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April 29, 2008
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Barry Backhaus |
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Richard Ducommun |
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Edward Rogalski |
Morningside College will present three honorary degrees in addition to approximately 375 graduate and undergraduate degrees at its 110th spring commencement exercises on Saturday, May 10, at 2 p.m. on the campus lawn in front of the Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center.
Morningside will present honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees to Barry Backhaus of Sioux City, former president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Vantus Bank; Richard Ducommun of Colorado Springs, Colo., a Sioux City native and businessman; and Edward Rogalski of Davenport, Iowa, former president of St. Ambrose University in Davenport.
Backhaus and Rogalski also will be the featured speakers at the commencement ceremony.
Baccalaureate service will be held Friday, May 9, at 5 p.m. in Grace United Methodist Church, 1735 Morningside Avenue. The Rev. Jeff Moes, senior pastor of Sunnybrook Community Church in Sioux City, will deliver the baccalaureate sermon. Baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies are open to the public.
At the commencement exercises, Morningside is recognizing Backhaus for his service to the college and the Sioux City community. Backhaus was a member of the Morningside College Board of Directors from 1992 to 2007 and served as chairman of the board from 2000 to 2002. His other community activities include: board member and past chairman of Goodwill Industries, past chairman and board member of St. Luke’s Health System, past board member of the Iowa Health System, past board member of the Siouxland Foundation, past chairman of the United Way of Siouxland campaign and a member of the Downtown Rotary Club.
A native of Cushing, Iowa, Backhaus joined First Federal Bank (now Vantus Bank) in 1969. He was elected president and chief executive officer of the bank in 1990 and chairman of the board in 1997. Backhaus retired in 2006 and continues to serve on the bank's board of directors.
Ducommun, a Sioux City native and 1968 Morningside College graduate, is receiving an honorary degree in recognition of his business accomplishments and support of education and the fine arts. After graduating from Morningside, Ducommun taught Spanish in junior high schools and high schools in Sioux Falls, S.D. He later moved to Colorado Springs and became involved in his family’s business. The Ducommun Business Trust operates gold and silver mines near Breckenridge, Colo., and owns water rights to the middle fork of the South Platte River in Colorado.
A long-time supporter supporter of the arts, Ducommun has been a member of the boards for the Colorado Springs Dance Theatre and the Colorado Springs Opera. He was one of the founders of the Children's Museum of Colorado Springs and served as president of the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum. He also has served on the American Cancer Society's board of directors in Colorado Springs. Ducommun is listed in "Who's Who of International Business."
Morningside is honoring Rogalski, who served as president of St. Ambrose University from 1987 to 2007, for his support of private higher education in Iowa. Rogalski came to St. Ambrose in 1968 as dean of students. From 1974 to 1980, he served as St. Ambrose’s vice president for administration. He became the university’s senior vice president in 1981. He was serving as executive vice president when he was appointed to the presidency.
Rogalski is past chair and member of the executive committee of the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. He also is past chair and member of the executive committee of the Iowa College Foundation. Rogalski has been a board member and commissioner on state policy for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
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