Resource Area to Honor Reuben I. Meland

A fund has been established with the Riverland Community College Foundation to create a special resource area in the Riverland Community College library. James Meland, the son of Reuben I. Meland, the first president of Austin Junior College, is the donor.

James Meland will contribute $500 each year for the following 10 years to establish a dedicated shelf in the Riverland Community College library comprised of resource materials related to his father's academic and teaching interests in Science and Technology. The section will grow each year to include a collection of special resource books, CD Roms, and other reference material that may normally be beyond the reach of the library's budget.

"I have established this fund because my father not only embodied the philosophy of inclusion and opportunity for all, but also the promotion of excellence," said Meland. "In some respects, these combined principles make the community college enterprise the best of all worlds. Students are able to reach their potential."

James Meland, a graduate of Austin Junior College, has great pride in the college.

"I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to be educated at some respected institutions. But, no institution, in my experience, has equaled Austin's community college in reaching out to those of any station in life and saying, 'Work with us and we will educate you. We will help you find a path to success. You can do it.'"

Reuben Meland was the first college president of Austin State Junior College, one of the founding institutions that comprise the present-day Riverland Community College. Meland served from 1940 to 1970. Significant growth occurred during Meland's tenure and beyond. When the college first opened in 1940, the enrollment was 138 students and eight full and part-time faculty. Today, the college, along with more than 190 full and part-time faculty, educate more than 3,000 students. Meland played a significant role in the college's growth and charted a course for the college in preparation of the changing times in years ahead.