BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SE N I OR LE A D ERSH IP T E A M M E M B E RS
Amber Barton ‘02
Jody Horner
Jody Horner, President
Mark Fahleson
Rico Munn ‘93
Jodi Benjamin ‘97, Chief Operating Officer
Steve Feye ‘76
Mary Shannon
Bret Griess
Tony Urban ‘92
Rev. Peggy Hall
Tom Walker ‘81
Ryan Hendrickson
Jamie Williams
Kristina Cammarano - Vice President for Student Affairs/Chief Diversity Officer Lori Ethier ‘07, Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment and Marketing Joe Harnisch ‘01, Chief Financial Officer Caryl Johannsen, Vice President for Human Resources Laura Robinett, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Jamie Simpson, Chief Academic Officer Courtney Thomsen, Director for Athletics
ED I TOR Eric Taylor ‘92
DES I GN BLK.59 Design Group
CON TRI B U TORS Ryan Griesinger Brent Wasenius ‘86 Christian Dames (Class of 2024)
MI D LA N D U N I V ERSIT Y Office of Institutional Advancement 900 N Clarkson Fremont, NE 68025 alumni@midlandu.edu Midlandu.edu/alumni
NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bret Griess is a proven executive and business advisor with more than 25 years of experience as a collaborative, transformative leader. Bret spent more than 20 years with CSG Systems International, working his way up from Project Manager to CEO. He was responsible for creating, directing, and executing upon the company’s strategy and direction. Among his accomplishments was leading negotiations and strategy of the company’s largest contracts, with total contract values exceeding $2 billion. Along with Midland, Bret currently holds a board member position at Nebraska Methodist Health System. Tony Urban currently serves on the National Tax Leadership Team for RSM in Omaha. He has previously served as RSM’s national state and local tax practice leader, Central region leader of the industrial products industry, Central region leader of the state and local tax practice, and the national leader of the cost segregation practice. Tony was honored with the Midland University Alumni Achievement Award in 2013 and was recognized by the Midlands Business Journal in its 40 Under 40 Class in 2009. Tony currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, TeamMates, SAVE Program, and Nebraska Advanced Manufacturing Coalition.
LETTER
FRO M T H E PRESI DE NT
Author Joshua J. Marine once said that “challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” Over the past several years, we certainly were faced with our share of challenges at Midland University. It started with the floods in the spring of 2019 and was followed by two years of COVID-19 impacting our students in more ways than we care to remember. But through it all, our campus showed the perseverance and Warrior Spirit that are allowing us to overcome and thrive today. I could not be more proud of the way our students, faculty, and staff conducted themselves through whatever adversity they faced. While we started the 2021-22 academic year wearing masks, we were fortunate that by the middle of the spring semester, we were able to operate without them. It was great to see everyone’s smiling faces during our commencement ceremony! The past year was an exciting one for all of us at Midland University, starting with another year of record enrollment numbers. Throughout the year, we had so many great accomplishments both academically and in extracurricular activities. We also celebrated our first ever Diversity & Inclusion Week and ended the year with numerous celebrations at commencement time. Our mission at Midland to inspire people to learn and lead in the world with purpose has stood the test of time. We continue to take pride in not only developing our students in the classroom, but through their extracurricular activities, in student organizations, and in the Fremont community. Without a doubt, our students are making a difference through their work every day. We are so proud of all of the great things that are taking place on campus, as well as all of the remarkable work that is being done by so many of our alumni. This year’s magazine gives us the opportunity to highlight some of these wonderful things and display how Midland works every day to be relentlessly relevant. We hope you enjoy it! Go Warriors!
Jody Horner President, Midland University
Letter from the President
3
5
Victory Society
6
Alumni: Scott Flanagan ‘07
9
Student Spotlight: Manny Bryson
10
Agribusiness
12
Volleyball
16
CGPS: Graduate Certificates
18
Alumni: Audrey Arbuckle ‘13
22
Campus Organizations
24
Alumni: Sharlay Michel ‘10
26
Alumni: Martin Russell ‘86
30
Theater Production
34
Student Spotlight: Madison Eich
35
Women of Midland
TABLE
O F CO NT EN TS
FOR M ORE INFO RMATI O N, VI SI T O U R WEBSIT E: MID L AND U. ED U
Table of Contents
4
Victory Society
5
WHAT STARTED AS A HOBBY HAS BECOME A WAY OF LIFE FOR SCOT T FLANAGAN ‘07 Scott Flanagan was dealt some misfortune in 2017, but that hasn’t stopped the 2007 Midland University graduate from becoming a renowned quilt pattern designer and national speaker. Flanagan, a native of Longmont, Colo., woke up on the morning of June 6, 2017 with what he thought was a bad case of laryngitis. After two weeks it got significantly worse. He eventually went to a doctor where he was prescribed prednisone. “Two weeks later, it was even worse,” Flanagan said. “I couldn’t talk on the phone at all. I could barely talk to someone sitting next to me.”
6 Midland Magazine
In August of that year, a specialist made the correct diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia – a neurological voice disorder. Surgery was conducted in 2018 to correct the problem. Flanagan said it worked for two years, but then the disorder returned. “Now every three months I go and get botox injected into my vocal cords,” Flanagan said. “That makes me sound somewhat normal for about two months out of the three.” The disorder hasn’t stopped Flanagan from being a national presenter and educator on quilting. He travels to speak to quilt
guilds and quilt shops across the United States. He is upfront at his presentations, telling audiences about his disorder. “At this point, it is something that isn’t going to go away,” Flanagan said. “It is just going to be part of my life so I either learn to live with it, or find a totally different career, and I’m not OK with finding a different career.” When he was a junior in high school, Flanagan chose Midland from a list of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America colleges and universities. He also has extended family in York, Omaha, and Des Moines, Iowa. “I thought if I got homesick I could go see some of them,” he said. Flanagan, who received a vocal music scholarship, was originally going to pursue a degree in architecture, but opted to go after a degree in business marketing and management. He also participated in choir all four years. “I made a lot of friends from all areas of study such as nursing, education, business, and music,” he said. “However, the choir tours provided some awesome memories for me, especially since I can no longer sing due to my voice disorder. Those tours will always hold some of my fondest memories.” Flanagan grew up in a “crafty” household. His father was into woodworking while his mother and grandmother both enjoyed sewing. “I have sewn since I was 7, but it became more of a hobby during high school and college,” he said. “As time went on, my passion for and interest in quilting and the quilt industry grew, and it became a huge part of my identity.” As a senior at Midland, Flanagan took a job at Country Tradition in Fremont, now known as Nebraska Quilt Company, so he could get discount fabric to make graduation quilts for friends. Once he graduated, the store offered him a full-time position. “At the time, I didn’t know what else to do so I thought I would do it for a short time until I found a job, job,” he said. In 2014, Flanagan said he took the leap from hobby to vocation
“MY MIDLAND FRIENDS AND FAMILY CONTINUE TO BE SOME OF MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS AND ENCOURAGERS TO TAKE MY QUILTING SKILLS AS FAR AS I CAN.” and submitted some quilt patterns to national magazines. The publications soon contacted him. “I was in my first magazine that year and since that time my business, 4th and Main Designs, has just grown,” he said. Flanagan has had more than 50 patterns that have been published in national magazines in the past eight years. He teaches regionally and nationally and is classified as a national educator in the quilting world. “Teaching, lectures, and inspiring are the highlights of my job,” he said. In 2020, Flanagan filmed a six-part quilting series with Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting based on a quilt he had designed for their magazine. He was also asked by Annie’s Studio to write a book “Charming Jelly Roll Quilts” featuring 16 quilt
Alumni: Scott Flanagan
7
patterns. The book, released in June of 2021, has become one of Annie’s bestsellers. He will launch his first Batik Fabric Collection “Quilters Guide to the Galaxy” in the fall of 2022. All of those achievements aren’t bad for someone who thought his close friends and advisors at Midland were crazy for suggesting he should work in the quilting industry. “I always dismissed those suggestions. I thought that quilting was just a hobby and not a career option,” Flanagan said. “Obviously, they all saw something that I didn’t. My Midland friends and family continue to be some of my biggest supporters and encouragers to take my quilting skills as far as I can.” That group of supporters, including his church family at Sinai Lutheran, have also been on his side as he battles spasmodic dysphonia. In 2019, he went to Capitol Hill to request funding for research for all forms of dysphonia. He spoke in front of hundreds of people and met with Nebraska Senators Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer as well as congressional representatives.
“AS TIME WENT ON, MY PASSION AND INTEREST IN QUILTING AND THE QUILT INDUSTRY GREW AND IT BECAME A HUGE PART OF MY IDENTITY.” 8 Midland Magazine
“It is hard to describe what that is like because you are speaking on behalf of yourself, but also on behalf of everyone else who has that disorder or similar disorders,” Flanagan said. “There’s a lot of weight to that, but I feel very honored and proud that the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association asked me to be the representative from Nebraska to help bring light to a disorder that is not well known on a national stage.” Flanagan may have been dealt a bad physical break, but he isn’t letting the disorder slow him down or hinder the work he loves. “I’m not going to say I don’t have moments where I get mad and frustrated,” he said. "It is going to happen. It isn't cancer, or Parkinson's, it is just a cross that I have to bear. I'm pretty fortunate. If I have to live with it, I might as well accept it and find humor in it. If not, the only person who will suffer will be me."
Class & Major: Senior, Human Performance/Exercise Science Hometown: Augusta, Georgia Campus Activities: Basketball player, Vice president of Black Student Union
Why did you choose to attend Midland?
I chose Midland because of the small campus and family oriented vibe the campus gave off. Seeing how close the students and teachers are was a great first impression on my visit and it was the right choice for me.
How has Midland changed you?
Midland has taught me to get out of my comfort zone and explore new opportunities.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to play a fifth year of basketball and will be pursuing my master’s degree in Leadership and Talent Development.
What memories of Midland will you always carry with you?
MANNY B RYS O N
My favorite memory I will carry with me is the bond on the basketball team. I have grown extremely close to the guys and the amount of memories we have are priceless!
Student Spotlight
9
AGRIBUSINESS
PROGRAM HAS STRONG YIELD IN FIRST YEAR It all seemed set in stone for Dalton Blaha. After high school graduation, Blaha would head for diesel mechanic school and in two years, be ready to embark on his career.
Midland has broadened my expansion of everything involving agriculture. I would like to be a technician for precision equipment, and the opportunities for that line of work exist in the area.”
Another opportunity soon presented itself, and Blaha began to realize that even the best laid plans can be altered. For Blaha, a Midland University freshman, the implementation of an Agribusiness program at Midland University set him on a new four-year journey. “I loved the thought of being a diesel mechanic, but then I started to question whether this was a 100 percent fit for me,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine myself doing this for the rest of my life, but it would be difficult for me to go in another direction. It got me looking at other options.”
Midland’s Agribusiness program was rolled out in the fall of 2021, and Blaha was the first of 15 students to declare it as their major. Nick Schreck, Director of Undergraduate Business, is excited to see that even though the program is in its growth stage, it is clearly gaining some early momentum. “We’ve got strong numbers and we’ve experienced great engagement from the agricultural community,” he said. “The goal now is to build off that and continue to foster business connections and get students in those businesses.”
As he began the process of taking another direction in his collegiate journey, Blaha began to realize the Agribusiness program would offer him a variety of career options. “It wasn’t an easy decision to give up diesel mechanic school,” he said. “I sat down with my parents and started weighing all the pros and cons. It would allow me to get a degree with a broad overview and would give me the opportunity to be a member of the shotgun sports team. My dad and I took a look at the curriculum, and it made me realize this would give me many different routes to find a job. In the two-year diesel program, it would have limited my knowledge to just fixing equipment. Coming to
As he began to research and identify what an Agribusiness program at Midland would look like, Schreck quickly identified that he could lean on area businesses, and ag industry leaders, as the program began to take shape. “We wouldn’t have been able to have this program without the support from local businesses,” he said. “I know people were excited to see Midland start an ag program. Midland is known for putting people in the workforce who will work hard and make a difference. Those businesses want talented people to stay in Nebraska and work for them.”
TO LEARN MOR E AB O U T TH E M IDL AN D U N IVER SI T Y AG R I B U SI N ESS P RO G RA M , V I SI T M I D L A N D U. E D U/AG R I B U S I NESS
Blaha’s father, Leo, owner of a 3,000-head cattle operation near Dodge, Nebraska, saw immediate value in Midland’s plan for its Agribusiness program. “Nebraska is at the heart of agriculture in this country,” Blaha, a 1992 Midland graduate, said. “There’s a shrinking demographic on the agricultural side and we need to get students geared back toward working in agriculture. Nick and I had several discussions regarding the program. I was able to offer my suggestions, and he came up with a great plan. Talking with other people in the area was a great step.”
experience is a huge plus, and Midland’s program provides that for students.”
Schreck was also able to lean on local industry leaders to serve as adjunct instructors. Kim Brammer, who teaches Survey of Ag Careers, works as Director of Development and Recruitment with Ag Processing (AGP), an Omaha-based company that is engaged in procuring, marketing, and transporting oilseeds, grain, and related products. In her role of bringing the next generation of workers into the ag industry, Brammer believes a wide skill set is a valuable commodity to any future employer. “We’re looking for teamwork, strong communication, critical thinking and problem solving, leadership, positive interpersonal skills, initiative, and learning/adaptability skills.”
“WHEN COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR THE BEST FIT, CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FIRST-HAND INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER. MIDLAND’S PROGRAM PROVIDES THAT FOR STUDENTS.” -KIM BRAMMER
Brammer believes Midland’s Agribusiness program provides the structure that will equip them with the skills to succeed at the next level. “It’s helping them develop a mix of technical skills and knowledge, along with business ethics and principles,” she said. “This blend will allow students to approach a variety of careers with the understanding of agriculture and business fundamentals.” Many institutions across the Midwest offer some form of agricultural studies. Schreck’s vision was to find a way to make Midland’s program unique. One way for that to happen was to create more “hands-on” experiences for students, where they could see and learn how the work is done in person, as opposed to only reading it out of a textbook. “Our plan is to start rolling out those experiences next semester,” he said. “We talked with many area businesses who like the development process and now, they can envision it a little more and recognize how it can help them. We want to take those experiences to other businesses and students and create great employees for different companies.” Brammer said that approach will be beneficial to employers and students as it gives them an up-close view of what their future may look like. “It prepares students to hit the ground running,” she said. “When companies are looking for the best fit, candidates who have first-hand industry experience are highly sought after. Practical
It’s also providing students like Dalton the opportunity to live the full college experience. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to come here and shoot,” he said. “It’s allowed me to connect with people from all over the country who I would never have met if I had gone somewhere else. It’s been a good fit for me.”
Leo sees the opportunity at Midland as a great learning experience for his son and other students who enter into the Agribusiness program. “When you’re 18, you’re not sure what you want to do, so you hate to get too involved in something that you might not like,” he said. “This gives students the opportunity to view many different sectors of the agriculture industry. It’s a great learning experience, and that’s what college is all about.” The end goal of the college experience is to have a job waiting for you after four years. There is a gap that exists between the needs of the market, and finding qualified candidates to fill those roles, that Schreck hopes will be bridged in the near future. “The ag industry has been facing those needs for several years,” he said. “Not everyone is cut out to be able to think critically and communicate effectively, but also work with their hands. It takes special people to work in agriculture, and I think this program helps develop those people.” Those students who are ready to work shouldn’t have to wait long in line for their opportunity. “There is a shortage of industry-ready individuals,” Brammer said. “Jobs ranging from farm management to commodity sales to agronomy sales are all readily available for those with an Agribusiness degree.” Agribusiness 11
winners
ON AND OFF THE COURT
GIESSELMANN, WARRIORS ESTABLISH TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE Keith Kramme’s persistence paid off in a big way for the Midland University volleyball program.
I was really happy at Creighton. I loved it there, and had no desire to leave.”
Kramme, who was serving as the Midland athletic director at the time, reached out to Paul Giesselmann a few times to see if he was interested in becoming the Warriors’ head coach. Giesselmann, during that time, was serving as an assistant coach at Creighton University.
Kramme tried one last time in the spring of 2010 and was successful.
“For a span of about a decade they had gone through, for various reasons, three or four coaches,” Giesselmann said. “Keith would contact me because he knew that I lived in Fremont and my wife (Dr. Paige Groppe-Giesselmann) is a pediatrician here in town. But
12 Midland Magazine
“My boys (Hunter and Garret) were going into high school and were golfers,” Giesselmann said. “When you are at the (NCAA) Division I level, you spend a lot of time with everyone else’s kids. You don’t see yours as much as you’d like to. My wife kind of convinced me to go talk to Midland about it.” Giesselmann, hired in May of 2010, took a program that had been struggling and turned it into a perennial power. Last fall, he
surpassed 500 career wins in his coaching career. His 288 victories at Midland make him the winningest coach in program history, and he has guided Midland to eight NAIA National Tournament appearances, including three trips to the Final Four.
culture. The team here is like a family. I knew if I would go to Midland I would get pushed as a player on the court and off the court as well being surrounded by such a great community and people who are always there for me when I need them.”
Giesselmann said when he took the job, he knew that finding talent in Nebraska high schools to feed the program wouldn’t be a problem.
Fredrickson and Leimbach said they relish competing in front of the crowds at the Wikert Event Center. Midland traditionally posts one of the highest attendance figures in the NAIA.
“I knew I didn’t have to travel all over the country to be successful,” he said. “The question I had was did Midland want to have a great volleyball program?”
“In 2019, we had more than 15,000 fans at our home matches, which would have put us in the top 50 of Division I programs for attendance,” Giesselmann said.
U.S. Senator Ben Sasse was the Midland president at the time. “I knew Dr. Sasse and Keith were very committed and wanted a program that could compete on the national level,” Giesselmann said. “It was an opportunity to see my boys compete in golf in high school while building a program here. I just love the challenge of building a program. I had the same situation at the College of St. Mary (where he served as head coach from 1994-2001).” It didn’t take Giesselmann long to build the Warriors into a national power. In 2013, Midland finished 37-5 with a trip to the national quarterfinals. His 2016 and 2018 teams played in the Final Four while the 2020 team lost in the national championship match to Missouri Baptist in five sets. Giesselmann built the program using players within a three-hour radius of Fremont. “Coach Giesselmann really got me interested in the program and showed me the great atmosphere that is here,” Brooke Fredrickson, a senior outside hitter from North Bend, said. “The professors work so well with you, and the facilities here are just awesome. Coach Giesselmann was the one who really made me want to go to Midland because he made me feel welcome. I felt like I was already part of the family, too.” All-American setter Hope Leimbach, a junior, had NCAA Division I offers coming out of Lincoln Lutheran, but Midland appealed to her in many ways. She wanted to follow in the tradition of talented Midland setters such as Megan Farley and Jessica Peters. “The program just caught my eye,” she said. “It has such a great Volleyball 13
“WE’VE HAD SO MANY AMAZING YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE OUT THERE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR FAMILIES’ LIVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. TO ME THAT’S THE ULTIMATE REWARD.”
-COACH GIESSELMANN
“We built this culture with mainly Nebraska girls. When you have Nebraska girls as the base of your roster every year, you’re putting a lot of people in the stands because their families, friends, high school teammates, and others come to watch them play.” Fredrickson and Leimbach fit the mold of talented players with high character that Giesselmann looks for in a recruit. “There are a lot of teams in sports that might be good for a year here or a year there, but the ones that are good every year have a tremendous culture,” Giesselmann said. “I think the character of the young women in our program is the foundation of our culture.” Coach Giesselmann said he likes to occasionally remind his players to be careful with whom they socialize. “I tell them not to hang out with knuckleheads,” he said. “If you hang out with knuckleheads, they are going to hold you down. You need to hang out with people who are going to inspire you to be the best version of yourself. You do that, you’ll have a great life , and that is what we have in our program now.” Leimbach said when she arrived at Midland, Taylor Petersen and Shelby Bretschneider served as captains. Her sophomore year the captains were Jaisa Russell and Maggie Hiatt. She said she learned from those leaders what it meant to be part of the program.
14 Midland Magazine
“Those four girls set a really good example for the younger ones on how to do things the right way,” she said. “They all helped build the program and created the success we’ve had. We’re following in their footsteps and trying to do the best we can and hopefully set good examples for the other players that come in each year.” While Giesselmann is proud of the team’s accomplishments on the court during his tenure, he takes equal or more satisfaction to what the team has achieved off the floor. “Our players are engaged in the community,” he said. For about the past eight years, the players have helped Al Vacanti with the Sports For Kids Foundation’s annual memorabilia auction in Omaha. The organization assists physically and emotionally challenged children and their families through the fundraisers. “Al contacted me about it and I thought it was a great cause,” Giesselmann said. “We went down there and now our players run that auction every year. They just do an amazing job.” For a home match in 2017 against Concordia, the team also helped organize a Hurricane Harvey relief effort for Houston. Fans were asked to bring items to donate such necessities as diapers and medical supplies. While the Warriors were playing the Bulldogs, members of the Midland men’s basketball team loaded pickups with the supplies. Following the game, Giesselmann led the trek to Columbus where the donated supplies were put on a semi that
left for Houston the next morning. “I just talked to the players about what had happened down there and the devastation those people went through,” Giesselmann said. “We talked about being thankful for what you have in life because things can quickly change, but I also wanted them to put a smile on their face knowing they had done a small part to help somebody.” The Warriors also stepped up to honor volunteers and organizations that provided help during the flooding in the spring of 2019. “I thought the community really came together during that time, so we decided to use our home opener that August as a celebration to honor these different organizations and people that went above and beyond,” Giesselmann said. “That is what makes the Fremont community so great. It was a great teaching moment for our team.” The floods that March overlapped with Midland’s spring break,
Giesselmann said. Some players were stuck in Fremont, but they knew there were people who were worse off than them. “I was impressed with the players that instead of complaining that they couldn’t get out of town to start spring break, they were volunteering at churches that became shelters,” Giesselmann said. “That’s the thing I really love about my players and former players is that when there is a need, they step up. I think that is really a testament of this community because the flood was a great example of this community, when needed, stepping up.” Giesselmann relishes going to the weddings of former players because they serve as mini-reunions. He enjoys sharing the successes of past players such as Darcy Barry, the starting libero on the 2016 Final Four team, graduating from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a doctorate in pharmacy and Peters, who is in her second year of medical school. “We’ve had so many amazing young women who are out there making a difference in their families’ lives and their communities,” he said. “To me, that is the ultimate reward.”
Volleyball 15
midland universityCGPS
AIMS TO HELP TEACHERS WITH CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT Midland University’s Center for Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) is working with educators to make them better prepared to manage behaviors in classrooms and schools. The Walker School of Education Graduate Program is offering educators the opportunity to earn a Classroom and Behavior Management Certificate. Students can complete a 100% online, stand-alone certificate, or complete a Master of Education in Leadership, Teaching, and Learning degree with an area of emphasis in Classroom and Behavior Management. With this certificate, teachers are prepared to handle disruptive behaviors by learning how to effectively use behavior management techniques. The techniques that students learn can be taken immediately back to the classroom as they continue through the program. “All teachers need to learn how to teach all students in the classroom who may have a range of behavior problems,” said
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Dr. Sara Tiedeman, Associate Vice President for Online Development. “No matter if the child is one student in a classroom with a concern or if the classroom is designed for children with these complex behavior issues.” According to a report from the National Council on Teacher Quality, nearly half of new teachers believe they are either not at all prepared or only somewhat prepared for behavioral issues in the classroom. Part of this stems from the average teacher training program devoting a mere eight hours to the topic. Dr. Ted DeTurk, Administrator at Nebraska Educational Service Unit #2, identified classroom behavior as the top need in schools right now and believes all schools in the state need additional support. “Schools need individuals who can help schools and teachers with skills and strategies to better manage classroom behavior,” DeTurk said.
FOR MOR E INFOR M AT ION, V ISIT CGPS. M ID L ANDU. E DU
“ALL TEACHERS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO TEACH ALL STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM WHO MAY HAVE A RANGE OF BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS.” -DR . S A R A TIE DE MA N
The Classroom and Behavior Management Certificate is a 15credit course and is broken down into five areas of study: Professional Issues in Classroom and Behavior Management, Behavioral Assessment, Psychology of Learning, Advanced Behavior Analysis, and Essential Readings in Classroom and Behavior Management. Classroom and Behavior Management - Presents best practices in classroom and behavior management from organizing time, materials and classroom space to strategies for managing individual and large group student behaviors, transition and other arrangements for classrooms. Students receive in-depth exposure to professional issues in classroom and behavior management. Behavioral Assessment - Focuses on current research and best practices in behavioral assessment. After reviewing the definition, characteristics, and basic concepts of applied behavior analysis, students learn to select, define, measure, and functionally analyze behavior. Procedures for constructing and analyzing graphs and analyzing behavior change are examined. Psychology of Learning - Introduces students to theories of learning, environmental factors affecting behavior, and the influences of motivation. Students learn how to apply procedures derived from these influences to systematically change socially important behaviors, particularly within educational settings and including differentiation for high and low ability learners. An emphasis is placed on the assessment of maladaptive behavior in classrooms and other settings and the development of effective procedures to change behavior in ethically and socially significant ways. Advanced Behavioral Analysis - Covers complex behavioral principles and procedures for systematically changing socially important behaviors. Topics include the major principles of
behavior and procedures derived from those principles for increasing the frequency of existing behavior; obtaining desired stimulus control; developing new behaviors; and decreasing the frequency of behavior with non-punishment procedures. Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior, special applications of behavior change technology, and strategies for increasing generalization of behavior change are also examined. The final part of this course focuses on ethical considerations and practices. Essential Readings in Classroom and Behavior Management - Provides students with in-depth exposure to classroom and behavior management by reading relevant research articles and other assigned reading. “This certificate is beneficial for new teachers as well as seasoned teachers,” Tiedeman said. “Behavior issues that interfere with teaching and learning have notably worsened. This seems to be even more prevalent as a result of remote learning and higher levels of student anxiety. Therefore, this certificate is valuable to all teachers.” To learn more about the Classroom and Behavior Management Certificate, visit cgps.midlandu.edu.
“SCHOOLS NEED INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN HELP SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS WITH SKILLS AND STRATEGIES TO BETTER MANAGE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR.”
-DR . TED DETURK
CGPS 17
leading
WITH PURPOSE
MIDLAND HELPED PAVE PATH FOR ARBUCKLE’S CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT She had always planned on becoming a cop. What Audrey Arbuckle ‘13 didn’t plan on was the first step in her journey toward a career in law enforcement being a lifechanging event. Arbuckle fixated on two things while growing up in Aurora, Colorado - lacrosse and law enforcement. When she received a lacrosse scholarship to attend Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, she would be able to pursue both her passions. She made the 500mile trip across Nebraska with her parents, explaining along the way her decision to become a criminal justice major. Plans were in place. That summer, Arbuckle was playing club lacrosse when she received a call from one of her high school teammates, who would be joining her on the Dana team. “I get a phone call and she tells me ‘did you hear our college closed?’ ” Arbuckle said. “It was a rough transition because I didn’t know what my next step was. I looked around at a few colleges closer to home, but at that point in my life, I wanted to get away and do something different. I also wanted to be somewhere I could continue playing lacrosse.” When Dana College closed in the summer of 2010, Midland University offered the entire lacrosse program, and coach Christine Hatton, an opportunity to start a new program on Midland’s campus. “My coach called me and basically picked Midland for me, which in hindsight was the best thing that could have happened for me,” Arbuckle said. “It was a stressful time, but I’m glad it worked out the way it did because Midland opened a lot of doors for me. It allowed me to have the college experience I wanted.” Her college life was settled, but her personal life was dealt the cruelest of blows in April of her freshman year when she received word her mom had passed away. “It was the biggest life-changing moment I’ve ever gone through,” she said. “I’m so grateful for how understanding my professors were. They basically froze my grades
“I’M IN THIS JOB FOR THE RIGHT REASON AND THAT’S TO BE COOL, CALM, AND COLLECTED TO WORK TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.”
Alumni: Audrey Arbuckle 19
for the year and let me spend the rest of the semester at home and start anew in the fall. That was one of the great things about Midland. Your professors not only knew your name, but they knew about you. If you were struggling, they knew.” Beyond her professors, Arbuckle found support from her lacrosse teammates, several of whom she had played with in high school. “My mom passed away around Easter, so many of my teammates who were home from school came over to my house,” she said. “When I came back to Midland that next fall, my teammates would always ask if there was anything they could do to help. On the year anniversary of my mom’s death, they showed up at my dorm room and brought me gifts and just sat around with me all day watching movies. It’s great to be at a place where you can form those relationships. That’s when you know you’re home. Every time I think about Midland, I get really happy.”
“MIDLAND OPENED A LOT OF DOORS FOR ME. IT ALLOWED ME TO HAVE THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE I WANTED.”
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Many of those relationships were built through athletics and Arbuckle remains grateful Midland gave her the opportunity to continue playing lacrosse. “I would never have gone to college if it weren’t for athletics and Midland opened that door for me,” she said. “Being an athlete has paid off for me. When employers found out that I was a college athlete, they knew I was dedicated, good at time management, and good at working with a team. It was beneficial going through the Police Academy, and in my job now, because you have to be in good physical shape.” Through the highs and lows, Arbuckle never lost sight of her vision to become a police officer. She graduated a semester early from Midland and immediately began the process of finding a police force to join. She had interned with the Fremont Police Department, but they weren’t hiring at that time. Arbuckle then applied with the police department in Crete, a town of about 7,000 people. She was hired shortly after and eight years later, couldn’t be happier with her decision. Currently a senior patrol officer, Arbuckle has visions of someday moving up the ranks to be part of command staff. “When I first got here, I figured I’d be here for three or four years, then move on to a bigger place,” she said. “But now, I plan on spending the rest of my career here. There’s never a dull moment. We deal with all the things bigger cities deal with, but I like the fact that because we don’t have a detective bureau
here, every case I work with becomes mine.” All the training in the world can’t prepare a police officer for what they might see on a given day. Arbuckle has accepted that there will be bad days on the job, when you see things you simply can’t unsee. “I fully understand there are a lot of things people shouldn’t see, but I signed up to be the one to see them so they don’t,” she said. “It’s why there are several coping mechanisms in place, whether it be through counseling, meeting with our team, or for me, running and exercising.” Her current schedule has her working the 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. shift four days a week. But during her days away from patrol, it’s hard to turn off the switch. “Even on my days off, I always have the police radio on, and I’m always hyper aware of my surroundings,” she said. Arbuckle admits she grew up having a skewed view of law enforcement and rarely had positive experiences when it came to interacting with cops. She’s worked hard to help change the perception of police officers for both children and adults. “I’m in this job for the right reason and that’s to be
cool, calm, and collected to work to solve a problem,” she said. “We want to put out a good product the community can respect, without always having to take people to jail.” Changing that image has been helpful through several programs the Crete PD has in place to foster community policing. “We’re out at events where we meet kids and let them sit in our cars,” she said. “Each year, we do Operation Under the Tree where we raise money for gifts for children who are in the backpack program at local schools. Last year, we raised more than $8,000 and helped over 400 kids. Crete is also a large Latino community, so we work closely with Latino churches to let families know we’re here for them and they don’t need to be afraid of us.” Arbuckle is one of two female officers on the Crete PD. She believes being a female officer is a non-issue amongst her peers. “I’ve never felt any bias from other cops, in fact, my sergeant always tells me he wants a female as his partner because he knows we’re not afraid of anything,” she said. Her memories of Midland remain strong, and Arbuckle has done her part to give back to her alma mater over the years by speaking to various classes. “I’m the lone Midland alum among five Doane alum,” Arbuckle laughed. “I love speaking to classes whenever I can because it’s a great recruiting tool and almost every department is looking for more help.” “I tell students that law enforcement is a special calling, and you’ll know the moment you walk in the door if it’s right for you. It’s a big sacrifice because while law enforcement isn’t your entire life, it’s a big part of it. It’s an experience that will change your life. I know I’m not the same person I was eight years ago.” She believes many of her ideals were formed during her time at Midland, and she carries those same beliefs with her today. “Midland gave me the structure I needed in life,” she said. “It ingrained in me what you need to be successful. I couldn’t have done that without Midland.”
“IT’S A BIG SACRIFICE BECAUSE WHILE LAW ENFORCEMENT ISN’T YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, IT’S A BIG PART OF IT.”
when a spark
BECOMES A MOVEMENT
Society is shaped by movements, pushing and pulling the direction in which society will go. People contribute, respond, and grow these movements until they become forces that evolve the whole. Yet, every movement requires that starting point, that spark that ignites a movement so it can take-off and make its mark. On Midland’s campus, movements are being sparked by students. Organizations like Black Student Union, Hispanic Student Union, and PRISM (Pride, Raising awareness, Involvement, Support, and Mentoring) are movements that have been brought about by the ambition and drive of students and the university. “These organizations are creating a sense of community and belonging in people that are used to being around others who look like them and act like them, but suddenly are in a place where now they rarely see them,” Yajayra Borrego, a member of Hispanic Student Union, said. “Organizations like BSU, HSU, and PRISM are working to educate everyone about
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their history, as well as their present and future, of how they’ve been treated and what continues to go on and what should be done. These organizations are saying ‘I am here and you are going to see and hear me.’” Through these groups, students help organize events and plan panels that aim to bring awareness to voices in the Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ communities. Beyond awareness, they want to provide a place where students on campus can learn and grow alongside these communities, promoting an atmosphere on campus that celebrates and embraces diversity and inclusion amongst its students. “I believe we should embrace diversity and inclusion to make sure that everyone has a voice, no matter their gender identity, religion, race, orientation, or ability.” Devyn Hansen, a member of PRISM, said, “We should be striving to make Midland an open and safe environment for all of its students. By becoming active in the movement, we can work to form a more unified campus.”
Kristina Cammarano, Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, said these student organizations, as well as many others across campus, continue to be a vital part of the student development process. “It’s exciting to see the momentum building around these organizations over the past few years,” Cammarano said. “Students are helping to identify what is important to other students, and giving them a great foundation to build on.” Members of these groups want to use their own experiences as students to reach their peers. In the end, it can be so impactful for students to hear from their peers about their communities and promote inclusion among all groups. “Students are in tune with what is happening with the people they set out to represent, whether that be a movement around the country that they believe is important to promote on campus, or an issue being faced on campus that they believe is important,” Yajayra said. “Peers understand you on a level that others don’t.”
It will take the continued ambition and drive of students, and the university, to continue to grow these organizations. These student organizations have made an incredible impact on campus, and show no signs of slowing down. Through these organizations on campus, movements are being started and grown in an effort to continue to foster an atmosphere on campus that exudes celebration of diversity and inclusion among its students. What makes the movements of Black Student Union, Hispanic Student Union, and PRISM all the more impactful is the student spirit and ownership taking place. From that simple spark alone, these movements are making a difference. “It’s essential for students not to be told they belong, but to see a space where they do belong,” Cammarano said. “We continue to move in the right direction to give each student that sense of belonging.”
“I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A VOICE, NO MATTER THEIR GENDER IDENTITY, RELIGION, RACE, ORIENTATION, OR ABILITY.”
- DEVYN HANSEN
The spirit of helping others was instilled in Sharlay Michel (Butler) at a young age. It was instilled by a single mother, trying to raise a young family in the most difficult situation. A 2010 Midland University graduate, Michel grew up with adversity that strengthened her resolve to one day help people on her own. As an OB-GYN Doctor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and instructor at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, Michel is working hard to ensure a healthy and safe environment for others. It was a luxury she didn't often have while growing up. “I grew up on the Coeur d’ Alene Indian Reservation in Idaho, caring for my siblings while my mom worked and attended night school,” Michel said. “We lived in subsidized housing and ate government foods like powdered eggs, milk, and multifunctional tomato substances. I learned early on what it meant to live on variable and limited resources as we relied on food banks, second-hand stores, and church potlucks to get by.” Her family's struggles took an even worse turn when Michel entered high school as her mother became ill and was unable to work. “I came to understand how illness could devastate a family, especially one already living on the margins,” she said. “We lost everything and spent the year transitioning between temporary housing options, everything from a camper to a highway motel.”
SHARLAY MICHEL ‘10 HAS WORKE D H A R D TO EN S U RE B E T TER LIVES FOR OTHERS
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Two things kept Michel focused during these difficult times - her education and basketball. It was her talents on the basketball court that would eventually land her a scholarship to Midland, and a chance to make an impact for herself and others. “My education provided me the tools to begin to understand the complex continuum of illness and disease,” Michel said. “Basketball taught me patience, perseverance, humility, and the confidence to bounce back after failure. A scholarship reinforced my faith that hard work could be the key to transcending any circumstance.” She arrived at Midland because of basketball, but left with so much more. “I came to Midland to play basketball, but it was the people that made Midland feel like home,” she said. “Whether it was on the court, in the classroom, or through student organizations, I made lifelong friends who have become like family. I still keep in touch with some of
“I THINK IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY TREAT AN ILLNESS, BUT TO HELP PATIENTS STAY WELL.”
my professors as well as many classmates and teammates, some of whom came to my wedding!” After graduating from Midland Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Biology, Michel attended the University of Washington School of Medicine, becoming a Doctor of Medicine in 2015. She completed her residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. In September of 2021, she began her work at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, as well as starting her teaching career at Harvard. As someone who grew up not always knowing where her next meal would come from, Michel has worked hard to emphasize the importance of nutrition. “I was old enough to see my mom rationing food or foregoing meals so that my siblings had more to eat,” she said. “Nutrition is a form of medicine, and I think it’s crucial to consider the roles that diet plays as a modifier of health issues we’re trying to address. Eating healthy can seem daunting on a budget, or if you don’t have access to regular meals. I try hard to educate patients about how to select healthy foods, the importance of good nutrition, and how to do that within the context of their social and cultural circumstances.” During her first year of medical school, Michel organized a field trip to a food bank for first-year medical students, hoping to have them gain a better understanding of the food insecurity that so many people in America face. Michel and her classmates then developed a free nutrition seminar for patients at a local clinic and would eventually distribute a cookbook called “Delicious and Nutritious” that included easy recipes for low income families and would feature items that could be obtained at local food banks. “I think it’s very important to not only treat an illness, but to help patients stay well,” she said. “Our cookbook included information on how to read nutrition labels, recognize hidden harms in food, and include a list of healthy ingredients to substitute into recipes
to make them healthier. By learning about food banks and creating recipes from ingredients there, it helped others to think about what they donate to food banks, and how that might make sense for a meal.” Michel is embracing the mix of medicine and education and is excited for the prospect of continuing to serve others in a variety of ways moving forward. “Medical education is one of my distinct interests, and I am committed to teaching students in the Massachusetts General Hospital-Brigham and Women’s Hospital program,” she said. “As an Academic OB-GYN and reproductive disease specialist, I’d like to maintain a blended academic and community-based clinical practice. “My research focus will continue to center on how to bridge the gaps between research, policy, and clinical practice to improve reproductive health outcomes.” Michel has been married to Dr. Eriberto Michel since 2017, and the couple has one young daughter. She is grateful for the opportunity to impact people's lives in many meaningful ways. “I’ve always had a desire to help people, and when I first came to Midland, I thought I would be helping people in the capacity of law as a pre-law major,” she said. “However, my interests in biological sciences, social justice, and helping people ideally suited me for a career in medicine. I love that my specialty allows me to engage in all of those things through surgery, advocacy, and general obstetrics and gynecology care.” Michel was recognized by Midland with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2017. She is grateful not only for the opportunity Midland presented her, but the influence it continues to make in her personal and professional life. “Some of my happiest memories are from my time at Midland,” she said. “I would not be the physician, educator, and researcher that I am now without those formative experiences and relationships at Midland.” Sharlay Michel 25
Tanzanian travels
PROVIDE LIFE CHANGING Midland Magazine 26 EXPERIENCES FOR MARTIN RUSSELL ‘86
“WE OFFER SECONDARY STUDENTS ACROSS TANZANIA A HIGH-QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION.” -MARTIN RUSSELL
In his time as a pastor and through his work with the Opportunity Education Foundation, Martin Russell ‘86 has made more than 75 trips to Tanzania. But it’s the first trip he made to the East African country in 1999 that still stands out in his mind.
Crossing paths with Mkenda is just one of countless lifechanging events for Russell in his travels to Tanzania. When Martin arrived at Midland as a freshman 40 years ago, serving halfway across the globe was the furthest thing from his mind.
“I was a pastor in Wayne, Nebraska, and I was selected to travel to Tanzania as part of a pastoral exchange through the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania,” Russell said.
“It was never on my radar,” he said. “I came to Midland initially to study accounting, but I began to realize I wasn’t wired to do that. After graduation, I went to the seminary and became a pastor. I figured I would always be a pastor, but now it led to a new path. It was a path that wasn’t necessarily scripted, but I’m deeply grateful for it.”
He was always interested in Tanzania due to a friendship he formed at Midland with a Tanzanian international student, Alvera Byabato ‘87. “I first went to Tanzania for six weeks and had no idea how transformational it would be in my life,” Russell said. “A remarkable moment during that trip was when my host in the local village where I lived informed me there was a gentleman who wanted to meet me. We began talking and he told me he had been in the United States in the early 1960s to attend college. Turned out he was a Midland graduate. I went to his house and noticed that his wallpaper was entirely made up of Midland alumni newsletters he had been sent during the 1970’s and 1980’s. He was so proud of being a Midland graduate and leveraged his Midland education to make a difference.” That man was John Mkenda ‘65, who had a scholarship established in his name in 2018. Mkenda graduated with a business degree and was eventually honored with an honorary Doctor of Law Degree by the university in 2002. His scholarship is awarded to international students of good academic standing with encouragement to use their education in service to the church and their community.
His first trip to Tanzania 23 years ago was just the tip of the iceberg for Russell, who knew as early as his initial trip home that more would follow. “On my trip home, I prayed I would be able to come back at least one more time,” he said. “Well, be careful what you pray for because earlier this year, I just completed my 75th trip to Tanzania.” After completing seminary at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Russell served in churches in Texas and Pennsylvania before arriving in Wayne in 1996. After four years in Wayne, Russell received the opportunity to serve as Assistant to the Bishop for the Nebraska Synod of the ELCA. He would spend 11 years in that position, and one of his roles was providing leadership to global mission partnerships in Tanzania, Argentina, and Uruguay. During that time, he led more than 400 people on 24 mission trips to Tanzania. “Our trips were built around seeing the ministry of the Lutheran Church in Tanzania,” he said. “Our travelers Martin Russell 27
gained an understanding of what life is like in Tanzania, developed friendships, worshiped in modest churches, visited villages, hospitals, schools, and homes. They learned about the economy, education, and healthcare systems. We experienced the breathtaking beauty of the land and the wildlife it supports while on safari to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. Most importantly, introducing people to people became the foundation for ministry partnerships between Americans and Tanzanians.” After 11 years, Russell saw God call him in another direction as he returned to serve as a Pastor at a church in Helena, Montana. He soon received a phone call from the Omahabased Opportunity Education Foundation, asking him if he was ready for another challenge. Russell took the role as Tanzania Country Director, where he would oversee the work of the Opportunity Education Foundation in Moshi, Tanzania. He became Director of Africa Operations in 2017. In his role, Russell spends about half of the year in Tanzania, heavily involved with the education system. Tanzania, a country of 60 million people, has an education system that Russell said needed work in terms of getting students ready for what awaited them when their formal education was finished. “One of the greatest challenges facing students in Africa today is access to high quality education, that is relevant
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and engaging, and that also grounds them in the skills and habits they will need to succeed,” he said. “At Opportunity Education, we offer secondary students across Tanzania a high-quality secondary education, and the opportunity to gain the mindset, habits, and skills to create value for their families, their communities, and their country. Our method places students at the center of learning activities by encouraging them to drive their own education.” Russell said they are starting to see very positive results in Opportunity Education’s growing network of 20 secondary schools. “We believe secondary school today should help students prepare for a successful life and give them the skills they need to find a purposeful role in society,” Russell said. “Instead, most students sit passively day after day, diligently taking notes, and rarely speaking, focused mostly on passing high stakes exams with good marks. Our program, which we call Quest Forward Learning, combines high-quality academic materials with student-centric, hands-on teaching and learning that activates students and helps them become lifelong learners.” Russell has introduced many people to Tanzania who have made a tremendous difference in the lives of Tanzanians. Bob Kasworm is one such person. Kasworm is based out of Omaha and works for CHI Health in Tanzania. Kasworm’s
first trip to Tanzania was with Russell in 2001. As a leader in the Nebraska Synod Companion Synod Relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania for 20 years, Kasworm has helped enact meaningful change for Tanzanian citizens on many levels. Among the many things he’s been vital in helping establish are the Machame School of Nursing in 2013, the Houses for Health, which has provided more than 150 homes for Tanzanian families, and the Orthopedic Center at Machame Lutheran Hospital, which has served more than 12,000 people and is the leading orthopedic center in northern Tanzania. Kasworm has hosted Midland University students on many study abroad opportunities for nearly 20 years. “I first met Bob over 20 years ago when the Lutheran Church in Tanzania was looking at ways to strengthen healthcare in Tanzania,” Russell said. “Like me, this was never on Bob’s radar, but his first trip turned out to be a transformational experience. Bob has done incredible work in Tanzania, and there are tons of people who are alive today because of the work he’s done. He’s driven by a passion to make a difference and get things done.” Russell has been able to share his love of Tanzania with many Midland alumni over the years. “Midland has a strong history with Tanzania, and I’ve been fortunate to travel with many alumni and professors to Tanzania,” he said. “My parents, brother, and extended family members all went to Midland, so it has intertwined with my life.” As someone who took a far different route from what he intended when he arrived at Midland, Russell believes students should always be willing to shift gears when the time is right. Russell was quick to acknowledge that he is grateful for his wife, Lori, and daughter, Grace, who are supportive of him in this calling. “I would encourage students not to have life be scripted and be open to possibilities,” he said. “You never know where God might lead you, and there are so many opportunities out there. My life is richer because of my global opportunities. I have made so many African friends and have been able to spend time with people from all over the world.”
“I WOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENTS NOT TO HAVE LIFE BE SCRIPTED AND BE OPEN TO POSSIBILITIES. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE GOD MIGHT LEAD YOU, AND THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.” -MARTIN RUSSELL
Martin Russell 29
prep time
BEFORE SHOWTIME Before the first scene of a Midland University performance is ever played out, there is a long list of behind the scenes work that must take place. Months and months of planning, dozens of performers and workers, and hundreds of hours of preparation and practice make everything click during a three-hour performance. It’s a process that staff, cast, and crew members embrace and it all begins a year in advance when Dan Hays, Director of Theater Activities, begins planning out what a performance list will look like. “We start looking a year ahead, applying for rights to shows, and starting to work with faculty on who will be involved,” Hays said. “You put a list of shows together, but quite often you can be denied permission to do that show, so then you have to refigure everything.” Hays said many factors come into play when choosing performances for a given year. “We try to find shows that
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would be the right fit for the students we have at that time,” he said. “Some years we might have larger groups of males or females, so we have to plan for that. We also have to realize we only have so many resources to work with, so if we plan for a show that is expensive to perform, we need to counteract with a less expensive show.” Shows can range from traditional classics to new musicals. Hays says students aren’t afraid to offer up their opinions on which shows they would like to perform, but he also wants to be cognisant of the audience they are performing for. “Our demographic can be a bit unusual in that a lot are either 70 and older, or 20 and younger, so we try to find a nice mix,” he said. “We want to educate not only our students, but the populus in Fremont. In the old musicals, the plot was always boy meets girl, boy loses girl, then boy gets girl back and everyone ends up happy. The new musicals are not like that.”
“WE’RE ALWAYS WORKING ONE SHOW AHEAD.” -J ER RY D I T T E R
Once a playlist is set, the work begins to assemble cast and crew. Little time is wasted once students are on campus as auditions take place on the second day of classes for students. All of the fall semester performances are cast after auditions, although some rearranging will take place to make sure the schedule works for everyone involved. “We want to make sure our students get the parts that are the best fit for them, so we might have to do a little swapping to get people in the right roles,” Hays said. “We’ve found it works best to do auditions at the beginning of the school year because students aren’t stressed with big tests or have a million assignments to do.” Hays then begins to work with his team, which includes Rex Barker (recently retired Director of Instrumental Music), Jerry Ditter (Director of Technical Arts), and Lee Meyer (Adjunct Professor of Theater) to assemble a crew and find directors for each production. “We have a plethora of directors on staff so we will each take a turn directing a
performance,” Hays said. “It helps that we all get along and work together very well.” Once auditions are complete, rehearsals for the first performance in October begin immediately. Construction for the sets begins in late summer and continues throughout the performance season. “We’re always working one show ahead,” Ditter said. “From our initial rehearsal we begin the groundwork for the design phase of each performance. The design part is mostly student-led, and we normally need about 7 to 10 students for each performance.” Ditter said being organized is an important part of the design process. “It’s all about pre-planning,” he said. “My role as technical director stops once the students take over. I’m around in case of an emergency, but I’m not here pushing buttons.” Hays said an important part of the learning process for Theater Production 31
students is having a role in all aspects of a performance, be it as actors, directors, stage managers, or musicians. “A typical show will have 40 to 50 students involved, and we want them involved in all aspects,” he said. “We have some students who never want to be on stage, but will work as stage managers. But those students are still required to take acting and directing because if they are working with actors, they need to know those roles and what they do.” With many of the shows being of the musical variety, Hays likes to provide at least one live performance by the Midland orchestra. “Dan and I will discuss each season and figure out which show would be best for a live pit,” Barker said. “It’s something our students love to do. It also gives our students the opportunity to be on stage for one show, then performing in the orchestra for the next performance. “Our live pit can vary from 15 to 18 people to as few as 3 or 4. It’s a great way for them to get involved, and many of our students have gone on to play for other performances, high schools, and summer community theaters.”
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The work leading up to a show can be tiresome, stressful, and challenging. But once the big night has arrived, all of the hard work leading up to this point can be rewarded with a great performance. “By the time we get around to that first live performance, we are ready,” Hays said. “I’ve been to places where every night they are changing things around from the previous show. We don’t do that here. Once opening night hits, I try to hide because at that point, the director can only get in the way. “I’ve had to learn to sit back and watch like a member of the audience, instead of like a director who knows where every little flaw is. It’s taken me many years to work on it, but I’ve learned to sit back and enjoy the show.” Ditter said seeing everything come together on opening night is rewarding for the entire cast and crew, whether onstage or backstage. “I enjoy seeing when student designers are successful,” he said. “The look on their face, when everything works, is incredible. They all strive for a feeling of success and accomplishment, and I’m happy to be part of that.”
“I ALWAYS GET ASKED WHAT MY FAVORITE SHOW IS AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IT’S THE ONE I’M WORKING ON AT THAT TIME.” - DAN H AYS Most shows feature five performances (including one for faculty and staff). Once that performance is put to bed, there is little time for celebration as another show looms in the distance. Once the first semester shows have completed their run, work is already under way for the spring semester shows with auditions taking place before students leave for holiday break, and the process begins all over again. “I always joke about this with my students because they have such euphoria at the end of a performance, and then incredible depression because it’s over,” Hays said. “I’m
fortunate that I haven’t felt that for 25 years because I’m already on to the next show. Maybe someday when I hang my boots up, I’ll have this one big depression that will last for months.” As a longtime veteran of the theater in many roles, Hays appreciates every show his group is able to put on. “I get asked what my favorite show is and I always tell people it’s the one I’m working on at that time,” he said. “I’ve been around a lot of great shows in my time and you always get so involved, then move on to the next thing. So whatever show I might be working on becomes my favorite.”
Theater Production 33
MADISON E I CH
Class & Major: 2022 Graduate
General Business and Digital Marketing Minors in Psychology and Sociology
Hometown: Papillion, Nebraska Campus Activities:
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan on continuing with my position as Social Media Manager for Nebraska Crossing. I am also getting married to my college sweetheart, who I met on campus, with all of my past teammates by my side!
Premier Dance Company, Student Senate, Game Day Dance Team, Arts Leadership Council
Why did you choose to attend Midland?
It felt like home. No matter who I talked to, it felt safe and welcoming.
What memories of Midland will you always carry with you? There are many memories I will take with me, but the biggest memory is knowing that as a graduate of Midland, I have been given the best opportunities and have met many lifelong friends.
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How has the Midland experience changed you?
It has allowed me to grow into the person I am today. Midland gave me a chance to be a leader in many different aspects and learn to use my voice to become strong in my beliefs and stand up for myself and others.
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