2024 Midland Magazine by Midland University

MIDLAND

2024 ALUMNI & FRIENDS MAGAZINE

CENTER STAGE

Trey Mendlik '19 doesn't shy from the spotlight

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

JODY HORNER

President

JODI BENJAMIN ‘99, MBA ‘16

Chief Operating Officer

LORI ETHIER '07, MBA '17

Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment & Marketing

JOE HARNISCH '01

Chief Financial Officer

LAURA JENSEN Vice President for Institutional Advancement

KRISTINA CAMMARANO Vice President for Student Affairs & Chief Diversity Officer

DR. JAMIE SIMPSON Chief Academic Officer

COURTNEY THOMSEN Athletics Director

MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS

ERIC TAYLOR '92

Editor

BRENT WASENIUS '86

Writer

KIM TAYLOR '94

Designer

MISTY LEMMON

Trey Mendlik Cover Photo

BOARD Of DIRECTORS

AMBER BARTON ‘02 Senior Vice President Commercial Lending, Pinnacle Bank

STEVE FEYE ‘76 Retired Partner, Deloitte LLP

BRET GRIESS Executive Partner, Siris Capital Group

REV. PEGGY HALL Retired Vice President of Mission and Spiritual Care, Immanuel Communities

JODY HORNER President, Midland University

RICO MUNN ‘93 Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Colorado State University

BRETT RICHMOND Executive Vice President, Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital

MARY SHANNON President & CEO, Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters

MARK SHEPARD Superintendent, Fremont Public Schools

TONY URBAN ‘92 Principal, Tax Services, RSM

TOM WALKER ‘81 President, Health Care Information Systems OFFICE OF ALUMNI & ADVANCEMENT 900 N. Clarkson St. | Fremont, NE 68025 800-642-8382 | alumni@midlandu.edu

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to all Midland University alumni and friends! I hope you enjoy the 2024 issue of the alumni magazine, celebrating all the great things that are happening on campus and sharing the wonderful stories of some of our alumni who are continuing to learn and lead in the world with purpose.

This was a special year for Midland University as we commemorated our 140th year as an institution. A milestone like this allows us to reflect on so many great accomplishments over the years, but also look ahead to an even brighter future for Midland University. We continue to grow as an institution, on both our Fremont and Omaha campuses, and are so excited for what lies ahead.

This magazine is special to me because it is the last one I will be a part of as president of Midland University. I have announced my retirement that will become effective during the 2024-25 academic year. I can’t even begin to express how much Midland has meant to myself, and my family, in the 10 years I have served as president.

I have been blessed to encounter so many great individuals over the years, whether they are students, alumni, faculty, staff, or people in the Fremont community. Midland has been a very special place for my family since our arrival and this is a bittersweet moment for me as I prepare for my final term as president.

These past 10 years have been filled with opportunities, challenges, and change at Midland University, and I am beyond proud to have played a role working to make Midland relentlessly relevant!

I want to thank everyone who has made me feel at home for the past decade and even though I won’t be serving as president, I plan to keep myself involved with the Midland community.

The mission of Midland University is to inspire others to learn and lead in the world with purpose and we will continue to work toward that in the coming years.

Thank you for all that you do for Midland. Go Warriors!

Jody Horner

Midland University President

Natalie Iacovetto

CLASS OF 2024

CLASS & MAJOR:

Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training, and currently working on a Master’s in Athletic Training

HOMETOWN: Wheatland, Wyoming

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES:

FCA leader, Anderson Leaders Program, Track and Field athlete

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND MIDLAND?

I wanted to continue my track and field career, but I also wanted a school that had an athletic training program. Midland allowed me to do both.

HOW HAS MIDLAND CHANGED YOU?

It has allowed me to grow, learn, and evolve at a critical time in my life. It has brought me many new faces, friends, and competitors that pushed me to be a better person and athlete. All these experiences have made me a better person and will help make me a great athletic trainer.

WHAT MEMORIES OF MIDLAND WILL YOU CARRY WITH YOU?

The smell of burnt popcorn will always be with me and remind me of my sophomore year roommate. I will forever associate doughnut holes with quality conversations with close friends. From long bus rides and group projects to dance and casting classes, there are so many good memories I will never forget.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION?

After I have passed the BOC exam, I plan to obtain a job as an athletic trainer somewhere close to home. I don’t exactly know where I’ll end up, but you will most likely find me in the Northern Colorado area.

Fannon ‘07 working to prepare individuals for brighter futures through Work Ethic Camp

A brief encounter with the football coach at Midland University made a lasting impression on Steve Fannon ‘07.

Shortly after his campus tour of Midland, Fannon was traveling through Fremont when he ran into Midland football coach Bob Dzuris at a convenience store.

“I had met him a week before during my visit and I recognized him, but did not expect him to remember me,” Fannon said. “I imagine he had met dozens of recruits over the past few months and I wouldn’t have expected anyone to remember everyone. He came right up to me, shook my hand, remembered both my name, and my dad’s name, and visited with us for a few minutes. That was really encouraging to be a person who faculty and coaches knew, and not just a number who got lost in a sea of people.

“From the first tour I had with Midland, the people made me feel welcome and comfortable. The faculty was caring and fellow students were encouraging. I knew I would have a lot of opportunities and could be an active participant in my college life.”

“I’ve been fortunate to surround myself with mentors who helped develop my knowledge and leadership skills,” Fannon said. “Through every position I’ve held in corrections, I’ve strived to continue learning not only for my position, but about how the various roles work together to ensure high quality care of the people we serve.”

His interest in the criminal justice field was nurtured at Midland, thanks in part to his involvement in areas outside of criminal justice. “At that time, Midland did

The Code Academy provides an amazing opportunity for people to learn a very specialized skill and have a pathway to meaningful employment that many would not have seen as a possibility for them.

- STEVE FANNON ‘07

Fannon serves as the Warden for the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) in McCook, Nebraska, a position he has held since February of 2023. The WEC is a 200-bed Minimum B male facility that combines evidence-based practices with treatment, educational opportunities, and the ability to work in the community.

He has been with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) for 17 years, serving as a caseworker, case manager, and reentry specialist at multiple facilities. He later served as the agency’s reentry program manager and programs administrator.

not have a dedicated Criminal Justice program, but through the faculty within the Psychology and Sociology departments, I was able to get great insight into emerging practices in areas affecting criminal justice,” he said. “Faculty provided great insight into real world issues affecting people connected to the criminal justice system, and provided a rounded view of societal issues contributing to incarceration. The curriculum, discussions, and professional guests provided me a launching pad into corrections and critical thinking skills necessary to excel in this profession.”

The mission of the WEC is to provide an integrated program that combines evidence-based practices with treatment and educational opportunities. The overall goal is to reduce the risk of recidivism (tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend) through behavioral change and assisting incarcerated individuals with successful community reintegration.

As part of the program to help individuals prepare for life after incarceration, the WEC has teamed with Midland University and is allowing individuals to take part in the Midland University Reentry Code Academy, where they can be trained to become level one computer coders.

“Midland’s faculty and staff have worked diligently to integrate the program into the corrections environment,” Fannon said. “Having incarcerated individuals connecting to the internet and working in-depth within computer systems is typically something corrections systems try to avoid for security reasons, but with Midland’s help, we’ve created a way to do this safely and effectively. The Code Academy provides an amazing opportunity for people

to learn a very specialized skill and have a pathway to meaningful employment that many would not have seen as a possibility for them.”

Since graduating from Midland, Fannon’s entire professional career has been dedicated to working with the NDCS. “I am extremely grateful for the amazing team I get to work with every day,” he said. “Our team works to ensure safety and security for every person, but also to intentionally pursue opportunities to best prepare individuals to return to the community positioned for success.”

Fannon’s football career at Midland only lasted a year, but that experience, along with campus employment in the Warrior Grille, allowed him to meet individuals from all across campus. “Those experiences connected me with people throughout campus and allowed me to make friends with people across different sports, clubs, fraternities, and sororities that I might not have otherwise got the chance to know,” he said.

Steve Fannon ’07, has worked for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services for 17 years.

Women’s hockey team building winning

winning culture, on and off the ice

Success in athletics is often measured by wins and losses and by that standard, the Midland University women’s hockey program has been one of the nation’s elite teams for the past three seasons.

But for Coach Jason White and his Warrior team, the success of the program goes far beyond the scoreboard.

“Ultimately, your main goal as a program is to win a national championship,” White said. “But beyond that, I am so proud of everything this team has accomplished on the ice, in the classroom, and in the community. We want to have sustained success, but most importantly, we want to do it the right way.”

Since his arrival prior to the 2017-18 season, Coach White has helped guide the Warriors to becoming one of the top programs in the country. Over the past three seasons, the Warriors have accumulated a 77-16-7 record and have reached the American Collegiate Hockey Association semifinals each of the past two seasons. This year’s team was undefeated through its first 29 games before finishing the season with a school record 30 victories.

“Over the past several years, these girls have bled orange and blue and have made huge commitments to our program,” White said. “They have bought into our culture and helped change who we are as a program.”

That mentality didn’t always exist within the program. Before White’s arrival, the team was mired in losing seasons and poor numbers. After a visit with then Athletic Director Dave Gillespie, White convinced him he was the right person to lead the program.

“I was leading the youth hockey program in Fremont, so I got a chance to learn about Midland's programs,” he said. “The men’s team was already established, but the women’s team wasn’t evolving the way I thought it could. I convinced Dave to make the head coach a full time position and from there, my game plan was to work on building skill sets. Once we had those in place, we started to develop more concepts, and we started having success.”

That success came quickly as White’s first team produced the first winning season in school history at 18-14, and

"It is such an honor teaching these kids the sport we love and in return, it is fun to see the same kids we coach in the stands at our games. Being able to work as coaches, as well as other volunteer opportunities, has allowed us to meet more people from the community and remind us that Fremont is a lot more than just the town we go to school and play hockey in."

- KAYLA FLANIGAN '24

the program has enjoyed a winning season in each of his seven seasons.

The mentality on the ice was a needed change, but so was the way White knew he needed to recruit to maintain that success. He found his answer north of the border.

“I had coached men’s hockey at the collegiate level, but I didn’t have the connections on the women’s side,” he said. “I focused at first on American players, but many of them wanted to play at the NCAA level. So I transitioned to Canadian players and started to build some relationships with area scouts who could help me find players. Now, we average about 15-20 players on our roster from Canada.”

Convincing players to come to another country to compete and go to school offers its challenges. But White said once they got a look at Midland, they were hooked. “We have a beautiful campus, and it’s a great family vibe,” he said. “If I could convince them to come here for a visit, we usually locked them in. As a university that is so student-athlete based, I think they feel reassured knowing they are here with so many other athletes. Our faculty and staff are amazing, so we just need the opportunity to show them how amazing Midland is in person.”

Junior Rylee Martin is one of those players who ventured far from home to play for the Warriors. The Nesbitt, Manitoba native said joining the program has been a life-altering experience. “Being part of this program has helped me grow as a player, teammate, and most importantly, as a person,” she said. “It has helped me connect with numerous people I would never have connected with, and it’s allowed me to make lifelong friends.”

Making that transition easier for players was a welcoming spirit from the other players on the team, as well as Coach White and his family. “These are 18-year olds, many of them leaving home for the first time, and going somewhere far away,” White said. “We tried to give them a family feel, so my wife and I would have them over for dinner. Hats off to the girls on the team because they have done a great job embracing new players. Many of them were in that same position themselves, and they have worked to make that an easier transition for them.”

Recruiting good players is important to the success of any program at any level. But it goes far beyond recruiting talented players to make a team successful. “I can always find good hockey players, but if that person has an ego, or might not be the best person, it can tear away at your program,” White said. “The biggest thing for me is that

they are amazing people. They are hard-working kids, who come from good families, and can transition into our program.”

A winning culture off the ice has translated into a winning culture on it. Senior Kayla Flanigan believes the mindset of the entire program has been one of translating hard work and commitment into wins and losses. “I think our success can be attributed to all of the work each team member puts in,” she said. “The program is demanding, when you account for all of the expectations on and off the ice, but we wouldn’t be where we are without those high expectations. We are a family that supports each other, while also holding each other accountable in all areas. We can rely on each other and we produce results because of that. It’s something special that I don’t think every team is lucky enough to have.”

Their love for hockey extends beyond the locker room. The team has spent the last several years working with youth players in the Fremont area, teaching them the basics of the game, along with a few life skills. “I had a lot of great influences growing up as a hockey player and I think it’s so important to give back to the hockey community,” White said. “One of the great things about

hockey is seeing our players interact with younger players. We want to continue to see young hockey players develop and our girls can have a big influence on that.”

Flanigan said seeing the next generation of players grow and learn the game is rewarding on both ends. “It is such an honor teaching these kids the sport we love and in return, it is fun to see the same kids we coach in the stands at our games,” she said. “Being able to work as coaches, as well as other volunteer opportunities, has allowed us to meet more people from the community and remind us that Fremont is a lot more than just the town we go to school and play hockey in.”

Consistency can be one of the hardest things to replicate in sports and Midland hockey, like many other top-flight programs, faces the challenge of not only getting to the top, but remaining there. That struggle is not lost on White or his players, but it’s one they embrace with pride. “If we keep doing what we’re doing, we will be in the mix and have an opportunity to win a national title,” White said. “It’s all about these girls. They work their tails off and grind every day by showing up and competing to get better on the ice and in the classroom. It’s not easy, and our success has come from them.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Bond created at Midland has led to 65 years of happiness for Ron and

Pat Braun ‘59

With persistence, and some stretching of the truth, Dr. Ron Braun ‘59 met classmate Pat Minzenmayer ‘59 at Midland University.

Ron and Pat, his wife of nearly 65 years, met during their junior years at Midland in 1957. Their first meeting occurred when Ron needed some help with class notes.

“I was taking a religion course and missed a few classes. I asked my friends if anyone had taken notes, and someone recommended Pat, because she was known to be an excellent student,” he said. “We met at the dining

hall and I introduced myself to Pat. I asked her if I could borrow her notes. She gave me a really nice smile, and said ‘No.’”

Fortunately, the story doesn’t end there as Ron concocted a story that would allow him a second meeting. Ron stated that there was a story circulating that Pat had a distant relative who was a small town sheriff in Texas.

After a bank robbery, the sheriff chased the robbers and was never seen again. There are still some questions about what actually happened.

After hearing this, Ron made a call to Pat and told her he was working on a newsletter and he thought this story would be worth sharing with their classmates. She agreed to meet at a local bakery and while having coffee, Ron

From left, Ron ’59, and Pat Braun ’59, with Midland University President Jody Horner and Midland Vice President for Institutional Advancement Laura Jensen.

We are happy to see how Midland is progressing and I owe a great debt to Midland. Life would not have been nearly as interesting had I not met Pat. It’s one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me.

- RON BRAUN '59

“ ”

confessed there was no newsletter, and he just wanted to see her again. Pat promptly walked away and it took two weeks of phone calls to her dorm before Pat finally agreed to meet. They soon realized they shared similar views and enjoyed each other’s company. This was the beginning of a journey which has led to 65 years of marriage.

“I never got the notes, but at that point it didn’t matter,” Ron said. “There is an expression that ‘Liars never prosper,’ but in my case, it turned out very well.”

Ron and Pat both graduated in 1959, and were married that summer. Each embarked on memorable, and distinct career paths.

Ron began teaching mathematics at a high school in Omaha. Pat got a job with Cudahy Packing Company where she was accepted into a training program for programming at IBM. After two years of teaching, Ron was accepted into the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. After earning his M.D. degree and completing his internship in 1965, Ron served as a flight surgeon in the US Air Force. While stationed in Newburgh, New York, Pat began working for IBM. After completing his military service, Ron started his anesthesia residency at Yale.

Pat applied to the Master’s Program at Yale. “At that time, Yale was not allowing women into the undergraduate school, and there were not many in the graduate school,” Ron said. “It took support letters from Midland professors and IBM to get Pat into Yale. She was only the second woman to be admitted into the Operations Research program, and the first to graduate.”

Yale brought both of them to Connecticut. Pat had a very successful 27-year career with IBM where she served as a programmer, analyst, and senior manager. Her work with IBM included travel to South America where she developed an interest in archaeology.

During Ron’s residency, one of his professors was asked to take over the anesthesia department at Danbury Hospital. He eventually joined that practice. “In 1984, Dr. John Daniels and I opened the third free-standing surgical center in Danbury,” Ron said. “After Dr. Daniels retired, I became the medical director until I retired myself in 2001.”

After 27 years with IBM, Pat accepted early retirement. She returned to Yale to earn a second Master’s degree in Archaeology. After Ron’s retirement, Ron and Pat moved to her native Texas to be closer to family. Their two daughters had married and moved to start their life paths.

Pat began working with the Texas Historical Commission. This involved digging for and cataloging artifacts. With her computer experience she created a database of over 20,000 artifacts. She was appointed steward of Aransas County where she was the interface between landowners and the Texas Historical Commission.

Ron pursued his interest in computers. He joined the “Rockport Computer Users Group,” a 501c entity. The club offered classes and provided internet access to the public. Ron taught the members how to use programs like Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and Quicken. He helped the seniors with setting up email and Facebook accounts so they could keep in touch with family and friends. “I truly enjoyed this activity and remain in contact with many of those people today,” Ron said.

Ron and Pat had both been members of the Midland University choir. “I attempted to run cross country and track, but soon realized that wasn’t my thing,” he said. “I had good pitch, so they found a spot for me in the choir.”

His love of music led him to one of his favorite hobbies, playing the piano. He and Pat also enjoyed sailing with their two daughters for many years. Ron and Pat now have four delightful grandchildren.

“I feel very fortunate to have lived the life we have,” Ron said. “I’ve made a lot of decisions that turned out to be good one’s, and good luck played a significant role in our decisions.”

Now living in Georgia, Ron and Pat continue to lend their support to Midland, something they have done for many years. “I’ve been fortunate that we have been able to give financial support for educational purposes,” Ron said. “We are happy to see how Midland is progressing and we owe a great debt to Midland. Life would not have been nearly as interesting had I not met Pat. It’s one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me.”

Agribusiness Club Seeking Continued Growth

Midland University’s new Agribusiness Club has opened the eyes of its members to all the possibilities that exist for future careers in the agricultural industry.

The club organized in the fall of 2023 and founder Erik Hoegemeyer, Agribusiness Program Coordinator at Midland, is helping students realize the opportunities that exist after graduation. “We are making sure our students are getting as much interaction with as many companies as possible,” he said. “We recently had a couple of students that never considered agricultural banking, and after meeting with someone from the industry, they are now viewing it as a possible career choice.

“We took students to Lindsay Corporation, one of largest manufacturers of center pivot irrigation systems in the world, and many of them weren’t sure what to expect. But by the time our meeting had ended, they were talking about how great the experience was and that it was a career they would consider.”

It has been the impetus of Hoegemeyer and the club to get these students exposure to an ag community that

is one of the nation’s strongest, and meeting with all facets of the agricultural industry has opened doors they never thought existed. “We have the best geography of any agribusiness program nationally in my opinion,” Hoegemeyer said. “When you look at everything that is in the Fremont and Columbus areas, then expand into Omaha where you have some of the largest agribusiness corporations in the world, they are all looking for qualified people to work there. We want to make our presence known to these companies, and the club has provided us another venue to do that.”

Since its inception, the club has been meeting twice a month and has visited local businesses like Lindsay, Platte Valley Equipment, Frontier Co-op, and NewStar Sourcing and Service. “The feedback from these places after they meet our students has been outstanding,” Hoegemeyer said. “The only problem is that they are ready to hire them now, and many of our students are underclassmen.”

Dalton Blaha, a junior Agribusiness major and one of the club’s officers, said getting to meet many local industry

Tractors were a part of the campus scenery during Agriculture Week, March 18-22.

leaders has been an invaluable experience and is helping prepare him for whatever vocation he chooses. “Being able to go to local businesses and understand what they do, who their customers are, and what sets them apart has been an amazing benefit,” Blaha said. “The club has helped us understand what is available in the career market and is helping us prepare for internships and post-graduate careers.”

Hoegemeyer’s roots are steeped in agriculture. His family has been a part of the seed corn business for nearly 90 years and he has seen the highs and lows of agriculture in his lifetime. It’s those uncertainties that have created a gap in the marketplace that he hopes Midland can continue to help fill.

“A lot of people have left agriculture over the years,” he said. “You have a large group of people 58 and over working, and another group 32 and younger working, but it’s the generational gap in between that has been hard to fill. I think our students are starting to realize this is a generational opportunity for them in the industry. I think there is a group that thinks the only way to get into agriculture is through farming, and there are so many more ways than that. We need to do a better job of educating young people about agriculture, because there is still that hesitation for them.”

Aside from meeting with businesses throughout the year, club members also took part in a fundraiser where they placed Christmas lights on the equipment at Platte Valley. Hoegemeyer aims for the club to have more volunteer opportunities down the road as they work to embed themselves into the community.

Being able to go to local businesses and understand what they do, who their customers are, and what sets them apart has been an amazing benefit. The club has helped us understand what is available in the career market and is helping us prepare for internships and post-graduate careers.

- DALTON BLAHA ‘25

Being engaged and collaborating with each other is what Blaha believes will be key components in helping the club continue to grow. “Our main goal is to encourage any student that may have an interest in agriculture to be engaged in the club, and we do that by striving to be one of the most active and welcoming clubs on campus,” Blaha said. “My favorite part of our club is the people, and we work to make it a very welcoming and successful place.”

Moving forward, Hoegemeyer is looking for continued growth in the club and is excited to expand their horizons. “We are looking at sending our members to more conferences, setting up internships, and continuing to build momentum and attract more students,” he said. “A bigger presence will allow us more opportunities to prove ourselves to these organizations.”

Midland students handed out swag during Agricultural Week.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Military career has been a rewarding experience for Nethercot ‘93

In her 31-year career with the United States Marine Corps, Brigadier General Julie Nethercot ‘93, has done many things and been to many places.

“I have traveled to more than 50 countries and counting,” Nethercot said. “It’s been quite an experience to meet so many people from a variety of nations and see this beautiful world. Some of my most memorable experiences center around leading Marines and sailors on deployments overseas, from Afghanistan to Africa.”

She graduated from Midland with a degree in Biology and Natural Science. She was commissioned into the Marine Corps May of 1993 and her first tour was with Marine Wing Communications Squadron-28, in Cherry Point, North Carolina as a Platoon Commander, Operations Officer, and Bravo Company Commander.

From 1997-2000, she served at The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia where she was a Staff Platoon Commander and Company Commander before returning to the Fleet Marine Force in August of 2001, where she became the Company Commander for Alpha Company, 8th Communication Battalion. She then became the Battalion Operations Officer and deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 1. Following OIF 1, she deployed to Djibouti Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

The next three years were spent as the Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station Frederick, Maryland before serving as the Regional Plans Officer for Navy Central Command (Bahrain) and becoming the Chief of Plans, G-5 for I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, California over the next two years. Nethercot then had a two-year stint as Commanding Officer for 9th Communication Battalion in Camp Pendleton, California. The battalion deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from January 2010 through February 2011 in support of OEF.

Julie Nethercot ’93 (center), has enjoyed many different experiences during her 31year career in the military.

From 2012 to 2014, she served as the Current Operations Chief, and then the Cyberspace Division Chief for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, J-6. Following her JCS assignment, she served as the Executive Officer for the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Nethercot was the Commanding Officer of Officer Candidates School for two years before serving as the Military Assistant to the 34th and 35th Assistant Commandants of the Marine Corps from 2017-2019. She then did a follow-on assignment as the Director of the Commander’s Action Group for NORAD and USNORTHCOM before her selection to the General Officer ranks in May of 2020. She joined SOUTHCOM as the J-5 after serving as the Commanding General for Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and the Eastern Recruiting Region for two years.

Nethercot is a graduate of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Command and Control Systems School, the Navy Command and Staff College and the National War College. She holds a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

“I have traveled to more than 50 countries and counting. It’s been quite an experience to meet so many people from a variety of nations and see this beautiful world."

- JULIE NETHERCOT '93

Her personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (Second award), the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit (Second award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (Third award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Fourth award) and the Navy Achievement Medal. She was the 2010 recipient of the Major Meghan McClung award for Visionary Leadership for her performance as a Battalion Commander in Helmand Province.

In her time at Midland, Nethercot was an outstanding runner on both the track and field and cross country squads under legendary coach Jim McMahon. Nethercot remains in the top 10 all time marks, both indoor and outdoor, for the 3,200-meter relay. She qualified for the NAIA National Championships in both track and field and cross country.

“I have very fond memories of running both track and cross country,” she said. “One of my favorite memories was running the 4x800 relay at the University of Nebraska and knowing that we qualified for nationals. We truly had an exceptionally talented group of ladies running under the guidance of Coach McMahon.”

Along with her accomplishments on the track and cross country courses, Nethercot was involved in Pi Epsilon sorority and student government. In 2007, she was recognized by Midland with the Outstanding Young Alumni award.

Her accomplishments at Midland served as a catalyst for a decorated military career, one that has spanned three decades and has provided a lifetime of memories.

“I have been blessed with an amazing 31-year career at this point, and I remain honored to continue serving these talented service members and our nation,” she said.

christian dames

CLASS OF 2024

CLASS & MAJOR:

Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, Communications Studies, English, and Secondary English 7-12 Subject Endorsement

HOMETOWN: Scribner, Nebraska

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES: Band, Choir, Theatre, Warriors in Words Student Publication

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND MIDLAND?

I valued the small school atmosphere Midland has. It has been an environment that has allowed me to thrive as a student.

HOW HAS MIDLAND CHANGED YOU?

It has helped me develop as a writer. I have had professors and experiences during my time here who have helped me grow as a writer.

WHAT MEMORIES OF MIDLAND WILL YOU CARRY WITH YOU?

I will always cherish the work I have done in the Academic Resource Center, the Luther Library, and the Marketing & Communications Department. My work in those departments as a work study have made me lifelong friendships and given me avenues to grow as a leader.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION?

I will begin my teaching career at Blair High School as an English and Journalism teacher. I also hope to continue my creative writing and pursue a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

GOLD CLUB

WHAT IS GOLD CLUB?

GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Club aims to engage young alumni of Midland University through various networking events both on and off campus, as well as build a culture of philanthropy among alumni through giving of time, talent, and treasures to support Midland students.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Networking opportunities

Professional development

Social events

Mentoring opportunities

Alumni punch card

• Exclusive invitations to various on-campus events

• Access to exclusive GOLD Club directory

• Chance to pay it forward to future students

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

To be an active GOLD Club participant, make an annual contribution to the University in any amount to pay it forward and help pave the way for future Warriors to reach their full potential.

Why is giving annually important?

100% of Midland students receive scholarships and financial aid. Your gift supports this effort.

Helps increase the participation rate of alumni who give, which can result in more grants and an increase in Midland’s rankings.

Helps ensure the success of current and future Warriors and gives them the opportunity to have a great college experience like yours!

MIDLAND HOSTS GOLD CLUB KICKOFF SOCIAL

Last year, Midland University we held the inaugural GOLD Club event at the Roja Mexican Grill in Omaha.

Stay tuned for future GOLD Club events at alumni.midlandu.edu/goldclub.

TREy Mendlik ‘19 Feels at Home IN THE SPOTLIGHT

THE ACTING BUG HIT MENDLIK AT A YOUNG AGE

The Fremont native and Midland University graduate recalls participating in a school program in second grade. His music teacher at that time, Amy Brandert Spies, cast him in one of the biggest parts of the show.

“Of course it wasn’t anything big, it was just me standing in front of a microphone singing a solo,” Mendlik said. “But after that, I just fell in love with it. All I ever wanted to do was sing and act and do all that fun stuff. I think I’ve always had that inside me.”

The love of theater sparked Mendlik on a career that has taken him all over the world, including Japan and Europe. It also helped him land the role of Trevor Pearson in the film, “Good Enough: A Modern Musical” that was released in 2023.

After graduating from Archbishop Bergan Catholic School in 2015, the son of Dave and Jill Mendlik attended the Young Americans College of the Performing Arts in Corona, California, for two years.

Mendlik did music outreach for the college. He spent four months in Europe and about six weeks in Japan teaching and performing. He also earned an associate degree, but had a plan to return to his hometown and attend Midland.

Mendlik recalls a meeting involving his parents, Midland Director of Theatre Activities Dan Hays and former MU Director of Arts Student Achievement Kathy Hays that occurred prior to him enrolling at the California school.

“We talked about what it would be like for me to go out there and then transfer to Midland,” he said. “They definitely kind of pushed for me to go out and get that experience and come back. I’m very happy that I did it. I had an incredible experience traveling the world and doing a lot of fun things. But it was also great knowing that I had a place to come back to finish up my schooling. I definitely had a nontraditional school path.”

“If you are really passionate about it and it is something you really want to pursue, you just kind of have to show your dedication and work hard. If you do, things will come your way.”

- TREY MENDLIK ‘19

Mendlik performed in several productions, including “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Newsies,” “Man of La Mancha” and “Clue: The Play” while pursuing his bachelor of arts degree in Theater Performance and Arts Management. Those shows provided him some of his best memories of Midland.

“I always had so much fun, whether we were on stage, backstage or in rehearsals,” he said. “I feel like college is a time when you are extremely busy. There is so much going on, but you are doing something you love and everyone else in the room also really enjoyed being there. I just loved doing the shows. I got to play roles that I never thought I would.”

Mendlik also added to his acting resume by performing in summer stock theater. Following his graduation from Midland, he was performing at the Post Playhouse in western Nebraska where he met some fellow performers from Chicago.

“They were like, ‘I think Chicago would be a great city for you,’” Mendlik said. “They told me they thought I could have a lot of success out there and a lot of fun. For me, it felt like an easy transition. It is still kind of in the Midwest and only a driving distance of about eight hours away. I had the ability to pack up my car and drive here. Everything was kind of pointing to Chicago. After graduating, I packed up everything I had and moved here and I’ve been here ever since.”

Mendlik doesn’t have much idle time. In addition to managing an Orangetheory fitness studio, he also works for HeartOut, which is an audition platform company.

“I basically work with university or arts organizations who might be interested in using our platform to help organize their auditions,” he said. “I’m very busy with those two jobs and obviously I’m auditioning a lot.”

The actor has landed roles on productions in and around the Chicago area. He also was cast in “Good Enough” – a musical that has earned various film festival awards.

“This was the first film I’ve been a part of so it definitely helped add something to my resume,” Mendlik said. “It was really cool to get that on-camera experience and have kind of a big part. It gives you some material for other casting directors to watch and that is always helpful when you are auditioning for different projects.”

“Good Enough” also allowed Mendlik to showcase his musical skills. He said a lot of the film’s music is available on Spotify, iTunes and Apple Music. He shares more about the film that also stars Jay Towns and Ben Ruettiger.

“I would definitely say it is a story about a kid who is trying to find himself in the world and what he wants to do career-wise,” Mendlik said. “He’s in college and currently doing news reporting. He is trying to figure out what his calling is and what he wants to pursue, but

he is also struggling with his identity and trying to find himself.”

There are other factors involved including a friend struggling with depression and his parents going through some internal issues themselves.

“It is definitely a film about finding yourself, being happy and accepting, and kind of moving on after college,” Mendlik said.

While the film is one of the biggest projects he has worked on, Mendlik is also proud of the work he did in a production of “Rock of Ages” about two years ago.

that he does have some upcoming projects, but he is not allowed to share that information right now because casting announcements and other things have not been finalized.

“I do have some exciting upcoming things,” he said. “Everyone will just have to keep an eye out for them.”

Jill Mendlik is an elementary educator in Schuyler. Trey also enjoys teaching children about the fine arts.

“I love working with kids and teaching music and performance,” he said. “I definitely have that in my blood. My mom’s a teacher and I just feel like that kind of comes naturally. I love teaching them and having them fall in love with performing as well. I’ve definitely spent a lot of time teaching.”

I feel like college is a time when you are extremely busy. There is so much going on, but you are doing something you love and everyone else in the room also really enjoyed being there. I just loved doing the shows. I got to play roles that I never thought I would.

“I would say that was probably my biggest musical theater gig that I’ve had so far,” he said. “It definitely kind of gave me that taste of Broadway. It was a fun experience. My whole family got to come out and see it. They probably saw it about five times. They were so obsessed with it, so that was pretty exciting too.”

Earlier this year, the Midland graduate finished a run on the classic musical, “She Loves Me” in Chicago. He noted

It is obvious that Mendlik enjoys being a performer. He has some advice for anyone in high school or college thinking of pursuing the fine arts as a career.

“I would say to take every moment that comes your way as a growing opportunity,” he said. “The business is not easy. It's not as glamorous as it sounds all the time. Of course, there are going to be amazing moments where you have amazing opportunities to do incredible things that you never thought you would, but you also have to work really hard to get there.”

While some luck is needed along the way, that strong work ethic will get noticed.

“If you are really passionate about it and it is something you really want to pursue, you just kind of have to show your dedication and work hard,” Mendlik said. “If you do, things will come your way.”

MIDLAND UNIVERSITY

Midland Hosts 140-Year Celebration Concert Gala

Midland University hosted a 140-Year Celebration Concert Gala in May at the Wikert Event Center. The event commemorated 140 years of Midland as an institution with a historical timeline, featuring displays from Midland College in Atchison, Kansas, Luther College in Wahoo, Midland Lutheran College, and Midland University as it is known today. The celebration also featured an exciting concert performance by the Nebraska All-Star Rock & Roll Band, a live dessert auction, and silent auction.

Thank you to everyone who attended to support the event, and thank you to our generous sponsors and volunteers. What a fantastic way to celebrate 140 years of Midland University.

Public Relations CAREER has been the ideal fit for Farmer ‘01

The moment of realization for Monique Farmer ‘01 came during a job interview early in her career.

“During the interview, I actually said out loud that I wanted to own my own Public Relations firm someday, and I actually surprised myself by saying that,” Farmer said. “It ended up being an epiphany for me because I knew that was what I always wanted, but it only made sense after I had learned enough by being in the PR world.”

That vision became a reality in 2019 when Farmer founded Avant Solutions, a minority/woman based business that offers comprehensive internal/ external communications planning and strategy, media training, media relations, executive communication, and support.

“The goal of starting my own firm was to train and impact the next generation of PR leaders,” Farmer said. “I have had a long career covering many sectors of communications and PR, and I can work for them to get them where they want to be.”

It was a career that Farmer never envisioned when she was in high school and entering college. “I always loved writing, and when I was in fifth grade, I had a teacher who really encouraged, and challenged me to push myself as a writer,” she said. “I was the editor of my high school newspaper (Omaha South Tooter) and my goal was to become a newspaper reporter.”

She earned a scholarship to Midland as part of the journalism program. Being able to attend college close to home, and the size of Midland, were deciding factors in helping her become a Warrior. “When I was looking at schools, I didn’t want to be somewhere where every class was held in a huge auditorium,” she said. “I wanted to be able to have direct access to my professors, and for them

Farmer was on the newspaper staff for all four years at Midland and worked as an intern for the Omaha World-Herald. But over time, she began to realize that there were bigger and better opportunities in the PR world as opposed to being a reporter. “I grew up in a low income housing community, and I wanted to be able to make a living wage someday for me, and my family,” she said. “Reporters don’t often get paid enough, which has more to do with the business model than the intent of fairly compensating them. I realized in PR, I could have all the benefits of writing, but also a world of other opportunities to explore. Knowing there was a world that would allow me the ability to make a better wage, and still do what I liked, was attractive to me.”

In 2003, she landed a job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that she believed helped shape her career in PR. “I was there for 12 years and it was a great experience for me,” she said. “I got access to some of the best training and experienced the gamut of what PR requires, including execution, crisis management, and leading a media relations team. I was grateful for that opportunity because not everyone is able to gain that kind of experience.”

She spent seven years as a Public Affairs Specialist before eventually

climbing the ranks to Chief of Public Affairs, Media Relations Team Lead, and Senior Public Affairs Specialist, where she provided advice and counsel to Department of Army generals, colonels, and senior management staff.

After two years as a Communication Manager for Conagra Brands, Farmer assumed the role of Communications Director for Omaha Public Schools, a position she held for more than three years.

“There were challenges in that role, and it was filled with highs and lows,” Farmer said. “I got to meet Warren Buffett and coordinate Hillary Clinton’s visit to Omaha North High School, as well as meeting with national TV reporters. But then you have lows where a young boy got hit by one of our school buses, and you have to coordinate a media plan, while also being sensitive and compassionate to the family.”

It was during her time with OPS that Farmer found another passion - teaching. She began as an adjunct at UNO before spending three years as an Assistant Professor in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at UNL. She currently serves as an adjunct for the University of Texas-Austin. “I was always interested in teaching and got the opportunity while I was working for OPS,” she said. “I found out I could not only impact the next generation of PR leaders through my work, but also in the classroom. Helping someone else get where they want to be is very fulfilling for me.”

Along with starting Avant Solutions in 2019, Farmer serves as the CEO/Founder of Anvil Ready, an online web platform designed to simplify the creation, implementation, and evaluation of communication plans.

She is a wife and a mother of three children (ranging in age from 15 to 22). Aside from spending time with family, she loves to read, do work in the community, and still stays busy with her writing. She recently published her first book in March, titled “Chart Your Path: A 9-Step Method to Getting Unstuck." The book is a transformative journey through nine practical steps that can change the way individuals navigate life’s challenges.

She looks back on her time at Midland as an important time in helping shape her career. “Midland helped me get where I wanted to be, and where I needed to be,” she said. “I’m grateful I connected with professors well enough that I remain in contact with many of them to this day.”

Campus Ministry and Spiritual Wellness

Midland University has always been a special place for Lisa Kramme ‘87.

Kramme, the Director for Campus Ministry and Spiritual Wellness, met her husband, Keith ‘87, at Midland. The Midland graduates lived in Minnesota and Wisconsin before moving back to Nebraska in 1992. Keith landed a job as Midland’s Sports Information Director while Lisa worked at Norfolk Public Schools with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Following her time at NPS, Lisa worked for two years at Dodge County Head Start before being named the Midland Director of Academic Support Services from 1997-2005. She then served from 2005 to 2008 as the Assistant Dean of Students. In the meantime, Keith served in various roles including athletic director and women’s softball coach. In the latter role, he accumulated more than 530 career victories.

In 2008, Lisa received a call from Bishop Dave deFreese, who served with the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

“That was a journey changing call,” Kramme said. “We met for lunch and he talked about this position called director for faith formation. I ended up being in that position for 14 years.”

Her role of director for faith formation was primarily working with youth ministry.

“But I also connected with campus ministries and connected with outdoor ministries in that role,” she said.

In 2022, Scott Johnson, who served as the Midland University Campus Pastor, was elected to become Bishop of the Nebraska Synod of the ELCA.

“That was very exciting for him and for the Synod,” Kramme said. “And yet it left this position open.”

At that time, Kramme felt a calling for a different professional role. She had a conversation with Kristina Cammarano, the Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer.

Lisa Kramme ’87 (left), has served as Director for Campus Ministry and Spiritual Wellness since 2022.

“She was telling me what she envisioned for this position,” Kramme said. “I thought it sounded exciting. She talked about working with the Warrior Cupboard, which is our free food and hygiene pantry. She also talked about worshiping as well as helping the campus community get engaged with the larger Fremont community through serving and volunteering.”

Kramme came away from the interview process enthused about the potential of the position.

“I just had a very real sense that my call here would be to create spaces for students, faculty and staff to be a part of,” she said. “These spaces would be places where they could take a deep breath and hear that they are beloved. That’s really what I feel like I try to do here in the worship spaces that we host and when I meet with students who want to talk about life and faith.”

Kramme has installed the Midland Outreach and Volunteer Engagement (MOVE) program. MOVE had its first spring break trip where seven students and Kramme stayed at Carol Joy Holling Camp near Ashland. That group served at the Lincoln Food Bank, the Siena Francis House in Omaha and a special event put on by the Fremont Area United Way observing the five-year anniversary of the 2019 flood.

“We were serving and we were learning about the people in the places we were serving,” Kramme said. “Yet, a big part of our time together was just to relax and enjoy one another because it really does feel like part of my call is to just help people remember to stop, take a deep breath and help restore their spirits with a bit of rest.”

Kramme also brought back something from her collegiate days to help students slow down the pace of their lives.

She hosts Reflections at the Lueninghoener Planetarium from 10:05 to 10:35 p.m., usually on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The stars are brought up and students can relax and reflect about their lives.

Kramme got the idea from Rev. James Kruse, who served as campus pastor during her days as a student.

Midland students have the opportunity to share their spiritual journeys during Chapel.

We have heard some amazing, beautiful stories this academic year. There’s something about each story that sticks with me and my hope is that there is something that sticks with everyone who comes to those community chapels.

- LISA KRAMME '87 “ ”

“I know it was really impactful for me to have that space to go regularly and have a time of quietness and restoration,” she said.

The second Tuesday of the month is set aside for the community meal. It is an idea that Kramme got from the Lutheran Campus Ministry at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The meal is provided at Clemmons Hall where scripture passages are shared. A guest pastor is invited each month with Holy Communion served. It is open to students, faculty and staff. Members of the community also attend at times.

“It is a beautiful way to come together as a community and bring in outside guests,” Kramme said.

On the third Tuesday of the month, programming is provided through MOVE.

“That is still getting its legs under it,” Kramme said, noting that MOVE was just launched this year. “But in the fall semester we hosted MOVE week. We were out in the community serving through United Way where we helped with a food packing event. We had some students help seniors explore their smartphones with the Fremont Housing Agency.”

Kramme noted that a staff member also led an art class at the housing agency. Meanwhile several students volunteered time at Dodge County Head Start.

“We had folks all over the community,” she said. “About 125 people from Midland took part in MOVE week.”

At 11 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month is Community Chapel. In addition to singing and prayers, Kramme invites a student, faculty or staff member to share their vocation story – or how God is calling them in their life.

“We have heard some amazing, beautiful stories this academic year,” Kramme said. “There’s something about each story that sticks with me and my hope is that there is something that sticks with everyone who comes to those community chapels.”

Kramme said that Kruse and the Rev. Jim Melang impacted her career path.

“Jim Maleng was the campus pastor here for many years when I served on staff the first time,” she said. “His leadership definitely colored and influenced the way that I serve here. He was a very humble and gracious leader. Those two still have a prominent place in my life and are still very influential to me.”

Make the Greatest Impact by Starting a Scholarship

Scholarships have the most direct impact on Midland University students, and continue to be the area of greatest need at Midland.

For many students, financial aid and scholarships are the difference between attending Midland and having to choose another school, or being able to continue their education at Midland. Our student scholarship process is a simple and powerful way to honor a family member, friend, or group, and support programs that are important to you and that will make a difference in a student's life.

STEP 1 - DETERMINE YOUR GOALS

Start by visiting with the Midland Advancement Team to determine your goals and the type of scholarship you wish to establish. We will discuss the award criteria and a name for your scholarship.

STEP 2 - FUND YOUR SCHOLARSHIP

The Advancement Team will work with you to determine which type of scholarship best suits your goals through an Annual/ Funded Scholarship or Perpetual Scholarship. Family members and friends can also support your scholarship.

Step 3 - See Your Impact

Once your scholarship begins to be awarded, you are contributing to a student’s success! You will receive a report annually to notify you who received your scholarship, be invited to the annual Midland Scholarship Luncheon, and receive recognition on Midland’s website.

As a player, and now a coach, basketball has been a way of life for Galen Gullie ‘15.

Throughout his playing days at Omaha Bryan High School and Midland University, Gullie always knew the game would be a part of him. Now, he’s mentoring the next generation as head coach at Bryan.

Eny Bravo Torcios

Hometown: Norfolk, NE

Major: Criminal Justice

ROBERT ATWATER

Hometown: Detroit, MI

“I always knew I wanted to coach, maybe not necessarily as a head coach, but I wanted to be around the game in some capacity,” Gullie said. “Whether that meant training or in player development, I knew I wanted to be involved with basketball.”

“Having a scholarship is a huge contribution to further my education, and I am grateful for the opportunity and to my scholarship donor.”

Major: Digital Marketing & Sports Management

“Having a scholarship means a lot to me because without it I’m not sure if I could stay in school. It allowed me to continue my passion as an athlete. Accepting a scholarship from Midland has been the best decision I’ve ever made.”

His involvement as a player allowed him to be successful at both the high school and college level. He was a starting point guard for three Bryan teams that advanced to the Class A State Basketball Tournament, including a runner-up finish in 2011, the highest finish ever for a Bryan team. He was an All-State selection his senior campaign.

He had plenty of options when he was deciding where he wanted to play his next level of playing basketball, but

For more information about starting a scholarship, visit alumni.midlandu.edu/start-a-scholarship or contact: Laura Jensen - jensen@midlandu.edu | 402-941-6523

Amy Tritsch - tritsch@midlandu.edu | 402-941-6032

Anna O’Reilly - oreilly@midlandu.edu | 402-941-6053

Ryder Stephens

Hometown: LAS VEGAS, NV

Major: FINANCIAL SERVICES

“Having a scholarship has drastically assisted my family and me financially and opens the door to new opportunities. It’s a major stepping stone for me as I am on my path towards graduating and receiving my college degree.”

MIDLAND UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT'S SOCIETY

Midland University’s President’s Society was formed to encourage a culture of annual giving to support the continued mission and work of the university, including support for scholarships, capital projects, program initiatives, greatest needs, and more. The society recognizes alumni, friends, and businesses who make an annual contribution of $1,000 or more to Midland. Donors are recognized for their continued giving and leadership on the website and annual magazine and are invited to special events on campus each year as a thank you for their continued support.

Thank you to all of our 2023-24 President's Society donors.

$100,000+

Anonymous

Larry '61 & Sandee Collier

Donald Dau Charitable Trust

Fresh Ideas Management, LLC

Jody & Blair Horner

Immanuel Vision Foundation

Don '80 & Roxanne Kluthe

Tom '81 & Laura Walker

$50,000-$99,999

T. Eugene '49 & Carol J. Dahlgren Trust

Health Care Information Systems

Randy '76 & Janet '75 Koski

National Management Resources Corp.

Drs. Jim '60 & Joyce Nielsen

Lisa '88 & Brad Novak

RVR Bank

$25,000-$49,999

Marlin & Marla '75 Brabec

Dr. Ron '59 & Mrs. Patsy '59 Braun

Dodge County

EducationQuest Foundation

Randy '82 & Shelly '83 Eikmeier

Dr. Larry '57 & Mrs. Laurel Erickson

Steven '76 & Corinne Feye

Fremont & Dodge County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Fremont Contract Carriers, Inc.

Nebraska EPSCoR

Nicki G. Foundation

Gary '70 & Carol '72 Perkins

Ryzer, LLC

Ron & Marge '68 Schultz

Tony '92 & Micki '95 Urban

$10,000-$24,999

Anonymous

Jennifer '97 & JJ '95 Bixby

Leon Bracker

CL Werner Foundation

Barbara Clement '60

Cooper Foundation

Council of Independent Nebraska

Colleges Foundation

Michael '68 & Pam Draemel

Clint '04 & Ashley Eikmeier

ELCA Foundation

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Peter Gotsch & Dr. Jana French

Russ '84 & Jane Gronewold

Eric '99 & Jaime '99 Heedum

Immanuel Communities

Bill Joe '68

Susan Keisler-Munro & Michael Munro

Steven & Julie Leonard

Roger '71 & Carol Lewis

Methodist Fremont Health

MidwayUSA Foundation

Moglia Family Foundation

David '68 & Kathleen Pinkall

Pinnacle Bank

Susan Schmidt '70

Sid Dillon Chevrolet

Richard Toftness '66

Tomson Family Foundation

$5,000-$9,999

Dr. Marcia Anderson '64

Anonymous

Cornhusker Auto Wash/Express Lube

Peggy Cunningham '73

Darlene M. and Reuben T. Swanson Foundation

Don Peterson & Associates Real Estate

Erickson & Brooks

Stu '75 & Denise Essman

Loren '69 & Dianne Havekost

Roger '70 & Cathy Heedum

INSPRO/Marsh & McLennan Agency

Alton '58 & Dodie Larson

Lester Walker Foundation

Lou's Sporting Goods

Terry & Linda McClain

Drs. Elliott '69 & Sue '70 Moeser

Lawrence '64 & Judith '62 Mosner

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum

Nebraska Synod ELCA

Nelnet Foundation

Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation, Inc.

Drs. Winifred & Lewis Pinch

John Rinde '77

Dr. David '69 & Karen '69 Rohlfing

Runza National

Stevan Schneider '80 & Dr. Lori Moseman '74

Mary Syre '62

Van Boskirk & Associates

Varsity Spirit

$2,500-$4,999

Ginny Allen

Jonathan Billings

Bland Cares Foundation

Dorothy Brei

David & Cynthia Christensen

Thom & Barbara Christensen

DPA Auctions

Eide Bailly LLP

Fremont Kiwanis Club

Gene Steffy's Chrysler

Joan '77 & Shane Giese

Great Plains Communications

Bret & Brenda Griess

Ideal Images

Fred Ladehoff '90

Leonard Nielsen Memorial Fund

Lincoln Community Foundation

Lincoln Premium Poultry

Dr. Lois Linden '72 & MJ Petersen

Dave & Shelia Monke

Bill Nelsen '63

Nelson Produce

Janet '66 & Leroy Ostransky

David '93 & Kari '00 Ridder

Eric '02 & Traci Riewer

Del '61 & LaRue Roberts

Wanda Samson '72

Paul '68 & Donna '68 Suhr

Roger '81 & Karen Thompson

Kenneth '69 & Judy '68 VonSeggern

Dr. F. Thomas Waring

Judy Weddle '66

Wilson Foundation

Helmut '73 & Jodeen '73 Yurk

$1,000-$2,499

Anonymous

Dorothy '61 & Frank Bay

Jodi '99 & Jeff Benjamin

Blair Horner Realty, LLC

Carol '68 & Lonnie Bohling

Emerson Bostrom '02

Donna Bright '75

Frank Briscoe '74

Randal & Sue Burns

Carter & Karen Burnside

Kaleb Christensen

Barbara '81 & Stuart Coulter

Eric & Nicole Crouch

Rev. Kenneth Dale '44

Floyd Devereaux '90

Dean Ditto

Donald D Bartek & Barbara J Bartek

Irrevocable Family Trust

Wade Dosch & Mary Meierhenry

Ryan Eddie '95

Donna Elvik '60

Richard '69 & Ellen Erwin

Lori '07 & Jay Ethier

Dr. Lynette Exum '94

Marija Fine '65

First Community Bank

Mike & Rhonda Flanigan

Ronald '67 & Rita Freeman

Fremont Area Community Foundation

Donald Frisque

Eugene '85 & Brenda Garrelts

Lance Guarienti

Rev. Peggy Hall

Peg '74 & Jack Hannam

Rev. Dr. Carl L. Hansen

Joseph '01 & Sherri '02 Harnisch

Donald Hessenflow '64 & Cathy Dawson

Elizabeth Hofmann-Carlson '90

Steven '65 & Sherry Jacobsen

Laura & Ryan Jensen

Dr. J. Ronald Johnson

Janet Johnson '64

Dr. James Keisler '49

Andrew Ketelsen '05

Alex '12 & Theresa Knobbe

John Konecky '85

Keith '87 & Lisa '87 Kramme

Kay Kruse '64

Carolyn Lack

Adam '04 & Jill '04 Lamprecht

Doug '80 & Kris Lanik

Cam Lapointe

Marilyn Larson '70

Jake '04 & Chelsea Lentfer

Joyce Madsen '61

Ruth Marcus-Compton

Jeremy '03 & Donielle '04 McHugh

Dr. David '69 & Dora Meyer

Jon & Diana Moxness

Lou Jean Moyer

Rico '93 & Kay Munn

Gaylord '75 & Vali '76 MussmanState Farm Agent

Stan Myhre

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

Joan Nordstrom '58

Richard Nothwehr '82

Steven '93 & Julie '92 Oliver

Lon '76 & Wendy '78 Olson

Peder Olson

Sheri Paden '77

Jean Pavela '60

Carol Pinkall

Platte Valley Equipment

Mark '90 & Ann '91 Prince

Jim Rinde

Ryan Rippe

Craig Ronhovde '82

Dr. Bob '73 & Sue Roesch

Ormal Saathoff '56

Tom '00 & Melissa Schuneman

Larry '72 & Linda Shepard

Dr. Jamie Simpson

Rick Snelson

Tom & Brandy Sokoloski

LaVonne Stewart '06

John '85 & Terri Steyer

Mary Suhr

Kenneth '68 & Miriam '86 Sukraw

Lori '88 & Rod Szwanek

Carol '72 & David Trower

Eileen Troy '76

Rachel '09 & JP Wachter

Robert '73 & Judi Walker

Waste Connections

Doug & Linda Watson

Cdr. Laurel & Lynn Wessman

Lindy '79 & Beth '78 Whitney

Lois Wilken '76

Dr. Linda Winkler '76

YourLife, LLC

VICTORY SOCIETY

By including Midland University in your estate through a planned gift or by providing a perpetual gift, you can maximize the impact of your assets and do much more than you ever dreamed possible, often leaving an equal amount to your heirs and extending this gift to support Midland University. alumni.midlandu.edu/planned-giving

$5,201,597

THANK YOU

to all of our Midland University alumni, friends, business partners, and donors who supported us in 2023-2024! Your continued support through our annual fund, major gifts, scholarships, pledges, and planned gifts have a tremendous impact on our university, and on our students. From all of us at Midland, thank you for your generosity!

$3,268,097 GENERAL/UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT $492,546 SCHOLARSHIPS $403,435 ENDOWMENT $310,705

$644,910 ATHLETICS/BOOSTER CLUB $52,466 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS $29,438 PERFORMING ARTS

5,550