The Presentation Sisters, the original sponsors of Presentation College, have a long history in the community of Aberdeen, from health care to affordable housing development.
That history closes later this year when the college ceases its operations in the Hub City.
Aberdeen mayor Travis Schaunaman said the city hasn’t forgotten their decades of service.
“The Sisters of the Presentation have really made a huge impact here in Aberdeen, they brought a great deal of value to our community in terms of nursing professionals to our community, but they couldn’t keep sticking it out and that’s an understandable thing,” Schaunaman said.
Schaunaman said the loss of the college will be felt in the community.
“Just one thing after another those guys have been helping with our needs," Schaunaman said. "The nursing program they developed through Presentation College was really intended to staff the hospital they had started. We’re really sad to see that go, we get a flock of students every year towards Presentation, and we’ll be sad to see those kids go.”
College president Paula Langteau expressed gratitude to the city.
“We’ve had an outpouring of support of individuals interested in helping our students and faculty and staff," Langteau said. "We are hosting career fairs, job fairs, teach-out fairs to help our students and I know we’ll be looking to the community when we’re doing our job fair for local opportunities coming up in late-February or early-March.”
Northern State University, also in Aberdeen, has been named another Presentation College teach-out partner. It’s one of five schools students can transfer to through a streamlined application process.
