In front are, from left, Morgaine Olson (biology), Jordan Lantz (marketing) and Jennnifer Shimmin (physical education). In back are, from left, Jackson Bergren (business administration), Toby Turnquist (exercise science), Declan Flynn (business administration and marketing) and Drew Brown (business administration)
MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (May 24, 2025) — Over the years, Monmouth College has had a pipeline with nearby United High School, and with the three high schools that existed separately before uniting as United — Alexis, Warren, and Yorkwood. For example, Monmouth staff member Dana Poole — a former United school board president and Warren graduate — was in the news two years ago for having his fourth daughter graduate from the college after first attending United.
Monmouth's Class of 2025 has made sure that pool of United graduates continues to grow. Seven members of the graduating class — roughly 5% — were UHS grads. They included summa cum laude graduate Jackson Bergren, magna cum laude graduate Jennifer Shimmin, Drew Brown, Declan Flynn, Jordan Lantz, Morgaine Olson and Toby Turnquist.
“The best of both worlds”
Shimmin followed the footsteps of her mother — longtime Fighting Scots volleyball coach and current faculty member Kari Bailey Shimmin ('97) — to Monmouth.
"I was on campus a lot growing up for sports camps, College for Kids and just watching college athletics," she said. "It helped me fall in love with the school. Growing up, I'd always wanted to go there. As a senior in high school, those feelings never changed, and I still wanted to be a part of the Fighting Scots family."
Olson also has a parent employed by Monmouth.
"I chose to stay close to home because it was the best option," said Olson. "My dad [Director of Facilities Jeff Olson] works for the college and worked hard to get me free tuition throughout my years at Monmouth."
Coming out of United, Bergren called his Monmouth decision "the best of both worlds."
"It was a combination of things, including being recruited to play football," said Bergren, who in his standout career caught 123 passes for 1,909 yards and eighteen touchdowns, including three in a memorable 44-24 victory over defending Midwest Conference champion Illinois College his senior year. "I was going to be living on campus but also close to home if I needed it. Kind of the best of both worlds."
That proximity came into play during a moment of misfortune on campus in the fall of his sophomore year.
"When the Stockdale Center [Monmouth's student and dining center] caught fire, I had the luxury of going home and have some nice home-cooked meals," he said.
“It feels like its own town”
The United grads were in agreement that even though Monmouth College is right in their own backyard, it's also a new experience.
"Don't think you won't get 'the college experience' by going to your hometown school," Bergren advised prospective students from Warren County and the surrounding area. "When you're on campus, it feels like its own town. You don't necessarily feel like you're in Monmouth, and you can live out your college experience."
"It was a really great experience to be able to have my own opportunities as a college kid and feel like I was not in the town I grew up in," said Shimmin. "It was also nice to be able to see my family when I wanted instead of having a long drive to do so."
Lantz said she appreciated the personal touch she received on campus.
"You won't find another school like Monmouth that cares so much for their students and their success after college," she said. "The community is one-of-a-kind and gives back to the college like I've never seen before. Enjoy your time here and don't be afraid to try new things."
Their Plan B earns an “A”
Both Lantz and Turnquist had small detours before landing at Monmouth. In Lantz's case, her first close-to-home school closed its doors after her sophomore year.
"Finding my next school next wasn't an issue for me, since I always wanted to be close to home," she said. "I knew Monmouth was my forever home away from home. I love the culture of being able to become independent on your own, but also knowing home is not that far if you're in need of help."
The son of athletic administrative assistant Heather Downing Turnquist ('99), Turnquist arrived at Monmouth after spending his freshman year at Augustana College.
"I decided to return to my hometown school and play baseball, as well," he said. "It was mainly an athletic decision, as well as having numerous friends who were already at Monmouth. It's great that when you're on campus, it feels like you're not really at home, but you have that opportunity to go back to your house and unwind if needed."
Highlights on and off the field
Turnquist helped pitch the Fighting Scots to this year's MWC playoffs, earning the victory over Lawrence that put Monmouth in the championship game. Brown was part of the squad, as well, and Flynn had great success with the Scots' basketball team, averaging 11.4 points as Monmouth won this year's regular-season title. Along with Bergren, the student-athletes listed their time in business classes as another highlight.
"My favorite professor was Dicky J [Dick Johnston], and taking both investments and finance with him were both fun experiences," said Brown.
Jackson Bergren's social-media accounts are doing so well that it's a realistic goal they'll soon be his major source of income
"An academic highlight I think of is Dicky J playing his guitar and singing for our class on multiple occasions," said Bergren, who was preparing to leave on a one-week college-sponsored trip to Scotland led by one of Johnston's department colleagues, Tom Prince.
Turnquist agreed: "I enjoyed Econ 200 with Dicky J, which is an excellent experience, as well as any class with Professor Prince, as they both get you prepared for life after college."
"My favorite academic highlight is having a professor like Tom Prince," said Lantz. "His true authenticity of connecting one-on-one with his students is one-of-a-kind. He takes the time to learn more about students — not only in the classroom, but also what they excel at outside of the classroom. I will cherish that forever."
Lantz also appreciated some of the traditions that students have enjoyed for generations, including Homecoming weekend and "Scots Eve."
Olson appreciated the opportunity to "get out of my comfort zone and dissect cockroaches and other creepy crawlies in 'Parasitology' thanks to Professor [Kevin] Baldwin. A highlight outside of the classroom was doing a research internship at Niabi Zoo. I had such a fun summer and learned so much while working alongside the zookeepers there."
Shimmin, who will also follow her mother's professional footsteps into education, said, "My practicum experiences and student teaching have been some of the best learning opportunities I've gotten. I was able to observe local teachers and then plan my own lessons in physical education classes. This is where I was most challenged, but then I also saw myself succeed the most as I grew as a teacher."
Shimmin also played for the Fighting Scots, joining the tennis team and closing her career by winning a doubles consolation championship at the MWC meet.
Where to next?
Shimmin will keep that academic/athletic mix in her post-Monmouth career, and United High School will be a part of it. She'll teach PE at West Central High School and continue coaching JV girls basketball at UHS.
Despite not having a tennis team at United, Jennifer Shimmin was a key contributor on the Fighting Scots' squad
Turnquist plans to coach, as well. "I'm looking to get my Master's degree in Sports Management with hopes of being a college baseball coach," he said.
Olson, too, is headed to graduate school.
"I will be taking a gap year and continuing to work at Monmouth Small Animal Hospital, as well as applying to veterinarian school in the fall," she said.
Like Shimmin, Brown will stay in the area, as he's accepted a job at Consolidated Grain and Barge Company as an assistant superintendent, helping to manage three local elevators.
Lantz will not only leave the area, but the state, as well.
"My next step is finding a job either in marketing or within business administration in Columbia, Missouri," she said. "I'm hoping to do something with sports and the operations of a sport," potentially mirroring 2016 Monmouth graduate Emily Siefken Garrett, who is the director of volleyball operations at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Once he returns from Scotland, Bergren will have more time to explore a variety of options, some based off the success of his "side hustle."
"I've had multiple different interviews and job offers for some sales positions, but I haven't committed to anything yet," he said. "I still want to explore what's out there before I make a decision. I'm also pursuing a career on my personal social media accounts, which I have already began making money from. This is going to be a side hustle until I can make it full-time in the future. I'm currently working on a brand deal right now."
It was Bergren who neatly summarized that staying close to home for college can be the perfect choice.
"If you're thinking about attending Monmouth and you're close to home, especially if you're playing a sport, I'd definitely recommend it," he said. "I met a ton of new people, and my parents were able to make it to all my games and other events easily and support me. It was so far the best four years of my life, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. The experiences, relationships and memories are all things I will hold onto forever."
