More Than a Game
“The confidence I gained from participating in athletics at Central helped me not only on the field but also in what I chose to do after I graduated.”
— Melissa “Missey” Allen Michel ’96
Central College was never part of the original plan for Melissa “Missey” Allen Michel ’96. She intended to play softball at a two-year school and transfer to a Division I program. But a chance elevator conversation with Thom Summit ’74 changed everything. It set her on a path where she would not only become a standout student-athlete (and a member of Central’s Athletics Hall of Honor) but also discover the resilience and connections that would define her life.
Michel’s introduction to collegiate-level softball wasn’t without its challenges.
“I think the first few weeks in collegiate athletics are always rocky; I mean, Coach George Wares ’76 scared me,” she says, chuckling. “He was way different than any coach I’d ever had. But once we understood each other, I didn’t want to be anywhere else.”
From a highly decorated pitching career, arguably one of, if not the best in Division III, to lifelong friendships, Michel’s time at Central was transformative, both on and off the field.
“Softball has given me the best and biggest extended family that I could ever ask for,” Michel expresses. “It taught me the perseverance I needed for life.”
Studying elementary education with an emphasis on early childhood and coaching, Michel found her calling not as a veterinarian, as she initially thought, but as an educator.
After teaching in public schools for 12 years, Michel noticed a recurring challenge: Students struggling with phonics and foundational literacy skills. Determined to make a difference, she founded The Treehouse Growing and Learning Center, a facility focused on bridging learning gaps through innovative curriculum development.
“It is so rewarding to write my own curriculum — it’s what makes us stand out,” she explains. “When we started out, the certification officials from the state were leery because they thought it was too rigorous. To which I responded, ‘Good learning is a lot of rigor.’ Our curriculum sets us apart but so does our ability to respond and get children the help they need early on, ensuring children are prepared for kindergarten and beyond.”
Treehouse has grown exponentially, now serving over 500 children across two Ankeny, Iowa, locations. Michel’s efforts didn’t stop there. She and her sister, Melinda “Mindy” Allen Hahn ’02, later opened The Study Loft, a space for children beyond daycare age, but too young to be home by themselves. The pair even opened a home décor business, Forget Me Not Design.
All the sisters’ business ventures are rooted in their family-first philosophy.
“What I was seeking when we started Treehouse was what I had at Central — a safe, family environment that prepares you for whatever comes next.”
Michel’s personal life has not been without its share of hardships. After losing her husband, she leaned on the resilience she developed at Central.
“The perseverance I gained here helped me through the hardest days of my life,” she reflects. “There’s not a lot I remember about those days, but I remember my Central family being there for me. That’s what this place is: A family.”
Michel’s story is one of courage, adaptability and the enduring impact of her Central experience.
“Sports aren’t just about achievements; they’re about who you become,” she says. “I teach a lot of young athletes about what sports are doing for and teaching them. I wonder what kind of person I would be without sports and a coach like Coach Wares. Would I be less open? Less willing to take risks? The confidence I gained from participating in athletics at Central helped me not only on the field but also in what I chose to do after I graduated. Because of it, I took a risk and decided to leave education and open a business helping touch young lives.”
Today, Michel continues to honor the lessons she learned at Central.
“The 18-year-old Missey would think, ‘Holy cow’ to see me today and all that I’ve done,” Michel shares. “My education and the experiences I had in my time here were phenomenal and prepared me for all I’m doing now. I never thought I would be my own boss or a business owner. The more I got into teaching and the more I saw where I could make an impact, the more I knew what I needed to do.”
Michel enjoys visiting campus when she can, but especially to cheer on her nephew Kaden Seeman ’27 and the Central football team.
“When I step on this campus, it feels like coming home,” she says. “Without Central, I don’t know who I’d be. It’s shaped every part of my life.”
From a determined student-athlete to a visionary business owner, Michel’s journey embodies Central’s mission to equip individuals for lives of meaning and purpose. And for that, she is forever grateful.