UNO Alum - Fall 2006

U N I V E R S I T Y

Fall 2006

JOIN THE HERD AT UNO HOMECOMING 2006!

Kids 12 & under of alumni eat, attend game for free! Details next page.

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www.unoalumni.org

Victory Bell tolls for Mavs

Chancellor Belck resigns

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JOIN THE HERD 2006 UNO Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 14

NO BULL: Kids 12 & under of alumni attend FREE!!!

Sign us up for UNO Homecoming 2006!

Name Phone City State Reserve and

9 a.m.: Library tour

1 p.m.: Football

• Tour the Library’s recent renovations & addition—including a cafe!

UNO locks horns with North Dakota at Al F. Caniglia Field. Watch the Mavs go for their 10th win in the last 11 Homecomings!

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Picnic • Pre-game picnic at Alumni Center • Games & prizes for kids • Mav Brands (tattoos) • Pep talk from Coach Pat Behrns • UNO Mascot Durango • Amazing Arthur’s magic, balloon art and juggling

Zip adult tickets at $10 each free children’s tickets! (Kids of grads only)

I have enclosed $

for the tickets.

(Make checks payable to UNO Alumni Association)

Brands for Name Tags (Please include children’s names and ages)

Free Shuttle Service: Shuttle Service for trips between the Alumni Center and Library and to the game!

All that for just $10 for adults, kids 12 & under of alumni free! Price includes food and beverage at the picnic AND ticket to the game.

To attend, RETURN FORM BY OCT 6!

Complete, detach and mail with check to: UNO Alumni Association 60th & Dodge, Omaha, NE 68182.

For more homecoming info: Toll-free — UNO-MAV-ALUM Email — sking@mail.unomaha.edu

Fall 2006

On the cover: Mavs win Victory Bell

Cover photo by Michelle Bishop/UNO Gateway

Contents College Pages Arts & Sciences

26-29

College welcomes new faculty.

CCFAM

30-32

Choir tours Baltics, Norway.

Education

33

CADRE celebrates success

CPACS

34-35

Aviation Institute soars high.

IS&T

36-39

New Dean Hesham Ali.

Features 10

Ringing in a Victory

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Above: UNO Captain Kyle Kasperbauer (No. 22) rings in victory alongside fellow captain Kenny Onatolu (No. 21) after the Mavs’ 29-19 win over UNK.

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Telly Time

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UNO graduate Ken Archer leads his Florida TV station to industry awards.

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Behind Bars Mel Goebel brings books — and a message — to prisoners across the country.

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Still on Track

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Bill Kratville continues train photography.

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Measuring Meth UNO’s Juvenile Justice Institute conducts a landmark study on methamphetamine abuse and treatment.

Association Departments Alumni Association in Action

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Denney receives Citation award; Homecoming 2006 set for Oct. 14; Denker assumes Association helm; Maverick Mojo on the move; Association contributes to Library expansion.

Class Notes

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Editor: Anthony Flott Contributors: Jerilee Bennett, Michelle Bishop, Tim Fitzgerald, Warren Francke, Don Kohler, Bill Mitchell, Joe Mixan, Eric Olson, Wendy Townley.

Alumni Association Officers: Chairman of the Board, Mike Kudlacz; Past Chairman, Adrian Minks; Chairman-elect Deb McLarney; Vice Chairmen, Rod Oberle, Angelo Passarelli, Kevin Warneke, John Wilson; Secretary, Patricia Lamberty; Treasurer, Dan Koraleski; Legal Counsel, Martha Zajicek; President & CEO, Lee Denker .

Alumni Staff: Lee Denker, President & CEO; Jim Leslie, President Emeritus; Roxanne Miller, Executive Secretary; Sue Gerding, Diane Osborne, Kathy Johnson, Records/Alumni Cards; Sheila King, Activities Coordinator; Greg Trimm, Alumni Center Manager; Joan Miller, Accountant; Anthony Flott, Editor; Loretta Wirth, Receptionist.

The UNO Alum is published quarterly by the UNO Alumni Association, W.H. Thompson Alumni Center, UNO, Omaha, NE 68182-0010, (402) 554-2444, FAX (402) 554-3787 • web address: www.unoalumni.org • Member, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) • Direct all inquiries to Editor, W.H. Thompson Alumni Center, (402) 5542989. Toll-free, UNO-MAV-ALUM • email: aflott@mail.unomaha.edu • Send all changes of address to attention of Records.

Views expressed through various articles within the magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of Nebraska at Omaha or the UNO Alumni Association.

Promotions, marriages, births and more.

Fall 2006 • 3

Campus SCENE

Go UNO!: Mav fans show their colors during UNO’s season-opening game against the University of Nebraska at Kearney. UNO won the game 29-19, claiming the series’ Victory Bell for the fourth consecutive time. See Page 10.

Photo by Tim Fitzgerald, University Affairs

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Fall 2006 • 5

Letter from the University of Nebraska

Keeping momentum on the march at UNO A

s alumni of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, you take great pride in UNO’s history – and rightfully so. You also have a significant stake in its future, and I believe that future is brighter than ever.

While recent events may have temporarily shaken your trust and tarnished your pride, UNO will emerge stronger from this experience. More stringent internal controls and more responsible oversight of expenses, both on the campus and at the alumni association, are being put in place.

Today, under the leadership of Interim Chancellor John Christensen, we are moving forward to quickly recapture UNO’s considerable momentum.

UNO’s strategic plan draws on the insights and input of faculty, students, alumni and the community of Omaha. It is a blueprint for both physical and academic expansion, and it has created a renewed excitement for the campus’ future.

In June, the Board of Regents approved UNO’s 2006-2015 facilities development plan, which visualizes a vibrant campus that expands south of Center Street with the addition of approximately 71 additional acres. Potential plans include new athletic facilities, additional student housing and university parking. UNO is poised to be a centerpiece of central Omaha revitalization.

That expansion will build on the remarkable transformation niversity of Nebraska at that UNO already has Omaha Chancellor experienced over the past Nancy Belck on Sept. 12 decade. On-campus housing has submitted her created new options for students immediate and changed the environment at resignation to UNO. The opening of the Peter NU President Kiewit Institute and Scott James B. Technology Center fostered Milliken. Belck, strong relationships with the who came to business community, and UNO in 1997, signaled a dedication to said that recent becoming a national leader in media scrutiny information science and regarding her technology. Starting a Division I travel hockey team put UNO athletics Belck expenditures, in the spotlight and created a

President

gain a better understanding of Omaha’s Latino and AfricanAmerican communities. Another highly regarded program encourages Nebraska’s Native American students’ interest in science and technology.

Earlier this year, I was invited to join a select group of university presidents at a summit convened by the U.S. Secretaries of State and Education. First Lady Laura Bush participated, delivering a speech in which she singled out UNO for its program that helps prepare Afghan women teachers. His Excellency Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan, accepted an honorary degree at a ceremony at UNO in May. And a new exchange program with the Indian Institute of Technology is creating opportunities for MBA students from India to study here and for UNO students to study in Kharagpur. UNO is marking its mark as part of the global community.

There’s also exciting news in the research arena. UNO and OPPD recently announced a partnership for energy research that gives students and faculty a chance to develop new strategies for energy conservation. Faculty research is gaining national recognition and increased funding.

These are just a few examples of the growth, innovation and progress that have created tremendously positive momentum for UNO. I see much more on the horizon. It’s time to move forward – with the continued support of more than 70,000 alumni, UNO will move into its second century, bolstered by your enduring pride and your optimism for the future.

James B. Milliken, President, University of Nebraska

Chancellor Belck Resigns post on Sept. 12

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significant base of fan support in Omaha.

At the same time, UNO has strengthened its academic programs, offering new majors and providing opportunities for students to study abroad.

UNO’s outreach and community engagement efforts have won wide praise, especially the efforts of faculty and students to

6 • Fall 2006

and those of former Vice Chancellor for Administration Jim Buck, diminished her ability to lead the campus and distracted university personnel from the important role of educating students.

"As a metropolitan university, UNO must

continue to move forward on development of its Pacific and Center Street campuses, as well as address its immediate needs for additional student housing on the Dodge campus," Belck said. "Unfortunately, because of the environment created by events of the past several weeks, I can no longer provide effective leadership. In the best interest of UNO, I believe removing myself from this controversy is the most appropriate course of action. It has been a privilege to serve as chancellor of this extraordinary institution, and I leave with great regret and also great confidence in its students, faculty,

staff, alumni and community supporters," Belck continued.

Under Belck's leadership, UNO made dramatic strides, including development of the Peter Kiewit Institute, the Pacific Street campus, student residential housing, rising graduation rates and an improved climate of diversity and multiculturalism. At the June meeting of the NU Board of Regents, she unveiled an ambitious plan for developing a variety of facilities on UNO's three campuses, which called for additional housing, as well as academic, athletic, recreation and parking space.

From release issued by UNO University Affairs

UNOALUM

Facing our Challenge UNO Alumni:

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he University of Nebraska at Omaha is a proud institution with a rich history.

Since its founding nearly a century ago, UNO has enjoyed countless opportunities for celebration. Other moments, though, have challenged its resilience. Yet each difficult moment has been met head-on by a dedicated UNO family resolved to make the university stronger.

Today we are faced with another such moment.

Events leading to the resignation of UNO Chancellor Nancy Belck have angered many alumni, fans and friends of UNO. I have received calls and notes from alumni who are reconsidering their support of UNO and the Alumni Association as a result. They tell me that

President

they genuinely care about UNO but want to be certain that their investment is handled appropriately.

The UNO Alumni Association shares that genuine concern and interest in the well-being of the university that we work daily to support. Since 1913, the association has carefully and diligently worked to, as our original mission statement declares, “concentrate the divided efforts of the graduates into one unit in order to work more proficiently for the up-building of the school.”

Those efforts continue in force today.

Through alumni programs such as Homecoming, the UNO Alum magazine, arts events, the UNO Annual Fund campaign, Golden Circle, and other efforts, we strive to create opportunities for alumni to stay involved with and support UNO. We also assist outstanding students and faculty through scholarships and teacher awards.

These programs and many more are done with an emphasis on fiscal responsibility and accountability. Our Association annually hires an external auditor to ensure that our processes are compliant with standard accounting practices and are consistent with the

mission of our organization.

Our audit reports are public records and available for review by any graduate at any time.

As your new alumni president, let me assure you that the Alumni Association staff and board of directors are committed to maintaining your trust as we work through this difficult moment.

We will work with UNO Interim Chancellor John Christensen in whatever ways we can to ensure that mistakes of the past are corrected. Meanwhile, we will continue to share with you the many ways that UNO is making Omaha, our state and our world a better place through communication in the UNO Alum magazine and on our alumni website (www.unoalumni.org).

Excellence abounds on this campus.

With your determination, involvement and support, I am confident that this moment will serve as a springboard to greater levels of success for UNO.

Sincerely yours, Lee Denker President and CEO UNO Alumni Association

Christensen appointed Interim UNO Chancellor

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NO Vice Chancellor John Christensen was named interim UNO chancellor following the resignation of Nancy Belck on Sept.

12.

Christensen has served as UNO’s vice chancellor for academic and student affairs since February 2004.

Prior to that Christensen had served that post on an interim basis beginning in 2003.

“I am delighted that John Christensen has agreed to serve as interim chancellor,” NU President James B. Milliken said in an address to the UNO campus.

“As a seasoned administrator and a man of great integrity, John will provide the leadership to move UNO forward.”

Christensen has been at UNO for nearly 30 years. He began his tenure at UNO in 1978 as a faculty member in the College of Education’s Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders.

He subsequently served as chair of that department for 12 years, then as

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dean of the College of Education until his interim appointment as vice chancellor in 2003.

Christensen received his bachelor’s degree in speech and communication from Dana College in 1971. He also earned a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from UNO (1974) and his Ph.D. in speech-language pathology from the University of Kansas (1980).

He is the first graduate of the university to lead UNO as chancellor, interim or otherwise.

“It is indeed a privilege to serve as interim chancellor during this transition phase,” Christensen told the UNO Alum.

“UNO is a great university with outstanding students, faculty and staff and an unlimited potential to explore.

For my part, I pledge my full attention and energy to moving the campus forward. There is much to do and I sense a real commitment and enthusiasm on campus and in the community to get on with the tasks ahead.”

Tim Fitzgerald, University Affairs

From the Alumni Association

UNO Interim Chancellor John Christensen.

Fall 2006 • 7

Alumni Association in Action

Magic under Mike

Denney receives Citation award

he UNO Alumni Association bestowed its Citation Denney was an all-conference and all-district performer for Alumnus Achievement upon Mike Denney durin both sports, earning a BA in 1969. ing UNO’s summer commencement Aug. 11.

His athletic career continued after college. Denney Denney is head coach of the UNO wrestling team. He played seven seasons as a lineman for the Omaha received his master’s degree in physical education from Mustangs semiprofessional football team. He also UNO in 1975. became accomplished in martial arts, currently holding a The Citation, first bestowed in 1949, is presentthird-degree black belt in Judo and Jujitsu. Denney has ed at each UNO commencement. The Association’s placed many years in the National Master Judo highest honor, it encompasses professional or career achievement, community service, involvement in business and professional associations, and fidelity to UNO. Denney, the 141st Citation recipient, has led UNO to three consecutive NCAA Division II national championships. His 1991 team also won a national championship.

“Coach Denney is a champion not only in terms of athletic success,” said Lee Denker, Association president & CEO, “but in character, too. Time and again, those who know Coach Denney praise him for his integrity, discipline, moral fiber and strong faith. His wrestling teams are more like families. They become better people, not just better wrestlers, and that alone merits him this honor.”

Tim Fitzgerald, University Affairs Denney’s UNO career has been a success UNO Coach Mike Denney, left, with Alumni Association from its start in 1979, resulting in an impres- President Lee Denker. sive array of accomplishments (see list at Championships, winning the 1982 national championship left). He twice has been named NCAA II Coach of the at 209 pounds.

Year, in 1981 and 1991. He served on the NCAA His UNO program is respected as much for its Wrestling Rules Committee for six years and also is a achievements off the mat as on it. Respected as a fine past president of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches speaker and motivator of youth, the 59-year-old Denney Association and past chairman of the Division II speaks often at banquets or to groups of young people.

Wrestling Championships Committee.

His team, meanwhile, is extensively involved in commuPrior to joining UNO Denney coached at high schools Omaha South and Omaha Bryan. Before that the Neligh, nity service: Delivering alcohol and drug-free messages Neb., native was a four-year starter in football and to young people; visiting hundreds of patients each year wrestling at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D. in local hospitals and care centers; serving meals to the homeless; hosting a free pancake breakfast for UNO faculty and staff; providing quality clinics for young wrestlers and coaches; and more.

Denney’s awards are numerous. In 1988 he was alumni crew neck sweatshirt, a t-shirt and a ve already know you're smart—you're a inducted into the Dakota Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fame. neck windshirt (pictured).

UNO grad, after all. So why not dress He also has been named to the NCAA Division II, And don't forget: UNO Annual smartly, too?

Nebraska Wrestling and Metro Wrestling Coaches Halls At the request of the UNO Alumni Fund donors can use their of Fame. In 2000 he received the UNO Chancellor’s Association the UNO bookstore has designed UNO Alumni Card to Medal in honor of significant contributions to the three new shirts that let graduates tell the receive a 10-percent university. world that they're UNO alumni. The shirts can discount on reguMike and his wife, Bonnie, have been married be ordered online through the Bookstore and larly priced memo37 years and have three adult children. Bonnie shipped directly to your house. rabilia at the is very involved with the UNO wrestling proTo do so, visit www.unobookstore.com.

Bookstore. gram, helping in numerous areas. The Click on “General Merchandise” then go to the Discount good on Denneys are members of St. Paul’s bottom of that page and click on “Graduation in-store purchases Methodist Church. only. and Alumni.” There the bookstore offers an NO Achievements during Coach Mike Denney’s career: • UNO has top-three finishes in the past 16 years and has not finished lower than eighth since 1980. UNO’s 26 Top 10 finishes are more than any other Division II school.

• Denney has coached 147 Division II All-Americans and 24 national champions; three others have claimed Division I AllAmerican honors.

• UNO has a dual meet record of 262-101-5 under Denney. That includes a 10-0 mark in 2005-06, the school’s second undefeated dual match season. The Mavs last season also won the school’s third National Dual Meet title.

• The 2004-05 Mavs were Academic National Champions, the first time a team has won both the academic and team championships in the same year. More than 30 of Denney’s wrestlers have earned National Wrestling Coaches Association Academic All-American status.

• At least 60 of his former wrestlers now coach the sport, including the head coaches at sister institutions the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

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Alumni Apparel at the Bookstore

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UNOALUM

News, Information & Activities

Kids 12 & under of alumni attend, eat for free!

Join the Herd at Homecoming 2006 Oct. 14 oin fellow alumni at the Thompson Alumni Center (rain or shine) for food, fun and freebies at UNO Homecoming 2006 on Saturday, Oct. 14, as the Mavs lock horns with North Dakota.

Kids 12 & under of alumni attend for FREE! Here’s the lineup: • 9 a.m .–11 a .m : Li bra r y Tour Show up early and see the recently completed renovation and addition to UNO’s library via guided tours (details below).

• 11 a . m . – 1 p . m : P r e - ga m e pi c n i c / t a i l ga t e pa r t y a t t h e Thompson Alumni Center - Delicious food and beverages.

- Games, prizes and Mav Brands (tattoos) for the kids.

- Pep talk from Coach Pat Behrns.

J Asked & Answered he questions were asked, and UNO graduates answered, giving their opinions on three online surveys since the last UNO Alum mailed in March. Monthly results:

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JUNE Gas at the beginning of June 2006 is around 75 cents more per gallon than it was last year at this time. Does the cost affect your summer vacation?

• No change in vacation plans—44% • Still driving, just not as far—16% • We’re flying – it’s cheaper—10% • Staying home because of gas prices—17% • Staying home regardless of gas prices—2%

- UNO Mascot Durango.

- Amazing Arthur with magic and balloon art.

• 1 p . m. : F o o t b al l UNO vs. North Dakota - Watch the Mavs go for their 10th win in the past 11 homecomings!

Free Shuttle Service: Use UNO’s Shuttle Service for trips between the Alumni Center and Library and from the Alumni Center to the game!

All that for just $10 for adults, kids 12 & under free.

Price includes ticket to the game, food and beverages. To attend, complete and return with payment the sign-up form on Page 2. For more information call

JULY What do you think NASA should do with future Space Shuttle missions?

• Continue the program as-is—21% • Expand the program—57% • End the program—22% AUGUST Will you work beyond retirement age?

• Yes, because I'll have to—22% • Yes, because I'll want to—35% • No—15% • I'm already retired and loving it—18% • I’m retired but looking for work—2% • Undecided—8%

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Activities Director Sheila King tollfree at UNO-MAV-ALUM (866-6282586) or e-mail sking@mail.unomaha.edu

Tim Fitzgerald, University Affairs

Alumni invited to Library tours trip to the library is about to take on a whole new feel. Oak paneling, an elegant café (above), and the latest technology are just part of the changes made at UNO’s Library in the past year.

Alumni can see the changes for themselves during a quick tour arranged exclusively for them in conjunction with UNO Homecoming 2006. Special 10-minute tours have been arranged for that day beginning at 9

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a.m. Shuttle buses will run between the Alumni Center and the Library. The shuttles also will take alumni to the game at Al Caniglia Field.

The 31,000-square-foot addition honors Dr. Guinter Kahn, 1954 Omaha University graduate. The revitalized library also features a huge ceramic sculpture by Jun Kaneko and 16-foot-tall windows in the new reading room.

Fall 2006 • 9

Alumni Association in Action

Changing of the Guard at Association or the first time since Richard Nixon was president and gas was less than 50 cents a gallon, the UNO Alumni Association is under new leadership.

Papillion, Neb., native Lee Denker on July 1 became the association’s president & CEO, replacing Jim Leslie, who had held that post since 1973. Denker previously was executive director of the Boise State University Alumni Association in Boise, Idaho.

Denker’s first months have included numerous meetings with association board members, campus administrators, alumni and donors, and attendance at various athletic and campus events.

"Everywhere I turn on campus and throughout Omaha I am greeted by enthusiasm for the future of UNO,” Denker said. “Our challenge at the alumni association will be expanding the network of support so that other Mavericks will join our efforts to advance this great university."

Leslie remains with the association as president emeritus until retiring in December. A retrospective of his career will be published in the next Alum published in early December.

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Donor nets season hockey tix ongtime insurance executive Roger Henderson my mind I would not have advanced as far as I did in the won’t have to worry about UNO hockey tickets this insurance field.” In gratitude, he’s been a longtime donor, coming season. As someone in his former field first contributing to the UNO Annual Fund in 1975. might say, “He’s covered.”

“I have always felt it an obligation to support the Henderson in early July was randomly selected by school if at all possible,” Henderson says. “Maybe it will the UNO Alumni Association to receive a pair of 2006-07 help in some small way for other students to gain a valuUNO season hockey tickets. The UNO Annual Fund proable education.” motion was conducted among donors of $25 or more Henderson and his wife, Jane, have five children and through June. eight grandchildren. That includes son Thomas The tickets are going to a fan as well as to a donor.

Henderson, a 1990 UNO grad who is a major in the U.S. “I have followed the UNO team and Coach Mike Kemp with great interest,” Henderson says. “I think it was a real asset for the community when UNO added hockey to their sports program.

Coach Kemp has done a wonderful job getting the program where it is today.”

Henderson graduated from thenOmaha University in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Prior to that he had served I the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, seeing time in Korea and Japan.

“I was a little older than most of the students at that time,” he says. “I was very fortunate to have some great teachers at that time. To name a few: C. Glen Lewis, Jack Hill, and William Hockett.”

After graduating Henderson immeTim Fitzgerald, University Affairs diately earned a job at Mutual of UNO Coach Mike Kemp, right, with donor Roger Henderson.

Omaha in the group underwriting department. He stayed for 30 years, leaving in 1987 as a vice president in the group insurArmy. Thomas Henderson last year received a care packance division for both Mutual and United of Omaha Life age from the Alumni Association through its In Care Of Insurance Company. He later became a self-employed program. He was awarded the Bronze Start after serving insurance consultant but now is retired. one year in Iraq.

“Without my degree from OU, there is no doubt in

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Alumni Directory Update or the second time in 10 years the UNO Alumni Association is partnering with Harris Connect to produce a UNO Alumni Directory.

The association last published a directory of its alumni in 1997.

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Association membership today numbers nearly 82,000 living graduates. The new UNO Alumni Directory will be published in 2007 and will be available as a printed book or on a CD-ROM. Member entries will include name, address, phone number, academic data and the employment and professional information of each alum. Graduates will be listed alphabetically, geographically, by class year and by career.

The directory is for official university and alumni association use, and for individual communication of a personal nature between members listed therein. The copyright strictly prohibits use for any other purpose.

Harris has begun researching and compiling the information to be printed in the directory. Contact of alumni by Harris via phone, mail and email began in May. Graduate record updates will not be taken after Oct. 1.

Those who prefer not to be list-

ed in the directory can notify the association’s Sue Gerding by email (sgerding@mail.unomaha.edu), phone (toll-free, UNO-MAV-ALUM) or in writing (UNO Alumni Association, 67th & Dodge, Omaha, NE 68182).

A historical timeline of the University of Nebraska at Omaha beginning with its start in 1908 also will be included in the directory.

More details will be made available on the association’s website (www.unoalumni.org) and in future issues of the UNO Alum magazine.

UNOALUM

News, Information & Activities

Donor reception to honor Alumni Center donors he UNO Alumni Association will honor donors to the Alumni Center Centennial Campaign during a reception Oct. 25.

The reception will recognize contributors to the campaign, con-

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Maverick Mojo is on the Move averick Mojo is on the move with UNO’s Recruitment Services "It's about fun. It's about creating excitement. It's about sharing what UNO has to offer with prospective students and their parents," said David Cicotello, director of new student enrollment services at UNO. What is "it"? "It" is Maverick Mojo, the theme of UNO's recruitment and marketing campaign launched in August. Created by Omaha ad agency Ervin and Smith, the campaign targets high school students based on research and test-marketed with local sophomores and juniors. The objectives of the campaign are to raise awareness of the UNO brand and increase the number of applications for admission.

Maverick Mojo features an interactive website, www.BeaMav.com, with information on applications, academics, athletics, student life, housing and more. “Meet a Mav!” introduces students via online video bios that “show what UNO life is really like—through the eyes of the students themselves.”

“Maverick Moments” features “snapshots of real UNO students . . . their friends, their hangouts, their lives.”

"There's really nothing like this approach in the region, currently," Cicotello said.

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ducted to support the addition to and renovation of the William H. and Dorothy Thompson Alumni Center. Work on the addition and renovation was completed in January 2006 but the campaign

continued.

The Oct. 25 reception will feature the unveiling of a Centennial Hall plaque honoring the donors and commemorating the university’s upcoming 100-year anniversary.

UNO Century Club update he UNO Century Club was formed in 1973 with 44 members. Today, the Club features thousands of members.

Membership consists of individuals who support their alma mater with gifts of $100 or more. Gifts support various alumni association programs and services that make for a stronger, more vibrant university. With their UNRESTRICTED gift, Century Club donors receive one of five personalized mementos (pictured at right), special recognition in an annual report and invitations to select events throughout the year.

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Thanks to these upgraded Century Club donors!

(June 1 to Aug. 31, 2006) To Platinum ($2,500 or more) Peter Buffett Susan A. Buffett To Gold ($1,000 or more) Cherianne Jacquert Gilbert A. Krom James A.D. Lowry To Gold ($500 or more) Herbert & Barbara Egerer Walter L. Lee To Silver ($250 or more) Barbara L. Bohi Phyllis F. Easton Patricia Eldridge Sally Ganem Rev. James M. Gaughan, Ph.D. Robert C. Hill Sandy Howard Warren S. McClure

Martha Dean Miller Judy & Omer Trout Jean C. Tuchino Jeff L. Wacker Welcome to these firsttime Century Club donors! (June 1 to Aug. 31, 2006) Silver ($250 or more) Glenn & Lorraine Bailey Robert J. Carlisle Daniel Dean Swanson Bronze ($100 or more) Daniel J. Anderson Lang W. Anderson III Robin E. Balogh Wilbert J. Beran Osvalds E. Blaus Donald E. Brooks Bruce B. Campbell Luis Castro-Acobes Curt Comba Michael A. Cutchall Smith A. De Voe Gail L. Didonato

Rita Erdem Kathleen A. Fenn James E. Foster Jack R. Fraenkel Lynn A. Freeman Kathryn W. Friedli David & Tracey Gau Richard G. Gay Irma L. Gibson Michael & Christina Hagley Donald F. Hansen Terry & Judy Hansen David L. Hayden Milton C. & Sharlene A. Hearn Robert W. Hicks, Jr. Danette L. Hogan Denise J. Holland Amy N. Hugunin Angelo Intile L.D. Jackson T.E. Jackson Thomas Jauss Victoria A. Kaspar Stephen Brent Kass Micaela R. Keeton Daniel L. Konopatzke

Dr. Sharon R. Lintzman Dan Byron Love William G. Mavity Gary M. McGovern Walter F. Moore Willie Nantz Phillip N. Nguyen Paul W. Oltman Paul & Regina Pennington Steven J. Petersen Dave Pfeffer James P. Preston Alan R. Reinarz Michael V. Rescigno James T. Ruswick Patricia L. Sabine Jess Sherbert Shirley K. Siebler Leonard R. Skillan Karyl L. Smith Scott H. Smith Donald F. Surrell Darren L. Taylor Boyd C. Thelen Mary Ann Thunn Brian Wadsworth Frank A. Washburn

Fall 2006 • 11

Alumni Association in Action

Donor offer: 2-for-1 Mav hockey tix

he UNO Alumni Association has arranged with UNO Athletics to offer its donors an enticing benefit: 2-for-1 single-game tickets to a Maverick hockey game.

All donors to the UNO Annual Fund (suggested donation of $25 or more) can present their UNO Alumni Card and receive one free hockey ticket for every ticket purchased to one of the games listed below. The promotion is good for upper level ($12 regular price) or lower level ($15) seats. A limit of five tickets can be purchased, resulting in 10 total tickets.

Tickets can be purchased at the Qwest Center Omaha box office. UNO Alumni Card holders MUST present their card when purchasing tickets.

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The 2-for-1 hockey ticket promotion is good for these Mav games: Oct. 28, Saturday, 7:05 p.m., vs. Western Michigan; Nov. 4, Saturday, 7:05 p.m., vs. Alaska-Fairbanks; Dec. 10, Sunday, 2 p.m., vs.

Bentley (Mass.); Friday, Feb. 2, 7:05 p.m., vs.

Michigan State (ticket prices $15 & $18).

To get an Alumni Card contribute today by completing the form on Page 46.

12 • Fall 2006

Michelle Bishop/UNO Gateway UNO players celebrate their 29-19 Victory Bell win over the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Victory Bell tolls for Mavs . . . again nce again, the bell tolled for the UNO football team. For the fourth consecutive season the Mavs beat instate rival University of Nebraska at Kearney, earning UNO the Victory Bell instituted in 2003 by the alumni associations of both schools.

UNO won the Sept. 2 home game 29-19, sophomore wide receiver Troy Kush catching two touchdown passes to spark the Mavs in their season opener.

The victory was the fourth straight and 26th overall by the Mavericks in the 34-game series against Nebraska-Kearney.

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The 50-pound bronze Victory Bell commemorates the longtime football series. It features brass plates etched with the scores of games played since the schools first met in 1915.

The bell was crafted by the famous Paccard-Fonderie de Cloches in Annecy, France. The Paccard-Fonderie (est.

1796) also cast the bells in towers on both campuses— UNO’s Henningson Memorial Campanile and Carillon (dedicated 1989) and UNK’s Memorial Carillon Tower (dedicated 1986).

The victor of each year’s football game keeps the bell on its campus until the two teams next play.

Alumni Association provides Library gift ecognizing that great universities must be supported by great libraries, the UNO Alumni Association has committed $50,000 to the library addition campaign.

The commitment will be distributed in $10,000 installments for the next five years. In recognition of the gift the library will name a conference room for the association.

The gift was approved by the UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors at its board meeting on

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Aug. 15.

“The association and the library have a long and mutually beneficial relationship,” Alumni Association President Lee Denker said. “This furthers that relationship while supporting the university in a real, tangible way.”

The library this fall is completing a 31,000-square-foot addition, named in honor of UNO graduate Guinter Kahn. Features include improved lighting, technology sup-

port, a student lounge, updated furnishings, oak paneling and an elegant café.

The library’s new look is accompanied by a new name. It now is officially known as the Dr. CC and Mabel L. Criss Library in honor of the generous gift provided by the memorial foundation by that name.

UNO Annual Fund donors receive checkout privileges and other benefits at the library by presenting their UNO Alumni Card.

UNOALUM

News, Information & Activities

Swing Sponsors he UNO Alumni Association extends its sincere thanks to the following Hole-in-One, Beverage, Prize and other sponsors during the 2006 UNO Chancellor’s Scholarship Swing.

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Hole-in-One Sponsor Baxter Chrysler Jeep & Dodge Beverage Sponsor Pepsi Bottling Group Prize Sponsors AAA Nebraska Anthony’s Restaurant Brandeis Catering Colton’s Woodfired Grill Cummins Central Power First National Bank-Omaha Frankel Zacharia Mark & Frances Grieb Great Western Bank/Harlan Falk Grande Olde Players Theater Hector’s Mike & Marji Jones Harry A. Koch, Co. KPMG LLP Earl Leinart The Market Basket Rick Martin & Patricia Taylor Moe’s Southwest Grill Mutual of Omaha Omaha Steaks International Omaha World Herald Park Regency Lodge Scheels All Sports Shadow Ridge Country Club Soaring Wings Winery Tiburon Golf Club UNO Athletics Upstream Brewing Company U.S. Bank V. Mertz John & Mary Wilson Sponsors Anderson Partners Alex McPherson

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Swing tournament nets $55,000 he UNO Chancellor’s Scholarship Swing was held Sept. 11 at Tiburon Golf Club as the UNO Alumni Association once more teed off for student scholarships.

Held for the 26th consecutive year, the Swing raised $55,000 for student scholarships.

The UNO Alumni Association began hosting the tournament 11 years ago. Since then, more than $400,000 has been raised for scholarships.

The money raised helps support various Association-sponsored student scholarships, including UNO Alumni Legacy Scholarships, $1,000 grants instituted in 2000 and awarded only to children of UNO graduates. More than $270,000 in UNO Alumni Legacy Scholarships has been awarded since the program’s start.

“This is the Association’s biggest single-day fundraiser for the UNO campus,” said Sheila King, director of Alumni Programming and Activities. “But there are many days put behind it to ensure its success. I’m especially thankful to our Swing Committee, which has logged invaluable time and expertise throughout the past year.”

UNO graduates Jim Garbina (’87) and Kevin Munro (’86) chaired the committee that oversaw the tournament’s organization. Other committee members include UNO graduates Jim Czyz (’71), Bob Danenhauer (’82), Mark Grieb (’81), Mike Jones (’66), Cookie Katskee (’80), Dan Koraleski (’86), and John Wilson (’78). Earl Leinart also served on the committee.

King also praised the efforts of two student groups, the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and the UNO

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Course Sponsors AAA Nebraska Ag Processing Inc. America First Real Estate Group Bank of the West R. D. Barr Co. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Nebraska Brandeis Catering Children’s Hospital Cox Communications Cummins Central Power DLR Group Duncan Aviation Egis Technologies Equitable Bank First Data Corporation Fraser, Stryker Law/ Westside Schools Hancock & Dana PC

Committee co-Chairman Jim Garbina, Durango and the Association’s Sheila King and Lee Denker.

Ambassadors, for help on the day of the tournament.

Nearly 200 golfers played in the tournament. The foursome with the lowest score in the Texas Scramble event was sponsored by UNO affinity partner Nelnet. The team was composed of Mark Schilmoeller, Randy Sell, Bob Walker and Matt Spethman.Numerous businesses also contributed financial support via hole sponsorships and prize donations. All were recognized after play during a buffet dinner at Tiburon. Various sponsors are listed below and at left.

Hawkins Construction HDM Corporation HDR, Inc. Kiewit Building Group Harry A. Koch Co. KPMG LLP Jim Mancuso/Interstate Printing MarketSphere Consulting LLC Millard Public Schools/ Young & White Law Mutual of Omaha Nebraska Methodist Health System, Inc. Nebraska State Bank of Omaha Nelnet NEXADENTAL O’Donnell, Ficenec, Wills & Ferdig LLP Omaha Public Power District Omaha Schools Foundation

Pinnacle Bank Prairie Life Centers Smith Barney-Jim Kineen TAC Air UMB Bank Union Pacific Railroad University of Nebraska Foundation University of Neb. Medical Center UNO Athletics UNO College of Business Administration UNO College of Education U. S. Bank Valmont Industries WaittCorp Investments LLC Wally & Barb Weitz Wells Fargo Bank Werner Enterprises John & Mary Wilson Woodmen of the World

Fall 2006 • 13

PHOTO BY BILL MITCHELL / DAILY SUN Archer and his news team received three Telly awards for “Faces of Freedom: America’s Airborne Heroes,” two 30minute programs that profiled 14 Florida veterans who served in some aviation capacity during military conflicts from World War II to Iraq. The multiple Tellys pictured at right were for various participants with the project.

B Y W ENDY T OWNLEY

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TELLY TIME

oday he’s an award-winning news producer. An Emmy nominee. But it was the fast-paced, everchanging schedule of a TV sports reporter that Ken Archer first longed for, focused on and worked toward during his UNO days in the early 1990s.

He came to UNO by way of two states and four military stops. A New York native who spent his teens in Florida, Archer had joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school in 1981. His first and fourth military assignments landed him at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, Neb. After taking a few classes on base through UNO, Archer decided to leave the Air Force in 1992 and pursue a broadcasting degree.

“I am a sports fanatic,” Archer says exuberantly via phone from his office in Florida. “It dawned on me how cool it could be to get paid to talk about sports. And it really just went from there.”

In 1993, at age 32, Archer enrolled in on-campus classes at UNO. A year later he pursued an internship opportunity with Cox Communications in Omaha. Archer first worked in master control and later assisted with productions on Cox TV. He generated on-air graphics and ran studio cameras.

His on-camera break came when Cox TV produced “Sportsline with Gary Java,” a sports show that profiled area athletes. While taking classes at UNO, Archer joined Java’s program as a reporter.

14 • Fall 2006

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years covering sports from Hastings, though, the job started to “That fueled my love for sports and reporting,” he says. wear on Archer. While he enjoyed the challenge his career preThat love continued when Archer worked on “The Locker sented, there was little room for growth. The sports director Room,” another Cox TV program that covered the Omaha was a constant at the station and didn’t have any plans of Royals, UNO Maverick football and surrounding high school leaving. teams.

An urge to grow paired with a low tolerance of Nebraska If Archer’s schedule wasn’t busy enough—keep in mind he winters sent Archer looking elsewhere for employment in was married with two children at the time—he also interned early 2000. Archer’s mother, who lived in Florida, phoned her at KMTV, Omaha’s CBS affiliate, while working at Cox son about a TV sports position open in The Villages, a retireCommunications and studying at UNO. Archer worked three ment community that spans three counties and includes days a week as a videographer learning the techniques behind 100,000 homes. video production and TV news.

Archer faxed his resume to the Villages News Network and Michael Hilt, a professor and graduate program chair in the received a phone call 10 minutes later. After interviewing, he School of Communication at UNO, recalls Archer’s all-out got the job. When he informed friends and colleagues in passion for TV news.

Hastings and Omaha of his new job, some were skeptical “He demonstrated this by working hard and asking queswhether the pace covering senior citizens would maintain tions,” Hilt recalls. “Ken was receptive to the suggestions and Archer’s interest. he always strived to improve his work. One thing that I That was six years ago. noticed is that since he accepted instruction, his work would “The opportunity to work in Florida was intriguing improve tremendously from assignment to assignment. That’s because the job focused on trying to develop and draw in the when I first thought he would have the ability to succeed in senior sports crowd. It was certainly a challenge.” television.”

Archer worked two years as the staA church fire in rural Nebraska tion’s assistant sports director before helped advance Archer’s career. To being promoted to sports director in cover the story KMTV sent only Archer, 2002. He developed a 30-minute daily who shot his own video and selfsports highlight show covering the recorded his on-camera reporting.

It dawned on area’s 11 high schools.

“I started one-man-banding it at that Two years had passed when Archer point,” says Archer, who earned his BS me how cool it could be to was named news anchor in 2004. Archer from UNO in 1996. returned to life behind the camera in He joined KMTV’s morning show as get paid to talk about 2005 when he was moved to assistant a reporter and continued shooting stosports. And news director and, later, to executive ries for other reporters when not in producer for VNN, the job he holds front of the camera. Archer credits his today. time spent with then-reporter Tom Elser One of Archer’s prouder moments as one of his best on-the-job experiences while working in Florida came earlier to learn the tricks of the broadcasting this year. Archer and his news team trade. Elser returns the compliment. received three Telly awards for “Faces of Freedom: America’s “Ken is one of those people who will take any assignment Airborne Heroes,” two 30-minute programs that profiled 14 and give it his all,” Elser says. “It doesn't matter if it's the lead story or a kicker, he will deliver a product that is worth watch- Florida veterans who served in some aviation capacity during military conflicts from World War II to Iraq. ing. And best of all, he'll do it with a smile on his face.”

The Telly is the premier award honoring outstanding local, After spending about a year reporting and shooting news regional and cable TV commercials and programs. “Faces of and sports at KMTV, Archer realized his longing to return to Freedom” was among 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five the world of athletics on a full-time basis. He polished his continents. Only 2,000 Tellys were awarded this spring. “Faces resume and sent videotapes of his work to TV stations across of Freedom” also received an Aurora Award, an independent Nebraska. In 1996 KHAS, the NBC affiliate in Hastings, film and video competition, and was nominated for an Emmy. responded to Archer’s inquiry and offered him a job as weekToday, as a married father of four, Archer said he is pleased end sports anchor.

While certainly a promotion, the new opportunity wouldn’t with the path his career has taken. And he’s happy to have placed roots back in Florida. be without sacrifice for Archer and his family. “I went from “I didn’t want to become that person who picked up and making pretty good money in the Omaha market to taking moved every two years,” Archer explains. “That’s when I nearly a $10,000 pay cut in Hastings,” Archer says. decided this was an organization [Villages News Network] Archer worked Wednesdays through Sundays covering where I knew I’d have longevity. I was able to come here and “Husker football everything,” he says. On Friday nights he work and be creative.” hosted “The Fourth Quarter,” a show about local sports. On Archer adds with a chuckle: “Getting out of the Nebraska football Saturdays he drove to Lincoln to cover the Huskers. snow was a bonus, though.”

Archer was in his element broadcasting sports. After four

“I am a sports fanatic.

it really just went from there.”

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Fall 2006 • 15

H

e served three years in the state penitentiary back in the 1970s and the governor pardoned him in 1986. But Mel Goebel never really has left prison.

He hopes he never will.

Goebel keeps going back inside the walls of prisons across the nation, spreading his message of Christian faith.

He reaches out with the hope that at least some of the inmates avail themselves to the word of the Lord and, in turn, a better life.

The word is spread not only through Goebel’s testimony, spoken and written, but also through his Library of Hope.

The library is the largest distributor of Christian literature to jails and prisons

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BEHIND BARS

BY ERIC OLSON PHOTO BY JERILEE BENNETT in the country, and it’s Goebel’s pride and joy.

To know how the 55-year-old Goebel committed himself to prison ministry, one first must know his dark past.

Goebel grew up in a dysfunctional home in north Omaha in the 1960s. His mother was an alcoholic; his father was

abusive. The family kept up appearances, sending the seven children to Catholic schools and attending Mass each week. But at home there was only chaos.

“A lot of yelling, screaming, my dad telling me and my siblings that we weren’t going to become anything. He UNOALUM

beat us down,” Goebel says. “I rebelled against the hypocrisy.”

Goebel dropped out of high school at 16 and started using drugs and alcohol.

For seven years he wandered about in a fog, masking his pain with any substance he could get his hands on and doing about anything to pay for his habit.

Finally, at age 23, the justice system caught up to him. He broke into a home to steal stereo equipment so he could sell it and use the money to buy drugs.

He was arrested and sentenced to a twoto five-year term in the state pen.

“I remember being shackled in the sheriff car and driving from Omaha to Lincoln and thinking I was forced to become a hard individual,” Goebel says. w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

“I told myself I was going to have to fight, maybe find a knife. I wasn't of that nature.”

But to survive in prison, you go along to get along. Goebel had to play the tough guy. He was miserable.

Out in the prison yard one day a fellow inmate told Goebel about how he had started a relationship with Jesus.

Goebel didn’t think much of it right away, but it spawned a thought that wouldn’t quit nagging at him.

“I found myself thinking back to my Catholicism experience and asking the question, ‘What if this Jesus is real?’ I became consumed with the thought.”

He began reading the Bible, often getting ridiculed by fellow inmates. He started attending Bible study. And then one day he woke up and made the decision to surrender his heart to Jesus.

“I hadn't cried in four or five years, and I got down on my knees and I felt the heavenly father put his arms around me and I felt Jesus come into my heart,” Goebel says. “From that day forward, I stood up and felt free.”

About a year later he was released from prison and returned to Omaha.

The high school dropout earned his GED in 1983 and then began attending UNO, where he majored in organizational communications. He graduated in 1987, a year after then-Gov. Bob Kerrey granted him a pardon.

“I was a little bit of an older student.

I met some people who came along my side and just really encouraged me,” he says. “I can speak of nothing but a great experience there.”

Goebel could have put his past behind him. But he’s convinced the events of his life had a purpose and that he was to use his experiences to help the incarcerated.

Goebel was working for the Prison Fellowship outreach group while going to UNO, and he became a regional director in Colorado after graduating.

About five years ago he went out on his own, starting Impact for Life Ministries.

It’s a multi-faceted ministry that assists prisoners before and after their release.

In 2001 he and Nancy Caine co-wrote his life story, “The Unseen Presence.”

More than 100,000 copies of the book have been printed and distributed,

mostly to inmates, Goebel says.

Library of Hope is headquartered out of a 6,000-square-foot warehouse in Colorado Springs and has a staff of five in addition to Goebel. The library ships books to 140 prisons across the country.

The literature deals mainly with issues of addiction, anger and emotional health.

He and his wife of 28 years, Jane, also have launched a campaign called “Daughters of Destiny,” which attempts to reach out to women in prison.

“Women’s prisons are the fastest growing right now, and my wife and I have a heart to reach them,” Goebel says.

Goebel also makes personal appearances at 30 to 40 prisons a year, staging what he calls “mini Billy Graham events.”

“I go out into the prisons and tell them this is what happened to me and how God can change your life,” Goebel says.

Goebel says he doesn’t force religion onto the inmates. He says each individual must accept God on his or her own.

“It's an act of God that gives them a personal revelation,” he says. “I just flood the prisons with my book and tell them to look what God did for my life.

You can have it, too.”

Goebel says his ministry raises about $250,000 annually in private donations, which pays for printing and distribution of literature and other programs.

He says he takes no salary from the ministry. His living comes from his socalled side business, a residential and commercial window-cleaning operation called Window King.

Goebel says he has tried to help exconvicts get back on their feet by hiring them. He says he carefully screens the ex-cons so no customers are put at risk.

“I would never put a client in danger,” he says. “The good news is that we’ve put some people to work, and now they’re contributing members of society.”

Goebel and Jane, his wife of 28 years, live in Monument, Colo.

He is a contented man. For him, life is good, even if it didn’t start out that way.

“I found my calling,” he says.

Fall 2006 • 17

STILL ON TRACK W

hen a train whistles in the distant night, some hear a nostalgic echo. Bill Kratville hears one familiar note in the symphony of railroad sounds that play the music of his life.

For 60 of his 77 years, including the mid-1950s when he was campus photographer at Omaha University, Kratville (BGE ’56) has been working on the railroad. He rode the singing rails, snapping away with his Speed Graphic when four carloads from Omaha University went to Orlando for the COURTESY BILL KRATVILLE A troop train in Elkhorn, Neb., January 1954.

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BY WARREN FRANCKE PHOTO BY JOE MIXAN

1955 New Year’s Day Tangerine Bowl. He orchestrated his own football trains in the following decade, shuttling Cornhusker fans to Lincoln.

Then he helped get Amtrak rolling, testifying in Congress, supplying passenger cars and, for 20 years, serving as its chief photographer. Earlier, Kratville served four Omaha mayors and eventually found time to write more than 20 books.

It all started in April 1946 when the Benson High boy captured an image of two Union Pacific trains moving through Council Bluffs. This past April, Kratville and his wife, Anita, who also photographs trains, traveled to Pennsylvania to sell his books at a gathering of rail buffs.

You see the product of Kratville’s passion when walking through his home on North 52nd Street and scanning its gallery of railroad scenes. Or you can read a half-century of clippings, among them an interview reporting he traveled UNOALUM

next to the space reserved for Dr. Bail.

“We’d come and go at any time of the day and night,” Bill recalled. They might return in the wee hours after visiting an after-hours joint, the Tavern Owners Club, operated by Leo Kubik. Notorious later for his shady operation on the Nebraska-Iowa line in Carter Lake (safe until both states conducted a simultaneous raid), Kubik supplied the Cadillac that Kratville and Larry Boersma (BA ’53) drove in Ma-ie Day parades. “Leo would sleep days,” Bill explained, “and let us use the car.”

He didn’t imbibe at Kubik’s club, but did indulge an Omaha U. tradition: “I didn’t have my first legal drink until 21 at the Dundee Dell.”

Hundreds of negatives survive from his campus days. One shows the main building with its cupola framed by construction of the Eppley Library (now the administration building).

Others feature that earlier hockey team, students relaxing in the old Shack, campus election campaigns or such horseplay as a coed climbing out of a locker.

A memorable shot shows the Tangerine Bowl football team and entourage on the steps of the U.S. Capitol beneath its familiar dome. It hangs in his attic beside such memorabilia as a photo of the cast of radio’s famous Breakfast Club in Chicago with host Don McNeil, boy singer Johnny Desmond and others, all co-workers of photog intern Kratville in the Speed Graphic Start summer of ’51. It’s worth He enrolled at Omaha U. in 1947, taking mechaniCOURTESY BILL KRATVILLE mentioning because any A “helper” in Echo, Utah, September 1958. tour of the photo-covered cal drawing with plans to walls of his home reminds be an engineer. “But math that at most times in his varied career, Kratville was multiand I didn’t hit it off,” so he dropped out and started taking tasking before that term came into vogue. For example, while photos with a friend’s Speed Graphic, the classic news camera taking J courses plus shooting pix for campus and railroads, with the black film holders and big flash gun. he assisted Omaha mayors and publicized the city’s 1954 cenThe friend moved away just when Kratville landed a job tennial. Not to mention shooting for KMTV and stringing for shooting a convention of restaurant owners. A neighbor United Press. vouched for him, he got a loan, bought a new Speed Graphic How did he happen to assist mayors from 1954 to 1965? at Calandra Camera, and made enough from the restaurant “Morrie Jacobs (co-founder of Bozell and Jacobs Advertising) gig to pay it off. He’d later add a Roleiflex and a Hasselblad had me run Omaha’s centennial publicity, and we were at 500CM but still owns that original Graphic, now scarred by a Peony Park when Johnny Rosenblatt had just been elected.” dent when it fell from a locomotive in Cheyenne, Wyo. The new mayor wanted an aide “and said he didn’t care how In the days when Union Pacific employed up to 10 photogoften I worked, that school was No. 1.” So Kratville ended up raphers to shoot its scenic calendars, Bill still found freelance employed for the last two weeks of Glenn Cunningham’s term opportunities there when he returned to campus in 1953, this and continued through Rosenblatt, Jim Dworak and the start time to major in journalism. Charlie Hoff, the university busiof Al Sorensen’s term. ness manager for President Milo Bail, hired Kratville and Bob Kragh (BS ‘55) as campus photographers and made them the envy of classmates by awarding the pair a choice parking spot Continued on Page 20 100,000 miles a year on Amtrak trains, mostly in his special car. “One year I spent two-thirds of my nights on a sleeping car,” he told columnist Bob McMorris. Another story records the launching of his Cornhusker Club Car for a football trip to Minneapolis in 1964. He explained to a reporter how the car, once known as the Mt. Doane, could rocket down the tracks at 95 miles per hour in its day. After an $8,000 facelift and rechristening as Cornhusker, it could do only 75, but won this quote from Kratville: “’She’s still a speed queen, and she rode wonderful.”

The rail heritage of William Wood Kratville (a name changed earlier from the Bohemian Kratovil) goes back to a grandfather who was a mechanical foreman for the Chicago & Northwestern and to his parents: father Lumer, a traffic agent for the Kansas City Southern, had seen two train robberies; mother Isabel was a telegrapher for the Chicago & Northwestern Road.

And Bill’s summer of ’46, while still a student at Benson High, found him toiling for the Milwaukee Road at the Council Bluffs roundhouse. The family already lived in his present home, so that meant taking the first 52nd Street bus at 5:30 a.m., transferring to a street car at 40th and Cuming, catching another trolley to the downtown Bluffs then hopping a feeder line down Main Street before walking six more blocks.

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Fall 2006 • 19

Rolling through Green River, Wyo., 1965

STILL ON TRACK From Page 19

Some of the scenes on his walls tell other stories, but most show team locomotives billowing smoke or diesel streamliners roaring around a scenic curve. His first model train, a gift at age 3, rests below a photo of two engines, smoke plumes trailing as they pull a train through Ozone, Wyo. He enlarged it as an assignment for his university photo class.

One award-winner hangs near the front door. Silhouetted against the sky in high-contrast black and white stands a windmill that pumped water into a railside water tank, a grain elevator and the train depot in Clearwater, Neb. Another photo silhouettes Kratville in broad-brimmed hat, facing a shiny Pullman car as he watches the Denver Zephyr start its final night run to Chicago.

It can be seen opposite the title page of his book, “Images of Rail: Railroads of Omaha and Council Bluffs.” This volume, with Omaha’s Union Depot on the cover, has more general appeal than his specialized books such as the thin “Little Look at Big Boy” (monster locomotives including the one displayed here in Kenefick Park) and the thick “Union Pacific Streamliners.” All remain in demand by rail buffs.

Talk about trains you’ve seen anywhere in Omaha and 20 • Fall 2006

COURTESY BILL KRATVILLE

chances are Kratville played a role in their presence. The “Eggspress” diner that stood beside the Spaghetti Works in the Old Market? He sold that car to the first operator, then rolled it in and, more recently, out of that site. If you asked about trains at the Union Pacific Museum, you might have talked to Kratville during more than a decade he worked there.

The heyday of his Auto-Liner Corporation, which supplied cars to Amtrak and shuttled cattle cars in the stockyards at his South Omaha terminal, ended in 1976 after a peak of 200 employees. It continues as an umbrella firm for his rail consulting, which once included his design for cars to haul autos across Canada and the USA. The father of two children, attorney Michael and daughter Cate (a UNO grad and currently a recruiter for the university), Bill has collected such honors as the Benson High Hall of Fame and a legislative resolution a year ago recognizing that he “contributed significantly to the railroad industry and the preservation of its history.”

Earlier this year, following the death of Coretta Scott King, daily columnist Mike Kelly reminded how Kratville supplied the 1976 campaign car for President Jimmy Carter and chatted with the Georgian and Mrs. King on the rear platform. “I ordered lots of Omaha Steaks” for that run, Bill recalled, “but we soon ran out.”

He’s unlikely to run out of his 60-year supply of railroad memories.

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Granite, Wyo., May 1953.

COURTESY BILL KRATVILLE

Borie, Wyo., August 1953.

COURTESY BILL KRATVILLE

COURTESY BILL KRATVILLE Krateville’s shots from the OU campus in the 1950s: Above – campus capers in an Omaha University locker; above right — gearing up for a student council election; Bottom left — snow business.

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Fall 2006 • 21

UNO research provides the pivotal study of methamphetamine in Nebraska

Measuring Meth

by Don Kohler

I

t’s hard to miss the stark public service announcements that depict the many somber faces of a methamphetamine abuser. The dramatic before and after images of people whose addictions have led to severe physical deformities.

But often there’s more to the sad tale of a meth abuser, says Creston Ashburn, coordinator of the Sarpy County (Neb.) Drug Court: dangerous psychological effects that wreak havoc on abusers and their families. “The sad stories of meth users run rampant through my head,” says Ashburn, a 1993 graduate of UNO’s criminal justice program.

Ashburn has supervised dangerous drug abusers for the last three years through his work in Sarpy County.

“I had one case where we were forced to make a visit to the home of a very well-established woman in the community,” Ashburn recalls. “She had a great job, a nice home and a nice family. Unfortunately, she had continued to abuse meth, so we needed to go in for an intervention. While we were there, her children went into their room and drew posters with pictures on them saying, ‘Please don’t take our mommy away.’ Meth is a very damaging drug.”

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Meth Fact or Myth: Anyone can make MA. Meth is easy to make.

Fact: Without precursor ingredients such as ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, MA is impossible to make. If the precursors are available, then little expertise is required to make methamphetamine, but purity levels will vary widely depending on the production method.

Most MA used in Nebraska comes from small, clandestine labs.

Fact: Most of the MA used and seized in Nebraska is produced in sophisticated, mega-labs in Mexico, the Southwestern US or central California.

MA creates environmental hazards.

Fact: Cooking MA produces dangerous fumes and by-products; the resulting chemical waste is toxic and requires special disposal procedures.

“MA is instantly addictive”, “Everyone who tries MA becomes addicted”, or “Trying MA, even once, produces an insatiable craving for the drug for the rest of your life.”

Fact: MA triggers an extreme reaction within the brain. Whether one becomes addicted by one, two or a dozen exposures to MA depends on individual vulnerabilities to addiction, the potency of the MA, and future use patterns.

There is no effective recovery strategy for MA addiction.

Fact: With proper treatment and recovery plans, MA addicts have achieved higher abstinence rates than alcoholics and marijuana users. As with any other chemical dependency, recovery from MA use depends, in part, on society’s commitment to maintaining recovery support on which addicts can rely for the rest of their lives.

Printed with permission UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service

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Meth Fact or Myth: Children exposed to MA will become drug addicts, alcoholics, and/or delinquents.

Fact: The factors which contribute to a youth’s eventual substance use habits and delinquent behavior vary widely. Genetic predisposition, ingesting addictive drugs at an early age, life experiences within a dysfunctional family, trauma from victimization and neglect, and exposure to drug and criminal behaviors place any child at risk of undesired behaviors as they grow older. Concerted interventions which mitigate these influences greatly aid a child’s ability to avoid the trap of addiction and offending.

MA causes medical and dental problems.

Fact: Prolonged MA use inevitably leads to a wide range of medical and dental problems.

More women use MA. Fact: Women account for a disproportionate number of MA users.

MA is a white person’s drug.

Fact: MA does not discriminate. Drug preferences may vary between different races and ethnicities, but once a person begins to regularly use MA, their craving for MA gradually dominates their drug seeking/using behaviors.

The National Institute for Justice—a research agency of the United States Department of Justice—describes methamphetamine, also known as “meth,” “ice” and “crank,” as a synthetic, mood-altering drug that produces intoxication, dependence and psychosis and can affect neurological and behavioral functions long after use has stopped. A 2004 report from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that 12.3 million Americans age 12 and older had tried methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime, 1.4 million had used the drug during that year, and nearly 600,000 were regular users. A survey from the National Association of Counties released in July 2006 reported that methamphetamine remains the No. 1 drug problem in 44 states, including Iowa and Nebraska.

Locally, the number of meth abuse cases also appears to be on the rise.

Researchers from the Juvenile Justice Institute of UNO’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (College of Public Affairs and Community Services) report that more than 20,000 Nebraskans abuse or are addicted to methamphetamine. An extensive study from that same group of researchers, led by UNO professor Dr. T. Hank Robinson, has enabled the State of Nebraska to develop a proactive strategy for dealing with meth use.

The Methamphetamine Treatment Study’s Final Report to the Nebraska Community Corrections Council outlines strategies for initiating effective substance abuse treatment programs throughout the state. The groundbreaking UNO research and culminating report, commissioned by the Nebraska Unicameral, resulted in a state appropriation of $8 million in 2006 for an array of measures throughout the justice and social systems that deal with the growing meth problem.

“Nebraska is right on track,” said Robert P. Houston, director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Houston, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UNO’s in criminal justice, also offered some alarming data on meth users in the corrections system. According to data collected by the Correctional Services Planning and Research Department there were 460 meth admissions in 2006 compared with just 21 in 1996. “The UNO study has set both a conceptual and operational framework,” says Houston.

“Specifically, we have a better understanding of how community and facility Continued on Page 24

Coerced treatment does not work, or, Forcing addicts to go through treatment in the justice system is a waste of time and money.

Fact: MA may be the tip of an addict’s substance abuse problem, but it is particularly vulnerable to forced treatment.

Until an addict has been liberated from the lingering cognitive and psychological effects of MA use, it may be impossible to develop the individualized treatment strategies necessary to promote long-term recovery.

Few addicts muster the motivation to quit MA until forced to do so.Effective treatment, even if initially forced upon an addict, can reduce future drug use and criminal behavior.

w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Fall 2006 • 23

Meth Fact or Myth: MA use increases sexual activity.

Fact: MA use is strongly associated with sexual acting out.

MA affects your mental health.

MA makes users psychotic.

Fact: As with individual susceptibilities to the physical consequences of MA, people vary in their psychological response to MA. However, prolonged use of MA consistently manifests psychological and emotional symptoms which were not apparent prior to use. Treatment providers may not be able to accurately assess an addict’s “true” mental state until the user has abstained from MA for at least 45 to 60 days.

Measuring Meth From Page 22

services should be provided and why a consistent continuum of service is critical to success.”

Robinson did not mince words when discussing his department’s work on the study, entitled “Moving Past the Era of Good Intentions: Methamphetamine Treatment Study.” The Juvenile Justice Institute, which was awarded a $200,000 state grant to produce the report, finished its work in just four months and presented its initial study to the Nebraska Unicameral in December 2005. “Truly, this is the pivotal study of methamphetamine in the state of Nebraska,” Robinson said.

UNO’s Juvenile Justice Institute, which is credited with building the bulk of the juvenile justice programs in counties throughout Nebraska, relied on its close working relationships with state agencies in conducting research for its report, Robinson said. “There are no other reports that compare in terms of scope and detail. One of the reasons we were able to do this report is that we were so blessed to have a strong working relationship with the policy makers and agency staff across the state. I’m really proud of the tight working we have with state government as a research partner. We are fortunate enough to have a solid working relationship with the people that have to work day in and day out on drug abuse issues.”

Robinson said his research team had two main focuses for its initial report.

“First, we needed to get our hands around the extent of the problem in Nebraska,” he said. “Secondly, we had substance abuse and social work staff trying to figure out the best practices model for treating methamphetamine.”

Working closely with state agencies such as Probation, the Crime Commission and Health and Human Services, Juvenile Justice Institute researchers interviewed front-line employees to collect data and valuable insight for its report. The end result was a comprehensive plan for changing and expanding the state’s meth response system.

The UNO study recommended a targeted strategy for expanding the state’s treatment resources: • Developing more substance abuse treatment professionals statewide; • Increasing awareness of meth-specific treatment models among profes-

24 • Fall 2006

MA eventually leads to Alzheimer’s Disease in recovered addicts.

Fact: Much research remains to be done before the long-term effect of MA on recovered addicts can be stated.

MA is Nebraska’s biggest substance abuse problem.

Fact: Substance abuse is Nebraska’s biggest substance abuse problem.

Methamphetamine use is merely the most prominent indicator of the State’s need to respond more effectively to all forms of chemical dependency.

The State of Nebraska can effectively treat the methamphetamine problem by focusing on felony drug offenders.

Fact: Felony drug offenders are at the peak of the substance abusing pyramid in Nebraska. Many offenders whose crimes are related to substance abuse are convicted of less serious crimes. To reduce the number of crimes either directly or indirectly tied to substance abuse, the justice system must broaden its focus to include testing and evaluations of as many offenders as possible, without regard for the formal charges which bring them within the influence of the courts, probation, and corrections.

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Meth Fact or Myth: MA is mainly a problem for people older than 18.

Fact: Substance abuse does not wait for adulthood. A foundation of alcohol consumption and experimentation with other drugs is typically laid between the ages of 12 to 18 years of age. Failing to provide effective substance abuse treatment to juveniles greatly increases the risk that they will eventually graduate to MA or some other addiction as an adult.

The State of Nebraska can quantify the need for methamphetamine treatment within the state.

Fact: Due to the lack of standardized data, Nebraska cannot accurately quantify the need for MA treatment.

Children face a decrease risk of harm now that clan labs have been shut down across the state.

Fact: The reduction in clan labs lessens, but does not eliminate the harm children face as a result of MA. A parent that has used MA will never regain custody of their child.

Fact: With treatment and recovery services, parent can regain custody of their children.

Funding support for substance abuse treatment diminishes community-based mental health capacity.

Fact: Substance abuse and mental health must work together to provide comprehensive, community-based treatment.

Methamphetamine detoxification requires residential treatment in a drug rehab center.

Fact: Effective MA detoxification can be accomplished without residential treatment. Out-patient detoxification requires intense supervision, frequent drug screens and accountability to be successful.

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sionals; • Providing incentives for treatment providers to expand and develop localized treatment centers; and, • Funding and legislative action to establish and staff reporting centers across Nebraska in support of probation, parole, drug courts and diversion programs.

Robinson said of paramount importance is the development of a statewide network of localized treatment services. “During our research we discovered that many meth treatment providers were just offering adaptations of alcoholderived therapy practices, and we were not sure this was the therapy needed” he said. “Some therapists say a drug is a drug, but we were not sure this was the case for meth treatment.”

Based on research for the study, Robinson said the highly addictive nature of methamphetamine demands a more intensive long-term treatment strategy.

“From a physiological standpoint, a meth user really needs to get past the 45to 60-day detoxification period before starting a true period of recovery,” he explained. “There is no way an addict can be treated from just a residential standpoint.”

Ashburn, who has watched meth-related cases increase dramatically in Sarpy County’s Drug Court program, said he was encouraged by the research and subsequent recommendations from the UNO report. “There needs to be more quality treatment for this drug problem.” he said. “Unfortunately, in the metro area we are limited to residential treatment facilities.

One meth abuser is one too many. The reality is that this will not go away. The psychological affects of this drug last a long time.”

If methamphetamine is here to stay, Robinson believes it’s critical that state and local officials continue efforts to combat the drug. From an enforcement standpoint, laws passed in Iowa and Nebraska regulating the sale of pseudo ephedrine products—a once commonly available chemical derived from overthe-counter cold medicines—has helped curb the number of clandestine meth labs in rural areas. Unfortunately, Robinson said, that activity has led to users seeking other products from drug traffickers in California and Mexico.

“Any time you can suppress the mom and pop labs you diminish the environmental health risks of these clandestine labs,” he said. “Everyone from children, to social workers to law enforcement officials can be exposed to these dangerous production labs. Shutting them down is a good thing. On the other hand, the alternative for abusers is to turn to the more pure and potent product being shipped up through Mexico.”

Robinson said the Juvenile Justice Institute will do its part to stay on top of the meth problem by continuing its research into treatment alternatives. The department recently received a grant from the Alegent Health Foundation to conduct a conference for practicing clinicians on methamphetamine treatment.

“This has been a great exercise for everyone in the state,” Robinson said, referring to the statewide meth research and subsequent report. “There are many people who have been working on substance abuse issues for a long time, but the meth report has helped us focus better on the things that can be done to improve the state’s overall system.”

Fall 2006 • 25

College of

Arts & Sciences

Endowed Menard Fund recognizes life-changing professor and wife

By Mary Bernier , University of Nebraska Foundation eresa Houser saw herself as an average UNO student.

TUntil, that is, she met an above-average professor and

The following pages from the College of Arts and Sciences are dedicated to all of our faculty—those who are retired, newly hired or at the midpoint of their careers. Their passion for learning from the past, engaging the present and shaping the future is an inspiration to us all.

ored, of greater importance to the Menards is that each year a deserving student will be relieved of some of the burden of tuition.

Like Houser, former Menard student Melvin Cohen is a regular Menard Fund contributor. Cohen, who received his BA (1968) and MA (1974) in political science at UNO and his Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University, says Menard changed his life.

At first, though, Cohen didn’t think Menard even noticed him in class. That changed dramatically by the time Cohen entered graduate school—Menard invited Cohen to work with him in France. Cohen went on to research and publish in the area of French politics and

his wife.

Houser graduated from UNO in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, spent 10 years working in Washington, D.C., then returned to her alma mater where today she teaches as an adjunct faculty member.

A large measure of her success, she says, is attributable to former UNO political science Professor Orville Menard and his wife, Darlene.

“Probably the most significant contribution the Menards gave me is that they believed in me,” Houser says. “Time after time, they helped me to see my potential and to reach it. Their confidence in students is so contagious that we cannot help but believe in ourselves.”

In recognition of the Menards Houser is among the many contributors to the Darlene and Orville D. Menard Political Science Scholarship Fund. Established at the University of Nebraska Foundation by former students, colleagues and friends of the Menards, the fund supports an outstanding political science student each year.

Someone like Houser, for instance.

“My professional success and achievements can be traced directly to the lessons learned in his classSince retiring from UNO in 1998 Dr. Menard and his wife, Darlene, have had more time for travel, room and the limitless moral supincluding a recent vacation in France, where this photo was taken. port and encouragement Dr. and Mrs. Menard so generously provided outside the classlater used his knowledge of comparative politics to room,” says Houser, who worked in Washington, D.C. in develop expertise in African politics, too. He now teacha variety of government positions and as a lobbyist. es political science at Miami University Middletown in The Menard Fund recently surpassed its endowment Ohio. level through a generous gift from the Menards, who say “Orv has been a mentor to me in so many ways,” they are “delighted” to be able to help a student each Cohen says. “He embodies integrity, self-confidence, and year. Dr. Menard, who taught at UNO from 1964 to humility. I would hope I have learned from him.”

1998, received a scholarship and a fellowship while he For more information about the Menard Fund, contact was a student and so understands how meaningful finanMary Bernier at the University of Nebraska cial assistance can be. While they appreciate being honFoundation–Omaha Office (402-502-4108).

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he College of Arts and Sciences welcomes 15 new faculty to tenure-track positions. This year’s hires are representative of the quality of our entire faculty. They come here from some of the finest schools, both nationally and internationally, often with significant teaching experience and established publication records.

College welcomes T 15 new faculty Biology

Black Studies Margaret Jones, assistant professor.

Formerly associate professor of Art, Peru State College. M.F.A., Painting and Drawing, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1993.

KiTani Parker-Johnson, assistant professor.

Formerly assistant professor, Dillard University, New Orleans.

Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology, Clark Atlanta University, 2003.

Claudia Rauter, assistant professor.

Formerly assistant professor, University of Kentucky.

Ph.D., Zoological Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland, 1996.

Mark Swanson, assistant professor.

Formerly assistant professor, School of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech U. Ph.D., Genetics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1995.

English

Geography Rex Cammack, assistant professor.

Formerly associate professor, Geography, Missouri State University.

Ph.D., Geography, University of South Carolina, 1995.

History John Grigg, assistant professor.

Formerly assistant professor, History, HampdenSydney College. Ph. D., History, Kansas U., 2002.

See more new faculty profiles on Page 30.

Lisabeth Buchelt, assistant professor.

Ph.D., Medieval Literature, Boston College, 2005.

Kristin Gertin, assistant professor.

Ph.D., 18th Century British Literature, Rutgers Univ., 2006.

David Peterson, assistant professor.

Ph.D., English, University of Georgia, 1998.

Math Michael Matthews, (left) assistant professor.

Formerly supervisor for secondary mathematics student teachers, Univ. of Iowa. Ph.D., Mathematics Education, Iowa, 2006.

Andrew Swift, (right) assistant professor.

D.S., Operations Research, George Washington Univ., 2001. w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Fall 2006 • 27

College of

Arts & Sciences

Biblical archaeologist Arav joins faculty Longtime Bethsaida excavator to join Religion department he College of Arts and Sciences

Trecently welcomed to its faculty

Dr. Rami Arav, an internationally known biblical archaeologist who has accepted a full-time teaching position with the college’s religion program.

Arav had been on special appointment with UNO’s International Studies Program for about 20 years, teaching part time while directing a number of archaeological expeditions. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tel Aviv University and a Ph.D. from New York University in Near Eastern Languages and Literature.

“I am very thankful to all those who worked very hard to see me as a full-time faculty,” Arav says. “I am deeply very grateful. I will continue to work hard not to let them down and to continue to present UNO at the foreground of biblical archaeology scholarship.”

Arav this fall is fulfilling a previous commitment to UNO’s history department by teaching World Civilizations and a special topics course on Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. He will begin teaching World Religions and Biblical Archaeology in the spring semester.

Best known for his work excavating the ancient city of Bethsaida, Arav is director of the Consortium of the Bethsaida Excavations Project headed at UNO. He also is director of the John and Carol Merrill expedition to the Cave of Letters.

Arav has published extensively on the archeaology and history of the Land of Israel and of Bethsaida in particular.

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His latest books: “Bethsaida, a City by the Northern Shores of the Sea of Galilee,” volumes 1, 2 and 3 in a series of 5 books (co-edited with Dr. Richard Freund, Harry Truman University Press, Missouri); and, “Jesus and His World, an Archaeological and Cultural Dictionary,” co-authored with John Rousseau (Fortress Press).

The excitement surrounding Bethsaida’s excavation stems not only from its prominent role in the New Testament but also from its place as the only city of that era that can be studied in its entirety, never having been built over. The excitement was added to in 1996 when the remains of an Iron Age city were found beneath the HellenisticRoman City of Bethsaida. Scholars believe that the city of that era may well have been the capital of the kingdom of Geshur.

King David married Ma’achah, the daughter of the king of Geshur. (The photo that provides the background for the accompanying timeline at left is of the city gates from this period.)

Each summer, Arav and dozens of volunteers, primarily scholars and students from consortium universities, travel to Bethsaida to dig, photograph, map and catalog. “The days are very long and the work physically demanding, but these people are dedicated,” says Arav.

One of Arav’s current objectives is to find more evidence of the 10th century BCE structures by excavating along the existing walls and ascertaining where the wall base is. The main city road leading from the

north (Damascus) will be uncovered further in both the northern direction and a portion to the east in order to find the eastern perimeter of the road.

Work will continue on the Hellenistic-Roman (2nd century BCE to 1st century CE) area on the upper level of the city to uncover more of

Continued from page 28

Political Science

Elizabeth Dahl, assistant professor. Ph.D., International Relations, School of International Service, American University, 2005.

Psychology

“I am very thankful to all those who worked very hard to see me as a full-time faculty. I will continue to work hard not to let them down and to continue to present UNO at the foreground of biblical archaeology scholarship.”

29 • Fall 2006

New faculty

Michael Cortese, assistant professor. Formerly assistant prof. psychology, College of Charleston.

Ph.D., Cognitive/ Experimental Psychology, University of Kansas, 1997.

Brian McKevitt, assistant professor. Formerly school psychologist, Heartland Area Education Agency 11, Johnston, Iowa.

Ph.D., Educational Psychology, Univ. of WisconsinMadison, 2001.

Sociology/Anthropology

Dr. Rami Arav the residential area.

For more information on the Bethsaida Excavation visit www.unomaha.edu/bethsaida. Or, visit the Bethsaida Gallery on the third floor of Arts and Sciences Hall on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus.

Daniel Hawkins, assistant professor. Ph.D., Sociology, Pennsylvania State University, 2006.

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College of

Communication, Fine Arts and Media Concert band performs overseas in May

SWE on tour

By Dr. James Saker or UNO sophomore clarinetist

FAndrew Norris, the Symphonic

professional colleagues in each country. That included lodging and many of the meals. Fundraisers had been organized by SWE officers to assist individuals with their tour expense, including a silent auction coordinated by parents. Friends of SWE, faculty, and band alums also contributed to the tour fund.

Lithuania After a day of sightseeing in and around Vilnius led by UNO alum Kestutis Vedekis and his wife, Liena, SWE met with the choirs from Vilnius University and Siauliai University for a rehearsal prior to the first concert.

The rehearsal and concert were presented in St. John’s Church in Vilnius.

An excellent audience attended the performance and greeted each selection with enthusiastic applause.

Professor of Flute Dr. Christine Beard’s piccolo solo, “Kinloch O’Kinloch,” was especially well received. The audience also responded energetically to two pieces with

Wind Ensemble’s trip to the Baltics and Norway this May was something of a religious experience.

Literally.

“The ‘Hill of Crosses,’” says Norris, from Millard North, “is an amazing collection of crosses and crucifixes left there by Lithuanians and people from all over the world.

It is a symbol of their belief in God to keep them going through the oppression by the Soviets. Being at this site was one of the most powerful religious experiences I have ever had.”

Norris’ experience was just one of many during a 10-concert tour to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Norway by the university’s premier concert band, conducted by Dr. James Saker.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE) began its tour in Lithuania and ended in Norway, exposing students to other music and cultures.

“This tour opened my eyes to how highly the European culture values the world of classi- Siauliai University Conductor Gediminas Ramanauskas conducts the SWE and the Choirs from Siauliai University and Vilnius University at the International Music Festival. cal music, and the efforts by which the members of these cultures participate to promote it,” As part of their tour class, students the combined choirs: Copland’s “The says Sara Renner, a second year-oboe were required to complete written Promise of Living” conducted by player from Texas. “Overall, I could reports.

SWE Associate SWE Conductor Dr. not have asked for a better way to “I did not meet a single person in Erica Neidlinger; and, “Battle Hymn spend my first time in Europe. I Lithuania who did not amaze me of the Republic” conducted by strengthened friendships, started new with their hospitality toward us,” Siauliai University Choir Director ones, and have some great stories wrote Jasmine Wimmer, a first-year Gediminas Ramanauskas. and memories.” trumpet player from Gretna. “If I had In addition to Lithuanians the audiThough most of the tour’s cost was the chance to visit the country again, ence included a number of paid by participants, expenses were I would.”

Americans, English tourists and minimized through the support and Following are some of the SWE guests from several other Baltic assistance of sister universities and tour highlights.

States. Also attending were represen30 • Fall 2006

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tatives from the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius and the American Society of Lithuania, joint sponsors of this concert.

SWE left Vilnius the following morning, stopping first at the beautiful castle Trakai. The group also visited one of Lithuania’s most important historical sites in Kernave. Then it was off to Omaha’s sister city, Siauliai, also home to UNO’s sister university. Students from the Studium Choir welcomed the UNO contingent, some of the instrumentalists from the university playing ethnic instruments.

SWE presented its second major performance in Lithuania as a part of the opening night concert for Siauliai University’s “International Music Festival,” presented to a capacity audience. Choirs from Vilnius and Siauliai Universities joined the performance.

“We had the opportunity to get to know some students from our sister university and learn more about their culture,” says Melissa Chohon, a firstyear saxophonist from Grand Island.

Siauliai University’s Zenonas Ripinskis, who made most of the arrangements for the Lithuania tour, later led the group on an excursion to a national park on the Baltic Sea. A guide’s detailed tour included several interesting hikes and a thorough view of the park. After lunch in the seaside village of Nida, it was off to the resort city of Palanga.

SWE’s last day in Lithuania included a short performance as part of the grand finale event for the International Music Festival featuring performances by groups from Estonia, Latvia, the Ukraine and Lithuania. SWE presented several of the “lighter” numbers in its repertoire, including Dr. Beard’s exciting piccolo piece, which earned a tremendous ovation.

Latvia On the way to its next stop, Riga, Latvia, SWE visited the Italian-style Rundales Palace and gardens in the w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Latvian countryside. The U.S. Embassy in Latvia arranged the first event, a concert in Riga for students and faculty of the Parmala Jurga Music School and musicians from the Wind Orchestra Riga (WOR). The performance also was attended by Ambassador Bailey’s cultural attaché, Raymond Stevens, who welcomed SWE and greeted the audience on behalf of the ambassador.

The second day of the Latvian visit began with a free morning, which included joint lessons and performances by Dr. Beard and the UNO flute students with Inga Grinvalde, a

Dr. James Saker and SWE officers present a gift to UNO alum Kestutis Vedekis and his wife, Liena.

Latvian music educator, and her flute students. Other SWE members visited the Latvian Music Academy and sat in on rehearsals and lessons. The morning concluded with a walking tour of Riga led by WOR conductor Janis Purins, who assisted with the other concert arrangements in Latvia.

That afternoon SWE performed on the program of the first concert to be presented at the new Cultural House in the city of Jurmala, one of the most popular resorts in the Baltics. The program opened with a short concert by the Jurmala City Band followed by SWE’s concert. Several members of the Jurmala city government attended, including the vice-mayor, who presented the group with a framed, historic print of the resort. Following the concert, Jurmala city officials accompanied the group for a picnic dinner provided at an outdoor restau-

rant on the beach of the Baltic Sea. The final concert in Latvia was presented in the city of Smiltene and hosted by the community wind band.

Following a traditional Latvian dinner provided by the city, the concert was presented in a beautiful old concert hall in the Smiltene Culture House.

Maestro Purins was a guest conductor for all of the Latvian performances.

Estonia A concert in Estonia arranged jointly by the U.S. Embassy and the Tallinn Cultural Department was presented as part of the spring festival, a “Day of Tallinn.” Lennart Sundja of the Cultural Department and Maris Laja from the embassy attended the performance and greeted SWE. Norway The group arrived in Norway just in time for the biggest holiday of the year—Norwegian Independence Day—with a parade featuring more than 100 marching bands. Concerts and special events also were presented around Oslo.

Day 2 in Norway included a performance in Skien arranged by the U.S. Embassy and hosted by the community band Suoni. After the concert the group enjoyed a traditional Norwegian Dinner provided by the city. Then it was off to Kristiansand for a visit hosted by a UNO sister institution, Agder University College (AUC). In addition to the performances, AUC International Affairs Director Mette Hogbrat Pederson arranged for guided tours of the campus and the city and a boat cruise around the fjords, led by students from AUC. “Overall, Siauliai, Lithuania was my favorite city we visited in our entire 17-day tour,” commented Chris Bucher, a junior baritone saxophonist from Bellevue West. “I enjoyed our location, the people, and our planned and unplanned activities.

This city took my breath away with everything there was to offer.”

Fall 2006 • 31

College of

Communication, Fine Arts and Media College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media Calendar of Events — September through December 2006 Art & Art H is t o r y Art shows held in UNO Art Gallery, 1st Floor, Weber Fine Arts Building, Opening receptions begin at 6:30 p.m.

Se pt . 8– O ct . 1 3 Peter Szto: Floating Population – Guangzhou, China: a visual study S ep t . 8 L.L’Heureux: Etichette, K.C. Kauffman: Making the Invisible Visible, Opening Reception, Oct. 20–Nov. 3 Day of the Dead Installation – Hexagon Gallery Oct. 22–Nov. 19 Calculated Associations: Andrea Stanislav, Opening Reception Oct. 20 D e c. 3 –15 Fall BFA Thesis Exhibition, Opening Reception, Dec. 1

B a r ba r a Wi l so n L ec tu r e S e r ies UNO Art Gallery, 1st Floor, Weber Fine Arts Building.

Contact Wanda Ewing at 554-2551 for ticket information.

S e p t. 1 3 Dr. Peter Szto, associate director and undergraduate coordinator for the School of Social Work. His current research involves documentary photography to study social welfare problems in China. 7 p.m.

S e p t. 3 0 Brett Reif, assistant professor in the School of the Foundation Year at the Kansas City Art Institute.

32 • Fall 2006

Reif works in non-traditional media (automobile grease, post-it notes, testtubes, plastic wrap, etc) and has exhibited work at Spaces Gallery in Cleveland, the Ackland Museum in North Carolina, and elsewhere. 7 p.m.

Se pt . 1 6 Mexican Independence Day Chamber Orchestra Concert, 7:30 p.m.

O ct . 10 Rory Golden, formerly executive director at the Center for Book Arts in New York City and currently a 2006 Abbey Mural Workshop Fellow at the National Academy of Art. Recent solo exhibitions include the New York Public Library, Donnell Library Center (New York) Bay Park Press (Calif.), and elsewhere. 12 p.m.

O c t. 8 Ecoutez!: Heinavanker, Estonian Folk Group, 7:30 p.m.

O ct . 14 Ronnie Cramer, artist/ musician/filmmaker who has been active in the arts community for 25-plus years. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries and other venues across the country, including the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, the Nashville Film Festival, New York International Independent Film Festival (Tribec) and elsewhere. 7 p.m.

Mu si c Music performances start at 7:30 p.m. in Strauss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, unless otherwise noted. Call 554-2335. for Ecoutez! and Resonate ticket information.

S e pt . 9 Ecoutez!: Chiara String Quartet, 7:30 p.m.

S ep t . 1 5 Resonate : Meg Fangman, piano

O c t. 1 Resonate: Wayne Kallstrom, organ, 7:30 p.m.

O c t. 1 2 Rocky II Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra Concert, 7:30 p.m.

O c t. 1 7 Concert Choir & University Chorus Concert, 7:30 p.m.

O c t. 1 9 Jazz Bands Concert at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.

O c t. 2 2 Symphonic Wind Ensemble & Concert Choir Concert, 7:30 p.m.

O c t. 3 1 Hauntcert Heartland Philharmonic & Chamber Orchestras Concert, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 29 Percussion Ensembles Concert, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 3 Little Bit Classical, A Little Bit Romantic Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra Concert, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 5 University Chorus Concert, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 Prevailing Winds VI Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Concert Band, Jazz I & Jazz II Concert, 7:30 p.m.

De c . 9 Choral Concert with the Chamber Orchestra, 7:30 p.m.

T h e a tre Performances begin 7:30 p.m. in UNO Theatre, Weber Fine Arts Building, unless otherwise noted.

Call UNO Theatre Box Office for tickets, 5542335.

O c t. 5 – 7 , 1 1 – 1 4 Man of La Mancha

Nov 2.

Brass Ensembles Concert, 7:30 p.m.

November, TBA , The Ostrich Project (Children’s theatre production, touring Omaha area schools)

Nov. 12 Resonate: Baumgartner Piano Duo, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 16–18, 29–30; D e c. 1- 2 Hamlet

Nov. 15 Jazz Bands Concert at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.

Writer’s Workshop

Nov. 28 Vocal Jazz Choir & Jazz Combos Concert at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.

Readings start at 7 p.m., open discussion with writer follows each reading. For more information, contact (402) 554-2406 or rjzank@mail.unomaha.edu Missouri Va lley Reading S e r i e s , P r o s e & P o e tr y :

S ep t . 1 3 Nancy Van Winckel, celebrated author of four collections of poetry with a fifth collection due out in early 2007. Location: UNO Theatre O c t. 4 Erin Belieu, Nebraska native and UNO alumna, author of three poetry collections. Location: UNO Art Gallery O ct . 11 Tony Eprile, South African writer and author of Temporary Sojourner and other South African Stories and The Persistence of Memory.

Location: UNO Art Gallery.

Nov. 1 Megan Gannon and Miles Waggener, poets.

Gannon’s work has appeared in Third Coast, Ploughshares, Pleiades, Gulf Coast and elsewhere.

Waggener, a new Writer’s Workshop faculty member, is author of Phoenix Suites with poems appearing in publications such as Beloit Poetry Journal and the Antioch Review.

Location: Milo Bail Student Center, Dodge Room D e c. 1 5 Anna Monardo, associate professor and chair of the Writer’s Workshop department. Also author of novels “Falling in Love with Natassia” and “The Courtyard of Dreams” with stories, essays and poems appearing in Indiana Review, Redbook, etc.

Location: Student Center, Dodge Room. Will include viewing of film “The Yellow Bird” based on a short story by Margie Lukas.

UNOALUM

College of

Education

CADRE celebrates success at reunion t didn’t take long for CADRE to build a cache of gifted

Iteachers.

Begun in 1994, CADRE (Career Advancement and Development for Recruits and Experienced Teachers) is a unique program assisting newly certified teachers with the challenges of entering the education profession.

Participants spend 15 months working toward a master’s degree through a sequence of coursework and field components, aided by experienced peers.

When the program began, said UNO College of Education Dean John Langan, “it was only a dream of the potential outcomes of a powerful collaboration.”

“Imagine the best and the brightest beginning teachers, mentored by masterful, veteran teachers and supported by university scholarship,” he added. “What would such a partnership contribute to classrooms, schools, districts, the university and the community?

“Twelve years later, the reality has exceeded our expectations.”

CADRE’s success was on display April 30 during the project’s 12-year reunion held at the Thompson Alumni Center. Attending were some of the nearly 400 teachers who have participated in CADRE—enough to staff approximately 15 large-size elementary schools.

CADRE involves beginning elementary, middle level and high school teachers who, in addition to their teaching responsibilities, engage in an intensive 15-month course of graduate study. The teachers during this time are employed by UNO as graduate student trainees. They receive intensive mentoring and other assistance from a core of selected veteran teachers known as CADRE Associates. Associates engage in an extensive array of activities assisting the beginning teachers, their respective districts and the university. CADRE, then, also benefits associates, affording them opportunities for professional growth through experiences beyond their classrooms.

CADRE’s innovative approach to teacher quality and student achievement was recognized not long after its start. In 1998 the CADRE project was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as an exemplary program in “Promising Practices: New Ways to Improve Teacher Quality.” In 2003 it received the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education as presented by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Complementing the benefits of national recognition are lasting networks and personal relationships—outcomes that simply cannot be measured.

CADRE is a project of the Metropolitan Omaha w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Educational Consortium (MOEC). The MOEC districts of Council Bluffs Community Schools, Millard Public Schools, Omaha Public Schools, Papillion-La Vista Public Schools, Ralston Public Schools, and Westside Community Schools have participated in the project for all or a portion of the years.

Currently, 37 beginning teachers are involved in the project, bringing the total number of teacher participants during 13 years to 395. During this same time there have been 133 veteran teachers who participated as CADRE Associates.

“Imagine the impact the alumni of the program are making in the metropolitan area,” Langan said.

Former CADRE teachers (from left) Tanisha Robinson, Lindsey Konecny Hanneman, and Andrea Bottorff Hathaway were among more than 100 individuals who attended April’s CADRE Reunion.

Those alumni gathered April 30 for a CADRE Reunion celebrating the project’s continued success while offering participants an opportunity to renew friendships and to become acquainted with educators who participated in the project at other times. Former and current CADRE teachers and associates, as well as district and university personnel, attended the reunion.

More information about and photos from the reunion can be accessed at http://coe.unomaha.edu/cadre.

Individuals interested in obtaining a Directory/Memory Book published for the CADRE Reunion should email Joyce Sorrels at jsorrels@mail.unomaha.edu.

Happenings schedule ollege of Education alumni can read more about fellow alumni, faculty and current students in Happenings, a newsletter mailed in early November.

C

Fall 2006 • 33

School of Public Administration’s

Aviation Institute

Aviation Intitute continues to soar in numbers, prestige

Taking flight at UNO ailey Dwyer wasn’t considering a career in aviation when someone suggested she take an undergraduate intro class offered by the UNO Aviation Institute.

“I liked it so much,” she recalls, “I switched my major right away.”

Dwyer is hoping to work in the safety administration area of aviation when she receives her bachelor’s degree in May 2007. “A job as a safety inspector would be perfect,” the Omahan says.

She is one of about 500 students enrolled in the Aviation Institute, an arm of the School of Public Administration within the College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) at UNO. That compares to just 50 students when the institute began in September 1990. Inspired by Don Smithey, executive director of the Omaha Airport Authority, the institute was established to provide aviation and aerospace research and education. Omaha businessmen and cofounders Charles Durham, Walter Scott Jr. and Mike Harper garnered support from the community to fund the first four years of the program.

K

Aviation Resource Center variety of computer equipment, training software, research materials and tutoring services are available to students through the Aviation Resource Center at UNO. The center opened in the fall of 2005. Items available to borrow or for use within the center for free include: • Laptop computers.

A

34 • Fall 2006

The institute, whose facilities, classrooms and offices currently are housed in Allwine Hall and the former Engineering Building (which will become the new home of CPACS in 2009), offers nearly 50 courses, compared with only five courses its first year.

The institute gives students a wealth of opportunities that stretch beyond the classroom to its Aviation Resource Center (see sidebar) and Advanced Simulation Facility, which features state-of-the-art Modular Flight Deck (MFD) simulators. Both opened in 2005.

Top tier program Dr. Brent Bowen, director of the institute, says the combination of experienced faculty and staff members, the simulation facility and the resource center put the UNO Aviation Institute “among the top tier of university aviation programs in the nation.”

The institute offers a bachelor of science degree in aviation with specialization in air transport administration or professional flight. It also offers a full roster of graduate courses

• High-end Global Positioning System (GPS) units, including the Garmin GPSMAP 396 that provides portable, satellite data link Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) weather reports.

• Headsets.

• Personal ComputerBased Aviation Training Device (PCATD) flight simulator.

• Software and other PC-assisted training devices.

• 10 personal computers.

• Printing services.

Funding for the center’s materials, as well as the institute’s research initiatives, is obtained in part through annual awards from the NASA Nebraska Space Grant Consortium and the NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

“The Aviation Resource Center is an impressive and significant benefit for students,” says UNO Chancellor Nancy Belck.

“The scope of services provided to students at no cost is remarkable.”

for those seeking to obtain a master’s of public administration degree with a concentration in aviation administration. Many aviation students are active in ROTC and other military programs.

Particularly attractive for students, Bowen says, is the combination of educational opportunities, the availability of scholarships and the low cost of tuition and flight training available through the institute.

Students also benefit from internships at many Omaha-area businesses, including the Jet Linx Aviation Flight Operations Center, the Mutual of Omaha Corporate Flight Department, the Omaha Airport Authority Communications Center, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Omaha Police Department Air Support Unit.

Networking opportunities are available through three student groups: Alpha Eta Rho, the UNO chapter of a coed fraternity for future aviation professionals; the Flying Mavericks Flight Team, whose 15 members participate in regional and national competitions and community events; and the Maverick chapter of Women in Aviation, a coed group with a focus UNOALUM

on community service.

In addition to teaching and conducting research, the institute’s faculty and staff often are called upon to serve as experts on state and national aviation issues. The institute disseminates its research findings by publishing the Journal of Air Transportation and the Aviation Institute Monograph Series. Additionally, more than 75 million people each year are exposed to the institute’s widely publicized airline quality ratings, which Bowen publishes in conjunction with Wichita State University.

Smaller classes, state-of-the-art equipment, affordability and the camaraderie between students and faculty attracted Lucas Stritt to the institute.

“The institute offered the same opportunities as some of the top aviation programs, but UNO proved quite a bit more cost-effective,” says Stritt, who received a bachelor’s degree in aviation in the spring. He is working as a technical assistant at the institute while pursuing a master’s degree at UNO. “There are lots of great opportunities for a motivated student to get involved,” he says. w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Sara Glathar, student services specialist at the institute, says the cutting edge simulation facilities and student interaction with faculty members impress prospective students and their parents when they visit UNO. “We can talk about our quality classes and marvelous faculty all day,” Glathar says, “but when an 18year-old sits in the MFD simulator and is surrounded by technology above and beyond anything they had imagined, that really seals the deal.

The simulation facility is a huge recruitment tool that enables us to compete with any aviation program in the country.”

Adjulation for simulation Scott Vlasek is the institute’s academic program coordinator and manager of technology. He says the MFD simulator offers more features than any other aviation training device on the market. It has a series of screens that wrap around the fiberglass cockpit and can simulate up to 13 different aircraft.

“We’re at the forefront in terms of flight simulation technology training,” he says, “and it’s a standard we want to continue to set for our students in

Photo by Tim Fitzgerald / University Affairs Students Lucas Stritt and Kailey Dwyer pilot the sim.

the future.”

CPACS Dean B.J. Reed says he is proud of the Aviation Institute's “commitment to excellence.”

“There’s no better example than the addition of the advanced simulator,” Reed says. “This technology provides a wonderful resource for students and for training outreach in the community."

On the institute’s wish list is a jet simulator, equipment that could cost upwards of $200,000. In addition to being an educational and research tool, Bowen says a jet simulator would further the institute’s role in the community, allowing the general public to rent time on the equipment.

“We plan to continue to refine our curriculum and expand our research and community outreach,” he says, “but our main goal overall is to stay on top of the latest technology.”

Dwyer, who also serves as a student assistant at the institute, says the combination of equipment and affordability translates into value. “I think the Aviation Institute is a hidden gem,” she says, “one that more people should take advantage of.”

Fall 2006 • 35

College of

Information Science and Technology Hesham Ali takes over as dean

Dean’s door still open r. Hesham Ali, new dean of UNO’s College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T), says he will continue to welcome visitors to his office, as did his predecessor, retiring Dean David Hinton.

“His door was always open to students, faculty, staff and alumni who were either seeking his advice or offering their input,” Ali says. “I plan to follow in his footsteps in that regard.”

Ali took over as dean Aug. 1. Previously he served as associate dean for academic affairs and professor of computer science. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, he received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Alexandria University and his Ph.D. from the University of NebraskaLincoln.

He is widely recognized for his work in bioinformatics, mobile computing and wireless networks, including a project called “Wireless Omaha” (see article in spring 2006 Alum). He is the recipient as principle or co-principle investigator of more than $6 million in research funding and is the co-author of two books, two dozen referred journal articles and more than 70 other articles.

The College of IS&T includes the departments of computer science and information systems and quantitative analysis, as well as programs in bioinformatics, telecommunications, information assurance and a doctorate program in information technology (IT).

The college also is home to the Center for the Management of Information Technology, the International Academy for Advanced Decision Support, the Nebraska University Consortium on Information Assurance (NUCIA), and the newly formed Institute for Collaboration Science (in partnership with the UNO College of Business Administration). IS&T also is a partner with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering in the Peter Kiewit Institute on UNO’s Ak-SarBen campus.

“What we have in the college is a marvelous balance of education advancing our core of information technology programs, and our ability to help other entities advance through the incorporation of our IT components,” Ali says. “This enables the college to impact the community far beyond the campus boundaries.

“By working with business, industry and non-profit agencies and organizations, we can play a significant role

D

36 • Fall 2006

Photo by Tim Fitzgerald / University Affairs

Dean in, dean out. Hesham Ali, left, and Dave Hinton.

in making Omaha one of the most technology-friendly metropolitan areas in the nation.”

Hinton became dean of IS&T in 2001 after serving 15 years as dean of UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS). His retirement marks 34 years at UNO. In his five years at IS&T, Hinton helped develop the doctoral program in information technology and the undergraduate degree program in bioinformatics. He played a significant role in NUCIA being designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance by the National Security Agency. In 2001, NUCIA was one of the first 20 centers to receive the designation.

Hinton calls his time as IS&T dean a personally-rewarding honor. “I worked with an excellent faculty and staff, and an especially outstanding group of students,” he says.

“Watching more than 1,200 receive their degrees was more than ample reward to me.”

There are grand things ahead for the college, Hinton says. “I believe the college is at a stage of maturity where it can launch more educational offerings and programs and engage in even more cutting-edge research,” he says.

“I know Hesham Ali is well qualified to help the college continue to grow and contribute, and I look forward to watching from the sidelines.”

UNOALUM

Student profile: Tony Valenti

Imagining the possibilities ony Valenti is the founder and

Tchief architect of four technology

companies, one of which employs 15 permanent contractors stretching from Canada to Australia. His Bellevue-based high-speed computer servers host the web sites of several corporations, government agencies and even a celebrity. He leads the development of the “Emergency Stick,” a microchip-equipped medical bracelet that placed second in the worldwide Software Design Invitational of Microsoft’s Imagine Cup 2006.

Just imagine what Valenti might do once he graduates.

Currently, Valenti is a senior computer science major at UNO’s College of Information Science & Technology. He says his interest in computers began when he was 5 years old. “I was watching the TV show ‘20/20’ interview a man who owned a small software company.

The man was Bill Gates. I said to my mom, ‘That looks interesting. I’d like to learn about that.’”

His mother, Dwynette, began to smile. “Is that so?” she replied. “Well, I just so happen to have my degree in computer science.”

She sat him down in front of a computer.

“It was an old DOS computer,” he recalls. “She opened a program called Q Basic and told me about the F1 ‘Help’ key, which could teach me anything I wanted to know. I pressed it, started reading and from that point on, I was hooked. It was fun.”

Home-schooled until his junior year in high school, Valenti got his first technology job when he was 17.

“I went on-site for an automation project for a company in Canada.”

Today, his companies are Power DNN (www.powerdnn.com), Mobile Now (www.mobilenow.cc), Keep w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Alive Forever (www.keepaliveforever.com), and Emergency Stick (www.emergencystick.com). The services they provide include software development, server virtualization and technology consulting.

“You can’t tell someone ‘I do everything,’ even if you do,” he says.

“I’ve set up different entities that focus on one or two aspects of a problem or issue. For me, it makes sense to have different companies that ultimately complement each other.”

The Microsoft Imagine Cup 2006 invitationals drew 65,000 students from more than 100 countries to compete in six categories, including software design.

Valenti, Jeremy Capello, a student at Bellevue University, and Michael Knipp, a local high school student, developed the Emergency Stick bracelet. An encrypted USB device compatible with PDAs, cell phones

and computers, it can hold critical medical information and in an emergency provide the wearer and responders with real-time feedback regarding recommended treatments.

In non-emergency situations, it can be synched with a desktop application to provide the user regular reminders, such as to take a medication. The device earned the team a $4,000 cash prize.

“The students at this year’s Imagine Cup represent the next generation of technology and business leaders,” says Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of developer and platform evangelism at Microsoft. “Their creativity, innovation and commitment to improving people’s lives is inspiring.”

Valenti says he thrives on the technological challenges he faces at IS&T. After graduation, he plans to stay in Omaha, expand his services, and continue having fun.

“Other people go to work in the morning,” he says, patting a rack of sleek Dell servers that are home to his Web-based clients. “I go play with these.”

Photo courtesy Microsoft Corp.

Tony Valenti, Jeremy Capello and Michael Knipp at the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2006.

Fall 2006 • 37

College of

Information Science and Technology

Journey to Freedom arida Majid, academic advisor at UNO’s College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T), knows that higher education can lead to more than a successful career.

In her case, it helped lead to freedom.

A native of Afghanistan, Majid was about 7 years old when the Soviet Union invaded her homeland in 1979.

Her father, a well-educated man with a doctorate in education, had been working on various U.S.-supported projects, including Peace Corps.

“The Russians wanted to recruit him for their purposes,” Majid recalls. “They wanted him to be a part of the Communist government. When he refused and questioned their education policies, he was seen as a threat by them, so he was placed in prison.”

Friends helped gain her father’s release and in 1982, when she was 10, her parents took her and her five siblings on a perilous journey to escape Afghanistan by traveling through the mountains into Pakistan.

“For four days and three nights we walked and rode donkeys and camels. We carried only a few clothes and some food. We left everything else behind.

“It was very frightening. We knew that if we were caught we would either be killed or placed in prison. At times we were not allowed to cough or speak, as we might be heard and shot.”

Their journey led to Omaha in 1983 when the family’s immigration case was sponsored by Thomas Goutierre, dean of International Studies and Programs and director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at UNO. Majid's father, Dr. Moqin Rahmanzai, worked for the Center for Afghanistan Studies for three years before returning to Pakistan to take part in a UNO cross-border education support project for Afghanistan. Today, Rahmanzai continues to work on projects relating to the reforming and restructuring of the post-Russian occupation education system in Afghanistan.

Majid obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in counseling with a concentration in student affairs practice in higher education, both from UNO. She worked as a graduate assistant at the university before being hired as an academic counselor at IS&T in May 1999.

Two of her three older brothers, as well as her two sisters, also are UNO grads.

Majid serves as advisor for undergraduate students at

F

38 • Fall 2006

Photo courtesy Farida Majid

Farida Majid and her father, Dr. Moqin Rahmanzai.

the college. She monitors progress and development, conducts graduation audits and senior checks, and works with many of the scholarship students.

“I love it,” she says. “It’s personally rewarding to be able to work with such a highly qualified group of students.”

When she meets with prospective students and their parents, she touts the strong programs IS&T and the Peter Kiewit Institute offer, and the unique relationships the institute has forged with the business community locally and nationally.

“People are quite intrigued by the fact our programs compete well with those offered by other universities,” she says, “but when they see the facilities and meet the faculty, they are even more impressed.”

For anyone who doubts the value of higher education, Majid has a very personal story to share.

“If my father would not have been well educated, wellrounded in experience, we would not have had the opportunity to come to the United States,” she says. “His education and his connection to other individuals helped save our lives.”

UNOALUM

Professor Peter Wolcott::

the Heartland.”

His research builds upon his interest in the world and the Internet. He has authored or co-authored several articles relating to “The Global Diffusion of the Internet,” a project that examines the proliferation of the Internet in other countries “to capture the history of the Internet as it unfolds.”

Much can be learned from the project, such as the Internet’s role in promoting economic growth and social and human development. But it has to be learned quickly, Wolcott says.

“Being electronic, the information available on the Internet is extremely perishable,” he says. “We have books that are 200 years old. We have hieroglyphics that are thousands of years old. Yet, a Word document we put together today, if it’s even readable in 20 years, that would be amazing.”

Demanding Excellence ssociate Professor Peter Wolcott teaches classes that

Aare a very real reflection of his own personality.

“Some of what shapes my thinking also goes into my classes,” says Wolcott, director of the master’s of science in Management Information Systems program at UNO’s College of Information Science & Technology. “I certainly enjoy the exercise of figuring things out and then explaining it all to others.”

Wolcott, who received the 2001 UNO Excellence in Teaching award, says he is not an “easy” instructor.

“My courses are demanding, time-consuming courses, but because it is time well-spent, I think students appreciate the value they receive. I work hard to make sure my assignments are relevant, are value-adding and are useful to a student.

“The worst thing they can say is that an assignment amounted to a bunch of ‘busy work.’ That means the assignment failed miserably.”

In his 11 years at UNO, Wolcott has had a considerable impact on his students. He hears back from former students and some comment on how they’ve applied his lessons to their current work.

“It’s a source of great satisfaction for me when I see I have made a contribution to their lives, either personally or professionally.”

He infuses a strong sense of values into the classroom and his private life with his wife, Ellie, and daughters, Elisa, 14; Lena, 11; and Clara, 7. “I am the same person in private as in public. I try to be open and honest with people.”

He says honesty makes teaching easier. “I don’t have to work on my image. All I have to be is me. There’s a certain simplicity to life when you can just be who you are.”

Wolcott serves as “a bridge” for student exchanges with Norway, his mother’s native country. He lived a year in Norway before attending college and did graduate research in the former Soviet Union, where he lived for nine months.

The year he recently spent on sabbatical at Agder University College in Kristiansand in southern Norway also was a learning experience for his family, which accompanied him. “The kids attended school there and learned Norwegian, and we got to spend a lot of time with each other and with my mother’s family.”

Wolcott is indeed well-traveled. “I was born in New Jersey, grew up in New England, lived in California, went to school in Arizona and worked in Alabama. By the time I came to UNO, everyone I knew lived within 100 miles of either the oceans or Mexico. I didn’t know anyone in w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Photo by Tim Fitzgerald / University Affairs

Professor Peter Wolcott: “I was born in New Jersey, grew up in New England, lived in California, went to school in Arizona and worked in Alabama. By the time I came to UNO, everyone I knew lived within 100 miles of either the oceans or Mexico.”

Fall 2006 • 39

SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE ON THE WEB www.unoalumni.org/magazine/submit_class_notes

Class Notes

1939 Clitus Wilbur Olson, BA, lives in Westminster, Colo.’s, Covenant Village of Colorado with his wife, Dorothy. He writes, “Dorothy has Alzheimers and I have old age (89 years). I retired from a career as medical missionary to Congo and later as local surgeon in Goodland, Kansas.”

Send him email at oldole1@aol.com

1956 Chuck French, BS, lives in Bedford, Mass., and writes, “I have been blessed with good health so I have the luxury of doing the things I want to. I retired for 60 days and did not like it, so I am now the VP of sales and marketing of a start-up; in my second year of doing pro-bono consulting for non-profits; and, just joined the board of a community theater group. I will be coming to the reunion and hope to see many of you there.” Send emails to Chuckcfrench@comcast.net 1959 Brian Wadsworth, MS, lives in Bondurant, Iowa, and is retired. He had spent 20 years in education and 20 years in real estate. “Do some work in care of our properties,” he writes.

“Have a few collector cars as hobby.

Spend winters in Arizona, rest of year in Iowa. Wife of 61 years, Elaine, enjoys gardening.”

1960 David P. Hufford, BS, lives in Omaha.

He taught 38 years in the United States, including 30 years at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He also taught in Bratislava, Slovakia and in Xiantao, Hubei, China. “Since then I have been writing, mainly poetry, publishing some pieces, and giving many readings.” Send emails to davidphufford@yahoo.com

1962 Daniel J. Daly, BA, has been an English teacher at Duchesne Academy in Omaha for six years. He returns this fall for his 45th year in education.

Daly taught at Omaha Central for 37 years, retiring from there in 1999.

After spending a year supervising student teachers for Creighton and substituting at Omaha Creighton Prep, Omaha Westside and Millard, he joined Duchesne. Send him email at danjdaly@cox.net 1965 Patricia McNamara, MS, lives in Santa Barbara, Calif. She received first

40 • Fall 2006

FA L L

place for a watercolor painting, “Cardinal Hi C,” at the Santa Barbara County Fair. She is a member of the Los Padres Watercolor Society.

“Looking forward to my annual fall visit to Nebraska. Gorgeous colors to photograph and for watercolor paintings,” she writes.

Ronald Leo Carbery, BGE, lives in Great Falls, Va., and is deputy director of spectrum policy and planning headquarters for NASA in Washington, D.C. Send him email at rcarbery@adelphia.net 1966 Frank Goldberg, BS, was selected to serve as treasurer of Rotary International (see www.rotary.org) during 2006-07. Partner in an accounting firm that he co-founded, Goldberg is a member of the Rotary Club of Omaha Suburban and has been a Rotarian since 1973. He is a recipient of RI’s Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service.

1969 Alfred E. Pope, BGS, lives in Nokomis, Fla. He writes, “Graduated from Pepperdine University with an MA in education administration; second master’s degree in executive management, and a Ph.D. from the Claremont Graduate School, Claremeont, Calif. Worked for

2 0 0 6

General Dynamics for 15 years, studied Russian language for two years, as well as Spanish. Russian Escort on the INF Treaty for visiting Russians and assisted in the development of Maquladora Plants in Mexico for General Dynamics. Retired to Florida and taught strategic management/ business policy, how to do business with the U.S. government in the Executive MBA Program. Active in the YMCA and hobbies include, golf, fishing, reading, and woodwork.”

Send him email at Dral060855@aol.com 1971 Alfred John Fransen, BGS, lives in Bellevue, Neb., and writes that he, “Continues to enjoy retirement and keeps busy with volunteer efforts at First Baptist Church, Bellevue.” Send him email at ajfusaf74@cox.net Mary Hilfiker, MS, was one of seven University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire graduates to receive an award from that university’s alumni association.

Hilfiker was one of two recipients of the President’s Award, which recognizes outstanding professional or personal achievements or service to UWEau Claire. Hilfiker, an associate education and school improvement specialist with the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at UW-Madison, received her BS in education from UW-Eau Claire in 1967. Her first job

Pictures in Time

Courtesy UNO Historical Photo Collection maintained by UNO Archives.

Inflating balloons for the 1964 Omaha University homecoming game.

Photo located in the Criss Library, third floor, south wall.

UNOALUM

was as a teacher at East Middle and High School in Madison.

After completing her master’s degree she took a position with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as a home living specialist at Keams Canyon School in Arizona. Six years later she moved to Alaska and took a position as a senior guidance counselor for the BIA at Mt. Edgecumbe Boarding School.

When all BIA schools closed in Alaska, she worked in counseling and probation at a men’s prison. She later was director of the Army Education Centers at an American military base along the demilitarized zone in the Republic of Korea.

Following that she served as an education specialist for the U.S. Army in Los Angeles and for the BIA in Ft. Snelling, Minn., working with 12 schools in six states and with 34 tribes. She serves on the boards of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, City of Shoreview (Minn.)

Foundation, Shoreview Historical Society and Shoreview Parks and Recreation Commission.

Through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation she also established a scholarship to UW-Eau Claire for a young African from Uganda and the Mary Roelli Hilfiker Experiential Education Scholarship, which provides funding for students who design exceptional community service projects.

Ralph William Mitchell, BGS, lives in El Paso, Texas, and recently was named assistant chief deputy for the El Paso Sheriff’s Office. Send him email at rmitchell@epcounty.com 1972 Milan Emil Anich, BS, lives in Houston and was selected as senior manager, Space Flight Operations Contract (SFOC) Contract Management, Contracts and Pricing, Space Exploration, Network and Space Systems, Integrated Defense Systems, The Boeing Company. Milan will work with contracts with United Space Alliance and NASA supporting the Space Shuttle Program. Anich has more than Continued Page 42 w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

OU’s School for church ushers

B

y 1944, Omaha University’s religious affiliations long since had been severed, those ties cut when the City of Omaha took control of the school in 1931 and made it a secular, municipal institution.

That didn’t mean church was without a seat at OU, though.

One of the most popular classes offered

by Omaha University in the early 1940s was a church ushering course offered by the School of Adult Education. So popular, in fact, that, Christian Advocate, The Saturday Evening Post and TIME magazine devoted articles to it. It also grew beyond Omaha. By its second year, reported the Gateway, the five-week course was being offered via correspondence for home study. More than 100 ushers registered for the course in Lincoln.

Instruction also was sent to British Columbia, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Connecticut and other states.

Why a class on church ushering? E.M. Hosman, director of the School of Adult Education, justified the course by quoting from letters received after the first course offering.

“Next to the ministry, the usher is chiefly responsible for the growth of the church,” declared an Omaha letter as printed in the Gateway. And from Chicago: “Ushering, when done correctly, adds dignity and smoothness to the entire service. It helps to create a spirit of worship.”

An article, “Lay Workers—University Trained!” appeared in the Jan. 13 issue of the Christian Advocate explaining the ushering course. Six months later the Saturday Evening Post in its June 3, 1944, issue devoted more than a page to the course in an article titled “Sunday-Morning Traffic Cops,” complete with illustrations.

“Not all worshippers arrive at church on Sunday mornings in a frame of mind to meet the old-time religion halfway,” the Post reported. “Some of them require softening up before the preacher begins.”

Enter ushers. The Post cited ushering prerequisites—ushers should be a man of good standing, have a pleasing personality and “a sense of the fitness of things.” He should be at least 25, of average height, married and able to take criticism. Ushers should: greet people by name; have a firm handshake; stand erect; hold seats when needed; pass out bulletins face-up; control

Flashback File

the church’s temperature; not seat ‘wriggling adolescents’ together; and more.

OU psychology Professor W.H. Thompson, for whom the Thompson Alumni Center is named, was quoted for his unique seating style. “To combat attention loss and woolgathering on the part of the congregation,” the Post reported, “Doctor Thompson would seat the more intelligent persons on the outside and at strategic points. Their intellectual force and attention hold less intelligent and less serious worshippers in line. The not-so-attentive folks he would seat in the middle, where, if they don’t follow all the preacher says, they can at least be impressed by the beautiful way in which he says it.”

The first class produced 18 “graduates,” presented certificates by OU President Rowland Haynes on Dec. 14, 1943. A class picture was taken and plans made for an annual reunion and spring dinner. The next class featured 40 graduates. Their commencement drew the notice of TIME magazine, which in its issue of Feb. 26, 1945, quoted commencement speaker J.S. Handy, a salesman. Handy, TIME wrote, “competes with the Devil of congregational boredom” as head usher at Des Moines’ Westminster Presbyterian Church.

“The usher’s job is to put the buyers [congregation] in a receptive mood for the supersalesman in the pulpit to work on,” TIME quoted Handy as saying. “There must be no distracting influences [from the service]. A good usher asks himself: ‘Is the sidewalk clean? Are the steps clear of snow and ice?

Are the lights too bright? How is the heat?’

Heat makes or mars a service. If we see somebody nodding, we check the heat before we check the preacher.”

Later that spring the Gateway reported that one church had written Hosman, indicating that, “it will not now accept anyone for church ushering until they have completed the church ushers course.”

Another church with average attendance of 2,000 had 33 people enrolled for the correspondence course.

Later, usher class grads organized an Omaha Church Ushers’ Association, the Gateway reported. But it was not a novelty by any means. The Post reported that in New York a board of ushers in that city was organized in 1897. In Chicago, the magazine noted, that city’s Fourth Presbyterian Church board of ushers included many prominent Chicagoans and was “harder to join, it is said, than an exclusive club.”

Finding a seat, it appears then, could be difficult even for an usher.

Fall 2006 • 41

Class Notes

From Page 41

30 years of experience, with an extensive background in contract administration and contract management, proposal development, cost controls, contract compliance, and business management supporting several Boeing programs. He also has more than 20 years experience teaching economics and business at undergrad and graduate programs at universities and colleges in Amarillo, Texas, Tulsa, Okla., and Houston. He is married and has three grown sons. Send him email at anichme@swbell.net Mary Ehlers Stallone, BS, was named president of the Anchorage Rotary Club, the largest of six rotary clubs in that Alaska city.

1974 Ronald J. Skoneki, BGS, lives in Montgomery, Ala. He retired in 1988 after 33 years in the U.S. Air Force. In 2004 he retired again after 16 years with the Civil Air Patrol Headquarters.

1975 Patsy J. Daniels, MA, lives in Florence, Miss., and is an associate professor of English at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. She received her doctorate in literature and criticism in 1998 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Send her email at pjdaniels@suscom.net

1976 Melvin Mills, Assoc., lives in Mountain Home, Ark., and is a salesman with Caldwell Banker Colonial Real Estate. “I retired from the Omaha Fire Department and moved to the Ozarks to sell real estate and lake property,” he writes. Send him email at melmillsmillsmelvin@ yahoo.com 1977 Patrick L. Carmody, BS, joined Omaha’s Lamson, Dugan and Murray, LLP. He is in private practice as counsel, with more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. His emphasis will be in insurance regulatory, reinsurance and legislative lobbying issues.

Carmody previously was with Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, where he was vice president and director for insurance department services.

He also was assistant general counsel. He graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 1980.

Joel Christiansen, Ed.S., recently published his second book, “Stop Whining and Start Winning: The Power of Life’s Choices.” Christiansen also wrote “Out of the Ashes: the Resurrection of an Addict.” See more at www.noblesoulenterprises.com 1978 M. Joy Scanlan, BS, lives in Plattsmouth, Neb., and is local coordinator for community education at Southeast Community College.

Lost Alums - 1961

Louis G. Adam Harold D. Adams Harold D. Adams James A. Adams Omar W. Ainaire S. Richard Anderson John L. Applegate Robert L. Arnold William D. Badger Walter L. Baeumler Herschel W. Bagby Roy W. Bahr Vernon E. Ball Vernon E. Ball Lowell F. Baltzell John H. Barnett Margaret K. Barrelle William D. Bathurst

42 • Fall 2006

Alfred K. Baum Lowell J. Baumer Hans V. Becker John B. Beckham Aubrey R. Beene Edwin D. Beers Helmer H. Behrens Robert L. Bell Joseph L. Bends Karl F. Bennett William E. Benson Erik H. Berg William J. Berg Hugh J. Bickerstaff Ronald A. Bigoness Richard B. Blazek Philip Calvin Boatright Donald E. Boling

Leonelle A. Bonam William V Bournes Glenda L. Boller Boyer Charles R. Brackett Patricia I. Brandenburg Walter R. Braun Charles W. Bright Gaylord N. Brinlee Alonzo G. Britton Standish O. Brooks John F. Brosnan Herbert L. Brown Earl K. Buchan Wallace R. Buelow Donald J. Burch Nancy Arthur Burdick Billie R. Burns

1979 Jacqueline E. McGlade, BA, has become director of academic affairs for Penn State University’s Shenango campus.

She previously was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bellevue University (2005-2006) and an associate professor of history at the University of Northern Iowa (2003-2005). She also has a master’s degree from UNO, earned in 1986.

1982 Sally Ball Rhys, MS, lives in Portland, Ore., and is director of Ethics and Compliance for Portland General Electric, a utility in the Pacific Northwest.

She also runs a successful career coaching business for individual clients and groups.

She writes that for fun she “delivers training on a software selection system for public sector employers, traveling around the country to do so.”

Send her email at CoachingforPerspective@ msn.com 1982 Leo Biga, BS, lives in Omaha and provides the following career update: “My first ‘real’ job after college came as public relations assistant at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. It was the early 1980s and I’ve remained in Omaha ever since, although I long ago went ‘straight’ by moving from PR to journalism. Before making that leap, the Joslyn made me its PR director, a position I held until the end of 1987. After a brief foray into advertising, I

began my freelance journalism career with the Midlands Business Journal and Methodist Hospital’s Healthplex Magazine. Over the years I’ve written projects for corporate, non-profit, public and private clients. Usually, newsletter or magazine articles.

The vast majority of my work has been and continues to be as a cultural writer/reporter for Omaha-based newspapers and magazines, although I do place occasional stories in national pubs. The reason I remain a journalist for hire after 20 years is the independence it affords. I generate my own story assignments. I retain great freedom in how I approach subjects. This way, I can also explore my eclectic interests and express myself to diverse audiences.

One of the few perks in this line of endeavor is the people one meets. I’ve had the privilege of interviewing and profiling scores of legends from the worlds of sport, film, television, theater, literature, journalism, medicine and business.

Also, I’ve been fortunate enough to have my work recognized by my peers in Nebraska Press Association, American Jewish Press Association and Omaha Press Club journalism awards competitions. In addition to my work as a journalist, I am the author of a book of memoirs, an original feature-length film script and a play. Excerpts of my work may be viewed on my web site, www.leoadambiga.com.

Help us find these “Lost Alums” from the Class of 1961.

Send news of their whereabouts to sgerding@mail.unomaha.edu

Paul C. Butcher Raymond L. Call William P. Calmes Philip K. Cameron Alan D. Campen Robert M. Canady Mervyn M. Cannon Nan V. Viergutz Carson Gene C. Case Walter L. Catron Richard C. Cauble Eugene L. Chamberlin Richard L. Chandler William F. Charles Laverne L. Cheney Lester F. Christensen Frank C. Ciochetto

Marivin H. Clausing Frank W. Clayton Harold L. Coffman Raymond P. Coffman Stephen J. Cohen Eugene W. Conlan James A. Cook Charles T. Cooke Paul D. Cothern Stanley Cottage Bert R. Covert Clyde D. Cox Gorden E. Cranford John P. Crawford Eldward E. Crow William M. Cunningham Joseph F. Daly

Edward J. Dauck Mara J. Davis Patrick B. Davis Wallace H. Dawson Frank E Deam Clyde S. Delong Joseph R. Demartino Ione B. Dieker Robert A. Dineen Roger P. Dooley Leslie M. Douglas John J. Drobot Thomas S. Dube Christel Duffy James P. Duncan Delores I. Dunnum Stanley E. Duysen Addison L. Dwyer

Richard L. Eakley Vera H. Ebert James H. Edwards Arne H. Eliasson Millard J. Ellington Robert C. Elliott Gerald L. Ellis Warren H. Ellis Richard J. Ellsworth Edward T. Elmendorf Mable F. Elya Larry L. Ennis Raymond Epling Arlen L. Estes Buenaventura Esteves Robert S. Esworthy Vaughn G. Evans

UNOALUM

FA L L 1983 Pamela S. Mindt, MSW, is a Lt. Col. with the U.S. Army Reserves. Currently serving in Iraq, she is commander of the 1972nd Medical Detachment (Combat Stress Control).

1984 Victoria Vaughan, MS, in early August received the 2006 Norbert and Charlette Schuerman Outstanding Principal’s Award. Vaughan is principal at Yates Alternative School. The award is named for the former Omaha school superintendent and his wife. It is accompanied by a $4,000 cash prize and is supported by Omaha 21st Century Education and Workforce Development and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Yates has students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It provides a specialized program for students with behavioral disorders who are referred to Yates from classrooms throughout the school district. Through individualized educational plans Yates helps students learn skills that will allow them to return to neighborhood schools. Vaughan has been principal at Yates since 1999. In 1984 she received her UNO master’s degree in teaching the emotionally disturbed.

1985 Susan G. Graham Bramow, BS, lives in Elkhorn, Neb., and is manager of corporate research for ACI Worldwide in Omaha. She has been with the company for 20 years. Send her email at dsbramow@cox.net Roy Schroer, MBA, lives in Omaha and is associate vice president of Union Pacific Railroad. He is married to fellow UNO alum Jean FidoneSchroer (BSBA, 1987), senior vice president for Atalanta Sosnoff. The couple has one daughter.

1986 Bonnie Gill Manhart, BS, lives in Omaha and with her husband, fellow UNO grad Mark Manhart (‘88), has written “Bootstrappers Christmas.” See w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Mark Manhart’s Class Note in 1988.

1987 Jean Fidone-Schroer, BSBA, lives in Omaha and is senior vice president for Atalanta Sosnoff. She is married to fellow UNO alum Roy Schroer (MBA, 1986), associate vice president of Union Pacific Railroad. The couple has one daughter. Send her email at jfidone@aol.com 1988 Mark Manhart, BS lives in Omaha and with his wife, fellow UNO grad Bonnie Gill Manhart (‘86; ‘98), has written “Bootstrappers Christmas,” a holiday musical set in 1954 and revolving around OU students, Dr.Milo Bail, U.S. Air Force General Curtis LeMay and Rock ‘n Roll. It will play at the Grande Olde Players Theatre

(GOPT) Nov. 17 thru Dec. 16.

Manhart writes, “It has been so enjoyable for us and has stimulated us to finish our book about the GOPT. There are so many good stories to tell about our experiences with older people, and those are great people right here in Omaha.”

Send him email at mjman1@cox.net Barbara Gobel, MSW, is a child/adolescent counselor in Nebraska (Omaha, Fremont) and Iowa (Council Bluffs, Atlantic). Send her email at bgsligo@msn.com 1989 Janet L. Reich Rhodus, MS, lives in Redlands, Calif. For the second straight year she was named to the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, an honor that students bestow on their teachers by submitting

Future Alums

Got a picture of your little tyke? Send it our way as a print or in electronic format and we’ll post it on our website!

Olivia Marie Long, daughter of Dale and Lori

(Kitta, ’94; ’98) Long of Bellevue, Neb.

Landon Scott Maslanik, son of Scott

Maslanik and Stephanie (’02) GallowayMaslanik of Huntingdon, Penn.

Julia Angela Batenhorst, daughter of Nicole

and Daniel B. (’97) Batenhorst of LaVista, Neb.

Ryan Nathaniel Goff, son of Teresa (Adams,

’01) and Kevin (’98) Goff of Gretna, Neb.

Eugene Peter Whang, son of Yangsook Sue

(Kim, ’02) and Yongjoo Peter (’03) Whang of Omaha.

Luke Peter Hansen, son of Jennifer and Peter (’98) of Tustin, Calif., and grandson of Grace and Gregory (’69) Hansen of Omaha.

Naomi Paige Ubel, daughter of Andy and

Angie (Lutz, ’00) Ubel of Long Grove, Iowa.

Submit a Future Alum on the Web —

2 0 0 6

their name for making a difference in their educational experience. “I am a mentor/consulting teacher for the Redlands Unified School District,” she writes. “I mentor intern teachers, beginning teachers and assist veteran teachers who have changed grade levels or just need some assistance from possible burnout. I also conduct staff trainings and staff development for teachers in our district at all grade levels.”

Send her email at zbell1@aol.com 1990 Shurie R. Graeve, BA, is an attorney for Washington County in Blair, Neb. Jerry D. Cornett, BS, lives in Gretna, Neb. He joined the U.S. Navy as a helicopter pilot in Continued Page 42

Sons & Daughters of UNO Alumni

Cadin John McGuigan, son of Craig and

Cindy Wagner (’82) McGuigan of Wahoo, Neb.

Will Michael Weberg, son of Tricia and James (’98) Weberg of Omaha.

Samuel Ross Davidson, son of Jason and

Brenda (Smith, ’02) Davidson of Omaha.

Henry Thomas Herreman, son of Scarlett (’98) Fisher-Herrreman and Cale (’00) Herreman of Topeka, Kansas.

Mya Anne Muhlbauer, daughter of Robert

and Sarah (Pedelty, ’97) Muhlbauer of Carroll, Iowa, and granddaughter of Richard Muhlbauer (’74) of Carroll, Iowa.

Katherine Claire Kudym, daughter of Christina and Jason (’94) Kudym of Omaha and great-grandaughter of Ruth (’49) and Fred (’49) Kudym of Omaha.

Katherine Grace Campbell, daughter of Tiffany (Moore, ’99) and Christopher (’00) Campbell of Sioux Falls, S.D., and granddaughter of Laurie Moore (’91) of Omaha.

www.unoalumni.org/magazine/submit_future_alum Provide a birth announcement (within 1 year of birth) and we’ll send a T-shirt and certificate, plus publish the good news. Do so online at www.unoalumni.org/magazine/submit_future_alum.

Mail announcements to: Future Alums, UNO Alumni Association, 60th & Dodge, Omaha, NE 68182. FAX info to: (402) 554-3787. Include address, baby’s name, date of birth, parents’ or grandparents’ names and graduation year(s).

Fall 2006 • 43

Class Notes

From Page 41

1991 and currently works for U.S. Strategic Command in the requirements and resources directorate. “I’m scheduled for promotion to commander in September,” he writes. Send him email at cornettjr4@msn.com 1991 Lisa Marie Harrison Jackson, BS, lives in Covington, Ga. In January 2006 her self-published book, “At Last,” was picked up

by Harlequin. The book will be re-released in October under the new title, “Finally, You and Me.” She writes, “I am planning to have a book signing in Omaha in either November or December.” Send her email at Jacksonluv2write@aim.com 1992 William E. Conley, MBA, lives in Omaha and recently was named to the board of directors of the Omaha Community Service Foundation, the organization that annually conducts the Cox Classic Golf Tournament in Omaha. The Cox Classic, the area’s largest professional golf tournament, completed its 11th year in 2006.

Since the tournament’s inception more than $1.2 million has been raised for local charities.

Send Conley email at billconley@cox.net 1993 Denise Henning, BS, was appointed president of the University College of the North in Manitoba, Canada. She previously held several senior appointments, including executive director of International Student Success and department head of interdisciplinary studies at the University of Regina. She also was vice-president academic at First Nations University of Canada.

1995 Timothy Dean Schlupp, BGS, lives in Blue Springs, Mo. Send him email at timothny.schlupp@us.army.mil

44 • Fall 2006

Todd Munson, BS, is a computational scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory.

He recently received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor the U.S. government bestows on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers.

Munson is one of seven recipients affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy. Each winner received a citation, a plaque and a five-year commitment for continued funding of their work from their agency.

Munson is a member of Argonne’s mathematics and computer science division, where he has made significant contributions in the areas of large-scale continuous optimization and nonlinear complementarity problems. Such problems represent situations where maximizing a desired goal must be done with regard to other constraints; an example would be designing reloading operations for nuclear reactors that give the highest power output possible while still observing appropriate safety measures. Munson is a lead developer of: PATH, the most widely used code for solving complementarity problems; the Network Enabled Optimization System (NEOS), a collaboration between Argonne and Northwestern University that provides access to optimization packages through a variety of Internet interfaces; and, the Toolkit for Advanced Optimization (TAO), an open source collection of parallel algorithms for solving largescale nonlinear optimization problems. Munson has mentored graduate and undergraduate students through the DOE/NSF Faculty and Student Team Program and Argonne’s Summer Student Program; has served on the organizing committee for the ArgonneUniversity of Chicago Institute on Computational Economics; and, has acted as a moderator and scientific judge for the Chicago Regional Middle School Science Bowl. The

nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory conducts basic and applied scientific research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, ranging from highenergy physics to climatology and biotechnology.

Jason Gray, BS, lives in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He is a Hollywood stunt performer with more than 16 years of experience. His specialties include stunt rigging, wire work, any kind of fighting/brawls (especially sword fighting), fire burns prep and safety, most sports, jet skis, acting, physical comedy, stunt driving, FBI and military work, and stunt coordination. He writes, “I had such a great time at UNO. I met a lot of great people that I still keep in touch with. The hands-on experience I gained working at KYNE-TV Channel 26 really helped me in my Hollywood career. I miss Omaha and hope to visit soon.” See Gray’s profile and photos of him at work at www.jasongray.tv 1997 Kenneth Schortgen Jr., BGS, lives in Mesa, Ariz., and notes that he “just quit my 9-5 job and working my home business. Also working on publishing my first book.” Send him email at theprofessor@cox.net Jason Winterboer, BSBA, lives in Omaha and currently is pursuing an MBA from the University of Chicago. “I would enjoy hearing from fellow alumni, so feel free to drop me an email.” Do so at jlwinterboer@aol.com Linda Jean Moore Helling, BGS, lives in Harlan, Iowa, and writes, “I work for Shelby County Developsource with the director of marketing and economic development for Shelby County.” Send emails to onyx@Harlannet.com 1999 Melinda S. Schroeder-Hash, BSCJ, graduated from Ohio Northern University’s Pettit

College of Law, receiving the degree of juris doctor. She was active in Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, the International Law Society and the Sports Law Society (as president).

Amanda Temoshek, BS, was awarded the professional designation of Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) by CFRE International. Temoshek, president for Heartland Campaign Management, joins more than 4,700 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation. Individuals granted the credential have met a series of standards set by CFRE International, which include tenure in the profession, education, professional achievements and a commitment to service to not-for-profit organizations. They have agreed to uphold accountability standards and a donor bill of rights. Heartland Campaign Management offers fundraising consulting services to non-profit organizations. Head-quartered in Omaha, it works with clients throughout the Midwest. Temoshek is a member of the UNO Alumni Association’s Publications Committee.

2000 Desire Rene Smith, BA, in August received her doctorate in industrial organizational psychology from Capella University. She graduated with highest honors 2001 Jeremy David Ball, MA, lives in Boise, Idaho, and is an assistant professor of criminal justice administration at Boise State University. He has published several encyclopedia entries on sentencing and criminal law. He also has a book chapter forthcoming in “Legal Issues in Criminal Justice” by Craig Hemmens, JD, PhD. Ball has two journal articles published in Criminal Justice Studies and the Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice (forthcoming). He also has several manuscripts under review with Criminology, Youth UNOALUM

FA L L Violence and Juvenile Justice, Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, and Family Court Review. Ball serves as the faculty-in-residence coordinating the Civic Leadership Residential College. He and his wife, Marcy, are expecting their first child in November. He also earned a Ph.D. in criminal justice from UNO in 2005. Send him email at jeremyball@boisestate.edu Lisa Halamicek, BSBA, lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., and in April joined Equitable Real Estate Company, an invitation-only real estate boutique specializing in the luxury market.

Halamicek began her career in real estate in 1997 at CBS Home Real Estate while at UNO. She moved to Arizona in 2001 to work for a renowned developer, DMB Associates, before branching out on her own as a full-time sales agent/realtor in 2005. During the past nine years she has worked on more than $116 million worth of residential properties in the resale, new/ builder, and master-planned housing markets. Send her email at lisa@efineliving.com

Class Notes

2002 Heidi Lichtenberg, BS, lives in Miami Beach, Fla., and writes, “I hope everyone is doing great since graduation! I am in Miami now doing an optometry school rotation for six months. Then I will be back in the great city of Omaha for three months starting in November. Keep in touch!”

Send her email at hlichten@indiana.edu Scott R. Miller, BGS joined Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP as a partner. Miller specializes in intellectual property litigation and also has handled substantial corporate merger, acquisition and licensing transactions involving all types of intellectual property rights. He has first chair litigation experience in patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright litigation matters. His patent practice has focused on technology innovations in optics, lasers, fiber optic technologies, liquid crystal display products and medical products. He has represented various consumer product companies (including American Honda and ViewSonic) in conjunction with some of the most valuable and well-known trademarks in the United States. He also has

2 0 0 6

acted as lead IP counsel on hundreds of different transactions for strategic buyers/sellers, private equity and/or venture capital funds.

agement of more than 125 projects and 3,200 units in four different states. She is a frequent speaker at NCSHA and many other industry conferences.

2003 Rebecca J. Hannagan, MS, lives in Dekalb, Ill., and in August joined the faculty of the political science department at Northern Illinois University as an assistant professor. Hannagan earned her doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

2005 Daniel J. Anderson, BGS, lives in Omaha and writes that, “After working at Data Transmission Network for the last seven and a half years as the UNIX team leader, I have accepted a position with IBM as a senior security and privacy consultant. Getting my degree from UNO has certainly opened doors for me!” Send email to dan-anderson@cox.net

2004 Mary Anderson, BS, received the Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) of the Year award from the National Association of Home Builders.

The award was presented in August in San Diego.

Anderson is a development specialist and the director of compliance for Prime Development in Bellevue, Neb. She has been active n the lowincome housing tax credit industry for more than a dozen years. She earned her HCCP designation in 1999. During this time she was with the Midwest Housing Equity Group, where she oversaw the company’s entire portfolio. She directed the compliance man-

Timothy Steven Herfkens, BGS, lives in Omaha and notes that his first book recently was published through Authorhouse. He writes that, “‘Elsewhere: a collection’ is a collection of poetry for those that like poetry, but especially for those that think they don’t.” Excerpts, a book description, author bio and ordering information all are available at www.authorhouse.com. “I hope to be placing it on local bookshelves soon. I hope you read it, and hope even more that you like what you read.” Send emails to theherf@hotmail.com

Submit your class note over the web at www.unoalumni.org

What have you been doing since graduating from UNO? Your fellow alumni would like to know! Give us an update by filling out the form below. We’ll publish the news in a future issue of the UNO Alum and on our website. Send the news to Class Notes Editor, UNO Alum, 67th & Dodge, Omaha, NE 68182-0010, or Fax to (402) 554-3787.

Name__________________________________________

Employer ___________________________________

Class Year_______Degree________

Position_____________________________________

Address________________________________________

Career/Personal News__________________________

City ___________________________ State, Zip______________________

Is this a new

q Yes q No address?

Phone_____________________________ E-mail_________________________________________ May we post your email address in the next Alum?

q Yes q No

w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

May we include your name in our website’s email directory (email addresses not shown)?

q Yes q No

May the Alumni Association periodically share info with you via e-mail?

q Yes q No

_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

Fall 2006 • 45

Class Notes In Memoriam

1927 1933 1934 1938 1939 1940 1941 1943 1944 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951

1952

1953 1954 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961

1968 Donald G. Mitchell Franklin M. Nichols Stewart S. Perry Leo D. Thomas 1969 Fred C. Lemr, Jr. Alphonzo A. Sutherland Ruth E. Swarts Harold W. Oehmke James A. Quinlan 1970 James S. Sheppard Malcolm R. Staehlin, Jr. Agnes G. Vogel Wengert 1971 C. Raymond Herzberg, Jr. Ernest I. Larsen Samuel Altschul 1972 Gary L. Todd Charlean A. Williams-Strong Samuel C. Schram 1973 Cecil "Jack" Dempsey, Jr. James W. Lightfoot 1974 Millard J. Butler Benjamin A. Guffey Dennis R. Kumm Robert J. Lessels, Jr. Sam S. McAfee II Steve Green (Dubuque) 1975 Jane A. Davenport-Wilshusen Bernard C. Mills 1976 Virgene D. Donney 1977 James R. Harmon Francis A. "Frank" Oglesby, Jr. 1978 Gloria M. Slagle McGrath Aden 1979 Louis J. Persiani, Jr. 1982 Lael M. Lawden Hansen 1984 Fred S. Lindsey 1990 Bruce H. Heimark 1994 Andrea M. Fleshman-Seward 1996 Linn R. Johnson 2001 Thomas A. Carlson

1961 Everett B. Thurlow Thaddeus Lewandowski 1962 Barbara L. Blair Brown Robert J. Emswiler Frank J. Jansen Ralph C. Wardlow 1963 George S. Allen Ernest J. Berger Melvin Friedman Frank L. Griffin Lloyd T. "Rusty" Harmsen Corinne Rieves Janssens Richard R. Murphy Joe H. Johnson Whitney R. Johnson John H. Regan William L. Spiller 1964 Francis H. Ahrens Donald J. Baldwin George L. Wright Ruby S. Lassiter 1965 Arthur G. Campbell Charles W. Eckels James K. Hall Tom F. Modisett John E. Persons Harm Stryker Lawrence C. Swearingen Robert W. Taylor 1966 Vera M. Homewood Louis B. "Bud" LaFever John Luque Roseann Nelson Donald E. Stauffacher 1967 James Grady Charles "Keith" McGinnis Howard A. Nelson Richard P. Vacek Carter H. Cowan 1968 Gordon W. "Woody" Bailey, Sr. Richard W. Horn

Dorothy M. Stone Hallback Louisa D. Goff Ralph Tietsort Frances E. "Betty" Arnold Griffin Roger M. Hughes Carol Haubroe Stone Esther Costrell David M. Hubler B. Jerry Dutcher Florence A. Kennedy Free Marguerite C. Keller Douglas F. Lindsey Donald E. Wiles Mary Walrath Jenkins Edmund J. Matras Margaret Markley Ridgway Eli Legino Ramon E. Price Wayne A. Lukken Earl W. Maddy Margaret A. "Peggy" Smith Karnett-Weaver Jean M. Allison Monasterio Shirley M. Robins Harlan B. "Bernie" Shires Ben F. Bukowski, Jr. Jayne O'Dell Penisten Dorothy D. Hines Weaver Betty J. Karr Younkin Martha Daniels Harold A. Oberman Anthony Quesada M. Irene Little Grothe Edward J. Schaffer Avice Hill Fielding Joan M. Gerry Cowdin Kenneth Korinek George Propp Robert L. Bass Robert M. Linden Robert M. Taylor

2006 UNO Annual Fund Donation Form

STEP 1—Check level

q

Alumni Card Donor Less than $25

q Calendar Donor $25 or more

q Gold Card Donor $50 or more

q Bronze Century $100 or more

q Silver Century q

$250 or more

Golden Century $500 or more

STEP 2—Mark payment information A.q Check enclosed for $

q

46 • Fall 2006

Visa

q

MasterCard

Expiration Date:__________

Card No.:

$1,000 or more $2,500 or more

in

Name month

.

C.q I authorize the UNO Alumni Association to collect my gift of $ through my:

q Diamond Century q Platinum Century

.

Payable to UNO Annual Fund.

B.q Bill me for $

STEP 3—Complete Name and Address

Signature

q

Discover

As you wish it to appear in our 2006 Annual Report

Address City/State/Zip Phone E-mail Save time and a stamp . . .

Donate online at www.unoalumni.org

UNOALUM

w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Fall 2006 • 47

It’s in the Cards

2006 Annual Fund

H

ow does UNO make a difference? The UNO Alumni Association is telling Annual Fund donors “It’s in the Cards.”

All donors of $25 or more in 2006 will receive a customized deck of playing cards, each one telling of an impressive UNO-related fact.

Something else will be in the cards, too—after donors are recorded for each quarter, we’ll randomly select five donors to receive an iPod “Shuffle” MP3 player (cards, shuffle—get it?).

How can you tell if you’ve won? Shuffle through the cards and see if you’ve received a special “Prize Card” indicating so!

e to r mor Fund o 0 5 ual te $ Dona UNO Ann random 6 00 na the 2 entered i ing for e aw and b d Prize Dr Grand Gran inch Sony a 50- EGA(tm) W TV! ction e j o r P

Also in the cards for 2006—all donors of $50 or more also will be entered in our random Grand Prize Drawing for a 50-inch Sony Grand WEGA(tm) Projection TV (2005 model shown above). We’ll conduct the Grand Prize Drawing in early 2007 after all 2006 donations have been recorded.

Donate today at www.unoalumni.org/give_to_uno or fill out the form on page 47 and return it to us today. Questions? Call us toll-free at UNO-MAV-ALUM (866-628-2586).

University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni Association

William H. and Dorothy Thompson Alumni Center

Omaha, NE 68182-0010 Address Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #301 OMAHA, NE