Yankton College Forever vBy Julie Eickhoff Joan (Bunnell) Neubauer Jan (Schmidt) Schiferl Yankton, like any town, has an interesting, rich history. Born and raised in Yankton, I have heard many stories of the town’s past but don’t know much about it. Never much of a history buff, most of the stories weren’t of much interest to me. Call it getting older, reflection or discovering an appreciation of my roots, I am intrigued by Yankton’s history and step back a few years to take a visit. Yankton College (YC), otherwise known as “the college on the hill,” is one of those landmarks in Yankton that I never knew much about. The college, founded by Joseph Ward in 1882, remained open until 1988, when it closed and became a camp for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, remaining in central Yankton on Douglas Street to this day, according to the Yankton College website (www.yanktoncollege.org), Ward began the college based on the foundation that “wisdom, knowledge and faith were inseparable.” The college offered a variety of courses in two-, three- and four-year programs; the first class contained a mere 5 students. Enrollment grew, and the students were provided a notable education in the comfort of a small-town setting. I talked to four female graduates of YC about their experience at the college on the hill. Sandra MacTavish Gross, Vicki (Wilken) Lehrman, Joan (Bunnell) Neubauer and Jan (Schmidt) Schiferl shared some memories with me. Gross, originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, attended YC from 1967-1970 and graduated Cum Laude. With the desire to teach and coach, she chose the school because Canada did not offer athletic scholarships. She Sandra MacTavish Gross Vicki (Wilken) Lehrman Floors & More Your Total Home Design Center The best innovation in carpet. We’ve combined Endurance high-performance ?ber with R2X® Soil and Stain Resistance and LifeGuard® Spill-proof Backing.™ Bellera is built to last. No surprises. No worries. TM shaw?oors.com 14vHERVOICEvJULY/AUGUST 2018 1205 Broadway Ave., Yankton • 665-9728 Monday-Friday 9-5:30, Saturday 9-3