Friday, March 8th, is International Women’s Day! At DCG, we are celebrating and embracing the inspiring women who have impacted the lives of some of our own Mustangs. We reached out to a few seniors and staff members at DCG to find out more about the women who inspire them each and every day!
Here are some of the empowering snippets of amazing women in the district!
Ella Bandy – Jessica Bandy
The woman I picked who has inspired me the most throughout my whole life has been my mom, Jessica. She is my best friend. She always has my best interest in mind and supports me through everything in my life. I also can go to her if I need help with anything and I always know I am going to get an honest answer from her. She has been through a lot in her life. Being able to see her still always be there for my two little brothers and me means a lot to me and shows me how such an amazing person she is. I seriously can not imagine my life without her. She is part of the reason I want to be a teacher just seeing her throughout my whole life do something that she loves has made me love the same thing. My mom always pushes me to be my best and that’s something that I value so much from her. She also has taught me so many extremely important life lessons that will make me better off in the future. I am so thankful I have such an amazing person like my mom in my life and for all of these reasons, my mom Jessica is the woman who has inspired me most.
Sayler Ribich – Kelly Ribich
A woman who is an inspiration to me and has been my role model, best friend, and motivator all in one is my mother, Kelly Ribich. She is constantly putting everyone above herself and is the most selfless person you will ever know. To add, my mom has been through so many obstacles that would usually cause one to give up, but she constantly puts a smile on her face and is the backbone of our family. She fuels the people around her with happiness, joy, and support that will never be matched by anyone else. Although her personality and sincerity are top-tier, her style and creativity are truly empowering, she changes the typical styles and promotes movement. She is constantly cleaning, cooking, and decorating to create a safe space for family and friends to gather. My mom is the strongest, most compassionate, protective, caring, and mindful person I have ever met and I could never thank her enough for everything she has done for me. She is the best mom I could ask for and I do not know what I would do without her.
Jolie Morgan – Lisa Hoffman
On International Women’s Day, I’d like to celebrate Lisa Hofmann. She is an extraordinary educator who has dedicated over two decades to fostering learning at DCG. Not only does she serve as a Special Education teacher, but she has also been a dynamic co-teacher for Science, Math, and English over the years, including English II and English III with me. Her commitment has guided numerous students to graduation, imparting not just knowledge but essential life skills. Her guidance has been instrumental in steering countless students toward success. Beyond academics, she’s been a mentor to fellow teachers, sharing her wisdom and experience. She has taught me the virtues of patience, the power of tough love, and the importance of a big-picture view. Lisa, a proud mother of four and a cherished grandma to three, embodies resilience and warmth. She’s helped me in many ‘mom’ moments with my own kids over the years. Known for her spunky spirit, she champions both students and staff in the DCG community. Her voice of reason echoes with a reassuring mantra at the start of each year: “Just get the kids here—we’ll be alright!” Lisa has had immeasurable contributions and I would like to celebrate her as someone who has inspired many including myself to do a good job, to be a good person, and to have a good time doing it.
Heather Every – Ruth Hoekstra
My inspirational women would be my mom, Ruth Hoekstra, as well as my grandma, Wilma Hoekstra. A legacy of kindness, faith, and lives lived helping others.
I am so thankful for both of these women who have shaped me into who I am today. My mom was a working mom – a full-time nurse and mother to us 4 children. Her incredible work ethic and her love for her family instilled in me the importance of both. As a child growing up in Manchester, IA, when people in the community found out Ruth Hoesktra was my mom, they would often say, “She is my very favorite nurse. She is so kind and always helps me.” I learned early on that both of these traits are foundational to a good life and a way to impact others. My mom has spent her life helping others, whether that was a meal to someone in need at church, as a nurse working at the regional hospital, or as a mom who would read with me at night, or as I got older walked endless miles talking together. She is someone who is humble to the core, and who never asks for anything in return. My mom is someone who epitomizes goodness and kindness, who was a full-time working mom who always was there for her kids, and who has the ability to make others feel loved and seen.
My grandma turned 100 recently, and has always encouraged, uplifted, and helped others as well. In addition to my grandpa, Tony, and her 6 children, many grandchildren, and many more great-grandchildren, my grandma has had two loves: teaching and her faith. From her I learned to bloom where I was planted, to be kind to others, to put my faith in the Lord, and to learn my love of teaching. I am actually a third-generation teacher as my dad was also a teacher. My grandma to this day can brighten anyone’s day with her smile, her stories about the birds who visit her feeders, and the ways in which Jesus is with her every day. She went to college twice – once during WWII and later as a mom of 6. My grandma is one of the brightest lights and brings joy to everyone.
I am so thankful every day for both of these incredible women in my life. For their love, faith, and joy – both who are ordinary women with extraordinary kindness and faith.
Jack Every – Grandma Every
My grandma Every is very inspirational to me. She is very resilient and has faced many obstacles that she has overcome in her life. She has shown me that with hard work and always doing your best you can overcome anything. My grandma is also very caring. She has worked as a special education associate in Colesburg, Iowa, and has helped many students. She is a wonderful grandma to me and my brothers and my cousin, Avery. My grandma is also independent – she is able to be an inspiration to me through these ways.
Ben Every – Ruth Hoekstra
My Grandma, Ruth Hoekstra, has inspired me in so many ways. Her love and faith in God are the biggest inspiration, and how she can remain positive and still seek to support others whenever someone asks. Her love for helping people shines in the way she interacts with everyone and the way her smile lights up a room, making everyone smile along. Her love for people shines through her food and the effort she puts into each plate for each grandchild; the gentle hug that she gives each grandchild as they enter and leave her home. The trips she takes with my grandpa as they make sure to come to each event. She showed love when she was a nurse, serving others. She has pushed me to further my faith, and through my faith, I am successful. My grandma is an inspiration because of her ability to inspire others through the simple act of love.
Dan James – Jolie Morgan
Jolie Morgan is a rock star for DCG HS. Whether I am having a good day or not, Jolie is always there with a smile to encourage me and reminds me of why I am here at DCG. She constantly looks for the good in all of us and encourages us to become better teachers – and people! She always takes the time to make me (and others) feel like they are the most important people in the room and meet me where I am. Whether it’s a birthday, soccer achievement, or class achievement, Jolie is one of the constants that will reach out to me and cheer on my success. Without Jolie, I know I would not be as successful as I am as she continues to push me to become the best I can be even when I want to coast. As we celebrate the wonderful women in our lives, I’m blessed to have Jolie as a colleague and more importantly, as a friend!
Malaina Elliott
When I was asked to pick one woman who has inspired me, helped me grow, changed my life, or been an integral part of who I am as a person – so many strong women raced through my mind because truth be told, my foundation is built upon the inspiration of not just one but many powerful and groundbreaking women.
So let’s begin with my family, whom I immediately thought of when I was asked this question. My mom, aunt, and grandma; the women who taught me and laid the groundwork for inspiring women in my life. My mom, because, well, she is my mom and basically Wonder Woman and every single other superhero wrapped into one. She is the picture of a powerful woman to me as she has a career she loves and is amazing at, the entirety of all family events run through her, and she isn’t afraid to voice her opinion and stand up for what she believes in. My aunt because she taught me all about books and fostered my love for them at an early age. It was this love for language that she instilled in me as a little girl that I carry with me as a future English major. Finally, my grandma because she taught me about what it was like to be a girl and have to fight for everything, as a person who was growing up as Title IX just began to be discussed. We also share a love and passion for basketball, an outlet that allows us to share our emotions and not be judged for being angry. However, while these women and my family have taught me a lot about what it means to be a fierce woman, there are a few other women who come to mind.
Furthermore, I would like to thank all of my teammates, fellow Mustangs, for being who they are each and every day. For being a positive role model for younger girls and boys to look up to not only for their athletic ability and accomplishments but also for their hearts and character. It is because of my teammates, and fellow female athletes, that my time as a Mustang has been so special. So I would like to thank them for their time and dedication to the sports they play, because whether they realize it or not they are making a difference in my life, but in the lives of future Mustangs as well.
Next, I have to talk about some of the amazing sports legends who worked to pass Title IX and those who continue to inspire young girls to go after their dreams. It would be a complete disservice to not note the impact of the women whom I have never met but idolized for their work in pushing for women’s rights, so I have to tell you about them too. First, there is Billie Jean King (BJK), best known for being a beyond successful tennis player and beating Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, where King proved women have just as much of a right to athletics as men. Yet, I bet that you did not know that King was one of the major reasons that female high school and college athletes are able to play sports as a result of her work through Title IX. In the midst of King’s tennis career, she took a pause and went to federal court to testify about the importance of women and girls being allowed to continue their education and play sports. So, I owe a lot of who I am today to BJK, if it were not for her and her work with Title IX I would not have both the athletic and academic opportunities that I do today. Moreover, I thank the women like Dr. Christine Grant, a University of Iowa alumni who was one of the major proponents of sports being added to Title IX, due to her love for the passion and empowerment it instilled in these young women. I thank women like BJK and Dr. Grant because if it were not for them and the sacrifices they made I would not be able to play the sports I love or pursue the education I want.
Now, in a more present-day sense, there are a few more women I would like to recognize as being an inspiration to me for the work they have done in elevating women and girls. Thank you, Catlin Clark, Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, Lisa Bluder, Jan Jensen, and basically the eternity of the Iowa Women’s Basketball Team for showing people around the nation that women are powerful and have the right to etch their names in history books for breaking records no matter who they were held by before. Thank you, to those women for shedding a national spotlight on women’s sports and their importance not only to other women, but in teaching EVERYONE the importance of being a great teammate, friend, coach, and person on and off the floor. It is because of programs like Iowa Women’s Basketball that more people are beginning to grow interest in women’s athletics, and for that I will be eternally grateful. I have always loved watching women’s sports especially basketball and the joy and work this team has brought to me, the state of Iowa, and the entire country is why everyone watching women’s sports is so important to me. It is important to me because those women I mentioned before who fought tooth and nail for Title IX and to be seen playing the sports they loved and excelled at are FINALLY being recognized.
In all, it is impossible for me to thank every single woman who has ever made an impact on my life, because there are so many. Nonetheless, it is because of each and every one of these groundbreaking, compassionate, empowered women that I know that I have the power and ability to be whoever I want to be and achieve all of the dreams and goals that I have. It is because of these women and all of the ceilings they have shattered and the barriers they have broken down that I know what I want to achieve in my life. I want to become a woman like those who have inspired me, I want to be compassionate, fierce, groundbreaking, comforting, reliable, and unstoppable so that like those who came before me, I can continue to advocate, shatter ceilings, and break down barriers. I am who I am because of HER – my mom, aunt, & grandma; my teammates; BJK & Dr. Grant; the Iowa Women’s Basketball team; and so many other astonishing women who have helped shape who I am today. Thank you to every woman who has honored the sacrifices of those who came before them by continuing to fight for what they believe in and who they are.