Good NUz Spring 2011

News about events, ser vices and people of interest to the University of Nebraska – Lincoln alumni and friends Spring 2011

oodNU

©Matt Cranford

NU State Museum Celebrates 140 Years

The University of Nebraska State Museum celebrates its 140th anniversary this year with a host of activities (see pages 10-12). Elephant Hall, as the museum’s front gallery is popularly known, has seen its share of woolly mammoths over the years.

(Above) Early museum director Erwin Barbour examines the forelegs and tusks of “Archie,” the world’s largest articulated mammoth, in the old museum building while (below) a bronze replica of Archie greets visitors to Morrill Hall today. See the museum and other campus landmarks during Big Red Weekend 2011.

(More weekend information on page 3.)

Nebraska Alumni Association | University of Nebraska Foundation

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Association to Offer Big Ten, World Travel The Nebraska Alumni Association is relaunching a full-service tour program with Big Ten football weekend trips to Ann Arbor, Big Red Weekend features campus tours among other activities.

Mich., and Madison, Wis.; a Discovery Channel tour of the Red

Nebraska Alumni Association Rock region in Colorado; and an Alumni Campus Abroad adven-

Big Red Weekend April 15 – 16, 2011 Join us for the University of Nebraska’s third annual “spring homecoming.”

UNL has much to offer its alumni and friends, and on April 15 – 16, you are invited to come back to campus and enjoy it all. The alumni association is again teaming with dozens of UNL departments, organizations and alumni groups to host Big Red Weekend 2011.

When you register for Big Red Weekend, you will have the chance to choose from an impressive menu of choices ranging from guided tours to lectures and from performances to athletic contests, including Football Friday and the Red-White Spring Football Game.

Several groups are planning reunions to coincide with the festivities. The Department of Chemistry is gathering to celebrate

ture in Normandy and Paris, France, this fall.

Alumni from our new conference peers at Michigan State and Wisconsin will join us on “Curiosity: The Questions of Life @ Red Rocks,” while the Badgers will also be our traveling companions in France. The Normandy and Paris trip has special pricing at $1,945 per person (double occupancy), including air from a gateway city.

The association is also planning 2011 football bus migrations to Wyoming and Minnesota.

On tap for 2012-13 are more international group tours in partnership with our new Big Ten peers plus some all-new “bucketlist” trips: •

Cruise the Waterways and Canals of Holland and

Belgium (2012)

•

Cruise the Islands of Antiquity (2012)

•

The Divine Coast – Amalfi (2012)

•

The Kentucky Derby (May 2012)

•

The Masters in Augusta (April 2013)

Check huskeralum.org early and often for the most up-to-date information. Big Ten trips will fill up fast!

the 125th anniversary of the awarding of the first chemistry degree.

Awards Banquet s Thursday, May 5

Sigma Phi Epsilon will celebrate their centennial anniversary, and the Honors Program will ring in 25 years. Student Alumni Association/Scarlet Guard alumni are invited to reunite with classmates and learn about the evolution of the organization, and the Alumni of Color will gather for their third annual pre-spring game tailgate.

Several UNL colleges are also hosting events this weekend. The Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts will honor students, faculty and alumni at their annual Honors Day Dinner. The College of Business Administration will also recognize outstanding alumni at their Advisory Board luncheon. The College of Engineering Student Advisory Board is planning a reception for alumni in conjunction with E-Week.

If you’re coming to town for the spring game, branch out and check on a few of the other scheduled events. If you are considering a trip to Lincoln, there has never been a better time. Visit huskeralum.org/events/alumniweekend for the latest schedule. (The list is growing almost daily, so alumni and friends are urged to visit the website often for updates and additional details.)

A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at the Embassy Suites for $149 per night (double occupancy) for those needing lodging. Call the hotel directly at 402-474-1111 by March 17 to make your reservations, and be sure to mention “Big Red Weekend” to receive the special group rate.

The ballots are in, the awardees have been selected, and the Nebraska Alumni Association is planning the 2011 Alumni Awards Banquet, An All-University Celebration at the Nebraska Champions Club.

Traditionally held the Friday night before spring commencement, this year the banquet will be held a day earlier – Thursday, May 5, 2011. With all the other ceremonies and dinners surrounding graduation, the association hopes this arrangement will be a better fit with people’s schedules.

The award winners will be announced in the spring issue of Nebraska Magazine, due out April 1, but it’s not too early to put the banquet date on your calendar.

Vol. 8, No. 1 Nebraska Alumni Association University of Nebraska Foundation Nebraska Alumni Association Staff Diane Mendenhall, Executive Director, (402) 472-4218 Claire Abelbeck, Online Engagement, (402) 472-4209 Glen Cacek, Wick Alumni Center, (402) 472-4237 Andrea Cranford, Communications, (402) 472-4229 Jenny Green, Student Programs, (402) 472-4220 Sarah Haskell, Programs, (402) 472-6541 Brooke Heck, Chapters, (402) 472-4228 Carrie Myers, Nebraska Champions Club, (402) 472-6435 Shannon Sherman, Programs and Outreach, (402) 472-4219 Bob Stelter, Programs, (402) 472-4246 Andy Washburn, Operations and Marketing, (402) 472-4239 Kevin Wright, Graphics, (402) 472-4227 Shelley Zaborowski, Associate Executive Director, (402) 472- 4222 University of Nebraska Foundation Development Officers Director of Development: Matt McNair, (402) 458-1230 Major and Principal Gifts: Greg Jensen, (402) 458-1181 or Bethany Throener, (402) 458-1187 College of Architecture: Connie Pejsar, (402) 458-1190 College of Arts and Sciences: Amber Antholz, (402) 458-1182, Sunny Backlund, (402) 458-1185, or Josh Egley, (402) 458-1202 College of Business Administration: Matt Boyd, (402) 458- 1189, Sandi Hansen, (402) 458-1238, or Laine Norton, (402) 458-1201 IANR: Ann Bruntz, (402) 458-1176 College of Education and Human Sciences: Jane Heany, (402) 458-1177 College of Engineering: Karen Moellering, (402) 458-1179 or Nick Shada, (402) 458-1203 Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts: Lucy Buntain Comine, (402) 458-1184 College of Journalism and Mass Communication: Joanna Nordhues, (402) 458-1178 College of Law: Angela Hohensee, (402) 458-1192 or Ben Zitek, (402) 458-1241 Libraries: Josh Egley, (402) 458-1202 Panhandle Research and Extension: Barb Schlothauer, (308) 632-1207 Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations: Eric Buchanan, (402) 458-1161 Corporations: Kaye Jesske, (402) 458-1170 Foundations: Liz Lange, (402) 458-1229 Published twice a year, in August and February, for University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni and friends of the university.

Nebraska Alumni Association Wick Alumni Center 1520 R Street • Lincoln, NE 68508-1651 Phone: (402) 472-2841 • Toll-free: (888) 353-1874 FAX: (402) 472-4635 E-mail: alumni@huskeralum.org Web site: www.huskeralum.org University of Nebraska Foundation 1010 Lincoln Mall, Suite 300 • Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 458-1100 • Toll-free: (800) 432-3216 FAX: (402) 458-1298 • E-mail: info@nufoundation.org Web site: www.nufoundation.org Editor: Andrea Wood Cranford Foundation Editor: Colleen Fleischer Design: Kevin Wright

the state of Nebraska,” said Shelley Zaborowski, associate executive director of the alumni association. “With the School of Music students performing at the Tas-

Big Red Business Clubs

sel Theatre, we wanted to be sure alumni in the local area knew about it and were

Launched last fall, the Big Red

encouraged to come to the performance.”

Business Club program can already

The pre-event focused on the col-

count 20 organizations among its

laborative effort between the two colleges

members. Big Red Business Clubs are

and an explanation given by John Rich-

supportive of both the Nebraska Alumni

mond, director of the UNL School of

Association and UNL alumni, with many

Music, of what the audience could expect

offering discounts on valuable, everyday

when watching the opera. An admissions

goods and services. In return, depending on the membership level they choose, they receive media exposure,

UNL Opera Visits Holdrege; NAA Hosts Receptions

enhanced marketing opportunities, Husker tailgate hospitality, Nebraska Champions Club passes and more.

Current members are: Platinum Level

Geico

Nebraska Athletics

The Husker Rewards Card

On Dec. 12, the UNL Hixson-Lied College of Fine and

Holdrege.

Liberty Mutual

Avis

Budget

University Bookstore – Follett

Nebraska Bookstore

reach.”

The Christmas classic “Amahl and the Night Visitors” revolves three kings in search of a child visit Amahl and his mother. The tale

Runza

ends with a miracle and a message about the true spirit of giving.

Stay In The Game

Huskers Illustrated

University Frames

Official Nebraska Ring by Jostens

Jennifer Cunningham, Scentsy

Consultant

For the past eight years, the university has performed this opera with the help of Lincoln high school students. It’s become a UNL tradition for the students to perform for Title I fifth-grade classes.

The deans of the two colleges hoped to fulfill UNL’s mission as a land grant university by making the performance accessible to

To learn more, visit huskeralum. huskeralum.org or 402-472-4246).

“We wanted to bring the university to the people, which is

International Chapters on the Rise Calling all UNL alumni, fans and friends living in Tokyo,

what we’ve done with our collaboration,” said Steve Waller, the

Japan! An alumni chapter is forming in your area. If you are in-

dean of the agriculture college.

terested in joining the effort or leading the contingency of the Big

the primary roles, while the Shepherd’s Chorus was made up of Holdrege High and other area high school students.

The hour-long opera was enjoyed by a large and eager audience, many of whom arrived early and stayed late for pre- and postevents. The UNL Alumni Association hosted the events.

“There are many UNL alumni and friends living throughout

4 | GoodNUz | ASSOCIATION UPDATE

FANs in Singapore.

people across the state.

During the Dec. 12 performance UNL music students played org, or contact Bo Stelter (bstelter@

– Courtney Pitts and Seanica Reinke

college, during the pre-event talk. “UNL is committed to out-

Valentino’s

OLLI

to Holdrege and have been very interested in all the university has

couldn’t really come to see you,” said Jack Oliva, dean of the arts

University of Nebraska Press

build the Tassel. We wanted to sponsor good arts programs to come

“It’s wonderful if you can take your music to audiences who

HuskersNSide

decades,” Bruce Hendrickson said. “We worked to raise money to

The Nebraska Alumni Association sponsored pre- and post-

“The Holdrege community has appreciated the arts for

performance receptions

around the story of a poor shepherd boy named Amahl. One night,

Bronze Level

Holdrege who helped fund the first-time opera performance.

the programs we bring.”

Collegiate Insurance Resources

was given to UNL alumni Bruce C. and Carol S. Hendrickson of

and Natural Resources collaborated to take a UNL production of

Huskers Authentic

During the pre-event, a special thanks

done and is doing. Carol and I are just happy to see people enjoy

“Amahl and the Night Visitors” on the road to the Tassel Theater in

tions about all the university has to offer.

Performing Arts and the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences

Gold Level

Silver Level

officer was also present to answer ques-

Actors and alumni mingled at the post-performance reception in Holdrege.

Red in Japan, please contact Brooke Heck at bheck@huskeralum. org to receive more information.

Currently, there are two other international Nebraska alumni chapters: One in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and one in Singapore.

A total of 29 turned up for a Jan. 7 gathering of the UNL FANs in Singapore at Temasek Club. Of these, 11 were from the Anglo-Chinese Junior College, and had recently returned from a

short visit to UNL. The ACJC students shared their experi-

•

ences and the alumni answered the students’ questions about studying at Nebraska. The group also bid farewell to

Marines

Honor Society Alumni Representatives: Pershing

tiative and encourage you to participate regardless of your

Rifles, Arnold Air Society, and more

interest in a directory purchase.

Keng Siau and Fiona Nah who returned to the university

•

ROTC Detachment Liaisons

for the spring semester.

•

Family Liaison

•

Past ROTC Cadre Liaison

ROTC Alumni Group Seeking Volunteers

For more information, contact Brooke Heck at bheck@huskeralum.org.

Alumni Directory to be Published This Year

When more than 100 ROTC alumni gathered for a reunion in Lincoln in November, they chose to form an official alumni affiliate and selected UNL grad Mark Dreiling to lead the group.

We look forward to connecting with you on this ini-

Now, with input from the commanding officers of the

Alumni Staff to Visit Big Ten Cities Brooke Heck, Nebraska Alumni Association program director, and Sarah Haskell, graduate assistant, will be making their way through Big Ten territory visiting conference schools and local alumni chapters this spring. While in each Big Ten city, they will tour the university campus and alumni center. They will also give a UNL update at a casual meet-and-greet event with the local chapter in each area.

For the first time since 2004, the Nebraska Alumni

UNL ROTC program, the group has set the following goals:

If you live in Big Ten territory, watch for them in your

Provide a network of contacts for cadets to seek

Association is producing a printed alumni directory. In

mentors, jobs and advice

addition to helping you locate classmates, the directory will

•

April 4 – Iowa City and Des Moines

Raise money to provide scholarships for students

include a section with information about UNL and photos

•

April 5 – Minneapolis

wishing to attend UNL and participate in the

and brief narratives provided by participating classmates.

•

April 6 – Madison

ROTC program.

The directory project helps the association verify and up-

•

April 7 – Chicago

Host annual reunion events in the spring and/

date alumni records.

•

April 25 – Michigan – East Lansing

•

•

•

Beginning in March, you will receive communication

or fall for all UNL ROTC alumni to re-connect

with each other and the cadets.

The group is seeking ROTC alumni volunteers for the

following positions:

locale on these dates:

•

April 26 – Michigan – Ann Arbor

from the association requesting that you call the number

•

April 27 – Columbus

provided and verify your alumni record. The request is

•

April 28 – Indianapolis

legitimate and is fully endorsed by the Nebraska Alumni

Contact Brooke Heck at bheck@huskeralum.org for

Association in cooperation with the University of Nebraska

•

Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer

•

Service Component Representatives: USAF, Navy, Foundation.

more information.

The 12th Annual Nebraska Magazine Writing Contest We’re looking for a few good writers.

Whether you’re an ardent alumnus, nostalgic Nebraskan, prolific professor or student scribe, here’s your chance. Show us your work.

There are two categories, with prizes awarded in each category, along with a byline in Nebraska Magazine.

Category One: Alumni Profiles Write about a Nebraska grad with an interesting hobby or career, or do a “where are they now?” piece on an alumnus who was well known during his/her student days.

Category Two: Nostalgia Pieces Tell us about a memorable student activity when you were at NU, or write about a favorite professor.

Prizes: Three prizes will be awarded in each category.

In addition, the winning articles will be published in future issues of Nebraska Magazine.

1st Prize - $500 2nd Prize - $250 3rd Prize - $100 Entry Details Articles must be 750 to 1,000 words in length and typewritten. Enter as many articles as you wish.

Entry deadline is April 15, 2011. Submit entries, along with the author’s name, address and phone number to: Magazine Writing Contest, Wick Alumni Center, 1520 R St., Lincoln, NE 68508-1651, FAX: (402) 472-9289, E-mail: nebmag@huskeralum.org

ASSOCIATION UPDATE | Spring 2011 | 5

University of Nebraska Foundation

Campaign Gift Advances Nebraska as National Leader in Early Childhood Education Improving child development conditions for at-risk

tion. Dedicated to promoting the development and success

Led by an executive director, the Buffett Institute will

children and their families. Leveraging the university’s

of children from birth to age 8, it will focus especially on

oversee research programs, educational and professional

land-grant mission by working with partners across the

those who are most vulnerable.

development programs and outreach divisions.

state to put the science of early childhood education into

“The need for this institute has never been more clear,

Early childhood development and education is one of

practice. And helping to ensure all children have equal op-

and the potential to transform the lives of children has

the Campaign for Nebraska’s six priorities, joining other ar-

portunities for success.

never been greater,” said NU President James B. Milliken.

eas where the university has the greatest potential to excel.

These goals are now within reach because of a gener-

“We must do more to ensure our youngest children – espe-

Recent gifts of all sizes and to all areas of the university

ous gift to the University of Nebraska from philanthropist

cially those who are at risk – have equal opportunities for

bring the campaign total to more than $925 million given

Susie Buffett of Omaha, and the university is becoming a

health, happiness and success.”

toward the $1.2 billion goal. When looking at UNL, more

national leader and model among public universities.

Annual support provided by Buffett’s founding gift

The gift announced Jan. 31 establishes the Buffett

will be more than matched by university, private and fed-

Early Childhood Institute to help transform early child-

eral sources to leverage an investment greater than a $100

hood development and education in Nebraska and the na-

million permanent endowment, Milliken said.

than $441 million has been given toward the campus goal of $550 million. To learn more, see campaignfornebraska.org.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA–LINCOLN

$441,331,233 $0

$550 M

of UNL campaign gifts are from Nebraska households/ organizations.

1 out of 3 donors to UNL are first-time donors during the campaign.

47,450 47% 16,000 individuals have made donations to UNL during the campaign.

of new funds to the UNL campaign support student scholarships.

UNL students receive some form of financial aid.

new funds have been established during the campaign to support academic programs at UNL.

campaignfornebraska.org All statistics as of Nov. 30, 2010. The Campaign for Nebraska began in July, 2005 and will conclude December, 2014.

6 | GoodNUz | FOUNDATION UPDATE

627

Campaign Priorities • Students • Faculty • Global Engagement • Agriculture and Life Sciences • Information Technology • Cancer Research • Architectural Engineering and Construction • Water for Food • Early Childhood Education

Barkley Memorial Center

One Simple Word Lifts ‘Up’ Autistic Child and His Family Speech Lab, new space for an autism project, updated entrance that

By Blair Euteneuer, ’11 Matt and Brenda McNiff will never forget their son Benjamin’s

offers more patient security and manages HIPAA requirements, and additional offices for faculty and graduate students.

first word.

Their 3-year-old son has autism, so they were overjoyed on

William E. and Edna M. Barkley’s longtime trust enabled the

Christmas Eve last year, when Benjamin said his first word: “Up.”

improvements as well as creation of one of the best programs of

He was telling his father he wanted to do one of his favorite things

its kind in the nation. In the 1940s, the Barkleys created a private

– get tossed in the air.

trust to carry out their philanthropic vision to prepare teachers and

“It was about the greatest day ever for me,” Matt said. “I threw

other professionals to educate children and adults with speech and hearing disabilities. Over the years, dedicated trustees helped man-

him up in the air until my arms were numb.”

The McNiffs have taken bi-weekly trips from Beatrice to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Barkley Memorial Center

age the Barkley Trust, which had grown to $30 million in 1996 when the trustees donated it to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the sole benefit of UNL.

throughout the past year to get services

Today, as a result of prudent man-

for their son. The center is home to the Department of Special Education and

agement of the trust, it is valued at $65.7

Communication Disorders, which also

million, from which annual interest

serves and educates children and adults

provides invaluable support for the top-

with speech and hearing disabilities.

rated programs in special education and communication disorders. It also provides

Benjamin has made significant strides in the past year, as he has been

student scholarships, graduate assistant-

able to say “hi” and “bye,” identify his

ships, faculty chair positions, service to

ABCs and acknowledge who “mommy”

patients and staff/faculty support.

The new improvements will allow

and “daddy” are.

“That’s the best thing in the world

faculty to expand their research capa-

to us,” Matt said. “I have no doubt the

bilities and clinical training. They also

reason he is as far as he is today is because

allowed the hire of a new professor in

of the Barkley Center students and staff

vestibular function and created more

who have helped teach us the skills we

offices and a more attractive environment

need to encourage Ben to speak and teach Ben what he needed.”

Benjamin McNiff (left) and his brother Jackson.

The Barkley Memorial Center’s

for patients, faculty and staff.

The McNiffs, who are also both graduates from the center’s special educa-

students and faculty serve 125 patients weekly through speech,

tion graduate program, said they are particularly grateful for the

language and audiology clinics. More than 445 undergraduate and

continuous improvements to the center.

graduate students are currently studying speech-language pathol-

“The improvements are wonderful,” Matt said. “As alums, it’s

ogy, audiology and special education. The speech-language pathol-

nice to see the building we learned in become even better, but com-

ogy and special education programs are rated in the top 5 percent

ing here as a family that needed help, it was so nice and welcoming.

of programs in the country.

I only wish it was twice as big, so that more people could get the

Recently, the center celebrated a remarkable 35 years of ser-

William E. and Edna M. Barkley’s longtime trust enabled the improvements as well as creation of one of the best programs of its kind in the nation. In the 1940s, the Barkleys created a private trust to carry out their philanthropic vision to prepare teachers and other professionals to educate children and adults with speech and hearing disabilities. Over the years, dedicated trustees helped manage the Barkley Trust, which had grown to $30 million in 1996 when the trustees donated it to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the sole benefit of UNL.

help we were blessed to be able to receive.”

vice, along with the conclusion of an important $4 million project, which added 10,000 square feet to the facility and renovated areas that had not been updated since its opening in 1976.

The Barkley Trust fund made the 18-month renovation and expansion possible. Improvements included upgraded clinical rooms, new technology, a room to treat adults with traumatic brain injuries, an updated and expanded Hearing Aid Clinic, new space for Dizziness and Balance Disorders Lab, an upgraded Motor

If you’re interested in supporting the wonderful work being done at the Barkley Memorial Center or if you have a specific desire to support educational and research projects and programs dealing with autism spectrum disorders please contact Jane Heany, director of development for the College of Education & Human Sciences at 402-458-1177.

www.unl.edu/barkley

J

BARKLEY CENTER | Spring 2011 | 7

Alumni Affiliates

ROTC Alumni Reunite

By Colleen Kenney Fleischer, ’88

They’d call it a success, organizers figured, if just 50 people showed.

After all, this was the first reunion for UNL’s ROTC alumni.

How many would actually return?

But more than 100 alumni and friends of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps ROTC programs came back to campus this past Nov. 12, the day after Veterans Day. “We had a tremendous response,” the Nebraska Alumni Association’s Brooke Heck said. “We were so

Former ROTC cadet Lowell Vestal (’56) donated much of the money needed to renovate the Pershing Military and Naval Science Building’s lobby, which now honors Gen. John J. Pershing.

thrilled. The ROTC community was so thrilled. It was a great event.”

hearing the Pershing name and their paths seemed to keep

Also at the reunion, members of the UNL Army

crossing. Pershing had been a member of Vestal’s Masonic

ROTC program unveiled a bronze statue for the three

renovated lobby of the Pershing Military and Naval Sci-

lodge in Lincoln and an honorary member of his Kiwanis

UNL Army ROTC soldiers who’ve died since 9/11: 1st

ence Building. The lobby now honors the ROTC pro-

club.

Lt. Kevin Gaspers, Capt. Edward Iwan, and Capt. Robert

The reunion included a ribbon-cutting for the newly

gram’s most decorated figure in its history, Gen. John J.

“I’m pleased to be a part of this project to bring public

Yllescas.

Pershing, who led the American Expeditionary Forces in

attention to a notable Nebraska, Gen. John J. Pershing,”

In March 2010, their friends started the “Fallen

World War I.

said Vestal, who helped cut the ribbon. “I’m pleased I can

Heroes of the War on Terrorism Fund.” They raised more

do things for the school and leave something that will

than $4,000. They hope to grow the fund to the point

outlast my lifetime.”

where it can provide three annual scholarships.

Pershing came to Lincoln in 1891 to be a professor of military science and tactics. He graduated from its law

After the ribbon-cutting, alumni attended the first

school in 1893.

He wears a uniform in the large photo now hanging opposite the front doors. His commanding eyes greet all who enter.

Among those attending the unveiling were Iwan’s

meeting of the ROTC Affiliate of the Nebraska Alumni

parents, Donna and Kenneth, and Yllescas’ wife, Dena.

Association.

Former cadets from Lt. Gaspers’ era were there, too. One

Dreiling was asked to be the group’s first leader. He

of them was 1st Lt. Spencer Murdock, now an assistant

expects the reunion weekend to become an annual event.

professor of military science for the Army ROTC program.

Mark Dreiling (’05), currently stationed at Buckley Air

Though nothing is set in stone, he said, having it around

In 2004, Murdock had just returned from deployment

Force Base near Denver.

Veterans Day and a home football game seemed to work

when he joined ROTC and met Gaspers, who was in class

well.

ahead of him. They bonded.

One former cadet who came back was Air Force Capt.

“The first reunion meant a great deal to me, especially considering the amount of effort the university spent in

He envisions the group becoming a multifaceted

Everybody, Murdock says, seemed to gravitate to Gaspers.

making it a success,” Dreiling said. “The dedication of

organization that brings back many things to the university,

the Pershing displays will stick with me for many years to

such as mentorship and speakers – a military meteorologist

come. General Pershing is such a significant figure not just

could, for example, speak to both ROTC cadets as well as

been killed, well, you know, every time you lose a friend

in the story of our university, but world history as well.”

students in meteorology classes.

who’s close to you in something like this, it’s hard. It’s just

Another former cadet who came back was Lowell

“I see the strongest opportunity for this through the

Vestal (’56), a retired journalist and landlord who provided

various career paths that each officer embarks upon,” Dreil-

the lead gift of about $50,000 for the lobby renovations.

ing said. “For example, I am one of several UNL graduates

When he was a cadet, the Lincoln man said, he knew

who work in space operations. This organization has the

little about Pershing. He knew he was a great general and

ability to provide newly commissioned officers a con-

the Pershing Rifles, a collegiate organization of drill units,

nection with past UNL graduates who have already been

had been named for him. After graduating, Vestal kept

down the path.”

8 | GoodNUz | ROTC

“He was just a good person. When I found out he’d

hard.”

For more information on future reunions or to join the new ROTC alumni group, contact Pam Penner at ppenner@huskeralum.org. To give to the Fallen Heroes of the War on Terrorism Fund at UNL go to nufoundation.org/ fundsearch and type in “fallen heroes” or contact the University of Nebraska Foundation’s Josh Egley, 402-458-1202 or jegley@nufoundation.org.

TOMMIE FRAZIER

15

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For more information, contact: TAT Enterprises / P.O. Box 22031 / Lincoln, NE 68542 E-mail: tfrazier@tommiefrazier15.com Phone: (877) 722-2515

Winter 2010 | 9

University of Nebraska State Museum

Celebrating 140 Years of Discovery Museum History Highlights June 14, 1871 The museum is established by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Its first home is University Hall.

1881 The first vertebrate fossil is catalogued into the museum’s scientific collections.

It is a Cretaceous fish vertebra collected in Dixon County, Nebraska.

1891 Erwin H. Barbour becomes museum director.

1892 The Morrill Geological Expeditions begin.

By Dana Ludvik, ’04 “Wow. All these bones were really dug up in Nebraska?” a little girl asks her mother as they walk through Morrill Hall’s new highway paleontology exhibit, “Life in the Past Lane.”

Moments of discovery like these are sparked every day at the University of Nebraska State Museum, which celebrates its 140th museum of natural history. This milestone is celebrated not so much

collections, and branch locations at

in calendar years but in the count-

Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical

less number of lives that have been

Park and the Trailside Museum of

touched by the museum’s wonders.

Natural History at Fort Robinson

Established in 1871 by the Uni-

State Park. In 2009, the museum

versity of Nebraska Board of Regents, the State Museum has grown into one of the nation’s leading university

again earned a 10-year reaccreditation Charles H. Morrill

research museums. The museum was established just two years after

1922 The museum’s renowned fossil mammoth, “Archie,” is discovered on a family farm in Lincoln County, Nebraska.

the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and

1927 Morrill Hall opens at UNL.

visitors each year at Morrill Hall, Mueller Planetarium, the research

1939 The institutional name is officially changed to University of Nebraska State Museum.

1941 C. Bertrand Schultz becomes museum director. The Board of Regents and chancellor reorganize the museum and expand it to include four research divisions: anthropology, geology, paleontology and zoology. These collections remain in their “home” departments.

1945 Plans are announced for construction of ‘Hall of Nebraska Wildlife’ to include 16 dioramas. The last three are completed in September 1961.

1947-1948 First entomology and then botany are added under the museum’s umbrella, while remaining in their departments.

1958 Mueller Planetarium opens.

10 | GoodNUz | MUSEUM

Carrie Barbour, shown here in 1895, was one of the first female paleontologists.

year in 2011 as the state’s premier

by the American Association of Mu-

Erwin H. Barbour

seums, the highest national recogni-

tion afforded U.S. museums.

From its humble beginnings as the university’s “cabinet,” the

was one of the first natural science museums west of the Mississippi

museum has flourished over the years through public support and

River.

staff efforts to carry on the legacy of those who laid its foundation,

Today, the museum touches the lives of more than 100,000

particularly Board of Regents member (1890-1903) Charles H. Morrill and Museum Director (1891-1941) Dr. Erwin H. Barbour.

Morrill Hall’s “Beetle Mania” event attracted museum visitors of all ages in August 2010.

1960 The Nebraska Highway Paleontology Program, the first of its kind in the United States, is established to salvage and preserve fossils during road construction projects.

1961 The Trailside Museum of Natural History opens.

1968 The museum receives a NSF grant to remodel and refurbish west 4th and 5th floors of Nebraska Hall and all museum research divisions move in by 1971.

State Museum paleontologist Thomas Marshland works at the Nebraska Daemonelix or “Devil’s Corkscrew” excavation in the 1890s.

Dr. Erwin H. Barbour (Museum Director 1891-1941) and staff place the mount of Archie in Elephant Hall in 1933.

In the late 19th century, the museum experienced a period of major

the parade of 13 million years of Nebraska elephants. Thousands of

expansion through the leadership and collaboration of Barbour and

people have entered the grand corridor and looked in amazement at

Morrill, who shared a passion for uncovering and preserving the

the magnificent array of ancient beasts that once roamed the plains.

state’s prehistoric past.

Above them all towers “Archie,” the world’s largest articulated mam-

In the summer of 1892, Morrill began financing paleontological expeditions led by Barbour, who was accompanied by his sister, Carrie Barbour (one of the earliest female paleontologists), and

moth.

In the years following Morrill Hall’s construction, the museum continued to grow and carry out Barbour and Morrill’s mission

other scientists to western

to preserve Nebraska’s

Nebraska, the Badlands

natural and cultural

and Black Hills of South

heritage. In 1961, the

Dakota, and eastern

museum acquired the

Wyoming. On these Mor-

Trailside Museum of

rill Geological Expedi-

Natural History. This

tions, large amounts of

historic jewel nestled

significant mineral, rock

in the heart of Fort

and fossil specimens were

Robinson features the

discovered that would

stunning “Clash of the

become the nucleus for

Mammoths” exhibit,

the museum’s future

which continues to at-

collections, helping to

tract visitors from near

establish its reputation as

and far. It is the world’s

an important repository

only fossil of two mam-

for information about

moths that fought to the

life on Earth. Morrill was

death with locked tusks.

the museum’s primary benefactor of these and subsequent expeditions

Dr. Mike Voorhies, Curator Emeritus for Vertebrate Paleontology, uncovers an Ashfall rhino skull in 1990.

undertaken by Barbour and the university for the next 30 years.

In 1927, after previously outgrowing spaces in University Hall,

A student performs delicate excavation work in the Hubbard Rhino Barn at Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park in 2010.

In 1971, Ashfall Fossil Beds was discovered by museum curator

Mike Voorhies. Each year since Ashfall opened to the public in 1991, visitors have flocked to witness this remarkable display of

old Nebraska Hall and the old Museum Building, the museum

creatures preserved in volcanic ash where they perished more than

moved into newly constructed Morrill Hall. The research collections

12 million years ago. In 2006, the U.S. Department of the Interior

underwent rapid growth between 1927 and 1941, and many of the

designated Ashfall as a National Natural Landmark. Three years

permanent Morrill Hall fossil displays were mounted and installed

later, the expanded Hubbard Rhino Barn opened, enclosing and

during this era. It was here that Barbour’s dream to devote a space

protecting the fossil beds from the elements and allowing visitors to

entirely to the evolution of the modern elephant came to fruition.

share in the thrill of scientific discovery as paleontologists continue

World-famous Elephant Hall has been the star attraction of the museum ever since. Mighty mastodons and mammoths lead

to unearth new specimens.

Museum Director Pricilla Grew points out that many visitors

1971 Museum paleontologist Mike Voorhies first discovers a rhino fossil at Ashfall, the site of an extensive fossil bed that later reveals the remains of at least 20 species of prehistoric animals.

1980 Morrill Hall’s hands-on children’s Encounter Center opens (now the recently renovated Marx Science Discovery Center).

1983 The Friends of the State Museum organization is established to support the museum.

1989 The first three floors of Morrill Hall are renovated with funds appropriated by the legislature and contributions from donors, allowing installation of climate control for specimen conservation and enhancing exhibits.

1991 Ashfall Fossil Beds Historical State Park opens.

1999 The U.S. National Collection of scarab beetles from the Smithsonian Institution (a third of a million specimens) is transferred to the museum for off-site enhancement.

2006 U.S. Department of the Interior declares Ashfall a National Natural Landmark.

The “Clash of the Mammoths” exhibit opens at the Trailside Museum.

2007 Mueller Planetarium introduces 360degree full-dome programming.

2009 The expanded Hubbard Rhino Barn opens at Ashfall.

museum.unl.edu

J

Continued on page 12 MUSEUM | Spring 2011 | 11

2011 Exhibits Through Sept. 30, 2011 “Life in the Past Lane,” an exhibit highlighting fossils discovered over the last 50 years through the Nebraska Highway Paleontology program.

Through Oct. 30, 2011 “Amphibians: Vibrant and Vanishing,” an exhibit featuring photos by National Geographic Photographer and UNL grad Joel Sartore.

April 2011 “Colorful Creature Art Exhibit,” featuring artwork from a statewide children’s art contest.

Spring-Summer 2011 Ashfall’s “Heritage Pavilion” Opens.

September 2011 “Wildlife and Nature Amateur Photography Exhibit,” featuring striking images from a statewide amateur photography contest.

“First Peoples of the Plains: Traditions Shaped by the Land,” a new permanent exhibit celebrating Native

Members of “Team Scarab” in the State Museum’s Entomology Division collecting in Belize in 2008 (left to right) are Brett Ratcliffe, Ron Cave and Jesus Orozco.

may not be aware that only a fraction of the museum’s total collec-

high school students, 1,000 college students and 3,500 adults. The

tions are on display.

museum’s array of public events featuring hands-on science activi-

“Our visitors admire Morrill Hall’s amazing dinosaurs and

ties has steadily increased throughout the last decade, inspiring a

American culture of the past and

mammoths, but probably many don’t realize that behind the

love of science in children and encouraging families to make repeat

present in Morrill Hall’s renovated

scenes, the museum holds an irreplaceable research collection of

visits throughout the year.

Native American gallery.

millions of specimens and objects, collected from before Nebraska

November 2011 – November 2012 “Meteorites and Minerals,” exhibit featuring a spectacular display of rare rocks, minerals and meteorites.

2011 Events (at Morrill Hall) Colorful Creature Day April 2, 1 - 4:30 p.m.

Astronomy Day May 7, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Fright at the Museum – Late October “Sunday with a Scientist” monthly pro-

became a state, right up through last week,” said Grew. “The museum collections are constantly growing as UNL researchers uncover new species and unique life forms.”

Since the museum’s founding, its collections in anthropology,

2011, we are poised to have one of our best years yet,” he said.

are housed in today’s Nebraska Hall, where the collections were centralized in 1971. The museum’s internationally recognized collections not only help to explain the past, but also provide insight relevant to the most pressing scientific and social issues of species. Museum researchers are as dedicated to maintaining the

month from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. through

collections as they are to building them, sometimes traveling across

December 2011:

the globe to collect specimens. From expeditions in Mongolia’s

Feb. 20 – Parasitology

Gobi Desert to study vertebrate parasites, to late nights in the Bra-

March 20 – Lasers & Photonics

zilian jungle to collect rare beetles, to archaeological field work in

July 17 – Fish Aug. 21 – Climate Change

You can support the next 140 years of discovery at the University of Nebraska State Museum by visiting www.nufoundation.org or contacting Connie Pejsar at the University of Nebraska Foundation, cpejsar@nufoundation.org or 800-432-3216. Visit www. museum.unl.edu/140 to learn more (and view videos) about the museum, as well as upcoming events and exhibits.

Nebraska’s Sandhills – museum research is being conducted every day to enhance the collections for future generations and help the public gain a better understanding of biodiversity, Earth history and human cultures.

Sept. 18 – Plants

In accordance with Barbour’s wish for the museum to be

Oct. 16 – Fossils

a “source of great civic pride as well as an unlimited source of

Nov. 20 – Viruses

pleasurable information, study and instruction,” the museum

Dec. 18 – Minerals

continues to play a vital role in serving the community. Annually, Mueller Planetarium and Morrill Hall provide gallery programs, shows and outreach resources to more than 15,000 elementary and

12 | GoodNUz | MUSEUM

never been higher. With six major public events planned and more

grown to more than 14-million specimens and artifacts. These

will be explored the 3rd Sunday of each

June 19 – Tissue Mechanics

than ever. Its contribution to the university and the community has than 70,000 visitors expected to come through our doors again in

today, such as global climate change and the threats to endangered

May 15 – Extreme Weather

“This milestone comes at a time when the museum is busier

entomology, parasitology, botany, zoology and paleontology have

gram series for families. Different topics

April 17 – Fruit

Associate Director Mark Harris says the museum’s 140th year stands to be one of the most exciting yet.

Share Your Museum Memories Do you have fond memories or treasured old photos associated with the museum that you’d like to share in honor of our 140th anniversary in 2011?

E-mail your museum memories and photos to Dana Ludvik at dludvik2@unl. edu by March 30. You may also mail them to: Dana Ludvik, NU State Museum, 307 Morrill Hall - UNL, PO Box 880338, Lincoln, NE 685880338. For assistance with photo scanning, phone (402) 472-3779.

Office of Research and Economic Development

Powering ‘Green’ Roadways with Solar, Wind

By Ashley Washburn, ’02 Gas guzzlers aren’t the only roadblock to greener transportation. Streetlights, signs, traffic signals and other basic infrastructure also consume considerable energy.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln energy and transportation experts are teaming to develop a wind and solar hybrid power system that generates, stores and distributes electricity for transportation infrastructure. The goal is to create “energy-plus” roadways that produce more electricity than they consume.

The transportation industry has experimented with solar power for roadway infrastructure, but combining it with wind power is almost unheard of, said Jerry Hudgins, the UNL electrical engineer who leads the three-year project, funded by a nearly $1 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant.

A hybrid system promises a clean, continuous source of power that reduces energy consumption and costs, protects against electrical blackouts and feeds excess energy to the power grid to help offset transportation system expenses.

Civil engineer Anuj Sharma is determining how to plug the system into the power source of existing transportation infrastructure. UNL’s system contains a solar panel and a

UNL engineers are developing a wind and solar hybrid power system to generate electricity for traffic signals and other roadway infrastructure. From left: Wei Qiao, Elizabeth Jones, Anuj Sharma and Jerry Hudgins.

Office of Research and Economic Development photo.

3-D Helps Researchers Detect ALS Speech Declines

By Gillian Klucas

The same technology used to bring King Kong to life in the movies is helping researchers better understand amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that attacks neurons and weakens muscles over time. About 30,000 Americans suffer from ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease.

UNL speech-language pathologist Jordan Green and colleague Yana Yunosova at the University of Toronto are using computer technology to study the decline in speech in ALS patients with a nearly $2.4 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Their work may lead to earlier diagnosis and aid in treatment development.

Currently, no tests can definitively diagnose ALS. Physicians must rely on observing weakening muscles and ruling out other causes, which often takes 18 months after initial symptoms appear, said Green, an associate professor and the Corwin Moore Chair in Communications Disorders who directs UNL’s Speech Production Lab. For more than one-fourth of patients, symptoms begin with speech impairment, called bulbar symptoms. While bulbar deterioration impairs speech and swallowing, relatively few studies have focused on these symptoms. Measuring muscles involved in speech is particularly difficult, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.

14 | GoodNUz | RESEARCH

UNL speech-language pathologist Jordan Green (center) is using 3-D technology to study speech declines in people with ALS. Lab manager Cynthia Didion (right) demonstrates the instrument that tracks minute facial movements while doctoral student Jun Wang monitors readings on a computer.

wind turbine, each collecting energy that is converted into electricity to power the traffic signal, roadway sign or light on which it’s installed.

But what happens on a cloudy day?

Electrical engineer Wei Qiao is creating a smart control system that senses how much power each source produces depending on the weather, traffic volume and other factors. If it’s cloudy, the system would compensate by using more wind power or switching to the main power source.

Hudgins envisions local networks of hybrid power systems connected by smart controls, creating a “microgrid” in an intersection or even across several blocks. Individual systems would communicate with each other and shift power where it’s most needed, such as a busy street during rush hour.

Civil engineer Elizabeth Jones with UNL’s Mid-America Transportation Center is coordinating the team’s partnership with the city of Lincoln, which Hudgins said has been critical to the project. City engineers have provided information about Lincoln’s structural components, such as existing power system connections and traffic signals. The partnership also has allowed UNL researchers to estimate the wind and solar energy produced at four locations near the city limits, which the team is using to design the hybrid electrical system.

Hudgins said the team’s goal is to begin prototype testing by early 2013 and partner with the city for possible future implementation.

“This could have a significant impact on the next generation of smart electric grids,” Hudgins said.

“To produce speech you need to coordinate the activities of between 30 to 70 muscles,” Green said. “We’re using computer technology to quantify small changes in speech production that are otherwise undetectable.”

Green is following 100 bulbar-onset ALS patients at UNL and the University of Toronto to study progression of speech degeneration. He’s using 3-D motion analysis to track facial movements in fine detail, electromagnetic equipment to track tongue motion and special equipment to evaluate speech breathing and voice.

Sensitive measurements of facial muscles will help determine abnormal muscle strength for early diagnosis, monitor disease progression and predict when patients will lose speech so they can better prepare.

Finely detailed measurements also will help in the search for effective treatments.

“Outcomes measures in the bulbar system are fairly blunt,” said Green. “They need sensitive measures to determine small changes, and that will expedite drug trials.”

RESEARCH | Spring 2011 | 15

WENEEDYOU

Nebraska Alumni Association – Membership

In the Big Ten – Alumni Membership Matters More Than Ever Nebraskans have always been known for their loyal support of our

new community, advance in your career or just get

university – on the field, in the classrooms, in the labs and with alumni as-

together and cheer whenever we take the field or

sociation memberships. To our 25,000 members, we say thank you for your

court. You’ll also get exclusive access to our “mem-

continued support which has helped the university through a tremendous

bers only” football ticket lottery to watch Nebraska

decade of growth, prosperity

undertake many of these historic first matchups in

and academic achievement.

our new conference (see sidebar on page 17).

To our 150,000 remaining non-members, we need your help more than ever. With our move to the Big Ten, Nebraska will become the smallest public university, alumni base and membership base in the conference. While we were accustomed to being one of the larger Big 12 schools and alumni associations, we enter this new era with the cards stacked against us. Yet, that is always when Nebraskans are at their best.

I Stand Up for mentoring the next generation of Nebraskans, helping them to reach their full potential.

Tom Osborne NAA Life Member

In addition, Nebraska’s alumni will soon be able to join with established Big Ten programs in alumni networking, international group travel and interacting with our new peer alumni.

Most importantly, as Nebraska continues to advance in the academic, athletic and research rankings, and our national reputation climbs even

higher, the value of a Nebraska degree increases, making you a more desirable employee and giving you the pride to let that Big Ten Hawkeye, Wol-

How Does Membership Help?

verine, Buckeye or Badger in the office down the hall know that no matter where you call home, There Is No Place Like Nebraska.

Our new peers include universities with three times our enrollment and alumni bases that

Keep the Momentum Going

quadruple the number of graduates Nebraska has

Please, take a moment to look through the pages of Good NUz. The

produced. While other schools may have strength in

university has had a fantastic decade and is on the move. Enrollment, grad-

numbers, our alumni have an unmatched passion.

Joining the alumni association is an affordable way for you to have a positive impact on the university every day. Alumni association programs directly affect our nationwide student recruitment strategy, grant decisions, scholarships, mentoring programs and national rankings – including U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of the nation’s best universities.

The opportunities before us have never been more important or more visible. The challenges have never been more real… We cannot fully achieve our goals as a university without the active engagement of our alumni.

Harvey Perlman NAA Life Member

uation rates and research funding have all increased significantly. The development of the new Innovation Campus will encourage private/public research partnerships, creating unique internship opportunities for students and boosting economic development. And with the move to the Big Ten Conference, our researchers, students and faculty will take the spotlight as part of a major national research and teaching university. Yet, many more opportunities lie ahead … and in today’s economic environment, increased alumni engagement at home and around

What’s In It For me?

I Stand Up for kids from small towns who want to come to the University of Nebraska, get a first-class education and make our state an even better place to live.

Matt Davison NAA Life Member

the world will be essential to taking advantage!

I Stand Up for Nebraska’s future – because it’s not where we’ve been, it’s where we’re going.

Tommie Frazier NAA Life Member

For an annual membership of less than a dollar a week, you’ll enjoy numerous discounts and benefits that keep you connected to Dear Ol’ Nebraska U, and your membership may be considered tax-deductible. In addition, the Alumni Association creates connections among alumni, friends and fans of Nebraska that can help you plug in to a

Join or Volunteer Today!

Be a part of the progress! Join today by calling us at 888-353-1874, completing the form here or visiting us securely online at HuskerAlum.org/membership.

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Got Tickets? Members Do!

Percentage of Big Ten Alumni who are members of their Alumni Associations

This season marks Nebraska’s inaugural year in the Big Ten Conference, and will feature historic matchups with many of the most storied and

Northwestern - No membership program

Mich. St. - 8.2%

9.97% Wisconsin -

NEBRASKA - 13.57%

Minnesota - 15.13%

Indiana - 15.63%

Purdue - 15.96%

Michigan - 21.73%

Iowa - 23.62%

Illinois - 23.86%

Ohio State - 27.73%

Penn State - 29.95%

tradition-rich programs in the country.

Demand for football tickets will be extremely high, but association members will be able to take part in the annual “for members only” football ticket lottery.

Members can rank their preferences for games and will be entered into a lottery for two tickets to a 2011 home game. Priority drawing will start with lifetime association members who have made other donations to the association and conclude with annual members until all the tickets are distributed. Lottery forms will be available in the April issue of the Nebraska Magazine, a free benefit to members of the association.

Membership application form for Nebraska Alumni association First Name_____________________________________ Last Name_________________________________________________________ M.I._____ Address__________________________________________________ Maiden Name____________________________________________________ City/State/Zip_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone______________________________ Work Phone_______________________________Wireless________________________________ E-mail Address_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Major____________________________________________________ Degree________________________________________Class Year__________ Please select one of the options below: Individual Life Membership paid-in-full

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Life Membership 5-year plan

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Recent Graduate Membership

For our newest alumni less than three years out of college.

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VIP Home Football Weekends – The Best Way to Come Home!

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My payment for $______________ is enclosed. Spouse Name if joint__________________________________________________________________

home football weekends include game

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modations and Nebraska Champions Club passes for the perfect home game weekend. Just get yourself to Lincoln and we’ll take care of the rest. All you have to worry about is cheering for

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homegames/ MEMBERSHIP | Spring 2011 | 17

This new MRI machine monitors biomaterials and engineered tissues for UNL scientists.

University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources photo.

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Agricultural Research Division

BSE’s MRI Machine Furthers Tissue Studies

By Sandi Alswager Karstens, ’01, ’07 University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientists are using MRI to monitor biomaterials and engineered tissues. Among other advances, some day this could lead to noninvasive biopsies of potentially cancerous tissues or regenerated organs.

Angie Pannier and Shadi Othman, UNL biological systems

While tissue engineering isn’t new – engineered skin and cartilage already are available in the United States – using an MRI to monitor growth and development is.

“We are the first group in the world utilizing high field MRI to measure mechanical properties of living systems with very high spatial resolution.”

– Shadi Othman biological systems engineer

engineers, are studying engineered bone and fat tissues that in the future could be implanted into the human body to replace tissue lost due to injury or disease.

While tissue engineering isn’t new – engineered skin and cartilage already are available in the United States – using an MRI to monitor growth and development is. Specifically, Othman is combining MRI with mechanical actuators and custom software to develop a technique called magnetic resonance elastography to measure changes in the mechanical properties of engineered tissues in living mice.

The biological systems engineering department received the 9.4 Tesla, high-field MRI scanner in December 2009. Its use is dedicated to basic biomedical engineering research and regenerative medicine.

“We are the first group in the world utilizing high field MRI to measure mechanical properties of living systems with very high spatial resolution,” Othman said.

Othman is combining this technique with Pannier’s tissue engineering research to image engineered tissues and biomaterial scaffolds used for tissue engineering. Biomaterials serve as a scaffold, or

stiff the tissue is in vivo. It would be a noninvasive biopsy,” Othman said.

A cancerous tissue might give a different image than a normal tissue, said Jeyam Subbiah, biological systems engineer, while an engineered bone tissue would give a different image than an engineered fat tissue.

“Tissue engineering hasn’t realized its potential because there

physical structure, on which to grow tissue. The cells grow on the

are so many things we don’t know or understand yet,” Pannier said.

scaffold to form a new tissue. Using magnetic resonance elastog-

Researchers hope the MRI and more specifically MRE will

raphy, or MRE, Pannier and Othman can determine the stiffness of the engineered tissue without any damage to the tissue or a lab

answer some of these questions.

Othman takes the engineered tissue and implants it into mice,

mouse, a feat not possible with current technologies. In addition,

which then are placed in the MRI to monitor over time as the

they can study various other properties of the cells and biomaterial

tissues grow. Othman is able to determine if growing tissues are

scaffolds, including water and molecular content.

getting stiffer like bone or softer like fat.

MRE uses a mechanical actuator that creates a sonic excita-

While researchers right now are only monitoring the tissue,

tion that travels in soft tissues, which then is monitored by MRI

in the future they will create a defect in a mouse and then replace

techniques. For example, if tissue is stiff, the sonic wave will be

it with engineered tissues, which can be monitored over time for

longer, indicating a stiffer engineered tissue like bone, or in the case

changes in tissue growth and stiffness using MRE.

of cancer, a sign of a tumor. Right now if a patient suspects cancer, the first thing a doctor does is determine how hard the tissue is.

Based on feeling, the doctor would order a biopsy.

18 | GoodNUz | IANR

“With our technique, we can image the tissue and assess how

“We hope what we are doing here today will be able to be done in a hospital some day,” Othman said.

Dry Bean Contingent Opening Doors in China

Craig Henkel (left) and Carlos Urrea, UNL Extension dry bean breeding specialist, look at a late summer demonstration plot of Great Northern beans on Henkel’s farm near Bayard. Nebraska ranks first nationally in producing Great Northern beans.

Photo by Jorge Venegas.

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension

Nebraska dry beans could be destined for China, if a fall trade mission opens doors as intended.

Panhandle a National Leader in Dry Beans

The October trade mission, funded through the Nebraska Dry Bean Checkoff program, is intended to broaden the global market for dry beans and help stabilize dry bean prices.

By Sandi Alswager Karstens, ’01, ’07

The Nebraska Dry Bean Commis-

Nebraska ranks first nationally in producing Great Northern

sion targeted China, the third largest dry

beans and second in pinto and light red kidney beans. University of

bean producer in the world, because

Nebraska–Lincoln Extension is at work to help keep it that way.

it also is a potential growth market.

Carlos Urrea, UNL extension dry bean breeding specialist at

Nebraska ranks third in U.S. dry bean

the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, and Jim Schild,

production, accounting for 11 percent of

extension educator, both based in Scottsbluff, work with and teach

the U.S. crop from 2006-2008.

Linda Boeckner, director of the Uni-

area producers about adapting beans to be more drought tolerant

versity of Nebraska–Lincoln Panhandle

and disease resistant for western Nebraska conditions.

Beans are big business in Nebraska’s Panhandle, Urrea said, with 130,000 acres in 2009 producing 779,000 cwt. Great North-

provide extension education related to planting, weed control, ir-

Research and Extension Center, was

rigation and harvesting.

among five Nebraskans to start building

For example, extension is helping explore development of

erns, 1.305 million cwt. in pinto beans and 226,412 cwt. in light

a more upright dry bean plant with pods higher off the ground,

red kidneys. That translates into an estimated $73.8 million in products destined for markets in the United States, Spain, Portugal, France, Mexico, Cuba and Japan.

similar to soybean plants. That advantage would allow growers to direct-harvest beans instead of cutting beans down first to dry before combining.

Extension education helps with dry bean profitability, Urrea

“This work keeps us competitive,” Schild said. “We are No.

said, starting with field trials in farmers’ fields, then sharing results

1 because of lack of moisture in fall months,” conducive for good

with the public.

“Dry bean growers, industry representatives and others from around the globe get to see how the different varieties perform in

“This is the first real-world test under real-world growing

because ultimately what works well in the plots will be planted in

practices that farmers use here in the valley,” he said. “We get to

their fields, Urea said.

yield test everything, harvest it and test it just like we do with all

“Every farmer has different practices, from irrigation to dif-

the other beans.”

ferent row spacing,” Urrea said. “This way the lines are exposed to

Mackie said extension is important to the trials because, just

several different kinds of practices.”

Extension’s annual dry bean field days, in collaboration with the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association, attract industry

into flour used in various food products.

Boeckner said there are opportunities to explore how beans might be used in Chinese foods and what effects they would have on flavor, nutritional quality and other attributes.

The group visited several Chinese food processors and nutritional entities.

Other Nebraskans on the trip were the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission;

tion is “important and legitimate” work that is key to the industry.

France, Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic to learn more

In China dry beans also are ground

the best.

Mackie added the extension’s unbiased, research-based educa-

Bean Commission sponsors dry bean trade teams from Belgium,

“They are less sweet than pastries

Lynn Reuter, administrative assistant for

has to do it,” he said. “This work will help preserve the industry.”

technologies developed at the Panhandle center. The Nebraska Dry

a bean paste.

like anything else, work needs to be done continually to make it “The extension field trials take a little extra time, but someone

representatives and producers to learn more about new dry bean

using beans, such as pastries made with

texture is more dense,” Boeckner said.

first-in-line experience working with educators and specialists.

collaborate with extension in providing test plots and equipment

Boeckner, a registered dietitian, noted the group tasted some products

white, bright shiny color. When we go to export markets, Nebraska

years and participates in extension’s dry bean trials because he gets

Producers in Morrill, Scotts Bluff and Box Butte counties

nutrition with key Chinese leaders.

you would find in the U.S., and their

Jerry Mackie has been growing dry beans near Gering for 27

perform,” Urrea said.

about dry bean food processing and

harvest conditions. “We can produce Great Northern beans with dry beans are wanted because of the seed quality.”

the local conditions and get a good idea on how new varieties will

relationships and sharing information

about how dry beans are grown in Nebraska.

The field days allow producers and others to get a hands-on look at the different bean varieties and work together to make traits that producers and consumers want, Schild said. Field days also

Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture; Stan Garbacz, the ag department’s foreign market representative; and Leo Hoehn of the Stateline Bean Cooperative.

Standing in front of the Bejing National Stadium, site of the 2008 summer Olympics, is the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission delegation (from left): Leo Hoehn, Greg Ibach, Lynn Reuter, Linda Boeckner and Stan Garbacz.

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IANR | Spring 2011 | 19

College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Ag Students Take National Honors Students in the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) Club at the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources share powerful messages about the importance of agriculture.

Their good work earned them first place as National Chapter of the Year in both educational programs and service activities at the National Agricultural Media Summit in St. Paul, Minn., last summer.

The club’s educational programs award focused on visits with agricultural businesses in Kansas City and profes-

Lincoln Students Learning About UNL Soybean Research

By Cheryl Alberts, ’86, ’00 Soybean plants grow on 5.35 million Nebraska acres and are in line for a record-breaking harvest, but what intrigues Maxey Elementary schoolchildren are the legumes growing in their classrooms in Lincoln.

After all, the soybean, while relevant to Nebraska, is a model organism that can promote understanding of real science, say collaborators of a soybean education project that brought Maxey and how they grow, Pedersen said, it teaches them about Nebraska

alongside university faculty.

“I love the fact that we had the opportunity to be involved in a real research project and follow basically the same scientific process

first place for service activities rec-

the scientists follow,” said Dwight Thiemann, Maxey fourth-grade

ognized their volunteer work with the

teacher. He said he appreciates getting ideas for his science curricu-

Amanda Bergstrom, an ag journalism senior from Wilcox, said the latter “was an eye opener to volunteer there and know we were really making a difference.”

Bergstrom said ACT is important

Not only does the project teach children about plant parts

teachers into University of Nebraska–Lincoln laboratories to work

sional speakers at their meetings. The

Lincoln City Mission.

Shown working in the George W. Beadle Center Greenhouse Complex are, from left, Blake Vajgrt (undergraduate researcher in Prof. Clemente’s lab), Greg Tebo, Nancy Dondlinger and Dwight Thiemann, all from Maxey Elementary School.

agriculture – important as people today are less informed about their food’s origins.

Soybeans are part of daily life, being processed into food for animals and humans, and products from fuel to crayons.

The project provides seeds, soil, plant stands, trays, lights and

lum and that “the kids are loving this.”

His fourth-graders enthusiastically make statements such as “I didn’t even know what a soybean looked like” and “This is so cool.

a time-lapse camera to be shared by the school’s kindergarten, firstand fourth-grade classrooms.

“When we make science more relevant in a child’s life, it’s

It’s kind of like we’re farmers ... kind of.” Said another, “I’ve never

retained and more meaningful,” Pedersen said. The concept of us-

planted a farm plant before.”

Coordinating the soybean in the classroom project are Tiffany

ing the commodity crop, rather than green beans or lima beans, to

because it allows students to work with

Heng-Moss, associate professor of entomology in the College of

teach science in the classroom could go regional, statewide or even

others who share a focus on agriculture.

Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and Jon Pedersen,

national, he added.

Noting “agriculture is ever-changing,” Paige Bek, an ag economics and ag journalism senior from Curtis who attended the summit, said the experiences ACT members gain as members of the club “prepare us to teach agriculture to people who have no idea what agriculture really is.”

Jason Ellis, ACT adviser and Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication assistant

Heng-Moss and Pedersen say the soybean science links up

UNL professor of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education in the College of Education and Human Sciences. They sought and

with state education standards so it is credible with schools.

“Any part of a solid curriculum has to be critical thinking and

received project funding from the Nebraska Soybean Board and the

decision making,” Pedersen said. A teacher’s job isn’t to tell students

United Soybean Board.

Three Maxey teachers worked in laboratories with Heng-Moss; geneticist Tom Clemente, director of the Plant Transformation

what to know, he said, but to help them think and use knowledge to make informed decisions.

Core Research Facility; and other UNL scientists. They and two

By working with UNL scientists, teachers are able to pass on

more Maxey teachers currently integrate soybeans into their cur-

knowledge to their students about research to help soybeans resist

riculum.

aphids and disease, and to emphasize traits such as protein or oil

“We engage teachers in research and they in turn are engag-

levels.

professor, said ACT students “have a

ing their elementary students in research,” Heng-Moss said. “We

Greg Tebo, Maxey technology specialist, said children also

passion for the industry. They are eager

are helping them to integrate what they learned into their science

learn about soybeans from coloring contests, singing songs and

curriculum, provide first-hand opportunities for their students, and

writing puppet plays. From teachers, children learn about soybean

educate students on the importance of soybeans and agriculture.”

farming, processing, transportation, exportation and end uses.

to tell agriculture’s story.

“A large percentage of people are removed from understanding agriculture,” Ellis continued. “These students have the knowledge and skills to spread ag literacy.

– Jan Jackson Cejka

“From our work with the UNL scientists this summer we are

That’s important when agriculture is the state’s No. 1 industry and one in three Nebraska jobs are related in some way to agricul-

able to provide our students with a wealth of knowledge about

ture. In 2009 Nebraska ranked fifth nationally in soybean produc-

every facet of soybeans, from what the breeder does with the plant

tion, valued at more than $2.4 billion. This year’s soybean harvest

to the entomologist’s role with the soybean aphid to the biotech-

is forecast at 284 million bushels.

nology involved with the future of soybeans,” Tebo said.

casnr.unl.edu

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20 | GoodNUz | COLLEGES

College of Architecture

Students Gain Global Experience

By Colleen Kenney Fleischer, ’88 Taylor Hammack has yet to absorb all the experiences he had this past fall in China.

The fifth-year College of Architecture student said it may take him years to understand how it expanded his horizons as an architect, and as a human.

“It was a terrific experience. China is really just growing. Their economy is growing so fast that they can’t really build fast enough for everyone.

“It’s way different from Lincoln.”

He and a dozen other aspiring UNL architects participated in the College of Architecture’s China Program.

They walked and rode down streets crowded with bikes, motorbikes, cars and humans. They heard people speak Mandarin, a tonal language so different from English, and tried to speak, too.

They heard a lot of honking. But over there it’s usually not in anger, Hammack said. It’s just another way to communicate.

“The traffic is crazy,” Hammack said. “There are lanes and lights but none of it matters. People are all over the place.”

The goal of the semester-long program, now in its third year, is to help future architects like Hammack absorb China’s history and culture firsthand while learning their craft.

Beijing was among the many places Taylor Hammack and a dozen other College of Architecture students visited last fall, when they studied in China through a program sponsored by alumnus Scott Killinger (’61).

– spicy hot in Chongqing, sweet in Shanghai, dim sum

met with them in Tianjin and talked with them about

Cantonese cooking in Hong Kong, Peking duck in Beijing.

what to expect in China.

A hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Tianjin became a favorite. They befriended the owner and workers, using dictionaries and gestures to communicate.

“They actually started making dishes for us at the end

They took him to that hole-in-the wall restaurant.

The College of Architecture promotes global engagement, Dean Wayne Drummond said. The college has the highest percentage of students going abroad to study of

– ‘Here, you try this out for free,’” Hammack said. “They

any unit on campus. Its students also study in Ireland,

were really, really nice.”

Germany, France and Ecuador. Its London-based program,

He and his two roommates also bonded with a cab driver.

The cab driver was taking them to a club when a car

offered each spring semester, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.

It’s a powerful experience for architecture students to

rammed into them. The driver sped off, and the cab driver

walk through a place and get a sense of scale and space and

at Tianjin University in Tianjin, the third largest city in

pursued him, weaving in and out of traffic in a wild chase

movement as well as to experience the daily life of another

China. For one project, they designed ways to blend and

through Tianjin.

culture.

The UNL students worked with their counterparts

unify three neighboring rural villages a two-hour bus ride from Tianjin.

Mark Hoistad, associate dean of the College of Architecture, and Janghwan Cheon, an assistant professor, served

“We went chasing him for 15 minutes at least. We’re

“China is the force to be reckoned with in the next

like, ‘Wow, what’s going on?’ And then we start egging our

century,” Drummond said. “I feel very strongly that

cab driver on.”

students need to understand the power of a country that is

At one point, their cab driver cut the other driver off

moving the world scene like none other.”

Global engagement also is a priority of the university’s

as advisers, working with their counterparts from Tianjin

and jumped out of the cab to open the guy’s door. But he

University.

sped away. The cab driver wanted to give the students the

Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities – a $1.2

ride for free, but Hammock and his roommates refused.

billion fundraising effort to support students, faculty and

The UNL students lived in a high-rise apartment building a short walk from the university. From his second-

“It was crazy. It was fun.”

research. The university hopes to give every undergraduate

floor window, Hammack could see many other high-rise

China is an exciting place architecturally, too.

the chance to study abroad and to attract more interna-

towers – anywhere you turned, it seemed, you’d see cranes

“Going to China really opened my eyes up to a new

tional students to its campuses.

building more of them.

During breaks, the students cruised down the Yangtze River. Some hiked in the Yellow Mountains. Some visited the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

sense of what architecture is and how it’s different from place to place.”

The China Program was created through funding by College of Architecture alumnus Scott Killinger (’61),

They traveled to Tokyo, South Korea and Hong Kong.

whose Beijing-based firm has a studio in Tianjin. He gave

They tried the many regional styles of Chinese food

Hammack and the other students about $800 each. He

If you’d like to support the university’s effort to promote global engagement, contact the University of Nebraska Foundation at info@nufoundation.org or 800-432-3216. If you’d like to support the College of Architecture, contact the foundation’s Connie Pejsar at cpejsar@nufoundation.org or 402-458-1190.

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COLLEGES | Spring 2011 | 21

College of Arts and Sciences

Award-winning Historian Brings New Perspectives to Classroom

By Jean Ortiz Jones

As an undergraduate student interested in history, Margaret Jacobs was accustomed to understanding change through political figures like Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt or through other agents like the economy or technology. But she gained a new perspective after taking an introductory course in women’s history, much to her surprise.

“I had never really thought about if there’s a special women’s

book explores the forced removal of indigenous children from

just history,” she said. “What it really was about was that history

their families and their assimilation into American and Australian

doesn’t just have to be about huge political events – most of which

culture. history. Columbia University officials selected Jacobs as a 2010

how they themselves can shape that change that occurs.”

Bancroft Prize winner. The award was established in 1948 via his-

Gender Studies Program

tional books in the field, as well as to support research and library

work in the classroom as a UNL history professor, in her research

resources.

Jacobs later received two more awards for the book: the Robert

Women’s and Gender Studies Program. Now, she is the one sharing

G. Athearn Prize sponsored by the Western History Association

new perspectives and challenging students to understand what

for the best book on the 20th-century American West, and the

causes change throughout history.

Armitage-Jameson Prize sponsored by the Coalition for Western

Since 2006, she has directed the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, which brings together faculty from diverse disciplines to

Women’s History for the best book in western women’s history.

Her research has better informed her teaching, given her mate-

offer students a multidisciplinary experience and to prepare them

rial for new lectures, and helped her in her goal of taking a more

for a wide variety of careers in fields ranging from education to

global approach to the topics she covers, she said.

psychology, business and law, just to name a few.

“It’s a very cohesive group of people who work together really well,” she said. “As director, I feel like I’ve been able to plug into that community and help to maintain and build both the community of faculty and students and the program itself.”

That has meant directing the program toward an even stronger

“I want to continue to bring that kind of dynamism to the classroom because I think the students like it when you’re excited and enthusiastic about it,” she said.

Students can find lessons in Jacobs’ work, but also stand to gain through her individual accomplishments, which boost the reputation of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, said

global/international focus through expanding emphasis areas like

Haley Heindryckx, a senior majoring in women’s and gender stud-

transnational feminism, which involves the study on a global scale

ies and sociology.

of the advancement of women’s rights. Jacobs also has helped

“In the world of academia, something like an award can make

establish new areas of study like the topic of women, gender and

people recognize that what you’re doing is very important – you’re

science, which explores women’s roles in science throughout history

filling in gaps in history,” Heindryckx said. “I think as a WGS ma-

and aims to promote greater collaboration between faculty and

jor … that’s kind of what we see our role as – filling in gaps.”

graduate students in the sciences and humanities.

Jacobs’ research focus, meanwhile, has centered on under-

Jacobs has her sights set on her next research projects. She wants to take on another comparative project, this one on non-

standing cross-cultural relationships between women over time.

indigenous people adopting indigenous children. She also wants to

She has written two books along that theme, including her most

explore colonial authorities’ attempts throughout history to control

recent work, published in 2009: “White Mother to a Dark Race:

indigenous populations’ dance, food and language.

Settler Colonialism, Maternalism, and the Removal of Indigenous 22 | GoodNUz | COLLEGES

torian, author and librarian Frederic Bancroft to recognize excep-

her work in graduate school and today continues to influence her that has taken her around the world, and as director of UNL’s

Director, UNL Women’s and

It also set her up to receive a prestigious honor in the field of

about ordinary people and how their lives change over time and The idea more than resonated with her. It became the focus of

– Margaret Jacobs

Children in the American West and Australia, 1880-1940.” The

history or men’s history. What does that mean? To me, it was all

primarily involved men as decision makers – but it can also be

“...history doesn’t just have to be about huge political events – most of which primarily involved men as decision makers – but it can also be about ordinary people and how their lives change over time and how they themselves can shape that change that occurs.”

Margaret Jacobs

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College of Business Administration

BKD Endows Accountancy Professorship for UNL

By Robb Crouch

Paul A. Shoemaker, professor and director of the School of Accountancy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration, has been awarded the first BKD, LLP Professorship in Accountancy.

“I am honored to be selected as the first recipient of this pro-

educated accounting graduates.”

fessorship,” said Shoemaker, who joined UNL in 1989. “It signals

Donde Plowman, the James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed

that my work over an extended period of time is respected by my

Dean of the College of Business Administration, said the gift from

colleagues, and a professorship is one of the highest forms for rec-

BKD provides support for the university’s current fundraising

ognition of achievement.

initiative, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, and

“Professorships show that the accounting and business communities believe in our academic programs and that they are pleased with the UNL accounting graduates they hire. Students

one of its top priorities of securing support for faculty.

“The gift of this professorship provides the kind of financial support that is essential in being able to retain and attract the

also benefit by having high caliber

highest quality faculty leaders,” Plow-

faculty in the classroom, because

man said. “It comes at an important

professorships help attract nationally

time, as we move into the Big Ten

recognized faculty.”

Conference and develop a new set of relationships with some of the finest

The professorship was established

by BKD, a certified public accounting

public business schools in the country.

and advisory firm, with a $500,000

The gift also provides support for our

gift commitment to the University of

Campaign for Nebraska goals, and we

Nebraska Foundation. The permanent-

hope BKD’s generosity is a model for

ly endowed fund enables the college

others who love this university and

to award an annual stipend for salary,

this college and who want to help us

research and program support. Recipi-

move to the next level of academic

ents of the professorship are selected by

excellence.”

Shoemaker said: “Looking be-

the college based on teaching and research ability and accomplishments, as

yond me, this endowed professorship

well as academic promise. They receive

will live on for the next generation of

five-year appointments, renewable for

Paul A. Shoemaker

an additional five-year term.

BKD is among the 10 largest CPA firms in the country with

Director, School of Accountancy

countancy indefinitely.”

Shoemaker teaches courses on topics including taxation, theory and finance, and his research has focused on tax, accounting

through the BKD Foundation, the firm’s charitable arm that has

history and accounting education. His works have been published

raised and distributed $5.3 million to qualifying nonprofit organi-

by Contemporary Accounting Research, National Tax Journal,

zations over the past decade.

Journal of Applied Business Research, Southern Business Review and several others. He is a recipient of the Nebraska Society of

practice unit, said the company recognizes the need to have quality

CPAs Outstanding Accounting Educator Award, the College of

professors, as they foster the knowledge and skills necessary for the

Business Administration Distinguished Teaching Award, and the

next generation of accountants.

University of Nebraska Distinguished Teaching Award, among

“The Nebraska practice unit of BKD has always strived to hire

other recognition. His formal education includes earning a doctor-

the best and brightest accounting graduates,” he said. “A reason we

ate at Pennsylvania State University, an MBA at Marywood College

have supported the University of Nebraska is to help ensure that

and a bachelor’s degree at Bloomsburg University.

our industry and profession continues to have highly skilled and

– Paul A. Shoemaker,

faculty and benefit the School of Ac-

Nebraska offices in Lincoln and Omaha. Its donation was made

Norman Hedgecock, managing partner of BKD’s Nebraska

“Professorships show that the accounting and business communities believe in our academic programs and that they are pleased with the UNL accounting graduates they hire. Students also benefit by having high caliber faculty in the classroom, because professorships help attract nationally recognized faculty.”

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COLLEGES | Spring 2011 | 23

Ruth Heaton and Jim Lewis

“Our goal is to invest in teachers,” said Jim Lewis. In turn, we hope they are better prepared to challenge their students and become leaders within their districts.”

– Jim Lewis, NEBRASKA MATH Project Leader

College of Education and Human Sciences

Partnering in Math Achievement Until 10 to 15 years ago, many educators believed that indepth math education could wait until high school. Research has

titudes, knowledge and habits of mind K-3 teachers need to possess

dramatically changed those attitudes.

to best help young children acquire strong mathematical founda-

NEBRASKA MATH, a statewide partnership led by UNL researchers, aims to narrow the achievement gap for at-risk students

tions,” Heaton said.

In addition to Lewis and Heaton, other “NEBRASKA

in kindergarten through third grade and improve mathematics

MATH” co-leaders are Carolyn Pope Edwards, Willa Cather

achievement for all students.

professor and professor of psychology and child, youth and fam-

A $9.3 million grant from the National Science Founda-

ily studies; Ira Papick, professor of mathematics; Walter Stroup,

tion provides resources for teachers to take graduate mathematics

professor and head of statistics; Thomas McGowan, professor and

courses that strengthen their skills.

chair of teaching, learning and teacher education; and Barbara

“Our goal is to invest in teachers,” said Jim Lewis, project leader and mathematics professor. “In turn, we hope they are better prepared to challenge their students and become leaders within their districts.”

The first teachers began classes in June 2009. Three hundred teachers are expected to take graduate education coursework and

Jacobson, director of curriculum and professional development for Lincoln Public Schools.

NEBRASKA MATH includes two other programs: one helps algebra teachers reach at-risk students; another offers professional development opportunities for new secondary mathematics teachers.

The initiative builds on UNL’s successful Math in the Middle

more than 800 will participate in activities to strengthen their

program, another NSF-funded project that enabled 125 middle-

mathematics teaching and learning during the five-year project. By

level mathematics teachers to earn master’s degrees.

supporting programs for teachers, NEBRASKA MATH has the

The NEBRASKA MATH partnership includes Grand Island

potential to benefit 40,000 K-3 students and 10,000 high school

Public Schools, Lincoln Public Schools, Omaha Public Schools,

students across Nebraska.

Papillion-La Vista Public Schools and Nebraska’s Educational

An important element of the project is studying how different

Service Units. Lewis said it is a truly statewide effort that can serve

approaches in K-3 math education, such as math coaches and class-

as a national model for collaboration between state universities and

room teachers who work as math specialists, affect young children’s

K-12 schools.

learning. Ruth Heaton, associate professor of teaching, learning and teacher education, leads this multidisciplinary research.

24 | GoodNUz | COLLEGES

“A key goal is to better understand what mathematical at-

cehs.unl.edu

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College of Engineering

Nebraska Engineering Students Add Excitement to Middle School Math

By Carole Wilbeck Middle school math is a crucial time in students’ learning. If a student can survive, and maybe even thrive, then success can build.

He or she might even glimpse a future career – possibly in engineering.

A group of Nebraska engineering students can relate, because each day they use skills they learned in middle school math and then built upon. They also remember how easy it was to get distracted or

were load tested with buckets of batteries pulling on the spans placed between desks. An important question took shape: was there a pattern to the materials’ performance, relating weight and strength?

At last, when the middle school students’ brain cells were stretched (but not past the breaking point), the session ended. The Nebraska engineering students left and began planning their next visit to bring more excitement to middle school math.

The college conducts a variety of outreach opportunities,

discouraged when concepts didn’t always connect. All this shapes the

including Discover Engineering Days, with hundreds of middle

experience when these UNL engineering students take time to work

schoolers hosted annually at the Lincoln campus. AESOP (Archi-

with students at Lincoln’s Lefler Middle School.

tectural Engineering Student Outreach Program) activities bring

Lefler teacher Jeanette Reitz sought an additional way to

AE students from The Peter Kiewit Institute into classrooms in the

reinforce learning for her young students, and possibly frame career

Omaha area. The College of Engineering also is popular with guests

paths that could keep students motivated in math. Reitz’ friend at

of UNL’s Big Red Shows, and the list of touchpoints goes on – with

UNL – Rena Becker with the College of Engineering – gathered

E-Week and other occasions.

students willing to help. Twice a month, College of Engineering

“It’s a great learning experience for Lefler students to have the

students involved in the Engineering Diplomats organization tutor

UNL College of Engineering students in our classroom reinforcing

Lefler students after school in math and, once each semester, these

the importance of algebra, teamwork and critical thinking,” Reitz

mentors visit the classroom to provide hands-on activities regarding

said. “I am excited to see how this relationship with the College of

a subject the class is learning.

Engineering will develop and grow.”

One in-class session applied math to building bridges, and the

Mechanical engineering junior Jordan Burchatz said he enjoys

engineering students introduced the task by sharing a meaningful

visiting the Lefler classes. “It seems natural to tutor, and I try to

hint: the triangle is a very useful shape. That tip led to a discussion

use what worked for me to find what connects them to the idea or

with the mentors helping to ground relevant equations in the minds

problem.

of the middle schoolers, who formed teams to channel their energy

“The middle school students are really fun to work with,”

and perspectives into productivity. The teams were advised to first

Burchatz added. “They have a little bit of an attitude, but I still

design their bridges by drawing diagrams, and to make efficient use

remember those days myself, so we get through it easily.”

of their resources during the 20 minutes allotted for planning and construction.

After the structures were built from sets of drinking straws and lengths of tape, measuring and graphing came into play. The bridges

engineering.unl.edu

“It’s a great learning experience for Lefler students to have the UNL College of Engineering students in our classroom reinforcing the importance of algebra, teamwork and critical thinking.

I am excited to see how this relationship with the College of Engineering will develop and grow.”

– Jeanette Reitz Lefler Middle School teacher

J

UNL mechanical engineering student Zach Connell and industrial engineering student Allison Dubs work with Lefler students on mathematical aspects of a bridge design activity.

COLLEGES | Spring 2011 | 25

Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts

Digital Arts Program Blends Arts, Technology

By Brittany Sturek In today’s entertainment industry, it’s all about digital

Steve Kolbe

Damon Thomas Lee

Jeff Thompson

the initiative. With $350,000 worth of endowment money

preparing for the future.

“We realized the future of the arts has to embrace

from the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing

arts and media. Films like “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius”

the digital arena in some way,” Giacomo Oliva, Endowed

Arts, the college was able to purchase seven new laptops,

and “Kung Fu Panda,” two of UNL faculty member Steve

Dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing

updated software, new printers, 16 video cameras and two

Kolbe’s past projects, have transformed the entertainment

Arts, said. “It was essential that as a college we adopt a uni-

lighting kits, as well as music keyboards, audio recording

landscape. Human actors are replaced with digital charac-

fied approach to at least thinking about how we situate our

equipment, animation software and magnetic whiteboards.

ters, complete with natural movements and voices. Imagi-

curricula in the digital arts.”

The rest of the money was used to renovate Room 17 in

nary worlds are brought to life with the help of computer

Oliva worked with directors and department chairs

Richards Hall and update facilities in Woods Hall. Only

programs. And we, the audience, are rewarded with clear

in the college to brainstorm ways to keep the college’s cur-

students taking digital arts classes will have access to the

animation and modern storylines.

riculum current without becoming insignificant.

equipment and facilities.

Although Kolbe made his career working with 3-D

“We thought: when students leave here, what’s out

Several students have already had the chance to take

technology, he started out in advertising with a degree

there for them?” Oliva said. “We found that potential ca-

the digital classes and work with the new equipment. Tony

in journalism. His transition from journalism student to

reers are less about the fact that they might have a major in

Nguyen is a graphic design major in the Department of

graphic design or digital music

Art and Art History. He took Thompson’s digital literacy

composition and more about

course about static images the first time it was offered in

where there were possibilities to

the fall of 2009.

think across the disciplines.”

“The idea is that as digital

“Technology brings a whole different dimension to art,” Nguyen said. “The biggest thing is that technol-

artists, we all do basically the

ogy enables you to continually manipulate, change and

same thing with the same

eventually perfect your work. Digital arts allows you to use

equipment – a laptop,” said

your head and solve problems. It takes critical thinking to

Lee, who came to UNL this fall

another level.”

from the University of Hudder-

But arts students aren’t the only people taking these

sfield in England, where he was

classes. Each class reserves at least four spots specifically for

a lecturer in music technology.

students outside of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and

“The way that film editing

Performing Arts.

“All of these classes are designed to bring students of diverse backgrounds together and use their complementary

Assistant Professor Jeff Thompson (left) watches students film objects for their class project.

Photo by Michael Reinmiller.

knowledge and approaches to make projects that might not happen otherwise,” said Thompson.

movie cinematographer is a recurring theme today. Now

software or Photoshop

more than ever, college graduates are expected to acquire

looks is not that dif-

multiple skills and use them in more versatile job settings.

ferent from a music

continue to grow as the college sees increased interest and

And that’s just what the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and

sequencer. And so

enrollment in classes. Kolbe already envisions building a

Performing Arts is training them to do.

the language and the

student-manned production studio, where students would

As assistant professor of film and new media at UNL,

interface that we use

Nearly two years old, the Digital Arts Initiative will

Jessie Ren works on a video project.

Photo by Michael Reinmiller.

Kolbe came back to his home state to share his expertise

to access this informa-

with college students. His return is part of the larger Digi-

tion, whether it be a film

tal Arts Initiative in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and

or a piece of music, is looking more and more similar.”

Performing Arts. Kolbe; Jeff Thompson, assistant profes-

Kolbe, Thompson and Lee will continue to tweak the

end up working on productions for companies throughout the country.

“The goal of this Initiative is to grow,” Kolbe said.

“This is a test bed where we can test different ways of teaching and different ways to collaborate within the entire

sor of art; and Damon Thomas Lee, assistant professor of

curriculum and update classes as needed. The goal is for

university. That’s why I like it, because we can reach the

digital arts and music composition, have begun integrating

the college to have an inventory of eight to 10 classes that

kids outside the wall of our ‘castle’ and build something

digital arts and technology into the theater, art and music

will be taught in rotation, including two online classes.

grander.”

curriculums at UNL.

Classes are small, about 16 students each.

The idea of incorporating digital arts came about nearly six years ago when the college was at a crossroads in 26 | GoodNUz | COLLEGES

Students in these digital arts classes will be able to use new equipment and resources purchased specifically for

www.unl.edu/finearts

J

College of Journalism and Mass Communications

Oh Yeon-ho is the founder of OhmyNews, a citizen journalism website operating under the motto “Every citi-

Innovator in Residence Program

zen is a reporter.” When it started in 2000, the site had only 727 citizen reporters; it now uses 65 full-time and 62,000 citizen reporters. The site is an innovative example in the media world, as it was one of the first of its kind. Based in Seoul, South Korea, the site receives between 200 and 250

By Jessica Simpson

stories each day from 100 countries around the world.

2010 marked a year of transition for the College of

In 2000, OhmyNews was named the 10th most

Journalism and Mass Communications. As Gary Kebbel officially filled the position of dean July 1, he quickly

influential media in Korea by the Sisa Journal survey. In

implemented new ideas and future-focused programming.

2004 and 2005, the news outlet was named the sixth most

With his sights set on expanding the J school’s international

influential by the survey. It earned the Missouri Honor

presence and giving students the opportunity to solve

Media award in 2007.

global media issues, Kebbel launched the Innovators in

In addition to founding OhmyNews, Oh conducted

Alexander Zolotarev

interviews in 1994 with survivors of the 1950 No Gun

grant money to create and launch SochiReporter. Currently,

Ri massacre during the Korean War that appeared in the

tive solutions in media is the key to success. This is a main

he is a faculty member at Moscow State University and a

monthly magazine Mal. In 1999, Associated Press corre-

goal of the new program, which brings media innovators

Fulbright scholar. He teaches multimedia journalism, and

spondents won a Pulitzer Prize for a series of reports about

and entrepreneurs to UNL to work with CoJMC students.

spent his Fulbright year at City University of New York

it, which spurred the Korean news media to finally cover

The entrepreneurs present real-life problems to students in

Graduate School of Journalism.

the story.

Residence Program.

As the journalism industry changes, finding innova-

order to brainstorm solutions. In essence, the relationship

“When I got my Fulbright grant, I went to New York

During Oh’s stay in Lincoln, he not only had the op-

becomes mutually beneficial – students gain knowledge and

City to work on my dissertation about the virtual online

portunity to speak with J school students, but also students

experience in solving media issues and the entrepreneur gets

communities. With the media convergence and the Web

in the College of Business Administration. Taewan Kim, a

help solving problems in media endeavors. The program

projects getting more and more trendy, it seemed obvious

Ph.D. candidate in the area of strategy and entrepreneur-

also aims to help students develop critical thinking skills

to me that my diversified journalism experience is best of all

ship at UNL, invited Oh to CBA so students could hear

and be exposed to problems in 21st century media.

reflected in the Web – where all different traditional media

about the creation of OhmyNews and about how Oh

intersect and are combined,” he said.

managed the start-up of the company including accessing,

In June, Alexander Zolotarev, founder and CEO of SochiReporter.ru out of Sochi, Russia, became the J school’s

During his six-day stay in Lincoln, Zolotarev shared

editing and publishing articles.

“I think [Oh] is a really innovative thinker who can

first Innovator in Residence. Oh Yeon-ho of Seoul, South

his experiences with students and discussed the future of

Korea, founder of the citizen journalism website Ohm-

new media and his website. He presented students with the

recognize the paradigm shift in journalism,” Kim said. “I

yNews, became the second innovator when he visited in

issue of making his website sustainable when the Knight

believe that driving forces such as a constant stream of new

October.

grant money runs out.

technologies produce a competitive environment that is

“It was great to emerge in communication with the

“As Dean Gary Kebbel explained to me, one of the

characterized by constant and often dramatic change. Dr

students and the faculty of the journalism school,” Zolo-

ideas of the Innovator in Residence program is not only to

Oh is a person who read this changing trend in the journal-

tarev said. “I hope that I got the students interested in the

show how cool it is to be an independent entrepreneur, but

ism industry and founded a venture company.”

Russian culture and the entrepreneurial fate.”

to also reveal the daily challenges the innovator faces,”

After hosting two entrepreneurs this fall, the J school

Zolotarev said. The students got really involved into

has plans to continue the Innovators in Residence program

to give a voice to citizens of Sochi, Russia, as construc-

advising me on how to monetize SochiReporter. It was an

in the spring semester.

tion for the 2014 Winter Olympics takes over the town.

exciting brainstorming, which I hope the students of the J

Launched in 2009, SochiReporter enables Sochi residents

school liked as much as I did.”

Zolotarev’s website, SochiReporter.ru, was designed

to use online tools to discuss and influence the impact of the Olympic Games. The site helps prepare residents for the Olympics and inform the media about the city’s issues, using discussions to ultimately improve life in Sochi. As the first site of its kind, it will be used as a model for future Olympics hosts.

In 2008, Zolotarev won a Knight News Challenge digital news innovation award and used the $600,000 in

Dean Gary Kebbel with Oh Yeon-ho, the second Innovator in Residence at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

journalism.unl.edu

J

College of Law

Learning By Doing: Nebraska Law Students Benefit From Clinical Programs are the best way to involve students in experiential learning – learn-

By Molly Brummond, ’00, ’03

ing by being reflective about experiences gained while acting in the

Matthew Myerle began his fall 2010 semester with the typical

role of a practicing attorney.”

“to-do” list of a third-year law student: read, attend class, read

Nebraska Law has been offering the Civil and Criminal Clin-

some more, outline and repeat. Myerle, a Lincoln native, had been a student in Nebraska Law’s Civil Clinic the prior semester, how-

ics as part of its curriculum since 1975 and 1979, respectively.

ever, and as a result of his work there, found out in early October

Students in the Civil Clinic represent low-income clients in a wide

2010 something far from typical had been added to that list: argue

variety of civil and administrative cases selected by the faculty for

a case for which he had written a response brief while a student

potential litigation and trial experience. In the Criminal Clinic,

in the clinic before the Nebraska Supreme Court. And, so, the

students gain insight into the legal and ethical responsibilities of

preparation began.

both prosecutors and defense attorneys as they prosecute misdemeanor and felony cases out of the Lancaster County Attorney’s of-

“Professors Ruser, Knap and Olson each provided invaluable Matthew Myerle

assistance throughout my work on the case” Myerle said. “They

fice. Professor Steve Schmidt is the director of the Criminal Clinic,

helped to shape my thinking about the case and the issues, and

one of the only prosecutorial clinics in the nation.

“We have a unique program that serves students very well,”

provided tremendous assistance in preparing and practicing for the

said Schmidt. “Students that complete the Criminal Clinic pro-

oral argument.

gram have a semester’s worth of real world experience that serves

“We went through many practice rounds, which helped refine my presentation of the case. Preparing for the argument was a long,

them well outside of the academic environment. They leave the program a step ahead of their

challenging process but I had great support from the clinic, members of the faculty and fellow students,” he said.

On Nov. 2, the preparation was put into practice as Myerle appeared before the

“Arguing before the Nebraska Supreme Court was an unbelievable experience, and I was honored to have the opportunity to present this case. It certainly was not an experience I thought that I would have as a student.”

Nebraska Supreme Court on

– Matthew Myerle

behalf of the Petitioner in MeyKevin Ruser

“Arguing before the Nebraska Supreme Court was an unbe-

Law alum (’08) and former Criminal Clinic participant, agrees with Schmidt’s assessment.

“When I was graduating from law school, the job pros-

Clinic program, I essentially spent a semester in the courtroom.

lievable experience, and I was honored to have the opportunity to

Those hands-on experiences provided me with the knowledge

present this case,” Myerle said. “It certainly was not an experience I

I needed to start my own law firm directly after passing the bar

thought that I would have as a student.”

exam. The clinic gave me a good working knowledge of the “ins”

ences provided by Nebraska Law’s Civil and Criminal Clinical

and “outs” of a law practice rather than the theories I would need in that practice.”

Sipp continues as a solo practitioner with the Law Offices of

programs. The focus of these clinics is to involve students in tasks that help them develop the substantive knowledge, legal skills and

Bradley A. Sipp in Lincoln.

Joshua Schauer (’02), an alumnus of the Civil Clinic and a

professional values they need to be effective lawyers.

“Our primary pedagogical goals are to help students develop models that allow them to apply theory to practice, to explore

partner at the Lincoln law firm of Perry Guthery Haase & Gessford, echoed Sipp’s sentiments.

“Among other experiences, I worked with clients, filed plead-

applied ethical issues with them, and to help them develop professional judgment that will serve them well in the future,” said

ings, and appeared in court. The experience definitely helped

Professor Kevin Ruser, director of clinical programs.

prepare me for practice after law school. It was great to work with

“Our most important task in the clinics is to help students

actual clients and experience how matters proceed through court

develop skills that will serve them well in their careers, and we do

or settlement. The ability to help direct a case, with the great help

this by working closely with students as they represent clients or

from clinic staff and faculty, sets the experience apart from clerking.

prosecute cases. We have found that live-client clinics, such as ours,

I would recommend it to any law student.”

www.unl.edu 28 | GoodNUz | COLLEGES

Bradley Sipp, a Nebraska

pects were not the best. Because I spent a semester in the Criminal

ers v. Nebraska State Penitentiary, S-10-0267.

Countless students such as Myerle benefit from the experi-

Steve Schmidt

peers.”

J

Spring 2011 Husker Athletics Schedules * Indicates conference game/meet; home games in RED. Photos courtesy of Nebraska Media Relations.

BASEBALL Feb. 18, Texas State at San Marcos, Texas, 3 p.m.

Feb. 19, Air Force at San Marcos, Texas, 11 a.m.

Feb. 19, Washington at San Marcos, Texas, 7 p.m.

Feb. 20, Missouri State at San Marcos, Texas, 11 a.m.

Feb. 25, Northern Colorado at Huntsville, Texas, 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 26, Northern Colorado at Huntsville, Texas, 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 26, Sam Houston State at Huntsville, Texas, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 27, Sam Houston State at Huntsville, Texas, 10 a.m.

March 02, Nebraska-Kearney, Hawks Field, 1:35 p.m.

March 04, UCLA, Hawks Field, 1:35 p.m.

March 05, UCLA, Hawks Field, 2:05 p.m.

March 06, UCLA, Hawks Field, 1:05 p.m.

March 08, Doane College, Hawks Field, 1:35 p.m.

March 11, Fresno State, Hawks Field, 1:35 p.m.

March 12, Fresno State, Hawks Field, 2:05 p.m.

March 13, Fresno State, Hawks Field, 1:05 p.m.

March 15, South Dakota State, Hawks Field, 1:35 p.m.

March 16, Kansas State at Manhattan, Kan., 6:30 p.m.

March 18, North Dakota, Hawks Field, 1:35 p.m.

March 19, North Dakota (DH), Hawks Field, 2:05 p.m.

March 20, North Dakota, Hawks Field, 1:05 p.m.

March 22, Northern Colorado, Hawks Field, 6:35 p.m.

March 23, Northern Colorado, Hawks Field, 1:35 p.m.

March 25, Texas Tech* at Lubbock, Texas, 6:30 p.m.

March 26, Texas Tech* at Lubbock, Texas, 5 p.m.

March 27, Texas Tech* at Lubbock, Texas, 1 p.m.

April 01, Oklahoma State*, Hawks Field, 6:35 p.m.

April 02, Oklahoma State*, Hawks Field, 2:05 p.m.

April 03, Oklahoma State*, Hawks Field, 1:05 p.m.

April 05, Creighton, Hawks Field, 6:35 p.m.

April 08, Kansas* at Lawrence, Kan., 6 p.m.

April 09, Kansas* at Lawrence, Kan., 2 p.m.

April 10, Kansas* at Lawrence, Kan., 1 p.m.

April 12, Wichita State at Wichita, Kan., 6:30 p.m.

April 15, Kansas State*, Hawks Field, 6:35 p.m.

April 16, Kansas State*, Hawks Field, 3:05 p.m.

April 17, Kansas State*, Hawks Field, 1:05 p.m.

April 19, Creighton at TD Ameritrade Park, 6:30 p.m.

April 22, Oklahoma* at Norman, Okla., 6:30 p.m.

April 23, Oklahoma* at Norman, Okla., 2 p.m.

April 24, Oklahoma* at Norman, Okla., 1 p.m.

April 26, Iowa, Hawks Field, 6:05 p.m.

April 29, Baylor*, Hawks Field, 6:35 p.m.

April 30, Baylor*, Hawks Field, 2:05 p.m.

May 01, Baylor*, Hawks Field, 1:05 p.m.

May 06, Texas*, Hawks Field, 6:35 p.m.

May 07, Texas*, Hawks Field, 2:05 p.m.

May 08, Texas*, Hawks Field, 1:05 p.m.

May 10, Creighton at TD Ameritrade Park, 7 p.m.

May 13, Texas A&M* at College Station, Texas, 6:35 p.m.

May 14, Texas A&M* at College Station, Texas, 2:05 p.m.

May 15, Texas A&M* at College Station, Texas, 1:05 p.m.

May 19, Missouri*, Hawks Field, 6:35 p.m.

May 20, Missouri*, Hawks Field, 6:35 p.m.

May 21, Missouri*, Hawks Field, 2:05 p.m.

May 25-29, Big 12 Tournament* at Oklahoma City, Okla., TBA June 03-05, NCAA Regionals at Campus Sites, TBA June 10-13, NCAA Super Regionals at Campus Sites, TBA June 18-29, College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park, TBA FOOTBALL – SPRING GAME April 16, Red vs. White, Memorial Stadium, 1 p.m.

MEN’S GOLF Feb. 21-22, Rice Intercollegiate at Houston, Texas (Westwood), TBA Feb. 26-27, Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate at Palm Desert, Calif., TBA March 14-15, Jackrabbit Invitational at Primm, Nev., TBA March 25-27, Florida Atlantic Spring Break Championship at Delray Beach, Fla., TBA April 04-05, Mizzou Intercollegiate at Columbia, Mo., TBA April 16-17, Hawkeye Invitational at Iowa City, Iowa, TBA April 25-27, Big 12 Championship at Hutchinson, Kan., TBA

WOMEN’S GOLF Feb. 20-22, Kiawah Island Intercollegiate at Kiawah Island, S.C., 7:30 a.m.

March 07-09, UNLV Spring Invitational at Boulder City, Nev., 9:30 a.m.

March 21-22, BYU at Entrada Classic at St. George, Utah, 9:30 a.m.

March 25-26, Mountain View Collegiate at Tucson, Ariz., 9:30 a.m.

April 11-12, Baylor Spring Invitational at Waco, Texas, 8:30 a.m.

April 22-24, Big 12 Championships at Columbia, Mo., 8:30 a.m.

SOFTBALL Feb. 18, Tennessee Tech at Denton, Texas, 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 18, North Texas at Denton, Texas, 3 p.m.

Feb. 19, Centenary at Denton, Texas, 10 a.m.

Feb. 19, Northwestern State at Denton, Texas, 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 20, Tennessee Tech at Denton, Texas, 10 a.m.

Feb. 25, BYU at Cathedral City, Calif., 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 25, Hawaii at Cathedral City, Calif., 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 26, Nevada at Cathedral City, Calif., 3 p.m.

Feb. 27, Ohio State at Cathedral City, Calif., 11 a.m.

Feb. 27, Long Island at Cathedral City, Calif., 1 p.m.

March 11, Radford at Clearwater, Fla., 11:30 a.m.

March 11, Marchyland at Clearwater, Fla., 2 p.m.

March 12, La Salle at Clearwater, Fla., 2 p.m.

March 12, Florida at Clearwater, Fla., 7 p.m.

March 13, Central Connecticut at Clearwater, Fla., 8:30 a.m.

March 16, South Dakota (DH), Bowlin Stadium, 3 & 5 p.m.

March 18, New Mexico State at Las Cruces, N.M., 5 p.m.

March 19, New Mexico State (DH) at Las Cruces, N.M., 2 & 4 p.m.

March 20, New Mexico State at Las Cruces, N.M., 1 p.m.

March 22, UTEP (DH) at El Paso, Texas, 2 & 4 p.m.

March 26, Oklahoma* at Norman, Okla., 2 p.m.

March 27, Oklahoma* at Norman, Okla., Noon March 30, Creighton, Bowlin Stadium, 6 p.m.

April 02, Kansas* at Lawrence, Kan., 2 p.m.

April 03, Kansas* at Lawrence, Kan., 1 p.m.

April 06, North Dakota State (DH), Bowlin Stadium, 4 & 6 p.m.

April 09, Texas*, Bowlin Stadium, 2 p.m.

April 10, Texas*, Bowlin Stadium, Noon April 13, Creighton at Omaha, Neb., 6 p.m.

April 16, Texas A&M* at College Station, Texas, 2 p.m.

April 17, Texas A&M* at College Station, Texas, Noon April 22, Missouri*, Bowlin Stadium, 6 p.m.

April 23, Missouri*, Bowlin Stadium, 4 p.m.

April 26, Northern Iowa, Bowlin Stadium, 5 p.m.

April 27, South Dakota State (DH), Bowlin Stadium, 3 & 5 p.m.

April 30, Texas Tech*, Bowlin Stadium, 1 p.m.

May 01, Texas Tech*, Bowlin Stadium, Noon May 07, Baylor* at Waco, Texas, 2 p.m.

May 08, Baylor* at Waco, Texas, Noon May 10, Iowa State*, Bowlin Stadium, 5 p.m.

May 12, Iowa State* at Ames, Iowa, 3 p.m.

May 14, Oklahoma State*, Bowlin Stadium, 2 p.m.

May 15, Oklahoma State* May 20-22, NCAA Regionals at Campus Sites, TBA May 27-28, NCAA Super Regionals at Campus Sites, TBA June 02-08, Women’s College World Series at Oklahoma City, Okla., TBA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD March 19, Baldy Castillo Invitational at Tempe, Ariz., TBA March 25-26, Stanford Invitational at Palo Alto, Calif., TBA April 02, Wichita State Triangular at Wichita, Kan., TBA April 09, Pepsi Invitational at Eugene, Ore., TBA April 16, Concordia Invitational at Seward, Neb., TBA April 16, Tom Jones Memorial at Gainesville, Fla., TBA April 20-23, Kansas Relays at Lawrence, Kan., TBA April 27-30, Penn Relays at Philadelphia, Pa., TBA April 27-30, Drake Relays at Des Moines, Iowa, TBA May 01, Nebraska Open, Ed Weir Stadium, 2 p.m.

May 07, Ward Haylett Invitational at Manhattan, Kan., TBA May 13-15, Big 12 Outdoor Championships* at Norman, Okla., TBA May 26-May 28, NCAA West Region Preliminary Round at Eugene, Ore., TBA June 08-11, NCAA Outdoor Championships at Des Moines, Iowa, TBA June 23-26, USA Championships at Eugene, Ore., TBA

MEN’S TENNIS Feb. 19, Minnesota, Lincoln, Neb., 11 a.m.

Feb. 19, Creighton, Lincoln, Neb., 5 p.m.

Feb. 26, Wisconsin at Madison, Wis., Noon March 05, Denver at Denver, Colo., TBA March 06, UNLV at Denver, Colo., TBA March 12, Wichita State, Lincoln, Neb., 10 a.m.

March 12, UMKC, Lincoln, Neb., 6 p.m.

March 22, LSU at Baton Rouge, La., TBA March 23, Mississippi State at Starkville, Miss., 2 p.m.

March 25, New Mexico at Albuquerque, N.M., 2 p.m.

March 26, Fresno State at Albuquerque, N.M., TBA April 02, Baylor*, Lincoln, Neb., 3 p.m.

April 10, Texas A&M* at College Station, Texas, 1 p.m.

April 15, Oklahoma State* at Stillwater, Okla., TBA April 17, Texas* at Austin, Texas, 1 p.m.

April 22, Oklahoma*, Lincoln, Neb., 3 p.m.

April 23, Texas Tech*, Lincoln, Neb., 3 p.m.

April 28-30, Big 12 Championships at Waco, Texas, TBA WOMEN’S TENNIS Feb. 18-20, Team National Indoors at Charlottesville, Va., TBA Feb. 26, Colorado State at Nebraska Tennis Center, Noon Feb. 27, Colorado State vs. Creighton, Nebraska Tennis Center, 11 a.m.

Feb. 27, Creighton, Nebraska Tennis Center, 3:30 p.m.

March 05, Wisconsin at Minneapolis, Minn., 1 p.m.

March 06, Minnesota at Minneapolis, Minn., 11 a.m.

March 11, Ohio State, Nebraska Tennis Center, 6:30 p.m.

March 13, Iowa at Iowa City, Iowa, 2 p.m.

March 18, Oklahoma*, Nebraska Tennis Center, 2 p.m.

March 20, Oklahoma State*, Nebraska Tennis Center, Noon March 23, Tulsa at Tulsa, Okla., 11 a.m.

March 27, Missouri* at Columbia, Mo., 1 p.m.

April 01, Kansas State* at Manhattan, Kan., 1 p.m.

April 03, Kansas*, Nebraska Tennis Center, Noon April 08, Baylor* at Waco, Texas, 5 p.m.

April 10, Texas Tech* at Lubbock, Texas, 11 a.m.

April 15, Texas*, Nebraska Tennis Center, 4 p.m.

April 17, Texas A&M*, Nebraska Tennis Center, Noon April 20, Colorado* at Boulder, Colo., 2 p.m.

April 23, Iowa State*, Nebraska Tennis Center, 1 p.m.

April 28-May 01, Big 12 Championships* at Waco, Texas, TBA All dates and times subject to change.

For updated information visit Huskers.com.

WINTER SPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS BOWLING April 14-16, NCAA Championship at Detroit, Mich., TBA MEN’S GYMNASTICS April 02, MPSF Championship at Colorado Springs, Colo., 2 p.m.

April 14-16, NCAA Championships at Columbus, Ohio, 7 p.m.

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS March 19, Big 12 Championship at Columbia, Mo., 2 p.m., TBA April 02, NCAA Regionals at TBA April 15-17, NCAA Championships at Cleveland, Ohio, TBA INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD Feb. 25-26, Big 12 Indoor Championships*, Devaney Center Indoor Track March 11-12, NCAA Indoor Championships at College Station, Texas, TBA RIFLE March 11-12, NCAA Championships at Columbus, Ga., TBA SWIMMING AND DIVING Feb. 23-26, Big 12 Conference Championships at Austin, Texas March 11-13, Zone Diving Meet at Austin, Texas March 17-19, NCAA Championships at Austin, Texas WRESTLING March 05, Big 12 Championships* at Ames, Iowa, 10 a.m.

March 17-19, NCAA Championships at Philadelphia, Pa.

www.huskers.com

J

AThletics | Spring 2011 | 29

Hendricks Training Complex Will Be ‘Top-Drawer Facility, Huge Recruiting Tool’

Hendricks Training Complex at a Glance • 71,420 square feet of new construc- tion; 4,000 square feet of renovation.

• Begun in July, 2010; complete in October, 2011.

Now, Nebraska not only will catch up with its rivals, but

Stories by Randy York, ’71 John Ingram’s job is to create championship-level facilities and

sprint ahead of many of the best basketball programs in the coun-

• Offices and locker rooms for men’s

develop forward-thinking plans for an athletic department that is

try in terms of practice facilities, not to mention the new Down-

basketball, women’s basketball and

always balancing the needs and wants of Nebraska’s student-ath-

town Haymarket Arena set to open in 2013.

wrestling.

• Basketball meeting rooms with state- of-the-art A/V equipment.

• Custom iPads and stainless steel recovery tanks in the basketball locker rooms.

• Player hallway with interactive display

“A lot of newly built practice facilities across the country

letes with the desires and experiences of Husker fans.

The $18.7 million Hendricks Training Complex, launched

only have eight extra feet of room around their full-sized courts,”

last summer and on schedule to open next fall, showcases what can

Ingram pointed out. “Each of our new practice facilities will have

happen when creativity meets vision and execution follows strategic

an extra half court beyond the full court, so while a full-court scrimmage is going on, players can still

planning.

be shooting three-point shots or free

“Through the generosity of all of

featuring lighted, red, 3D basketballs.

our great donors, this is going to be

throws or working on something else

• 5,000-square-foot strength and con-

a top-drawer facility. It’s going to be

they need to work on.”

ditioning complex.

among the very best in the country,”

• “The Oasis” nutrition station plus

said Ingram, Nebraska’s associate ath-

components that will separate it from

letic director for Capital Planning and

many recently built practice facili-

Construction. “It’s also going to be a

ties – cushioned courts and high-end

huge recruiting tool for us.”

acoustics, both of which are crucial for

full-sized kitchen with lounge, A/V and custom lighting sculptures.

• Practice courts painted identically to the game court at the Downtown Haymarket Arena.

• 103-inch plasma TVs to aid teaching

Nebraska will have two major

players and coaches.

In his 18th year working for Nebraska Athletics, Ingram smiles

on practice courts.

when he thinks of how much Bus

High-End Courts Will Be Similar

• Grand lobby with 25-foot video wall,

Whitehead would enjoy tracking the

to New Arena’s

custom granite basketball fountain

daily progress of a new 75,000-square-

and two-story custom artwork.

foot practice facility.

• Balconies overlooking practice gyms and connecting to basketball offices.

• Court-and-a-half basketball gyms, allowing free throw and three-point shooting at the same time as full court scrimmage.

• Three-mat wrestling practice facility with satellite training room.

“We’re putting a lot of resources into these new courts to make sure the flooring is as good as possible,” Ingram

“I really enjoyed my relationship with Bus,” Ingram said, recalling how

John Ingram. Photo by Tom Slocum.

said. “We’re installing high-end courts with dynamics that will be very similar

the late founder of Whitehead Oil would call him whenever he had an idea that he thought would

to the main court they will play on downtown. Our players will

help Nebraska basketball.

have incredible cushioning effects that will help the physical wear-

“Bus cared about this program, and he cared about our facilities,” Ingram said. “He would call several times a year with sug-

and-tear of daily practices. They will absolutely love the flooring that will bear the Bus Whitehead name.”

Acoustics is equally important. “It’s a major focus for us,”

• Expanded athletic medicine facility.

gestions, and they were always productive conversations. He’d say:

• Remodeled swimming/diving locker

‘John, I’d really like to see this done’ and the next time, it might

Ingram said, “because we’re building this facility to make sure we

room and lounge.

be something like: ‘John, I’m having this issue, and I think a lot of

have more of a classroom environment where the coaches can teach

• New addition entrance to be

fans are having the same issue’.”

and the players can learn.”

Whitehead Viewed the Game Through a Fan’s Eyes

both personal visits and virtual online tours, Ingram and Maggi

Devaney Center day-to-day entrance.

In benchmarking other facilities across the country, through Yes, Whitehead was a legendary figure in Nebraska basketball history, but for more than half a century after he played, he was a fan, and he looked at Nebraska basketball through a fan’s eyes.

“Every time I talked to Bus, I could feel his passion – not just for basketball, but for the entire program,” Ingram said. “Once

For a closer look at the Hendricks Training Complex, as well as a new training facility for Nebraska baseball and softball at Haymarket Park and the expansion of approximately 5,000 seats to Memorial Stadium’s east side, visit www.expandtheirexperience.com.

30 | GoodNUz | athletics

this new training complex is finished, I know that he would be just as proud for the women’s basketball program and the wrestling program as he’d be for men’s basketball.”

Whitehead always wondered why two major college programs

Thorne, assistant director of Capital Planning and Construction, saw expensive facilities being built with poor acoustics.

“It made it very difficult to communicate what you’re trying to accomplish during practice,” Ingram said.

The more Ingram and Thorne analyzed the issue, the more determined they were not to repeat the problem.

With sound acoustics, it made sense to install 103-inch plasma TVs on each practice court to aid teaching.

“We’ve looked all over the country to learn what works and

had to share the same practice floor and how difficult that made it

what doesn’t,” Ingram said. “With the layouts we’re putting to-

for both to keep up with their main rivals.

gether, we believe we’re going to be among the elite in the country.”

Children Say Bus Whitehead Would Be Honored, Humbled With Name on Huskers’ Practice Court On a Friday afternoon in late January, a brother who oversees the family oil business and his two sisters were making their first visit to the Hendricks Training Complex, where the Nebraska

Huskers’ biggest and best known fan.

Listen to his children describe what they remember most about their dad:

$10 Million Gift Jump-Starts Devaney Center Expansion For anyone who thinks Nebraska Athletics revolves solely around Big Red

men’s basketball court will be named in honor of their father –

football, think again.

Milton Edgar “Bus” Whitehead.

Lesley Jaggers, Lincoln:

This summer, Nebraska will join the

I will always remember going to Nebraska

Big Ten Conference, the nation’s oldest

inside the newly constructed building that connects to Lincoln’s

basketball games with my dad and run-

league that has led the NCAA in men’s

Bob Devaney Sports Center. It was not easy to pause and collect

ning around the Coliseum after the game.

their thoughts as they stood on the concrete that will become a

Dad would stay late, talk on the radio,

daily practice facility with three permanently inscribed words on

and the three of us would crawl around

beautiful hardwood overlaying the concrete.

under the bleachers. It was surprising how

It was easy for the three siblings to put on hardhats and go

“Bus Whitehead Court” has a nice ring to it, but Mark Whitehead and his sisters, Sydney Uthoff and Lesley Jaggers, had to

quickly the Coliseum emptied, and all the

Lesley Jaggers.

Photo by Tom Slocum.

clear their throats and wipe a tear before explaining why each gave

basketball attendance for 36 consecutive years.

Fortunately, thanks to visionary donors who won the 2010 Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award from the Nebraska Athletic Department, the Huskers

lights would be off except for the lamps

will be ready for prime-time in big-time

along press row (where Bus served 18 years

college basketball.

equally to honor their dad and how humbled he would be to have

as a radio analyst for Husker games with Bob Zenner, among others).

his name on Nebraska’s everyday practice court.

I loved looking up to that press area and seeing my dad. Looking back,

their children, Jennifer and Brandon,

that’s how I remember him … literally in the limelight.

donated $10 million to jump-start the

Bus was a 6-foot-9 all-conference player on back-to-back Big Six and Big Seven Conference championship teams in 1949 and ’50 – the last two regular-season conference titles in Nebraska

Sydney Uthoff, Houston:

basketball history.

I have many great memories that come

Blessed with character, charisma and personality, Bus lived his

my mom and my dad. Basketball was a big

for his family, his friends and his alma mater. He died last June at 82.

part of our lives growing up, and I doubt

Bus Whitehead not only had character; he was a character. He

fundraising effort for the Huskers’ new basketball practice facility that accommodates both the men’s and women’s teams (see sidebar on page 30).

back to me about Nebraska basketball with

life with abundant faith, never-ending hope and unconditional love

Tom and Mary Hendricks, along with

Honored last fall at the NebraskaTexas football game in Lincoln, the Hendricks family, natives of Pipe Creek,

we missed many games, if any. I especially

Texas, made the contribution to UNL

knew every head coach in the Big Eight Conference and counted

remember dad taking us early to the fresh-

Athletic Director Tom Osborne, so

some officials among his personal friends, triggering at least one

man games, so we could enjoy hot dogs for

unforgettable moment.

dinner. We never missed a game and loved

Going through boxes last summer, for instance, the family

Sydney Uthoff.

Photo by Tom Slocum.

ships beyond the football field.

“Our new practice facility is vital

running up and down the Coliseum ramps

found a “Technical Genius” trophy that Bus received for a certain

and hitting the concession stands. Mom would always come later and

game at Kansas State. Sitting directly behind Nebraska’s bench, Bus

join us for the varsity game, so it was just a fun evening all the way

suggested that officials call the game both ways. The result was an

around.

for student-athletes’ game-day preparations as well as recruiting,” Osborne said. “With the introduction of Title IX and women’s athletics after the Devaney

immediate technical foul.

Mark Whitehead, Lincoln: All Three Siblings Contributed Equally

Nebraska could compete for champion-

Center was built, we have two Division I basketball programs trying to effectively

My dad always got home about an hour

practice and compete on one floor, not

or so later than everyone else’s dad. But on

to mention all of the other sports and

the family name on a basketball court, and those golden moments

Husker basketball nights, he was always

activities that take place in the Devaney

spurred all three to contribute to the Athletic Department in honor

home by 4:30 to pick us up and head to the

Center.

of their father – a Nebraska basketball Hall-of-Famer and the cap-

Coliseum. It was a tremendous bonding ex-

tain of the Huskers’ all-time basketball team. Bus also played in the

perience for the family, even when it was just

For the Whitehead family, memories are more than having

East-West All-Star Game in Madison Square Garden and earned the program’s first Distinguished Hall-of-Fame Alumni Award.

Always thinking that Nebraska would win every game, Bus

Mark Whitehead.

Photo by Tom Slocum.

a Red-White scrimmage. When the freshman team didn’t play anybody, they would scrimmage each other. Sometimes, we were the

personally watched more than 500 games at the Devaney Center

only fans in the stands, but it didn’t matter to my dad. We made every

in addition to hundreds more at the Coliseum where he played,

scrimmage. We were never late, and my dad focused on every single play

starred, coached, announced and earned his reputation as the

while we ran all over the bleachers. He would just soak it all up.

“We are very grateful for this most generous gift from the Hendricks family and appreciate what they are doing for the future of our student-athletes and programs,” Osborne said. “In a tough economic climate, this gift gave us a tremendous lift.”

Continued on back cover AThletics | Spring 2011 | 31

Nonprofit U.S. Postage Paid Alumni Association of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln

N E B R A S K A

A lu m n i A s s o c i at i o n

oodNUz

Wick Alumni Center 1520 R Street Lincoln, NE 68508-1651

Continued from page 31

Doc Sadler: Bus Deserving of Honor Nebraska Head Basketball Coach Doc Sadler can’t imagine a more fitting name for the Husker men’s daily basketball court.

“Bus loved Lincoln, he loved Nebraska, and he loved Nebraska basketball,” Sadler said. “I’m sure he lived his life like he did when he played here. He was just a giving person – the kind who would put his own stats in the back end so he could do what was best for the team. He was the same way as a fan and a donor – always willing to give without ever asking for anything in return. I saw him at every game, every luncheon and every banquet. He was always there, doing whatever he could to help us win.”

Mark Whitehead said his dad relished envisioning ways Nebraska could keep pace with the conference. “He talked constantly about building a foundation and keeping us competitive,” Mark said. “He might have been a little torn about having his name involved, but he was in favor of supporting anything that benefitted the program.”

Both sisters agree.

“Nebraska basketball was near and dear to his heart – it was No. 1 when he played at Nebraska and stayed there when he came back to Lincoln to run a business,” Uthoff said. “Dad was very excited about the practice facility, about the new downtown arena and about having Doc Sadler lead us into the Big Ten Conference.”

Jaggers said her dad would have enjoyed having a practice facility that will be second to none. “He was all about the players,” she said. “He loved coming to practice to meet them, watch them

Picture Perfect Framed by construction materials on the site of “Bus Whitehead Court” at UNL, Bus’s children (left to right) Lesley Jaggers, Mark Whitehead and Sydney Uthoff, reflect on the mark the Nebraska basketball legend left on them and on his beloved Cornhuskers. In honor of their father, the Whitehead offspring donated funds for the practice court, part of the $18.7 million Hendricks Training Complex addition to the Devaney Center. For the whole picture – and how it will benefit NU Athletics – turn to pages 30-31.

Photo by Tom Slocum.

and support them. He would be proud and honored to be associated with all of this, but more than anything, he would be humbled.

That’s just the way he was.”

www.expandtheirexperience.com

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