The North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) Foundation is proud to announce the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors:

Nancy Prohaska of Garner is an elementary counselor at Forest City Elementary School. She is also a public speaker specializing in the areas of child/family development and offers parenting consultation through Kidz Counseling Creations. Prohaska earned her associate’s degree from NIACC in 1985, a bachelor’s degree in teaching from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Northern Iowa. She is also a graduate of NIACC’s FastTrac business training program. Prohaska is a member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), Iowa School Counselor Association (IASA) and Building Family Strengths (BFS). She has assisted with local public school planning activities as well as with Catholic education activities in the past.

Lewis D. Schaal of Belmond, together with his wife Nancy, owns the D.R. Schaal Agency, Inc., Grain Inspection and Weighing Service in Belmond. He received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Villanova University and attended the University of Iowa Graduate School of Business as a graduate student in finance. Schaal is a member of the American Association of Grain Inspection and Weighing Agencies. He is currently serving on the boards of Belmond-Klemme Foundations I and II. Over the years, his company has hosted numerous NIACC student interns, hiring two of those students after graduation. Schaal has worked as an instructor for NIACC Continuing Education classes. He and his wife have three grown children.

Cory Thomas of Albert Lea, MN is currently the Business Banking Manager/Market President for Wells Fargo Bank in Mason City. He has been with Wells Fargo/Norwest Bank for 21 years, serving in a variety of positions including Community Bank President, Senior Commercial Loan Officer and Branch Manager. Thomas attended Yavapai Community College in Prescott, AZ prior to earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

He has been involved with the Riverland Community College Foundation, Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Sports Committee and Northland Pioneer College Small Business Development Center. In the past, Thomas has volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way of Freeborn County, United Way of Northern Arizona, Rotary Club, Junior Achievement and has been an AmeriCorps Youth Mentor. He currently volunteers with United Way of North Central Iowa. He and his wife Johanna have three children in grade school.

Other members of the NIACC Foundation Board of Directors are Kristy Arzberger, Bill Cooney, Brad Davis, Pat Galasso, Phil Garland, Barb Heilskov, Karen Knudtson, Kevin Kolbet, Denise Kuhn, Dan Latham, Dave Moore, Jack Nielsen, Jim Niemants, Bob Olson, Ken Peterson and Cathy Rottinghaus.

Created in 1968 as a separate 501(c)(3) organization, the NIACC Foundation strives to keep higher education accessible to North Iowa residents through student scholarships and to enhance the programs and activities of the College.

The NIACC Foundation’s mission is to support the College through scholarships, fundraising for special projects, grants for instructor education or other areas of need to help the College work toward its mission. If you have an interest in learning more about the NIACC Foundation or would like to see how you can help secure the future of the College and its excellence through a gift to the NIACC Foundation, please contact us at (641) 422-4386 or visit us online: www.niacc.edu