Joel Koerner (‘03) | #youareims

What Joel Koerner (‘03) loves the most about IMS is the close-knit community feel. In one word he would describe IMS as FOUNDATIONAL. He said, “IMS helped me root myself in values that still inform my life today.” He went on to add that his worldview was shaped in a way that could have only happened at a place like IMS. In his own words, “IMS prepares young people for life after high school. Whether it is teaching students great writing skills, teaching trade skills, or nurturing them on the road to adulthood, IMS provides teens with the tools they will need for a successful life with an education grounded in deep faith.”

Joel was involved in cross-country and track and some of his favorite classes were History, Sociology, Government, Economics, but regardless of the subject, he remembered teachers integrating faith and applying it in their classes on a regular basis. When asked do describe one of his favorite memories of his time at IMS, he mentioned Interterm (now called Service And Learning Term) in Des Moines in 2001. Joel said they had some pretty hilarious experiences involving cinnamon rolls, pasta, and March Madness. We will leave that to your imagination. 😉