September 2025
Falling Into Fresh Campus News
Highlights
Back to Where It All Started
Welcome back. That was the message to Health Sciences alumni at the first-ever Health Sciences Reunion held on September 12. Alums from all the Health Sciences programs were invited back to campus for tours, food, drinks, and networking. More than 75 health sciences professionals met with current students and enjoyed a day back on campus.
Rewarding Innovation
We have a winner! The Challenger Learning Center (CLC) at Heartland was selected as the winner of the 2025 Arthur C. Clarke Award for Innovation in Education for their KidWind Renewable Energy Student Challenge. The award recognizes a Challenger Learning Center that has “implemented a new and innovative program that impacts student learning, supports teachers, and/or promotes creativity.” The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation Board highlighted the HCC CLC team’s dedication to delivering engaging, hands-on learning experiences when announcing the $500 award was coming to Heartland in 2025. Congrats to our CLC team!
Outstanding Out(side) Event
It’s all fun and games until...well, I guess it was just all fun and games at the annual Heartland Night Out(side). This year’s event theme was “Game Night” and it brought the fun for sure. Guests enjoyed food, drinks, live music, and games, all while supporting scholarships and key programs for our students. This year’s event raised $27,000 for our students!
Seeking a Cheer Squad
The leaves haven’t started falling yet, but fall sports are already in full force. Even if you don’t know a libero from a striker, you can still come out and support our student athletes. Volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, golf, and men’s and women’s cross country are all in season. There are even some baseball and softball “fall ball” games on the docket, too. Our golf team recently won the NCAA National Preview, which is a pretty big deal. And make sure to put October 10-11 on your calendar for a Hawks volleyball tournament featuring 12 teams. Not to be forgotten, our Esports team is in action too and you can watch on Twitch! Check out the Heartland Hawks sports calendar and try to make it out to a game, match, meet, or round. Our students would love to see you!
In With the New (Students)
Things are looking up. At least that’s the way the enrollment trend line looks for us this fall. Thanks to all of you, we are seeing some positive trends already for this semester. As of Census Day, new student enrollment saw a 11% increase over Fall 2024. Additionally, there was a 6% increase in minority student enrollment from last fall, and we welcomed our most diverse student body ever. We’ve also established a great partnership with our friends down the road: 1 in 7 ISU students transferred from Heartland. So, well done everyone! You deserve a little treat.
Still to come...
Fall Kickoff
- Friday, September 26
- WDC Atrium
- Light Refreshments 8:30
- Kickoff Begins 9:00
Campus Conversation
- Friday, October 10
- 9:00 am
- CCB 1406-1407
Chili Cookoff
- Thursday, October 16
- 2:00 pm
- CCB 1406-1407
COUNTRY Financial Trail Ribbon Cutting
- Friday, October 24
- 10:00 am
- East side of the trail, near the Corn Crib
Heartland Harvest 5K
- Sunday, October 26
- Noon
- Fitness and Recreation Center
- Register today!
Random Knowledge to Make You Just a Little Smarter
Boring, Oregon and Dull, Scotland have been sister cities since 2012. In 2017, they added Bland Shire, Australia to their “League of Extraordinary Communities.” Feeling a little salty that Normal was left out of the group chat.
Let's Get Social
That's all for now. In the meantime, check out our Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn for the latest happenings. Spread the love and share our stuff on your own pages.