UNK Today Winter 2012/2013 Issue

WINTER 2012/2013

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA KEARNEY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Top10 Rated

Top 10 Public Regional University – U.S.News & World Report

INSIDE $1 Million Leadership Gift Economic Impact to Nebraska Students Own Campus Business

Top10 Rated

Top 10 Public Regional University – U.S.News & World Report

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA KEARNEY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Dear Alumni & Friends, These are exciting times at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Our fall enrollment of 7,199 students is UNK’s highest in 16 years and represents our ninth consecutive year of increase. International enrollment climbed to 544 students from 58 countries, the largest delegation coming from the Republic of South Korea. Included for the first time are the countries of Austria, Guyana, and Mongolia.

For the third consecutive year, “U.S. News & World Report” magazine ranked UNK as a Top 10 Public Regional University in the Midwest. We are looking forward to breaking ground on our new student wellness center, progress on residential renewal efforts grows increasingly noticeable, and there is a definite buzz surrounding our Building a Healthier Nebraska/Health Science Education Complex initiative.

That “buzz” grew louder when, on January 11, I had the privilege of announcing a leadership gift in the amount of $1 million from Kearney’s Good Samaritan Hospital and Catholic Health Initiatives. This gift speaks volumes about Good Samaritan Hospital’s commitment to UNK, the Kearney community, and to rural health care in central Nebraska. It also puts us on course to meet the challenge of raising $4 million in private funds to access $15 million appropriated by the Nebraska Legislature. This project will dramatically change the future for UNK. It is an opportunity that we cannot let pass.

I hope you will enjoy these and other stories featured in this newest edition of UNK Today. My grateful thanks to each of you for being a part of the excitement and the accomplishment.

DOUGLAS A. KRISTENSEN, J.D. Chancellor

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Pete Kotsiopulos ‘70, A S S O C I AT E D I R E C T O R Lucas Dart ‘97, A S S I S TA N T D I R E C T O R O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N Michelle Widger ‘90 A S S I S TA N T D I R E C T O R O F A LU M N I E N G A G E M E NT Brette Ensz ‘06 A D M I N I S T R AT I V E A S S I S TA N T Toni Meyers ‘93 DESIGN TEAM Mitch Johnson‘93, NU Foundation Art Director Michelle Widger ‘90, Assistant Director UNK Alumni Association CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Dorothy Endacott, Managing Editor, NU Foundation, Director of Communication Jim Rundstrom ‘64, Director Emeritus Robb Crouch, NU Foundation Assoc Director Communications/Dir PR Colleen Fleischer, NU Foundation Director of Publications PHOTOGRAPHY UNK Alumni Association UNK Athletics UNK Creative Services B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S - O FFI C E R S Brett Kuhn, Ph.D. ‘86 President, Gretna Gary Reber ‘86 President-Elect, Lincoln Andrea Walton Miller ‘02 Past President, Bayard Brenda Snodgrass Christensen ‘83 Trustee, Minden D I R E C T O R S ( Te r m E x p i r i n g 2012- 2013) Carol Green Ballain ‘65, Fort Collins, CO Mark Felker ‘86, Alliance Pat Kelly Hoehner ‘57 BAE ‘67 MSE ‘82, Kearney Kip Magner ‘92, Lincoln Nancy McCarthy Polk ‘73, Kearney Trina Jacobsen Rother MAE ‘00, Grand Island Bethany Spilde ‘06, Kansas City, MO Bret Walker ‘00, Brighton, CO

PO S T M A S T E R : Please send address changes to: U N K To d a y University of Nebraska Kearney Campus Box 21 Kearney, Nebraska 68849 Phone 308.865.8474 Fax 308.865.8999 E-mail: Lopers@unkalumni.org facebook.com/UNKAlumni twitter.com/UNKAlumni linkedin.com/company/ university-of-nebraska-at-kearney lopers@unkalumni.org

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D I R E C T O R S ( Te r m E x p i r i n g 2013- 2014) David Bargen ‘96, Lincoln Amy Fagot Cope ‘99, Kearney Jay Dostal ‘01, Kearney Abby Losey Grenke ‘01, Aurora Robin Rubenthaler Hines ‘88, MSE ‘91, North Platte Leah Bruns Holmberg ‘94, Jordan, MN Bill Peard ‘84, Waukee, IA Gary Reber ‘86, Lincoln D I R E C T O R S ( Te r m E x p i r i n g 2014- 2015) Herman Baptiste ‘90, Olathe,KS Brette Covington Ensz ‘06, Kearney Gregg Grubaugh ‘79, Papillion Norman Lang ‘68, Mill Creek, WA Mary Buchanan Mach ‘85, Fairbury Katherine Pollock Peterson ‘79, Kearney Dennis Pool ‘70, Omaha Carolyn Wagner Snyder ‘64, Carbondale, IL Todd Van Horn ‘93, Kearney UNK Today is published twice a year by the Alumni Association and the University of Nebraska Foundation and is the official alumni publication of the University of Nebraska Kearney.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA KEARNEY

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

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Winter 2012/2013 IN THIS ISSUE

4 Good Samaritan Hospital Gives $1 million for health science education

6 Bright Ideas for Traveling Exploring around the world through the words of one alumnus, Peg Bright ’74

8 Manners Matter Cheryl Stohl Samusevich provides solutions

9 HappinessThrough Giving

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The Yanneys’ philanthropy is in their DNA

Ron Sack ’88, judges prestigious ‘Communication Arts’ Advertising Annual

12 Financial Impact UNK adds $653.8 million to Nebraska economy

13 Ahead of Her Class Sara Buntemeyer Robinson ’03 receives national award

14 Dust Bowl Days

Robert Sahling’s giving reflects his heritage

15 Buckle Gift Fits Students Kearney retailer establishes scholarship

The Grand Island Independent; photographer Barrett Stinson

10 The Art of Judging Art

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16 Star Professor Mentor, adviser, professor and friend

19 Team of Distinction 1977 football - the 14th team honored

20 There’s No Place Like Kearney Homecoming 2012

23 Net Success Volleyball ranked third nationally

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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.

Building a Healthier Nebraska

Good Samaritan Hospital Gives $1 million for health science education

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meet work force needs, create high-quality jobs and expand s more Nebraskans seek health care and as our aging educational opportunities. …” workforce of health care professionals retire, we face The new facility is estimated to cost about $19 million. UNK a critical shortage of doctors, nurses and other health must raise $3 million in private funds for the new facility to professionals. access $15 million appropriated for the project by the Nebraska Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and Catholic Health Legislature within the Building a Healthier Nebraska initiative, a Initiatives recently committed to help the University of Nebraska bill sponsored last year by Sen. Galen Hadley and supported by meet the challenges ahead with a $1 million leadership gift to Gov. Dave Heineman. support a new Health The university will Science Education raise an additional $1 Complex at UNK. million to fully fund The new complex the project. will provide stateAbout this effort, of-the-art facilities Brian Hastings, to enable UNK president and CEO and the University of the University of of Nebraska Nebraska Foundation, Medical Center to said the leadership expand enrollment gift from Good opportunities in Samaritan Hospital the existing nursing and Catholic Health division by nearly 50 Initiatives provides percent and begin momentum. offering professional “New programs in physical “New generations of healthcare professionals and the countless people they will help generations therapy, physician are certain to benefit most from this gift,” said Brian Hastings, president and CEO of the of healthcare assistant, radiography, University of Nebraska Foundation. professionals and the diagnostic medical countless people they sonography, and will help are certain to clinical laboratory benefit most from this gift,” Hastings said. “Their generosity and science on the UNK campus. leadership demonstrate a strong interest in helping us reach our “We have always valued our relationship with Good goals for this UNK health science education initiative, which is Samaritan Hospital, and this gift further strengthens our ties,” said incredibly important to Nebraskans.”

UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen.

Although the final location of the new complex has not been Mike Schnieders, president of Good Samaritan Hospital, said determined, Kristensen said it will likely be constructed on the the hospital is pleased to be a philanthropic partner. “In the spirit of west side of the UNK campus. With approximately 30,000 square its founders, Good Samaritan serves not only as a medical facility, feet, initial building plans include a clinical simulation laboratory, but also as a community partner,” he said. “Supporting health anatomy and physiology laboratories, and technology for distance science education is an especially good fit, as the hospital is called education, all dedicated to nursing and allied health programs. by its mission to devote funding and resources to programs and The Building a Healthier Nebraska initiative also involves services that improve the health of the communities we serve.” creating a Cancer Center Campus in Omaha and a new In announcing the gift, Chancellor Kristensen said, “The Veterinary Diagnostic Center in Lincoln. As with UNK’s health impending critical shortage of healthcare professionals has been science education project, these projects also require significant well-documented, and rural areas are especially vulnerable. This private support to receive the state allocations. n initiative will improve healthcare, especially in rural Nebraska,

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY

Amount Raised Toward $50 Million Campaign Goal

2005

$34,394,152

71%

2014

60% of new funds to the UNK campaign support student scholarships.

of UNK campaign gifts are from Nebraska households/organizations.

1 out of 3

donors to UNK are first-time donors during the campaign.

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new funds have been established during the campaign to support UNK.

5,100 UNK students receive some form of financial aid.

8,024 individuals have made donations to UNK during the campaign.

campaignfornebraska.org

All statistics as of November 30, 2012. The Campaign for Nebraska began in July 2005 and will conclude December 2014.

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Feature

Bright Ideas for Traveling

Exploring the world through the words of one alumnus, Peg Bright ’74

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nternational travel can be a lot of fun—until you get mistaken for a Russian criminal. That’s what happened to me last year when I crossed the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan.

The experience wasn’t as scary as you might imagine. I knew I wasn’t Svetlana Sultandowna, and I figured it wouldn’t be too long before the border officials figured that out.

I sat on the terrazzo floor while panicky immigration officers consulted by phone with their bosses in the capital, Ashgabat. Within 90 minutes, a digital comparison of our photos confirmed that I wasn’t Svetlana.

Soon after I cleared the border, I saw Svetlana’s ‘wanted’ picture. She was smack in the middle of a people-of-interest-toTurkmenistan poster. I’ll never know her special crime—it was

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Peg Austin Bright ’74 and her husband, John, walking in Turkmenistan.

listed only as a number—but I was pleased to see that she is 21 years younger than me.

Consequently, that wasn’t my only weird border crossing.

My husband, John, and I have done a lot of international travel on the back of overland trucks. Dozens of times, we and our travelling companions have rolled up to a border expecting to be grilled, delayed, waved through or turned away.

Mauritania had 10 miles of the roughest no-man’s-land terrain I’ve ever bounced along, and an amazing livestock market once we cleared passport control.

Residents of a northern Nigerian village gave us a hero’s welcome—with hordes of children cheering and running alongside the truck.

Feature Relying on extremely bad French in the Congo, our driver, Chris, and I managed to beat down the price of fumigating the truck from $200 to $80.

Early one evening, Laos was happy to let us out of the country, but Vietnam decided we were too late to be let in, so 21 of us slept on a concrete floor at the border.

Of course, our overland journeys have been about a lot more than border crossings.

Three years ago, we spent 11 months in Africa—traveling south down the west, then north up the east. There were 30plus countries, 27,000 miles, millions of mosquitos and 80 percent of our nights spent in a tent.

Floods of memories wash over me every time Africa is mentioned.

A three-day, 30-mile hike through Dogon country and a camel ride near Timbuktu, both in Mali. Skydiving in Namibia, canoeing in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and gorilla watching in Uganda.

Then there was the day the driver took a ‘wrong’ turn in Awassa in southern Ethiopia, and we found ourselves in the middle of a parade to celebrate World Laughter Day. The media was so taken by our truck that we ended up on every broadcast in the country.

Truck life itself offers plenty of challenges. In Africa, we started with 26 travelling companions from seven countries. People could come and go.

By the time the trip ended, another nine people from two additional countries took part, but only 11 of us finished the entire circuit.

Peg Austin Bright ’74 has travel in her blood. Her dad was a pilot and, as Bright explains, “I grew up in his DC3. I wanted to experience the stories he and his co-pilot told of living in North Africa just after World War II.” After graduating with a degree in journalism and math, Bright worked at the Kearney Hub and UNO before studying in Egypt at the University of Cairo on a Rotary graduate fellowship. While in Egypt, she met her future husband, John, who was working in the Australian embassy.

Following a year of graduate study, Bright returned to UNK to teach journalism from August 1977 until December 1980 when she resigned to join her husband in Egypt. They were married in Ajlun, Jordan, and have lived in Lebanon (during the civil war), Syria, Jordan and Burma. John resigned from the diplomatic corps in 1989. They moved back to Canberra, Australia, where he practiced law until 2007.

Bright has traveled to more than 100 countries and every continent.

Bright said their two daughters, Libby and Petra, have inherited their parents’ travel genes.

They, along with their parents, love Kearney and have spent quite a bit of time there as well as in Omaha, Bright’s hometown.

We all took turns shopping for food, cooking, carting water and cleaning the inside of the truck.

There were a lot of truck repairs, too. In the first two months, we had 13 flat tires. The radiator was a major problem from Ghana onwards and was the source of many delays, including a night in a remote logging camp in Gabon and five days in a village in northern Angola. Leaf springs broke in Kenya and again in Ethiopia, and were temporarily repaired with ratchet straps.

Nevertheless, we must have enjoyed ourselves because last year we signed on for another six-month overland trip. This one carried us almost 25,000 miles from London back to Sydney—following in the footsteps of that pesky Svetlana!

This second overland had 25 people from nine countries. It was a bit easier going than Africa, but offered plenty of memorable experiences.

We travelled much of the old Silk Road, including the ancient cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. There were nights in yurts (a circular tent-like dwelling) in Kyrgyzstan, tents at 17,000 feet in the Himalayas and real beds in a cheap hotel in Tibet’s capital of Lhasa.

We floated down the Mekong River, rode long distances in crowded buses and cramped ferries, ate enough noodles for a lifetime and explored dozens of temples.

I could start either trip again tomorrow, but I think I’ll do something different instead. In fact, John and I are already booked on a four-month South American overland. We’ll probably be just about home by the time you read this. Check it out on my travel blog of http://leggypeggy.com. n

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Feature

Manners Matter Cheryl Stohl Samusevich provides solutions

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Writen by Jim Rundstrom

any companies have no clue what it consists of,” said Cheryl Stohl Samusevich ’66, owner of Etiquette Solutions in Lincoln. “Etiquette plays a key role in the success of any business.

“It is important,” she said, “because, among other things, it prevents misunderstandings and sets clear expectations in the workplace. Companies have an obligation to make sure their employees know what type of workplace etiquette is expected.”

Samusevich has been helping companies improve their workplace etiquette since starting her company ten years ago.

Her background as a high school home economics teacher for 15 years and a marketing and sales professional for 20 years provided her with a solid background.

When she made the decision to start her company, she attended the Protocol School of Washington, the first company to provide professional etiquette training and certification.

That school is widely recognized as the Cheryl Stohl leader in the field. “I told myself that I Samusevich ’66 wanted the best preparation possible to assist my clients. The Protocol School of Washington provided that,” she said.

“Many of my clients say ‘we do pretty good’ in terms of their etiquette. But, they really have no idea what ‘pretty good’ means,” she said. In reality, “They had no idea business etiquette includes all the things we talk about.”

In simple terms, work etiquette is how to handle oneself in the workplace. It is something that is not taught in college.

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However, she said, her experience has shown that it is critical to the success of any company.

When Samusevich works with clients, etiquette covers a wide variety of subjects like improving civility and manners in the workplace, professional behavior of office executives and staff, dress, communication with colleagues, use of social media, generational issues as well as a wide variety of other areas.

Etiquette is demonstrated in something as simple as handing someone a business card. “For example, people don’t hand out a business card correctly so that I can read it – it might be upside down,” she said. “People write on it in front of you. A business card should be treated like an important document.”

Etiquette is determined by a workplace culture, too. And that differs from one business environment to another business environment. It can even be different within the same company.

Dress is one of those areas. Too many people dress too casually or inappropriately at the office. One suggestion, she said, is to see how the boss dresses, and simulate that style.

Samusevich constantly coaches clients on impressions as they are formed, often without anyone saying a word.

“Etiquette and protocol training has become an escalating trend,” she said. “As the new millennium takes hold, with all the excitement and opportunities it brings, civility is fading away.

Company leaders are convinced that manners are taking a nosedive.” Etiquette Solutions training can help with that.

Her clients span almost every industry – legal, healthcare, engineering, manufacturing, insurance, sales and marketing. Her seminars around the country deal with such topics as business etiquette training, dining etiquette training and international protocol. Information on Samusevich’s company is available at etiquette solutions.com. n

A Portrait in Philanthropy

Happiness Through Giving The Yanneys’ philanthropy is in their DNA

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Writtn by Colleen Fleischer

ike Yanney, the youngest of eight, was just a boy when his dad died. His mother had no money, but somehow she took care of all of them in Kearney.

She raised and sold vegetables.

That was Mike’s first job – selling vegetables to local grocery stores. He detasseled corn. He shined shoes. He walked along the railroad tracks, hunting for coal that had fallen from the trains so his mother could make a fire. He even worked as a disc jockey, though he says he was terrible at it. His siblings worked hard, too, that’s also how they made it through those post-Depression years.

That’s why Mike takes care of the kids now. He remembers what it was like.

After his mother died, he and his sister planted a weeping elm tree in her honor in a Kearney park. But he didn’t feel a weeping tree represented her at all, because his mother was full of love and spirit and happiness. So to honor his parents a few years back, Mike and his wife, Gail Walling Yanney, M.D., helped with land and money for a new Kearney park: The E.K. and Mary Yanney Heritage Park.

Mike remembers happiness during those years. He knows money doesn’t buy it. His mother told him: You’re going to be very successful in life. But true success will be measured not by what you make in money, but by what you give of yourself to your community and to your country.

Mike and his wife like to give back to Omaha, where they now live. They give back to the University of Nebraska, where both of them graduated – Mike from Kearney and Gail from Lincoln and the College of Medicine in Omaha. The University of

Mike Yanney ’55 his wife, Gail, enjoy giving to many causes.

Nebraska Medical Center is one of their favorite causes.

Gail was an anesthesiologist for years. She is not sure how she became philanthropic. She remembers a conversation she had with one of her medical school professors decades ago. Her mother had wanted her to join the Junior League. But Gail didn’t know if she should try to fit it in with her medical studies. She asked the head of the department of surgery what he thought.

“He told me, ‘A physician needs to be a part of the community,’” Gail said, “and then listed all the boards and charities that he found the time for in his busy life.

“I credit Mike, too. Philanthropy just seems to be part of his DNA. In the years we’ve been married, it’s become part of mine, too. My main interests are the status of women, the arts and the environment.”

Over the years, the Yanneys have come to this conclusion: All you get out of life is what you give away. If you are constantly sending out doves and songbirds, you get doves and songbirds back. n

Dr. Richard Miller Earns Another Award Dr. Richard Miller, professor of psychology, received the Charles L. Brewer Award for Distinguished Teaching of Psychology from the American Psychological Association.

“Miller is a passionate advocate of undergraduate research, and a leader in promoting experiential learning and innovative techniques, sharing his expertise at conferences and in publications,” said Dr. Dorothy Cantor, president of APA. “His greatest satisfaction is helping undergraduates critically examine and expand psychology’s knowledge base, and in doing so, he has found ways to bridge the gulf between scholarship and teaching,” Cantor said.

In 2009, Miller was named the national CASE/Carnegie Foundation U.S. Professor of the Year. That same year, he was awarded the Robert S. Daniel Teaching Excellence Award from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, Division Two, of the American Psychological Association. Earlier this year, his alma mater, Weber State University, awarded Dr. Miller their first Outstanding Psychology Alumni Award. n 9

Feature

The Art of Judging Art

Ron Sack ’88, judges prestigious ‘Communication Arts’ Advertising Annual

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on Sack ’88, associate creative director at Bailey Lauerman in Omaha, was chosen as a judge for Communication Arts Advertising 2012 Annual last summer in Palo Alto, California. Last fall, Sack also was presented the prestigious AIGA Fellow Award by AIGA Nebraska.

“We were proud, but not surprised, to hear that Ron was asked to judge the advertising annual,” said Carter Weitz, president and chief creative officer of Bailey Lauerman. “Ron is one of the most highly awarded creative practitioners in the industry. Communication Arts is one of the toughest and most distinguished creative competitions in the world, so it makes sense that he would judge the annual.”

Communication Arts has published the best in visual communications from around the world. This year, judges selected only 143 winning projects of nearly 5,000 entries for the Advertising Annual.

The eight jurors came from Arnold Worldwide (Boston), The Martin Agency (Richmond, Virginia), Leo Burnett Worldwide (Toronto, Ontario), BBDO Worldwide, Deutsch Inc. (Los Angeles), Richter7 (Salt Lake City), Bailey Lauerman (Omaha) and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners (San Francisco).

In the publication’s 53-year history, it’s believed that Sack is only the second Nebraskan to judge the advertising annual.

Over the years, his work has caught the attention of judges in the design and advertising world.

His work appears in the permanent collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts (Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe) in Hamburg, Germany, and the AIGA 365 National Design Archives housed at the Denver Art Museum.

In 2010, Sack was named Top Contributing Advertising Art Directors of Graphis from 2005-2010. The compilation consists of the best advertising art directors from around the globe.

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Winners were selected based on whose work won the most awards in the 2005-2010 Graphis Annuals. Within the Graphis list, featuring 800 of the world’s most recognized art directors, Sack ranked number seven.

Sack’s work has also made appearances into One Show Design; Communication Arts Advertising, Design and Typography Annuals; AIGA 365 Design Annual; National ADDYs; National ADDYs “Best of Show” Finalist; Effies; New York Festivals; Archive; OBIEs; AdWeek; AdAge; Creativity Magazine; Graphis Annuals; How Magazine; The O’Toole Awards; and PRINT’s Regional Design Annuals.

Some of the clients Sack’s work has been recognized for in the above competitions include: The Smithsonian, Union Pacific, ConAgra, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Strategic Air & Space Museum, and the UNL Athletic Department.

The AIGA Fellow Award marks the first time that the statewide design association has bestowed the honor, which recognizes designers who’ve made a significant contribution to raising the standards of excellence in practice and conduct within Ron Sack ’88 their local or regional design community as well as in their local AIGA chapter.

“We were very impressed with Ron’s community involvement and his passion for history and storytelling,” said Craig Hughes, the board’s president. “Ron embodies everything that a great AIGA Fellow represents.”

It all started when Sack was pursuing a BFA at UNK. “UNK has an exceptional design program,” Sack said. “Some of the best designers and art directors across the country are products of the UNK design program.”

“I give former design professor, Kent Smith, a lot of credit. He got many of us designers going in the right direction. Back in the 1980s, we had a program at UNK called IN2PRINT. That was an

Feature outstanding program. To be able to work with real clients and get our concepts produced gave many of UNK’s design graduates an edge when we went out into the job market. Even though Smith left the program years ago, the program hasn’t missed a beat. Hats off to the faculty for all they are doing for their students now.

“Having a fine arts background added depth and dimension to my work.

I respect what those professors in the college of fine arts did for us and the program.”

Along the way, Sack hasn’t forgotten his hometown of St. Paul. Even though he hasn’t lived in St. Paul for 28 years, he has given back to the community by serving on various community boards.

Looking around St. Paul, you see traces of his volunteer work—the baseball mural on main street, a contemporary photographic collection of Howard County architecture housed at the St. Paul Library (and funded entirely by Sack), and restored buildings and new exhibits at the Howard County Historical Village.

Two of the buildings Sack and members of the Howard County Historical Society helped save were the Cotesfield post office and a Union Pacific depot. Both were unwanted on their original sites and were moved to St. Paul. Sack volunteered his time, talents and resources to restore the two buildings.

Enrollment up Ninth consecutive year increase

Fall enrollment at UNK reached its highest in 16 years with 7,199 students enrolled. This represents the ninth consecutive year of increases and a 1.4 percent increase over 2011. The number of firsttime, full-time freshman students increased by six percent.

Chancellor Doug Kristensen said, “Not only is the upward trend continuing this year, our students are increasingly international, diverse and academically prepared.”

Of the students enrolled, 79 percent are Nebraska residents.

“Preservation is such a vital part in bringing life back to our communities,” Sack noted. “There’s something incredibly powerful about being able to walk into an old building and say, ‘This is where it happened...Within these walls...

Right here.’ My family’s roots run deep in central Nebraska. They have instilled in each of us to give back to the community in one way or another.”

In 2000, he volunteered more of his time and helped write and edit a 500-page history book on Howard County — his childhood stomping grounds. The book went on to win awards from The Nebraska Center for the Book and the American Association for State and Local History.

Those volunteer projects, and many others, resulted in Sack receiving the “Friend of Tourism” award from the Nebraska Department of Tourism in 2007 for his “contribution to the positive growth of Nebraska’s tourism industry.”

When asked how he maintains his creativity, Sack said, “Travel is key. I’ve been to Europe several times. The architecture, design, food, music and people are incredible. They get my creative juices going. However, I also enjoy good drives in Nebraska equally as much. Highway 2 through Nebraska’s Sandhills is unbelievable.

“I have great memories of UNK. I continue to be impressed by how much the campus has grown. It makes all of us alumni feel good to see the campus and the university prosper.” n

UNK students come from 48 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands (only Maine and Vermont are not represented).

There are 544 international students enrolled, a 13.1 percent increase. International students now make up 10 percent of the incoming class. Those enrolled represent 58 countries. The Republic of South Korea has the largest (175), followed by China (142) and Japan (129). Three additional countries are represented for the first time – Austria, Guyana and Mongolia.

UNK’s student body is increasingly diverse, with minority students comprising 12.9 percent of first-time freshmen. The total number of both Hispanic and African-American students at UNK has increased 19.6 percent over last year. n 11

Campus News

Financial Impact UNK adds $653.8 million to Nebraska economy

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study released in November by UNK and Economic Modeling Specialists International shows that the Kearney campus adds $653.8 million annually to Nebraska’s economy.

The study took into account $590.4 million of student productivity, plus the combined effects of spending in Nebraska each year by the university itself, at $42.7 million, and by students and visitors from outside the state of $20.7 million.

“The most important economic impact of UNK is the student productivity effect that stems from the annual average income differential between the 30,000 UNK graduates who live in the state and those in the Nebraska workforce whose educational attainment is only at the high school level,” found the study.

“Nebraskans recognize that UNK is a regional leader for education, culture, community service and health care,” UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen said. “This study demonstrates that we are a major economic engine and offer a tremendous return on investment to students and taxpayers.”

UNK chose EMSI to conduct the study because of its unique methodology. It takes into account actual spending by the institution, yet recognizes the even more powerful effect of the university’s graduates in the state’s workplace.

“Rather than trying to make the university artificially look good by claiming every possible dollar, we calculate the main components and then discount them,” said EMSI research economist Tim Nadreau, the study’s lead author.

“Any money the university receives from within the state is not included in the impact since that money and the associated multiplier effects are not new monies in the state.”

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Though EMSI’s economic modeling is rather conservative, the study determined that UNK-related activities and outcomes are equal to nearly one percent of Nebraska’s gross-state product, a high impact given UNK’s location and size.

Personal incomes in Nebraska “would be substantially lower without the educational activities of UNK,” the report said.

Students realize a 16.5 percent rate of return on their educational investment at UNK and recover all costs, including tuition, fees and forgone wages, in 9.3 years.

That is a long time, “Students aren’t venture capitalists. They’re making a long-term investment,” Nadreau said.

The average income at the career midpoint of someone with a bachelor’s degree in Nebraska is $58,400, which is more than double the average income at the career midpoint of someone with only a high school diploma at $28,100 annually.

Taxpayers also benefit from higher earnings of UNK students, which expand the tax base in Nebraska by about $48.6 million each year. Taxpayers also save $11.2 million per year from benefits associated with UNK graduates, including improved health, reduced crime and reduced welfare and unemployment.

From the taxpayers’ perspective, state and local governments see a rate of return of 6 percent on their support for UNK, which compares favorably with private sector rates of return on similar long-term investments.

The study addresses UNK’s effect on the Nebraska economy as a whole, not necessarily its effect in the Kearney area.

“It is already well known that UNK is a significant pillar in our community,” said Darren Robinson, president of the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County.

“This report solidifies the importance of UNK’s presence by reflecting $56.9 million in annual payroll, the significant ancillary spending in the community and the state, as well as the diverse talent drawn to Kearney by way of students and faculty. ” n

College of Education

Robinson receives national award

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ara Buntemeyer Robinson ’03, a fourth-grade teacher at Gates Elementary in Grand Island was presented the 2012 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. She was one of only 40 teachers across the nation to receive the award which also includes a check for $25,000.

Sara said she always wanted to teach. “This is going to sound funny, but I would make my brothers and neighbor kids come to my house and play school in my garage in North Platte,” she said.

After graduating, she taught four years in Plattsmouth before joining the Grand Island Public Schools where she is in her sixth year.

Julie Martin, principal at Gates, described Robinson as “truly a gift to education” who continues to give of herself over and over.

“I think she bleeds school.”

Roger Breed, Nebraska education commissioner, and Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Family Foundation, and Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman were on hand for the presentation.

The Milken Family Foundation has been recognizing teachers across the country since 1987.

The program provides public recognition and financial awards to attract, retain and motivate talented educators.

In selecting its honorees, the foundation looks for educators who demonstrate exceptional educational talent and whose engaging and inspiring presence motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community.

Proven Quality UNK among adacemic elite in Midwest

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or the third consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked UNK as the ninth best Public Regional University in the Midwest.

“The three-year continuation of UNK’s position as a Top 10 university confirms what our students recognize,” Chancellor Doug Kristensen said. “A UNK education is a highly valuable and increasingly acknowledged as such across Nebraska, the region and the world.”

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on 11 performance indicators. One indicator is peer assessment, on which UNK experienced significant upward movement.

The Grand Island Independent; photographer Barrett Stinson

Ahead of Her Class

Sara Buntemeyer Robinson ’03 is one in 40 nationally to receive the 2012 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.

Robinson said she loves working with kids. She considers herself “a lifelong learner” and said she always looks for ways to improve herself and help her students become lifelong learners, too.

Her grandmother, Dee Simpson, taught in the Lincoln Public Schools – and in addition to providing her with inspiration, she provided her with the old workbooks and textbooks that Robinson used in her garage school.

By high school, Robinson knew she wanted to teach. Her senior year in high school, she took off third period and helped out in the classroom of her third-grade teacher.

Robinson said she loves teaching, especially when she sees how excited her students become when they learn a new concept.

She said she would not have received the award without all the support and knowledge she had gained from her colleagues. n

Dr. Charles Bicak, senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, said he believes this reflects a growing positive awareness of UNK in the region.

Dr. Bicak said. “It is strong validation of the commitment of faculty and staff to our student-centered mission.”

The university’s rankings on other indicators remained consistent: freshman retention (80 percent), average graduation rate (59 percent), student/faculty ratio (16/1), faculty who are full-time (89 percent), SAT/ACT percentile (20-25), acceptance rate (86 percent) and average alumni giving rate (8 percent).

“The 11 indicators included in the rankings encompass factors related to recruiting, retention, academics and alumni giving,” Chancellor Kristensen said. “The ranking is a testament to the fact that the university – including members of the faculty, staff, administration, the Kearney community and our alumni – are fully engaged and committed to the success of our students and institution.” n

Top10 Rated

Top 10 Public Regional University – U.S.News & World Report

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A Portrait in Philanthropy

Dust Bowl Days

quarantined. So the doctors did my double mastoid surgery on the kitchen table. Three days after my surgery, my sister died. I remember her funeral, out in the yard of the farm.

My dad trucked all of his life. But he did care about people.

Robert Sahling’s giving reflects his heritage Every once in a while, he’d have some guy with him – some guy

Writen by Colleen Fleischer down on his luck who’d been hitchhiking. Dad would say, “Go obert, are you sure you know what the hell you are downstairs and get yourself a good old shower.” Mom would fix doing?” I remember saying that to myself. It was the guy a meal.

1972. I’d finally gotten the Kenworth franchise I’m glad I was raised in the era I was raised in. You learn a after years of hard work driving trucks and selling used trucks. lot of hard lessons young, but you survive them, you remember They’d just put in the footings of our new building, and I was them and you try not to go through those situations again. I am standing on the foundation, watching the sunset. But I knew God so blessed. It’s unreal. I wound up with nothing more than a high was watching out for me. He always has been. school education – and I didn’t really apply myself too good to that.

I came from exactly nothing. I grew up in the Dust Bowl And for too many years in my life it was too much “me, me.” days. My mother would have rags stuck in anything that Now I could care less. I have a wonderful family who are all resembled a crack to keep the dirt out. We lived on a farm near in good positions today. I sold the company to my son. Whenever Kenesaw. I suppose I was 4 or 5 when the WPA came out with I could do something for someone in my family, it always made a program where if you needed a new outhouse they’d put me feel so good. With my mother, I wish she could have seen a few one up for eight dollars – a two-holer on a concrete base with more years. I was just starting to make some pretty good money by doors. I don’t know where my dad found the eight dollars, but I the time she died. There were a lot of wonderful things I’d liked to remember we got one. That was a step up, believe me! have done for her – anything she wanted, believe me.

Mom would tear Today, I do two things: I apart feed sacks to make give to my church and I give Robert Sahling, “I do two things: I give to my church and UNK.” us boys shirts. Mom was to the University of Nebraska a strong-willed person. at Kearney. UNK is a family to French and German. me, too.

She’d help anyone. So Chancellor Kristensen – what compassion I there’s not a better guy on earth. guess I’ve gathered in I’ve met so many young men my lifetime, I learned on the football team. They are it from her. She never the neatest young bucks. In my swayed in her faith. She estate, I’m leaving money to just had an air about her students. But they have to be that God will take care of from Nebraska or the northern you, help you overcome half of Kansas. That’s Sahling anything.

Kenworth’s trade area.

I was 6 years old The good Lord steered me when my sister died, through the years. Today, I love Huelah Mae. She was 8, the Lord and I love to do things a sweet little gal with a to please Him. big smile. She looked an If you, like Robert Sahling, awful lot like my mother, would like to help support the who was a very pretty University of Nebraska in its woman. Our house current fund-raising campaign burned down the same – the Campaign for Nebraska: night my sister came Unlimited Possibilities – visit down with scarlet fever. campaignfornebraska.org or Then I came down with call the University of Nebraska it. I wasn’t supposed Foundation at 800-432-3216. n to live, either. We were

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College of Natural and Social Sciences

Buckle Gift Fits Students Kearney retailer establishes scholarship

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he company long known for helping young adults look their best is also helping them learn the best with a new scholarship and career development program created by The Buckle, Inc. (“Buckle”) at UNK. A permanent endowment in the name of Buckle has been established with a $150,000 gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to provide annual scholarship awards for students interested in careers related to computer science or information technology.

Each year, two $3,000 scholarships will be awarded to students in the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems who meet certain academic UNK students Derek McNeil and Rachel Decker, both of Kearney, are website requirements. A scholarship will be systems development interns at Buckle. awarded every year to an incoming freshman, and a second scholarship professionals. Buckle’s IT teams provide innovative solutions that will be awarded during the student’s sophomore year based on impact all functions of our business. So, naturally, we’re excited academic achievement. to support the growth and development of computer science John La Duke, dean of the College of Natural and Social students and strengthen our relationship with UNK going Sciences, expressed appreciation to Buckle’s management and IT forward.” professionals for supporting students.

The company is also involved with UNK’s Computer “Our Department of Computer Science and Information Science and Information Systems Advisory Council, which Systems faculty work very hard to not only train but also mentor provides leadership and advice to the department related to students to be professionals,” La Duke said. “Buckle’s interest in programs and student needs. helping our students excel is admirable, and we look forward to The endowment created by the company supports the strengthening this interaction.” university’s current fundraising initiative, the Campaign for La Duke also lauded the company for starting a student Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, and its goal to raise $50 internship program and for hiring numerous computer science million for UNK needs. Increasing available student scholarships and information systems graduates over the years. Buckle also is a top campaign priority for the university. offers its employees for classroom presentations and gives Offering a unique mix of high-quality, on-trend apparel, students opportunities to visit the company’s headquarters and accessories, and footwear, Buckle caters to fashion-conscious operations. men and women. Known as a denim destination, each store Dennis Nelson ’73, president of Buckle, said, “Buckle carries a wide selection of fits, styles, and finishes from leading recognizes the importance of establishing a strong technical denim brands, including the company’s exclusive brand, BKE. workforce in Nebraska. By supporting the computer science Headquartered in Kearney, Buckle currently operates 439 retail program at UNK, Buckle hopes to encourage and support the stores in 43 states. n growth of that workforce and the development of future IT 15

College of Natural and Social Sciences

Star Professor

their family to go to college. Many come from consolidated schools across the state. Some had to drive round trips of up to 40 miles to attend those schools. Many come from small communities where Mentor, adviser, professor and friend people learn to pull together and participate for the good of the community.

“You don’t have to lecture at them,” Longo says. “You see a e’s nervous. He doesn’t want to talk about himself. “I genuine expression of community life on campus. They treat one don’t think I’m that good,” says Peter Longo, a political another with respect.” science professor at UNK. “I have the best job in the That, he says, is the nature of his students. He smiles. “And if world, and I’m lucky to have it. I have the best students. your car breaks down on the edge of campus, they’ll stop to fix it – “I’m so proud of them.” and they’ll actually know how to fix it.”

So let’s talk about his students. Maybe that way we can learn This April, UNK will play host to the Center for Great Plains about Longo and why UNK – and his students – are so proud of Studies Symposium. The topic will be school consolidation. Longo him. A few stories: chairs the planning A UNK student committee for the event, recently sent a text which will draw people message to four people. He from across the country. wanted them to be the first Even though the to know the big news, that symposium is about he’d been accepted into school consolidation, the grad school at Notre he says, it’s really about Dame. The four people preserving rural life – and were his mom, his sisters that generous spirit that and Professor Longo. produces people like his While traveling students. around to graduation Longo grew up in parties one afternoon, Bellevue. He graduated Longo was sure he’d from Creighton contracted the flu. When University and then he returned home, his wife earned a law degree and quizzed him. How many UNK political science professor Peter Longo. a doctorate in political parties did you go to? science from UNL. In Twenty-three. And how Lincoln, he found a many pieces of cake did mentor in Bob Miewald, a political science professor. They wrote a you eat? Twenty-three. book together on the Nebraska Constitution. (The second edition Charlie Bicak, senior vice chancellor for Academic and Student was written with Longo’s former UNK student Anthony Schutz, a Affairs, walked across campus with Longo one day this past spring. native of Elwood who’ is now a UNL law professor.) Miewald was a He noticed that Longo greeted almost every student they saw by wonderful man, Longo says. He knew how to treat people. name. Not only that, he remembered details about each student, “He always thought Kearney would be a good place for me. and asked questions like, “Did you decide to follow through with Early on, he’s the one who said, ‘Carve your niche out there, and applying to law school?” pay attention to the things happening statewide.’ I still hear his “Remember when we talked awhile back?” voice at least three or four times a day. And he always used to say to Says Bicak: “Sometimes this catches the students, and they’re a me, ‘Treat your students well. Treat those Lopers well.’ ” little startled.” But they know he has their best interest at heart.

Miewald died in 2006. He could have had many teaching Longo came to UNK in 1988. In 1999, he was honored with awards, Longo says, but he refused to even be nominated. the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Professor “He was so humble.”

Award for his “sustained excellence in teaching, research and Over the years, Longo has become a mentor himself to many service to UNK and the Kearney community.”

Lopers. James Reed ’99, MAE ’11, teaches Social Studies and He says his students inspired his academic focus over the Modern Problems at Southern Valley Jr./Sr. High in Oxford, a years, especially his current research on school consolidation. consolidated school in south-central Nebraska.

About 40 percent of UNK’s students, he says, are the first in

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College of Natural and Social Sciences “Working with Dr. Longo has made me a better teacher,” says Reed. “He’s encouraged my students and me to tackle projects we thought were beyond our scope.”

A few years back, Longo and another UNK professor, John Anderson, encouraged Reed and his students to pursue a community school project. The professors helped them conduct a survey of Southern Valley students. The results showed that the students wanted a store at the school. Longo and Anderson – using grant money from the University of Nebraska Foundation – bought flash drives and gave them to Reed’s students to sell.

They raised enough money to buy a vending machine. So far they’ve raised about $4,000 with the machine. Overall, with other grants and donations, they’ve raised more than $20,000.

Reed and his students developed their own grant process.

Other students and staff can apply for grants from the money.

Grants that have been awarded include netbook computers for the guidance office, software for the journalism class and money to the junior class for prom.

Says Reed: “The best lesson Dr. Longo has taught me is that I can think big.”

Bicak, vice chancellor, says three things strike him about Longo – his creativity, his work ethic and his “tremendous personality.” It’s rare, he says, to find all three in one person.

“He would be a major academic asset wherever he might go, wherever he might be,” Bicak says. “But he doesn’t act like that, not in the least. “His heart and soul are with the students.” n

Passion Meets Purpose

Dr. Maha Younes creates a ripple effect of passion in working with people

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assionate, inspiring, enthusiastic and encouraging.

These are just a few of the words Dr. Maha Younes’ students use to describe her.

Professor and Department Chair of the Social Work program in the College of Natural & Social Sciences, Maha has left a lasting impression on many students. Ten years after learning from Maha, two of her students recall stories from the classroom.

Megan Patterson, now a school psychologist in Gering Public Schools, said the theme in Maha’s classes was ‘you have the power to positively impact someone’s life, and here are ways that you can go about that.’ Megan remembers visiting Maha one day after hearing about legislature she thought was unfair. Maha sat nodding her head and listening; then she posed a question.

‘Well Megan, what are you going to do about it?’

Maha encouraged Patterson to stand up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves no matter how hard it might be.

Patterson described Maha’s commitment to the program and her students as amazing saying, “I don’t think she ever sleeps.”

Now that Patterson is in the social work field she continues to seek advice from Maha. Describing their current relationship Patterson says it’s the kind of relationship where you might not talk for a while, but when you do it’s like you never stopped.

“What I remember most about her was that her enthusiasm was just infectious. You could take social welfare and policies class and just have it be absolutely dry as dirt. She came at it with such an enthusiasm and such a passion; you couldn’t help but have fun in her class.”

Rebecca Czaja-Stevens was also taught by Maha 10 years ago and remembers the same sentiments. “She not only taught social work, she practiced it.”

Maha would bring letters to class that she was writing regarding policies and ask for student feedback encouraging students to do the same. This had a huge impact on Rebecca as she continues to write letters to policy makers.

As a student, Rebecca went on a global policy trip led by Maha to Scandinavia in 2001with 19 others. The group visited agencies to learn about their policies and practices firsthand. She remembers the group getting restless while on a tour bus, so Maha grabbed the microphone and entertained everyone by telling jokes and singing Old McDonald.

The biggest impact Maha has had on their lives?

“She was my first social work mentor… It would be the ultimate career goal to follow in her footsteps and teach the subject that I love,” Rebecca said.

Patterson agreed, describing a stone being thrown into a lake and watching ripples form. “Although she hasn’t directly worked with the families I’ve worked with, her impact has been felt.” n 17

Campus News

Calvin T. Ryan

Celebrates 50th as Federal Government Depository

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The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established by Congress to insure that the American public has access to government generated information.

he Calvin T. Ryan Library celebrated its 50th anniversary as a Federal Government Depository Library in October.

The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established by Congress to insure that the American public has access to government generated information. These information products are disseminated to depository libraries nationwide.

Libraries must be appointed by a member of Congress to be a depository. Former director of libraries Alice Payne took the first steps in initiating the request to be designated a selective depository documents. Congressman David Martin made the official appointment in 1962.

There have been two librarians over the past 30 years, Diana Keith ’77 from 1979 to 2010 and Rochelle Hunt Kruger ’91 from 2010 to the present. Other government documents librarians through the years are Loren Pinkerman ( 1977-1979), Jim Rowling (1975-1977, Sandra Faull (1973-1975), Lois Severns (1968-1973), Everett Wilson (1967-1968) Beverly Deist Nelson ’63 (1966-1967) and Sharon Wisch Mason ’62 (1963-1966.

Government document assistants have been Gloria Mason (1982-1994) Heidi Carpenter Haussermann ’90 (1994-2000), Mary Elliott Roesler ’90 (2000-2003) and Patricia Parish Woodcock ’96, MA’02 (2003). n

Brewed Awakening:

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he first student-owned business on campus, Brewed Awakening, opened in November. Brewed Awakening is a coffee shop located at the east entrance in the Health and Sports Center.

The students of Enactus, an organization that focuses on entrepreneurship, action and community involvement, own and operate the business. The manager is Amanda Thee, a junior business management major from Kearney.

With the support of faculty and staff, the students engaged in the process of forming the business over the past two years.

They completed a feasibility study, developed a business plan, located a coffee supplier, purchased the necessary equipment,

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First student-owned business on campus

hired employees, wrote an employee handbook and built a marketing plan with the assistance of students from the American Marketing Association.

The shop is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm. All proceeds will be directed toward funding Enactus projects, including the rural grocery revitalization initiative, a campus-wide sustainability plan, and new venture adventure, an outreach program aimed at area high schools, according to Dr. Jake Messersmith, assistant professor of management and associate adviser for Enactus.

Shawn Kaskie, director of the Center for Rural Research and Development, is the lead adviser for Enactus. n

LOPER ATHLETICS lopers.com

Team of Distinction 1977 football - 14th team honored

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he 1977 football team was honored as the 14th Team of Distinction in November.

That team finished fourth in the NAIA rankings and was only the second Loper team to be selected for the national playoffs. Only four teams were selected.

That squad posted an 8-2-1 record and won the CSIC championship before losing 21-7 to Southwest Oklahoma in a NAIA semifinal playoff game. It was the first postseason play since the Front row kneeling: Kevin Roach, Bill Windhorst, Loren Wiederspan, Doug Peterson, Paul Waggoner, 1963 team posted a 9-0 regular Myron Placek. Back row standing: Dan Hoesing, Greg Rocke, Chuck Bacus, Keith Buschow, Bill season record before losing to Anderson, Paul Nordhues, Steve Leach, Gregg Baker, Greg Bacon, Jon McBride, Ron Groteluschen, Prairie View, Texas, 20-7 in the Ed Yeutter, Dean Edelman, Coach Terry Renner, Carl Streeter, Fred Knapple, Coach Claire Boroff. semi-final that year. Assistant coach Terry Renner was a member of that team.

Last spring, cross country teams from 1991 and 1992 were For the first time, the Lopers had two first team Allhonored together. The 1991 men’s cross country team was second Americans. Senior guard Bill Windhorst of North Platte and in the NCAA championships and the 1992 cross country team senior defensive lineman Roger Wachholtz of Plainview were was third at the NCAA championships. named to the team. Junior linebacker Doug Peterson of Ord was Members of the 1991 and 1992 team were Daren Barker, honorable mention. He was a first team selection as a senior.

Mike Bash, Bob Brindamour, Jason Coorts, Bryan Danburg, Kurt All CSIC first team members were Steve Bates, Jeff Bolin, Mike Holliday, Tom Magnuson, Joe Schumm, Tom Schultz, Jay Svehla Golden, Loren Wiederspan, Windhorst, Wachholtz and Peterson. and Erich Whitemore.

Tri-captains were seniors Windhorst, defensive end Bates Members of the 1991 team only were Jim Ballinger, and linebacker Mike Walsh.

Derek Bryer, Mike Haley, Rob Morrow, Brad Sherman and Coach Claire Boroff ’s squad won eight consecutive games Kip Vanderwal. Members of the 1992 team only were Todd after starting the season with a 7-7 tie against Wisconsin Fuelberth, Brian Goatley, Brian Horan, Joel Kieffer, Dan Nielsen, LaCrosse and a 21-16 loss to Augustana. The eight wins were Aaron Ripley and Malunqisa E. Zwane. Coaches were Lyle over Chadron 38-7, Pittsburg 49-3, Wayne 20-6, Washburn 28Claussen, Bill Hennigar, Rick Meyer and John Ross.

21, Emporia 31-0, Missouri Southern 27-23, Fort Hays 26-6 and Teams of Distinction have been recognized by the athletic Missouri Western 34-0. department since 2003. Other teams honored have been 1967 The defense held teams to an average of 230 yards a game baseball, 1930 football, 1941 football, 1956 football, 1963 football, and the offense, with six backs gaining more than 100 yards, 1964 bowling, 1978 men’s basketball, 1982 men’s basketball, 1975 averaged 350 yards a game. volleyball, 1987 softball, and 1959 cross country. n

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Homecoming 2012

! y e n r a e K e k i L e c a l P o N s There’

inning float Above is the w from CTE. to the 2012 Congratulations Royalty Homecoming Nelson Queen Whitney d King an gs is from Hastin m fro ey ol Michael Co Morrill.

Alumni Distinguished Award Recipients Marilyn ’65 and Bill McGahan ’64, MSE ’68, ES ’91 and Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee Bob ’94, Keli ’95 Brindamour and boys prepare for the parade.

Mike ’85 and Alumni Distinguished Award Recipient Jeanette Keller Wojtalewicz ’84 and Ellen Wemhoff enjoy the alumni celebration evening banquet.

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lumni, friends and those attending Homecoming 2012 realized ‘There’s No Place Like Home,’ the theme of the week of September 17-22.

Highlights filled the week-long event that also included recognition of the Family of the Year and Band Day. At the 32nd annual Homecoming banquet, the Alumni Association presented seven awards and the Athletic Hall of Fame inducted five athletes. Several other departments recognized outstanding alumni during the week.

Jamie Gutierrez ’89, ’90, Bill McGahan ‘64, MSE ’68, EDS ’91 and Jeanette Keller Wojtalewicz ’84 received Distinguished Alumni Awards. Dan Whelan ’00 received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award and Jerry and Nancy Stahr Dulitz ’65 received the Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were athletes Janet Pokorny Boettcher ’01, Bob Brindamour ’94, Randy Cipriano ’79, Carla Dobchuk Odnokon ’01, MAE ’03 and Jeff Stenslokken ’82.

David Sackschewsky ’97 received the Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumni Award. Dr. William Clarke ’93 was honored as the Don Fox Memorial Lecturer in Chemistry and Dr. Vic Larson ’64 was recognized by the College of Education as the Distinguished Educator of the Year.

Michael Cooley of Morrill and Whitney Nelson of Hastings were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. Cooley is a senior majoring in sports administration. He represented Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Nelson is a senior majoring in biology with a health science and a pre-med emphasis. She represented Antelope/Nester Hall.

Homecoming 2012

hof Jaeke ’88, Ja n ’89, Debi Bisc ai Sw a m m an m Ga r hr Do ed thei hison ’89, Kristy ’95, ’88 celebrat Pam Kenkel Mat Talbert ’91, MSE e ck Di na au Sh , ard. mie Gutierrez ’89 ished alumni aw y sisters distingu rit ro so ta Be i Ph

Nelson’s family also was named the 2012 Loper Family of the Year. The award is given based on what the student most admires about his or her family and how family members have encouraged the student’s education, academic and personal life.

Of her family, Nelson said, “My family has always been such a dynamic source of encouragement. Through their relentless support and understanding, I have been able to reach for higher goals and strive for greater successes. If there has ever been a moment when I needed a boost of energy, a pump of confidence or just a reality check, they have come through.”

The largest Homecoming parade in Nebraska featured more than 20 bands, floats and a variety of other entries. Following the parade, more than 250 attended the annual Loper Luncheon tailgate at the Alumni House.

Before a crowd of 5,218, Northwest Missouri provided the only disappointment of the weekend beating the Lopers 37-13.

Homecoming 2013 will be the same week as 2012 with events scheduled from September 17 through September 22.

Anyone interested in organizing an event should contact the Alumni Office. n

Plan now to attend

Homecoming 2013 September 17 - 22!

Standing: Student Body President Cameron Deter, Kim Elder ’75 MAE ’83, Bob Deter ’83 MSE ’90, Dusty Newton MSE ’02, John Mach, Ryan Morrisey, Grant Campbell ’10 and Mike Cooley. Kneeling: Brad Green ’11 and Jordan Gonzales ’12 get ready to go cheer on the Lopers.

Karen Wagner, Addie ’55 and Al Lybarger ’57 and Paul Wagner ’58 participate in a yearly friends’ reunion since Kearney days.

Jon McBride UNK Athletic Director welcomed Bob Brindamour ’94, Jeff Stenslokken ’82, Randy Cipriano ’79, Janet Pokorny Boettcher ’01 and Carla Dobchuk Odnokon ’01, MAE ’03 into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

To plan a reunion with a specific group, contact Brette Ensz for assistance at BEnsz@unkalumni.org or 308.865.8474 21

Homecoming 2012

Six Alumni Recognized

The 32nd annual Homecoming awards banquet in September honored alumni near and far

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ix alumni were recognized at Homecoming in September.

Jamie Gutierrez ’89 of Omaha; William C. ‘Bill’ McGahan ’64 MS ’68 ES ’81, of North Platte; and Jeanette Keller Wojtalewicz ’84, of Omaha received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Dan Whelan ’00 of Schaumburg, IL, received the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award and Jerry and Nancy Stahr Dulitz ’65 of Kearney received the Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

Jamie Gutierrez is president and owner of Midwest Maintenance, a building service provider headquartered in Omaha.

Midwest Maintenance maintains in excess of 8,000,000 square feet of office, industrial, healthcare and arena space. The company has been Omaha’s largest minority- and women-owned business since 1998.

Gutierrez participated on many noteable boards. She serves as Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben councilor, Government Affairs Council of the Building Service Contractors Association International member and the UNO Chancellor’s Hispanic Advisory Council.

She was one of Ten Outstanding Young Omahans by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Entrepreneur of the Year from the UNL Center for Entrepreneurship, Woman of Excellence from the YWCA, Woman of Color from UNO and 40 Under 40 by the Midlands Business Journal. She was recognized by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the top 500 largest Hispanic-owned companies in the nation.

Bill McGahan is a retired educator who spent 48 years in education. For 37 years, he served as superintendent of the North Platte Catholic Schools school system.

McGahan was a charter member of UNK Educational Administration Advisory Committee. He served on 24 Nebraska Department of Education school accreditation teams. McGahan was a member of the Bishop’s Pastoral Council for the Diocese of Grand Island, chaired both the Holy Spirit Church Parish Council and the North Platte library advisory committee, a member of ESU No.16 advisory council and president of South Platte Valley Association.

Jeanette Keller Wojtalewicz is chief financial officer for Catholic Health Initiative Nebraska, a position she has held since 2010.

CHI Nebraska is a $1 billion company that includes hospitals and

Jerry Dulitz ’65

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Nancy Stahr Dulitz ’65

Jamie Gutierrez ’89 and ’90

organizations such as Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center and the Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, St. Mary’s Hospital in Nebraska City and the Physician’s Network and Health Connect at Home.

From 1999 to 2010, she served as the vice president of finance at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln. Wojtalewicz also was a CPA with Seim, Johnson, Sestak and Quist in Omaha, director of finance at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha, director of finance at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln and CFO of Orchard Place Child Guidance Center in Des Moines, IA. Wojtalewicz is board president-elect for the Missouri Valley Cancer Consortium in Omaha.

Wojtalewicz served as a mentor for the UNK Gold Torch Society.

Dan Whelan designed UNK’s most recognizable visual image, the Loper athletic logo. He is game designer/project manager at Incredible Technologies. At Incredible Technologies, Whelan was the lead user interface and 3D character on the company’s Golden Tee golf video arcade game. The company, considered one of the top industry companies, also makes video slot machines and other games. Whelan was also selected for several awards voted on by company peers.

Whelan is a deacon at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church.

In college, he was a first team RMCA All-Conference selection as a center. He won a number of campus awards for his watercolor paintings and his academic achievements.

Jerry and Nancy Stahr Dulitz are longtime Central Nebraska business owners and UNK supporters. They have been owners of Nelson’s Furniture Stores for 50 years. They are also active members of Zion Lutheran Church having served on various boards. Jerry served on the Platte Valley State Bank board of directors and Civil Service board. Nancy has been an active member of UNK Senior College and the board of directors for Kearney Concert Association.

Both have been passionate about UNK athletics and the fine arts. It is rare not to see them at UNK sporting events. They both are founding members of Loper Football Backers and have been deeply involved with various other UNK fund raisers.n

Bill McGahan ’64 MSE ’68, EDS ’91

Jeanette Keller Wojtalewicz ’84

Dan Whelan ’00

Net Success

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he volleyball team capped another great season with a 35-3 record, the MIAA regular season title and an MIAA Tournament title.

UNK also spent five weeks as the nation’s No. 1 ranked team and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

They finished third in the final rankings after falling to eventual national champion Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota, in the NCAA Central Regional final. Concordia won the Division II title for the sixth consecutive year. The Lopers have now made 14 straight NCAA trips, won at least 30 matches six straight seasons and been regular season conference champions nine consecutive years.

Putting together winning streaks of 18 and 17 matches, the Lopers had five different players earn All-American, All-Region or All-MIAA honors with Rick Squiers being tabbed as MIAA Coach of the Year.

Sophomore libero Liz McGowan (Grand Island CC) was named an AVCA first-team All-American with senior setter Jenna Rouzee (Grand Island NW) selected to the second-team and senior outside Ariel Krolikowski (Grand Island) named honorable mention for a second straight season.

Junior middle Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) joined the above trio on the all-region team with junior middle Ellie Pesavento (Omaha Marian) receiving a third straight all-conference honors.

Besides Rouzee and Krolikowski, the other seniors on the team were defensive specialist Kaleigh Anderson (Lincoln SW) and outside Abbey Schueth (Ewing). n

LOPER ATHLETICS lopers.com

Olympic Medal Out of Reach for Tervel Heavyweight wrestler Tervel Dlagnev came up short in his bid to win a medal at the London Olympics. Dlagnev won his first two matches to advance to the semifinals, beating reigning world champion Aleksie Shemarov of Belarus, before getting pinned by Artur Taymazov of Uzbekistan. Taymazov went on to win his third Olympic gold medal.

Dlagnev then lost his bronze medal match to Komeil Ghasemi of Iran. “I didn’t recover from my semis. Just made too many mistakes and it was a bad day to do it . . . I’ve beaten those guys time and time again. I just didn’t do it when it counted,” he said Dlagnev said he plans to make another run at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. “It’s back to the drawing board to get better. I’ll start competition, take a couple winter tours, then try to make the world team.” n

Loper ladies volleyball team ended the season with an MIAA regular season title and an MIAA tournament title.

23

LOPER ATHLETICS lopers.com

24

Fall Sports

H

it by a rash of injuries, the Loper football team compiled a 3-8 record.

Six different quarterbacks started the first seven games, prompting Head Coach Darrell Morris to say that his new Offensive Coordinator Andy Siegal had started more different quarterbacks than his predecessor Russ Martin had in the past eight years.

After losing their first seven games, UNK won the next three over Southwest Baptist, Central Missouri and South Dakota School of Mines. CSIC rival Fort Hays kept the Lopers from winning their final four games with a 30-23 victory in the season finale.

UNK did lead the MIAA in rushing defense allowing 115.7 yards per game. Senior free safety Sam Kuck of Central City and sophomore tackle Cole Manhart of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, were named to the all-conference second team. Kuck was allleague three times. He ended his career with 254 tackles, the third most in the record book.

The cross-country teams wrapped up their fall seasons with the men finishing eighth and the women 15th at the NCAA regional meet. That came after the men finished fourth and the women sixth at the MIAA Championships.

For the men, Kevin Carder, an Albion junior, was the top runner in both meets. He was 10th in the MIAA and 27th at the regional. Briana Adams, a Pierce junior, led the women with a 21st

24

place finish at the MIAA and 49th place finish at the regional meet.

During the regular season, the men were nationally ranked for several weeks.

The men’s and women’s golf teams’ fall season saw the men win the Hastings College Fall Invite and the Nebraska Intercollegiate Tournament. The Lopers were second in the UNK Fall Classic, fifth at Pittsburg and twelfth at a tournament at Lindenwood.

The young men’s squad has only two seniors, Jordan Arensdorf of North Platte and Kris Koelzer of Wood River.

They will continue their season in the spring.

The women were second at the UNK Invite, third at Bellevue University, third at Lindenwood and 10th at Northeastern Oklahoma. On the women’s squad are four freshmen, one sophomore and one junior. n

Winter and Spring Sports For all the news on the Loper winter and sports activities, go to Lopers.com.

The UNK wrestling team will defend its national title in March. Both basketball teams, indoor track and field teams and women’s swimming have busy winter schedules.

Spring sports are not far behind, either with baseball, softball, outdoor track and field, tennis and golf anticipating the start of their seasons. n

rises students, faculty and staff traveled to Werner Enterp Twenty UNK College of Business and Technology and nies compa those within unities about career opport and ConAgra to tour the companies and learn more the Road.” This on logy Techno and ss Busine of ge “Colle called the supply chain field through a new program sses across the state. event will be held annually and will focus on busine

What’s Happening Locally & Nationally

e of Business and Alumnus Kirk Stinson ’91 was honored as Colleg he presented where nce Reside in ive Execut Technologies’ 2012 is pointing to the to seven classes while visiting campus. Stinson brand from the locks used in West Center which happen to be a tion – Black company he has worked for since his college gradua y Stanle the of ent Presid as serves tly curren and Decker. He Security Division for Black and Decker.

25

Indiana Alumnus Justin Kirk ’01 made a quick run to campus this past Septem ber to see all of the new renovations and change s. Justin currently serves as the executive director and fou ndation director of the Del ta Upsilon National Fratern ity. To learn more about the Global Service Initiative he has helped to spearh ead for his organization and oth ers go to www.deltau.o rg.

and Rich Brodersen ‘94 Lucas Dart ‘97, Robert Trent ‘92, Mark Yulee ‘93 , Florida in early November.

Tampa in brunch d enjoye who Lopers among were

legends

Dr. William Clarke Named Don Fox Lecturer

Dr. William Clarke ’93 was honored as the 2012 Don Fox Lecturer by the Department of Chemistry.

Dr. Clarke received his Ph.D. from UNL in analytical chemistry in 2000 followed by a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical chemistry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He earned his MBA that focused on medical services management from the Carey School of Business at Johns Hopkins in 2007.

Dr. Clarke has remained at Johns Hopkins, where he is an associate professor in the department of pathology. He also is director of both Point-of-Care Testing and Clinical Toxicology for the hospital.

Dr. Clarke is certified in clinical chemistry by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry, and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. His research centers around therapeutic drug monitoring, clinical toxicology, point-of-care testing and development/validation of biomarkers for use in drug management.

Dr. Clarke has published 48 papers in prestigious chemistry journals. He is the editor of Contemporary Practice in Clinical Chemistry.

Dr. Clarke was the recipient of the 2004 George Grannis Award from the NACB for excellence in research and publication by a young investigator and of the 2005 AACC TDM/Toxicology Division Young Investigator Award. n 25

Nikels Honored Psychology lab named

The department of psychology’s laboratory has a new name. In ceremonies in November, it was named for Professor Emeritus Dr. Ken Nikels. The honor recognizes Dr. Nikel’s longtime service to the department and UNK. It officially is known as the Kenneth W. Nikels Physiological Psych Laboratory.

Dr. Nikels, who joined the staff in 1971, was instrumental in designing the first physiological psychology laboratory in Founders Hall. He served as chair of the department from 1979 to 1983.

“A hallmark of the department’s undergraduate program is the research experience provided by advanced topical area laboratories,” said Dr. Rick Miller, former department chair and professor of psychology.

“He also added interdisciplinary tracks, including comprehensive majors in human factors, psychobiology and a minor in gerontology.”

In 1987, Dr. Nikels became dean of graduate studies and research. He also served as assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs. n

s Building. is located in the Fine Art Walker Gallery which the at Schultze, y ces Ra pie ry, ed Low ibit ith y exh er Holzrichter, Ke Elm , ker Nine emeriti art facult rra Ka ck Ja , John Dinsmore.

Dr. Larry Peterson are James May and Dr. Those who exhibited are ed tur pic t no o Tw r. rn Harshbarge Dr. Gary Zaruba and Ke

Loper Happenings Alumni Events in 2012

n was held in June. Standing: Marion Mirehouse, Marlene The annual local sorority Zetas and Alpha Xi Deltas luncheo Marilyn Winkler, Joyce Wink, Deb King, Betty Friskopp, King, Joan Beck, McKean, Sharron Altmaier, Mary Nelson, Jan , Mary Lou Kristensen. Sitting: Marcia Trimble, Mary Alice Kenney Diana Wubbenhorst, Nora Lindner, Maxine Erpelding and 4, 2013, at 11:00 am June y, Thursda on held be will n resunio next The r.

Donna Fischer, Carol McGahan and Shirley Urwille in the Chancellor’s Dining Room in the Nebraska Student Union.

College of Education Distinguished Educator of the Retired administrator Dr. Vic Larson ’65 was named the 2012 in September. Dr. Larson spent 33 years as Week Year. He was honored at several events during Homecoming r of Industrial Technology and coordinator Directo the as spent he which of many a teacher and an administrator, for Vic’s Corn Popper, a business they known also for vocational education. Dr. Larson and his wife, Ruth, are . income g teachin their started in 1980 to supplement

26

Local Chapter Sigma Upsilon Nu, which later became Theta Zi, brothers joined together to celebrate Dr. Vic Larson’s award. They are Jon Schultz ’63, Gary Junker ’65, Jim Armogost ’65 MAE ’67, Dr. Vic Larson ’65 and Barry Sherman ’64 who was Vic’s pledge dad during their college days.

ful their beauti athering at G i n n m so lu re A a ictured ed UNK ween them raduates. P and g llo 1 y a e ‘0 H rn E a a S e d e M K mily are grin ‘97, ilies host n fa m Lu e fa b rs” r b cy e e a p Tr Lu Lo , -L of the finest uebbe ope bbe ’67 One of our ve members Dick ’70 and Patty Lue up. Other “L fi 2. ro ll g ’0 A e e b s. th b u e d b in Lu lum Vaughn nding beh ulous ‘70, ie a p g st io n home in Co ts A is o d 7 K n ‘9 a te cas Dart e ’99, Pe ebbe ’94 Andy Luebb Luebbe Sanchez ’99. Lu 4 and Heidi Houska Lu y ’9 e th b a b C e r daughte Dr. Jeff Lu is photo are missing in th

legends

David “Shack” Sackschewsky Gary Thomas Award Recipient

and Carol Staab from the Good Life Show. The Mary Lou Kristensen ‘52, Doris Murray ‘68, Dr. Ed Scantling rural and one-room educators. Mary Lou and g honorin project show featured the One Room. One Teacher s from Kearney and served as One Room Doris both received their Normal Training and Education degree their stories have helped make the One Teachers in rural central Nebraska. Their willingness to share ation on this initiative contact Tracy inform Room. One Teacher program a success this year. For more 698-5278.

(308) at ation Found Lungrin with the University of Nebraska

27

in , all together for the first time 3 graduates gathered in Kearney 197 ege on Coll te cati Sta edu in rney e Kea wer e t Nin hing up. Eigh afternoon reminiscing and catc 40 years where they spent the dt, Paula Waldmann, Janet Arn es Fick Sue g: ram. Standin Betty Zimmer Van Dyke, and one entered the nursing prog r. and Deb Troutt Zwiene Sitting: ler, Fow r twe Wit rcia Ma tz, Vapenik Me ter. rlo Keas, Pat Hromadka Carpen Nancy McCarthy Polk, Lois Me

David Sackschewsky ’97, director of choirs at Northwest High School in Grand Island, was selected as the recipient of the Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Award. The award was presented during Homecoming week.

Sackschewsky conducts seven choirs with more than 200 students and teaches musical theater coaching, drama as well as oversees private voice studios of more than 100 students and five teachers.

Under his direction, the Northwest High School concert choirs have performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, The Kennedy Center in Washington, D. C. and for the Nebraska Music Educators fall convention.

In 2000, Sackschewsky was selected as the Outstanding Young Choral Director of the Year by the Nebraska Music Educators Association. He was chosen as the Outstanding Music Educator of the Year in 2010 and Outstanding Choral Director of the Year in 2010.

He and his wife, Julie ’97, are founders of the Great Plains Children’s Choir, a 100-voice children’s choir in central Nebraska. He is the co-author of The Music Teacher’s First Aid Kit and the website ChoralStrategies.com.

The music award is named for the late Dr. Gary Thomas, a faculty member for 37 years and department chairman for 34 years. n 27

Class Notes Class Notes

1937 Earl Dawson and his wife, Evelyn, celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary December 20.

Earl worked for Southern California Edison Power Company for 34 years. Now retired at age 96, Earl and Evelyn live in a retirement home in Visalia, California. They have been long time members of the Southern California Alumni Association.

1948 Barc Wade was among the 2012 Omaha Press Club Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame honorees. Wade had a 65-year career in journalism. He founded AAA/Home & Away magazine in 1980 and won awards for his promotion of Nebraska tourism. In 1954, he began Motor Club News for Cornhusker Motor Club (AAA) which later became Nebraska Living. Prior to that, he was sports and news editor for the Kearney Hub. He lives in Omaha.

1955 Dr. Marilyn Whitney Peterson MAE ’63 of Cozad has been elected to serve on the advisory council, Nebraska Educational Television/PBS. Marilyn is chair for an exhibit “Journey Stories,” National Smithsonian Exhibit. It will open in Cozad at the 100th Meridian Museum on August 30, with a five-week showing. The theme is “how and why people immigrated to America.” In addition, Cozad will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Union 1961 Rev. Larry Dieckman has been retired since 2006. The 14 years before his retirement he was chaplain for The Holmstad Covenant Retirement Community in Batavia, Illinois. He and his wife, Jeanette, live in Elburn, Illinois.

1964 Carolyn Wagner Snyder was honored by the Carbondale, Illinois, chapter of the American Association of University Women for her contributions to the community with a focus on the arts as current president of Carbondale Community Arts and a board member of the Varsity Center for the Arts. This honor follows her recognition in 2011 by The Southern Illinoisan newspaper and the Southern Business Journal as one of ten “Leaders Among Us. Southern Illinoisans who have a positive impact on their communities.”

1965 Doug Glascock is an accountant for Womens Foodservice Forum, a national women’s non-profit organization in Dallas.

1969 Janis Brammeier Brandt, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) adviser from the Nebraska Department of Education, was honored as the National Adviser of the Year. She has been State FCCLA Adviser for the last eight years.

1970 Pete Kotsiopulos received the Ambassador Plenipotentiary Award by the Nebraska Diplomats.

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The award honors a person who has boosted the industrial or economic development of Nebraska.

He served as mayor of Kearney from 1994 to 2003 and has served on the Nebraska Diplomats board of directors since 2005. Kotsiopulos is University of Nebraska Foundation vice president, UNK campus director of development and executive director of the UNK Alumni Association.

Captain Steve C. Petersen has retired from Delta Airlines after a 30-year career. He and his wife, Lorena, live in Las Vegas, Nevada.

1974 Cindy Hauver Foote MAE ’88 has been awarded the Adaptive Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Association for Health, Physical Education and Dance. She is a teacher at Kearney High School.

Jan Swanson Jones MSE ’82, art educator at Horizon Middle School in Kearney, received the Nebraska Art Teachers Association (NATA) Art Educator of the Year for 2012-2013.

1975 Jim Jelkin ’93, Sunrise Middle School teacher in Kearney, was honored by the Nebraska Industrial and Technical Education Association as the NITEA Middle School Teacher of the Year.

1977 Ed Rikli has been promoted to senior vice president of Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Nebraska in Lexington.

1978 Julie Speirs became publisher and president of the Kearney Hub on September 1. She had been vice president and general manager at the Hub and has been on the staff for 29 years.

1979 Barry Major is executive vice president and director of mortgage banking with Mutual of Omaha Bank.

1982 Clarence Todd Chessmore is superintendent/K 12 principal at Cody-Kilgore School District.

1983 Rod Anderson is national tax leader of the Power & Utilities practice of KPGM, an audit, tax and advisory firm in Omaha. In this role, Anderson works with the firm’s lead partners in Power & Utilities to help drive the growth. He has more than 25 years of experience working in the industry.

1984 Gregg Loghry is K-12 music teacher at Dundy County Stratton Schools in Benkelman.

1985 Francie Riedmann has been appointed to the Nebraska Court of Appeals. Riedmann practices law with Gross & Welch in Omaha. Her specialties include insurance disputes, construction law, contract disputes, employment, inverse condemnation, medical malpractice, Admiralty law and products liability.

1986 Randy Rieke has been promoted to vice president of global supply management of Orthman Manufacturing in Lexington.

1987 Lisa Karnatz of Minden is the development director at the National Audubon Society’s Rowe Sanctuary southwest of Gibbon.

1988 Scott Clausen has joined McGladrey of Omaha as manager of the state and local tax practice. He has more than 20 years of federal, state and local tax experience.

1989 Rachelle Hansen Bryant CPA at Contryman Associates is now tax department lead. She will head the department for all Contryman locations in Grand Island, Hastings, Central City, Kearney, Scottsbluff, Lexington and Geneva. She has been with Contryman since 1992.

1990 Gary Peters of Aurora is a project manager for Chief Construction Co., a company with offices in Grand Island and Kearney.

1991 Christy Price MSE ’91 was named 2012 Outstanding Baccalaureate Professor of the Year by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. She is a professor of psychology at Dalton State College in Georgia.

Renae Riddle Zimmer is a business account executive with Charter Business in Kearney. Her husband, Dave ’91, teaches middle school at Sunrise Middle School and is the junior varsity boys basketball coach at Kearney High School.

They have two children, Nolan a freshman at Northwest Missouri, and Kamryn, a freshman at Kearney High School.

1993 Geno and Darcee Nienkamp Rothe ’93 live in Dublin, Ohio, where Geno is product development group manager and vice president with the Treasury Management Group at Huntington National Bank in Columbus and Darcee is a senior business analyst with IT. They have three daughters, Karleigh and Ashleigh 10 and Alee 6.

Jeffrey Stec MSE ’95 has been named pediatric program manager at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln.

1994 Joel Falk is president of UMB Bank, a subsidiary of UMB Financial Corp. in Omaha.

Christopher Harris is a voice-over artist and actor that has appeared on television, film and stages across the United States. A member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA, he will be appearing in Upstream Theatre’s production of The Hairy Ape in St. Louis, where he lives.

2012 UNK HOMECOMING AND FAMILY DAY

unkalumni.org

Class Class Notes Notes

Brian Sucha has been promoted to vice president of finance at Orthman Manufacturing in Lexington.

1995 Heidi Jo Blair-Green has been appointed the lead faculty of the political science department at Lone Star College – Cy Fair where she is a professor of political science. She has taught at Lone Star for more than six years. She and her husband, Gregory, live in Houston.

Mike Covalt has been promoted to senior vice president of IT and Operations and Cabela’s Director at Cabela’s World’s Foremost Bank. He has been with Cabela’s since 1998. He and his wife, Becky Hoffman ’97, have three children, Anna 11, Drew 7 and Abby 6.

1996 Matthew Dykstra was the recipient of the 2012 Excellence in Teaching Award from UNO School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation for part-time faculty and adjunct professors.

1997 J.D. Furrow is a math teacher at Broken Bow High School.

Kyle Swanson is Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative for Northern Nevada. He lives in Reno.

1998 Alan Garey MAE of Curtis has been named to the Nebraska School Activities Association Board of Directors. He is superintendent of Medicine Valley Public Schools.

Hope Wagner Shuler is director of media relations for the Western Athletic Conference. She and her husband, Scott, live in Aurora, Colorado.

They have a daughter, Everly Heidi 2.

Rob Sturgis is director of human resources for Enterprise Properties, Inc. in Omaha.

2000 Mindy Fink Oman, a certified public accountant in the Kearney office of McDermott & Miller PC, has been elected to shareholder. She joined the firm in 2001.

2001 Alex Frieling has started his own industrial rep business called AF Industrial in Aurora, Colorado.

He will work the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Idaho with major breweries, food and the mining industries.

Frenna Knott Gardino is a consulting actuary with Actuarial Corporation. She lives in Smithville, Missouri.

Dr. Randall Goldfish ’03 is a physician with Kearney Clinic.

Ward Jorgensen MBA is vice president of global production for Orthman manufacturing, Inc. in Lexington.

2002 John Brown is an associate attorney for the law firm of Glassman, Bird, Schwartz & Park L.L.P. in Hays, Kansas.

Timoree Adams Klinger is director of client

relations at O’Hara Lindsay Government Relations and Association Management, a lobbying and management firm in Lincoln.

2003 Mike Perry is a CPA and client accounting service manager with Lutz & Co. in Omaha.

Aaron Wade is director of newspaper operations for the Alliance Times-Herald.

2004 Sara Janda Griffis works with Brown Construction in construction and design management. She had worked 11 years in multiple positions at Platte Valley State Bank. She and her husband, Travis, have two children, Carter 6 and Caleb 4.

Stephanie Paulsen Todd is production manager for SCORR Marketing in Kearney.

2005 Marty Madden is vice president of commercial banking at U.S. Bank in Kearney.

Shelly Neiffer Rolfe teaches first grade at CodyKilgore Schools.

Michael Sands has been promoted to community bank manager with Mutual of Omaha Bank.

Cynthia Waskowiak is a compliance officer at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.

2006 Ryan Downing is an executive assistant with Bailey Lauerman, a marketing communications firm, in Omaha.

Brette Covington Ensz is the UNK Alumni Association Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement. Jeff Ensz ’05, JD ’08 is an attorney with Lieske Law Firm in Minden. They live in Kearney.

Jenna Lehman Grenier MBA ’07 CPA has been promoted to manager of MeDermott and Miller in Grand Island.

2007 Nicole Stacken Darnall is economic development specialist at the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County in Kearney.

Tessa Gifford works for the NU Foundation as director of development for UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service.

Brooke McGee MA ’11 of Arlington, Virginia is a law student at George Mason University.

Brook Carpenter Pierce is creative services director with SCORR Marketing in Kearney.

Suzanne Riley MS ’12 is an outpatient therapist with Behavioral Health Specialists in Norfolk.

2008 Lisa Elson works for the U.S. Olympic Committee in the International Games Department in Colorado Springs. Earlier this year, she was coordinator of the USA Paralympic team for the Parapan American Games and the Paralympic Games. She earned a master of science degree from University of Northern Colorado in sports administration in 2010.

2009 Jade Meads MAE ’11 has been promoted to recreation superintendent for the Kearney Park and Recreation Department.

Maria Montes del Carmen is news booking producer and Good Life Show producer at NTV News. She lives in Grand Island.

Phillip Erb MBA ’10 is a senior accountant at McDermott and Miller in Grand Island.

Jessica Drake Gibbons is a preschool teacher in Broken Bow. She also coaches ninth grade volleyball.

2010 Tyler Clay MBA ’12 is strategic partnership manager of Associated Staffing in Kearney.

Update on the UNK Today Winter 2011/2012

Rommates Reunited Story

In the 2012 Winter issue of UNK Today, a story featured the reunion of two roommates who started college in 1934. The two, Ruth Hahn and Marjory Gotobed, lived in Green Terrace Hall. They renewed those relationships at the convalescent nursing home Golden Ours in Grant.

Diana Keith ’77, who retired in 2010 after 32 years of working in the C. T. Ryan Library, added a piece to that reunion.

Her mother, Evelyn M. Bussell Bass, was also a roommate of Marjory Gotobed and lived in Green Terrace. “When I saw the article, I had to show it to mom. She is 95 and lives in a nursing home in Loup City. Growing up, she used to tell us how funny her name and Marjory’s were together: her maiden name was Bussell and her roommate’s was Gotobed: Bussell and Gotobed.”

Keith said her mother remembered going to Marjory’s house near Kearney, and having her come to Comstock to visit her family. Evelyn attended UNK for two years and three summers. Her father, Elden Bass, graduated from UNK when it was Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney. n unkalumni.org

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Class Notes Class Notes

Ashlie Baker Connelly works at Ameriprise Financial in Cheyenne, Wyoming, as a paraplanner. She and her husband, Billy, were married July 16, 2011.

John Keeney is a financial representative with The Principal Financial Group’s Mountain Plains Business Center in Kearney.

Meagan Smejdir MS ’12 is Greek adviser at Pittsburg State University in Kansas.

2011 Daniel Dunbar is a production artist with Swanson Russell, a marketing communications firm, in their Lincoln office.

Paul Knutson MBA ’12 is an audit staff accountant with Lutz & Co., an Omaha-based CPA firm.

Skylar Leatherman Loseke is a corporate journalist at News Link in Lincoln. She and her husband, Andrew ’09, were married May 21, 2011.

Ross Pierce is a staff accountant with McDermott & Miller in Kearney.

Matt Tomjack is assistant director of strategic communications – marketing with the University of Missouri Athletic Department. He had been with the University of Florida.

Kelci Fulton Wood is a music teacher at St. Agnes Academy in Alliance.

2012 Kyle Brandyberry is a graduate student in the clinical mental health counseling program and senior resident assistant at Mantor Hall at UNK. Chantelle Schrunk Demptster is a 7-12 social science teacher with Overton Public Schools.

Jessica Kranz is a pharmacy student at Creighton University in Omaha.

Brittany McWhirter is a graduate student in speech pathology at UNL. Megan Larson Mitchell is a staff accountant at Tonniges & Associates in Kearney.

Rebecca Olsen is an emergency support care coordinator at Region II Human Services in Cozad.

Rachel Renzelman works at US Bank in Lincoln.

Michael Sothan is head of operations at the Great Platte River Roach Archway in Kearney.

Alysha Urbanec attends UNMC in the clinical laboratory sciences program.

Ryan Wetovick is a K-5 physical education teacher with Broken Bow Public Schools.

Cong Xiao is a graduate student working on a master’s degree in Organizational Effectiveness at the University of Delaware. A native of China, he said, “The life in UNK was really impressive. I’ll remember the life in UNK ever and forever!”

Marriages Chelsea Archer ’10 and Anthony Gengenbach ’09 September 15 in Kearney.

Cassidy Anderson ’09 and Creighton Hinze ’11 August 25 in Shelton.

Amanda Baillie ’08 and Kevin Robinson November 3 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They live in Grand Prairie, Texas.

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Katie Baker ’09 and Travis Maloley July 21 in Kearney.

Ashlee Bentz ’08 and Kyle Babl October 13 in Kearney.

Mackenzie Bohl ’12 and Phillip Boon ’11 July 28 in Geneva. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Isaac Bon ’11 and Laura Lutz August 25 in Kearney.

Erin Cantrell ’06 and Adam Davis September 15 in Kearney.

Ashley Chizek-Meyer ’06 and Sam Calabretto May 19. They live in Omaha.

Lisa Cochrane ’12 and Jordan Methe ’12 September 8 in Kearney.

Dawn Darling ’10 and Chris Henrichs June 23 in Kearney.

Nicole Dickmeyer ’02 and Robert Fisher ’07 July 7 in Omaha. Robert is a product underwriter for Applied Underwriters and Nicole is a physical therapist for Alegent Health at Home. They live in Omaha.

Brooke Edwards ’02 and Nicholas Sieff September 8 in Omaha.

Brenda Envick ’08 and Patrick Bierbower June 28 in Estes Park, Colorado. They live in Kearney.

Kayla Esch ’06 and John Pelster November 24 in Omaha.

Melissa Heiden ’05 and Matthew Drozd November 2 in Kearney.

Alexa High ’11 and Matthew Benson December 29 in Bertrand.

Jeanne Hubl ’07 and Chris Holz April 14 in Lawrence. They live in Kearney.

Emily Jensen ’09 and Jonathon Baughman October 20 in Kearney.

Amy Johnson ’10 and Clay Otto ’07 June 30 in Kearney.

Debra Johnson ’12 and Brandon Smith ’11 June 30 in North Platte.

Ann Kottmeyer ’09 and Kane Shirley ’09 June 9 in Kearney.

Tony Kulhanek ’08 and Jessa Burcham September 8 in Kearney.

Emilee Lonowski ’11 and Carter Pratt ’11 May 26 in Hastings. They live in Gretna.

Amy Kratochvil ’11 and Tyler Dubbs June 22 in Kearney.

Pete Kropp ’11 and Alie Hempleman January 7 in Grand Island. They live in Kearney.

Tabitha Kreutzer ’12 and Jesse Hill June 2 in Holdrege. They live in Lincoln.

Ashley Leever ’12 and Brett Bebensee November 3 in Kearney.

Tessa Mak ’08 and Brent Holscher August 25 in Kearney.

Brittney Maloley ’06 and Rob Lewis August 25 in Kearney.

Kayla Mays ’08 and Trent Delehant October 6 in Kearney.

Michael Mefferd ’76 and Jana Wilkinson June 9 in Kearney.

unkalumni.org

Katie Moore ’09 and A.J. Rose ’07 July 16 in Napa Valley, California.

Alicia Myers ’06 and Jimmy Chavez III June 1.

They live in Overland Park, Kansas.

David O’Neill ’10 and Michaela Wiederspan July 7 in Kearney.

Jessica Osterbuhr ’11 and Tyler Deitloff ’07 June 16 in Kearney.

Lisa Peper ’10 and Trevor Spellman October 13 in Kearney.

Katie Peters ’08 and Zachry Moul August 11 in Loup City.

Tiffanie Pinkal ’08 and Cody Bailey September 29 in Kearney.

Sally Reil ’06 and Matt Ourada July 14 in Kearney.

Kerry Roalson ’11 and Ashley McCue June 2 in Kearney.

Allison Sass ’11 and Taylor Dvorak ’11 May 19 in Kearney.

Emily Stickney ’10 and Brett Theiler ’07 June 16 in Ogallala.

Brad Stolcpart ’09 and Tara Kral September 22 in Kearney.

Kayla Story ’07 and Ted Pfister ’07 December 1 in Kearney.

Marni Stuart ’12 and Beau Baker ’12 July 28 in Kearney. Marni is assistant athletic trainer at Lexington High School. Beau is a police officer with the Lexington Police Department.

Jody Trautman ’03 and Ryan Windhorst ’00 October 19 in Scottsbluff.

Kaylene Vieselmeyer MA ’12 and Travis Hawkins June 30 in Deshler.

Tierra Webb ’11 and Christopher Bowie July 14 in Kearney.

Kimberly Wilkins ’09 and Miles Maddux August 31 in Lincoln.

Chelsea Wolf ’10, MS ’12 and Grant Schultz ’09, MS ’12 July 21 in Kearney.

Sara Wolf ’09 and Drew Fothergill October 21 in Kearney.

Births Edd ’00 and Jill Merklin Albrecht ’01, MSED’03 of Cozad are parents of a daughter, Emily Marie, born August 5, 2011. They also have two other daughters, Ellie and Abbie.

George and Stephani O’Neill Arbuthnot ’05 of Sumner are parents of a son, Brody Stephen, born August 1.

Brent ’07 and Wendy Mattson Bauer ’05 of Wisner are parents of a daughter, Blakely Marcella, born October 30.

Chris and McKenzie Mitchell Bertrand ’07 of Hastings are parents of a daughter, Hadley Marie, born August 7.

Brad ’06 and Sarah Longo Bohn ’07, MSE ’09 of Rochester, Minnesota, are parents of a daughter, Eloise McGovern, born August 3.

Class ClassNotes Notes

Jonathan ’08 and Lacy Strasburg Bouc ’06, MAE ’11 of Kearney are parents of a son, Landon Ray, born January 20.

Erin and Scott Boyll ’06 of Canby, Oregon, are parents of a daughter, Addison Lee, born October 26. Scott is a police officer for the City of Tualatin, Oregon.

Abigail and Jason Brown ’03, MAE ’05 of Creston are parents of a daughter, Mykel Jacy, born July 2. They also have a daughter, Emma.

Derek ’05 and Andrea Hiatt Buckley ’04 of Sioux City, Iowa, are parents of a daughter, Maeby Allegra, born March 12, 2012. Derek is an art teacher with Woodbury Central Community School in Moville, Iowa. Andrea is an attorney with Iowa Legal Aid in Sioux City.

Brett ’05 and Sylvia Mihalik Chloupek ’06 of Harvard are parents of a daughter, Vihelmina Mihalik, born April 5, 2012.

Natalie and Jason Christoffersen ’06 of Kearney are parents of a son, Reese Kenneth, born September 14.

Scott and Angie Stiff Classen ’98 of Pleasanton are parents of a daughter, Ella Jane, born May 24.

Lindsey and Matt Connot ’09 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Morgan Ann, born August 2.

Eddie ’02 and Amy Fehringer Denny ’02, MAE’08 of Kearney are parents of a son, August Wright, born October 1. Amy teaches at Kearney Public Schools.

Jessica and Marcus Donner ’05 of Shelton are parents of a daughter, Brooklyn Renee, born August 4. Marcus is a teacher at Shelton High.

Dustin and Melissa Nunley Eggleston ’06 of Callaway are parents of a daughter, Kennedy Dawn, born June 20. They also have son, Patrick Robert 3.

Andy ’93 and Monica Graham Falk ’94 of Pleasanton are parents of a son, Deacon Jude, born October 21.

Josh ’03 and Sara Jorgensen Foulk ’04 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, LeaAnna Mae, born July 23.

Shane and Lexie Hollertz Frahm ’00 of Gretna are parents of a daughter, Stella Anne, born March 1.

Gary ’03 and Kristina Davis Frank ’07 of Kearney are parents of a son, Taylor Grayson, born May 7. Gary is the inventory control manager at Marshall Engines. Kristina is cashier/operations manager at State Bank of Riverdale.

Cody and Tami Jarusek Freeland ’04 of Atlanta are parents of a son, Trevor Jackson, born August 2.

Brent ’04, MAE ’11 and Kathryn Alt Gehrig ’04, MSE ’06 of Papillion are parents of a daughter, Emma Anne, born May 24, 2012.

Brooke and Andrew Gregory ’03 of Bellevue are parents of a daughter, Lea, born May 18, 2012.

David ’03 and Sara Beckenhauer Hageman ’05, MSE ’07 of Denver are parents of a son, Rohn Charles, born August 8.

Kyler ’02 and Amy Johnson Haines ’02, MBA ’03 of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, are parents of a son, Jace Thomas, born October 25.

Craig and Kelli Craig Hamilton ’00 of Stillwater,

Minnesota, are parents of a son, Shay Gabriel, born August 12. They also have two daughters, Samantha 5 and Sydney 3.

Adam and Meagan Fong Hock ’08 of Ankeny, Iowa, are parents of a son, George Jacob, born July 18.

Jarrod ’08 and Maggie Younes Holz ’08, MBA ’09 of Kearney are parents of a son, Parker Daniel, born May 28.

Bill and Molly Maguire Honke ’89 of Omaha are parents of twins, William Edward (Liam) and Aidan

Michael, born December 14.

Nathan ’01, MBA ’06 and Joni Gruntorad Thornburg ’06 of Overton are parents of a son, Jackson Joe, born November 20.

Kellen ’06 and Emily Murdock Jacobs ’06 of Holdrege are parents of a daughter, Oakleigh Katherine, born August 25.

Adam and Valerie Aspen Jameson ’06 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Scarlet Claire, born July 20.

Four Alumni Authors A range of books written by alumni offered online

Four alumni have recently released new novels. They are Ken Aldridge ’64 of Grand Prairie, Texas, Chuck Stepanek ’86 of Lincoln, Angela Burke ’98, MAE’06 of Boulder, Colorado, and Evangelyn Kalstrom Spohn ’47 of Vancouver, Washington.

Spohn, who died September 14 at age 88, co-authored her book with her husband Hal before her death. The book, “Half Uncle Half Kid,” is a family-type book available in Kindle format on Amazon.com.

Aldridge’s second book, ”Enticing Evils,” is a crime novel featuring a small Texas town chief of police as he goes about doing his job and is pursued by three women. This story is about crime, suspense, romance, greed, racial prejudice and sexual abuse. It is a sequel to “Triage of Troubles” and is available in Kindle formate on Amazon.com.

Aldridge worked as an FBI special agent for 23 years and is now retired and living in Texas.

Stepanek’s third book and first novel, “Alter Boys” is a work of fiction culled from major life events. “Alter Boys” is clearly not for the faint of heart, according to Stepanek, “For those who do brave the horror, there awaits a shocking account of psychological terror culminated by a triple-suspense ending.”

When Father Gus molested Corky at age 4 he found a safe place in his head and hid there. Corky barely survives the destruction of his childhood and lands in the psych ward right before high school graduation. His first act after discharge is to find the person who ruined his life and get revenge. By the end of the night, someone will be dead.

Find out who it is.

“Alter Boys” is available in both paperback and Kindle formats at Amazon.com.

Burke’s second novel is “Beneath the Mayan Moon,” published by Soltice Publishing. Burke’s books are fastpaced stories in the romance genre. Her first book is titled “Lucidity.” For information visit: www.angelaburkebooks.com. • unkalumni.org

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Class Notes Class Notes

Traci and Scott Javins ’98 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Adelyn Lee, born October 31.

Eric ’09 and Caitlin Keller Jensen ’06 of Grand Island are parents of a daughter, Delaney Mae, born June 28.

Dave ’90 and Trish Kimball Johnson ’96 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Amelia Elyse, born February 23. They have three other daughters, Emma, Tessa and Olivia.

Julie and Michael Klimek ’98 of Ord are parents of a daughter, Jaycie Jo, born August 20. They have two other children, Brodie 5 and Molly 4.

Jalisa and John Keeney ’10 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Jovie Mae, born August 27.

Megan and Ryan Killion ’07 of Kearney are parents of a son, Mason John, born August 25.

Jeffrey ’05 and Sandra Znamenacek Koll ’06, MBA ’07 of Wilber are parents of a son, Henry Dean, born April 4.

Jason and Shalee Santero Krajewski ’09 of Omaha are parents of a daughter, Kiera Lynn, born March 28.

Dan and Jonna O’Connor Kohle ’01 of Stuart are parents of a daughter, Kennedie Anna, born August 2.

Jason ’04 and Andrea Bubak Kruger ’02 of Kearney are parents of a son, Nathan Mace, born September 2.

Bryan ’95 and Candy Hazen Kuntz ’93 of Kearney are parents of twins, Brady Jamison and Skylar Delaney, born July 16.

Christine Kutschkau Stroud ’98, MPA ’01 and husband Robert are the proud parents of Megan Elizabeth, born February 25.

Brice ’00 and Chelse O’Hare Krohn ’98 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Kyla Marjean, born September 25.

Cameron ’99 and Jennifer Krust McCarthy ’99 of Omaha are parents of a son, Jacoby John, born June 29. They have two other children, Thomas 8 and Natalya 5.

Amanda and K.C. Lathrop ’99, MA ’09 of Gothenburg are parents of a son, Hayes Kurtis, born September 11.

Drew and Michaela Jennings Meismer ’03 of Lincoln are parents of a son, Maddax Joseph, born September 14. Michaela is a State Energy Program Administrator for the Nebraska Energy Office.

Jake and Amber Gloystein Messersmith ’01 of Kearney are parents of a son, Drew Caleb, born August 30.

Robert and Trena Dejmal Miller ’01 of Kearney are parents of a son Merek Elton, born December 16.

They have two other children, Madelynn and Madox.

Cody and Melissa Monzon ’10 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Adalynn Kay, born October 21.

Andy and Julinne Johnson Moore ’00, MSE ’02 of Sabetha, Kansas, are parents of a daughter, Ella Irene, born May 10. They have a daughter, Audrey 2.

Matt and Erica Hemphill Morey ’05 of Kearney

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are parents of a daughter, Kinsey Grace, born March 24, 2012.

Bryan ’08 and Monica Fuentes Mueller ’08, ME ’11 of Kearney are parents of a son, Colvin Christopher, born July 6.

J.P. and Neely Bertrand Murphy ’01 of Kearney are parents of a son, Jack Ryan, born July 31.

Bradley ’03 and Paula Sieczkowski Musil ’03 of Shawnee, Kansas, are parents of a daughter, Sophia Louise, born June 3.

Steve ’03 and Angie Abels Nelson ’05 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Kaylee Elizabeth, born September 21.

Matt and Jenni Beerman Nielsen ’03 of Kearney are parents of a son, Drew Thomas, born November 5, 2011.

Luis and Kristen Fitzgerald Nieto ’11 of Lexington are parents of a son, Camden Michael, born September 10.

Jason and Mindy Fink Oman ’00 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Jenna Marie, born June 25.

Zach and Lindsey Petermann Ondrak ’05 of Kearney are parents of a son, Jackson David, born July 27.

Danielle and Josh Peisiger ’03 of Kearney are parents of a son, Tyson William, born October 14.

Michael and Alexis Babbitt Pennington ’06 of Kearney are parents of a son, Crew William, born November 26.

Trevor ’02 and Heather Fries Pierce ’03 of Bertrand are parents of a daughter, Anna Lauren, born July 31.

Matthew ’00 and Katherine Polk of Winchester, Virginia, are the parents of identical twin daughters, Charlotte Lynne and Emily Marie born May 13.

Kyla Johnson ’96 and Brandon Pollnow ’03 of Scottsdale, Arizona, are parents of a daughter, Emory Estella, born January 24, 2012.

Kyle and Jenna James Pritchard ’11 of Pleasanton are parents of a son, Rykan Eugene, born August 15.

Chris and Sara Koperski Rector ’02 of Gibbon are parents of a son, Hudson King, born June 15.

Greg ’03 and Kristen Loshonkohl Richey ’05, MSE ’07 of Kearney are parents of a son, Luke William, born September 3.

Raeleen and Michael Rohde ’00 of Minden are parents of a daughter, Natalie Marie, born June 11.

Ryan ’06 and Laura Huber Rose ’03 of Ravenna are parents of a daughter, Claire Marie, born August 30.

Ashton and Charlie Rudeen ’08 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Chandler Maddlyn, born August 21.

Jeremy ’04 and Allison Spicer Sambol ’04 of Omaha are parents of a daughter, Emelyn Allane, born November 29.

Ryan and Lindi Belau Samuelson ’05 of Mount Airy, Maryland, are parents of a son, Reid Rylee, born October 17.

unkalumni.org

Daniel and Lacey DeTurk Schroeder ’07 of Miller are parents of a son, Lincoln David, born November 19.

Kevin and Katherine Nugent Schroeder ’12 of Kearney are parents of a son, Mason James, born August 25.

Dakota ’01 and Jennifer Aldridge Shafer ’01 of Colorado Springs are parents of a daughter, Claire Elizabeth, born August 14.

Samantha Shultz-Ramer ’08 and Levi Ramer of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Addison Marie, born September 12.

Jason and Jaime Walmsley Sinsel ’99 of Minden are parents of a son, Zander James, born November 26.

Brian and Katharine Harms Sisson ’07, MS ’09 of Arapahoe are parents of a daughter, Harper Reese, born June 24.

Amanda and Heath Smallcomb ’91 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Charleigh June, born October 13.

Ryan ’03, MSE ’07 and Megan Holt Smith ’04, MSE ’06 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Delanie Jae, born September 18.

Nichole and Rory Stabenow ’00 of Denver are parents of a son, Banks Michael, born September 13.

Jason ’99 and Mandy Crile Stubbs ’99 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Mallory Georgeann, born September 16.

Rachel and Brian Synek ’95 of Lincoln are parents of a son, Andrew James, born October 14.

Gilles and Brooke Jurgens Terzi ’05 of Gibbon are parents of a son, Christian Joseph, born May 11.

Melissa and William Thienel ’95 of Kearney are parents of a son, Luke Aiden, born July 16.

Amy and Brian Thome ’00 of Kearney are parents of a son, Grady Ronald, born September 5.

Bjorn ’95 and Cassandra Pfeil Tomsen ’98 of Minden are parents of a daughter, Taya Luanne, born April 11.

Tobian ’98 and Heather Peterson Toole ’00 MAE ’08 of Elm Creek are parents of a daughter, London Peterson, born August 3.

Jamie ’99 and Michelle Feather Trenkle ’99 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Aurora Vinae, born September 2.

Jesse ’09 and Danielle Lear Valenti ’09, MS ’12 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Maci Mikayle, born June 10.

Jamie and Dan Warrington ’01 of Gibbon are parents of a daughter, Rozalyn Grace, born July 9.

Quincy and Darcy Jo Kissel Week ’03 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Riley Jo, born March 4.

Michael ’00 and Darcy Braun Weides ’10 of Omaha are parents of a son, Kellen Michael, born August 25.

Class Notes Class Notes

Tiffany and Jacob Weiss ’00 of Kearney are parents of a son, Atticus William, born May 30.

Carey and Cray Wilson ’90, ’93 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Brynley Reese, born May 16.

Kelly and Lacie Freeland Wright ’08 of Oxford are parents of a son, Tanner Hoyt, born August 6.

Deaths Daryl Broberg ’62 of Loveland died December 27.

He was a long-time teacher, coach and insurance agent in Sutherland. He was 72.

Mildred Duffy of Bella Vista, Arkansas, died November 13. She was a faculty member at UNK for 15 years, retiring in 1993. She was 89.

Kay Powell Gard ’47 of Riverside, California, died November 21. She taught for 36 years and was a long-time board member of the Southern California Alumni Association. She was 87.

Dr. William Gogan ’49 of Ord died at his winter home in Oro Valley, Arizona, September 25. He was a career educator and adjunct professor in school administration at UNK from 1987 to 1996.

He was 89.

Howard Hanson ’64, MSE ’68, EDS ’87 of Lexington died October 8. He was 70.

Virginia Ann Braithwait Hanson ’63, MAE ’83 of Lexington died April 4. She was 70.

Gary Henning ’73 of Kearney died August 6.

He was executive vice president of Cash-Wa Distributing. He was 61. A memorial has been designated to the Harvey and Betty Henning Family Scholarship Fund at the NU Foundation.

Timothy Holcomb ’10 of Kearney died July 3.

He was 47.

Denzel Lee Kasson ’70 of Watauga, Texas, died October 15. He was 63.

Mary Ann Kociemba Lawson ’92, MAE ’97 of Kearney died December 16. She was director of business internships, retiring in 2011. She was a board member of the UNK Alumni Association and the Gold Torch Society mentoring program. She was 72.

Jerry Lienemann of North Platte died August 28.

He was 71.

Amy Miller Limbach ’98 of Kearney died August 10. She was 42.

Richard McConkey ’56 of Blue Hill died September 8, 2011.

David Mills ’55 of Elizabeth, Colorado, died May 2. He was a retired military and airline pilot.

He was 78.

Norman Otto ’49 of Lincoln died September 30. He was Nebraska director of the U.S. Small Business administration. He was a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 34th district and was chief of staff

for Gov. Frank Morrison and Gov. Jim Exon. He also was president of the state board of education. He was 94.

Dr. Merwin Roeder of Kearney died July 2. He was a professor of physical education at UNK, retiring in 1995. He was 82.

Teresa Shannon Ryan ’83 of Hastings died July 16. She was 52.

Elizabeth Cash Spelts ’42, ‘69 of Sun City, Arizona, died November 16, 2008. She was 86.

Evangelyn Kalstrom Spohn ‘47 of Vancouver, Washington, died June 17. She was 88.

Craig Strong ’85 of Omaha died July 15. He drowned while helping two of his cousins in a swimming accident at Calamus Reservoir. He was 49.

Doris Timperley of Grand Island died November 30. She was a librarian and library science faculty member at UNK from 1957 until her retirement in 1987. She was 88.

Kathy Jo Thompson ’00 of Broken Bow died March 14, 2012. She was 59.

Lei Lonnie Wood ’69, MSE ’70 of Boise, Idaho, died September 18. She was 65.

Eleanor Anderson Wright of Denver died December 19. She was 90.

Kelly Young ’64 of Kearney died September 21.

He was 70.

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UNK Alma Mater Words by Clarence A. Murch, Music by Fair Harvard

Kearney, Nebraska 68849-6120

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University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association

Afar in the west where the green valleys run And the sweeping hills dip to the plain; Rise the gray, storied walls of the home that we love Alma Mater! We hail thee again! ‘ Neath thy shade we have gazed over valley and plain On the scenes that enrapture the eye; And our hearts thrill with pride as the Blue and the Gold Proudly floats against the evening sky.