College/Iowa Central from 1966-1968. He was a two-time all-region player at Iowa Central and a member of the men’s basketball squad that finished fifth in the national tournament. Harlan transferred to Weber State in Ogden, UT where he continued a successful collegiate hoops career, earning two conference championships and two NCAA Tournament berths. Harlan worked as a police officer in Denver for 30 years and was head of the Denver SWAT Team for nine years. 

• 2007-2008 Women’s Cross Country Teams

Led by several local area runners, the 2007- and 2008-women’s cross country teams earned back-to-back NJCAA national championships. They were the first female squads to win national titles for the Tritons and were the first of many national championships for the Iowa Central Cross Country program.

Distinguished Alumni

• Joseph LeValley

LeValley graduated from Iowa Central with an associate of arts degree in 1973. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Drake University in Des Moines in 1976 and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. He started his career as a writer/photographer for the Globe-Gazette in Mason City. LeValley has served as the director of community relations, vice-president of planning and public affairs and senior vice president of network development for Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa and retired as senior vice president of planning and system development for Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines and Mercy Health Network. He is a life fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. LeValley is an accomplished author of five novels. He is a drummer and guitarist and has written more than 40 songs. LeValley is also a 2016 inductee into the Iowa Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame and has served in various community service rolls in the Des Moines area.   

• Lisa Shimkat

Shimkat graduated from Iowa Central with an associate of arts degree in 1993. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Iowa State University. Shimkat’s nominees describe her as an individual who “lives her life as a distinguished leader.” She has served as the finance director Cornbelt Power Cooperative and as the regional director for the Iowa Central Small Business Development Center. She is presently the State of Iowa director for the Small Business Development Center at Iowa State University. She is an America’s Small Business Development Center State Star Award recipient and has served on the National Board of Directors for the Small Business Development Center since 2019, presently serving as vice-president for America’s SBDC. Shimkat also serves on the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board of Directors. Locally, she serves as vice-president of the Fort Dodge Community Schools Board of Education.

Distinguished Faculty

• Dan Cassady

 Cassady served as the Director of Instrumental Activities at Iowa Central from 1995 until 2006. He has taught at every educational institution in Fort Dodge, including Fort Dodge Senior High and St. Edmond Catholic Schools. He presently serves as an adjunct music instructor at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake and teaches private lessons at Mc Sweeney’s School for the Performing Arts. He is in high demand to play in various musical ensembles throughout the region and state. Cassady plays trombone with the Fort Dodge Symphony, is a member of two big bands in the Okoboji are and plays rock trombone with local band Lone Tree Revival. He is trombonist for the brass quintet Jive for Five.  Mr. Cassady is the musical director for Fort Dodge’s Comedia Musica Players, where he directs the pit orchestra and singers. He has served on the staff at the Southwestern Iowa Community College Jazz Camps, and the Reggie Schive Jazz Camp. He is a member of the American School Band Directors Association, Iowa Bandmasters Association, Jazz Educators of Iowa and the International Trombone Association. He has been a member of Fort Dodge’s Karl L. King Municipal Band for nearly 45 years where he presently serves as the band’s assistant conductor.

Original source can be found here.