UNK Today Spring 2016 Issue

Janette Bier, Karen Monson, Connie (Swanson) Franzen, Karen (Harrow) Butolph

ALUMNI STAFF: The UNK Alumni Association (UNKAA) team of Michelle Widger ’90, Tricia Danburg ’94 and Toni Meyers ’93, joined in the Operation Graduation celebration. Each semester, the UNKAA joins forces with the Blue Gold BriGade (the student alumni organization) to welcome the graduating seniors to the alumni association.

Upcoming Campus Events March 3/1 3/4 3/5 3/12 3/21

111 and 25 Celebration through fall 2016 (See details on pages 14-15) MIAA Basketball Tournament Social at Kansas City, Missouri UNK Alumni Southern California Luncheon at Santa Ana, California UNK Alumni Social at Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas UNK Spring Break through March 25

Student members of the Blue Gold BriGade, Ben Hill, Rachel Feddersen and Emily Owens, assisted with the Operation Graduation festivities.

April 4/1 4/6 4/9 4/23 4/23 4/27

Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) Spirit Weekend through April 3 111 and 25 Celebration: “A Century in the Making” Presentation at the World Theatre in Kearney Bike Bowl UNK Volleyball Alumni Legends Spring Tournament UNK Football Blue Gold Scrimmage UNK Alumni Operation Graduation at the Alumni House

May

5/6 UNK Commencement

June 6/6 6/7 6/10 6/27

UNK Athletics Blue Gold Golf Tournament in Kearney UNK Emeriti Luncheon at the Holiday Inn in Kearney UNK Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) 50th Anniversary Reunion at the Holiday Inn in Kearney UNK Alumni Scrambling for Scholarships at Oak Hills Country Club in Omaha

July

UNK seniors Emily Olfuska and Tony Munch are celebrating their graduation.

7/1 25th Anniversary Celebration of Kearney State College becoming UNK 7/29 UNK Summer Commencement at the Nebraskan Student Union

Members of the Recreation Event Planning class assisted with the Operation Graduation preparations and activities.

Visit unkalumni.org for more UNK Alumni Association events and details and Lopers.com for more information on all sporting events.

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA KEARNEY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

You Are a Difference Maker at UNK! If you’re reading this, you are a valuable component of the “Loper network.” While that’s not an official group, it’s a term that I often use to describe the expanse of individuals who attended, graduated from or in some way follow and support UNK. The vastness of the Loper network is impossible to quantify. We know that nearly 50,000 around the world have at least one degree from UNK; many others are non-graduated alumni. And many more have had a family member attend or they live in the Kearney area and have adopted UNK. The collective power of our network has shaped what campus is today and can unquestionably transform our future.

As our campus experiences an exceptionally competitive environment in student recruitment, we need your help. It’s often the recommendation from an adult that can make the difference to a future college student. The more you know about your alma mater—beyond the great stories about your social experience, the people you met, the games you attended and the faculty who positively influenced you—the better equipped you’ll be to talk about UNK. I encourage you to visit http://bit.ly/UNKfastfacts to learn more about today’s UNK. Our four admissions “road warriors” cannot possibly reach every student who ought to consider UNK. That’s why UNK has created an easy way for you to tell us about students who you’d like to receive special attention from UNK as they consider their higher education options. Please visit http://bit.ly/UNKstudentreferral or call the admissions office at 308.865.8526. Your referrals are especially important. It’s our hope that outreach from our campus combined with your influence and credibility as a Loper will bring many new students to our campus, whether they are first-time freshmen or transfer students.

You are so important to the future of the UNK campus. Regardless of where you live, your career path or when you graduated or attended, you can absolutely make a positive impact on your alma mater. When you refer students, engage your unique network and give of your treasure—all supporting your UNK—you are a “Difference Maker” in the lives of students today and tomorrow, and in turn, the future of our communities.

With Loper Pride, Lucas Dart ’97 Vice President of Alumni Relations & Development

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Gold Torch Society:

(Top Left) Each year, 25 undergraduate students and 25 alumni mentors gather at the Alumni House to meet each other and share in a weekend of motivating and empowering women through the Gold Torch Society program through UNK Alumni Association. The Gold Torch Society celebrated its 15th year of alumni mentoring undergraduate women on UNK campus in November. Beth Bauer introduced herself to the group of mentees. Beth started her education at UNK and graduated from University of Nebraska Medical Center in ’93.

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VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & DEVELOPMENT Lucas Dart ‘97 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI COMMUNICATION Michelle (Thompson) Widger ‘90 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT Tricia (Sunderman) Danburg ‘94 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Toni (Winsor) Meyers ‘93 EDITOR, ART DIRECTOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER Michelle Widger ‘90 UNK Alumni Association Assistant Director Communication EDITOR EMERITUS Jim Rundstrom ‘64 UNK Alumni Association Director Emeritus MANAGING EDITOR Dorothy Endacott NU Foundation Vice President Marketing Communications ASSISTANT EDITOR Kelly Bartling UNK Assistant Vice Chancellor Communications & Community Relations PHOTOGRAPHY UNK Alumni Association Corbey Dorsey/UNK Athletics UNK Communications

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: U N K To d a y University of Nebraska at Kearney Campus Box 21 Kearney, Nebraska 68849 308.698.5271 unkalumni.org facebook.com/UNKAlumni

UNK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LEAD COUNCIL Jack Kreman ‘04, President, Noblesville, Indiana Dennis Pool ‘70, Past President, Omaha Angela (Reynolds) Davidson ’09, MBA ‘10, Grand Island Jerry Fox ’72, Kearney Mary (Buchanan) Mach ‘85, Fairbury Barry McFarland ‘00, MAE ’05, ES ’12, Lexington Dusty Newton, MSE ‘02, Kearney Curt Ott ‘07, Kearney Emily Owens, Student, Imperial UNK Today is published twice a year by the UNK Alumni Association and the University of Nebraska Foundation and is the official alumni publication of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

twitter.com/UNKAlumni linkedin.com/interests/groups/ University of Nebraska at Kearney Lopers@unkalumni.org

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Loper Bingo:

The BlueGold BriGade student alumni organization hosted Loper Bingo during Blue Gold Welcome Week. More than 100 students joined in the fun.

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA KEARNEY

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Spring 2016

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IN THIS ISSUE 4

Loper Love: Life Lessons Learned

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Adams’ Impact on Students Honored

7 LEAD Council Elevates Alumni Efforts 8

Program Provides Opportunity

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Messman Celebrates 100th Birthday

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Kearney Making a Mark on NASA

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New Lab Lets Students Explore 3-D

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13 UNK Offers Path to Engineering 14 UNK History Celebrated in 2016 16 Three Hundred Reasons for Giving

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20 Our Students, Our Future 22 Rosella Meier’s Volleyball Legacy 24 Loper Legends and Alumni Notes

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The University of Nebraska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. Individuals needing accommodation under ADA should contact the ADA Coordinator at UNK, 308.865.8655.

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B y M ichelle W idger UNK A lumni A ssociation

Loper Love: Life Lessons Learned

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his is a story for all of those alumni who have graduated from UNK with more than a degree.

You ask any student at UNK why are they here, and they’ll likely respond, “to get an education” or “earn a degree.”

For many, not only do they get an education; they come out of college with much more. At the UNK Alumni Association, we see and hear the stories first hand.

“To be honest, there are so many more things that happened here (UNK) than just getting a degree. I met my husband. This is where we met and we fell in love. I’m happy to say that two days ago (Sept.

29), we celebrated our 25th anniversary,” said Karen Goracke while giving her 2015 UNK Executive in Residence speech.

We hear the stories over and over; and while education is the number one priority, it is fun to hear and see the results of the additional benefits of relationships gained on campus.

One example has been solid for more than 63 years, Don and Marcia Welch.

Don Welch, poet and lifelong educator, was a professor in both the English and philosophy departments at UNK where he reached his goal of teaching for 50 years.

After graduating from Kearney High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UNK; a Master of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Marcia came to Kearney from Gothenburg and majored in elementary education, earning a two-year teaching degree which qualified her to teach at Emerson Elementary.

Recently, Don, and, Marcia, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. And I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon at their house, eating homemade chocolate chip cookies and listening to the story of how they met on campus.

“I had been in the administration building, on my way to basketball practice,” said Don. “I decided instead of walking clear down to the north end and over to Copeland Hall, I would just cut through the auditorium and go out the back door.

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“I got to the auditorium, and I heard someone playing the snare drum. I looked around and found her clear back, almost in the shadows, on the stage of the auditorium. I just walked down the aisle and I took a look at her. Being as bashful as I was, I couldn’t even work up a hello or anything,” Welch recalled.

“She just came off a summer of lifeguarding at the city pool in Gothenburg, and man, she was just bronzed, blonde and beautiful.

I thought ‘Wow, Wow!’ That’s the way we met. She didn’t know we met that way, but that is the way we met.”

After the “how did you meet” question, comes the inevitable, “tell me about your first date.”

Marcia said, “I worked at the student union whenever I could. Don came in frequently. They used to have Sadie Hawkins dances on campus, I can’t remember for sure if you (Marcia asked Marcia said, “He (Don) was shy, Don) asked me or I ask tall, dark, handsome and quiet. you?”

He had a car. Well, his dad’s car.

Don answered, “You Not many people had cars.” asked me.”

Marcia and Don Welch pictured with Marcia said, “Well, the car on the streets of Kearney. that was probably right. (I love that!) He wasn’t much of a dancer, and being a basketball player, he always used the excuse, ‘I think I’ve sprained my ankle.’ For the first year or two, I thought he was being truthful; but then I figured out, he was lying to me!”

Moving the conversation forward I prompted, “But you still liked him?”

Marcia said, “He was shy, tall, dark, handsome and quiet. He had a car. Well, his dad’s car. Not many people had cars.”

Marcia recalled, “One of the first dates was in the spring.

Don called Case Hall to talk to me, and asked, ‘You want to go out Saturday?’ I said, ‘Sure that would be great. What are we going to do?’ “ ‘We’re going to drive out by the river, crawl up behind a haystack and watch the cranes.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Oh man. I’ve heard a lot of lines, but this is a new one.’ I’ll be darned; that’s exactly what we did. And we’ve been hooked on crane watching ever since!”

Don asked, “That was the first real date that we had, wasn’t it?”

Marcia jokingly responded, “I think so, and I thought it might be the last.”

Feature Don said, “The whooping crane population in the wild was 43 total at that particular time. So, we saw really endangered species.”

With every love story, there is a moment when you take that first step to making it permanent. When I questioned the Welches about that, I was treated to another wonderful account of how they got engaged.

“We dated about a year and a half. I remember how I gave her a ring.” Don said. “It was a big Christmas dance, and you (Marcia) were the queen of the ball that year.”

“He gave me a box, and it said, ‘Silverware’ on it, and I thought ‘Oh, this is great. I’m getting silverware’,” said Marcia. “So I opened that box and inside was another box, and inside that box, was a little box; and the ring was in that box. We had to leave early because Don had to go the next day on a basketball trip. So he dropped me off at Case Hall, and of course, no one was there. There were a couple Zetas from another sorority that were in the hall, so I knocked on their door and said ‘I just have to tell somebody. Look what I got!’ He left the next day on the basketball trip.

“When they went to Chadron that was a three-day trip. It was over Valentine’s Day, and one could buy penny Valentines. So he sent me one every day.”

It hasn’t always been easy for the Welches and many things have happened and changed between those days and today. As our afternoon drew to a close, I realized I had my work cut out for me. They had enough interesting stories to fill my whole magazine – but I was here with one goal in mind. To learn about how they met and fell in love on campus so many years ago.

Don and Marcia Welch “still in awe” after 63 years.

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Of course, I couldn’t leave the Welches without asking if Don, the award-winning poet, had ever written a poem for Marcia.

Don said, “Yeah. I did. For Marcia’s 76th birthday, I wrote her a poem. And all of these things in this poem are true things that existed on the campus.”

For you on your 76th birthday

Remember that bench gnawed at for years At the university’s bad weather corner.

Of such cement, it never warmed to our love.

How we served each other on the cold plate of its dish.

Or that birch which seemed to shower us with its leaves, Leaves like applauding cards in the games of the sun.

And how, four-handed, we played through their falls, Well, both now are gone.

And I write you this on a lapboard you coped for me with the ribbon blade of the saw.

This morning, like the sunlight through our picture window, I’m rusty, old, still in awe.

As Don read, Marcia and I looked at each other misty-eyed at the warmth still conveyed in his voice of past meetings and memories. Marcia recalled, “That tree is still there.”

“Yeah, the birch tree is still there. It is south of Nestor Hall South. But the bench was at the northeast corner of the old administration building. And at that time there was a driveway that went right off Highway 30 and it went around the administration building in a horseshoe fashion. So this bench was just on the outside of that driveway. And that’s where Marcia and I would meet, and consequently we would just sit there and talk to each other. And the birch tree in the fall would be losing its leaves, and they would come down. It was good.” Don said.

Life is good and memories are good; and while the fates align for some and not for others, we’ll never know.

“I want to recognize my wife of 49 years, Charlotte. We met here and fell in love here, and have had a tremendous journey together … ” said Coach Terry Renner during his 2013 UNK Hall of Fame inductee speech. “What I really want to talk about is these guys came here to be football players, but they left with so much more. They left with friends. Some of them left with spouses; but they left with a degree, an education and the tools to do anything they wanted to do.”

At UNK, the focus is on giving you the degree and the skills to succeed; you’re just one of the lucky ones if you happen to graduate with so much more.

Do you have a story to share? Let us know the details at Lopers@unkalumni.org n 5

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Alumni News B y J im R undstrom UNK A lumni A ssociation

Adams’ Impact on Students Honored

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University, was one of six judges who chose the or theater fans, including Marianne winner and runners-up.

(Peterson) Adams ’82, who earned a “It (the selection committee) is a very bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre, high profile group of people involved in the 2015 Tony Awards Show in June education, in theater, in performance, in was a showcase of myriad talents. management — the whole theatrical scene — Although she did not win an award, really at the highest level,” Cooke said, “There Adams was named one of two runners-up were two representatives from Carnegie for the Excellence in Theatre Education Mellon University, two from The Broadway Award chosen from a field of more than 4,000 League and two from the American Theater nominations. Carnegie Mellon, The Broadway Wing.

League and the American Theatre Wing (Tony “What we were looking for is just Awards) flew her to New York City where she someone who had made a remarkable was honored. They also awarded Grandstreet contribution.” Cooke Said.

Theatre School $1,000.

“So you could see through the videos Adams, director of education at and the support materials, it’s like an audition Grandstreet Theatre in Helena, Montana, has process for an actor. You’re looking for quality. been a fixture in theatre since moving there And a number of nominations rose to the top with her husband, Charles ’82, 30, and then it was our difficult job to weed after he graduated from the through those. Her work was just wonderful.”

UNL Law School. Her work is The committee tried to assess who is legendary among those whose Marianne (Peterson) doing something remarkable. They also lives she has influenced.

Adams ’82 looked at the type of support — from the In video nominations from community or schools or local agencies — her students and colleagues, and tried to balance out someone who is selflessly helping people, she was universally praised. guiding people, had not just good intentions in their heart, but had The support came from current an understanding of what theatre craft is. students, college theatre majors, “I would say that she had a quality — that her students artists, conductors, musicians, thought she was rigorous — (providing) a little bit of tough love producers, actors, parents whose and genuine guidance and support,” said Cooke. children are now involved in “She works with a wide age range of people — from the very Grandstreet, and community leaders. young to seniors. Her canvas was very broad. To do that takes Retta Leaphard, a theater manager, said, “Marianne is my remarkable intuition and insight, skill, diplomatic skills . . . as well hero. Some of us have careers in the arts. All of us are patrons of the as talent.” arts. And, none of us would be where we are without Marianne.”

Cooke said, “It’s just a fantastic thing that they so cared about Others echoed her sentiments. her that they nominated her so positively. The support materials “She honestly changed my life. I can’t imagine where I would for her were really outstanding. It shows the community cares be without her.” about her a great deal.”

“She provided a safe place for me to find out who I was.”

For Adams, the best moments of the Tony Awards were “all “She was everywhere at the school — auditions, prepping for the messages I got from the people back home. It made me cry.” auditions, the shows, the closing, the after party, and the next day Adams is the Montana state representative to the American back at the school preparing for the next thing.”

Association of Community Theatres and a past president of the “One of the things she taught me was compassion — lifelong Rocky Mountain Theatre Association. She has also worked as a things. One of the first things she told us was to find the person mentor and artist-in-residence in the Helena Public Schools and sitting alone at lunch and sit with them.” surrounding areas.

“Each student is like a Christmas present when they walk Emily Kohring, director of Montana arts education, said “I’ve into her room. She is so excited to open that present.” met many arts teachers in my career and Marianne is the best.” n Peter Cooke, head of the school of drama at Carnegie Mellon

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Alumni News

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LEAD Council Elevates Alumni Efforts

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olunteer leadership of the UNK Alumni Association (UNKAA) has always played a vital role in reaching alumni wherever they may be.

A new board structure being implemented this spring will establish the medium for more widespread engagement of the University of Nebraska Kearney’s 50,000plus alumni.

“Much has changed for the alumni association in the past decade,” said Lucas Dart, vice president of alumni relations and development. “It was time to think about what makes the most strategic sense for UNK at this time.”

For years, the 27-member UNKAA board of directors held fiduciary responsibility for the operation of the association.

As the association matured, it first became an operating component of the university itself, then integrated with the University of Nebraska Foundation in 2010.

The integration has increased the resources available for broad alumni engagement, while more closely affiliating those activities with major gift development and annual fundraising.

“The two functions—alumni engagement and fundraising —are different, but very important to each other. We’ve gained a lot by having them together,” Dart said.

The integration also meant a dramatic change in the structure of the board and a new view of a volunteer’s role in alumni outreach.

Under the newly named LEAD (Loper Engagement and Alumni Development) Council, a group of nine alumni and one student representative, will serve on an executive board. Each member will oversee the alumni engagement activities within their assigned focus area. Three members will oversee Kearney, Nebraska, and national engagement, respectively. Three more will oversee the development of Greek, athletics and international alumni engagement. A campus representative, student representative, executive board president and past president round out the group.

According to Dart, “the rubber meets the road”— structure-wise—at the much larger, broader level immediately underneath the executive board. Alumni who wish to provide service to UNK and the alumni association by planning activities and engaging their unique networks will now have a way to more easily become involved. Individuals may wish to plan alumni activities in their regions, within affinity groups, or activities that they may have been involved with as students, such as athletics or Greek life.

“We have developed guidelines to help our future volunteers plan events and become effective ambassadors for the university,” said Jack Kreman, LEAD executive board president. “So many alumni are willing to help, but until now

A new era ushers in for alumni engagement as the LEAD (Loper Engagement and Alumni Development) Council helps UNK Alumni Association focus its efforts in regions and representation. Jack Kreman ’04, LEAD president, Brenda (Snodgrass) Christensen ’83, past board member, and Barry McFarland ’00, MAE ’05, ES ’12, LEAD Nebraska representative, have worked hard to make this transition possible and successful.

we haven’t been well-equipped to match their enthusiasm with support. They are so important to us, and we are excited that we can do this together.”

Those interested in becoming involved in the LEAD Council may contact Tricia Danburg at 308-698-5285 or tricia.danburg@unkalumni.org. n

LEAD Executive Council

President, Jack Kreman ’04 Past President, Dennis Pool ’70 Kearney Area, Curt Ott ’07 Nebraska, Barry McFarland ’00, MAE ’05, ES ’12 National, Angela Reynolds Davidson ’09, MBA ’10 Greek, Mary Buchanan Mach ’85 International, Jerry Fox ’72 Campus, Dusty Newton MSE ’02 Student, Emily Owens 7

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College of Education B y K elly B artling UNK C ommunications

Program Provides Opportunity New BMI app puts UNK student and faculty skills to work

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multiple years is tedious and ollecting, time-consuming – although calculating, critical for grant requests reporting, filing and reports. and tracking body-mass “In Kearney Public index data for Kearney’s Schools alone we do 2,500 school children was a (BMI tests) a year, but we tedious task. have other communities That is, until a UNK throughout the state using computer science student the BMI Reporter who we put his emerging appcan now share this with,” development skills to use Heelan said. creating a new mobile Another 18 school application. districts are coming on to After a semester of the tracking program and development through they’re looking to add more. a unique industry“School nurses are saying ‘if university development Bryce Abbey ’04 MAE ’06, kinesiology and sport sciences professor, and UNK we can use that app, we’re and internship program, students Reed Hanke of Kenesaw, left, and Brianna Jackson of Tobias, right, look totally coming on board’. It Kearney School over body-mass data collected through a new mobile application developed by saves a ton of time for them.” administrators and nurses UNK senior Jacob McCann. The app allows for easy recording of height and The success of Heelan’s are putting the iPad app to weight information used to calculate BMI. lab’s work in improving use this fall compiling BMI children’s health in Kearney student data in the schools. has made national attention. “Childhood Obesity” journal The app is the brainchild of UNK faculty Kate Heelan MAE published “The Kearney Nebraska Story” reporting that between ’95 and Bryce Abbey ’04 MAE ’06, who proposed the idea for the 2006-12, absolute change in obesity in local children tested went Hollman Internship Program project in December 2014. Intern from 16.4 percent to 13.9 percent—resulting in about 15 percent Jacob McCann was selected from student applicants to work with less overall obesity in the children.

Heelan and Abbey and experienced app-development mentors Heelan and Abbey worked with McCann to compare ideas at Hollman Media in Kearney. McCann completed the app in for how the app would look and function, then helped test July and has been working out the bugs this fall to see the final prototypes and their operability, and now are working to get it product, the School BMI Calculator, finished. It’s now in use. finalized. It’s possible, they said, there may be a market for the app, “The app allows for easy recording of height and weight but that wasn’t the objective. information that is used to calculate BMI,” McCann said. “The “We wouldn’t have been able to create this app had we not professors use the data that’s recorded to find trends and see what had this opportunity (to hire Jake),” Heelan said. “We have an (health) programs work. The overall goal of the project is to track actual website that complements this, and I had to get grant children to make sure their parents have the information they money for the website. There’s no way I would have been able to need to make sure they have a healthy lifestyle.” get money for the app, which is for data-collection.”

Instead of paper forms, students’ height and weight are McCann, a senior political science and computer science and entered into the iPad app, which calculates the body-mass index, information technology major from Kearney, is pleased the project flags high scores through color-coding, then allows the CSV file is done, and proud of his accomplishment – a lot for an intern. (comma-separated values – like a spreadsheet) to be uploaded “I hope I set the bar high in that it’s a solid product that and transferred for district tracking and reporting. will be used. The primary goals were to save time and be more Heelan, a professor of exercise science and director of UNK’s accurate,” he said. “If it doesn’t meet that goal it’s a failure; you Physical Activity and Wellness Lab, has worked since 2003 with want a good product and you want it to be used. It needs to be area schools to help children and families be healthy through beneficial and doesn’t overly complicate things. good nutrition and physical activity. Obtaining and maintaining McCann said he added a computer science and information thousands of children’s height-weight records each year for

College of Education technology major late in his college career – as a senior – after he spent eight months as an intern in Washington, D.C. There he worked on some computer projects while interning for Sen. Mike Johanns.

After reading Steve Jobs’ biography he became intrigued with the idea of using his creativity to solve computer problems, and he withdrew his pending application for graduation and added another major. He said he has gained confidence and valuable skills on the app-development project, which also combined his interest in health and physical activity. He enjoys rock climbing and works part-time for Campus Rec in the new Wellness Center, where Heelan’s lab is located.

“In terms of having this program to expose students to work, it’s hard to replicate the level of depth students could have in this project versus a semester-long class,” McCann said. “You’re using the fundamentals of programming, following the techniques you learned, and applying them.” He said he put 400-500 hours into the app.

“There’s that amazing feeling when you get it to work right, there’s a nice sense of accomplishment there, especially with this internship coming to a close. It’s been really awesome seeing it used for its application. It’s a really good feeling. Now I feel much more comfortable and confident in my abilities to solve problems and get things done on time.”

HOLLMAN INTERN PROGRAM

Travis Hollman ’01, co-founder and president of Hollman Media, was hoping for such an outcome when he dreamed up the Hollman Intern Program in 2014.

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That spring, his company was awarded the Walter Scott Entrepreneurial Business Award, with a $10,000 prize. The Walter Scott Entrepreneurial Business Award is designed to encourage existing businesses with a presence in Nebraska to create partnerships and links with the University of Nebraska in the area of technology.

Hollman decided to contribute the award toward an internship collaboration that would benefit a student, the university and his business – bringing him more UNK grads ready to work for him and gaining some ideas from students and faculty. Chancellor Doug Kristensen matched Hollman’s donation to make the paid-intern program last at least two years.

This year, the award has been given to two students. Samuel “Sammy” Harper is a multimedia student from North Platte who is expected to graduate in 2018. Matt Lueck is a computer science information technology major from Kearney who is expected to graduate this May. Both students will work together, under the mentorship of Hollman Media staff, to produce a faculty project proposed by Dr. William Stoutamire.

“We really couldn’t have picked a better scenario for the first round of the program,” Hollman said. “The program is a bit innovative in its approach of matching faculty ideas, student talent and industry mentors to build a new piece of technology for the university. That’s a lot of things to throw together in one pot, but it worked out great.

“We experienced few problems, and all the parties involved really worked well with each other. I’m excited to see what the future holds for Jacob and for our program. What a great success story.” n

CHECKS AND BALANCES: Seniors Brianna Jackson of Tobias and Reed Hanke of Kenesaw check the height of a Kearney seventh-grade student at Kearney’s Sunrise Middle School. UNK does more than 2,500 body-mass index tests a year in the Kearney Public Schools system. UNK senior and Hollman Media intern Jacob McCann of Kearney compiles body-mass index data for a new mobile application he developed.

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Feature B y Todd Gottula UNK C ommunications

Messman Celebrates 100th Birthday

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arren B. Messman ’47 turned 100 last October.

Family members and close friends helped him celebrate at Hillcrest Country Estates in Papillion.

There was coffee and lemonade. Vanilla ice cream. And two cakes: lemon and burnt sugar, which Warren’s wife, Mable, always made for him.

There was a table displaying cards and memorabilia sent from numerous friends, including items from the UNK. And there were stories. About sleeping all night in his Ford at Buda School, then shaving the next morning in the side-view mirror. That time he hosted an impromptu harmonica concert in his Mennonite school. His love of puns, double entendres and words such as “Johnny-villy-stick-anion-Ossemblosser.”

The humble pride for his Dr. title, which he earned while raising teenage daughters and despite financial strains.

Dr. Messman of Omaha taught industrial arts at Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney for nearly 30 years.

“I always believed that getting an education was the key to getting to where you want to be in life. My education at Kearney gave me that life and allowed me to help others reach their goals,” said the longtime Kearney resident and former professor at what is now the University of Nebraska at Kearney. “I was fortunate to be able to associate with people like Otto Olson and other faculty members and staff who laid the ground work and created the launching pad to make UNK what it is today.”

He was born Oct. 11, 1915, near Strang in southern Nebraska and grew up on a farm near Hebron. He attended Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney from 1936-37 and returned in 1939 after teaching at country schools in Thayer and Fillmore counties.

His education was again interrupted in 1941 by his assignment to the War Department as an instructor of aircraft maintenance and later in flight engineering. Messman returned to Kearney in 1946 to complete his Bachelor of Arts in Education.

“I am proud of UNK because it makes a difference,” said Messman. “The campus has certainly changed since my days there as a student and a faculty member, but the principles of excellence in education have remained consistent. I look on UNK today and feel grateful to those who continue to make it among the best places to make dreams come true.”

After teaching several years in Aberdeen, South Dakota, he returned in 1953 to Kearney as an instructor in the industrial arts department. Messman completed his doctorate and served as professor of industrial education at UNK, teaching industrial arts and safety education. He was department head from 1969-73 and served on the Graduate Council from 1963 until he retired in 1981.

Chancellor Doug Kristensen gave Messman a book for his 10

Dr. Warren B. Messman

100th birthday celebrating UNK’s Centennial, which Messman said triggered memories of people and places in the 79 years since he first stepped on campus. Among his memories: faculty and family Christmas parties in the basement of Men’s Hall, garden plots near the old Kearney Lake dam and expansion of the industrial arts department.

Messman and his wife, Mable, moved to Omaha in 2003. She died in 2012. The Messmans were lifelong members of First United Methodist Church of Kearney before moving away.

“I think of how fortunate I was to go back to the university as a faculty member to serve and learn alongside people like Otto Olson, Calvin T. Ryan, Lyle Mantor, Herbert Cushing, Carrie Ludden and so many others,” Messman said. “My favorite landmark remains the Otto Olson building, which was not only my home away from home but also bears the name of my mentor from days as a student and faculty member.” n

College of Natural and Social Science

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Kearney Making a Mark on NASA

Faculty Adam Jensen picked for NASA exoplanet project UNK faculty member Adam Jensen is among a group of earth science, planetary science, heliophysics and astrophysics experts selected by NASA for an unprecedented initiative dedicated to the search for life on planets outside our solar system.

The Nexus for Exoplanet System Science, or NExSS, hopes to better understand the various components of an exoplanet, as well as how the planet stars and neighbor planets interact to support life.

An assistant professor in the UNK’s department of physics and physical science, Jensen is leading a group that will explore the existence and evolution of exospheres around exoplanets, the outer ‘unbound’ portion of a planet’s atmosphere.

“This interdisciplinary endeavor connects top research teams and provides a synthesized approach in the search for planets with the greatest potential for signs of life,” says Jim Green, NASA’s director of planetary science. “The hunt for exoplanets is not only a priority for astronomers, it’s of keen interest to planetary and climate scientists as well.”

Jensen came to UNK in 2014. He received his Ph.D. in astrophysical and planetary sciences at the University of Colorado-Boulder in 2007, held postdoctoral positions at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and was a lecturer at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the department of physics and astronomy.

Adam Jensen

The NExSS project includes team members from 10 different universities and two research institutes. These teams were selected from proposals submitted across NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

NExSS will bring together these prominent research communities in an unprecedented collaboration, to share their perspectives, research results and approaches in the pursuit of one of humanity’s deepest questions: Are we alone?

The team will help classify the diversity of worlds being discovered, understand the potential habitability of these worlds, and develop tools and technologies needed in the search for life beyond Earth. n

Wyatt Behn awarded NASA Nebraska Space Grant Fellow Senior Wyatt Behn has been awarded a prestigious NASA Nebraska Space Grant Fellowship.

A senior from Kearney, Behn is a physics major with a minor in mathematics.

The NASA Nebraska Space Grant Fellowship Program funds students to engage in research, internships, senior design projects, professional conferences, faculty lab assistance and other activities at NASA or in the aerospace industry. The goal of the program is to recruit and retain students in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Behn was the lone UNK student selected as a NASA Fellow and one of 55 from Nebraska colleges and universities. He received a $2,000 stipend.

Behn has performed undergraduate research in high energy physics, condensed matter, materials and astrophysics. He plans to continue his education into graduate school and earn a Ph.D. in condensed matter, atomic, optical or astrophysics.

He currently is working alongside UNK Assistant Professor of Physics Mariana Lazarova on a project called “The Nature of

LoBAL Quasi-Stellar Objects II: Host Galaxy Morphologies with the Hubble Space Telescope.”

Behn said the research uses a small sample of quasar images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in order to better understand their possible roles in galaxy formation.

“These parameters provide insight into the shapes and models of common galaxies that could Senior Wyatt Behn compose active galactic nuclei regions,” said Behn.

“This research is applicable to NASA because it contributes to the direct observation of the universe in which we live,” he added.

“One of the founding principles of NASA is to gather information and advance human understanding of the cosmos. This project is attempting to better understand galaxy formation and the mechanisms that drive the evolution of the universe.” n 11

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College of Business and Technology B y S ara G iboney UNK C ommunications

New Lab Lets Students Explore 3-D Lab providing UNK students with career skills

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new fabrication lab in the interior design department at the University of Nebraska at Kearney allows students to get hands-on experience creating interior design

models.

The College of Business and Technology, Center for Rural Research and Development and interior design program partnered to create the new lab.

The lab, which opened in 2015, includes three 3-D printers, two laser cutters, a vinyl cutter and two routers, which are all used to design and manufacture interior design prototypes.

A 3-D printer allows interior designers, artists and others to print three-dimensional models of two-dimensional digital files.

The printer prints layers of plastic following the file’s direction.

Students use design programs to create the digital files.

“In the lab, students learn foundational skills of design,” said Jeff Nordhues, assistant professor of family studies and interior design.

Students use the technology to create architectural and product models, create furniture prototypes and solve interior design problems. Beginning Technology, Intermediate Technology and Advanced Technology are the courses that use the lab.

“The hope is that this will not only be used for our students, but it will be used to help entrepreneurs in the community and around Nebraska,” said Sylvia Asay, chair of the family studies and interior design department. “They will be able to come in and use the equipment to develop products and to offer classes or workshops to help people understand what they could do with this technology.”

Students will be trained to assist community members who use the lab. The lab will eventually be used by students in other departments such as information technology, biology and physics.

BELOW: Interior design student, Kei Kawakubo, left, and assistant professor of interior design, Jeff Nordhues, look over Kawakubo’s furniture models. She used technology in the new interior design fabrication lab to build the models.

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Sarah Shuck, a junior interior design major from Hastings, created a light fixture using technology in the new fabrication lab in the interior design department at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

3-D lab already saving UNK money

The new fabrication lab in the interior design department solves problems beyond the classroom.

Duane Wirkus, a campus electrician, was working to fix light fixture covers in the Nebraskan Student Union.

Small plastic clips, located on each side of the light fixtures, were cracking. The manufacturer no longer made the fixture, nor did it sell replacement clips. An alternative clip was found, but the cost was $20 each. Each light fixture required four clips, and 80 fixtures needed replacement clips.

Wirkus, who completed the electrical work in the new fabrication lab, asked Jeff Nordhues, assistant professor of family studies and interior design, if he could help.

Nordhues designed and printed clips using the lab’s 3-D printers. The total cost was about $50, giving UNK a savings of more than $6,000.

“Any kind of design problem can be solved by using this equipment,” said Sylvia Asay, chair of the family students and interior design department. n BELOW: Dana Vaux, assistant professor of family studies and interior design, gives feedback on a model created by interior design student Son Vuong, right. Satsuki Morimoto, a freshman interior design student from Japan, is on the left.

College of Natural and Social Sciences B y S ara G iboney UNK C ommunications

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NEW BEGINNINGS: New engineering program allows students to build the foundation of their degree at UNK.

UNK Offers Path to Engineering The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s new engineering program will serve as a stepping-stone for students pursuing degrees in engineering.

The new engineering classes will allow students to study mechanical engineering, agricultural engineering, civil engineering or electrical engineering before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering.

“This program will help prepare students in their freshman and sophomore years so they can transfer to an engineering school with no interruptions,” said Ken Trantham, associate professor and chair of the department of physics and physical science at UNK. Two pathways will be offered to students studying engineering. The Engineering Foundations Program prepares students in math, physics, chemistry and engineering so they can transfer to UNL after their sophomore year. The foundations program allows students to study for two years at UNK and two years at UNL. The Dual Degree Physics and Engineering Program allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in physics with an emphasis in engineering from UNK. Those students can then earn a second Bachelor of Science in engineering from UNL. The dual degree program allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree at UNK in three years and a bachelor’s degree at UNL in two years.

Tim Reece, assistant professor of physics and physical science, said UNK’s engineering program allows students to learn in an environment with smaller class sizes.

“It will help reduce the culture shock for students from smaller towns,” he said.

Trantham said UNK’s program Ken Trantham allows students to have more one-on-one support with professors.

“UNK has smaller class sizes, a smaller teacher to student ratio, lower tuition and a different culture,” he said. “It’s a win-win for both campuses and students.”

Students will not earn engineering degrees at UNK. They will take the foundation classes necessary before transferring to an engineering college.

Two faculty with expertise in mechanical and electrical engineering will be hired to teach the seven new classes that will be offered in fall 2016.

Students will also have opportunities to complete internships at area engineering firms.

“Students will have a better chance at success,” Trantham said.

For information about this and other programs, visit unk.edu. n 13

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Campus News B y K elly B artling UNK C ommunications

UNK History Celebrated in 2016

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n March 1903, the Nebraska Legislature appropriated $50,000 to build a normal school in western Nebraska, touching off a heated competition among several communities wanting to be selected. The debate and ballots — 111 of them — made history. The last vote brought the Nebraska State Normal School to Kearney.

Jump ahead to September 1905 — 111 years ago — when new Normal School President A.O. Thomas took over fall classes in the new Administration Building. It had temporary stairs, lacked window glass and required steam engines to deliver heat until the heating plant was completed.

Could the Nebraska Legislature and President Thomas know that nearly 85 years later, in 1989 another historic legislative battle would erupt over the fate of the then-Kearney State College, to become part of the University of Nebraska?

The year 2016 brings us to historic benchmarks —111 years since the institution’s founding and 25 years since becoming University of Nebraska at Kearney. Chancellor Doug Kristensen invites alumni, community members, faculty, staff, students and all Nebraskans to celebrate.

A year-long series of events begins in March to share the wide-ranging and rich history of what we now know as University of Nebraska at Kearney.

“UNK Perspectives: 111 and 25” will showcase music, art, historic documents, artifacts and primarily the people and positions that influenced the course of 111 years of history for

BELOW LEFT: A photo from 1990 Kearney State College yearbook shows confetti showering on Jennifer (Eastlund) Kopsa ’91 and Kristen Dill, South Bend students, during the 49er’s rally for university status. BELOW RIGHT: Pete Kotsiopulos ’70 shows off his quilt made out of T-shirts he collected throughout the progression of change from KSC to UNK. The Family Portrait is all the Nebraska University Presidents.

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Nebraska State Normal School to UNK. The events kick off with a March 1, 4 p.m., lecture by Chancellor Kristensen, with a deep appreciation of Nebraska Legislative history, telling a story of the amazing 111 votes.

“Throughout our history things have never been easy for the campus — beginning with the 111 difficult votes required to select Kearney as the home of the new institution,” Kristensen said.

Kristensen co-sponsored the amendment and legislative bill leading to Kearney State College’s inclusion into the University of Nebraska system. Kristensen will end his history lecture with personal perspectives on UNK’s “coming of age” as part of NU — and provide a vision for the future. The lecture will kick off an exhibition of historic documents and artifacts by archivists at Calvin T. Ryan Library, the site of a reception, with opportunities to hear oral histories about UNK. “As part of the University of Nebraska, UNK’s rapid transition and improvement are key-historic elements to note in this year-long series of events,” Kristensen said. “Looking back to 1991 and how far we’ve come … this deserves a celebration. The campus has fueled great educational momentum throughout the entire state.”

Events will continue over the spring semester and summer, noting the July 1, 1991 anniversary of becoming UNK and culminating with an outdoor dinner and celebration in conjunction with homecoming weekend.

Questions about the activities can be directed to Kelly Bartling at bartlingkh@unk.edu or 308-865-8455. n BELOW: A Sigma Tau Gamma, Alpha Tau Omega and Phi Beta Chi float from the 1989 homecoming parade promotes, “KSC rockets to UNK.”

Campus News

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The hunt is on for uniforms, pennants, photos and T-shirts UNK alumni, former faculty/staff and friends: Do you have an old cheerleader uniform, posters, publications or other artifacts that are special and unique to UNK’s history? You don’t by chance have a victory bell that may have been “borrowed” from one fraternity one night and never returned, do you? Any items that you have that tell UNK’s story far back into its history, we’d like to display them for you during the Year of Celebration “Perspectives” exhibition March 1 through April 7. You can loan your item to us to be returned, or donate your item to the archives if you want us to preserve them for history. Call or email Calvin T. Ryan Archives and Special Collections at 308-865-8593, or weissell@unk.edu, with a description of your item. We also are collecting testimonials and special memories about UNK. Email those to project archivist sinorsc@unk.edu or bring yourself to the library during the March 1 event to present a recorded oral history.

KSC Campus in 1989

“UNK Perspectives: 111 and 25” Events

March 1: Lecture “Kearney’s Beginning,” 4 p.m., Chancellor Douglas A. Kristensen, Fine Arts Building Recital Hall, followed by premiere of “Perspectives” exhibition and reception, Calvin T. Ryan Library April 6: “A Century in the Making,” 7 p.m., film and panel, World Theatre July 1: “25 Years” faculty/staff celebration and breakfast, under the Peterson-Yanney Carillon Tower Sept. 1: Student artwork exhibition September TBD: 111 & 25 Celebration Dinner

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Portraits in Philanthropy B y C olleen F leischer NU F oundation

Three Hundred Reasons for Giving UNK donor says a gift from two professors “was really a miracle” to him

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hree hundred dollars. That was all he needed to stay in school. But Jerry Taylor just didn’t have it.

This was back in 1962, when he was a sophomore at Kearney State College (now UNK).

Jerry grew up in North Platte. His family wasn’t poor. They always had food on the table. But his folks just didn’t have extra money to help send him to college. So right after graduating from North Platte High in 1958, he went down to the state employment agency in town and found himself a job at an auto supply store, managing inventory and delivering parts. He saved his money and waited a year before enrolling at Kearney.

“It was exciting,” Jerry said, in a phone conversation from his home in Ashland, Oregon. “I was lucky—I started with a couple basic business classes with Ron Landstrom.

And I had Dale Ingram in accounting. So I had a very good start with supportive teachers.”

Jerry wasn’t a star, but he made the honor roll.

He worked hard. Maybe Professor Landstrom saw that because he asked Jerry to help grade papers for him. The two weren’t great buddies. They didn’t Jeanne and Jerry Taylor hang out. But Landstrom, Jerry says, was “always very encouraging and supportive.”

During the second semester of his sophomore year, Jerry hit a wall. His savings from summer jobs and part-time work was running out.

He couldn’t cover the costs of his shared apartment and the other expenses that go along with being a student.

Three hundred dollars. That was all he needed to make it to the end of the semester and a summer job that was waiting for him at the auto-parts store. He knew he’d have to drop out.

A friend at the time was in the Marine Corps reserves and traveled to Kansas once a month for training. Jerry asked if he could ride with him down there one weekend. The Marines, Jerry 16 16

figured, might be a good option. He even took an eye test while in Kansas to qualify for pilot training.

He was all ready to sign up. But when he returned home from that trip, Jerry found a letter in his mailbox telling him that he had won a scholarship.

“Lo and behold,” Jerry said, “it was a scholarship from Ak-Sar-Ben—for three hundred dollars!”

He found out that his two favorite professors, Ron Landstrom and Dale Ingram, had supported his application for that scholarship. Jerry was able to stay in school.

After his first two years in Kearney, he transferred to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and graduated in 1964 with a bachelor’s in business administration and then later earned an MBA from USC. He went on to a very successful career, retiring as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Applied Materials, Inc., the world’s leading supplier of semiconductor fabrications solutions.

He and his wife, Jeanne (also a North Platte native), stay busy. Both have volunteered for several organizations in their Oregon community. They’ve given back to Southern Oregon University. They’ve been involved with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival – Jerry is past president. They travel.

Their next trip, Jerry says, is to South America where they’ll cruise around the southern tip of the continent and end up in Chile.

He owes so much to his University of Nebraska degree, he says, and to those two Kearney professors.

It was just three hundred dollars. But it made the difference.

He never forgot those professors. Over the years, whenever he’d return to North Platte for his high school reunions, he’d usually swing over to Kearney to visit them.

Then about a decade ago, someone at Kearney let Jerry know that Landstrom was seriously ill; and that news, Jerry says, “prompted me to get off my duff and do something.”

(Continued on the top of page 17)

Portraits in Philanthropy College of Fine Arts and Humanities (Continued from the bottom of page 16)

He talked to someone he knew in the University of Nebraska Foundation office in Kearney and learned that Landstrom had dreamed of starting a program at UNK that’d bring back alumni who had done well in their business careers to share their realworld experience with the students. So Jerry and Jeanne decided to create that program, and they chose to name it: The Ron Landstrom Executive in Residence Program.

They also decided to add a major gift that would provide scholarship support to students each year. And each year, Jerry and Jeanne love to find the scholarship award winners’ thankyou letters in their mailbox. They love to hear their stories. They remind him of the student he used to be.

“That money I got allowed me not to drop out,” Jerry says. “It was really a miracle to me. Now we can help others in that situation.

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“To dedicate this new program, Jeanne and I came back to Kearney and I was asked to speak to the business school when that was granted to honor Ron Landstrom. By then, Ron had recovered quite well, and he came back for that dedication.

Even Dale Ingram was there. So I saw my two old friends and professors.

“That was a very meaningful event to me and my wife.”

In their estate plans, Jerry and his wife also plan to leave a final gift to UNK. “Of course, you have to take care of family and relatives first,” Jerry says. “But, we do want to be sure to provide funds and give something back to Kearney to support great students one more time. Making a difference by supporting other lives – that is what it’s all about.” n

String Program Reaches Crescendos Thanks to millions of dollars in private funding, the UNK strings program is thriving.

“Everything just keeps getting better because as the orchestra gets better, we attract even better students,” said Deborah Freedman, the Ronald J. Crocker Chair of Orchestra at UNK and director of the Kearney Symphony Orchestra.

UNK’s more than century-old orchestra features 35 student and 40 community members and faculty. The diverse ensemble has members ranging in age from students in their teens to a member in her 90s. Performances, which are free to students, are often standingroom only, and this past year’s concert series completely sold out.

“People here really appreciate the arts,” Freedman said.

“Music is really important to people in this community and very pervasive in all aspects.”

Thanks to an anonymous donor in 2010, the Ronald J. Crocker Chair of Orchestra was created. This endowed chair allows Freedman to bring in outside artists who help to attract audiences from the Kearney community and surrounding areas. Artists in past years include: Chris Brubeck, the Nebraska Brass Quintet and Jim Curry.

“With all the wonderful private support that people have given us, we are able to bring in really, really good talent,” Freedman said. “And that attracts even better audiences because more people want to come the better the talent you have.”

Another generous donation from Mary Elaine (Thornton) House and her husband, Robert, allowed for the creation of the Thornton String Quartet. The quartet is supported by scholarships and performs at both the local and regional level.

Besides serving students, the strings program works to

include the entire Kearney region. Each season, the orchestra puts on family-friendly shows like “Peter and the Wolf,” and the orchestra frequently incorporates middle- and high-school students into performances.

“We do all kinds of things that combine the community and the symphony and influence the entire area,” Freedman said.

In 2008, UNK became one of the 32 colleges and universities selected to be a National String Project Consortium site. Through this project, third- through 12th-grade students participate in weekly one-on-one or group lessons focusing on string instruments. In addition to engaging the community’s youth, this program gives UNK students the opportunity to have hands-on teaching experience.

The strings program also works to promote and cultivate young talent by hosting the Kearney Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition and by organizing a festival orchestra composed of high-school students. The yearly competition brings in student from across Nebraska and surrounding states and the festival orchestra allows students to participate in a master class and perform around Kearney.

“We work with kids all the way through and encourage them,” Freedman said. “It’s very important to have them from the time they’re little all the way to college and beyond, because it can enrich their lives.”

Private donations contribute to the creation or enhancement of many of these programs.

“The philanthropy here is incredible—it’s incredible across Nebraska,” Freedman said. “It’s not like that other places. This is unique.” n

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University News B y K elly B artling UNK C ommunications

University Village Plans Move Ahead

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f you haven’t driven west of campus for a few months you may not have seen the activity at University Village. While diggers and bulldozers in September began paving the way for sewer, water, utilities, the first streets and parking lots; a new planning board has obtained initial proposals from three developers.

And, work has begun on a $16 million, three-story student apartment/housing complex that will be ready by fall 2017, replacing University Heights.

University Village is 104 acres on the south side of Highway 30, west of West Center (19th Avenue). It lies across the street south of the new Health Science Education Complex.

The Kearney University Village Development Corporation Governing Board began in April evaluating and planning the vision and exploring management of the collaborative village-concept project that will include university residential and academic buildings, office and retail, service and business opportunities, recreation and private housing. The concept is new to Kearney and was approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

As work progresses on infrastructure and the first building, Chancellor Doug Kristensen and the new board are eager to begin seeing progress.

Board members are Kristensen, NU President Hank Bounds, NU Regent Kent Schroeder, Kearney attorney Larry E. Butler, Miller and Associates chief executive Reed Miller and NebraskaLand Bank vice president Joey Cochran. Jon Watts, UNK’s director of Business Services, is ex-officio board member overseeing board activities.

The board is examining three proposals from organizations

interested in managing or developing the village: Tetrad Property Group; America First Real Estate Group and Holland Basham Architects and the combined efforts of Chief Industries, Inc.; Sampson Construction, HDR Inc. and Sinclair Hille Architects.

“This is a different type of project for us that has wide impact on the Kearney area. It’s not like building a residence hall or academic building, it’s like building an entire town. This will require private capital and investment from area businesses and investment from the city. So by creating this board, it keeps all their interests at the forefront and provides the appropriate collaborative leadership,” Kristensen said.

A ground-breaking for the new building will occur this spring.

The project is to be carried out in phases and will be completed as quickly as financing and interest emerges. Over as many as two decades, the build-out of the village could cost $400 million. n

Recent milestones for University Village: • April 2015: Regents approve preliminary plans for University Village, sign off on replacement building plan for University Heights (student apartments); approves Kearney University Village Development Corporation Governing Board • August 2015: Regents approve selection of Holland Basham (Omaha) as architects for the new residence hall.

• December 2015: Kearney City Council approves proposal to vacate lots and build the first street, an extension of University Drive. Earlier, the city pledged $1 million for the project infrastructure.

Nebraska 150-year Celebration Lead by a Loper

Nebraska’s Sesquicentennial celebration in 2017 recognizing 150 years of statehood will be led by Regan Anson ’99.

Anson was named executive director of the Nebraska 150 Celebration last summer. She will coordinate activities and events around the state.

Previously, she had been director of marketing and communications at Peru State College since 2006. She also had worked as communications director for former attorney general Jon Bruning and deputy director for former Gov. Mike Johanns.

Anson said, “It is an honor to have been selected to serve my state in this role. Nebraska’s sesquicentennial presents unique opportunity in time to honor our heritage, celebrate our growth and plan our future. As a lifelong Nebraskan, I know well the pride people have in our great state. We will work hard to ensure this celebration of Nebraska’s true spirit.”

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Gov. Pete Ricketts and First lady Suzanne Shore made the announcement of Anson’s selection.

Shore said, “Regan’s expertise, energy and creativity match the vision we have for the Nebraska 150 Celebration, and we are excited to have her lead this important initiative. I’m confident she will be a valuable resource as we work to Regan Anson ’99 create a celebration that serves as a catalyst for a movement that goes beyond 2017 – a strategic effort that promotes a spirit of pride, growth, engagement and connection within our state.”

Information on the Nebraska 150 Celebration is available at www.nebraska150.org. n

University News B y S ara G iboney UNK C ommunications

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Kovandas Earn Outstanding Family

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he Kovanda family can always find a reason to laugh.

“I would be nowhere near where I am today without the Even as Katie Kovanda’s father, Tom, became immeasurable amount of love and support my mom has given me critically ill with a rare lung disease, the family continued my entire life,” Kovanda said. to look for humor in everything.

Because her dad was unable to participate in the Outstanding “Because of my dad, I’m not afraid to be outspoken,” said Family activities, Kovanda invited her fourth-grade teacher, Nancy Kovanda, a UNK sophomore elementary education major from Chavez from Seedling Mile Elementary in Grand Island and Grand Island. “He has shown me by example how great it is to be Nancy’s daughter, Serena. “She is my mentor and my reason for content with being unique and living loudly.” pursuing elementary education,” Kovanda said of Chavez.

The Kovandas received UNK’s Outstanding Family Award “I do consider Mrs. Chavez and Serena to be a part of my during Homecoming Week 2015. family. I wanted to show them that they are also members of my A lawyer for 33 years, family because of how much Tom Kovanda became ill in they have done for me and 2006, and left his practice how much they have helped when he became critically ill me grow.” in 2011.

“It was very exciting “He lives by the motto, and meant a lot to me,” ‘I get paid to be serious, Kovanda said of receiving the I’m not going to do it for Outstanding Family Award. free,’” Katie Kovanda wrote “I saw my family worthy of in her Outstanding Family receiving the award because application. “Having conquered I think I have an amazing death numerous times, my dad family. I didn’t know other is certainly my reminder to people would see my family never take life for granted.” that way as well.”

FAMILY: The Kovanda family of Grand Island is UNK’s Outstanding Family Award Katie’s mother, Mary, Kovanda has a brother, winner for 2015. Katie Kovanda, second from left, and her mother Mary, left, were started a telephone answering Joe, who is studying physics honored by UNK during Homecoming 2015. Also pictured are the Kovanda’s service and later became a at the University of Nebraskafriends Nancy Chavez of Grand Island (far right) and her daughter, Serena. stay-at-home mom.

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Hitchin’ a Ride

Getting around is now a lot easier for UNK students.

In October, UNK launched a bike-share program that includes 40 bicycles and 80 parking stations located at six locations on campus: West Center, College of Education building, Wellness Center, Calvin T. Ryan Library, Nebraskan Student Union and the Centennial Towers.

“Kearney is a wonderful, safe community with a great fitness trail system and easy access from the UNK campus to restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues,” said Chancellor Doug Kristensen. “In terms of health, environment and convenience, this partnership is a win-win for our students.”

A group of students presented the idea a few years ago, and the kinesiology and sport sciences department led the effort, along with business and finance, to bring the program to campus. The cost to implement the bike share program at UNK was $95,000.

“The bike share is a cool program that promotes health and wellness,” said Nita Unruh, chair of kinesiology and sport sciences.

The seven-gear cruiser bikes by Zagster feature adjustable seats, front and rear lights, a U-lock and handlebar basket. Unruh said the program will improve transportation and parking for students.

Students pay an annual membership to use Zagster bikes by the hour or day. Rides under three hours are free. Riders must be UNK or UNMC Kearney students, staff or faculty and be at least 18 years old. Riders can ride the bikes anywhere, but the bike must be locked to a secure object when not in use. When finished, riders lock the bike at a UNK Zagster station.

Zagster is a provider of on-campus bike sharing programs and currently has hundreds of bikes in more than 30 cities. n

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NU Foundation News ®

Our Students, Our Future Eyes education access and student success

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ncreased access and graduation success for students is the focus of a two-year, $200 million fundraising initiative underway by the University of Nebraska and University of Nebraska Foundation.

The Our Students, Our Future initiative, which launched in 2015 and concludes in 2017, seeks direct support for students through need- and merit-based scholarships to make their college education more affordable; support for programs that improve student outcomes, particularly among traditionally underrepresented students; improvements to facilities that will enhance the learning experience; and other student-focused priorities.

“Part of UNK’s important mission is to provide access to education, which becomes a pathway for students to obtain higher wages and become successful entrepreneurs, teachers, and community leaders, improving the economic potential of our region, and primarily Nebraska,” said Chancellor Doug Kristensen. “So not only is investing in students a good thing for individual students and their families, but it’s good for our community — locally and globally.”

Because of stable support from the state, the university has been able to keep tuition and fees across the campuses at least 25 percent below its peer average. More than half of all NU undergraduates receive financial aid, yet most students — including 77 percent of UNK’s undergraduates — apply for needbased financial aid, demonstrating need remains high.

For UNK, Our Students, Our Future means encouraging gifts that helps make the university more accessible and more

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affordable through scholarship support. This is especially important because as many as 40 percent of UNK students are the first generation in their families to attend college, and currently only 7.5 percent of students at UNK have their financial needs fully met.

UNK also seeks student support within academic programs of great need for Nebraska. With the opening of the Health Science Education Complex on campus last year and the increase in students studying allied health professions, nursing, pre-health majors and more, additional scholarship support is an important part of helping to ensure Nebraskans have access to quality health care and skilled providers.

More scholarships are needed to support the UNK Honors Program, which for more than 30 years has offered students the chance to excel in academics, leadership and personal development. This is especially vital because the number of students coming to UNK from the top fourth of their high school class consistently increases and is now 42 percent. One-fourth of UNK students score in the 75th percentile on their ACTs. Additionally, UNK continues to grow programs and enrollment in teacher education, business, and high-demand fields like computing, cybersecurity, industrial distribution, supply chain management, agribusiness and graphic design.

Supporting student success within these areas and others helps ensure a strong economy for Nebraska far into the future.

To learn more about Our Students, Our Future, or to give online, visit nufoundation.org/ourstudentsourfuture. n

Loper Athletics B y A ndrew H anson S tudent W riter

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FRESH STARTS: Carrie Hofstetter (left center) and Kevin Lofton (right center) hope to lead the Lopers to MIAA victory in a new era of basketball leadership.

Meet the Basketball Coaching Staff

Women’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball

Carrie Hofstetter has been through the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association gauntlet. Before becoming the head coach of her alma mater, Hastings College in 2012, Hofstetter spent four years as an assistant at Fort Hays State.

“The MIAA is obviously the best conference in the country in Division II for women’s basketball,” Hofstetter said. “It’s always a conference that I’ve hoped to be back in.”

This fall Hofstetter ran her own program in the MIAA as the UNK head women’s basketball coach.

Hofstetter knows the history at UNK—an NCAA Division II record 87-game home-winning streak, 13 NCAA tournament appearances and seven Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships. She also knows what it takes to create a championship culture.

“I think a couple of things are really important and one of them is culture,” Hofstetter said. “Developing an expectation that ‘we are a team that expects success.’ ” Hofstetter’s first hire for her support staff was Nebraska native and Southern Arkansas assistant coach Brandon Rohr to a similar position on her staff.

“Coach Rohr has done an incredible job, and he has a lot of experience in different regions of the country,” Hofstetter said.

With her graduate assistant position, she chose Jamie (Van Kirk) Rapp, who was a two-time All-American for Hofstetter at Hastings, scoring 1,000 points in two seasons. “Jamie has phenomenal basketball IQ and is very personable,” said Hofstetter.

“They’re both quality people who I think are a great fit here at UNK,” Hofstetter said about her staff. “They’re people who are going to help our program have the success that we anticipate and expect.” n

Not a lot has changed for Kevin Lofton since he was named UNK head men’s basketball coach in 2015.

2015 MIAA Player of the Year, Connor Beranek, and firstteam All-MIAA selection, Ethan Brozek, were back this season, ready to help lead a senior campaign and put the Lopers in the postseason for the first time in nine seasons.

For the first time in 20 seasons, Tom Kropp wasn’t beside Lofton on the bench. “I’m excited. The university means a lot to me.

The kids in our program mean a lot to me,” Lofton said.

One change he is getting used to — the office. When he was co-head coach alongside Kropp, Lofton’s office was downstairs in the Health and Sports Center, right across from Buckle Court.

All that stood between Lofton and the hardwood was a brick wall highlighting the history of UNK athletics.

“Let’s be honest now,” Lofton laughed. “I’m used to being down there. Coming upstairs is a little bit different.”

His first hire to round out his assistant coaching staff was promoting graduate assistant, Ken Moses, to assistant coach.

“It was important to keep Ken on staff because he’s done a good job the last two years,” Lofton said. “The kids really love him, too. Every one of them wanted to know if we were going to be able to keep him around. I thought that was really important.”

Lofton completed his staff by hiring another MIAA graduate assistant to a full-time assistant coach position, Northwest Missouri State’s Devin Eighmey.

“Devin was known for his ability to recruit—get out and find guys, get on the phone, get out to tournaments,” Lofton said. “He works really hard at the recruiting aspect.”

“Both understand the MIAA. They’re young. They’re hungry.

They’re up-and-comers in the business.” n 21

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Loper Athletics B y A ndrew H anson S tudent W riter

Rosella Meier’s Volleyball Legacy

T

“We were all in the same boat. University of Nebraska at his past fall, the Loper volleyball team made their 17th Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, us, Wayne State, Peru straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.

State—we all played each other,” Meier said. “Kind of what we did The Lopers finished runner-up in one of the at the beginning was all of the colleges would gather, or at least toughest leagues in Division II. They had multiple four or five us would, at one site and play each other.” players earn all-conference status. Outside hitter Annie Wolfe While Meier admitted there were aspects to these matches even earned All-American honors. being fun and playful, they did still keep track of the score.

It was business as usual for UNK. “We were starting to get into competitive athletics, or trying However, long before the Lopers were winning championships to at least,” she explained. and having players rack up postseason accolades, there was a period As time went on into the mid ’70s, the Lopers started to see when longtime Kearney State College volleyball coach Rosella Meier growth in success. In 1975, Meier led KSC to a seventh place finish ’65 had to teach players how to play the sport. at the AIAW Tournament. The following year, in 1976, the Lopers It was 1969, and women’s athletics were still in their infancy. won their first Central States Intercollegiate Conference title.

“Every Monday, we’d have a Physical Education (PE) faculty The development meeting,” said Meier who of high school volleyball started teaching physical across Nebraska helped education at Kearney in the program’s growth, too.

1967. “The head of our “As the high school department came in and programs started to said we’re going to start a build more, I’d start to volleyball program. have tryouts,” Meier said.

“He looked around, “We also had a junior pointed at me and said varsity (JV) program. you’re it.”

That way we could keep Meier, who didn’t have more people around and a coaching background at work with them. Some all, simply said, “Okay,” and of the players came in studied up. with not much skill level, When Meier was but I thought they might tasked with starting up develop. the program, she had no “Eventually, we budget. Meier also had dropped the JV team and to continue teaching her Building on Meier’s legacy, today’s senior setter Erin Seele (4) and freshman middle just had a varsity squad.”

12-hour course load.

Kendall Schroer (20) go up for a block at the Volleyball NCAA Central Regional For a long time there “Our uniforms were Championship in St. Paul, Minnesota. UNK lost this game to Central Oklahoma, 3-0. were no scholarships, just a pair of white shorts and Meier’s teaching load and a blue t-shirt that had stayed fairly rigorous. a great big number on the “It did get to the point where I had 10 hours teaching and back,” Meier recalled. “The first game we played, we came out two hours devoted to volleyball,” said Meier. “Maybe I had four onto the court, and I thought we looked like the football team.” hours off eventually.

Players, who Meier would often recruit from PE classes in “It got to be highly competitive. I was spending more time the early stages, had to buy their own shoes and kneepads. on road trips and recruiting, so they started giving me more “Nothing was furnished except for the white shorts and the time off for volleyball.” However, the success and growth of the blue t-shirt,” said Meier. program remained constant as well.

In the beginning, KSC competed under the Association The Lopers won back-to-back conference championships of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), a body that in 1978 and 1979. They then followed that success up with three governed all of women’s athletics at the time. straight deep runs in the NAIA Tournament.

Most colleges around Nebraska were in the same situation with starting up a volleyball program at that time.

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Loper Athletics

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“Our uniforms were just a pair of white shorts and a blue t-shirt that had a great big number on the back,” Meier recalled.

“The head of our department came in and said we’re going to start a volleyball program. He looked around, pointed at me and said you’re it.” said Rosella Meier ’65 who was the first head coach of Loper volleyball.

KSC finished third in 1980, seventh in 1981 and ended up fourth in 1982. “The NAIA years were good,” Meier said. “We’d go to tournaments and play the University of Kansas, Kansas State and a lot of the big Kansas schools,” she added. “We played UNL – beat ‘em, a couple times. They were also building at the time. It was good.”

Meier, who coached the program for 24 years, was a big believer in psychology and thinks that helped lead to the Lopers’ success.

“I’m a firm believer in teaching my players that I don’t care who we’re playing, we’re going to win,” she said. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, this team is really tough.’ I don’t care who they are. We’re going to win because we’re tough. They might be tough, but we’re really tough.

“I did a lot of psychological stuff getting them to believe that they were winners.”

Now, 23 years after Meier’s retirement in 1992, the winning culture with Loper volleyball continues to thrive.

Coach Meier gives last-minute instructions to Jill Scott (left) and Diane (Davidson) Rouzee ’83 of the ’79 volleyball team. Coach Meier described the team as “one of the strongest teams ever.”

The team ended the season with a 33-9-4 record and placed third in regionals.

UNK has won numerous regular season and conference tournament championships. The Lopers have finished as national runner-up and had regular appearances in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.

Patty Sitorius MAE ’90 coached the Lopers for six seasons from 1993-98 after Meier retired. She led the Lopers to their first NCAA Tournament after the Lopers moved to Division II. Sitorius also helped UNK capture their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship.

Since 1999, it’s been Rick Squiers’ show. He’s raised the bar even higher for Loper volleyball.

“Patty had some tough teams, I knew she would do a good job and she did,” Meier said. “Then Rick came along, and he’s continued to do an exceptional job. Rick always tells me, ‘You started this program, I had to keep it going.’ I’m just really glad that it has.

“We had a very good start on the program. We had a good record, and I just wanted it to continue.” n

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, Steve ve fun! Lloyd Wicke ‘70 y Jenga, but they did ha pla , Bob n’t ‘91 did n ey an Th : fm Ho DO COLORA Walker ‘00, Allen et Br , ‘98 s arn Ke ice Lynne (Pr ) Walz ‘95, Kari (Wendt) ’00, Jason Steggs‘02, AE M ‘97 ett Sue Go ia lic 6, Erik Estes‘01 and Jackowiak ‘84, Fe on‘08, Carli Seeba‘0 Els a Lis , st. ’83 gu SE Au M in Jackowiak‘82 o, Loper After Hours the Denver, Colorad Haeberle ‘81 met for

legends

Jerry Scott ’83

Jerry Scott of Broken Bow is the recipient of the 2015 College of Education Distinguished Educator of the Year award given by the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Scott received his award at the 36th Distinguished Alumni Awards luncheon on Sept. 25, 2015.

A 1983 Kearney State College graduate, Scott taught chemistry, physics, mechatronics, earth science and physical science in the Broken Bow Public School system from 1984-2015.

Scott was involved in many aspects of the Broken Bow Public School system. He coached and served on the School Improvement Steering Committee, One-to-One computer initiative and Education Association Negotiation Team. He also served as president of the Broken Bow Education Association.

While at Kearney State College, Scott was a two-time football NAIA All-American and allconference selection three times. During Scott’s four years, the Lopers posted a 30-8-2 record and won the Central States Intercollegiate Conference three times. He was inducted into the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.

Scott retired from teaching in May 2015 and has owned and operated Broken Bow K Lawn service since 1994. He and his wife, Diane, have a daughter Nikki, a graduate of UNK, and two sons, Noel and Nathan. n

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show off their ROCKIES: Lisa Elson '08, and Carli Seeba '06, proudly Colorado. r, Denve in event Loper pride at the Loper After Hours

th Otto welcomed LINCOLN: Jim and Be o their home on a Lincoln area Lopers int tober. beautiful evening in Oc elly ’88 and Alan Sh , ’72 o RIGHT: Beth Ott ’87 Kulhanek , Jordan Gonzalez BELOW: Pete White ‘12 and Jordan ‘14 ’12, Stephanie Benes Bloesser ‘14

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Lisa (Schwartzkopf) Daake ’95 and HONORED (Left to right): Thad Thomas, Steven Valish ’06, ted as the Daakes were honored as the Greg Daake ’96, Susan Linde and Casey Stokes ’06 celebra i in October. Their Omaha business, Alumn 2015 College of Fine Arts and Humanities Distinguished ing. rebrand ational Daake Design Inc., is a leader in organiz

Loper Visits in 2015

CONGRATULATIONS (Left to right): College of Fine Arts Visual Communications and Design faculty Rick Schuessler, Lisa (Schwartzkopf) Daake, Greg Daake and College of Fine Arts and Humanities Dean Bill Jurma.

VISITOR: A student visits with Robe rt “Joe” Macomber ’85 about his pres entation. Macomber visited campus on Nov. 6 and spoke to UNK Chemistry students about his work with Polymicro Technologies.

(Left to right): Chemistry Department Chair Dr. Scott Darveau, Joe Macomb er and chemistry professor Dr. Kristy Kounovsky-Shafer.

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legends Celann LaGreca ’79

Celann LaGreca ’79 has more than 30 years of management experience in marketing, brand management, communications, public relations and strategic planning.

In 2008, she formed her own company in Omaha, the LaGreca Group, specializing in marketing, strategy and public relations. She counsels both corporate and non-profit clients on a wide variety of issues, from strategic planning and communications strategy development to branding, media training, event planning and community relations.

Most recently, she was the project facilitator for the Greater Omaha Regional Branding Initiative, working with Prosper Omaha stakeholders in a six-county region and leading a creative team composed of talent from 15 competing advertising agencies, resulting in the new regional brand “Omaha – We Don’t Coast.”

After college, she was affiliated with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska from 1981 throught 2012 where she held a variety of positions, culminating in serving as vice president of community investment and special counsel to the CEO. In that role, she managed the company’s charitable giving program and the BlueHealth Advantage Wellness Grant Program for rural communities, working extensively with nonprofit organizations across Nebraska.

Much of her career at BCBSNE involved leading the areas of corporate communications and public relations, ultimately rising to the position of senior vice president of corporate communications and brand management, leading the corporation’s branding efforts for more than 20 years.

LaGreca has a wide range of community involvement, board of directors service and honors including serving on the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees. She received the UNK Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award in 1990. n 25

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Homecoming 2015 Wrap-up

Eight alumni were honored at the 36th annual alumni awards ceremony. During Homecoming festivities, distinguished alumni awards were presented to broadcasting legend Chuck Schwartz ’72 of Scottsbluff and Kearney Hub publisher Julie (Ignowski) Speirs ’78. Long-time supporter Sharron (Jacobson) Altmaier ’55 of Kearney received the Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

Travis ’01 and Andrea (Walton) Miller ’02 of Bayard received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Travis is superintendent of schools at Bayard and Andrea is an attorney in Scottsbluff.

Jerry Scott ’83 of Broken Bow received the College of Education Distinguished Educator Award for his career contributions. Polina Khatsko ’02, a piano instructor at the University of Northern Iowa, received the Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumnus for her work as a performer and teacher. Dr. Charles Sizer ’71 of Lincoln, Massachusetts, was honored as the Don Fox Lecturer by the department of chemistry. He is currently CEO at Dairyvative Technologies.

Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were track athlete Carrie (Hoehner) Goltl ’90, MSE’97 of McCook, volleyball All-American Erin (Arnold) Kay ’05 of Casper, Wyoming, baseball player and coach Mike Keehn ’85 of Florence, Alabama, football All-American Burt Muehling ’85 of Lincoln, and Dick Collins ’76, long-time UNK equipment manager.

Wyatt Schake of Amherst and Taylor Kittle of Aurora were crowned homecoming king and queen.

The Gamma Phi/Fiji/Beta/ Lambda team was the overall student winners in events.

The alums won the 17th annual Beechner Cup, named for former athletic director and golf coach Dick Beechner. The alums now hold a 9-7-1 advantage in the annual competition against current team members. Alumni team members were Preston Foster ’10, Josh Weaver ’07, head men’s coach Wes Bernt ’07, Nick Swaney ’07, Alex Farrell, Chad Freudenberg, C. J. Farber ’99, Lance Lawson ’14, Scott Gardner ’87 and Kevin Slocum ’79. n

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luncheon, were Travis ’01 and AWARDS (Left to right): Defining UNK’s best at the Homecoming annual Award. Long-time supporter Alumni Young ished Distingu the g receivin Andrea (Walton) Miller ’02 of Bayard om Distinguished Alumni Service Sharron (Jacobson) Altmaier ’55 of Kearney received the Jim Rundstr publisher Julie (Ignowski) Speirs ’78 Hub Award. Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented to Kearney (second from the right) of Broken ’83 Scott Jerry right). and broadcasting legend Chuck Schwartz ’72 (far Award. r Educato ished Distingu n Bow received the College of Educatio

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Dick Colli ns ’76, long-time UNK equipment man ager, enjoyed his time in the spotlight.

ROYALTY: Wyatt Schake of Amherst and Taylor Kittle of Aurora were crowned homecoming king and queen. Schake is an exercise science major and a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Loper Programming and Activities Council, Chemistry Club and was a Loper Leader. Kittle is double-majoring in elementary education and early childhood. She is a member of Alpha Phi sorority. She has been a student diplomat and was a New Student Enrollment leader. She is also a member of Loper Liaisons and Mortar Board.

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Class Notes 1966

Doug Martin MAE ’78 of Lincoln was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in October as an official. He worked 18 state championships — nine in football and nine in basketball during a career that spanned 42 years.

He also officiated at the college level and spent 20 years as a track official. He is a member of the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame.

1967

Cecilia Slingsby of Hastings was selected Nebraska World Organization of China Painters’ president for 2015-2016.

Randy Rasmussen received a golden football from the National Football League. In conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the Super Bowl, the NFL is giving “golden” footballs to each player that participated in the game. Rasmussen received the football at his high school, Elba Public Schools.

Rasmussen, who starred along the offensive line for the New York Jets between 1967 and 1981, is a 1963 graduate of Elba Public Schools. He played in the famous 1969 Super Bowl, a 16-7 victory by the Jets over the Baltimore Colts. A 12th round pick of the Jets in 1967, Rasmussen was a four-time all-conference pick and a 1966 NAIA all-American for the Lopers. He joins Justin Coleman and Tom Kropp as the only Loper student-ahtletes to have their jersey numbers retired.

Bob Whitehouse of Papillion was inducted into the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Hall of Fame. He was at Omaha South from 1971 to 1983. He is past president of the Nebraska State Coaches Association and was a founder and member of Nebraska Athletic Directors Association. He is a member of the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame and Omaha Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame. Whitehouse is University of Nebraska Regent.

1974

Sharon (Mullen) Zavala of Grand Island Central Catholic was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in October. Among her coaching accomplishments are nine state volleyball championships and eight runners-up finishes. She became the state’s all-time winningest coach in 2010.

She is a member of the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame.

1975

Mark Clymer retired from Windmill State Park near Gibbon on Dec. 31. He worked as the superintendent for the park for 35 years.

1976

Randall Koch MSE ’85 and his wife, Pamela (Saum) Koch ’77, MAE ’89 are retired and live in Cozad. Randall taught 32 years at Cozad Community School. Pamela taught elementary music in Cozad for 38 years. She is an adjunct professor at Mid Plains Community College.

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1977

Brian Bode is controller at Park University in Parkville, Missouri. He had been vice president of student and administrative service at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Gary Buehner is senior vice president/branch manager of Farmers and Merchants Bank in Kearney.

Gary Person is CEO of the North Platte Area Chamber of Commerce and Development Corporation. For the past 15 years he had been city manager for Sidney.

1980

Dr. Maling Ebrahimpour MBA is dean of the University of Rhode Island College of Business Administration. A former staff member at URI, he had been business dean at the University of South Florida.

1991

Renae (Riddle) Zimmer is an account executive with Five Nines Technology.

1992

Jon Larsen MAE ’92 is clinical exercise coordinator for a new community wellness program with the Physical Activity and Wellness Laboratory at UNK. He had been strength and conditioning coach for Loper athletics the past 25 years.

M O V I N G ?

1983

Jeff Beckman of Omaha has been named executive director of development for The Salvation Army, western division. He had previously been senior vice president for resource development for the United Way of the Midlands.

Kirk Ramsey MSE ’94, a middle school counselor at Barr Middle School in Grand Island, was named winner of the Kim West Dinsdale Award for Excellence in Teaching. He received a $5,000 cash award which he said he will use to benefit Grand Island students. The award is from an endowment with the Grand Island Community Foundation.

1987

Randall “Randy” Mousel has been promoted to senior vice president, brokerage sales, at Mutual of Omaha. He has been with Mutual of Omaha since 1995.

1989

Lisa (Reese) Parish is executive director for the Kearney Public Schools Foundation. She had been executive director of the Kearney Area United Way since 2007.

1990

Bryon Casper is senior project superintendent for Chief Construction of Grand Island.

Joe Mejia is president/agent of Joe Mejia State Farm Insurance Agency in Longmont, Colo.

John Noble has been promoted to vice president at Streck in LaVista where he will lead the company’s manufacturing, quality and distribution operations of clinical laboratory products.

Connie (Meyer) White has been appointed metropolitan-regional editor of the Omaha WorldHerald. She has been with the paper since 2000.

Marsha (Rodehorst) Wilkerson is director of marketing and community outreach for BD Construction in Kearney. She had been director of marketing and communications for CHI Health Good Samaritan for 10 years.

unkalumni.org

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Provide your new information and return to:

UNK Alumni Association Campus Box 21 Kearney, NE 68849-6120 Name:__________________________ _______________________________ New Address:____________________ _______________________________ City:____________________________ State:___________________________ Zip + 4:__________________________ Ph.:_____________________________ Email:___________________________

M O V I N G ?

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1993

Class Notes

Joy Molcyk is EMS program director at McCook Community College.

1995

Heidi Jo (Blair) Green of Houston earned her Ph.D. in human services and social work in the fall of 2015 from Walden University. She is a professor of political science at Lone Star College Cyfair.

1996

Shawnna Silvius is director of talent solutions with the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development.

1997

Sam Stecher MAE ’05 has released a book, It Happens in the Hallway: Impacting School Climate Beyond the Classroom. It was co-written by Mark Johnson and is available on Amazon.

1998

Mindy (Nichols) Chestnut of Omaha is president and co-owner of Design Four Inc., a company that specializes in a variety of printed and promotional products.

Jill McCaslin-Timmons EdS ’02 was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, July 8, at Colorado Spring, Colorado.

McCaslin-Timmons played softball for the Lopers from 1994-1997 and has the team’s all-time best career batting average of .401 and is the all-time leader in doubles (49) and stolen bases (44). During her 1996 season, she set single-season records for hits (83), runs scored (66), doubles (21) and stolen bases (44). In 1996, she earned the RMAC Player of the Year award, an award she shared with teammate Cindy Cohn the year before. McCaslinTimmons was inducted in the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

1999

Jerome Dubas MAE ’99, art teacher at Grand Island High School, received the Kim West Dinsdale Award for Teaching. Dubas said the $5,000 award will be used to benefit Grand Island students. The award is from an endowment with the Grand Island Community Foundation.

2002

Dr. Misty (Goffena) Spitler is employed by the Department of Defense as the subject matter expert for the U.S. Army Medical Evaluation Board.

She recently completed three years as president of the board of directors of the Indiana Psychological Association. She and her husband, Jeremy, have two sons, Zachary and Andrew. They live in Greenwood, Indiana.

2003

Joey Cochran is vice president business banking at NebraskaLand National Bank in Kearney. He had been with Wells Fargo Bank in Kearney.

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Notes of Gratitude Often, the people we are today is because of the connections we made at UNK. We want to give you the opportunity to show your gratitude to those special people. Your letters are welcome. Whether it is to express gratitude to a past instructor, alumni or friend or to comment and/or add to a published story, we want to hear from you. Write us at UNK Today, UNK Alumni Association, Campus Box 21, Kearney, NE 68849. Include your name, class year (if applicable), email, city, state and daytime phone number; or email Michelle Widger at michelle.widger@unkalumni.org.

WARD SCHRACK “I was so happy to see Ward Schrack’s picture in the Fall 2015 “UNK Today.” I was 30 years old when I started at Kearney State in 1965. He really encouraged me to continue when he hired me to work about 30 hours per weeknights and weekends at the student center. I met a lot of wonderful people there. I received my degree in math in June of 1968. I went on to get my masters in math at the University of Northern Colorado and then another masters in professional accounting with a CPA at the University of South Dakota. I spent a good share of my life then as a college teacher and finally retired as interim chair of the business division at Peru State. What a wonderful life I have had and much was due to the encouragement received from Ward Schrack.” ~ Lynn E. Dyer ’68 •

Dr. Ed Walker & Dr. Jane Ziebarth-Bovil “I loved Dr. Ed Walker in the education department. He kept learning enjoyable and related what he was teaching us to the real world of teaching! I went to him often with scheduling questions, and he always steered me in the right direction! He was a great professor and great man! Dr. Jane Ziebarth-Bovil was another outstanding professor in the education department. Her soft voice and kind heart made her easy to love. She had a passion for teaching teachers and was very loving and kind in her demeanor and delivery. Her positive personality was contagious.” ~ Billie (Livermore) Wemhoff ’05 • unkalumni.org

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Class Notes 2006

Nathan Wiegand received a promotion from corporate assistant controller to corporate controller at The Scoular Company. He lives in Omaha.

2008

Bridget (Ziola) Babcock is a radiologic technologist at Phillips County Health Systems in Phillipsburg, Kansas. She and her husband, Erick, have a daughter, Brielle Elizabeth 1.

2011

Paul Knutson MBA ’12 CPA has been promoted to senior accountant at Omaha-based Lutz, an accounting and business solutions firm.

2012

John Lawless is an attorney with the Scudder Law Firm, a Lincoln-based firm representing clients in business transactions throughout the United States.

He is a graduate of the Minnesota Law School.

2014

Jaiden Potter MBA ’15 has joined the firm of Seim Johnson LLP in Omaha.

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Aaron ’04 ’06 and Kara (DeKok) Estes ‘04 of Kearney are the parents of a daughter, Avery Kate Estes, born Dec. 8.

Abby (Carr) Evans ‘02 and Jason of Imperial, Missouri, are parents of a daughter, Reese Marie, born Nov. 6.

Paul ’10 and Danielle (Einspahr) Ewalt ’09 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Piper Lynn, born Sept. 3.

Sally and Morgan Farquhar ‘09 of Cambridge are parents of a son, Jay Sparhawk, born Dec. 3.

Jeremy and Chelsea (Anderson) Feusner ‘11 MAE ’11 of Kearney are parents of a son, Callen David, Nov. 6.

Kate (Bush) and Wade Goodwin ’06 MSE ’08 of Kearney are parents of a son, Abel Joseph, born Sept. 2.

Jarrod ’08 and Maggie (Younes) Holz ’08 MBA ’09 of Kearney are parents of a son, Barrett Paul, born Sept. 16.

Jeffrey and Kayla (Brixius) Herrick ‘11 of Kearney, are the parents of a daughter, Ella Kay, born Oct. 28.

Roan ’02, MAE ’06 and Kristin (Wittmann) Howard ’00 of Kearney are parents of a son, Hudson Christopher, born Feb. 7, 2015. They have daughters Anna 12 and Chloe 8. Roan is a teacher and coach at Horizon Middle School. Kristin is director of special programs at the NU Foundation.

Emily and Aaron Jameson ‘04 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Alyssa Christine, born Oct. 31.

Kirby ’10 and Brooke (Scripter) Johnson ’10 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Zoe Jane, born Sept. 12.

Ryan ’07 and Megan (Lauer) Killion ’09 of Kearney are parents of a son, August Journey, born Aug. 13.

Jody and Chrysantha (Wiebelhaus) Koch ’04 of Hartington, are parents of a daughter, Kyra Elizabeth, born Aug. 18.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

Births

Skylee and William Adams ’04 of Kearney are parents of a son, Jonathan Bernard, born Aug. 10.

Sean and Sara (Busch) Arnold ‘04 of Kearney are parents of a son, Zacchaeus Brock, born Dec. 1.

James ’05 and Stephanie (Stoppkotte) Barthelman ’04 of Quinhagak, Alaska, are parents of a daughter, Josey Mae, born Oct. 14.

John ’12 and Amy (Drake) Bettles ’10 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Addilyn Claire, born June 23.

Brian and Sarah (Gibbs) Birkby ’08 of Ravenna are parents of a son, Connor Joseph, born Aug. 12.

Brock ’14 and Amie (Lee) Burney ’14 of Doniphan are parents of a son, Grady Lee, born Aug. 25.

Ruben ’14 and Jennifer (Asche) Bustamante ’01 of Lubbock, Texas, are parents of a son, Collin James, born Aug. 27. Ruben is district sales manager of West Texas for Baldwin Filters. Jennifer is associate marketing manager for Baldwin Filters.

Sarah Casper ’00 and Brandon Berumen of Minden are parents of a son, Noah Rylan CasperBerumen, born July 7.

Paul and Hanna (Theone) Cox ’07 of Kearney are parents of a son, Jacob Paul, born Aug. 23.

Mike and Stacy (Baxa) Dahlgren ’07 of Kearney are parents of a son, Maddox Alexander, born Sept. 7.

Jennifer and Benjamin Dennis ’08 of York are parents of a daughter, Catherine Anne, born Dec. 8.

Eddie ‘02 and Amy (Fehringer) Denny ’02 MAE ’09 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Hazel Rose, born Nov. 12.

Madiera and Jared Eggleston ’98 of Oconto are parents of a daughter, Makenna Rose.

Marcus Ehrke ‘13 and Shelbea Ehrke of Alma are the parents of a son, Paxton Tru, born Dec. 9.

Four UNK Alumni graduated Dec. 18, 2015, from Creighton University’s School of Pharmacy and Health Professions with their doctorates in occupational therapy. Left to right: Brooke Brown ’12, Kendra Solko ’11, Emmylou (O’Brien) Flanagan ’11, and McKenzie Wiese ’12.

Let us know what is happening and share your life events and Loper happenings at Lopers@unkalumni.org.

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Class Notes Jack ’04 and Lorissa (Mohling) Kreman ’05 of Noblesville, Indiana, are parents of a son, Oliver Wayne Kreman, born Dec. 12.

Mike and Angela (Scherbarth) Kreutzer ‘09 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Breckyn Marie, born Nov. 11.

Jason and Jayleen (Lambert) Landstrom ’12, ‘15 of Axtell are parents of a daughter, Revyn Jae, born Dec. 2.

John and Jessica (Ball) LaVassaur ’10 of Kearney are parents of a son, John Paul, born Nov. 29.

Andrew ’09 and Skylar (Leatherman) Loseke ’11 of Lincoln are the parents of a boy, Ellison Ezra, born Febr. 11.

Ashley (Fox) Luther ‘10 and Matt of Overton are parents of a son, Kye Ryan, born Jan. 18.

Brock and Rheanna (Schneider) Mallam ’05 of Kearney are parents of a son, Burke Charles, born July 15.

Adam and Kelley (Kinney) Messenger ’06 of Kearney are parents of a son, Kaden Joseph, born Aug. 4.

Jacob ’04, MAE’08 and Tiffany (Jeffery) Mohs ’03 of Ashland are parents of a daughter, Callie Jewel, born Aug. 31. They also have sons, Landon Jacob, 8, and Mason James, 5.

Matt and Jennifer (Beerman) Nielsen ’03 of Kearney are parents of a son, Hayes Matthew, born Sept. 25.

Mindy (Fink) Oman ‘00 and Jason of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Michaela Ryan, born Jan 19.

Erin and Casey Paine ’13 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Ellasyn Jaymes, born Sept. 30.

Marie and Jeremy Peter ’13 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Avilene Lucille, born July 6.

Jeffrey and Jeanne (Kicken) Pope ’03 of Ravenna are parents of a son, Johnathon Scott, born July 14.

Mark ’07 and Beth (Maryott) Porter ’04 of Wisner are parents of a daughter, Nora Marie, born May 1. They have two other daughters, Sydney 8 and Leighton 4. Beth is staff accountant at Northeast Nebraska Community Action. Mark is elementary principal at Wisner-Pilger School.

Ryan and Hanna (Glathar) Quiring ’06 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Addilyn Claire, born June 23.

Lance ’06 and Adrienne (Olin) Rall ’06 of Kearney are the parents of a daughter, Aurelia “Lia” Mae Rall, born Nov. 7.

Greg ’04 and Kristen (Loshonkohl) Richey ’05, MSE ’07 of Kearney are parents of twin boys, Jake Michael and Kohl Jeffrey, born June 18, 2014.

Justin ‘08 and Samantha (Brummer) Rolfes ‘08 of Omaha are parents of a son, Grayson Robert, born Dec. 1.

Haley and Jordan Sanchez ‘12 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Lennon Jane, born Nov. 7.

Todd ’99 and Jacqueline (Johnson) Schepler ’04 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Eva Alexandria, born Sept. 23.

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Nathan ’00 and Tina (Madsen) Sherrill ’02 of Council Bluffs, Iowa, are parents of a daughter, Isabella Ruth, born Oct. 12.

Chance and Hannah (Liming) Smith ’10 of Alliance, are the parents of twin girls, Haven Jo, and River Lynn, born Oct. 21.

Chevy ’14 and Becky (Berven) Smith ’12 of Imperial, are parents of a daughter, Lyla Kay, born Oct 10.

Michael and Misty (Buoy) Sorensen ’11 of Axtell are parents of a son, Brayden Michael, born Oct. 23.

Jeremy and Misty (Goffena) Spitler ’02 of Kearney are parents of a son, Andrew, born July 6.

They also have a son, Zachery.

Cody ’04 and Tanna (Doeschot) Struss ’03 of Kearney are parents of a son, Knox David, born Nov. 5.

Damien ‘03 and Stephanie (Paulsen) Todd ’04 of Kearney are parents of a son, Dalton Jeffrey, born Jan. 15.

Jonathan and Shelby (Lehmann) Uhrich UNMC ’06 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Cori Rae, born July 31.

Jesse ’09 and Danielle (Lear) Valenti ’09, MS ’12 of Kearney are the parents of a daughter, Quinn Aryn Valenti, born Nov. 23.

Preston and Leah (Karre) Van Amburg ’11 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Rainna Grace, born Sept. 8.

Eric and Nickola (Messbarger) Van Horn ’12 of Kearney are parents of a son, John Charles, born Aug. 26.

Matthew UNMC ’13 and Abbie (Davis) Wecker ’13 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Maisie Ruth, born Sept. 8.

Tony ’07 and Lyndsey (Malone) Wilson ’08 of Spring, Texas, are parents of a daughter, Finleigh Marie, born Oct. 7.

Tyler and Alyssa (Baker) Wyant ’11 of Kearney are parents of a son, Bowen James, born Nov. 5.

Marriages

Bradley Green ’11, MAE ’15 and Stefanie Skrdla Oct. 17 in Gretna.

Jade Meads ’09, MAE ’11 and Trevor Brown Oct. 24 in Kearney.

Angela Reynolds ’09, MBA ’10 and Chris Davidson Sept. 9. They live in Grand Island.

Caela Schutt ’13 and Cory Soejoto ’12 June 6 in Omaha. They live in Glendale, California.

Loper Legand Featured in Husker Book Seventy-five years ago, Al Zikmund played a key role in the Nebraska Cornhuskers first bowl appearance, the 1941 Rose Bowl. Zikmund, who spent 32 years at UNK as football coach and athletic director from 1955 to 1987, was a sophomore halfback who caught a touchdown pass before breaking his leg in a 2013 loss to Stanford.

His legacy is only part of an engaging story about the lives of those who went “From Corn Rows to Rose Bowl to Hedgerows and Foxholes.” It certainly was ‘The Forging of an American Legacy.”

The story of that season at the onset of World War II, is captured by Tom Kruger ’79, MAE ’82 along with Jeff Hower, in his book, “Cornhuskers Go To War.” The acclaimed book documents the lives of many of the players on that Rose Bowl team and their sacrifices for the unkalumni.org

American war effort. Before the end of the war, nearly every member of that 1940 team had traded their Husker red for olive-drab green or Navy blue.

It is available at Amazon, www.cornhuskersgotowar.com, and book stores.

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Class Notes

Taylor Fernau ’13 and Steve Stutzman ’12 June 20 in Blair. Steve is director of ticket sales for UNK athletics.

Michelle Sukup ’04 and TJ McKillip Sept. 12 in Verdigre. Michelle is a production artist at Swanson Russell in Omaha.

Deaths

Richard “Dick” Abraham ’59 of Columbus died March 27. He taught art in high schools and Central Community College until retiring in 2001. He was 78.

Paul Beranek MAE ’92 of Ravenna died Dec. 22. He was a retired art teacher and successful basketball coach at Ravenna. He was 55.

Jack Bryan ’51 of Pueblo, Colorado, died Dec. 11.

He was 85.

Nick Chiburis MS ’71 of Gretna died Oct. 3.

He had been a professor of art at Iowa Western Community College. He was 77.

David Michael Culwell ’93 of Aurora, Colorado, died May 20. He was 44.

Max Dodson ’56 of Redlands, California, died Dec. 8. He was 80.

Betty Drohman ’61 of Lincoln died Sept. 3. She was 92.

Clarice Thayer Elliott ’66 of Omaha died Oct. 15.

She was a career teacher in Omaha. She was 72.

Jacque ‘Jack’ Evans ’50 died Nov. 21. He taught and coached at Grand Island High School for 37 years. He was 92.

Bill Hircock ’58 of Hot Springs, Arkansas, died April 19, 2015. He was 78.

Clifford Jacobs ’58, MSE ’66 of Valentine died Sept.

16. He was a career educator and coach. He was 79.

Renee Kent ’76 of Omaha died Oct. 22. She was a special education teacher Omaha Northwest High School. She was 61.

Rev. Harold Oliver Lindeblad ’41 of Wichita, Kansas, died July 28. He was retired pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He was 97.

Carole Anderson McCormac ‘57 of Los Alamitos, California, died Aug. 23. She was a career teacher in Garden Grove and a long-time board member of the UNK Southern California Alumni Association. She was 80.

Donald Niedt of Lincoln died Sept. 7. He was 75.

Leo Overholser ’74 of Wilcox died Dec. 9. He was 72.

Richard F. Peterson ’58 of Cozad died April 27.

He was a career educator and coach. He was a member of the Fremont High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was 84.

Mary (Talbert) Poehling ’55 of Olathe, Kansas, died May 25. She was 80.

LaVerne Pollatt ’59 of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, died Sept. 8. He was 80.

Carol (Bentjen) Schafer ’66 of Wahoo died Oct. 11. She was 70.

Ward Schrack of Kearney died Nov. 27. He was a former director of the UNK student union. He was 86.

Charles “Charlie” Sheffield ’61 of Sherman Lake died Dec. 12. He was a career educator in Grand Island. He was 76.

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Harold Siebler ’48 of Wichita Falls, Texas, died June 28. He was a retired educational specialist from Sheppard Air Force Base and a retired Lt. Col. of the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was 95.

Robert “Bob” Stillmock ’63 of Evergreen, Colorado, died Jan. 9. He was 74.

Harold “Charlie” Thorell ’60 of Seward died Aug. 6. He was an educator and coach. He is a member of the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame. He was 77.

Carolee Tilson ’65 of Omaha died Jan. 22. She was 72.

unkalumni.org

Twila Larsen Voss ’68 of Lincoln died July 1. She taught in the Grand Island, Kearney and Lincoln Public Schools. She was 88.

Nancy Westerfield of Kearney died Dec. 5. She was the widow of former UNK professor Hargis Westerfield. She was 89.

Dr. Wilferd Wortman of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died Oct 1. He is a former UNK professor. He was 97.

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Today is the day I become a difference maker.

Steve Sonksen, Texas History, MA University of Nebraska at Kearney “With my degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney I am a difference maker. I started taking history classes at UNK — and I was hooked after the first class.

The quality of the curriculum and the professors made me decide to keep going and get my master’s degree. I put in a lot of hard work because I wanted to get the most out of it. I wanted a degree that would mean something. In my last year of classroom teaching, I was named Texas History Teacher of the Year. Now I run the social studies department for my entire district. Getting my degree at the University of Nebraska changed my life.”

100+ online programs. online.nebraska.edu

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UNK Connections WE NEED YOU! Send in your updates. Loper Pride, Loper Legacy, Loper Pet Pal pictures, any exciting information or pictures you would like to share to UNK Alumni Association. You can also update your information online at unkalumni.org/member or email information to Lopers@unkalumni.org.

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